No one's POV

It was morning and Bell, Sora and Rin were outside the church wearing their Salamander Wool with Hestia seeing them off.

Bell: Okay, See you later, Goddess!

Rin: Wish us luck!

Sora: We're off!

Hestia: Okay. You know... that Salamander Wool really stands out in the light.

Bell: Miss Eina told us too...

Rin: This Wool protects us from any magic range attack and it also warm our body...

Sora: I don't really need it though, but you gotta be prepared at all time...

Bell: I think it's a little flashy.

Hestia smiled at all three of them.

Hestia: Well, if your advisor said that, she's sure to be right. Anyway Bell, don't overdo it just because you're level 2 now.

Bell: Right!

Hestia then looked at Sora and Rin.

Hestia: Sora, be sure to take good care of them. You too Rin, and don't do anything reckless.

Rin: Of course, Goddess...

Sora: I'll protect them with all my strength. I'll make sure they're alright.

Hestia smiled at him.

Hestia: Good.

Bell: Okay, we're off!

Bell, Sora and Rin went off to the dungeon and Hestia looked at them worried.

(Timeskip)

Hestia was on her way to work at the Hephaestus workshop and during the way, she heard someone spoke and she saw that it was her friend Lord Takemikazuchi talking to his Familia.

Takemikazuchi: What's important is coming back safe! Okay?

Takemikazuchi Familia: Right!

Takemikazuchi: Mikoto, you've leveled, but don't tense up.

Mikoto: Okay!

The children left and Hestia approached Takemikazuchi.

Hestia: So those are the children of your Familia, Take?

Takemikazuchi: Oh, Hestia.

Hestia: They're going to the middle floors?

Takemikazuchi: Yeah. I heard that you recently got another Familia member. Who was it?

Hestia: Her name is Rin Azumi! She is friend with Sora before he got to Orario.

Takemikazuchi looked at her shocked and Hestia looked confused.

Takemikazuchi: Rin Azumi? The "Priestess of Element"! One of the adventurers that can use all 5 elements at once, her?

Hestia: I think she is...

Takemikazuchi: Well anyway, all three of them are heading there, too right?

Hestia: Yup. Today is Bell's and Rin's first time. They left this morning.

Takemikazuchi:Well, worrying won't help anything. All we can do is wait and believe in them. And besides if anything happens, they have the "Lightning Flash" with them.

Hestia smiled.

Hestia: Yeah. I just hope that Sora doesn't overdo it.

Suddenly, the two of them felt an earthquake and they looked confused.

Hestia: An earthquake?

Takemikazuchi: There's a lot of them lately.

Hestia: You're right. I think it's just a coincidence, but...

(Timeskip)

Sora and the others were currently on the 13th floor taking multiple monsters.

Sora was fighting multiple monsters on his own and Bell and Welf were fighting a hell hound and Welf managed to slice it in half killing it. While Lili was killing monsters with her crossbow and Rin dealing far range enemies with her magic.

Welf: Well, I think that's pretty good for our first battle in the middle floors.

Bell: Yeah. They're not more than we can handle.

Rin: We were able to deal with a hell hound's fire attacks, too.

Lili: Anyway, let's head to someplace more open.

Sora: Lili's right! If we stay too long we might get surrounded.

All of them then heard a sound and all of them saw that it was a rabbit that looked like Bell.

Lili: Master Bell?

Rin: Little Bells...

Welf: Yeah, that's Bell.

Sora: We found Bell's twins...

Bell got flustered and quickly denied.

Bell: Those are Al-mi'raj!

The Almiraj then grabbed their weapons and started attacking them.

Welf: Bell's attacking us!

Rin: Look at them with those little axe, it's cute!

Lili: Master Bell is in a hurry.

Sora: And he seems angry.

Bell: I said they're Almiraj!

They all readied they're weapons and started fighting. They were currently fighting multiple Almiraj and they all formed a circle with their backs against each other.

