This is a collaboration between me, FumeKnight, and LunaHalo43. Enjoy.

Orario, also known as Labyrinth City Orario. The only city in the world that has a Dungeon.

Babel, the tower in the center of the town, was built in order to stop the monsters from escaping the dungeon. Originally, it was the same size as the nearby buildings, but on the coming of the first gods, the tower was destroyed. It was later rebuilt by them and now stands a proud 50 floor tower, acting as a lid and housing for the gods.

If you're coming towards Orario, then you'll either be a merchant or an adventurer.

No other reason coming here. There aren't that many sightseeing spots here and there aren't exquisite food isn't that high here.

Fame, money, praise, power. These are usually the main reasons why many come here, be it human or another race, It matters not. What matters is how you can contribute for your Familia.

What is a Familia, you ask? In short terms, you join a God or Goddess in their side, being their loyal follower and bowing to them. Each Valis that you get can be donated towards her cause and to better the Familia.

Course nowadays, finding a Familia is hard. They judge you from the outside, not on how much you can grow and when a God or Goddess scouts you out, there is half the chance of you falling for a trick on the others and then become addicted to something. Change is unavoidable.

And being an adventurer is no easy deal. There are a lot of dangers lurking around when going for that job.

You think monsters are the only thing to worry about? Not in the slightest. The real dangers are us, beings that prey on others for their spoils and to eliminate the competition.

If people find out of our crimes, our respected God or Goddess have the right to outcast you and punish you while ending your career as an adventurer.

Countless adventurers fell on that dungeon, countless left their ideals to further their addiction, and many got corrupted for the sport.

Although there are people that go towards that side, there are others that commit to their ideals and surpass any obstacle to reach the end of the dungeon.

Yes, these are the strong warriors. Even though only a few were able to reach the floor 49, many had to turn their tails and hope to level up to catch up to them. Their strength come from their past experiences to improve themselves, the people that many look up to.

Me? I have my reasons to come towards this city. Yes, I am the child of a farmer, my job should be to supply the city with vegetables and other kind of products.

But today, I'm not a farmer, those days are already behind. I'll let my frustrations free onto the monsters that lurk in the dungeon. Even if they are not the kind of monsters I want to kill, I'll make them my scapegoat. I'll head towards the Dungeon, alone, just like I had always been since they took everything away from me

In order to be one of them, I first need to go towards Pantheon, more commonly known as the Guild.

Here you can register yourself as an adventurer and as an added bonus, they can provide weapons and armor to new adventurers who are starting out.

I know you're asking, what's their main goal? I've heard around that they manage the monster threat created in the dungeon. Aside from that, the Guild buys magic stones, drop loot, and adventurer created maps of the dungeon.

This is all I could get from the passing word in the streets and the ears outside of it. More info would be nice, but this is as much as I can get.

Inside Pantheon

"So this is Pantheon. The starting point." A boy wielding a rusty old scythe, just donning his normal clothes that consisted only of long yellow pants, a white long shirt, fairly used up light brown shoes and an old small satchel.

He looked around to find the line where he could register himself, oblivious at the stares he was receiving.

"Hmm... Must be that line." He thought to himself while going behind a large man wielding a great sword around his height. Whispers started to arise while he distracted himself with his weapon.

"Hey, why is there a kid here?"

"I don't know. You know him from somewhere?"

"Not a clue. You think he's a supporter?"

"Doubt it. He looks too weak to be an adventurer, even for a supporter."

"I don't know. That 7 year old joined recently in the Loki Familia. You think he got one?"

"Noisy." He thought to himself while barely seeing his sapphire eyes on the reflection.

The line progressed steadily, and the whisperers continued to increase but then decreased as they lost interest a few minutes later.

"Next." The female voice caught his attention as the large man moved away.

He took a step forward with his scythe resting in his hand.

"Hello there, welcome to Pantheon, home of the Guild. What can I help you with?" A female werewolf with long red hair and the standard issue of the Guild's uniform, a set of black vest and pants with a white collared long sleeve shirt underneath and a grey bow tie and black shoes. She looks

"I want to be an adventurer." I flatly stated while she looked at me with an vacant expression.

"You sure you want to be one, little guy? Being an adventurer is not for the faint of heart." She tried to make him reconsider.

"I know."

"You can get yourself killed."

