Danmachi: God of Heroes

I need opinions on how this fanfic is handled. I've seen that the first chapters have not had a good reception, there are already 4 people who are commenting that they drop this due to how the MC behaves in the first 4 chapters. I would like to ask you if I should rewrite the first 4 chapters, obviously leaving the updates of the later chapters on hold. The estimated time it would take me to rewrite the chapters could be 2 weeks.

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Seven days had passed since Veldrin's last foray into the lower floors of the Dungeon. Now, instead of diving headlong into challenging encounters, he found himself on the lower floors, instructing Lili in her current role as a supporter.

"Remember, the most important thing is to keep your distance," Veldrin said, calmly advancing through the corridors of the first floor. "Your job is not to fight, but to collect magic stones and support from behind."

Lili nodded, holding her crossbow tightly. "Lili understands, but… what happens if a monster gets too close?"

Veldrin smiled. "That's why you have your crossbow. If anything comes close, shoot and back off. Don't worry, I'll take care of the rest."

A couple of hours had passed in the dungeon. Lili, though still a bit clumsy, was beginning to understand the rhythm of combat. Every time Veldrin finished off a goblin or a kobold, she would run to collect the magic stones with surprising efficiency.

"You're quick to pick up loot," Veldrin commented with a small laugh.

"Lili has had to learn," she replied, a little embarrassed but proud.

As they moved forward, a group of kobolds appeared in front of them. Veldrin stepped forward and unsheathed his guides. "Alright, time to show what you've learned. Stand back and watch."

She launched herself at the monsters with ease, dodging their attacks and cutting them down quickly. Lili, from the rear, kept her distance and fired when she had the chance, hitting one of the kobolds in the leg.

When the fight ended, Lili ran to collect the magic stones while Veldrin cleaned his weapons.

"Not bad," he commented, looking at the little girl approvingly. "Let's go a little further before we head back."

So they continued, advancing carefully through the first floors of the Dungeon.

As Lili collected the magic stones from the defeated kobolds, Veldrin watched her with his arms crossed.

"You know, this isn't just about making you better as a supporter," he said casually.

Lili looked up, curious. "Huh? Then why else?"

Veldrin placed his hand on her waist and smiled sideways. "Because one day I want you to stop being just a supporter and become a real adventurer." Lili fell silent, blinking in surprise.

"Gathering loot is useful, but I want you to be able to defend yourself, to face monsters on your own if necessary," Veldrin continued, pointing at the little girl's crossbow. "I don't want you to be dependent on others forever."

Lili lowered her gaze slightly, clenching her fists. "Lili… never thought about that. Lili always considered herself to be just a supporter for her abilities…"

Veldrin gently ruffled her hair. "Then start thinking about it. There's no hurry, but if you keep training, one day you'll be able to stand in the dungeon as an adventurer."

Lili looked at him for a moment before nodding determinedly. "Lili will try… someday, Lili will be an adventurer."

Veldrin smiled with satisfaction. "That's the spirit. Now, let's move on before more monsters appear."

With a new purpose in mind, Lili followed Veldrin through the halls of the Dungeon, ready to learn more.

Veldrin crossed his arms as he looked at Lili, who held her crossbow in both hands. In front of her, a kobold was growling aggressively, scratching the ground with its claws before charging forward.

"It's okay, Lili. You can handle this," Veldrin said calmly, staying close by in case anything went wrong.

Lili gulped, but stood her ground. She aimed her crossbow and fired. The arrow flew straight at the kobold, but it moved to the side, narrowly dodging it. Eyes wide, Lili began to back away as she hurriedly reloaded.

"Don't be intimidated! Stay calm and wait for the right moment," Veldrin advised.

The kobold leapt at her, and Lili instinctively rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. With shaking arms, she raised the crossbow and fired again. This time, the arrow lodged in the monster's side, making it howl in pain.

"Well done! Now finish him off before he recovers," Veldrin instructed.

Lili gritted her teeth and ran towards the kobold, pulling a small knife from her belt. With a cry of effort, she plunged it into the monster's neck, which twitched for a few seconds before collapsing to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Lili looked at the corpse of the kobold, her hand still shaking. She then looked up at Veldrin, who gave her an approving smile.

"That was good for your first encounter. You need to improve your aim and not hesitate so much, but you're on the right track."

Lili nodded, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Lili… Lili did it."

Veldrin lightly tapped him on the head, without much force. "Yes, but don't get carried away. Let's continue."

With a little more confidence, Lili stood up and followed Veldrin deeper into the Dungeon.

Veldrin and Lili walked back to the surface after a day in the first floors of the Dungeon. Lili was still feeling the effects of the battle, her heart beating fast as she remembered how she had defeated her first enemy on her own.

Upon arriving at the Guild, Veldrin took it upon himself to exchange the collected magic stones. While waiting, Lili watched the other adventurers around her, noticing how some looked at her with disdain. Although she was already used to those looks, for the first time in a long time she did not feel completely alone.

"Let's go," Veldrin said upon receiving his payment, stuffing the Valis into his bag. Lili nodded and followed him out of the Guild, heading to the Xander familia headquarters.

The sun was already beginning to set as they walked through the doors of the headquarters. Xander was waiting for them at the entrance, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised.

"How was today's lesson?" he asked with an amused smile.

"Lili did well," Veldrin replied sincerely, and Lili, beside him, puffed out her chest with pride.

Xander nodded, satisfied. "Well, then go get some rest. Oh, and dinner will be ready in a little while."

With a sense of accomplishment, Lili and Veldrin entered the headquarters, ready to relax after a day of training.

When Veldrin arrived at the headquarters, Xander was already waiting for him with a relaxed smile.

"Well, I guess it's time to update your status again. May I?" she asked, pointing at the couch for Veldrin to sit on.

Veldrin nodded and removed his shirt, letting Xander work on his back. After a few minutes, Xander raised an eyebrow at the growth.

"Wow, that's quite a jump," he commented with interest as he finished transcribing the status on a piece of paper.

Veldrin Lightstorm

Level 1

Strength: F388 → E473

Endurance: F361 → E421

Dexterity: F399 → D521

Agility: E445 → C612

Magic: F321 → C625

Veldrin took the paper and looked through it with a slight smile. "Well, at least it looks like I haven't been wasting my time."

Xander nodded.

"Your magic is advancing rapidly… but your agility is not far behind either. At this rate, you will soon be able to venture deeper into the dungeon without relying so much on potions or strategic retreats." Veldrin chuckled.

"Yes, yes… although running away is still a valid technique."

Xander shook his head, amused.

"Just make sure it doesn't become a bad habit."

Xander noticed something as he looked through the supplies.

"Veldrin, you've used several potions these days, right?"