(Elsewhere)

Mikoto and her party were currently running away due to some of her party member getting injured and they were being chased by multiple hell hounds. Mikoto who was running quickly stopped and killed the hell hounds and regroup with her party.

Ouka: Mikoto! Hurry! Don't fall behind!

Mikoto: Right!

Ouka: Sorry to make you do all the work.

Mikoto: Please don't say that. Master Ouka. We're a party.

They all then heard a roar and they looked back and they saw even more Hell Hounds chasing after them and they escape to a narrow space and they saw Sora's party were currently fighting multiple Alrimiraj.

Welf: Damn it! We don't even have time to breath!

Lili: Or even time to talk, too!

Bell: Just like Sora said! The middle floor monsters are much stronger and more numerous than we've ever seen.

Sora then looked at Rin.

Sora: Rin use your Dust whirlwind!

Rin: Right!

Rin then raised her staff and cast her Dust Whirlwind and it managed to killed a bunch of the Almiraj. And back with Mikoto and her party they saw this and Ouka suggest that they run past through them and Mikoto looked shocked.

Mikoto: Master Ouka! But then...

Ouka: I value your lives more than those of strangers who I've never met before.

All of her party member including herself looked conflicted.

Ouka: If you don't like it, you can bitch me out later!

Mikoto's party then run past through Sora and the others and Sora and the others looked completely shocked.

Lili: Oh no!

Rin: The monsters chasing them will attack us instead! It's a pass parade!

They all saw that over a dozens Hell hound appeared right in front of them and they all looked completely shocked.

Sora: We're retreating. Hurry to the corridor!

All 5 of them then started running through the corridor and Sora started giving out orders.

Sora: Bell your at the front! Destroy anything that's blocking your way!

Bell: Right!

Sora: Welf, I want you behind Bell! Use your Will of Wisp spell to destroy any long range enemy!

Welf: You got it!

Sora: Lili I want you in the center and prepare the elixir for Bell and Welf! The two of you switch out and drink the Elixir when I told you!

Bell and Welf and Lili: On it!

Sora: Rin, you're with me! Our jobs is to take the rear!

Rin: Right!

All of them started doing as Sora told them to do and they all managed to pushed the enemies that were in front and behind them. And as they were running they were on a narrow path.

Sora: The three of you keep running! Rin stay here for a while!

Everyone: Right!

Bell, Welf, and Lili ran ahead and Rin looked at Sora.

Rin: What are we doing?!

Sora: Use your protection on this narrow path! I'll handle the rest!

Rin: Protection!!

Rin than use her spell "Protection" to shield them from oncoming attacked and Rin looked at Sora.

Rin: Now what?!

Rin then saw Sora were charging up a massive electricity and lightning on his hand and he blasted the rest of the hell hounds and the almiraj reducing it to nothingness.

Sora: Perish!

Sora and Rin then regroup with Bell and the others they saw that Lili was on the ground exhausted and Sora saw that Welf's left arm was bleeding.

Rin: Everyone!

Bell and the others saw Sora and Rin were running towards their side looking worried.

Bell: Are you both alright?

Sora: Never mind us, what about you guys?

Welf: Yeah, were alright, somehow.

They then heard a voice running towards them and they quickly got up.

Lili: There are more of them coming.

Welf: That's not all.

They looked behind them and saw multiple bat rushing towards them and they looked shocked.

Bell: They're are coming from both side.

Welf: Why are monsters so quick to attack on the middle floors?

Sora: Like I said. The middle floors are completely different. The monsters spawning rate are much more numerous. That's why we need to expand our strategy even better.

Rin: So what do we do?

Sora: For now! Rin, I want you to heal Welf and Lili, while me and Bell defend!

Everyone: Roger!

Everyone started doing as Sora said, with Rin healing Welf and Lili's injuries and Bell and Sora were defending from both side and as they were fighting they heard an explosion and they saw that it was a landslide.

