"In fact, Bell is already the strongest at the moment. I don't know how Aiz or Otar would resist a full 5-minute charge of Argonaut."

I see someone didn't read Volume 18

"I see someone didn't read Volume 18"

I had forgotten, it's been a while since I read it.

after browsing this site I read something about it

Asterius will fight Bell again this is a foregone conclusion but will it be to the death.

Not exactly, it's more that neither of them will hold back. This greatly increases the risk of death, but does not make it an absolute certainty.

"I see someone didn't read Volume 18"

I had forgotten, it's been a while since I read it.

after browsing this site I read something about it

Ottal survived the first fully powered Argonaut attack but would die against the second one and even he noted this, but it's also because he was battle damaged at the time.

Aiz wouldn't be able to defend against Bell's fully powered Argonaut attack let alone survive. Aiz would die if Bell hit her with his 5-minute Argonaut charge and the reason being is that Aiz is a magic swordsman but is very weak defense-wise and she isn't very strong strength-wise either. Bell would beat her in a contest of physical strength any day or an arm-wrestling match.

Bruh.

Bell and Ottar's fight in 18 BEGAN with Bell throwing a fully charged Argo Vesta at Ottar. Ottar canceled it out easily with Hildis Vini. The second Argonaut attack came after Ottar had been whaled on for ages by 3 Level 7s and a Level 6. And he survived that one too!

Ais wouldn't still be on her feet after a fully charged Argonaut, no. But even here, you're exaggerating. She would still, as of right now, beat Bell in a contest of strength. And a contest of speed, for that matter. Remember that Bell's outrunning of Allen only came after he'd been both Level Boosted and had Laurus Hildr. Base Bell is still clearly inferior to her even now.

And of course, it doesn't matter, because Bell in a 1v1 against either of these opponents is NEVER going to get the chance to charge Argonaut unmolested for 5 minutes.

You have to know you're opponent and how they fight. Race and fighting style are critical here and can give you an idea on how the individual fights.

Ottal didn't "easily" counter Bell's attack, he had to resort to Hildis Vini (An attack required to defeat Zald) and is Ottal's most powerful attack when combined with his immense strength but was parried with Bell's fully charged Argonaut and resulted in a draw between the two. He admitted that Bell's attack would be superior if not for the level gap, but regardless it was still a draw.

Argonaut-powered attacks are not to be underestimated, if what you say is true then Ottal wouldn't need to resort to Hildis Vini to counter, but he did. Another thing to note is that Bell's second charged attack was only 1 minute and not 5, otherwise Ottal would be a LOT more injured or even dead by taking on a second full powered Argonaut attack from him. IIRC, Ottal noted how dangerous it was if he had gotten hit a second time if it was a fully charged attack and KNEW it could kill him.

Back to Aiz, she is only one level above Bell, but Bell on the other hand is dangerously close to surpassing her. In fact, in terms of stats, he already has, and he wouldn't even need to level up to face her in a more or less equal match, all Bell needs to do is max out as a level 5 (and would be interesting thanks to Lyu's new buff skill) and fight her. Aiz' only ace up her sleeve is Ariel but Argonaut is far more powerful in terms of one-shotting potential and raw power.

EDIT: Below is part of an estimate made by a redditor.

Currently Bell is;

1888 superior in Strength

2071 superior in Endurance

656 superior in Dexterity

1518 superior in Agility

440 superior in Magic

With the level up bonus (estimated at 999 per stat) taken into account Bell is probably significantly stronger, more durable and faster than Base Aiz, if she isn't using Magic he only loses out in Dexterity, and not by much.

@Citrus Tachibana

Ariel gave Ais massive boost that can help her directly fight stronger enemy, unlike Argonaut which needs to be charged. In term of stat Ais might lose, but Ariel can close the remaining gap. And if talking about pure attack power, Ais does have Lil Rafaga, which might not be as strong as a max charge but definitely will not lose a 1 minute charge.

@Longhatruong

Aiz would have no choice BUT to rely on Ariel against Bell maxed out as a level 5. However, if she were to fight him as a level 6, she would be outmatched, not even Ariel would close the power gap, Bell at his base would be too strong for her. In either scenario, if he gets a strike in from his Argonaut, it's over for her because her defenses cannot handle that kind of hit.

Lil Rafaga is something I forgot about, but it might allow Aiz an advantage.

Oh I thought u are only comparing Bell level 5 with Ais level 6. I dont the see point of comparing them when Bell is level 6. Bell is stronger than anyone on the same level anyway. By the way, the only Argonaut strike Bell can give Ais is only a few seconds charge. Nobody would be dumb enough to let him charge for a full minute.