The man in question shrugged. "Well, that's normal. I've been pushing my limits, so I needed to recover quickly."

Xander sighed. "We'll have to buy more. We can't run out of basic supplies."

Before he could say anything else, Lili raised her hand.

"I can go buy them!" she said with determination.

Veldrin looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure? It's not dangerous or anything, but still…"

Lili nodded. "I can do that. Besides, it saves time and they can rest a little longer."

Xander smiled. "Alright. Lili, grab some Valis and buy enough so we have supplies for a while."

Lili nodded enthusiastically, took the money and left the headquarters without wasting any time.

Veldrin watched her go, then looked at Xander. "He's trying pretty hard, isn't he?"

Xander crossed his arms and nodded. "Yeah… I think he wants to prove he's useful."

"Well, she is." Veldrin smiled, leaning back against the couch. "Not everyone cooks like her."

Xander let out a light laugh. "That's true."

Lili walked through the bustling streets of Orario, holding tightly the bag of Valis Xander had given her. All around her, merchants shouted their offers, adventurers talked about their Dungeon raids, and life went on like any other day. But for her… everything had changed.

Before, her world was filled with despair and distrust. Her life within the Soma familia was miserable, trapped in a spiral of abuse and exploitation. Every day was a struggle to survive, every Valis coin ripped from her hands by those who saw her as nothing more than a means to more Soma liquor.

But then, he showed up.

Veldrin.

His "hero".

She couldn't help but smile as she recalled how he had, without hesitation, decided to help her. At first, she had thought of taking advantage of his kindness, until that thought was gone as quickly as it had come that time. Veldrin… he was different. Not only did he protect her, but he truly believed in her. He believed she could be more than just a simple supporter.

And now, after just a few days of training with him, she was no longer the same scared little girl she used to be. She had learned to defend herself, to fight off the monsters in the Dungeon. She wasn't just carrying backpacks or collecting magic stones… she was now getting stronger.

"If I keep this up… maybe one day I can really fight by his side," she muttered to herself, a spark of determination in her eyes.

He clenched his fists and continued walking. He didn't know how long it would take to free himself from the Soma familia, but there was one thing he did know for certain:

She was no longer alone.

Lili stopped dead in her tracks as a shadow blocked her path. She looked around, feeling a chill run down her spine.

"Look who we have here."

The mocking voice made her cringe. In front of her, with a cruel smile, was Canoe, the adventurer from the Soma familia who always took her money. His raccoon ears twitched slightly as he looked at her with disdain, and behind him were two other familia members, with equally unpleasant expressions.

"It's been a while since I saw you, Lili." Canoe stepped forward, his eyes shining with mischief. "You worried us, you know? You suddenly stopped bringing in the adventurers' money… that's not right."

Lili gulped and took a step back, but the other two adventurers blocked any possible escape. Her legs trembled, a feeling of pure terror taking over her body. It wasn't the first time this had happened, but now… now she had something to lose.

"And tell me," Canoe continued, leaning slightly toward her, "did you think you could just disappear like that? Did you think we would leave you alone?"

"I-I…" Lili tried to speak, but her voice cracked.

"You know how things work, right?" Canoe smiled, showing his teeth. "The money you earn isn't yours. It belongs to us. So give it to us."

Lili hugged herself, feeling her hands shaking. She looked around, searching for a way out, but the three of them surrounded her like predators stalking their prey. Her mind screamed for her to run, to do something, but her body didn't respond.

"Come on, Lili, don't make me repeat myself." Canoe extended his hand, his smile now completely devoid of patience. "Give it to me."

Lili squeezed her eyes shut. She was trapped.

Lili tried to hold on to the bag with all her might, her breathing ragged with fear. She couldn't lose that money. Xander had entrusted it to her, and it was for Veldrin's potions. She couldn't…

But before she could react, she felt a brutal blow to the stomach that knocked the wind out of her. Her eyes widened as she doubled over from the impact, falling to her knees.

"I warned you." Canoe's voice was mocking as his boot slammed into her side, sending her rolling across the alley floor.

Lili gasped, trying to catch her breath, but another blow hit her in the back, followed by a kick to the thigh that made her scream in pain.

"You shouldn't have ignored us." Another of the adventurers spat to the side, before throwing a punch straight at his face.

His vision blurred from the impact. Pain spread through his body like burning flames, and Valis's pouch slipped from his fingers. He could barely see Canoe take it with a satisfied smile.

Canoe snapped his fingers as he put away Valis' bag with a smug smile.

"That's how things should be." He crouched down a bit, looking at Lili with a sneer. "I'll let the others know that you like to hang around here. You know, so they'll be on the lookout next time."

Lili felt a chill run through her body. That meant that no matter when or where, they would always be watching her.

"Let's go." Canoe turned around, and the other adventurers followed him without bothering to look back.

Lili could barely move. Everything hurt. Her body was shaking, and her eyes filled with tears, not only from the pain, but from helplessness.

She was back to her old self. Weak. Unable to defend herself.

And now… what was I going to do?

Lili lay there, curled up on the ground of the alley, tears streaming uncontrollably down her dirty, bruised face.

He clenched his fists tightly, hating how weak he was, hating that he was always like this.

Everything had changed since she met her hero… but, in the end, had she really changed?

Her small body was shaking, but no one came to help her. No one ever did.

She had only one option: to get up. But at that moment, she could only cry.

Lili sobbed silently for a few more minutes, her body aching and her heart even more so. But she knew she couldn't stay there forever.

With effort, he placed his hands on the ground and tried to get up. Every movement reminded him of the blows he had received, but he had to move.

"I can't go back like this…" she thought, wiping her tears with her sleeve. "I don't want to worry Veldrin… or Xander."

He staggered as he took his first step out of the alley, holding his stomach with one hand. He knew his clothes were dirty and messy, but he couldn't do anything about it.

He took a deep breath. He still had to buy the potions.

Lili checked her bag with trembling hands, but as expected, it was empty. Everything was taken…

She gritted her teeth in frustration. She couldn't just go back empty-handed. What was she going to say? That she'd been mugged? Xander would probably understand… but Veldrin… he'd be angry. Not at her, but at Soma's people.

His heart was pounding with fear. If he tried to do anything, he would get hurt.

No… I don't want that to happen…

But I couldn't come back with nothing either.

He looked around. He couldn't get potions without money… but maybe he could get money another way.

He took a deep breath and started walking, intending to look for some emergency work, something he could do in a few hours.

Lili quickly wiped away her tears. She couldn't just lie there.

Xander had mentioned that he sometimes put on shows… maybe he was in one right now. And if so, he could ask him for help without Veldrin finding out.