Sora: Shit!

Sora saw a hole that leads to the lower floors and Sora grabbed all of his party member and jumped through the holes before they were swallowed. When they got up, Bell and Sora saw that Welf got one of his leg dislocated and Lili was on the ground with multiple rubble on top of her and Rin was bleeding from her head. They all then saw multiple hell hound surrounding them and they all gritted their teeth.

Lili: No...

Welf: I won't make it...

Rin: Is this it...?

Bell and Sora continued to looked at the Hell Hound as it release a fire breath and Sora quickly got in front and defend them.

(Elsewhere)

Hestia was running to the guild looking for Sora and the other due to not returning and when she arrived she asked Eina if Sora had returned, but Eina had told her that she hasn't seen them. Hestia then issued a request to come and save Sora's party and she heard someone called out to her.

???: Hestia!

Hestia looked back and saw it was Takemikazuchi and some of his Familia member looking down.

Hestia: Take?

Back to Sora and the others, Sora was holding Welf on his side due getting his feat dislocated and Rin supporting Bell due to exhaustion and Lili was giving out elixir and healing potions. And as they were walking Welf grunt in pain.

Sora: Are you alright?

Welf: Yeah, sorry. Man, our luck is crap. We want to go back up as fast as we can, but we fell down two floors instead.

Sora: Bell and the rest?

Bell: We're alright!

Sora: Rin, how's your mana doing?

Rin: I...can probably...use up around 5...more spell before running out...

Sora: Lili, hows are equipment?

Lili: We still got 10 elixirs and 6 potions... and thank you Master Sora. If your not here, we might not make it.

Sora: It was nothing... and it's thanks to these wool we're wearing.

Bell: Good thing that Eina made us wear it.

Rin: It's still a miracle all 5 of us survived that fall.

As they continued to walk they reached another dead end. They all heard more monsters spawning and Sora looked at his party member and saw that all of them were completely exhausted and Welf spoke up.

Welf: Bell, Sora, Rin, Lil Lil. Leave me if you must.

They looked completely shocked.

Bell: Welf, what are you-

Welf: Either way, with this leg, I'm only going to slow you down. And it's thanks to Rin magic spell that I manage-

Rin: Not an option! We won't just abandon you.

Lili: If we...if we want to survive, we can also try going down to the 18th floor.

All three of them other than Sora looked at her shocked and Sora thought for a moment.

Rin: Lili? Go even further down?

Bell: The enemies will just get stronger!

Welf: And there is the floor boss-

Before they could complaint any further Sora spoke up.

Sora: No, it's actually a good idea!

The others looked at Sora shocked, but Sora continued.

Sora: The 18th floor is one of several safe zones in the dungeon. That is, monsters don't appear on that floor. We can also heal up there and get some higher-level adventurers to help us. Because I alone can handle everything. So that's why our odds of survival increases.

Bell: But how...?

Rin: Of course, I remember now! There are many holes like pit in the dungeon, and if we do that we can go down much faster.

Welf: What about the floor boss? That things on the 17th floor, right?

Sora: I'll handle it! And also, the Loki Familia should have beaten on their way down. Given the time it takes to respawn, if we go now, we'll get through first.

Lili: It's all up to you Master Sora, if we go down to fighting with the boss!

Sora: Leave it to me. Well Bell, it's your decision, since your our party leader.

Bell: M-Me?

They all looked at Bell and nodded and Bell looked down and thought for a moment and spoke up.

Bell: Let's keep going.

(Elsewhere)

Back with Hestia and the rest of the Takemikazuchi Familia. They had just finished explaining the situation tp Hestia and Takemikazuchi bowed his head.

Takemikazuchi: i'm sorry, Hestia!

Miach: So you're saying they dumped their monsters on Bell's party?

Takemikazuchi: They were desperate, but... I'm sorry.

Mikoto's party looked down in shame, with Mikoto bearing the most.

