The celebrations following the War Game win were brief, barely even enough to savor the victory. Sure, Hestia Familia had claimed the prize, had shown off just how powerful one of their members was, and even humiliated the mighty Apollo Familia. But for Harry and the rest of Hestia Familia, the thrill of battle was never really satisfied. It was as if the taste of victory had barely touched their tongues before they were craving something more. Something deeper.
The streets of Orario were still echoing with the cheers, but inside the walls of the Hestia Familia mansion, the group had already made up their minds. There would be no endless parties or indulgence in luxuries. No, instead, they were gearing up for something far more exciting.
Dungeon diving.
It was late in the evening when Harry stood at the entrance to the Dungeon, the familiar stone walls standing tall before them. But this time, things would be different. There would be no flashy tactics or over-reliance on their Familia's strengths. This time, each of them would handicap themselves, pushing their limits in a way they'd never done before. They would fight until they couldn't stand anymore. They would fight until their muscles screamed for release, and their minds begged for respite. This was the real test.
"Alright, everyone," Harry spoke up as he secured his gear, a slight smile on his lips. "We're going to Floor 55 this time. We're not just going for easy kills. We're going to push ourselves beyond the limits of our current strength. You're going to feel the burn, and then you're going to fight through it."
Bell, Lili, and Welf all exchanged nervous but determined glances. They knew this wouldn't be a walk in the park. This wouldn't be the same as the usual expeditions where Harry would casually wipe out enemies and they would just follow along. No, Harry had a different challenge in mind for them this time.
"I'll put up a handicap on myself," Bell said, adjusting his sword. "It'll be a good chance to see how much I've grown."
Lili, ever pragmatic, raised an eyebrow but nodded. "I'll be alright. It'll be good to push myself even harder than usual."
Welf smirked, already ready to take on the challenge. "Let's see if I can outdo you all this time."
Harry grinned. "Perfect. Just remember: no holding back."
The Familia made their way into the Dungeon, descending the familiar floors. The deeper they went, the darker the air became, the deeper the echoes of their footsteps reverberated through the stone hallways. They passed through Floor 51 and Floor 52 in relative peace, though the occasional monster would pop up, easily dispatched as they warmed up for what was to come.
But when they reached Floor 55, they all felt it. The Dungeon had a different kind of atmosphere here. It was more oppressive. The monsters were stronger, faster, and far more numerous. Harry didn't waste any time. He took the lead, knowing this would be the perfect place to start their training. But today, he wasn't going to wipe the floor with the monsters in the way he normally would. Instead, he was going to fight alongside them—while handicapped, just like the others.
"I'll be limiting my powers," Harry said, turning to Bell, Lili, and Welf. "I'm not going to use magic unless absolutely necessary, and I'm not going to go all-out. We'll all keep it on the same level. But when we need to, we'll unleash our full strength. Are you all ready for that?"
They nodded, their resolve hardening.
Harry then drew his sword—nothing flashy, just a regular steel blade. "Let's get started."
Immediately, the monsters began to swarm. From the shadows, the first of the monsters—a group of Horned Lizards—rushed at them, their sharp claws and vicious bites ready to tear into flesh. Harry's eyes narrowed, and he moved swiftly, dodging the first few swipes and retaliating with quick, decisive strikes. But he wasn't going full speed—he was holding back. And so, the fight felt different. He wasn't weaving through the monsters with the effortless grace he was used to. His movements were slower, more calculated.
Bell, on the other hand, was all over the place, his sword moving in wild arcs as he struggled to keep up with Harry's methodical pace. He was still fast, but nowhere near as agile as Harry, and even though his skills were improving rapidly, he still had a long way to go.
Lili, as always, was cautious. She hung back at first, letting Bell take the front lines, but as the battle wore on, she saw the opportunity to strike. She darted forward, launching her knives with precision, picking off smaller monsters before they could close the gap. Her speed and accuracy were remarkable, but Harry knew that this handicap would soon force her to rely more on her combat sense than just the weapons she wielded.
Welf wasn't far behind. He threw fireball after fireball, creating massive explosions that shook the Dungeon walls. He was trying to conserve his magic, but his desire to prove himself had him pushing harder than usual. Every attack he made felt like it was draining his stamina, but he didn't care. This was the kind of challenge he needed to improve.
They fought for hours—swinging swords, weaving magic, dodging and countering. The deeper into the Dungeon they went, the more dangerous the monsters became. But Harry refused to let them rest. Every time they made progress, Harry pushed them further. He didn't let them take the easy way out, forcing them to fight smarter and harder.
They fought until their bodies were aching and their strength was draining. They fought until they were covered in bruises, sweat, and exhaustion, until they couldn't lift their weapons without a slight tremor. But still, Harry didn't relent.
"Keep going!" he shouted, his voice a battle cry that cut through their fatigue. "This is how you get stronger!"
By the time the last of the monsters was defeated, none of them were standing tall. They were all gasping for breath, muscles screaming in protest, but there was a fire in their eyes. They'd made it through. They'd fought until they couldn't fight anymore.
Harry, though just as exhausted as the rest of them, looked at them with pride. "That's the spirit. You're all getting stronger. I could feel it. Next time, we push even harder."
They all collapsed to the floor, a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction settling over them. They'd faced the Dungeon on equal footing. No shortcuts. No easy wins. And they had survived.
And that, Harry thought as he looked down at his Familia, was exactly what they needed.
The road to true strength was never easy. But they were on it, together.