17 Chapter 17 - Heart Mansion
*ROAAARRR*
An enraged howl sounded out from the 15th floor as a heavily wounded Minotaur tried to smash a warrior made of ice, the warrior of ice blocked the blow with its sword as another ice warrior swung towards neck from behind, separating its head from its body.
"5 days of hellish training was truly worth the effort" Laurens smiled and patted the Ice Warriors.
These past 5 days had been a mix of training with Ais, Riveria and Solo hunting, the training with Ais and Riveria most of the time cost him only 3 hours each while he spent 12 hours a day hunting like he was possessed, this wasn't some kind of Anime where he could just rely on plot-armor or luck.
He was about to fight over 300 people with atleast 30 people that had a higher level than him, he didn't know if they had any trump cards except what was shown in the Anime.
However, if you considered all the factors like having to defend different sides, different places etc, having atleast 29 Level 2's would be safe to say so he was grinding his ass off.
On his first day, he went around the 12th Floor to hone his Magic and managed to create his 4th and 5th Ice Sword.
On his second day, he went to the 13th floor and managed to create his 6th and 7th Ice Sword.
On his third day, he went to the 14th floor and managed to create 12 Ice Swords in total, after he had gotten the hang of it, it was way simpler to do, it wasn't due to lack of Mana but a lack of proficiency in the Magic itself.
On his fourth day, he didn't go into the Dungeon and instead he kept training the whole day with Ais and Riveria. He finally managed to create an Ice Warrior that satisfied his needs and it only cost him 200 Mana per while they had 80% of his strength!
And today, he had been going around the 15th floor with 4 Ice Warriors. He also managed to lower the Mana need for an Ice Warrior to 195 Mana, although it wasn't a huge difference, it was a great start.
[A/N: The Ice Warriors I picture; (Picture it made of Ice and a Great Sword as weapon)]
*Roaaaarrrr*
An angry roar sounded through the 15th floor as a red creature flew through the air and swung its tail at Laurens.
The creature seemed to walk on four legs with a 5 meter (16.4Ft) long red body and large wings behind its body, Laurens just sneered at the creature with an amused grin as the tail came nearer.
"I see, a Mutated Infant Dragon that used a Valgang Reverse Scale huh? How boring Freya" Laurens yawned and just as the Mutated Infant Dragon's tail was about to hit him, two Ice Warriors held their Great Swords in an X form to block the tail.
*BOOM*
'Mmm, far stronger than a Minotaur' Laurens just looked at the Ice Warriors who swung their swords at the Mutated Infant Dragon, it quickly tried to avoid by flapping its wings, however, an Ice Sword suddenly cut its wing off and it fell to the ground with a heavy slam.
The Mutated Infant Dragon tried to get up, but before it had the chance, two figures already appeared on its heart that stabbed one sword through its back and one into its brain.
The pitiful thing didn't even get the chance to cry out before it died.....
Laurens grinned as he put his sword into the Mutated Infant Dragon's corpse, this thing should have a pretty decent amount of influence on his body since it absorbed a Valgang Dragon's Reverse Scale, right?
Laurens didn't even get to finish his thoughts as veins started appearing over his body and a crazed smile appeared on his face as he gritted his teeth.
The pain assaulted him for a good 5 minutes before it finally subsided, a Mana Crystal of the size of a soccer ball fell onto the ground with a Magic Crystal of the size of his underarm.
It was clear that Freya had underestimated Laurens' growth, not just a bit but by a long shot!
Normally, Ottar should've felt the Mutated Infant Dragon once it attacked and saved Laurens if it was necessary, but it didn't even get the chance too!
She still reached her goal of making Laurens stronger though, but his Ice Warriors were just a cheat against lone and big Monsters.
"This should be able to upgrade my Sword, although the effect is great, this was the reverse scale of a 58th Floor Monster so it should be able to upgrade my sword" Laurens smiled and called it a day, although it was quite early, the gathering was tonight and he needed to buy some clothes for him and Hestia.
The invitation was for only Hestia and one Familia Member, since it was explicitly said that Laurens should be there, Bell had to skip this one.
