Chapter 3 - Trouble in the Dungeon - Fairy Steps
Three adventurers from the Soma Familia observed the boy in the fancy suit that must be worth a lot, as well as the ring he showed when he handed the papers to that woman working in the Guild. The man followed the woman into a private room while the eyes of the three adventurers watched him full of greed, until it was no longer possible to see him.
Soma Familia.
The Soma Familia is an exploration and business type familia led by the God Soma.
The Soma Familia specializes in selling alcoholic beverages, Soma wine in particular. Only the failed version of Soma is sold outside the Familia, and even then the price can be high. Because of Zanis Lustra's ambitions, the Soma Familia has temporarily become his tool to realize them, using the members of the Familia to raise money.
As the God of wine, Soma is extremely skilled at his craft. His master creation, which bears his name, can instantly intoxicate a person with just one sip. Even his faults have proven to be of high quality, easily reaching a value of tens of thousands of valis. Because of this, almost all the Soma Familia adventurers become addicted to the wine that is put up for sale, and when they take just one sip, they go crazy for more.
These three adventurers were no different.
Practically all their savings were spent to be able to buy the faulty version of the Soma wine that is put up for sale in the stores, because they couldn't wait to get the money together to be able to buy the "real Soma wine" within the Familia. Besides, even if it was called the failed version, it was still very good to them, so good that they were completely addicted, so why save more to try to buy the other one which is much more expensive?
Since they spend basically all the savings they get venturing into the Dungeon to get Soma wine, they can't invest in decent equipment. Because of this, the armor and weapons they use are only slightly better than those that can be rented from the Guild. They invested some money in weapons only once, and that was to be able to kill the monsters on the first floors more easily, so that as a consequence they could get enough money to buy wine faster.
The three adventurers started whispering among themselves.
"Hey guys, you saw it, right?"
"Absolutely. I wonder how much that ring must be worth..."
"We'd probably get plenty of Soma wine, enough to be able to raise money and upgrade our equipment without worrying about running out of Soma wine to drink."
They were talking low enough that no one but them could hear.
"Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?" Their leader smiled.
"We steal his ring, right?"
"How would we do that? I mean, it can't be that easy right? If he decides to act out by talking about it, we could get in trouble," the third member looked a little worried.
"Ha, that's pretty simple. He's a complete newbie while we've been adventurers for a while. Besides, you saw the luxurious clothes he was wearing, right? I bet he's just a rich merchant or an idiot daddy's boy who decided to become an adventurer thinking he'll get money easily. We simply have to scare him enough so that he won't report us."
The leader took the worry out of him easily by saying that.
"So, when will we do that?" One of them asked.
"We'll do it today, of course," the leader replied confidently. "He came in the morning, probably for the purpose of picking up some information about the initial floors to get into the Dungeon later today. People lose track of time inside Dungeoneering, especially the first time they enter. If we are lucky enough, he will stay inside the Dungeon for quite some time, long enough that everyone has already left except for us."
"Oh, I see your point. If we scare him off inside the Dungeon, then we'll be pretty lucky."
"Indeed, after all, any and all normal laws applied here, are not applied inside the Dungeon."
Although there were still some laws, such as that law where you can't kill another adventurer's monster inside the Dungeon. Normal laws like stealing or something like that don't exist inside the Dungeon. The only real concern is if you are investigated by a God or Goddess.
As long as you were a little careful, there won't be any problems. There is also the fact that the power of the Gods over things that happen in Dugeon is extremely limited. Apart from the Falna, they can't get involved with almost anything in direct relation to the Dungeon.
"Yes. If that is not possible, then we will cautiously follow him when he is returning to his home. We will act as soon as there is no one around," the leader concluded.
"Well, I'm not disagreeing with anything, but what if he comes back sooner than expected when he has a lot of people around? How will we act?"
That was a good question pointed out by one of them.
The leader seemed to think a little. He didn't seem to have taken it into account. His mind was totally focused on taking that ring and whatever other valuable things that man might have with him. The mere thought of a large amount of Valis coming to him was enough to make him a little impatient.
He wanted to drink Soma wine soon.
After thinking for some time, he finally replied to the two who were with him.
"If that happens, then we'll just have to do it another day. Let's follow him until the moment he is completely alone so that we can act. Let's not miss the large amount of Valis that is right in front of us."
He was not going to waste the opportunity to get a large amount of money in an easy way. And judging the man, he seemed to be someone pretty rich, so losing some valuable things shouldn't be a big problem for him, right? They were in need of the money to buy Soma wine, final.
"So, we wait?"
"Yes, we'll wait for him to return and then follow him," the leader spoke.
With that, they waited for the man to return.
...
...
"What the hell is he doing?" One of them complained.
