Chapter 1: Destiny can go f-
Hey everybody, this is my first attempt at making Danmachi Fanfic. This chapter can be considered a test, I wouldn't consider this a final draft because I felt I needed more feedback and I would like as much feedback as I can get from this site. I want to see if I can write a good fanfic, I've read plenty but I never actually attempted to write my own.
This was inspired by Coerced into Altruism in the Dungeon By: WwEpsilonwW, I loved their work and I did want to do a scenario for changing the fated demise of Astraea Familia.
I will also make a Character Sheet for my OC Bastius Brune, but just to make it clear he is a Level 4.
Destiny is a funny word, the fated path and predetermined ending of oneself, and that one word seems to just bring nothing but pain. Who would know this better than Bastius Brune?
Well, the Gods most likely that question is a bit of an unworthy boast but let's be honest the Divine that descended to the Mortal Realm will never give the answers to such philosophical questions. Philosophical for us mortals and the very fabric of nature itself for the Divine, they can't exactly make it too easy for us. Then again has it ever been... easy?
For Bastius Brune, a young man of nineteen, his life had not been close to the word easy and he hates that word. It's a classic story, one might say, a boy was born with happiness and lost by being reminded of the very creatures against his and humanity's existence, the monsters.
Even after a millennium they still haunt the surface, after all before the Great Hole was sealed the monsters continuously emerged from it to roam the lands in droves hunting down every essence of human civilization they could eat away at.
It doesn't matter if there are Adventurers or if there is place like Orario building the greatest Adventurers known to man, the people outside still suffer. Is it the adventurer's fault for not sending people to clear out the monsters lurking above? Is it their fault for not being on time? Is it the people's fault for not preparing for such an inevitability? Questions like that just built up more pain, the more pain built had raised further resentment.
Especially in Bastius, that resentment is quite the irony for him. Of all the things he does resent, Adventurers? Says the one who is quite literally taken on the profession and is currently riding the 31st Floor of Monsters as he returns from his trek to the 37th Floor. He has used up much of his potions and supplies, he has to ration himself properly.
Such a feat is said to be impossible for a Level 4 like him, even if many consider it to be extremely reckless and dangerous. 'No guts, no glory' he says...
"God, these things are relentless every time..."
Continuing his trek through the Dungeon Floors, he felt the entirety of the Floor shake as though there were an earthquake and he heard very loud 'booms' coming from the up ahead.
"... great this is just what I need."
Bastius knows explosions when he hears them and he can hear voices up ahead, the 30th Floor is the source. When he arrived, he could see further explosions and hear voices along with the sounds of clashing swords.
"You damn justice-loving bitches!"
"Fat chance, Jura, you thought you could get us that easily?"
Watching from afar it seems it's another case of Astraea Familia going at it with the Remnants of Evilus, fucking Evilus they just keep popping up even after their humiliating defeat in the Great Feud.
'Jura Halmer, that fucking cat's ass... so Rudra Familia is making a move like this? Jeez... what a bunch of idiots-'
Suddenly, Bastius felt a feeling surge throughout his entire body, it felt like his gut was telling him to run. At the same time, he heard a voice in his head...
"'Don't let them die. Please... their destiny must be changed.'
"What? Who the hell said that?"
He had questions but then he heard an inhumane sound, a monster no doubt but... that sound it was new and it sent chills down every person's spine. It was low and yet it was loud, the way reverberated throughout the floor it was as though it came from a beast beyond.
The ceiling of the 30th Floor cracked open and shattered as 'something' fell to the ground.
Bastius saw a skeletal bipedal creature of some kind, whatever it was... it was dangerous- no it was... Death.
"What... what is that thing?!"
"Jura, what the hell is going on!?"
"Girls, keep your guard up it looks like the Dungeon is taking action!"
Rudra Familia was in a panic, even that bastard Jura was shocked by what he witnessed, Astrea Familia seemed composed but even they were unnerved by the appearance of a new monster.
Though before any of them could make a move, blood had been spilled...
That skeletal creature moved so fast that they only just noticed it's position change. When it did many of the Rudra Familia had been slaughtered in an instant. They couldn't process it... and that's when fear began to settle in... then chaos.
The monster that emerged would later be known by one name, a name that only a select few would know about for its existence would never be revealed, Juggernaut. It would be the monster that exterminated Astraea Familia... now it's gaze was set on the Familia that strived itself for Justice, destiny decreed that this was supposed to happen.
Bastius knew they were going to die, and that thing could not be stopped, he saw what it did to the members of Rudra Familia and they were made up of a bunch of Level 3s and 4's.
Even so, something just snapped within Jack, he saw a black-haired girl armed with a sword on a collision course with the creature then... he just leaped from his hiding spot.
Armed with his sword, Ulfheðinn, he rushed forward and kicked that girl away as he clashed with that thing head on. What in the name of God is he doing? He can't win this. Yet here he was trying to fight.