"I know."

"Did your parents agreed to this?"

"They're dead. Can they still give permission?" He asked annoyed with so many counter attacks. She didn't seem the least shaken on hearing that.

"Sorry to hear that." She spoke quietly.

"But still, I can't let you go. Don't just throw your life away like that."

He grew angry at her for not letting him become one.

The whisperers returned, but this time it was towards a group of adventurers.

"Hey, that's Loki's Familia isn't it?"

"Yeah, I bet they're going to the Dungeon today too."

"Have you seen that little girl over there? She's only 7."

"Seven!? That's too young!"

"Hey Rose! Is there a problem?" A woman with light red hair with a tomboyish attire approached her.

"Ah! Miss Loki! It's nice to see you today." Rose bowed in respect towards the Goddess, while Toll simply didn't pay her any attention.

Loki, the Goddess of trickery. One of the most powerful of Familias in Orario.

"What's going on, Rose? Is this farm boy giving you trouble?"

"A little, miss Loki. He wants to enter the Dungeon." She informed.

"What!? Boy, are you serious? You'll die in less than an hour!"

"Tch. I'm going." He clicked his tongue defiantly.

"Stop being so stubborn, kid! You aren't going!" Rose said with assertively at him.

"Now, now Rose. I think you should give him a change."

"Miss Loki! You can't be serious! He's just a farm boy!" She tried to reason with the goddess.

"Precisely that! He doesn't know how the Dungeon can change people! So why not let him experience it?"

"I simply couldn't do that to-!" She then was silenced as Loki whispered her something.

She seemed to struggle on how to word her objection, but she stood quiet as Loki smiled innocently.

"Here kid, take this dagger and run off to there! If you come back alive, then Rose over here will give you your starting armor!"

He looked at the weapon and at the goddess, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly took the weapon.

"Now then, care to introduce yourself to this werewolf and me? It's quite rude not to tell your name."

"..Toll Crow." He said while avoiding eye contact with the goddess.

"I see! I see! Then, who's your God? What Familia do you belong?" She asked once more, wanting to know more.

"That's none of your business!" He yelled at her before running out of the guild.

"Toll, wait!" Rose yelled, but if fell on deaf ears.

Leaving the Pantheon left a bad taste in Toll's mouth. If it was possible, he would like to avoid any interaction with Gods or Goddesses.

He was in bad terms with them, lets just leave it at that.

Walking down the street, he eyed the tower that covered the Dungeon. It was still morning, maybe close to midday. At this time, most adventurers should be inside it, making him enter it without much hassle.

The entrance was clear, but it seemed that some people were waiting for their companions before entering. They would steal a glance before returning to what they were doing to pass the time, but others started to laugh.

"What's a farmer doin' here?" An adventurer snickered.

"This is a place for fighting, not to plant your crops!"

"Maybe you can cut the weeds on my front yard with that tool!" Some laughed and mocked with them, others muffled their giggles and others looked with interest.

"Shut up.." That was the only thought of Toll.

He began moving towards the Dungeon, his weapon resting on his right shoulder.

"What makes them think that they are safe? Just because of a miserable blessing?" He thought once more while continuing his walk.

"Hehehe, you're gonna die, little shrimp!" He tried to insinuate any reaction, but noticing that it didn't came he clicked his tongue and ignored the young boy.

Entering the tower, he looked at the stairs that descended down. Any adventurer would've steeled themselves to a certain extend and even grow little anxiety, but to him, it looked normal, natural even to not feel such feeling.

"Is that kid serious? He's going to alone."

"Let him go." A veteran spoke up.

"Wha!? How can you just say that! He's just a kid!"

"That kid...I have a feeling that he simply doesn't care."

"All the more to stop him! We need to save him!"

"Save him from what? The monsters? That's the least of his problems."

Hearing the veteran, Toll could only give him a silent nod for his words. At first he contemplated, now he had enough to proceed.

Step by step, he descended down towards the Dungeon for the first time.

Toll P.O.V

Reaching the end of the staircase, I arrived at the first floor.

The walls are light blue colored with the feeling of entering a cave. The ground was unstable with rocks sticking up, much different than the city.

Not having a map, I started to walk blindly towards the area. I did know that there was a hallway called Beginning Road, where beginners like me could train.