Waiting for the person proved to be longer than they expected. He showed up at the Guild at 9 o'clock in the morning. However, it was already one o'clock in the afternoon and he still didn't show up. That was very strange.
"Do you think he could have discovered us?" One of them asked.
"Don't be ridiculous. That's completely impossible. The woman certainly took him into a private room to tell him about the Dungeon," the leader said.
"However, should it really take that long for her to tell him about the initial floors?"
"That depends. It certainly shouldn't take that long, but he may have asked for additional information. Considering his delay, he asked for quite a bit of additional information by the looks of it. That proves that he will be quite cautious about the Dungeon."
"Most people don't even pay attention to the shit the counselors talk, they want to go to Dungeon right away to get money."
"That just proves that the man is very afraid of death," the leader smiled. "Scaring him will be easier than I initially thought."
After they exchanged a few more words, the man finally left with the woman. He said goodbye to her, but she didn't say anything, and then he walked out through the Guild doors.
"Let's go," the leader commanded.
The three of them left the Guild and began to follow the man. They were keeping a good distance from him, but they didn't need to be too cautious. The man was going into the dungeon along with several other people going in the same direction. It's impossible for him to realize that he is being followed.
He was walking with his hands in his pockets, which proved that he was afraid that people would see the ring full of precious stones that he possessed. This only made the leader's smile widen. If the man was being so cautious like this, it meant that he had no confidence in his own abilities. He also seemed to be unarmed, although the leader didn't think it strange that he picked up some small weapon from the Guild. He would be an easy target.
For a moment, he stopped walking and looked up, specifically at the top of the Tower of Babel. He stared for a few seconds before walking back toward the Dungeon.
The three of them followed him.
The very moment I entered the dungeon I felt a strange sensation.
I didn't know what the hell it was, but I started to feel a little uncomfortable. I looked around a little and was a little impressed by the dungeon walls. I have not yet entered the first floor of the Dungeon, but just by stepping in here the atmosphere changed completely.
In the center of the room is a ten meter long hole that leads straight into the dungeon. Inside the circular room are several columns at equal intervals and above is a beautiful blue sky painting that resembles the real sky. Along the circle are gentle stairs that spiral down into the dungeon.
Although it is faint, I could still feel Freya's gaze on me. Would she really watch me inside the dungeon? That could be a bit of a problem, but I can't change my plans. I need to take care of the three who follow me today, otherwise a lot of trouble might come my way.
"But in the Dungeon things are different, so be careful."
Rose's words entered my mind.
"Different, huh," I muttered.
I didn't have much information about the Soma Familia, but from what little Rose said, they seem to be troublesome people. According to the little information she gave me about the three of them, they have only been adventurers for a few months. So they were still at level 1.
With the little glance from before when we were still inside the Guild, I immediately noticed that their equipment seemed to be quite cheap. The equipment also seemed to be quite worn out. This is a bit strange, after all, it seemed that they hadn't changed their equipment in a few months.
Considering that they also became adventurers only a few months ago, it's as if they hadn't bought any new equipment. Maybe they only did it once. With their time as adventurers, I doubt that they didn't get enough money to buy much better equipment. All this makes only one thing clear, they were spending their money on something else.
They were clearly interested in my "fairy steps", considering the fact that they think it is just a normal valuable ring. But why were they so interested in the money like this?
After some thought, I came to a conclusion.
The name of their God...
Snapping out of my thoughts, I finally reached the staircase leading to the first floor of the dungeon. There were a few other adventurers around.
I didn't think about it too much and went down the stairs.
Step. By. Step.
As I descended, the strange feeling from before came back much stronger.
I could feel it.
After the feeling got stronger, I came to a possible conclusion.
"The Dungeon is alive."
Those words that Hestia said hit me hard.
The Dungeon knew about me.
The three adventurers watched the man as they reached the 1st floor.
There were a few other people who would probably be going to the next floor soon, but the target of their attention was the man who still had one hand inside his pocket.
"What the fuck is he doing?" One of them whispered as he watched the man approach the Dungeon wall.
He stared at the walls with some interest as he brought his hand to touch the same walls. It was a strange thing.
However, that would stop soon.
The monsters finally appeared.
Kobold, a dog-headed monster, was right in front of the man. A Goblin was also present, next to the Kobold.
The three adventurers prepared themselves when other monsters came towards them. They all drew their weapons.
The leader had the appearance of a man in his 25s, brown hair and green eyes, a scar on his face, he was tall and had very visible muscles. His main weapon is a long sword.
The second also used a sword, but it was a shorter sword, thus lighter as well.
The third one used two small knives.
"Well, what do we have here. A bunch of bugs," the leader spat as the Goblins approached them. "Guys, kill everyone who comes at us, but don't forget to watch our money source."