All Bastius could do was try to fend off this creature, he doesn't know if he has any chance of fighting it but he will do whatever he can. Astraea Familia was stunted by the sudden appearance of another adventurer who just suddenly kicked away one of their own and started fighting single-handedly against the Juggernaut.
"Noin!"
Many of her Familia called out to her as she was essentially struck back, at first they were about to engage the new arrival believing him to be supporting Rudra Familia but they were surprised as he started to face the Irregular that appeared. Alise Lovell, Astraea Familia's captain had snapped out of her stupor to order her members to check on their familia member.
"Noin! Are you alright?"
Ryuu Lion and Asta Knox rush to check on Noin Unic, the blonde elf and the armored dwarf check on their friend who seemed to be fine with no serious injuries to report.
"I'm fine! But what was that? Who is that!?"
"I don't know, I thought he was with Rudra but I never seen anyone like him Rudra Familia before."
"He certainly doesn't seem to be a newbie, that strength and that speed are like that of First Class Adventurer, and he didn't come after us. He went straight for that thing."
Astraea Familia couldn't help but lock their eyes onto what they believed was a suicidal adventurer, this was an unknown monster... some kind of Irregular that had never been seen before... they didn't know anything, and yet this person just came out of nowhere and started fighting the thing.
"Hey, what are you doing!? Stop, it's too dangerous!"
Bastius didn't bother to answer as he drew the attention of the Juggernaut as his Skill activated Björneldr (Ravenous Maul), his great sword started to gain a white color and it seemed as though a single ethereal bear claw materialized upon it.
He rushed forward to strike the monster and he seemed to be landing his strikes but no matter the strength nor how many times his sword landed true, the monster seemed to be immune.
'I can't even dent this ugly bastard!'
"Alright, you fucking wretch! Follow me!"
The Juggernaut seemed infuriated, it might as well be because Bastius is managing to avoid the Juggernaut's attacks. This was far more deadly than anything he ever encountered on the Deep Floors. He couldn't see himself winning against this thing.
So why the fuck did he even go into this battle?
He would never say out loud but he felt the fear of death ever since he first met eyes with this abomination from the abyss. Only the Dungeon could create an atrocity that would poison even the strongest with fear.
'Damn it... I'm going to die, aren't I?'
So, then what was the point of all? Everything he did up to this point? Even his suicidal expedition to use the Colosseum, a place where any adventurer can meet their demise, what was the point of it? meeting Lord Tyr, Coming to Orario, actually becoming an adventurer, fighting monsters again and again trying to grow stronger, just what the hell was it all for? He was questioning all his life choices... everything he had done...
When someone is face to face with death, their life flashes before their eyes. For Bastius he could see it all so clearly, everything... every last thing. The first memory of happiness, his home and his village, laughing with his mother and father, helping his baby brother. Then came a memory of his village burning to the ground, he could hear the roars of the monsters and see the corpses of his people... how they were mangled, burned, consumed... the rivers of blood that flowed as though Hell itself manifested. How could the Gods let Hell emerge in the Lower
World? From that day, he cursed the Gods, he cursed the ones they blessed for not being able to save them, and above all he cursed himself for being so weak...
'Weak... weak...? weak!? HELL NO!'
CLANG!
Before Bastius knew it, that surge of emotion and the remembrance of his promise he woke up.
"I did not come this far just for the Dungeon to devour me!"
'I still don't know why I am doing this... why I am listening to that voice but... 'destiny' huh? It's always destiny... I don't give a fuck anymore. Destiny? It can go fuck itself! I just want to hurt this freak and if I can kill it, I'm going to bury it six feet under!'
Now he was back to facing his destined death, the Juggernaut, rejuvenated by the flashes of his memories and only glared at the creature then... a smirk came upon his face.
Then his eyes gained slits as they turned golden from their original brown shade, there was what looked to be brown fur forming upon his arms and sides of his face, he was looking more like a Bear. He looked like a human before but now? He is a beast of his own. Give thanks to his other Skill... Bjarkangr (Berserker's Wrath).
A sleeping bear is now awake.
"Hey... you big ugly bastard... have you ever fought a Bear before? Let me tell you something... they don't go down easy. They'll get their prey even if they have to endure the worst pain, you can cut them up a thousand times and they'll still keep coming. So let's see whose hide will last longer... yours... or mine!?"
The Juggernaut merely roared at Bastius, a roar that resounded through the entire 30th floor.
"Haha... yeah that's it... get pissed... I need you to fight with everything you got... till you got nothing left."
A great battle will soon ensue, a battle that was never supposed to happen, but twists of fate are just that. A twist of fate can go any which way, such as how Astraea Familia was meant to die on this day, and yet here comes a single force that completely intervened with a destined death.
Destiny is not being obeyed on this day... will that be for better or worse? Bastius doesn't know nor does he care. All he wants to do is kill this ugly bastard or die trying...
"BRING IT!"
Well, that's the end of it, again this fanfic is me testing the waters and seeing where I should improve. If you wish to see more or if you have important feedback for me, any kind at all I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you and have a wonderful day.