Hestia: If Bell, Sora, and Rin don't make it out there alive... I'll blame you until the day I die. But... I won't hate you, I promise.

Hestia raised her hand and smiled at them.

Hestia: So...please. Would you help me?

They all looked at Hestia shocked by her kindness and knelt down.

Takemikazuchi Familia: As you say.

Hephaestus: Even if you want to put together a search party, most of our high-level members are out on the Loki Familia's expedition.

Takemikazuchi: The only ones I can send down to the middle floors are Ouka and Mikoto, and Chigusa to act as a supporter. The others, unfortunately, would just slow you down.

Miach: But with just three member...

???: I'll help too, Hestia.

They all looked back and saw Hermes and Asfi walking towards them and they looked surprised.

Hestia: Hermes!

Takemikazuchi: What are you doing here? When did you get back?

Hermes: Oh, I heard one of my dear friends was in trouble, so I hurried over. I'll help, too. With your quest to find Bell Cranel and his friends.

Hephaestus: Dear friend?

They all looked at Hephaestus.

Hephaestus: You've barely spoken to Hestia since you came down from Heaven.

Takemikazuchi: She's right.

Miach: Some "dear friend".

Hermes: Oh, my. You guys are harsh. But it's true that I want to help Hestia. And me and my Familia owes a debt of gratitude to one of your Familia members, Hestia.

Hestia: A debt of gratitude? Who are you talking about?

Hermes: Oh, my. You mean he didn't know? Your child Sora Yatagami save my Familia member when they were on a quest before. If it weren't for him, they would have died.

They all looked at Hermes shocked about what Sora had done for their Familia and Asfi spoke up.

Asfi: It is true, Goddess Hestia. Your child save not only my life, but the rest of my Familia. I'm forever grateful to him.

Hermes: That's why I want to save Bell and Sora, too. I'll take Asfi here.

Asfi looked at Hermes shocked but sighed.

Asfi: I'll come too.

Takemikazuchi: What will you do, Hestia?

Hestia: Finding Bell's party is my top priority now. I want as many people as I can get. I'm counting on you, Hermes.

Hermes: Yeah. I'll handle this.

They all then prepared and talked how and when they'll leave, Hermes than talked to Asfi about joining and she looked completely shocked and protested, but Hermes assure her that it'll be alright. Hestia suddenly popped out of nowhere and demands that she comes with them. Hermes protested but Hestia says the same thing Hermes said. And after they are done Hermes said that he will recruiting one more person.

(Elsewhere)

Back with Sora and the others, they were currently climbing down the hole and made it to the next floor. Other than Sora, everyone was completely exhausted and currently they were walking on the 16th floor with Lili taking the lead and everyone had a deadpan face due to what Lili was carrying.

Sora: I feel sick...

Rin: I'm getting a headache...

Welf: Hey, Lil Lili. Can you do something about this smell?

Lili looked at them annoyed and started to waving the stink bag at them.

Lili: I'm sorry, but I'm closer to it than you are! So why don't you hold it, then? You're not the only one who smell it! I smell it too! But I'm carrying it to help everybody even though you keep complaining!

Sora: All right, calm down! This is not the time to be arguing! We need to go! We won't know when the stink bag smells runs out?

After they calmed down they all started moving again and as they were moving they saw a hell hound approaching them. The hell hound was charging a fire breath attack.

Welf: Leave it to me! Will o' Wisp

A gale of wind then appeared and it cause an ignis fatuss on the hell hound. And it exploded.

Lili: That really is amazing.

Rin: A spell that uses the enemy's magic to make them self distruct!

Welf: I never thought I'd use it this way, though.

Bell: But are you okay? You've had to use it a bunch of times already.

Welf: Don't worry. I'm good to go

Rin then come to Welf and heals his injuries and Sora saw that she was breathing heavily along with Bell and the others and Sora spoke up.

Sora: Don't force yourself, everyone. If any slight of headache or injuries, report to me right away!