With that order given, the three began a small massacre with the Goblins and Kobold that approached them.
On the 1st floor of the Dungeon only three monsters can be found. Goblins, Kobolds and Jack Bird. Although this last one was almost impossible, as it took a lot of fucking luck to be able to find it.
They often looked at the source of their money in the small intervals. The man had only a small knife and showed great difficulty in dealing with the monsters that came at him. The three smiled slightly at this, the guy was a complete novice without any fighting skills.
However, they noticed something strange. The man didn't seem to be collecting the magic stones from the monsters. This only served to make the leader more confused. Didn't the imbecile know that the monsters' stones were used to get Valis? Or did he simply forget a bag to collect them? The second option seemed more likely, as he doubted that his advisor hadn't warned him about something basic like this, especially with the time he had spent talking to her.
The fact that he wasn't carrying something to store the magic stones also helped reinforce that idea. However, he didn't look like he was going to leave the Dungeon for the sake of it. He also showed some interest as he watched the monsters being generated from the walls and ceilings of the Dungeon.
He seemed quite cautious about the robes he was wearing, as he was doing his best not to get blood on them, which meant that the clothes must have been quite valuable, although that was not so important in the leader's view.
As much as he was showing great difficulty in taking care of the 1st floor monsters, he didn't seem to be getting tired.
'Well, whatever. After I scare the idiot, I'll get those stones myself. Or maybe I won't need to, after all, that ring full of gems is probably worth a few million valis. I wonder how many bottles of Soma wine we will get. And who knows if he has other valuable things with him. Hehehe, easy money!' The leader thought with a smile as he cut off a Goblin's head with ease.
This routine continued for quite some time. Several hours passed and the people on the 1st floor descended deeper into the Dungeon. After that, people on lower floors began to appear on the 1st floor in order to get out of the Dungeon.
The magic stones that were on the floor were carried away by other adventurers who picked them up as they were leaving the Dungeon. As nobody complained, they saw no problem with this.
And finally, after a long time, there were only the three of them and the man on the first floor left.
They decided to wait a few more minutes just to be sure. One person went to look at the stairs leading to the 2nd floor, as well as another went to look at the Dungeon entrance. After confirming that there was no one else around, they finally decided to act.
There were no more monsters present on the 1st floor, that man had just killed the last Goblin with difficulty, it would take a while for more monsters to appear because of the killing. That was the perfect scenario. With a smile, the leader looked at the other two who nodded their heads.
They slowly began to approach him.
"Hey," the leader called out, in a strong voice.
"Huh?"
The man turned to them. Incredibly, his clothes were completely intact. There was not a drop of blood on his clothes. His face was also quite calm and inexpressive. The leader noticed that the man also had the same face the whole time he was killing the monsters with difficulty, but he didn't care much about this detail.
In fact, looking closely, he seemed to be much younger than he thought. He was probably at most 18 years old.
The leader cracked a bigger smile as he introduced himself.
"I am Zekrom, these beside me are Varion and Lupez."
"Kiyotaka Ayanokouji."
The man introduced himself in an indifferent voice.
"Kiyotaka, then. Well, how can I put this? I would like you to give us the ring that is in your hand, as well as anything else of great value that you possess," Zekrom spoke bluntly.
"..." Said man said nothing.
"You know, I think it's good that you listen to our leader. We don't want to cause you any harm, so how about we do this in a friendly way?"
"...Are you robbing me?" Ayanokouji's question was simple.
"I wouldn't call that stealing," Zekrom shook his head with a smile. "I mean, we need the money, you're already someone pretty rich, if that outfit and that ring say anything. So how about you share some of it with those who really need it?"
Ayanokouji's answer was frank and direct.
"I refuse."
"Huh!?"
Zekrom just stared at Ayanokouji with deadly eyes. He was met by indifferent eyes.
"And here I thought we could settle this peacefully," Zekrom shook his head. "You really have no idea of the situation you're in, do you?" Zekrom and the other two braced themselves.
Resolving it peacefully is a lie, after all, even if things were resolved in such a way, he still needed to scare Ayanokouji enough that he wouldn't mention anything about them. Of course, even if he did mention something, the chance of them being punished is almost nil. They would just sell the ring quickly and get rid of any possible investigation, however unlikely.
"My situation you say? I just see veteran adventurers leaving on top of a complete novice. Are you guys that weak and cowardly?"
Ayanokouji's response seemed to enrage all three of them.
"What the fuck did you say!?"
"Who are you calling weak and cowardly, you son of a bitch!?"
"Calm down," Zekrom, although he was also angry, was still trying to talk calmly. "Kid, the way you talked about us made it sound like you could beat us if it was 1 on 1, am I wrong?"
"I didn't imply anything, it is you who are drawing conclusions."
