[5] - Re: Discover


After a good day of resting, IF finally signed up as a guild member. She would've gone solo for a bit longer, but the lack of quests to drive her was beginning to settle in. She could decide things just fine, but having quests to push her to go to different places definitely helped.

Her first mission was simple: Investigate Darkness 60, a newly discovered dungeon. She'd gone through Darkness 60 many times before. She knew the place practically inside out by this point. She could probably draw a map of the place with her eyes closed.

But, this was her first mission. She wasn't superstitious, but she couldn't help but feel slightly terrified. Her actual first guild mission had been completely derailed to hell and back, and she could imagine this one going the same route.

So she stocked up as much as she could. She bought Nep Bulls and SP Chargers by the dozen. She bought another pair of steel daggers. She bought some light armor for her to wear under her clothes. She packed as many things she thought she'd need, and then went back and bought another pair of steel daggers, just in case.

It took a bit of searching, but she eventually found where Darkness 60 was. She forgot that the dungeon was new, and that the entrance hadn't been built yet.

And things were…surprisingly normal. The dungeon was essentially a giant abandoned factory. The interior looked the same as she remembered. The monsters were the same, though she made sure not to be spotted by the M-3, which was the boss monster.

Everything was going fine, until it didn't.

She'd been sitting at the far corner of the dungeon, scribbling down a rough map of the place on her notebook. She'd been humming a nameless tune when she felt something in the air shift. It was a change so small that it was near imperceptible. But she had years of experience under her belt, years of delving into dungeons with nothing but her ears and eyes to guide her.

She stuffed her notebook into her inventory and shot up, steel daggers already in her hands. The dust in the air remained, sunlight still pierced through the windows, but there was a weight in the air, almost as if…

As if she'd stepped into another dimension.

IF frowned. It didn't mean she actually made her way into another dimension, but the closest thing she could compare this to was when she'd hopped into the Zero Dimension. The air just flowed…different, for a lack of a better word.

She slowly crept along the walls, watching for any incoming threats,

And jumped back just as the wall blew apart. The winds from the explosion still sent her crashing back, and she stood back up to see a black floating gemstone.

No, not just a gemstone-, it was an entire Crystal Golem. It was a viral species, its body made of black gems instead of the usual blue. IF winced. Encountering a Crystal Golem was already bad luck. Finding a viral Crystal Golem was a new low.

Thankfully, a golem was still a golem.

She ran through her choices. There were two ways to defeat a golem-type enemy. She could obliterate the body, or she could aim for the golem's core. The core was easy to spot, but its defense was high. Its body was just as physically durable, but a golem's body was notoriously weak to magic attacks.

Spectral Flash was powerful, but it was expensive to use. She didn't have Histoire to conveniently buff her this time. She'd need to rely on Cross Impact to get through this.

With a small sigh, she leapt forward.

"Cross Impact!"

Wind exploded outwards as her daggers slammed against the golem's green core. The golem staggered for a moment, seemingly surprised by the impact before its eyes shone red. Lightning rose from the ground and IF jumped aside, letting the bolt fly just over her shoulder. She spun and sent another Cross Impact at its core.

A sharp clang sounded, and her steel daggers shattered. The green core remained undamaged. IF leapt back and grimaced. That was one pair down.

Pulling out an SP Charger, she quickly drank the bottle and pulled out another pair of steel daggers. She stepped forward, and dove to the side as the golem sent another bolt of lightning at her. She landed and began running circles around the golem as it began firing bolts after bolts of lightning, blowing chunks of soil up into the air.

Stopping suddenly, she turned and leapt under a bolt of lightning, closing in and throwing another Cross Impact onto the golem's core. The monster staggered slightly, and IF slammed a couple more Cross Impacts onto its core. A small crack formed.

She was about to strike when a chunk of the golem suddenly slammed onto her head, sending her crashing back. She groaned and jumped back, flinching as dirt exploded onto her face.

She took out another SP Charger, drank it, and promptly threw the empty bottle at the golem. The thing shot a bolt of lightning at it, and by that point it was too late. IF had crossed the distance between them, and she took a deep breath as SP flooded her daggers.

"Cross Impact!"

Three simultaneous strikes were made, all aimed at the small crack she'd made. The golem staggered slightly.

"Cross Impact!"

The golem staggered again, and the crack on its core grew ever so slightly. She sent a couple more Cross Impacts, and the crack grew once more. Lightning cackled around it, but its attack was interrupted by another Cross Impact to the core.

Three more Cross Impacts. Nine strikes were made on a singular point. The cracks had spread over most of the core now. The red glow of the golem's eyes seemed to dim slightly.

