The Dungeon's air was heavy. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing like a war drum in my ears.
The five adventurers before me were laughing, their voices sharp and mocking, cutting through the oppressive silence of the Dungeon's 17th floor.
They thought I was an easy target—a rookie adventurer with no armor, dressed in fine clothes that marked me as someone who didn't belong. They had never seen me before, and that made me an outsider, a stranger ripe for exploitation.
"Look at this guy," one of them sneered, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek. He twirled a dagger in his hand, the blade catching the dim light. "Fancy clothes, no armor, and a sword that looks like it's never seen a real fight. You lost, kid? Or are you just here to show off?"
The others laughed, their voices echoing off the stone walls. I didn't respond. My focus was entirely on them, my mind racing as I assessed the situation. Five against one.
Thanks to my enhanced senses, I can deduce that they are strong but not to the point where they'd give me trouble.
I tightened my grip on my sword, the cool metal biting into my palm. I couldn't afford to hesitate. This wasn't a sparring match or a friendly duel. This was life or death. If I didn't kill them, they would kill me. It was as simple as that.
The leader, the man with the scar, stepped forward, his smirk widening. "Come on, kid. Hand over your gear, and we'll let you walk away. No need to make this messy."
I didn't move. My eyes flicked between them, calculating their positions, their weapons, their body language. They were spread out, trying to surround me. The leader was directly in front of me, a dagger in each hand.
To my left was a woman with a spear, her stance loose but ready. To my right was a burly man with an axe, his muscles bulging beneath his armor. Behind me, I could sense the other two—a wiry man with twin daggers and a younger adventurer with a short sword. They all seem experienced in this and confident in their strength and numbers.
But I wasn't going to give them the chance to use that confidence against me.
"Alright," I whispered, more to myself than to them. "Let's do this."
I shifted into an offensive stance, my sword held at the ready. The adventurers' laughter died down, replaced by looks of surprise. They hadn't expected me to fight back. Good. Let them underestimate me.
The leader's smirk faded, replaced by a look of irritation. "Fine," he snapped. "Have it your way."
He lunged at me, his daggers flashing. I sidestepped, my movements fluid and precise. As he passed, I reached out with my mind, pulling at the space around him. His body jerked to the side, his momentum carrying him into the wall. I didn't waste the opportunity, my blade slicing through his throat before he could recover.
The others froze, their confidence wavering. I didn't give them time to regroup. I focused on the woman with the spear. She thrust at me, but I compressed the space between us, slowing her movements. My sword found her heart before she could react.
The burly man with the axe roared, charging at me with a wild swing. I pushed at the space around him, sending him stumbling backward. My blade cut through his neck before he could regain his footing.
The wiry man with the daggers tried to flank me, but I twisted around, my sword meeting his daggers in a clash of steel. He was fast, but I was faster. I pushed at the space around him, throwing him off balance. My sword pierced his chest, and he fell to the ground, lifeless.
The last adventurer, the younger one with the short sword, backed away, his face pale. "W-what are you?" he stammered, his voice trembling. "We're level 2s! How are we getting killed so easily!?"
I didn't answer. I didn't have time. He lunged at me, desperation in his eyes. I sidestepped, my blade cutting through his neck. He fell to the ground, joining the others.
I stood there for a moment, a little pale. My hands were trembling, my mind a whirlwind of emotions.
But I didn't have time to dwell on it. I needed to get out of here. I quickly packed the cores of the monsters if killed before along with a few of their monster cores. Then I made my way back to the surface, my mind racing.
As I walked, I couldn't help but think about what the last adventurer had said. "We're level 2s! How are we getting killed so easily!?" It was a good question.
Why were they so weak? I was level 17, but my leveling system was different from theirs. Did that mean I was stronger than a level 2 adventurer?
My stats were far higher than my initial starting point as I got numerous increases in levels and with my new celestial heritage and unique abilities… Maybe that's it?
I didn't know but I need to find out. For now, I needed to get home, and try to avoid people.
As I emerged from the Dungeon, the sun was setting. I blinked, have I stayed that long in the dungeon practicing and forgot about the passage of time?.
The streets of Orario were bustling with activity, adventurers and merchants going about their daily lives. It was a stark contrast to the darkness and danger of the Dungeon, and for a moment, I felt out of place.
I made my way through the crowded streets, my mind still racing. I needed to get home, to process everything that had happened. I'll cash in at the guild tomorrow.
But as I walked, I couldn't help but notice the looks I was getting. My clothes had small patches of blood, my sword still in hand. I must have looked like a madman.
I ignored the stares, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. My apartment wasn't far, and I was eager to get there. But as I turned a corner, I was stopped by a group of adventurers.