"Is that so?" Zekrom took a step back. "In that case, allow me to explain a little about the situation you find yourself in, since it seems you haven't figured it out yet."
After saying this, Zekrom took his long sword and pointed it at Ayanokouji. The other two did the same with their respective weapons.
"Do you understand now?" Zekrom's voice spoke. "In case you are still confused, allow me to say it in clearer words. Hand over to me what we want or we will kill you."
"...That would be murder. You would be investigated at some point and soon find out about."
Zekrom's response was a full laugh. He laughed. He laughed for several seconds before looking directly into the boy's eyes that were still indifferent. Whoever this fellow named Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was, he seemed to have some kind of problem. Zekrom would put fear in those indifferent eyes.
"Murder you say? Indeed, you would be correct. However, there is something you have forgotten. Didn't your advisor tell you anything? The place we are in. We are inside the Dungeon. These stupid rules don't apply here!" Zekrom exclaimed with a smile.
He was bluffing a little. He didn't really want to kill him, but if he does it this way, Ayanokouji will eventually retreat in fear of death. If he doesn't, then he is simply crazy squared.
"In other words, what happens inside the Dungeon stays inside the Dungeon, doesn't it?"
Zekrom smiled, Varion and Lupez smiled as well.
"Exactly," Zekrom took a step forward. "You finally understand?"
"Yes, it was all made perfectly clear to me."
With Ayanokouji's response, he just smiled even wider, thinking that he would finally be done with all this shit. Once the boy handed over the valuables, he was going to scare him a little. He should learn that there are some people he shouldn't mess with.
However, Ayanokouji had not finished speaking.
"But, if this is exactly the case, I recommend that the three of you leave before it is too late."
The response from all three were the same.
"""Huh?"""
"Looks like you guys aren't as smart as you think you are."
"What the fuck are you trying to talk about?" Zekrom was completely losing his patience.
What was this strange feeling of déjà-vu?
"What I'm trying to say is that you three can't handle me. You won't be able to kill me."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Silence filled the place until Zekrom's laughter echoed throughout the entire 1st floor.
"Hahahahahahahahaha!" He finally completely lost his patience. "Now that's really funny!"
Varion and Lupez were also irritated by his response and were already ready to attack them. They waited for Zekrom's order.
"You're a crazy bastard," Zekrom said. "We three can't handle you, you say? What a joke. That fucking bluff won't work on me. We watched you while you were fighting the monsters, you're a complete novice. And yet, you say that the three of us can't handle you? Very well. Lupez, show this idiot who he's messing with."
Three of them? That's just a dumb joke. One of them is enough to take care of that idiotic rookie, even if he was the weakest of the three.
He wanted to get it over with real quick so that he could sell the valuable things that Ayanokouji had as soon as possible so that he could buy the Soma wine. However, this individual named Ayanokouji Kiyotaka deserves a pretty slow beating for trying to play strong when he is just a rookie.
"With pleasure."
Lupez stepped forward, his short sword was pointed at Ayanokouji.
"You could have gotten rid of all this if you delivered what we wanted in a peaceful manner. However, now that we have come to that, I will show you what happens to those who mess with us."
He moved forward raising his sword. Once he got within a good distance, he attacked Ayanokouji, aiming his sword at Ayanokouji's chest with a vertical strike.
"!"
However, Ayanokouji easily managed to deflect his blow, altering the path of Lupez's blade with the small knife he had in his right hand. After that, Ayanokouji continued in the same place while Lupez was wide-eyed by the fact that Ayanokouji managed to block his attack.
Zekrom narrowed his eyes at that, 'What the hell? Those moves are totally different from anything he's shown.' He thought with a bit of confusion.
Lupez was the weakest of them, so he would understand should Ayanokouji dodge his attack, which is certainly not very difficult. However, he hit him head-on, deflecting Lupez's sword blade with the small blade of his knife. That was totally ridiculous.
That knife seemed to be one of the cheapest weapons they put in the Guild for novice adventurers to rent. The knife would probably only fit as far as the 4th floor of the Dungeon. And even if their weapons weren't in very good condition, they sure are better than that little knife.
"Lupez what are you waiting for! Get it over with," Varion shouted. He really hoped to get it over with soon, he had gone too long without Soma wine.
"Tch, I know! I just got a little off balance, it won't happen again." Lupez turned to Ayanokouji with eyes full of anger. "Don't expect mercy from me from now on."
Ayanokouji said nothing. However, Zekrom was still staring at him with great confusion. 'Even after all this, his face hasn't changed at all... what the hell?'
Was he really not afraid of the situation he found himself in? Was he just pretending? Or was he simply crazy? Or maybe he was all of those things. Zekrom didn't know. However, he looked totally different from the person who was having trouble killing some Goblins and Kobolds.
