Hachiman stared at the bluish-black armor in the box, then at Hephaestus's expectant (and still slightly flushed) face, completely speechless. The beauty and aura of power emanating from the piece were undeniable, but the explanation of the "growth factor" elevated it to a whole different level. Equipment that evolved with him? It was the kind of legendary item protagonists in stories received. Him, Hikigaya Hachiman? Receiving something like this? It seemed unreal.
'Two hundred million Valis... at least...' Tsubaki's teasing echoed in his mind. The weight of the gift, not just in monetary value but in meaning – gratitude, investment, perhaps even... affection? – was overwhelming. He never imagined receiving something so heavy, so significant.
Aqua, beside the bed, was also gaping, but her surprise quickly turned into pure excitement. "Wow! Hephaestus-sama, this is incredible! Armor that gets stronger along with Hachiman? This means he'll be much safer in the Dungeon!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining. Hachiman's safety was, by extension, her safety and the guarantee of her lifestyle (and future desserts).
"Exactly," confirmed Hephaestus, seeming pleased with Aqua's understanding. "But for it to work correctly, for it to harmonize with his Falna and be updated along with his status, we need to bind it." She pointed to a small receptacle or discreet mark on the inside of the breastplate. "Hachiman-kun and you, Aqua-san, as the Goddess of his Falna, need to place a drop of your blood here. This will create the necessary connection."
"Blood? Just that? Let's do it now!" Aqua said immediately, already looking for something to prick her finger, eager to activate her follower's new protection.
Hephaestus hesitated, looking from Aqua to Hachiman, and then to Tsubaki. "The blood ritual is simple, but the Falna update that must follow... that is something intimate to each Familia. Perhaps Tsubaki and I should withdraw so you can do this in privacy." It was standard etiquette in Orario; an adventurer's exact status was confidential information for their Familia.
Hachiman considered for a moment. Revealing his status, especially after the absurd jump from the previous night and with hidden abilities listed, was a risk. But Hephaestus and Tsubaki had already shown immense support and trust in him. Hephaestus had given him not one, but two incredible suits of armor. Tsubaki had publicly defended him against Bete Loga. Hiding this from them now, after everything, seemed... ungrateful. And perhaps unnecessary. They already knew he had potential. Trust begets trust.
"No need, Hephaestus-sama, Tsubaki-san," Hachiman said, his voice firm. "You've already done so much for me. You can stay. I trust you."
Hephaestus looked surprised, but also a little touched by his declaration. Tsubaki smiled, a glint of approval in her eye.
Aqua, wasting no time, pricked her finger (perhaps with a hairpin or something similar) and let a drop of her divine blood fall onto the mark on the armor. The drop glowed with a pale blue light for an instant before being absorbed. Hachiman, using a small dagger he kept with him, did the same, his red blood mixing with hers. The mark glowed brighter for a moment, and the entire armor seemed to pulse with a soft energy before returning to normal. The bond was made.
"Done! Now the update!" said Aqua, excited, placing her hands on Hachiman's back immediately.
Hephaestus and Tsubaki watched with silent curiosity as the blue light of the Falna shone. Hachiman picked up his mirror, his heart beating a little faster, curious to see if the fight against the dragon itself and the extreme use of power had generated even more excelia after the collapse.
(Reminder: I:0-99, H:100-199, G:200-299, F:300-399, E:400-499, D:500-599, C:600-699, B:700-799, A:800-899, S:900-999)
Hikigaya Hachiman Level: 1 (Initial Status of the Day / Post-Horde: Str:C-613, End:C-641, Dex:C-606, Agi:C-625, Mag:S-930)
Strength: A-818 (Gain of +205) Endurance: A-851 (Gain of +210) Dexterity: A-806 (Gain of +200) Agility: A-835 (Gain of +210) Magic: SS-1099 (Gain of +169)
Magic: [Unlimited Blade Works] (Hidden) Skill: [A Loner's Protection] (Hidden) Development Ability: [Blacksmith: G]
Silence. Shocked. Hachiman looked at the numbers, then the letters, then back at the numbers. He reread them several times.
'A... A... A... A?!' All his basic stats had broken through Rank C and B, firmly entering Rank A, mostly in the 800-850 range. Gains of over 200 points in each attribute, just from the fight against the Infant Dragon and the subsequent extreme power-up from his Skill. It was growth that defied all logic. And Magic... 'SS-1099?!' It had surpassed the maximum limit of Rank S (999), entering completely new territory. SS. A classification that, as far as he knew from the information he had, had never been officially recorded in Orario for any adventurer, let alone a Level 1. His Blacksmith Development Ability had also ranked up, now G, likely due to the lesson with Hephaestus the previous day.