With that hope, he hurried out of the alley and headed toward the main square. His eyes urgently scanned the area, searching through the crowd.

And then, he saw it.

Xander stood on a small makeshift platform, surrounded by people. His expression was confident, his posture imposing, and his voice carried easily above the murmur of the crowd.

Thank goodness…

With her heart pounding, Lili approached carefully, trying not to draw too much attention. Now she just had to wait for the right moment to talk to him.

Lili, still in pain and with red eyes, stood in the crowd listening to Xander.

"My dear viewers! As many of you know, I have been performing my shows on the streets of Orario, but the time has come to take it a step further. I will soon have a stage of my own! A place where grandeur, excitement and wonder will come to life before your eyes."

People murmured excitedly. Some seemed skeptical, others clapped with interest.

Lili swallowed nervously. She knew she couldn't interrupt him right now, but she needed his help. She clenched her fists, still feeling the pain from the recent blows. She couldn't keep going like this. She had to do something.

Xander, as soon as he looked down and saw Lili in the crowd, immediately noticed her condition. His expression changed completely.

"That would be all for today, expect great things!" he said hurriedly before stepping back and jumping off the stage.

He pushed his way through the crowd at a run, oblivious to the murmurs of surprise.

"Lili!" He knelt down in front of her, gently taking her face in his hands. "What happened to you? Who did this to you?"

Lili, her eyes shaking, looked away. She didn't want to say it. She didn't want Xander to worry. But at the same time… she couldn't bear this alone anymore.

Xander, noticing that Lili didn't want to talk there, gently took her hand and led her away from the crowd. He walked quickly, but without pulling her, looking for a more secluded spot.

Finally, they turned into a quiet alley, where he stopped and leaned down slightly to be level with her.

"Now tell me, Lili. Who did this to you?" His tone was calm, but there was an edge to his voice, a firmness that made it clear he would accept no evasions.

Lili lowered her head, clenching her fists. "I-It was the Soma familia…" she muttered, her voice barely audible. "Canoe and the others… they said they'll keep an eye on me…"

Xander narrowed his eyes, his jaw tensing. His suspicions were correct.

Xander sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Let me guess… they stole your money too."

Lili pursed her lips and nodded her head low. "I… I didn't want to disappoint you by coming without the potions." Her voice trembled slightly, and her small fists were clenched tightly.

Xander watched her in silence for a moment, then with a slight, understanding smile, he placed his hand on her head and began to stroke her gently. "You don't have to worry about that, Lili." His tone was calm, without a trace of anger. "I'm more upset that they did this to you."

Lili felt a lump in her throat. She gently closed her eyes, enjoying the comforting gesture.

Xander let out a sigh, keeping his hand on Lili's head. "So, why didn't you go straight to headquarters?"

Lili pressed her lips together and looked down. "I was scared…" she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Xander frowned. "Afraid of what?"

Lili gulped before answering. "That Veldrin would get angry with the Soma familia and do something reckless…" Her voice trembled slightly. "He… he's strong, but I don't want him to get into trouble because of me."

Xander stared at her in silence for a few seconds before letting out a small laugh. "So instead, you chose to wander around the city, looking for someone who could help you."

Lili nodded her head down. "I didn't want this to get any worse."

Xander sighed, crossing his arms as he looked at Lili. "You're stronger than you think, but also more stubborn than I imagined."

Lili looked at him with a mixture of embarrassment and relief.

He smiled slightly and tapped her forehead with his finger. "Come on, I'll accompany you to buy the potions. I'll take care of the money."

Lili's eyes widened in surprise. "R-Really?"

Xander nodded. "Of course. I'm not letting you go back alone after what happened." Then he extended a hand toward her. "Come on."

Lili hesitated for a moment, but ended up taking his hand. She walked alongside Xander, feeling like for the first time in a long time… she didn't have to carry everything alone.

Lili and Xander walked back to the headquarters after buying the potions. The sun was already beginning to set, dyeing the sky in orange tones. Lili, still a little sore, kept her gaze down while tightly holding the bag with the potions.

Xander glanced at her and sighed. "You're still very quiet."

Lili pressed her lips together. "I was just… thinking."

"In what?"

Lili took a moment to respond. "How foolish I was to think I could do anything on my own… In the end, I always end up depending on someone else."

Xander stopped and put a hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair. "That's not a bad thing, Lili. No one can do it all alone."

She looked up, her expression slightly surprised.

Xander smiled. "Besides, what's wrong with depending on someone who's willing to help you?"

Lili looked down again, but this time with a slight blush on her cheeks. She held the bag of potions even tighter and murmured, "Thanks… Xander."

"Bah, you're welcome. Come on, let's hurry up before Veldrin thinks something happened to us."

With a small nod, Lili continued walking alongside Xander, feeling a little calmer.

Entering the headquarters, Lili and Xander noticed that it was surprisingly quiet. Lili frowned and looked around.

"Where's Veldrin?" he asked, placing the bag of potions on the table.

Xander crossed his arms and looked towards Veldrin's room, but the door was open and the interior was empty.

"He must have gone down to the Dungeon," he said calmly. "It wouldn't be strange, after all, he's always training."

Lili looked down, still with some discomfort in her expression.

Xander glanced at her and sighed. "Don't worry, he'll be back soon. It's tougher than it looks."

Lili nodded slightly, but still looked uneasy. She decided to wait at the headquarters until Veldrin returned.

Xander patted Lili on the head and smiled softly.

"Go get cleaned up, Lili. You can't just stand there like this," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "I'll make dinner."

Lili opened her mouth to say something, but in the end she simply nodded and headed towards the bathroom. She still felt sore, but the warm water would help soothe her body and clear her mind.

Meanwhile, Xander headed to the kitchen, pulling out the ingredients he had recently acquired. Although he was no expert chef, he could whip up something decent for when Veldrin returned.

Lili ate in silence, feeling the warmth of the food filling her stomach and bringing back some of the warmth she had lost in that alley. The aroma of the stew was delicious, with a taste that reminded her of something home-cooked… something she never really had.

But even more comforting than the food was Xander's presence. He didn't say anything, but he was still there, standing behind her, not moving much.

Lili calmly finished her meal and put the spoon aside. At that moment, she felt something unexpected.

Xander gently placed his hand on her head, his fingers carefully running through her disheveled hair. It wasn't a forced or awkward gesture, but a genuine caress, one that conveyed warmth and understanding.

"You did well, Lili."

Lili felt her throat tighten.

"No one should have to go through what you went through today. But you are here now, safe. You are not alone."

Xander continued to stroke her hair, not pushing her to talk, not demanding answers. He was just there, reminding her that she had a place to return to.

Lili closed her eyes and nodded, saying nothing. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she could let her guard down.

