"Hey guy's I brought a new chapter"

"It's the owner of Danmachi!"

"Where!"

"-errh."

I give a slight groan as I slowly open my eyes. I bring one of my arms up and rub my eyes awake, not noticing the slight pain with the movement.

"...where?" I think as I take in my surroundings. Stone. Greyish, blackish, boring stone. I get confused but I'm quickly distracted by a weight on my lap. I sit back, shifting into a comfortable position. I examine the thing in my hands.

"Is this a... horn?"

A horn...

'...dungeon.'

Suddenly the memories rush back in like a dam being broken. I jolt up, fully awake. I quieten my breathing to a slither of air passing through my nose.

I spot no monsters, hear nothing spawning or anything moving about near me. Did I really fall asleep in the dungeon? I attempt to get up but tense from pain coming from my left leg. I nervously look down at it, expecting the worst. I had just about stuffed the bone back in but it was still a complete mess.

I tilt my head slightly in confusion. While I'm still in pain, it isn't nearly as bad as it was before, from what I remember anyway. I move from left to right, trying to grasp the pain level it's at. Before it was easily a 9, now I could say it is maybe a 6.

'That is... manageable,' I think with a small smirk, knowing that this does not constitute as fine. I start to examine my whole body. I check my right leg, seeing for any teeth holes made by the hound that dragged me down the hole. There are a few scars but they seem to have closed up. I then stretch my arms. The pain has reduced to an ache.

I try to sit up more but feel that some of my ribs are still broken from the fall. Even though the outer wounds had almost healed, the ones in my body were still recovering. I didn't mind that. I didn't fight with my ribs after all.

Speaking of, I look at my gear. My armour seems to be alright, apart from the blood covering it. I'm still smeared in blood, though it has all dried up. I remove my Galva-Knuckles and remove my leather gloves, allowing my sweaty hands to breathe a bit. Reg's gauntlets seem in good condition, that's good. I don't know what I'd do if I broke these.

Overall, I'm happy and relieved that I'm alright, well I'm in a better state than when I fell asleep. I even feel somewhat refreshed...

"Wait, how long was I asleep for?" I mumble to myself. I begin to think. I know my falna is good at fixing injuries but for my left shin to go from what it was to now, that can't have been a couple of minutes or even an hour.

I start panicking. Since being asleep, I've lost all sense of my inner clock. I could normally just keep track of time but not knowing how long I've been asleep, it's impossible for me to tell.

I try and think. My mouth's dry but I don't feel that thirsty. I could eat but I'm not desperate. I've definitely felt worse which means, it can't be longer than a few days. That doesn't settle my nerves. Even a single day is too long.

No monster or adventurer has come across me. I'm either in a nook of a random area in the dungeon or I'm in a place where monsters don't spawn. I've never even heard of a place like that existing. I'd have to ask Brant about it when I get back.

'That's right, I need to get moving.'

I check my equipment once more:

Galva-Knuckles, leather gloves, armour, Minotaur horn. All there. As for everything else...

Bag of dirt and pebbles. Exploded.

Magic stone bag. No idea.

Knife. Somewhere down the road wherever the Minotaur threw it after I stabbed it in the eye.

Rucksack with my food and water. I have no idea. Must've fallen off when I landed.

As if on cue, my stomach grumbles. I grumble alongside and stand up. At least I don't have much stuff to lose but the stuff I did... I guess I can replace it. Can't replace my life.

I grunt as I stand up, my broken ribs throbbing in my chest. I look forward at the rubble ahead. Padding the horn nestled in my belt, I make quick work as I climb over the crumbled stone. I think of what to do. What is the best course of action?

I suppose I could retrace my steps and see if any of my stuff is still there. It would be better to be lost with food and water than without.

Not having much choice, I start going back through the dungeon corridor I had run for my life down not long ago. The amount of time ago still alluded to me, and that was annoying.

This corridor is similar to the corridor that I first went down when entering the 13th floor. Narrow and no monster spawns. I don't mind, gives me a chance to warm my muscles up.

I start a light jog as I clench and unclench my fists, the sound of metal scraping fills my ears. It was a comforting sound; I wasn't even bothered if it attracted any unwanted attention. I was itching to get a proper warm-up in.