With my trusty tool in hand, I walked forward. Why I chose a scythe? Out of all the tools at my farm, this was the only one that I was most used to not to mention it was the only tool not to be too rusty.

I couldn't do too much of the hard work my father could do, so I could only cut the weeds and water the vegetables. He did the rest with my mom.

While walking I saw a long hallway with two ways was in front of me.

I took the right side and continued on until I saw a dog headed monster, a kobold and it was accompanied with a goblin.

Noticing my presence, the kobold howled before charging at me with his club. I avoided the club on the first two swings, but the goblin then pounced at my leg and bit on it furiously.

Unsheathing my dagger and ducking under the predictable swing, I stabbed the goblin in the forehead and kicked it off as it spasm on the floor. The Kobold, furious that none of his attacks didn't connect me, grabbed me by the shoulder with his claws digging on my flesh and then swung his club at my gut.

I rolled along the floor with his scythe beside him. I looked up with a painful look while clutching my stomach.

"These monsters are stronger than I thought! And these are the weakest?" Saying it while readying my tool.

The kobold charged at me again with his club. I put the wooden part of my tool up to block and as soon as his weapon made contact, the handle started to break away.

"This scythe is too weak!" I yelled in my mind as I blocked two more attacks.

If blocking doesn't work, then I should attack!

Grunting, I stabbed the monster on his back, it cut deep, but even with that it wasn't enough to kill it.

The kobold then slowly turned around growling at me. I looked around me to see that the Goblin didn't die yet, but the dagger was still lodged on his forehead.

But then the monster on the floor rose, pried the weapon off and wielded it in front of him.

Two monsters with weapons and my tool was almost done. I'm in trouble...

The goblin then charged at me while flailing the dagger, the other monster rush forward as well. I stepped to the challenge and attacked the goblin. I struck my rusty blade on his chest until the wood finally gave away, while ducking under the club.

I grabbed the dagger in a hurry and barely blocked the kobolds attack. I was sent flying a few feet backwards as I rolled on the floor.

My scythe was destroyed, the same could be said with the goblin as it turned into a shadow and disappearing. It left behind a stone.

"Alright you damn dog... Come and get me!" Yelling, I rushed forward dagger in hand. I blocked the first attack and lunged forward, dodging the second, and stabbed him on the stomach. It still wasn't enough!

"Come on, you bastard!" I yelled as I made the blade rise, opening a large gash from stomach to it's neck. It then fell on the floor motionless before transforming into smoke.

I huffed while taking in the air around me. That was my first battle and I've won.

"Damn..." I looked at my old scythe. It's been with me for a good 3 years and just like that, it was gone. I'll need to buy a new one...

"Hmm? Those are..."

Then I noticed the stones that they dropped. These were magic stones? Magic stones are the core of monsters and are always located in the chest area of the monster. They are used for things such as lighting, water purification, cooking stoves, refrigerators, and other things.

"If I remember I can trade these for Valis in the Guild. I should probably get as many as I can." I thought to myself as I put the stones in my satchel.

"Nice job, kid." I looked behind me to see the veteran from before with his party.

I put my dagger in front of me, I can't afford to get myself off guard.

"Against a goblin and a kobold with just a rusty tool, a dagger and no armor, you did good. Though you barely cut it against them, if you didn't hit that kobold on the back, that club would've hit on the back of your head and there goes your life." He explained to me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked while taking a step back.

"You won't survive if you go alone, specially with no armor."

"I don't need your help, I can do this on my own." I said, despite feeling hurt from my battle.

"Really? Do you have any training from before? Any experience or muscle to back that up?"

"..." I kept quiet because he was right. I didn't had anything to help me out.

"You're still a kid. Most new adventurers don't struggle against the easiest monsters on the dungeon." Struggle? That was struggling!?

"I still took care of them, didn't I? I should be fine."

"That was only a pair. Most of the time there's groups of three or four. Can you take care of them too?" This guy..!

"Yes! I can!"

"Really? Then prove it."

"Fine! I will!"

I rushed forward with the thought of proving that guy that I could do it.

I started to fight a couple of monsters. I fought and fought, I got more bruises and my clothes got more torn up.

Soon, everything started to be too much. My muscles hurt and I was breathing heavily. When did I get this tired?

Two clubs swung at me from above and I couldn't do anything except roll out of the way.