IF grinned.

"CROSS IMPACT!"

With one final shout, she struck, and the core gave one last flicker before it cracked. All fell into a lull before it exploded, sending chunks of the golem's body flying all over the area. IF let out a small breath as they all slowly faded into motes of light.

[Gained 6200 Exp, 5100 Credits, and x1 Crystal Skull]

Well, that was that. The entire battle would've been much easier if she was a mage, but alas, she wasn't.

She took a couple steps back and slumped against the wall. She'd chugged two SP Chargers in that fight, and now her head was ringing. She was grateful she didn't eat anything before this. She took a glance at her steel daggers and winced. It wasn't broken, but the fractures on the blade were clear. This thing wasn't going to last.

Which was…bad. She had one more pair left, and she'd then be weaponless. She could fight unarmed, but she'd lose the effects of Dagger Mastery and Cross Impact, and that was a heavy blow to her firepower.

…An idea cropped up in her head. It was a bit out there, but there wasn't a reason for her not to attempt it at the least.

IF reached into her inventory and pulled out the Crystal Skull the golem dropped. Well, calling it a 'skull' would be an exaggeration. It was essentially a large crystal, glowing a dim blue now that the negative energy was no longer infesting it.

She placed the gem on the ground. Placing down one of her daggers, she gave her arms a quick stretch. She wasn't skilled on this by any means, but everyone had to start from somewhere.

With her SP flooding her dagger, she began stabbing it at the gem's center, slowly chipping it to tear it in half. She was…managing, oddly enough. The cut was hardly clean, and the lady she bought her weapons from would faint from her handiwork, but she could hardly care at the moment.

After what felt like forever, the gem finally broke into two halves, and IF smiled. She was a third of the way done.

Picking up one of the halves, she began chipping it. She slowly made it thinner, sharper. She made a small hole for the hilt to slot into, and she smoothed out some of the more uneven edges. Her dagger succumbed and broke by the end of it, and she used the hilt it left behind for her new daggers.

They fit beautifully.

Smiling, she picked up her other steel dagger and began chipping the other half, smoothing it out and drilling a hole for the hilt. Just like its brethren, the dagger shattered at the end. She happily took the hilt it left behind and inserted it into her new dagger.

With giddy excitement, she brought the pair of crystal daggers into her hands and smiled. They weren't the best, but damn it, they were hers and she loved them for it.

[Gained the Title [ Novice Smith ]]

She stopped. That was a surprise. What was this all about?

[ Novice Smith ]

You've started your delve into the world of making weapons. Do enjoy your stay.

All weapons crafted will be (+10%) more durable

1/200 weapons crafted to upgrade this title

IF blinked. She didn't really expect to get a title from that, and an upgradeable one at that. She'd never really thought about becoming a smith before, but she could try, she supposed. Being able to make her own weapons would be a nice boon to have.

Her smile dropped. It'd be a boon, if she could get out, that was. She was still trapped in this strange space. Her current plan was to make her way back to the entrance, but she wasn't sure if that'd work.

The interior seemed to be the same, but the monsters inhabiting it were clearly different. She'd already encountered a Crystal Golem, and even that was a hassle to take down. There was no telling what other monsters she'd find, and she didn't even want to imagine what the boss monster was.

She sighed. She might as well get this entire scenario over with.

Or she would've, but the moment she stepped out of her little corner she was attacked by an entire group. Two Crystal Golems and a Healing Dogoo floating just behind them. All of them were viral.

IF frowned. So she had a dogoo to deal with as well this time.

Quickly switching her title back to Dogoo Slayer, she drank an SP Charger and began running around the three. She'd need to deal with that Healing Dogoo first. The damage she dealt would be negated otherwise.

Then, the moment the three monsters got into a single row, she stopped and charged her dagger with SP. It lit up, her fingers growing numb as electricity roared to life, and she swung.

"Spectral Flash!"

A blade of lightning shot out and pierced right through the three monsters. The two golems staggered as their cores shook from the impact. The Healing Dogoo wasn't so lucky, it's body split right in half. Its lower half flopped onto the floor before it shattered into shards of light.

[Gained 5000 Exp, 3000 Credits, and x1 Red Gel Feeler]

IF leapt forward and quickly slammed a couple Cross Impacts onto one of the golem's core. A small crack formed, and she barely managed to fire one more Cross Impact before a bolt of lightning flew just over her head. Drinking another SP Charger, she threw the empty bottle at the other golem and jumped aside.