Lili couldn't hold it in any longer. All the fear, the helplessness, the pain... she had been repressing it since she left that alley. But now, with Xander there, with his warm hand on her head, with his calm voice assuring her that she wasn't alone... it all came crashing down.

Tears began to fall, first silently, then in small sobs that grew louder. Her small shoulders shook as her hands clung to Xander's robes.

And then, without thinking twice, she lunged at him and hugged him tightly.

Xander didn't move or try to push her away. He just let her vent, giving her the space and time she needed. His hand continued to gently caress her head, while Lili buried her face in his chest, soaking his clothes with tears.

For a long time, the only sound in the room was her crying. But gradually, her breathing became calmer, her sobs softer.

Xander waited until Lili had calmed down a bit before speaking, his tone still gentle as before.

"It's okay, Lili. I'm here."

She didn't answer, she just nodded, not letting go. Because at that moment, all she needed was that: someone to be there for her.

Xander felt Lili's breathing slow and even, her sobs having stopped completely. When he looked down, he noticed that she had fallen asleep, still clinging to his clothes.

He sighed with a slight smile and carefully slid his arms under her small body, picking her up. Lili barely moved, only murmuring something inaudibly before burying her face against his chest, unconsciously seeking more warmth.

Xander led her into one of the bedrooms. It was practically Lili's now, though she had never openly said she considered it hers. He gently placed her on the bed and covered her with the blanket.

He stood there for a few seconds, watching her. Her expression no longer reflected anguish or fear, only calm. She seemed lighter, as if she had finally let go of a weight she was carrying.

Xander sighed again, more serious this time.

"Rest, Lili."

With that, he left the room silently, closing the door behind him.

Xander returned to the dining room, this time in complete silence. The warmth of the previous scene dissipated, leaving only the cold reality of the situation. He slumped into one of the chairs, resting his elbows on the table as he laced his fingers together and rested his chin on them.

He thought about the Soma familia. About the adventurers who had done this to Lili. About how they had tormented her for years without anyone doing anything.

His eyes sharpened.

It was not enough to teach them a lesson. It was not enough to beat them and make them repent.

If he didn't do something, they would do it again.

He wanted to dismantle the Soma familia. End their influence. But he couldn't do it any old way. He couldn't just declare war on them without consequences. If he made a wrong move, he would put his own familia at risk, and that was unacceptable.

Xander exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a moment.

I needed a plan. Something that would bring them down from within. Something that would make it impossible for them to continue functioning.

And above all, something that would ensure that Lili would never suffer at their hands again.

Veldrin entered the headquarters with firm steps, brushing some dust off his clothes. His gaze swept the room, expecting the usual welcome from Lili, but he saw no trace of her. He frowned, slightly puzzled.

"Lili?" he asked, expecting her to appear out of the corner like she always did.

Xander, still sitting in the dining room, looked up and answered calmly. "She's asleep. 

She was tired, so I sent her to bed early."

Veldrin blinked a few times before shrugging. "That's weird. He usually waits for me."

Xander smiled calmly. "I guess the training in the Dungeon exhausted her more than we thought."

Veldrin let out a snort and plopped down into a chair, stretching out his arms. "Well, I guess that's fine. As long as I rest."

Xander nodded, glancing at him. He couldn't let Veldrin find out what had happened with Lili. Knowing him, he wouldn't hesitate to go ahead and do something impulsive, and that would only make things worse.

For now, everything had to continue as if nothing had happened.

Xander looked at the paper with Veldrin's update and let out a sigh.

"This is what it means to act like a hero…" he thought, watching as his stats continued to grow at an impressive rate.

Veldrin Lightstorm

Level 1

Strength: E473 → D533

Endurance: E421 → D513

Dexterity: D521 → C642

Agility: C612 → C666

Magic: C625 → C649

Xander glanced at Veldrin, who sat with his arms crossed, waiting for his reaction.

"So? How much better have I gotten?" he asked curiously.

Xander clicked his tongue and folded the paper before handing it over. "You're still going up fast. 

Maybe too fast."

Veldrin smiled confidently. "That's what happens when you're amazing."

Xander rolled his eyes. "That's what happens when you act like a hero."

Veldrin laughed. "That sounds like a good thing."

Xander shook his head. "Not when it means you're going to keep throwing your money at orphans."

Veldrin shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a generous guy."

Xander sighed and decided not to push it any further. "Just try not to end up without a single Valis in your pockets again, okay?"

Xander sighed and looked at Veldrin curiously.

"Tell me, what would you do if you had to face the Soma familia?"

Veldrin stopped checking their status and frowned. "What do you mean? Do you want me to kill them or something?"

Xander shrugged. "It's just a hypothetical question. If they ever became a problem for us… what would you do?"

Veldrin leaned an elbow on the table and thought for a moment. "It depends on how much trouble they are. If we're just talking about a few thugs, I'd be happy to beat them to a pulp."

"What if it's the whole familia?"

Veldrin smiled in amusement. "Then it's more complicated. I'm not stupid enough to take on an entire familia alone. But if I had to, I'd start by taking away what they care about most."

Xander raised an eyebrow. "And what do you care about most?"

"Money." Veldrin leaned back in his chair. "The Soma familia exists for and by Soma liquor. If I were to somehow cause them to lose their income or stop people from buying their wine, most of their adventurers would scatter."

Xander smiled slightly. "I didn't expect you to think about anything beyond fighting."

Veldrin shrugged. "Sometimes it's better to use your head than your fists… though I admit that fists are still more fun."

Two days passed since the incident. Lili had not left the headquarters in all that time. She always found something to do inside, helping with cleaning, organizing things or preparing food, but she avoided even going near the door.

Xander noticed, but didn't say anything. He knew Lili was scared, afraid the Soma would find her again. Veldrin, on the other hand, didn't seem to suspect anything. He just assumed Lili was resting more than usual and didn't think much of it.

But Xander knew this couldn't go on like this. Sooner or later, Lili would have to face the outside world.

There was a knock on the door of the headquarters, and Xander, with his usual calm expression, went to open it. On the other side, stood a group of adventurers with the insignia of the Soma familia on their clothes. Their body language was tense, but they tried to maintain a relaxed facade.

One of them, a man with raccoon ears, stepped forward. "We want to talk to whoever is in charge of this headquarters."

Xander raised an eyebrow before cracking a small smile. "Well, you're in luck, because that's me."

The adventurers exchanged awkward glances. It didn't seem like they had expected the god of the headquarters to be the one to greet them. Some of them adjusted their postures, becoming slightly defensive.

Canoe, the leader of the small group, cleared his throat before continuing. "You see, we've been looking for someone… A little girl, with brown hair. We were told that she usually hangs around this area. We just want to know if you've seen her."