Was I being cocky, maybe? But the middle floors had thrown me into hell and I don't think they are going to let me out so easily. Best get acquainted with them sooner rather than later.

I slow down after jogging for a bit, something in the air has changed. I sniff, trying to recognise the scent I'd picked up. My eyes widen slightly as I realise what it is. It's blood... my blood.

I look down and see spatters of blood that litter the ground, blood that had dripped off me. Part of it was mine, part of it was that hellhound. Didn't matter as, like before, it had attracted unwanted attention.

I duck down behind a large stone and peek at the monsters. I see three dogs. The same kind of interaction that was my very first on the middle floors. I can't help but smirk at the parallel.

I don't bother hiding for much longer. I spring out and run over. I can't sprint, my left leg forbidding it but I can still run a hell of a lot faster than before. I caught the first one before any of them even noticed, sliding my Galva-Knuckles into place and socking the dog in the temple. The other two realised what had happened by the time their comrade had turned to ash.

I waste no time and jump at the next, balancing on my left leg, wincing as I do so, and whacking my right knee into its jaw before it lets out any noise or magic. The impact doesn't kill it but I've hit it hard enough that it won't be an issue any more.

I feel heat rising up beside me. I duck down low as a fireball shoots over my head. I spin around and rush the remaining monster, not allowing it to get off another attack. I evade the attack from its jaw snapping at my neck. I hop to the side and grab its shaggy fur. I pull myself on it and wrap my two arms around it. They barely reach, my Galva-Knuckles crossing just at the base of the throat.

The dog starts thrashing about violently, trying to shake me off but that just makes my grip tighten. After a minute of shaking and leaping about, the monster's movements slow down. I keep my grip before the dog stops moving completely and sinks to the floor. I jump off just before it slams into the ground.

The second monster I engaged with was just lying on the floor, helpless as it struggled to breathe. I go over to it and look down in pity. The image of the monster's just existing in that giant room. Eating, drinking, sleeping. This dog may have been the same and now it was struggling for its remaining breaths.

I cuss under my breath that I don't have my knife, not being able to give the monster a painless death with a quick stab to the core. As I manoeuvre around it, the dog pitifully shoves its paws in my direction but it's not a threat. I get into its blind spot and clenching my fist, I punch down on through the dog's body, shattering the magic stone as the body reduces to ash.

That was a nice warm-up but sometimes I really do hate my mind and the way it thinks sometimes.

I shake my head. I need to focus on the current task of surviving and escaping. I'm still on my first step of retracing my steps. I wasn't paying close attention when fleeing from the Minotaur but I have a rough idea.

I crouch down next to the pile of ash, grabbing the magic stone. I can't help but sulk as I tighten my grip as cracks begin to form on its shell. This is good money I'm destroying but since I have no way to pocket it, I have to destroy it. That's what Brant taught me.

I kick aimlessly through the pile of ash as I stand up before I spot something.

"Oh yeah," I mumble to myself as I bend down again and dip my finger into the droplet of blood on the ground. Like the blood covering my body, it's dried up but it hasn't evaporated completely, I might not have been asleep that long.

I cling to that thought for a bit of hope as I follow the drops of blood. Before long, I made it back to the room I had fallen into.

I push myself up against the wall I had shivered into earlier. I see a stain of blood smudged into the stone and my eyes follow the trail back to the mess.

The room was completely different from how I'd left it. In replacement for the entrails of dog meat and guts were just small remnants of ash piles fluttering to the ground. I don't spot any magic stone, making me wonder if any monster had eaten it or if it was destroyed by the impact.

The main difference in the room was that instead of a minotaur sniffing at my trail of blood, bent on killing me, there was now a group of large rabbits hovering over something.

'Wait...'

I recognise that something. That's my rucksack with my supplies. So it had survived. But now the rabbits were sniffing at it and possibly tearing into it. If I could retrieve that back, it would be a game changer. This time the reward outweighed the risk, or whatever that stupid saying was that adventures liked to toss around.

I scan the area once more, seeing if there are any more monsters. I glare into the other entrance to the room, where the Minotaur had entered from. Nothing... for now. I don't waste this opportunity. I clench my fists and rush the unsuspecting rabbits.