Without further words the "fight" resumed.
My plan was already in action.
My opponent, the man named Lupez, advanced towards me trying to hit me with the blade of his sword again. I didn't try to deflect his sword blade with my knife as I had done before, instead I simply jumped away from his attack.
He just growled and ran at me again, trying his best to hit me with his sword blade. I continued to just dodge his useless attacks. His movements are very sloppy and predictable, which made me question the fact that he has been an adventurer for months.
If the monsters in the Dungeon get stronger and smarter as you descend the floors of the Dungeon, this only proves that these three adventurers have not been to the deepest floors of the Dungeon. Their equipment is also in a very bad condition, so they must spend all the money they get killing monsters to satisfy their addictions.
"Stand still, dammit!" Lupez growled as I dodged another blow from him.
"I don't plan on hurting myself, so this is out of the question."
He became even more furious as soon as I said that. Looking briefly at the other two watching the fight, I made a quick analysis of their expressions. Varion was looking at me with murderous intent, he seemed to be very impatient. Zekrom, their leader, just looked at me with narrowed eyes.
I looked back at my impatient opponent and decided it was time to end this. In a confrontation like this, there was no time to hesitate. It was necessary to act quickly and precisely.
I decided that the best strategy would be to keep a safe distance between us from now on, keeping out of range of the short sword. I knew that my small knife would not be enough in a direct fight, so I needed to find a way to use my skills to my advantage.
I feinted with my knife, and Lupez moved toward me, his short sword cocked. But I was already one step ahead of him. I moved quickly, using my martial arts skills to leap over my opponent's head.
Lupez had no time to react before I landed behind him. I attacked with my knife, hitting him in the back of the knee. He staggered and fell, and I wasted no time. With one precise stroke, I hit the vital spot on his neck, knocking him unconscious.
I had won the battle.
My movements had been so precise and calculated that for a moment I was amazed at my own skill. I had managed to fool Lupez with a surprise blow, something that was only possible because of my hard martial arts training.
But I knew that the fight was not over yet. There were other opponents waiting for me, and I needed to be prepared for what would come next.
"Well, it looks like we underestimated you a bit, those moves were interesting," Zekrom spoke as he looked at his unconscious companion on the ground.
"Fucking idiot lost to a brat," Varion said before starting to approach. He didn't wait for any orders from Zekrom.
He was the person carrying two small knives as his weapons.
"Aren't you going to attack me together?" I asked curiously.
"No need, I will take care of you quickly myself," Varion replied arrogantly. "You may have defeated Lupez, but he was a fucking idiot and also the weakest of us."
Looks like I'm being underestimated again. But that doesn't matter, this situation is to my advantage.
However, I didn't fail to notice their surprised expression at the way I moved to knock out Lupez, so even if he is underestimating me, he will be a little more wary than my previous opponent.
But I predicted that this wariness wouldn't last long, seeing his impatient expression.
"You seem certain of your victory over me."
"Of course, I won't lose."
"You shouldn't underestimate your opponents like that," I said calmly. "Don't forget, this isn't just a fight, it's a battle for survival. If you are not prepared for everything, you will lose."
"We'll see about that."
He didn't seem to take my warning seriously.
With that, he moved quickly towards me with his knives, delivering a series of quick blows. I dodged skillfully, dodging the blows of his knives with my own. Since he was not using a heavier weapon like the lupez short sword, I could fight efficiently in this way, since his knives were not of good quality.
Of course, he had the advantage that he was using both knives at the moment, so whenever I used my knife to dodge one of his knives, I had to be careful with the other knife. And as much as his knives were not of good quality, they were still better than the knives I had.
Varion was not a totally bad fighter, but his impatience and arrogance made him predictable. I studied his movements and waited for the right moment to counterattack.
After a while, Varion turned away from me.
"Well, I must say you're very good at running," he spoke in an irritated voice.
I kept my focus on my opponent, who was holding his two knives with an air of confidence, his posture showing his arrogance. I knew he was underestimating my skills, but I also knew I had an advantage: my second knife. I kept my left hand close to the pocket where the knife was, ready to use it at the right moment.
An attentive fighter would surely notice this, but Varion was too impatient to pay attention to it.
Varion advanced toward me, his blade gleaming in the unusual light of the Dungeon. I dodged the first blow, taking a step back, then attacked with my right knife. He blocked my attack with some ease with one of his knives, and seized the moment to strike again. But this had been part of my plan from the beginning. This time I dodged the blow and quickly kicked him in the stomach. He flinched, surprised, and I took the chance to advance.
I attacked again, but he was ready and blocked my blow with his second knife. A few more blows were landed, causing him to lose some of his balance and move away from me.