Xander leaned an elbow on the door frame, adopting a nonchalant stance. "Orario is full of people with those characteristics. It's not that unusual, is it?"

One of the adventurers behind Canoe clicked his tongue impatiently. "Don't waste our time. We just want to know if anyone like that has passed through here."

Canoe raised a hand, as if trying to calm the tension. "We're just asking, that's all. We don't want any trouble."

Xander kept his smile, but there was a sharp glint in his eyes. "Well, if I ever see someone like that, I'll let her know she's got fans looking for her."

The Soma adventurers looked at him for a moment, assessing him, before deciding it was best not to press the issue further. Canoe snorted and nodded. "We appreciate the information."

Without further ado, they turned and walked away. Xander watched them until they turned the corner before calmly closing the door. Then, he sighed and muttered to himself,

"They have already started to move…"

…

Veldrin advanced through the 11th floor of the Dungeon, his body moving with precision as he dodged a blow from an orc wielding a massive steel claw. The creature roared as its attack missed, but Veldrin had already spun on its axis, sinking his sword into the monster's side before propelling himself backwards to avoid any retaliation.

The orc staggered, letting out a muffled grunt before collapsing to the ground and fading into motes of blue light. Veldrin barely had time to catch his breath when he heard another roar behind him.

"They never come alone, do they?" he murmured with a sly smile as he turned around.

Three more orcs emerged from the darkness of the tunnels, each armed with heavy makeshift clubs. Veldrin braced himself, tightening his grip on the hilt of his weapon.

"Okay… let's get on with it."

Without waiting for the orcs to take the initiative, Veldrin charged towards them.

Veldrin slipped through the orcs with impressive agility, dodging a club that slammed into the ground with enough force to shake the cavern. He took advantage of the opening and,

With a quick twist, he plunged his sword into the armpit of one of the monsters, a spot where its thick skin was weakest. The orc roared in pain, but Veldrin had already retreated before he could counterattack.

The other two orcs gave him no respite. One of them raised his club and brought it down with all his strength. Veldrin barely had time to move to the side, feeling the wind from the impact blowing through his hair. He took advantage of the moment to slide beneath his enemy and, with a clean cut, tore through the tendon in his leg. The orc fell to his knees with a grunt of agony.

But the third did not stand still. Veldrin saw, only at the last moment, how the last orc threw his club as if it were a spear.

There was no room to dodge.

In an instinctive movement, he crossed his arms and used his sword to block the improvised projectile. The force of the impact launched him backwards, making him roll several times on the ground before stopping in a single fluid movement. His breathing labored as he stood up, feeling the pain course through his arms.

"These guys sure pack a punch…" he muttered, dusting himself off.

But the orcs were wounded, and he still had strength. With a ferocious grin, he charged back into battle.

Veldrin could not afford to prolong the fight any longer. Taking a deep breath, he propelled himself at full speed towards the orc who had thrown his club. Before the creature could react, Veldrin was already upon it, his glaives glinting in the reflection of the Dungeon lights. With a swift, precise movement, he crossed both blades in a lethal slash, severing its neck in a single blow. The orc tried to growl, but his voice was drowned out in a gurgle of blood as its massive body collapsed with a rumble.

The second orc, still kneeling with the wound on his leg, tried to get up to continue the fight. But Veldrin gave him no chance. With a nimble turn, he sank one of his glaives into its chest while with the other he sliced the creature's arm, preventing any attempt at defense. The beast tried to grab onto its attacker, but its strength left it before it could do so, falling limply to the ground.

Only the first one remained, the one who had been cut in the armpit. He was still standing, breathing heavily and glaring at him angrily. Veldrin prepared himself for the final confrontation, but the orc, aware of his disadvantage, tried to flee.

"Don't even think about it."

Veldrin flexed his legs and, with a swift thrust, launched one of his glaives with deadly precision. The weapon spun in the air before sinking deep into the orc's back, piercing its heart. The beast took a couple of staggering steps before collapsing.

Veldrin sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow as he looked around. The ground was covered with the bodies of the orcs. He had managed to win without serious injuries, but his body still felt the impact of the fight.

Without wasting any more time, he walked towards the corpses and began collecting the magic stones from the fallen monsters.

As he gathered up the magic stones, a slight tremor in the ground brought Veldrin to a halt. It wasn't the heavy rumble of an orc or the agile trot of a pack of kobolds. It was something deeper, a slow but forceful rhythm.

Veldrin looked up, preparing for any threat. And then he saw it.

From the gloom of the tunnels, a quadrupedal figure slowly emerged. Its scales reflected the light of the Dungeon with a dull sheen, and its claws sank into the rock with each step. But what caught Veldrin's attention most was its face… or, rather, the mark of their last encounter.

An infant dragon. With a large scar running halfway down its face and an empty socket where an eye once was.

Realization hit Veldrin like an icy wave.

"You are the same as that time…"

The dragon growled, its jaws quivering with a mixture of recognition and suppressed fury. Veldrin felt the adrenaline surge through his body again. He had won before, but now the creature faced him with a different gaze. It was not the simple hostility of a wild monster.

It was pure resentment.

Veldrin adjusted his grip on his glaives, his muscles tensing as the infant dragon let out a roar that echoed through the tunnels of the dungeon. This time, the creature attacked not with the impatience of a wild animal, but with the caution of someone who had learned from its last defeat.

The dragon advanced with measured steps, its claws tearing at the stone as its jaws opened, releasing a faint ember. Veldrin did not wait. He lunged forward, closing the distance quickly, delivering a diagonal slash with his right glaive.

The dragon reacted instantly, moving its head to avoid the slash and striking out with its front paw. Veldrin barely had time to cross his weapons to block the blow, but the creature's strength made him slide several meters backwards.

"Harder than before…" he thought, his hands vibrating from the impact.

Without missing a beat, the dragon took a deep breath and spat out a blue flame. Veldrin leapt to the side, rolling to avoid the attack, feeling the searing heat brush against his skin. As soon as he regained his balance, he charged again, using his agility to circle around the dragon and attempt to attack its blind flank.

But the beast had learned, too. With a sharp movement, it whipped its tail around, forcing Veldrin to jump to avoid being swept away. Using the momentum, Veldrin spun in the air and swooped down with both glaives ready to slash.

The blade of one of his weapons managed to sink into the dragon's back, eliciting a roar of pain from it. However, before he could finish the attack, the beast violently shook, throwing him into the air. Veldrin crashed to the ground, rolling several times before coming to a stop on one knee.

The dragon snarled, its single eye gleaming with fury as blood dripped from its wound. Veldrin sat up, breathing heavily but with a smile on his lips.

"So you still want to fight…"

The dragon roared again.