I count seven in total. Before they even register my presence, seemingly too engrossed in my stuff, I smack the nearest one with my iron-covered fists. Dust fills the air as the sound of its body bursting alerts its friends.

I grab the ears of the next one and slam its head down on the floor, raising my heel and bringing it down through its head. I then quickly step back to avoid a swipe from one of the monster's claws.

Unlike the needle rabbits, that just come up to my knees, these almost stand as tall as me on the hind legs. I can't help but be annoyed at my mini stature but I shrug it off. I hear a hiss directed my way with a few screeches, probably wishing for my death.

I stand back and wait, knowing that I'd caught two by surprise and that would make them more alert for the next attack. It's their move.

It doesn't take long for one of them to grow impatient. Bounding towards me, one of them charges me. Its white fur bristling in the wind it created as its sharp red eyes glare at me. Instead of dodging, not wanting to put too much stress on my left leg, I ungrip my right fist and catch the bunny's attack, then swiftly deliver an uppercut with my still-clenched left fist.

A satisfying noise of impact follows the monster's body as it goes flying backwards, turning into ash as it lands on the floor. My fists can one hit an Orc; these don't stand a chance against my strength.

The other four seem hesitant to follow their friend which irks me. While I'd much prefer to wait and take them on defensively, this is the dungeon. If I wait long enough, more monsters will enter the room, making my already difficult situation more difficult. I want to avoid that.

So with a grimace, I leap forward. I aim for the two on my right. It's a bluff and thankfully, the ones on my left fall for it completely. Thinking I'm open on my side, they jump at me, their sharp fangs snarling at me.

With a quick twist of my body, I go low, letting them fly over me. I follow their movement with my right leg and connect with their back, hurtling them across the room. I don't have time to look at my handy work as I focus on the two I previously jumped at.

It didn't take long until I was now squishing the magic stones in my hands, sending purple shards everywhere as I shed invisible tears over the loss of money. However, a better reward awaits.

I hurry over to my bag that the rabbits were scavenging on. I pick it up, not bothering to assess the damage to the exterior. Like my body, the inside is more important.

My water bottle had caved in on itself, the water having leaked all over my bag, and my food. My biscuits were soggy, turning to mush when touched. My bread faired a bit better. I think it was still somewhat edible.

At least my fruit wasn't affected by the water. No, the congealed mess of fruit had already become unrecognisable during the impact that the leaking of my water bottle couldn't have made it any worse.

I crumple to the floor, letting out a quiet groan of annoyance. My hopes that had been lifted were now all but crushed. Why? Why does life need to do this to me? I'm already in a crap situation, don't throw me a lifeline only to reel back in before I get it.

I solemnly grab my bread, take a bite to quieten my stomach before sipping whatever had remained in my water bottle, wetting my dry throat. I then begin to clean my bag out, removing the gunk and mush of fruit and biscuits. It hurt just as much as crushing the magic stones and hearing the slop splatter onto the floor.

As I sulk, I examine the bag itself. There are tears and bits missing but it still can function as a bag. That is something at least. So I store my broken canteen and the remaining chunk of bread before slinging the bag over my shoulder.

I look back to the roof where I had fallen through. Maybe I can try and reach it and climb back up. Then I'd know where I'm going and where I'd come out at. But no, life ain't that simple. Firstly, it looks way too high for me to even reach with a level 2 jump. Secondly, the stone looks smooth, too smooth for me to climb up.

With no other way to go, I can only sigh as my only option is in front of me. The same way the Minotaur appeared, that is the start of my way out. So, I move forward.

I've been continuing for about an hour, or is it two? I'm not sure really. For some reason, I'm struggling to keep track of time down here. I've never experienced this before. If there has been one thing I've been able to rely on, it's my mind. It's unnerving.

Maybe it's the never-changing décor of the stone walls. The constant barrage of monsters or the thick atmosphere never allowing me a moment of rest. It's most likely a combination of all three.

I've been able to avoid some monster encounters, practically abusing my stealth skill. If that was magic, I would've fainted from my mind down long ago. That goes for my other skill, pain nullification. I'm fairly sure without it, I'd be dead. My left leg, arms and ribs already hurt enough that it's painful just to move, I can't imagine what I would be feeling.