Three goblins pounced at me, I killed one with a dagger through the chest, but the other two gripped my legs and dug their sharp fangs into my flesh.

I yelled with pain before swallowing it and transforming it into a grunt.

One of the kobolds swung again, but since I couldn't move out of the way, I got hit on my left shoulder and then I got hit again on my gut.

Tears started to form due to the pain, but I kept holding on. I stabbed one of the critters on the head again and elbowed the other, releasing my legs.

I rolled forward dodging the first swing of the club, but the other one kicked me towards the wall. I looked up and saw them closing in slowly. I tried standing, but my legs started to shake.

"Move!" I yelled at myself, but I couldn't. Was I this hurt!?

"Move!" I yelled again, but the same result was the same. I saw the kobolds raise their clubs. Was this it? Was this really my first and last dungeon crawl!? No! Move it!

"MOVE!" I shouted as I slouched downwards avoiding the two clubs, but the goblin leapt on the air towards me.

I... I cried and yelled in fear. I'm afraid! I'm afraid to die! For the first time, I don't want death to come to me!

But, I heard the goblins screech instead of hitting me. I looked up and saw the veteran from before killing the kobolds and his party members disposing of the goblin easily.

They then looked at me. I was a wreck, I can't believe that I got saved. By adventurers no less.

"You did better than I expected, I'll give you that. But you're still too far away from even finishing the first floor. Not prepared enough, not experienced enough and certainly not geared enough."

I looked down in shame. I'm being lectured right now? From another person!? This is humiliating!

"Kid-"

"Shut up!" I yelled at him with anger on my eyes.

"I...I... I can..!" I tried to say it, but... I simply can't! Because it isn't true!

I fell on my knees crying even further. Can't win a battle without struggling, can't get enough stones to get money and can't get strong because of a stupid blessing! This is infuriating!

"I know how you're feeling, kid. We all went through that, being weak and all that pent up anger from years." The veteran spoke while laying a hand on my shoulder.

"But this shouldn't be where you die. This shouldn't be the fate of a young one like you." ...

"What am I suppose to do? Please tell me..." I'm so confused. I don't know what to do.

"For starters, you should get yourself properly trained and some gear. Why don't you tag along with us?"

"You sure that's a good idea, Boris?"

"Do you want him to die without giving much of a fight, Gale?"

"I don't want to be in your party..." I want to grow strong, but I don't want to rely on others...

"You don't have to join us. Just tag along with us and if we see you struggling to kill a monster we'll just give you a helping hand. Nothing more, the kill is still yours." He explained to me. Honestly... That seems a good deal.

"...Okay." I gave him his answer, he seemed pleased with it.

"Layla, heal him up. We'll then keep going."

"Fine, but I think this is a waste of time." I can already see that I won't get along with his party members.

Outside of the tower of Babel - Evening

The day came to an end and the sun started to set down. Many adventurers started to leave the tower towards a local pub or restaurant or even towards their own homes to relax until tomorrow.

At first the crowd was enormous, but as the time progressed the less people came out until none came out.

There was simple chatting among them, about the events that occurred through them while inside. As they talked, a party left with a boy with tattered clothes.

"We'll be leaving for today. Go to the guild and exchange your magic stones, after that go home and get some rest. Layla can't heal every wound, so don't forget to treat yourself." Boris said to him, to which he nodded and left the group alone.

"Hey kid!" The veteran then called him. "Don't forget that tomorrow we're doing the same thing, come early if you want to tag along again." He replied with a nod before really leaving.

As he walked through forward, the adventurers couldn't take their eyes of surprised towards him. A few laughed as he made his way towards Pantheon.

He survived despite having no armor or any decent gear. Just a small dagger and a rusty tool.

As Toll turned a corner he saw Loki once more with a group of people, she seemed impressed to see him alive.

"Take me surprised! I really thought you chickened out!" She said to him, while he silently watched.

"You know him, Goddess?" Finn asked curiously.

"You remember when I said that a foolish farmer boy entered the Dungeon? You're looking at him." She then pointed at him, the party was not amused whatsoever.

He walked around the group and continued on his way.

"Hey! We're still talking here!" She yelled at him.

"Talking to who, exactly?" He responded back with no respect towards her.

He began walking again while getting angry stares from her party.