The second round had just begun.

Veldrin gritted his teeth, he knew he couldn't give the infant dragon a chance to launch another fireball. His only path was all-out offensive.

He closed his eyes for a moment and let his energy flow. His blood quickened, his muscles tensed, and the world seemed to slow down around him. Burning mana.

The infant dragon took a deep breath, preparing to spit out another blast of flame. But Veldrin gave him no time. In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of the beast. With a glaive he drew a downward arc, aiming for the dragon's neck.

The beast tried to turn its head to dodge, but Veldrin had already anticipated the move. He adjusted his strike at the last moment, wounding the dragon's jaw, forcing it to snap its mouth shut and dispersing the embers that had built up in its throat.

The creature roared in frustration and slashed out. Veldrin slipped beneath the massive paw, spinning with the momentum of the dodge and slashing upward with his other glaive, ripping through his opponent's skin from chest to shoulder.

The dragon staggered back, its single eye reflecting fury and… fear?

"You can't throw fire anymore," Veldrin said, putting himself on guard. "Now it's just a matter of who's faster."

The infant dragon snarled, refusing to give up. He lunged forward in a desperate charge.

But Veldrin was already one step ahead.

Veldrin felt the heat of the infant dragon from a distance. This time, he wouldn't make the mistake of letting it use its fire breath.

"Burn Manna."

His spell activated instantly. A scarlet glow ran through the dragon's body, as if its magic was being drained all at once. The creature let out a furious growl, realizing what Veldrin had just done. It could no longer use its fiery breath.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Veldrin launched an attack. His glaives glowed in the dim light of the dungeon, moving with precision. The dragon spun to meet him with a tail swipe, but Veldrin anticipated it and leapt, narrowly avoiding it. As he descended, he swung both glaives in a crosscut.

Clank!

The blades of their weapons clashed against the dragon's hard scales, barely managing a superficial cut. This monster was much more durable than the orcs they had faced before.

The infant dragon counterattacked with its claws, Veldrin rolled on the ground to dodge, but the beast pursued him with a charge. He couldn't completely avoid it and the impact threw him several meters back, crashing into the wall of the cavern.

"Tch… it's strong."

He struggled to his feet. The dragon watched him with its one eye, waiting for his next move.

Veldrin knew he couldn't fight half-heartedly. If he wanted to win, he would have to go all out.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment and muttered her next spell.

"Immolation."

Flames erupted from his body immediately. His skin burned without burning, and the air around him distorted with the heat. The dragon's gaze turned alert, but it was too late.

Boom!

Veldrin charged forward with explosive speed. His right glaive traced a flaming arc, striking the dragon in its side. The beast roared as the flames gripped its body, beginning to devour its scales.

The dragon tried to counterattack with a bite, but Veldrin slid to the side, using his other glaive to cut off its hind leg. The creature staggered, losing its balance.

"You can't run away anymore."

With a battle cry, Veldrin twisted his body and plunged both glaives into the beast's neck.

The dragon thrashed, trying to resist, but his strength slowly left him. His movements became clumsy, his one eye losing its sparkle of life.

With a final muffled roar, his body collapsed to the ground.

Veldrin breathed heavily, extinguishing his flames. He looked at the dragon's corpse with a mixture of satisfaction and exhaustion.

This time, there was no escape.

Veldrin let out a ragged breath, feeling the adrenaline drain out of his body. His muscles ached, his wounds burned, and his breathing was heavy. When he tried to take a step, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, and before he knew it, he spat out some blood onto the ground.

"Tch… I guess I overdid it."

He put a hand to the affected area. The impact of the dragon and the effort of the fight had taken their toll. He couldn't afford to be left vulnerable in the Dungeon.

With somewhat clumsy movements, he reached into his bag for a healing potion and uncorked it. The bright blue liquid had a faint herbal scent, but the taste was still bitter as ever.

"I will never get used to this…"

He gritted his teeth and drank the contents in one gulp. He felt the liquid run down his throat, followed by a cooling sensation spreading through his body. The pain slowly began to fade, his wounds closing and his breathing steadying.

He took a few seconds to catch his breath and then looked at the corpse of the infant dragon. "Now, next…"

He took out his dagger and began to extract the magic stone from the beast.

As Veldrin plunged the dagger into the infant dragon's chest, he felt the hardness of its scales even in death. With some effort, he managed to cut through enough to reach the magic stone. However, as he pulled it out, its eyes widened in surprise.

"What the …?"

The magic stone was enormous, much larger than any he had ever seen before. Its purple glow flickered brightly, as if it still held traces of the dragon's energy. He tried to stuff it into his bag, but it wouldn't even fit through the opening. In fact, it was almost the size of the bag itself.

"Great, now how am I supposed to carry it?"

He had no choice but to carry it in his hand. He sighed, lifting it with both hands at first, feeling its weight, before making sure to hold it firmly with one.

"Well, at least it will be worth a good amount when I sell it."

With the stone in hand, he scanned the area one last time, making sure there were no more threats nearby. Then, with his other glaive in his free hand and his body still feeling the aftermath of the battle, he made his way back to the surface.

As Veldrin stepped through the guild doors, the usual bustle of the place slowly began to fade away. At first, only a few adventurers noticed the huge magic stone he held in his hand, but within seconds, almost everyone had their eyes on him.

"Hey… is that what I think it is?"

"It can't be… A level 1 bringing a magic stone from an infant dragon?"

The murmurs grew rapidly, some filled with disbelief, others with amazement, and a few with outright distrust.

Behind the counter, the receptionist serving Veldrin opened her eyes wide at the sight in his hand.

"W-Wait a minute!" she said, nearly tripping over her own papers as she left her post to inspect the magic stone. She stopped right in front of him, staring at the purple crystal intently, then looked at him in disbelief. "You… brought this?"

Veldrin, who had remained silent until now, shrugged. "Yes, can I sell it or do I need to do any special paperwork?"

"You killed an infant dragon?!"

The question came out louder than the receptionist intended, which only served to draw more gazes his way. Some adventurers were already muttering theories.

"He must be lying, someone else must have killed him and he alone picked up the stone."

"But who in their right mind would leave behind a magic stone like that?"

"If it's true… then this guy is not normal."

The receptionist gulped and quickly brought it to the counter, trying to control the situation. "L-Let me weigh it and verify its authenticity. If it really comes from an infant dragon, you might receive a considerable reward."

Veldrin nodded, ignoring the gazes around him as he placed the magic stone on the counter. He was already used to attracting attention, but even he could tell this was different.

The receptionist placed the magic stone on the guild's special scale. The magic scale glowed faintly as it activated, processing the weight and purity of the core.

