The city's center, someone yelled out.
"Strategist Finn, there's Crystal golems on the way here, and they're moving fast… From the east!"
"What? But that's… How did a creature like that get up here? Even the Origin Wolf couldn't pull something like that off."
"I swear! Two giant crystals were moving our way."
The crystals in question appeared, poking over the roofs of the buildings blocking Finn's sight. He took his spear, and leaped up into the air, prepared to attack but he stopped after getting a clear view of the crystals.
"Are you stupid or something? Those are magic crystals… See for yourself" He sighed, and pointed to the east main street, where Bokhoir, and Nernatti revealed themselves as the force behind the moving crystals.
"Huh, but those crystals, they're gigantic!"
"Yeah, bigger, and stronger than Udaeus for certain… No, even more than Balor's…"
The two powerful adventurers looked around for an open space to set their crystals down. Then stretched, and let out a huge sigh. Only for the young Asfi to come running back gasping for air.
"Damn they're fast."
"Well of course we are, little girl. We actually slowed it down so you'd be safe." Nernatti giggled, petting the exhausted girl's head, and smiled. Hmm? She's not as cute as Shurry. But she's not bad I guess. "You did a good job keeping up with us even then. I bet your god will be proud."
"What is it with all the adults and constant headpats!" Asfi complained, and pouted, though she clearly didn't actually want them to stop.
"Pfft, it's just what we do." Nernatti giggled, stopping… "Now then, let's go find Lady Hathor."
"Yeah, I get the feeling she isn't going to be surprised in the slightest." Bokhoir bellowed. "Hey Finn, make sure no one touches these things. Consider them our trophies for now if you have to."
"Uh, yeah… But uh what are they?"
"The magical cores from two of the dragons, what else would they be?"
"You know what I mean."
"Oh you mean the strength? Yeah they were level 8s. Somewhere in the low to mid range I'd say."
With the answer, the pair of powerhouses looked around.
"If you're looking for Lady Hathor, she's in the medical room comforting Ardee right now." Alise informed them…
"Huh? What happened to Ardee?"
"Forgive me, but I can't say it…" She tensed up, as if she was about to cry. "You'll know it when you see her."
"For one who shines as bright as the sun, to struggle smiling… I can't think of but, a few things it could be…"
"No… Say it isn't so!" Nernatti all but demanded, she was met with silence.
Nernatti bolted into the tower, Bokhoir following after her. Eventually they found their way to the room Hathor was comforting Ardee in. It was obvious to both of them in an instant.
""Who did it to you?""
The two spoke with an intensity rivalling that of the very monsters they just took down.
"It was Vito, the child in Erebus' familia. And it was done on Erebus' orders." Ardee answered, having recovered enough to do so. And despite the extremely terrifying pressure the two gave off, it comforted her… Two more care that much they'd level the city looking for the culprit.
"I can deal with Vito in a snap… But I get the feeling that he's going to enjoy that privilege far more than I would. It would be wrong of me to deny the young man the vengeance a father should seek." Bokhoir's hand drew blood.
"My little brother is… He's going to kill a god when he comes back. You know that, right, Lady Hathor?"
"I do, and I do not plan to stop him this time. If I wasn't bound by the rules, I'd have killed Erebus myself by now. Unfortunately when gods fight, nothing will change, except for more people dying than there would have been. I don't want this. I wanted to see my grandbaby so badly."
Hathor slowly got up from the medical bed. She grabbed a small knife from inside her clothes, and pricked her finger. "Come here Bokhoir, you're first. Oh, and can one of you go grab some paper for me?"
"As you wish Goddess Hathor, it would be an honor to hold the paper for your familia's second level 7." One of the ladies stood up and ran out quickly to find a couple pieces of paper.
Hathor began the process and Bokhoir's status changed immensely, all stats went to 999, then to 0, and his level, from 6, to 7.
"Congratulations Bokhoir, you're level 7 now. Now you Nernatti." She repeated the process for Nernatti. "Congratulations Nernatti, you've also reached level 7. The two of you have really earned it. You should know, just how proud of you I am."
"Lady Hathor, this level, it feels different… I feel so… Hmm, I don't know how to explain it?"
"Divine?" Nernatti tried to explain the feeling. "No, it feels like something else, but nothing that crazy." She corrected herself, then looked at Ardee. "Oh wow! So that's what's different!"
Bokhoir followed suit. "Holy shit, this would make dealing with overgrown lizards a fair bit easier… Also, Ardee, despite this loss, I'm glad that you're still able to pursue your dream."
"Yeah, I was worried you wouldn't be able to have children anymore. Thankfully it looks like you'll be fine in that regard. Just ask him to try again. I'm certain he'll be more than happy to do it. He loves you more than words can say."
"I know, even so, I lost my baby… I won't lose another. I absolutely refuse." Ardee said, showing her determined face. "Mother Hathor, though it was through no fault of Lord Ganesha, the deal was broken. I want to join your familia and be with my husband as soon as possible. After he solves this whole ordeal I'm going to rock his world, and… I'm going to tell him just how much effort Neze and the others went to, to try and save our baby."
"Are you trying to bring them into your relationship, or something like that?" One of the ladies tending to the room asked.
"No, I doubt he'd ever do that… But if he wanted to, I wouldn't mind Neze." Ardee smiled. "I just want my husband to know exactly what our friends tried, in order to help us. I love him, and I want him to know just how many of us there are here for him."
"Well said, my precious daughter." Hathor said, nuzzling cheeks with Ardee. "I've wanted Ganesha to give you to me for so long. I can't wait till you are my little girl!"
"That tickles mother."
"Alright, we're going back to the east part of the city. We brought back our crystals. So Shurry has to do that thing for us now. Though… I think we should collect one more, what do you think?"
"Yeah, let's get one for Ardee's as well."
"There was a single dragon that looked a bit stronger than the others. Maybe we should offer that one for Ardee's."
"Agreed."
The two newly leveled up, level 7s dashed out of the tower, stopping briefly to let Alise know Ardee's situation, then darted off again. Back to battle, faster, stronger, and with more purpose.
…