Laurens went to the Guild and sold his spoils, neither Rose, Eina nor Mischa were there so he just sold his stuff and went, as for the money....
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81 Fifteenth Floor Hell Hound Magic Crystals worth 1.822.500 Valis (22.550 Valis each)
38 Fifteenth Floor Minotaur Magic Crystals worth 1.065.900 Valis (28.050 Valis each)
36 Fifteenth Floor Ligerfang Magic Crystals worth 1.278.180 Valis (35.505 Valis each)
39 Fifteenth Floor Wyvern Magic Crystals worth 2.243.280 Valis (57.520 Valis each)
12 Fifteenth Floor Crystal Mantis Magic Crystals worth 2.490.000 Valis (207.500 Valis each)
1 Crystal Mantis Wing worth 3.000.000 Valis
1 Mutated Infant Dragon Magic Crystal worth 11.920.505 Valis
= Total =
23.820.365 Valis
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[Total Balance]
23.307.590 Valis + 23.820.365 = 47.127.955 Valis
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[A/N; Status Board Updates / Loot Sheets don't count for the word count since I chose to do them although they cost a lot of time so I get a 'valid and economic' number that is realistic]
"The Ice Warriors make hunting so much more efficient" Laurens grinned, the damage they did was damage HE did since it was his Magic so it would improve his Strength aswell and without the need to constantly think about Strength, he had plenty of time to think about his other Stats.
'Although the Mutant Infant Dragon Magic Crystal sold for less than I thought, the Reverse Scale's worth is incomparable' Laurens thought about how to get Hephaestus to improve the sword, maybe if he showed her the Reverse Scale's Quality.
Laurens had made around 20.000.000 Valis in 3 days and yet he made almost 24.000.000 Valis in one day mainly due to Freya giving him a free meal.
[A/N: 1.880.500 was used for an Elixer, 20 High Potions and a 590.000 extra payment for a faster work speed on the church]
However, the money wasn't his biggest gain, it would definitely be his Stats! In 5 days' time, he slept for 4 hours and hunted the other hours, he didn't even bother to have Hestia update his stats!
Laurens walked over the busy street towards the church and saw an anxious Hestia pacing around in front of the abnormally busy church, Laurens was serious about going to the shop and telling them to increase the speed and it seems that it would take a few days from now to complete it.
"Laurens!" Hestia saw Laurens coming home with a bag behind him, Laurens needed a bag to carry the Reverse Scale due to its sheer weight.
Hestia ran towards Laurens and hugged his chest, over the past 5 days, it was clear that Laurens knew that Apollo would try something at the gathering, which is why he only came back when they were going to sleep, but when she wakes up every morning, he would already be long gone.
Even Bell didn't manage to get a glimpse of him for the last 5 days since he normally slept early while Hestia waited on Laurens, she would always have a meal ready so he could atleast eat something before taking a nap, it wasn't even sleep, it was just a nap.
Laurens gave Hestia a kiss before looking at the church with a satisfied smile, Hestia blushed and pulled him inside.
Hestia pushed Laurens onto the bed and sat on top of him before giving him a deep kiss, Laurens could feel her worry and let her do what she wanted.
Hestia and Laurens stayed connected for a few minutes before Hestia finally let Laurens go and Laurens couldn't help but smile and say,
"It's as if you think I'll die or something"
Hestia looked at him with a sad expression and said, "I just don't like this, again, you don't let me help you.... Why?"
"You will see soon, don't worry" Laurens gave Hestia a bitter smile while stroking the side of her face.
"Turn around" Hestia whispered with a serious look, "I want to see if what you did was worth it for these past 5 days"
Laurens smiled and turned onto his stomach while Hestia sat down on his back before pulling his shirt off without any shame and dropped a drop of blood on Laurens' back without hesitation.
Hestia didn't look at the changing stats and instantly put them onto a piece of paper, she got of Laurens' back and said, "They are copied, you can turn around now"
Laurens sat on the edge of the bed and Hestia threw herself on Laurens' lap, Laurens put his head onto Hestia's shoulder as she turned the piece of paper around.