"Impossible…" the receptionist whispered, looking at the results. "It's completely authentic. It's… really from an infant dragon."

A murmur ran through the guild. Some adventurers rose from their seats, discreetly approaching to take a closer look.

"How much is it?" Veldrin asked, crossing his arms.

The receptionist looked through the price records and, after a moment of silence, looked at Veldrin in disbelief. "For its size and purity, this magic stone is worth… eight hundred thousand valis."

There was absolute silence in the guild.

"Eight hundred thousand?! That's more than many make in months!"

"A level 1 making so much money all at once? It can't be real."

"If he really killed an infant dragon… that's not luck, that's madness."

Veldrin kept his expression calm, although he was a little surprised inside. He didn't expect it to be worth so much. "Fine, sell it."

The receptionist nodded and started with the paperwork. "I'm going to need you to sign here. Normally, transactions of this size aren't done without confirmation from a superior, but since you're the one who brought it, I just need your approval."

Veldrin took the pen and signed without hesitation. Around him, the adventurers continued to whisper.

"This guy… how strong is he really?"

"If he keeps this up, someone will try to stop him before he levels up."

"You better watch that money. It wouldn't be surprising if someone tried to steal it."

Veldrin ignored the murmurs. He knew this would bring unwanted attention, but he was used to it by now. He just wanted to get his payment and leave.

As he walked out of the guild, Veldrin felt several heavy gazes on him. He soon noticed a few adventurers from the Soma familia in the crowd. Their eyes reflected a mix of envy and malice, like predators sizing up their prey.

It wasn't the first time he had received such stares, but this time was different. He knew exactly why they were looking at him that way. Eight hundred thousand valis. For many low-level adventurers, that amount of money was enough to tempt any dark impulses.

Veldrin didn't change his expression or his stride. He simply continued walking as if he hadn't noticed anything. However, in his mind, he was already calculating the situation. If they were looking at him like that, they were most likely trying to follow him.

"Tsk… I guess it's best to get this over with quickly."

Instead of heading straight to the headquarters, he took a detour. He turned into a littletraveled alley, making sure his steps were obvious enough for them to follow.

He didn't have to wait long. He had barely gone a few meters when he heard hurried footsteps behind him.

"Hah… predictable."

Veldrin slowly turned around, resting one of his glaives on his shoulder as he looked at the Soma adventurers with a slight smile.

"Well… it seems you were looking for me. Is there anything you want from me?"

The Soma familia adventurers stopped when they saw Veldrin facing them. There were three of them in total, and although their levels didn't seem particularly high, the confidence on their faces said they felt they had an advantage.

The one in the center, a man with a scar on his cheek, stepped forward with his arms crossed.

"It's nothing personal, my friend. But when a newbie leaves the guild with almost a million valis, well… you know how it is."

Veldrin sighed, bowing his head slightly.

"Let me guess. Are you going to tell me to hand over the money and that if I cooperate, nothing will happen to me?"

The three of them looked at each other, a little surprised that he had guessed so quickly.

"That would make things easier."

Veldrin chuckled and lowered one of his glaives slightly, pretending to be relaxed.

"Okay, okay… just tell me something before I hand over the money."

The adventurers raised an eyebrow, but the scarred one nodded.

"What thing?"

Veldrin smirked.

"Are they idiots or do they just like wasting time?"

Before they could react, Veldrin spun around quickly, using the blunt end of one of his glaives to strike the jaw of the adventurer on his left hard. The impact was brutal, causing his head to spin around and his body to slump against the alley wall.

The other two barely had time to draw their weapons before Veldrin was already upon them, his second glaive cutting through the air with a dangerous glint.

The two remaining adventurers quickly backed away, drawing their weapons. One of them, the scarred one, was brandishing a machete, while the other had a pair of daggers.

Veldrin didn't give them time to react. He launched himself at the dagger-wielding man first, moving nimbly to close the distance. His glaive swung in a wide arc, forcing the thief to block with both weapons. But the impact was too strong and pushed him back, causing him to stagger.

Taking advantage of the opening, Veldrin spun around and slammed the flat of his other glaive straight into the adventurer's stomach. The adventurer let out a muffled groan before falling to his knees, his lungs drained of air.

The scarred one saw his chance and attacked from behind, bringing his machete down with force. However, Veldrin had already anticipated this. He leaned to the side, dodging the slash, and with a quick movement, used the handle of his glaive to strike his wrist with precision.

The machete fell to the ground with a clang. Before the man could react, Veldrin delivered a strong kick to his chest, sending him to the ground along with his companion.

The three adventurers were on the ground, stunned and in pain. Veldrin turned his glaive between his fingers and smiled slightly.

"I think you've understood the lesson, right?"

The Soma familia did not wait to hear more. As best they could, they got up and fled the alley, limping and holding their ribs.

Veldrin watched them disappear before letting out a sigh.

"Pathetic."

Shaking the dust off his clothes, he made his way back to headquarters.

Arriving at the headquarters, Veldrin pushed open the door with a sigh. He barely took a step inside when he felt something crash into him.

"Veldrin!"

Lili held onto his waist tightly, like she always did when she came back from the Dungeon, but this time her grip was tighter, as if she was afraid he would disappear.

Veldrin smiled slightly and ruffled her hair.

"I'm back."

Lili raised her head, looking at him curiously.

"How did it go? Did you find anything good?"

Veldrin crossed his arms with a confident smile.

"I killed an infant dragon." Lili blinked.

"W-What?"

"What you heard. I met him again on the tenth floor… and this time he wouldn't let me get away, so I had to take care of him."

Lili stared at him, open-mouthed.

"B-But that's impossible! A level one can't kill an infant dragon! It's… it's…!"

"Difficult, yes. But not impossible." Lili still couldn't believe it.

"Where is the magic stone? It must have been huge!" Veldrin smiled proudly.

"I sold it to the guild. They gave me 800,000 valis for it."

Lili opened her mouth, but found no words. She simply dropped her arms, defeated.

"Did you really do something so amazing while I was just standing here doing nothing?" Veldrin tapped his forehead with his finger.

"If you want to do something, then keep improving. Remember what we said."

Lili rubbed her forehead with a pout, but nodded determinedly.

From the kitchen, Xander watched them with an amused smile as he stirred the pot.

"If you've finished your dramatic scene, come eat."

But before they could move, Veldrin sensed something strange in the air.

He looked at Lili more closely. It wasn't just surprise he saw on her face… there was something else, something that didn't quite fit.

"Lili…"

She tensed at his tone.

"All good?"

Lili opened her mouth, but quickly looked away.

"O-Of course! I was just surprised… that's all."

Veldrin frowned, but before he could press any further, Xander snapped his fingers. "Veldrin, if you keep delaying dinner, I'll keep your portion."