Varion recovered quickly from the blows, and tried to attack again, but this time, I was ready. I moved to the left, avoiding his attack, and struck his knife with mine. I felt the vibration of the impact on my fingers, but I was sure of my technique.
Varion stepped back, apparently surprised by my skill. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
Not only him, Zekrom also seemed a little surprised. They thought I would be an easy target, but it seems they were beginning to realize that their plan would not be so easy to execute.
"These are techniques I've been honing for years," I replied calmly, assessing him carefully. "Don't underestimate the power of dedication."
He threw me a dismissive look, "That's bullshit. I never lose, and I won't be defeated by someone like you."
Again, he advanced with his knives, but I was one step ahead. I dodged his blow with ease, and then used my knife to disarm him. Varion barely had time to react before one of his knives flew away.
"You underestimated me too much, so what do you intend to do now?"
Varion gritted his teeth, visibly annoyed. "I won't lose that easy," he said, before moving forward to attack me again.
I braced myself for the fight, ready to defend and counterattack. Varion was an interesting opponent, but I had the advantage in technique. Using my martial skills and the knives, I was sure I would beat him.
The two of us continued to exchange blows for a few minutes, each trying to find an opening in the other's defense. I remained agile, taking every opportunity to attack, while Varion fought with impatience and arrogance, trying to force his way through my defense.
I knew I had to change tactics, so I decided to try a blow that I knew would take Varion by surprise.
"You're definitely better than I thought, but you're still weak," he said with a cocky smile.
Apparently, he was confident that he could beat me if I kept fighting the same way.
"That's what you think," I replied, as I prepared for my surprise move. "You're not as good as you think, Varion."
"What?" he replied, confused.
At that moment, I took a step back, placing my left hand in the pocket of my uniform and sneakily pulling out the second knife. Varion was momentarily distracted by the movement, and I took the chance to strike again.
I leaped towards him, the knives colliding in the air as I moved quickly. Varion tried to dodge, but I was already one step ahead. I kicked his leg, knocking him to the ground, causing him to lose his remaining knife. I then attacked with my second knife, but Varion was quick enough to dodge it. He countered with a kick, but I managed to block with my forearm.
"Fucking brat!"
He came forward again, attempting a swift blow in my direction. I deflected easily and countered, but Varion dodged and tried to attack me from behind. I sensed his presence and rolled to the side, evading the blow.
I stood up quickly, ready to continue the fight. Varion looked tired and frustrated. Suddenly, he attacked with a series of quick blows, but I managed to dodge them all. I stepped forward and landed a precise blow to his belly, leaving him breathless. I then took the opportunity to immobilize him by pinning his arms behind his back, and then aimed my knife at his throat.
"You lose," I said, looking at him calmly.
Varion looked surprised, but then started to laugh.
"Are you really sure about this?"
As soon as he said this, I felt a presence behind me. It was Zekrom, about to attack me with the blade of his sword.
However, I didn't try to move to dodge the blow that would decapitate me, I just stood there and let the attack come.
Zekrom had already completely lost patience with this guy, so he finally decided to end it all quickly. He was going to kill the boy. They were inside the Dungeon, so being found out for murder was a low probability thing.
It's not his fault, he really tried to get things done without killing the kid, but the kid himself didn't make it easy, showing some interesting fighting skills. It just made him wonder why he was having trouble dealing with the Goblins and Kobolds. He was probably trained to only fight people, not monsters, which explained things a bit.
When the individual named Ayanokouji Kiyotaka incapacitated his second subordinate, Zekrom took advantage of the fact that he wasn't paying attention and attacked him from behind.
It was a merciless blow, aimed at Ayanokouji's head.
Blood splattered.
Zekrom froze.
The head hit the Dungeon floor, however, it was not the head of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, but of his own companion, Varion.
"...How...?" He managed to say in shock.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka did not move a single inch, he was standing still in the same place. So how the hell was he able to avoid it? Zekrom is completely sure that the person in the crosshairs of his blow was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, so how?
"You look confused," Ayanokouji spoke, his voice was totally calm, he didn't even seem to be bothered by the fact that a decapitated head was near him. He also wasn't able to totally prevent the blood from falling on his clothes.
"What did you do?" he asked, anger overflowing from his voice. "What the fuck did you do!?"
"I didn't do anything, you're the one who killed your mate."
"I'm sure I hit you!"
"Well, the results don't show that."
"You son of a bitch-" Zekrom was about to start attacking Ayanokouji, but a tremor in the Dungeon caused him to look around quickly.
The first floor of the Dungeon shook violently, making the ground tremble beneath my feet. It was a feeling I was used to, but something was different. A dark energy grew from the floor of the Dungeon, taking on a form.
Zekrom, who was about to attack me, began to look at the dark energy with full attention.
