It was several hours later when the Astraea familia home was visited by someone… three people in particular… And while they did knock, one would have no need for it, and the other two were always welcome to come hang out. Of those two, one had an undeniable air about him, wherever he went… It was impossible to not know who this person was.
It was the future Bell, Al who came to open the door. He paused as his hand hit the door handle… He gulped… The one behind this door is strong… I almost wet myself…
"Hmm? Is everything alright in there? Uh, what was his name? Oh yeah, Al?"
Al, the future Bell gulped, steeling himself for the moment… and opened the door. The face that was revealed once the barrier between them made way… Al spoke…
"Uh, yes, sorry about that, I was just a little surprised by your presence."
Shurry's eyes widened, as he saw the Al they'd mentioned. I thought they were talking about Bell? Did he come from a future even further than the one he did during the Jester Story? No, there's another deity here… He leveled up… Yep, that's Hestia's laugh…
"Shurry, is something wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, no, I was just caught by surprise is all. A few unexpected senses just went off-"
Shurry turned to a direction in quick fashion, sniffed the air to confirm…
"Ahahahaha! Wonderful! This'll be fantastic. So, they're coming home too… Big sisters, and Uncle… And from that direction- Huh? It seems Mother couldn't wait to come here. I almost feel bad for Uncle Leon."
"Huh? You mean they're on the way back here?"
"Yeah, after I realized my true self, every single one of my senses has been… Well… Heightened. So, Bell Cranel, brand new level 6, and the Rabbit's foot… Let's talk about how you hopped your way to this timeline."
"Huh? What do you mean-"
"I can smell two distinct sources of the exact same soul… Not hard to put two and two together. Plus… I can feel that the strength of your soul has reached level 6, which tells me that Lady Hestia has descended."
"Huh?! How do you know all of that?!"
Ardee giggled, Neze crossed her arms and smirked.
"Well, if you'd stop acting like a statue, we can sit down and talk about it." Shurry chuckled. "By the way, I brought some of the special fruits from our garden, super rare and expensive ones…"
Hestia appeared, and pushed future Bell out of the way.
"Expensive? Tasty? For free? Where, sign me up please!"
It was then she noticed the impressive presence in front of her.
"Let's get inside first."
…
Sitting down at the table, Hestia was practically stuffing her face with the special fruits, kicking her feet up enjoying the new flavors.
"Oh man you weren't kidding, these are delicious! I gotta find a way to have some of this in Tenkai!"
"Hestia, you're being rude, this is Shurry, the Origin Wolf, and Slayer of Evil Gods."
Astraea's words made Hestia stop in her tracks, and then she seemingly scanned Shurry with her eyes… To the point it was borderline sexual harassment. Shurry cleared his throat.
"Goddess Hestia, do you mind? Time travel is not something should be discussed with any degree of looseness."
"Oh! Right! Sorry, it's just never happened before, a mortal killing a god…"
"Anyway, Bell Cranel. Getting your status updated might have changed when you'll go back to your time."
""Huh? Really?!""
"Yes, think of time as a big ball, surrounded by water, each of us are sailing that sea like normal. Occasionally the waves may move you out of the cycle. But time is something that doesn't like to be tampered with… At least this is how it was understood in my original world… So, think of your update as dropping a new anchor…"
"So, I won't be able to go back?"
"Not necessarily. This is merely my own conjecture. And ultimately which is stronger; Time, or Hestia?"
"Probably time?"
"You're right. There is no god, nor goddess stronger than the fundamental thing that separates their multiple instances of existence. Maybe, if they all were able to meet somehow, but that's neither here nor there. I just wanted you to be aware of this."
"I see, so I might be able to take a nap then?"
"Probably once, maybe even twice… Either way, you're on a time limit, and there are some things I need to tell you. You'll need to know all of the information in this book…"
Shurry handed the future Bell a book… Bell started flipping through it and his expression changed…
"Wait… What's this about me having the skill Liaris Freese?"
"It's a growth type skill. And it radically enhances the strength & speed of your growth. Your time's goddess thought it best to not share this with you… Seeing her counterpart first hand, I can confirm that such a choice was a brainless one."
"But-"
"You already know the answer to that question. After all, what greater force could one have, than to be fueled by love? It's not the same way I got stronger, but since you have it, use it. You're gonna need every last bit of strength your world can possibly muster if you want to defeat the black dragon."
"Is it really that strong?"
"Your timeline's dragon may be different, but I can promise that it is incredibly strong."
"So we aren't strong enough?"
Shurry sighed, and looked Bell straight in the eyes.
"You'll most certainly die."
"I-"
"But don't worry too much, we're gonna get you as strong as we can before you head out. And make sure you do what you can with that book."
"If I give this to Finn-"
"Say that, and I'll just kill you here."
"Huh!?"
"Come with me."
…
After a rather forceful trip, Shurry brought the future Bell to a specific grave sight.
"Do you see this?"
"Yes, who were they?"
"My aunts, uncles, and my older brother… His name was Alraj. He was a bit of a perv, all thanks to Grandpa. However, when the Freya, and Loki familias came to kill the members that Alraj carried on his back, across the continent… They cut him down in cold blood, just so they'd be the top familias in the city…"
Shurry paused, as he began to struggle with those emotions.
"I was unable to save him, however, I- I- was able to save your mother from the same fate, one that came at Finn's order."
"Huh? Then… This grave? Who is it?!"
Future Bell felt off…
"Alraj, he was your father. Bell, Finn ordered your parents deaths purely out of a selfish desire to be the strongest. Ottar is the one who killed Alraj, and it was Riveria's spell that attacked your mother."
"What? My mother died after I was born…"
"In your timeline things may have happened differently. However, what remains the same, is that this is what they are like. You need to get stronger, and it seems they finally made it…"
Shurry said, as a group was approaching the gravesite…