=====================================
Level 1
Strength – 901 S -> 1475 EX
Vitality – 997 S -> 1500 EX
Dexterity – 822 A -> 1347 EX
Agility – 891 A -> 1405 EX
Mana – 722 B -> 1500 EX
Magic:
[Lyngruem Maltaras]
[Glacius Exercitus]
Skills:
[Heaven's Sense]
[Sanguis Gratiam]
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[A/N: Remember, not counted into wordcount^^]
[A/N: [Glacius Exercitus]; Army of Ice; created an Ice Warrior made of Ice that has 80% of the creator's ability, each creation cost 195 Mana, Ice Warriors can be customized after proficiency reached a high enough level]
"W...what the hell is this!" Hestia dropped the paper in panic and looked at Laurens before pointing at the paper, "What the hell?!"
"Calm down, calm down!" Laurens smiled and kissed her lips which seemed to calm her down somewhat.
"But what is EX? We normally have it about a possible SS and SSS being out there but never an EX-rank" Hestia said with a concerned expression.
"1500 is the max a stat can reach, due to my Heaven's Sense, I can estimate if I get stronger sometimes and Mana has been stagnant for a few hours before I came back home" Laurens said as he looked at the Mana stat, it seemed that keeping the Ice Warriors active most of the time had paid off despite it being quite taxing.
"You knew? Then..." Hestia looked at the paper before turned her upwards to face Laurens from beneath him and asked, "Are you planning to max everything out before you're satisfied enough to Level up? You're already way faster than anyone...."
Laurens smiled at Hestia and bent down to give another kiss to the cute woman and said, "I never pushed myself to compare myself with other people, I'm just being me which is sadly enough, better than them"
"Hoho.... how arrogant..." Hestia grinned and kissed Laurens as she put a hand on the side of his face, ever since that night, she wanted to touch him, hold him, cuddle him, kiss him day in and day out so when he wasn't at home, she would always just clean the room, go shopping like buying High Potions or Mana Potions for Laurens, get a good meal ready if he came home or anything that could help him.
However, everytime she thought about how Laurens would one day want to have children, she would be in a mental battle with herself.
She was a Goddess, she couldn't have children!
When she brought it up, Laurens just told her not to worry but didn't say much more, he couldn't say much more either but she thought he was just trying to calm her down instead of having her stress herself out.
It was the same with his money, she would never buy anything for herself unless he forced her too.
"We should buy the clothes for the party and then take off" Laurens said as he held Hestia in his arms and stood up.
Hearing Laurens' words, Hestia jumped out of his arms and opened the closet with a smug expression, "I already bought it!"
Laurens looked at the dress and suit and noticed that they were the ones they saw when they walked together on the business street.
"Go take a bath! You smell!" Hestia stuck her tongue out at Laurens who shrugged with a smile and went to take a bath.
He took a bath and put on the suit Hestia got for him as Hestia had put on her dress.
Her dress was a white one-piece dress that reached her ankles that had a cut on the side of her right leg from her waist down that would've shown her leg if it wasn't for the white fabric underneath that gave a bit of depth to the dress.
Laurens felt that she looked like a little princess, especially since she had left her hair loose instead of in her twin tails, although twin tails were cute on her aswell, he loved seeing her in loose hair.
"You look beautiful" Laurens said he gave her a quick kiss, Hestia smiled widely and held out her hand.
Laurens grabbed her hand and picked up a neatly packed package with a grin on his face and took it with them aswell.
"I've been curious, what is that? A present?" Hestia tilted her head and looked at Laurens.
"Something like that, I hope he will like it though" Laurens gave Hestia a smile that was not quite a smile which already told her more than enough and knew Apollo was in for a treat....
As they arrived in front of the Heart Mansion, a guard welcomed them and led them into the mansion.
"You seem to be looking forward to this" Hestia said as they neared the party venue.
"Naturally" Laurens grinned and looked at her and smiled with a 'kind' smile, "Hunting isn't only practiced on Monsters"