I had been fighting them for a few minutes and no monsters had been generated for all this time, which made me wonder why. It seemed that it was somehow related to what was in front of me right now.
What I found when the dark energy took its full form was not at all what I expected.
A Goblin appeared in front of me, but it was not like the others I had seen before. The Goblin looked different, his hands looked like human hands and not claws, his skin was darker and an intense aura of heat was emanating from him. He was also taller than the normal Goblins, about my height. His eyes glowed an intense red color, more intense than normal Goblins.
Also, this heat.
Without any warning, the Goblin raised one of his hands and pointed at Lupez's unconscious body. And then, something that should have been impossible with the information I had about this world, happened. The Goblin conjured a fireball and threw it at Lupez's unconscious body.
Even though unconscious, as soon as the fireball hit his body, Lupez let out an agonizing scream before his body was completely incinerated by the fire.
The firepower was too great for a monster on the first floor of the Dungeon.
With my peripheral vision, I caught Zekrom's startled look before he pointed at the Goblin with a trembling hand.
"What the fuck? How the hell did a Goblin use fire magic!?"
Yes, fire magic. I'm sure the book didn't mention something like that. This seems to me to be a very important piece of information to leave out. The fact that a Goblin with magical abilities appeared in the dungeon meant that something very dangerous was happening.
Something probably caused thanks to my presence in the Dungeon. That feeling I felt as soon as I entered, as well as the long pause the Dungeon took, was probably done with the intention of summoning this Goblin.
However, I didn't have time to think, the Goblin was already preparing the next attack in our direction. The fireball was launched and I jumped out. Zekrom was slower to react, his mind was probably about to collapse. Because he was slow to react, he took some damage from the attack.
Varion's body along with his head, was completely incinerated.
"Fuck!" Zekrom roared. "This can't be fucking happening!"
"Complaining won't change our situation, so it would be helpful if you could act rationally."
He looked at me with murderous eyes. "Act rationally? Fuck you, this whole situation is your fault, you son of a bitch!"
Well, he wasn't entirely wrong in saying that this is somehow my fault, after all, I am confident that this monster was generated especially because of my presence inside the Dungeon. Of course, it could also be something related to my Jack Bird theory, but it is unlikely that this is really the reason.
"My fault? It was you who came to attack me with intent to kill with the futile motive of robbing me. I just defended myself in the best way."
I said this calmly as I thought about the options we had for dealing with the current situation. The Goblin was preparing for another attack, and we didn't have much time to act. However, it seemed that my previous speech made Zekrom angrier than he already seemed to be.
I kept my posture firm. I already anticipated that Zekrom would try something, but I didn't expect him to be so impulsive. A different monster appeared in the dungeon, a Goblin with the ability to use fire magic, and yet instead of trying to run out of the Dungeon or help me kill the monster, he tried to attack me.
The heat was rising, and the flames caused by the Goblin's previous attacks were not completely gone.
I kept my stance steady and did not let myself be shaken by the flames around me. Zekrom, with his long sword in hand, seemed confident of hitting me while I was distracted. But I was expecting this dirty trick, and as soon as the Goblin launched his fire attack in my direction, I used the gift that was given to me by the Fairy Queen. [Fairy Steps].
The same ability I used to get rid of the previous deadly attack.
A skill that allowed me to dodge some attack without even moving from my seat.
"Die, you son of a bitch!" He shouted, launching his attack.
However, it hit nothing but air.
"What!" He shouted as he realized his mistake.
The fire that was supposed to hit me, along with his sword, went straight at him. He screamed in agony with his body on fire, the light armor could do nothing to prevent this.
"You're an idiot, Zekrom," I said, keeping my tone calm and controlled. "Did you think you could catch me off guard? I saw your intentions coming from the beginning."
"You son of a bitch!" He screamed in agony with fire in his body. He wasn't dead yet. "You think you're going to get away with this? When my Familia finds out, you're a dead man!"
The fact that he could talk to his burning body shows that adventurers are really something else.
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean. I didn't do anything. You killed your own companion and another along with you died at the hands of a Dungeon monster. Even if I come to be investigated, nothing will happen, for I am completely innocent."
I had already noticed that the Goblin needed some time before he could throw the fire again, so even though I was talking to him, I was fully aware of the Goblin's next attack. Unlike normal Goblins who attack head-on, this one seemed to want to remain at a distance while attacking, much like mages with no physical qualities.
Zekrom looked at me, and although it was hard to see his expression because of the fire, I could tell he was boiling in anger.
"Besides, you were the one who mentioned that what happens in the Dungeon stays in the Dungeon, right?" As soon as I said that, his body seemed to be reaching its limit. "However, if your Familia really looks for trouble with me, you can be sure of one thing only."
I looked into his eyes that probably shouldn't see anything else.