They were dressed in the same gear as the ones I had just killed, and my heart shook a little.
"Hey, you!" one of them called out, his voice sharp. "Have you seen a group of adventurers? Five of them have been in the dungeon since morning ?"
I froze, my mind racing. They were asking for their comrades. If they found out what I had done, I was dead.
I shook my head, forcing a calm expression. "No, sorry," I said, my voice steady. "Haven't seen anyone."
The adventurer frowned, his eyes narrowing. "You sure? They were supposed to be back by now."
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Maybe they got held up in the Dungeon. You know how it is."
The adventurer studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, maybe. Thanks anyway."
I nodded back, then quickly walked away, my heart pounding in my chest. That was too close. If they had recognized me, or if they had decided to search me, I would have been in serious trouble.
I quickened my pace, eager to get home. As I walked, I couldn't help but think about what had just happened. I had killed five people, and now their familia was looking for them. If they found out what I had done, there would be hell to pay.
But I couldn't dwell on that now. I needed to focus on the present. I needed information before I can proceed with anything else.
When I finally reached my apartment, I locked the door behind me and let out a long breath. I was safe, for now. But I knew that this was only the beginning. The world of Danmachi was a dangerous place, and if I wanted to survive, I would have to be willing to do whatever it took.
Even if it meant killing.
I set my sword down and began to strip off my bloodied clothes. I cleaned myself up and changed into fresh clothes, then sat down on the edge of my bed.
'Status' i mentally commanded.
[Name: Zephyr Kane]
[Race: Celestial Human]
[Level: 17>26]
[Class: Unassigned]
[HP: 1570 | MP: 1570]
[Constitution: 81]
[stats points: 0>27]
[Ding.]
Congratulations for reaching a milestone of level 25. Your ability, [minor space manipulation] has become [space manipulation].
[Ding.]
Due to your new ability, [space manipulation], you have acquired the new ability, [minor gravity manipulation].
Oh…
Gravity manipulation sounds awesome. I could probably create a black hole or a supernova if I wanted to. I was getting too excited. I instantly forgot about today's problems.
In my little glee, something else caught my eyes. [Space manipulation]. it upgraded? Improved?
What's the difference between [minor space manipulation] and [space manipulation]?
[Ding.]
[Minor Space Manipulation] is about subtle enhancements and small-scale changes, while [Space Manipulation] refers to powerful, large-scale abilities that can fundamentally alter space and time.
The former is often more accessible and easier to master, while the latter represents a higher level of control and complexity.
Higher as in?
[Ding.]
Teleportation, gravity control, dimensional rifts and subtle time dilation.
Note: These abilities may require significantly more energy than small distortions previously.
Upgrade will commence immediately.
The sound echoes in my mind, sharp and clear, like a bell tolling in an empty cathedral. It's not just a sound-it's a signal, a key turning in a lock I didn't even know existed.
Suddenly, I feel it. A shift. A surge. Something inside me has awakened, and the world around me feels... different. Lighter, heavier, closer, farther-all at once.
It's as if the fabric of reality itself is bending, whispering secrets only I can hear.
Woow… I feel free. Like I just become part of something bigger.
But before I could revel in delight, the feeling was replaced by curiosity towards my new ability [minor gravity manipulation].
If [minor space manipulation] only allows small distortions then…
*Minor Gravity Manipulation is the ability to exert a limited influence over gravitational forces within a localized area. While it does not grant the user full control over gravity like more advanced abilities, it enables subtle modifications that can be surprisingly effective in combat or exploration.*
The description says… it's enough for me.
Well, today's problem can be solved tomorrow. But first:
[Stats available: 27>0]
[Name: Zephyr Kane]
[Race: Celestial Human]
[Level: 26]
[Class: Unassigned]
[HP: 1570>2110 | MP: 1570>2110]
[Constitution: 81>98]
[stats points: 27>0]
[Abilities: Space Manipulation, minor gravity manipulation ]
[Passive abilities: Enhanced Senses, Minor Regeneration, Increased Affinity for All Magic Types, spatial awareness]
"Mmm..." The sound slipped out softly, almost unconsciously, as warmth spread through me. My eyes fluttered shut, and I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips. It was so good-so 'good'-every nerve tingling, every thought melting away.
As I thought, that feeling is addicting.
As I went to bed and drifted off asleep, my only thoughts were to get information on the leveling structure of this world and how strong does it make someone and find out how strong I am compared to them.
End of chapter 9
Sorry for taking so long with this chapter. I was having trouble with matching the timeline of events in danmachi and was feeling discouraged to continue but my friends told me to just say it's AU and fuck it, So here is chapter 9. What are your thoughts.