I hop over a small crevice in the pathway as I'm walking along the side of a large drop. I'm pretty sure there is a name for it but I wasn't paying attention when it was mentioned. Something like a raven or something. I thought that was a bird.

I take this quiet moment to have a nibble on my bread. I've gotten a grasp on the layout of this floor so far. I've already had to backtrack a few times due to dead ends and have walked back across a path I've already gone down.

The top floors were kind of a maze but this is ridiculous. If it wasn't for my memory, I'd definitely have gotten lost, well more lost. Another thing I've noticed as well is I have yet to come across any adventures yet. I know the top floors are more populated than the middle floors but from what I've heard, it's not like no one is on these floors. I must have fallen into the equivalent of Daedalus Street, except it's the size of the entire city of Orario. That's how it feels anyway.

Suddenly I smell something. I almost puke just as it enters my nose. It's putrid. It's one of the worst things I have ever smelt. What the hell is it? What could conjure such a rancid scent?

"Blegh!"

I cover my nose in disgust. Is it some kind of monster? One that kills adventurers from letting off a smell or even just existing. If so, then it's easily in the top 5 strongest monsters I've faced, alongside the Minotaur, Orc and the Irregular Monkey.

"...*clnk*..."

My ears twitch. What was that? I heard something. I stay still, my hand still covering my nose. If anything the smell is getting worse but I stay vigilant for another sound.

"...*Clnk*...*Clnk*"

My eyes widen. I recognise that sound. It's a similar sound that occurs when I clench my fists.

"That's metal," I mutter in excitement. I almost forget the smell as I race off to that sound. Only one thing in the dungeon makes that sound.

I ignore my leg flaring up, my pace only quickening.

"Are ya sure it's this way?"

'A voice!' I internally scream. It's another person, an adventurer and by the way he asked a question, there's more than one.

"Oi Kreg, point that thing away from me!" A female voice squeaked. "It stinks!"

"That's the point lass," A gruff voice responds. Three! At least three people now. "This smell is 10 times worse for them monsters. It's why it's called a deterrent."

"Yeah, but it's worse for me than it is for you guys."

So that smell was coming from them and it was to ward off monsters. Perfect, it couldn't have been any more perfect. I don't know whether it's the smell that's making my eyes water or the thought I'm finally saved, I don't really care.

'I'll say I'm a prum who got separated from his party,' I thought as I raced towards the bickering voices and the horrendous smell.

I turn a corner and to my delight, I see them.

At the front holding out a leather bag that was the cause of the terrible smell was a dwarf, his hammer slung over his back. To his right, holding a lantern was a cat-girl, her other hand firmly planted on her nose. To the dwarf's left were a human male and a large Amazon, the tallest out of the lot. Both of them were wielding a weird weapon.

It was on a tall but thin wooden handle with pointy metal going either way from the top, narrowing down the further it went. I'd never seen anything like it but they also had normal weapons, their swords strapped to their sides.

I didn't care what they were holding, they were there. Right in front of me. I began making my way towards them, ready to call out. It seemed others had the same idea as me.

"Hey!" A voice called out from the darkness.

The party of four turned around as they and I watched a group run out from an adjacent tunnel. A party of about 7 people emerged.

"Who's there?" The dwarf asked.

"Fellow adventurers. Please, we need help!" Another member of the group called out. I observed them. They all had armour on in various places but I narrowed my eyes at their weapons. The ones that carried blades still had blood on them, fresh dripping blood. My instinct told me to stay hidden. I saw the Amazon bend down and whisper something to the man. They both dropped their weird weapons and put their handle on their swords. It seemed they had a similar reaction to me.

"Help with what?" The cat girl muffled out, still holding her nose due to the smell.

"We're sorry but we didn't know what else to do," One of the younger ones practically sobbed out. The others were all exhausted, out of breath. I got a closer look, edging forward a bit. They looked rough and dirty like they had been fighting. It only made me more wary.

"What have you done?" the large Amazon spoke with cold animosity.

The group looked guilty, passing looks of sadness between each other. However, it wasn't them that answered. Howls and roars, screeches and clicks. A quagmire of noise filled the hallway, coming from the direction the group had appeared from.

"You bastards!" The man uttered in disgust.

"Sorry, we had no other choice. We smelt your deterrent and we were in a bad spot so..."