"They will be destroyed."
His body finally reached its limit and he died.
Once Lorelai told me about the fairies' secret ability to jump into space at will, I could easily figure out how [Fairy Steps] worked.
I thought of several concepts about [Fairy Steps], but the fifth is the best explanation I could think of after feeling the effect of the skill on my skin. The [Fairy Steps] ability is like an invisible veil that envelops the user and transports them to another point in space-time, as if it were a fold in the fabric of reality. It is as if the user's very existence is momentarily transferred to another point in the universe, leaving him invulnerable to the attacks and obstacles that would be present in his original path.
It is a unique and powerful ability, and I am grateful to have received this blessing from the fairy queen. Thanks to this, I can survive in certain difficult situations.
However, there is no way that such an ability can come without a cost.
The blood in my mouth made this clear. The wear and tear is too great. I was sure that I was only standing because of all the training I had done during my life, along with the Falna I received from Hestia. I fully understand why Lorelai warns me about using [Fairy Steps] without possessing a blessing.
I can't use such a skill a third time, it's too dangerous.
The Goblin was ready to launch another fire attack at me.
It was time to end it.
The Goblin launched another fire attack in my direction. I jumped to the side and dodged the attack. I knew I couldn't afford to be hit. I could feel my body heavy, something I haven't felt for a long time. I'm sure it wasn't exactly because of my fight with those three adventurers. It seems that the wear and tear from using [Fairy Steps] is worse than I initially thought.
I needed to act fast. I couldn't use [Fairy Steps] again, so I couldn't afford to put myself in a dangerous situation.
As soon as I advanced towards the Goblin, he quickly began to retreat. He seemed to have some considerable intelligence, but that made me sure. If I could get close to him and engage him in hand-to-hand combat, victory would be mine.
I wasted no time; just as the Goblin was preparing for another fire attack, I threw one of my knives in his direction. This action seemed to take the monster by surprise, for he could not escape when my knife struck his shoulder, knocking him off balance as well as stopping the attack he was preparing.
I took this chance to approach the Goblin at full speed. He made one last futile effort, raising his hand at me, probably one last attempt to use that fire attack again, but I was quick and kicked his hand, stopping him. After that, I just used my remaining knife to deliver the last blow to the Goblin, ramming my knife into his head with considerable force.
It didn't take long for the Goblin to start disappearing in particles, leaving only the magic stone that seemed to be quite different from the ones I had found, although I didn't take any, as I thought it would get in the way of my fight with the adventurers.
It was a really good idea to leave the cell phone in the abandoned church. I can't take the risk of it breaking or something.
The fight was easier than I thought it would be, but I remembered the fact that this was the 1st floor of the dungeon, so it wasn't too surprising. Even though the Goblin showed great firepower with his magic, he was still killed easily.
"Well, at least that's good."
I took the Goblin's magic stone and kept it in one of my pockets. This Goblin's magic stone is a little larger than the ones I found when I killed the Goblins and Kobolds.
Without much delay, I made my way out of the Dungeon. I didn't want to fight any more monsters for today.
There was a lot to think about in the events that had just happened, the count of monsters that I had killed on the first floor is 50, counting this "modified" Goblin.
I could sense that things were about to get definitely more problematic than I had first thought.
But that didn't matter, really.
My mind was clear and focused, ready to overcome any obstacle that might come my way. After all, that is the mindset I always carry with me - that of always being prepared to face any challenge that life might bring me.
Well, that's it.
The plan was for this chapter to be longer, since it's been so long since I've posted. But I wanted to post it soon, so wait for the second part of it to come soon. The next part can be longer or shorter than this chapter, I have to start writing first to get a brief idea.
Tell me what you thought about the fights against the adventurers, as well as the surprise of a Goblin that can use fire magic on the 1st floor of the Dungeon. Why did such a Goblin appear, was it simply because of Ayanokouji's presence? Well, theories!
I don't think I detailed the fight too much either, but I think it was somewhat acceptable. I am kind of a beginner in these action parts. Tell me your opinions, if you liked it, if you thought it was acceptable or if there is something to improve.
In this chapter, we finally saw what [Fairy Steps] can really do. A really steal skill if you think about it, but it's not going to come at no cost. Depending on the person or what is attacking Ayanokouji, the wear and tear can be much higher, I will address more in the future.
I'm a little rusty after so long without writing the character of Ayanokouji, so patience, in time I'll get the hang of it again. Remembering that I haven't read volume 0 yet, I probably will soon. To tell you the truth, I stopped reading the Light Novel some time ago, the story was going to a direction that I didn't really like, so, no :/
Well, that's it. Please, tell me what you thought of the chapter, it will give me a good encouragement to release the next part as soon as possible. Have a good weekend to you :)