Along with the numerical update, he felt an influx of knowledge into his mind, a direct consequence of his Magic reaching a new level and his connection to Unlimited Blade Works deepening. 'Noble Phantasms... D-rank... I can... project them now?' The understanding of how to analyze and replicate low-level legendary weapons, the so-called Noble Phantasms from the world of Fate, began to form in his consciousness. It was another layer of absurd power.
And, finally, the clearest indication of his progress: the Falna itself seemed to vibrate with a different energy, a readiness. 'I can... level up now.' The option was there, available.
But he hesitated. He looked again at his SS-1099 Magic. 'If 999 is the limit for Rank S... and I'm at 1099... does that mean my potential at this level isn't exhausted yet? Maybe I can raise my Rank A stats even higher before moving to Level 2?' The temptation to maximize his potential at Level 1, especially with an unprecedented Magic Rank, was strong. 'I'll postpone it. I'll wait until I feel I can no longer extract excelia at Level 1.'
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Aqua's ecstatic scream broke the shocked silence of the room. "RANK A! AND SS! HACHIMAN! YOU DID IT! RANK A IN EVERYTHING! AND SS MAGIC! WHAT IS SS?! IT'S MORE THAN S! YOU'RE THE STRONGEST LEVEL 1 IN HISTORY! MY FOLLOWER IS INVINCIBLE!" She jumped and vibrated with pure joy and pride.
Hephaestus and Tsubaki were equally stunned, staring at Hachiman's back (which he still displayed in the mirror) with expressions of disbelief.
"Rank A... in basics... in less than three weeks?" murmured Tsubaki, eyes wide. "And Magic... SS? Never heard of it."
Hephaestus was speechless, her single eye analyzing the numbers with the intensity of a blacksmith examining an unknown metal. This boy... the potential she had sensed in him was far greater than she had imagined. That SS Rank in Magic was something that could shift paradigms.
It was Tsubaki who broke the stupor first, her strategic brain working quickly. She looked from Hachiman to Hephaestus, then back to Hachiman, a decision forming on her face.
"Hachiman," she said, her voice serious but with a spark of excitement. "Aqua-sama. The potential you've demonstrated... is extraordinary. Far beyond normal. This will inevitably attract a lot of attention, not all of it positive." She paused. "The Hephaestus Familia has already offered protection. But I think we should formalize it. I propose an official alliance between the Hephaestus Familia and the Aqua Familia."
Hachiman and Aqua looked at her, surprised.
"An alliance?" Hachiman repeated.
"Yes," Tsubaki continued. "We will offer our support – resources, information, our protection against external threats while you grow. We will help however we can." She smiled. "In return, we hope to count on the Aqua Familia's strength in the future, should the Hephaestus Familia face a crisis that requires powerful allies." It was a clear bet on Hachiman's future.
Hachiman looked at Hephaestus, who watched Tsubaki speak but showed no sign of rejecting the proposal. The offer was incredibly generous and strategic for both sides. For Hachiman and Aqua, it meant having the explicit support of one of Orario's most influential Familias. For Hephaestus, it meant securing the loyalty of an individual with the potential to become an unparalleled powerhouse.
"We..." Hachiman began, looking at Aqua, who nodded vigorously, still buzzing from his stats. "...accept. And we are deeply grateful for all the help and trust you've given us. We will do our best to honor this alliance."
A satisfied smile appeared on Tsubaki's face and a relieved smile on Hephaestus's.
"Excellent!" said Tsubaki. "Then, I think this deserves a small celebration! Even if it's just with water and maybe some infirmary crackers!"
The mood in the room lightened, a mixture of shock, excitement, and relief. They talked a bit more, discussing the implications of the new stats (Hachiman omitted the knowledge about Noble Phantasms for now), the newly formed alliance.
After a while, Tsubaki and Hephaestus took their leave, leaving Hachiman and Aqua alone to process everything. They returned to their new home later that day, the box with the growth armor carried with reverence. The world had changed drastically for Hikigaya Hachiman in a matter of hours. He was now at the peak of Level 1, with magic of an unprecedented classification, legendary armor, dangerous knowledge, and a formal alliance with the Hephaestus Familia. The road ahead was still uncertain, but the tools at his disposal were now of a completely different order.