Taking a deep breath, she leapt under a bolt of lightning and smashed the core with another Cross Impact. The golem staggered, and she fired a couple more. The cracks grew, and swerving past a bolt of lightning, she slammed another two Cross Impacts. The cracks were massive now. The golem's eye looked particularly dim.

"Cross Impact!"

[Gained 6200 Exp, 5100 Credits, and x1 Crystal Skull]

Hidden by the surrounding dust, IF emptied another SP Charger and threw the bottle at the other golem. Enraged, it threw a bolt of lightning at it, and the bottle exploded in a shower of glass and dust.

The golem staggered back as IF suddenly leapt out of the dust cloud.

"Cross Impact!"

A loud clang echoed as her crystal daggers slammed against the golem's core. The orb shook from the impact. She took a breath, and grinned.

The golem shook in fear.


[Gained 6200 Exp, 5100 Credits, and x1 Crystal Skull]

[Level up!]

Ah, how she loved Cross Impact. The thing was truly a beauty. An impact strong enough to stagger, made stronger by defense penetration. Future/Past her was a true genius to have managed to create this.

…Ahem.

She sighed as she leaned back against the wall. Three SP Chargers this time. Her head was really beginning to hurt. She yawned. She'd get some sleep soon.

She began walking, keeping a careful eye at her surroundings. The entire dungeon had gone strangely quiet now. There were no monsters in sight, and IF carefully stalked her way back towards the entrance.

But, then she heard a click behind her. Cold sweat trailed down her neck as she slowly turned her head around,

And there, just behind her was a giant mech, with red wings that spanned the entire room she was in and steam bellowing from its joints. Even from where she was, she could feel the sheer weight of its magic. The air almost seemed to tremble in its presence.

It was leagues beyond the Fenrisulfr.

She ran. She ran as fast as she could. She ran even as the ground behind her exploded in flames and dust. She ran even as her legs burned from the heat. She ran and ran and ran.

She could hear the walls tearing down behind her, and she ran. She ran down the seemingly endless corridor, hoping and praying for the entrance to finally show itself. It didn't. The screeching of metal grew louder behind her, and she kept running. She grit her teeth and ran and ran and ran, and then stopped.

The sound of blowing steam had suddenly stopped.

She turned around and saw…nothing. IF blinked. The giant mech was gone. The damage it left behind was gone. The strange feeling in the air was gone.

Her eyes shot wide open. She could see a Pixelvader just in the distance. That was one of the monsters Darkness 60 normally had. With hope burning in her heart, she slowly turned around.

The entrance of the dungeon was there. She brought a shaky hand up to her mouth and choked back a sob. She was back.

She couldn't quite stop the tears from falling.

She was alive.

She was alive.


She didn't bother reporting to the guild. She could do that tomorrow. Her head hurt. Her legs hurt. Her eyes hurt. Everything hurt. She needed sleep. She'd sleep, and then she'd report everything that happened tomorrow.

IF flopped onto her bed and sighed. Today had been…taxing, to put it lightly. If she was a newbie adventurer, she would've quickly died to that first viral Crystal Golem. If she didn't have Spectral Blade, that Healing Dogoo would've been a much tougher adversary. Had she reacted a second later, that giant mech would've vaporized her.

She wrapped herself in her blanket and shivered. She'd come far too close to death today. She'd gained back so much, and she was that close to losing it all.

She grit her teeth. Things were changing already. She'd never seen that giant mech before. The path towards the future was becoming muddy, changing.

She took a deep breath.

No, perhaps it wasn't the future that was changing, but herself. She'd never gone to Darkness 60 this early before. She'd never fought an Fenrisulfr this early before. She'd never met Nepgear and Neptune and Histoire so early before.

She was changing the outline of the story.

Did it matter?

…No. She came back to change things. She came back to shift the route of the story. If she stuck doing the exact same thing she did in the past, what would've changed? She'd only be repeating the same things over and over again.

And without her intervention, what would've happened to Nepgear? What would Neptune and Histoire do? Would ASIC begin to rise because of it all?

She didn't know. She didn't want to know.

With those thoughts in her head, she closed her eyes and slept.


The guild receptionist stared at her as she retold her story, clearly not believing the words of this 'newbie' member. She kept dismissing her words, smirking all the while. IF got fed up with the attitude and eventually called Histoire down, retelling her tale to the oracle instead. Histoire accepted it all with a nod, before she turned to the receptionist, eyes glowing eerily.

She heard the receptionist retired an hour later.


Crystal Golems and Healer Dogoos don't normally appear at Darkness 60, but they do if you activate the Change Dungeon plan for it. Just extra information for where those monsters came from.