"Don't even dream about it!"

With that, Lili ran away from the conversation and ran to the table, leaving Veldrin with a strange feeling in his chest.

Something wasn't right.

While they were eating, Veldrin took a sip of his drink and, as if it were a casual comment, said:

"By the way, some idiots from the Soma familia tried to rob me on the way to the headquarters."

Xander dropped his cutlery onto his plate with a clink, while Lili visibly tensed, clenching her fists into her skirt.

"What?" Xander asked, a dangerous calm in his tone.

"Yeah, they followed me after I left the guild. I could tell they were jealous of the reward I got. They tried to corner me in an alley… but well, you know how that ended."

Veldrin smiled confidently and continued eating, as if the matter was of no importance.

Xander, however, rested his elbows on the table and laced his fingers together in front of his mouth, his eyes narrowing.

"How many were there?"

"Four."

"And you let them get away?"

"I had no reason to kill them, if that's what you're asking."

Lili, who had not said a word until now, lowered her head, biting her lower lip hard.

Veldrin noticed her reaction and frowned at her.

"Lili?"

She started and forced a smile.

"N-Nothing! It's just that… those adventurers are terrible, aren't they?"

Xander watched her in silence for a moment before changing the subject.

"If the Soma familia is starting to mess with our people… maybe it's time to return the favor."

Veldrin raised an eyebrow.

"Do you have something on your mind?"

Xander smiled eerily.

"Let's say I'm considering some options."

Dinner continued, but the atmosphere felt heavier.

Veldrin set his plate down on the table and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. He looked at Xander with a serious expression.

"Enough is enough. We can no longer ignore this." Xander raised an eyebrow expectantly.

"What are you talking about?"

"The Soma familia." Veldrin clenched his fists. "It's not just Lili. They're trying to rob me in alleys now. How much longer are we going to wait to do something about it?"

Lili opened her eyes in surprise and nervousness.

"V-Veldrin…"

He gave her a calm look.

"Don't worry, Lili. No one is going to do anything reckless… but we're not going to continue allowing them to treat us like their property."

Xander smirked.

"Interesting. Do you have any plans in mind?"

Veldrin was silent for a few seconds, thinking. Then he nodded.

"We will soon take care of this problem. We will not allow the Soma familia to continue trampling on our people."

Lili looked down, feeling a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, fear of what could happen. But on the other… the feeling that, for the first time in her life, she had someone who was actually willing to fight for her.

Xander smirked at Veldrin's determination.

"Okay. Then we will start preparing everything."

Veldrin nodded firmly, but Xander didn't stop there.

"But before anything else… come here. I want to see how your condition has changed." The elf blinked and then let out a small laugh.

"Are you that excited?"

"Obviously. When you ran away from that infant dragon the first time, your stats increased by almost 100 points in every area. Now that you killed it, I want to see how much you improved." Veldrin shrugged, letting Xander do his job.

Xander pulled out his dagger and, with almost artistic precision, made a small cut on Veldrin's back to extract his status information. Seeing the numbers reflected in the update, his eyes lit up.

"Oh… This is really interesting."

Veldrin Lightstorm

Level 1 (+)

Strength: D533 → B702

Endurance: D513 → B741

Dexterity: C642 → A807

Agility: C666 → A882

Magic: C649 → B777

Xander examined Veldrin's back carefully, his eyes scanning each line of the update. He couldn't help but let out a whistle as he saw the final numbers.

"Well, this is interesting." He crossed his arms and smiled. "Veldrin, you can officially level up to level 2."

The elf, who was sitting at the table with his arms crossed, didn't flinch. He just narrowed his eyes, as if he was evaluating something in his head.

"No."

Xander blinked. "No?"

Veldrin leaned back in his chair, letting out a sigh. "I won't level up until I max out my stats. I still have room to grow."

The god tilted his head. "Come on, it's not like I have to wait. By leveling up now you could get a huge development and—"

"No." The answer was blunt.

Xander stared at him for a few seconds before shrugging. "I guess I'm not surprised. "You're a perfectionist when it comes to your strength."

Veldrin simply nodded.

The god let out a laugh and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then, keep pushing your limits. Though if you die trying, I'll torment you in the afterlife for being stubborn."

Veldrin smirked. "Don't worry. I don't plan on dying yet."

Xander just smiled and dropped his hand. "Fine. But once you reach the limit, you'll level up without excuses."

Veldrin didn't answer right away, but after a moment, he nodded.

For now, he was still a level 1 adventurer. But not for long.

Xander let out a whistle.

"This, my friend, is what happens when you fight dragons."

Veldrin looked at his update with interest and smiled.

"And it´s not bad."

Xander tapped him on the shoulder.

"Not bad," he says. "With these stats, you could even face stronger enemies than the ones you usually encounter on the first floors."

Veldrin stretched, feeling his body getting used to his new power.

"Well, this will all come in handy when we take care of the Soma."

Xander nodded, his gaze more serious.

"Yes… and we will make sure to do it right."

While Xander and Veldrin argued about the situation with the Soma Familia, Lili remained silent, staring at her plate with an absent expression. Her small hand fidgeted nervously with the fabric of her skirt, not looking up from the table. The atmosphere in the room had grown thicker, and she could feel the tension in the air.

Xander, noticing Lili's mood, stopped talking about plans with the Soma Familia. His gaze shifted to the girl, and though her face remained its usual calm, a slight concern crept into her eyes.

"Lili," he said softly, causing the girl to slowly look up, "is everything okay?"

Lili forced a smile, but the fears of the past were reflected in her eyes. The mention of the Soma familia always brought back dark memories, and the idea that they might be messed with again made her deeply uneasy.

"Yeah… I just… I don't like thinking about them," she murmured in a small voice, looking down again.

Veldrin watched her, understanding what was happening. He walked over to her and bowed slightly, placing a hand on her head. "Don't worry, Lili. No one is going to hurt you. Not while we're here."

Lili nodded, though fear still haunted her mind. Veldrin and Xander's protection gave her some comfort, but the shadow of her past with the Soma familia did not disappear so easily.

"We will make sure they don't bother you anymore," Veldrin added, his tone firm and determined.

Lili raised her head upon hearing those words. There was something in his tone that made her feel that, for the first time in her life, she would not be alone to face the shadows of her past. Her small hand tightened on Veldrin's, and although her eyes still reflected some fear, there was also a spark of hope.

"Thank you, Veldrin… Xander…" she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"We're in this together," Xander said, smiling slightly.

Veldrin nodded. "Together, Lili. We won't let anyone hurt you."

Lili felt something inside her lighten upon hearing those words. Although the future was still uncertain and full of dangers, she couldn't help but feel grateful to have people willing to protect her.