Everyone: Right!

As they were walking the stink bag smells fades away, they heard a roar and saw that it was a minotaur and everyone looked completely shocked.

Welf: NO way... What is that? God damn it!

Sora: Bell!

Bell: Right!

Bell then rushed towards the Minotaur and slashing it a few times on the chest and sliced of its arm and slashed its chest a few more time killing it.

Sora: Bell!

Bell saw that Sora threw his Elucidator towards him and he charged his argonauts skills and saw that three more monsters approaching them and Bell rushed in and slammed the Elucidator towards the Minotaurs and it cause an explosion killing it.

Everyone other than Sora looked at Bell completely shocked that he managed to kill 4 minotaurs own his own and Bell was about to fall due to exhaustion, but Sora caught him.

Sora: You did good, Bell.

(Elsewhere)

Hestia had just entered the dungeon with the others and currently Ryuu and Asfi were on the front-lines fighting multiple hell hounds. As they continued to made their way they saw a ruble in front of them. Hestia then saw one of Bell's dagger stuck underneath.

Hestia: Th-This is one of Bells...

Ryuu climed up the ruble and saw multiple broken vials and magic stones and told them that Sora and the others were not here anymore and Asfi concludes that Sora and the others continued to made their way to the 18th floor and they looked completely shocked.

Ouka:But still... go down? That's insane.

Ryuu: That's what I'd do.

They all looked at Ryuu as she continued to speak.

Ryuu: Knowing Sora, he will continue to protect his party while going there. That boy will never let any of his party member to die. He'll keep moving forward.

Hermes: I agree with her completely.

Hestia: Me, too. Bell, Sora and Rin is below. I've got that feelings.

Asfi: Then it's decided. Let's head for the 18th floor.

Back with Sora and the others, they encountered monsters along the way with Sora at the front doing all the fighting and told the rest to heal up. Welf then saw a hell hound charging up a fire breath and he used his spells again, but he eventually got a mind down.

Sora: Welf! Mind down?

Rin: This is not good!

The two of them then heard a thud and looked back and saw that both Bell and Lili were already unconscious. Sora also looked at Rin and she was barely standing.

Sora: Shit!

Sora removed Lili's bag and told Rin to carry Lili on her back and Sora carried both Bell and Welf with both arms. Sora left their equipment there hoping that if anyone sees it, knows that they are still alive. Sora and Rin made their way further down and after a few minutes Sora heard a thud and saw that Rin had also fainted.

Sora: Dammit!

Sora put Bell and Welf down and grabbed a rope and tied Lili on his front and Rin on his back and put his Hestia short sword on his mouth so that he could fight while protecting the rest and he picked both Bell and Welf again and made his way down.

Sora(mind): I definitely won't let them die. We're all going home alive...!

Sora made his way and saw a vertical hole and jumped down to the 17th floor "The Great Wall of Sorrow" and saw the door that leads to the 18th floor and he started walking towards it. As he was walking the wall started breaking and he saw the Goliath was coming out and let out a roar.

Sora: I could easily beat you if I'm not carrying my companions.

Sora started running with all his might, but due to him carrying 4 other companions, he's speed was slowed down and the Goliath managed to broke through the walls and started chasing Sora and Sora saw that it was going for a punch and Sora knew that he wouldn't made it in time, so he quickly untied the ropes that was holding Rin and Lili and he threw all 4 of them in the doorway that leads to the 18th floor and Sora braced for impact as the Goliath sent his punch towards Sora which crack a few of his bones and he cough up blood and he was punch towards the doorway and he rolled his body down and made it to the 18th floor.

Sora: Everyone!

Sora weakly looked up and saw Bell and the others and saw 2 figure with blue hair and golden hair in front of them and he weakly spoke up.

Sora: Please...help my companion.... they need you... Aiz... Asuna...

Before he could finished his sentence, Sora passed out due to exhaustion.