"Hey, you still haven't answered my question from before." She suddenly said to him, making him stop once more.

"What Familia?" He answered with a question, with the cold shoulder to her.

"Are you an idiot? Why bother to even go there without a God to back you up?" She asked wanting to know more.

"That doesn't concern you." He replied back while facing away from her.

"Then, why don't you join my Familia?" She asked him to see his reaction.

"Loki, you aren't serious right?" One of the party members asked at her.

He then turned around and faced her, his piercing sapphire eyes locked on hers with a sharp look.

"I'll never bow my head to any of you." He said before leaving for good. This picked her curiosity even further.

He left more bitter than what he was before.

Inside the Pantheon

"Toll? You're back! Are you okay?" Rose asked concernedly as she saw his clothes tattered up.

"...I want to exchange these." He then opened his satchel to show her various magic stones that he got.

"I... Let's see..." She began counting the amount of magic stones he gathered.

"10 magic stones? That's amazing..." She thought to herself while looking at him. Despite his current state, he appears as calm as he arrived early today.

"I couldn't kill anymore monsters, that's the best I could do.." He informed.

"Still, that's much more than what I thought you would do." She asked impressed.

"I... I failed miserably in the Dungeon, Rose." He said disappointed

"What happened?" She asked concerned.

"I nearly died against the easiest monsters in the first floor." He said while rubbing his eyes.

"How did you survived?" She asked while rubbing his left shoulder.

"I was saved by another adventurer.. I shouldn't went in, but I need the money."

"Why do you need it for?" She asked him.

He began telling her everything.

He needed it in order to fix his home. For a year, he's been mourning his parents death. He didn't left his home in all that time, after he buried them next to an apple tree on their front yard.

After leaving the house for so long, he saw how it withered in that time span. Farming would take too long for him to get money, so he thought about the dungeon and how many adventurers got a lot of money out of it.

He thought that it was easy enough and he knew about the risks. But he turned a blind eye to it, being as reckless as he could get and ventured on.

A Familia is something that he didn't had. Why? Because no amount of prayers could help him out of his depression and so he abandoned his faith for them, to the point where he despises them.

He then told how the party saved him from being monsters fodder and how they helped him a bit on his fighting.

After hearing his story, Rose softened a bit at Toll. He wasn't being the brat that he was before, but a person wanting to change, even by forcing himself to be something that he wasn't meant to be..

"At least your safe now... Do you remember the party leader that helped you?"

"His name was Boris. He said to meet with him tomorrow." He responded as she got up and went behind her counter.

"Why don't you stay with them for a while and learn a few things from them? It could help you become better at this." She advised while handing him the starting armor from before.

The armor consisted of a hip length red coat with leather shoulder piece, a long sleeved white shirt, white pants, a beige belt with a silver buckle and black shin high boots.

"I still believe that you should get yourself a Familia, but I won't force you. Why won't you exchange the magic stones over there, in the exchange counter?" She said as he nodded.

As he dropped the magic stones in the tray, he received 4000 Valis from his efforts for today.

"Thank you... for listening me, Rose. I'll see you tomorrow." He said while she waved him a goodbye.

He then left the Pantheon.

As he walked through the streets of Orario, he noticed the amount of people talking with each other. Topics flew on the wind, yet he wasn't interested in any of it.

All Toll wanted was to head home, get clean, get a meal and go to sleep.

While walking, he looked at his hands. He saw how they are a few wounds and splints from the old wood of his scythe, nothing like some bandages to fix it for a few days.

As he traveled, he was looking at his surroundings and saw how the people around him are having fun.

"..." He silently continued. The feeling of joy...

He walked towards the outskirts of the city, reaching the plains where farmers tend the fields and crops. His home was close.

Night was still some ways away, having only the sun peek through the horizon.

Soon, the familiar fence of his home appeared while he opened the gate.

Looking at his home, he saw how mistreated it had become. Some wood was rotten, some patched holes here and there and some broken wood was shown.

Yes, for now this was his home that he neglected. Though with the money that he would gain from the Dungeon, he would be able to bring it back from it's misery state.

As he made his way towards the door, he looked to his right, where an apple tree stood. To the side were two graves with crosses on top.

Looking at them, made his cold heart start to feel something again. But he slowly looked away and entered his home.

"I'm home." He announced, to no one in particular.