"So you decided to come pin the shit show on us!"

"...sorry."

"Fucking pass Parade. Seriously, you can't get any lower!"

'Pass Parade? I've heard that before.'

The image of the incident on the 12th floor flooded my mind. They had called that a pass parade. A horde of monsters, all wanting to kill you. An impossible number to deal with, the only option is to run or die. It seemed these guys chose to run and to other people.

I want to be upset with them but hadn't I done the exact same thing? Granted, I didn't bring a swarm of monsters but as soon as I realised other adventurers were nearby, I intended to burden them with helping me. The feeling of safety and living was so intense that it had overridden my sense of reason.

"Alright, alright. Let's everyone just calm down a minute, ok."

All eyes looked at the dwarf who was trying to be the voice of reason.

"What do ya mean calm down! Don't ya understand what they've done Kreg? They've fucked us!"

"Marcus, shouting ain't getting us anywhere. Terra, you too. Lower ya weapon."

The amazon and the human looked at each other and while shooting the new group a look that could kill, they sheathed their swords.

"Now, listen up!" The dwarf took charge. "While I still have this-" he motioned towards the bag in his left hand. "-them monsters won't attack us. So what's going to happen is, we are going to make our way back, slowly and carefully. Do any of you have a map?"

"I d-do," a beast man said, raising his hand.

"Good, that means we can plan a direct route outta here," The dwarf concluded. I don't know what it is with dwarfs, but from the ones I've seen, they are very reliable and strong.

"But Kreg, what about those stone things we came down for?" Ellie the cat-girl asked.

"They'll have to wait Imma 'fraid."

I stayed back as the two groups reluctantly mixed together and began organizing a plan of escape. They kept two people watching the way they came and had another two on alert from the other directions, including mine. The noises never stopped.

I too was keeping aware of my surroundings. I was sitting behind a cluster of rocks. It seems I'm within the range of the smell to be safe from monsters. I don't mind this. I'm getting a proper break to help my leg and restore some energy to my aching body. Though, the thought that I could be surrounded is haunting.

The noises that had only come from one direction were starting to arrive from the other ways too. Some members of the group began to panic, only for the dwarf and the leader of the pass parade group to calm him down.

I looked over at them. They were huddling around the map, even the ones on lookout were staying as close as they could. I know why. They want to be as close to that stink bag as possible, knowing it's the only thing keeping them safe from the jaws of death.

I want to expose myself, join the group, get closer and feel safer. But something tells me not to. As long as I'm close enough I'll be just as safe as them. I'm fine where I am, for now anyway.

I stare down at my armour on my arms and legs. Reg may be a brilliant blacksmith but he isn't perfect. Scratches and cracks are beginning to show. I must've had at least 80, maybe 90 encounters since I woke up. I'm getting tired again but this time I can't afford to sleep and now, if I wish to remain hidden, I can't lose the slightest bit of concentration.

"Right, are we in agreement?" The dwarf, Kreg announced, garnering the ones on watch's attention, mine too.

"We'll head down route C7 until we hit B3 and then straight towards the main route. By then, we might meet another party willing to assist us. However, we won't force them. Make sure to warn those we encounter the situation. These monsters ain't gonna just leave us."

As if to remind them of the situation we were in, the roars and screeches increased, filling the darkness.

I swallow the build-up of saliva in my mouth. On the upper floors, if you wanted, you could easily run away from monsters and they'd give up after a bit. If someone like that dwarf says something like that, then I'm surprised that I wasn't followed down that hole by the horde I had encountered.

In the time that it has taken for the group ahead of me to create a plan, I've had a couple of minutes to rest a bit more. My right leg has garnered some nasty scars while my left leg has swollen. My arms got really sore after constant use but I kept stretching them, not allowing them to grow cold. My head has lost the headache but my nose still hasn't gotten used to the horrible stench of that stink bag thing.

"Now, I'd estimate we've only got about 10 minutes of use left in this bag and one more spare, which will last for just over an hour. That means we have about an hour to escape."

"Is that enough time?" One of the groups asked, a man with dog ears. Like a few of the other beast people, they were especially struggling with the stench, their noses being more sensitive.

"If we work together, there should be more than enough time to get back up to floor 15," The dwarf assured the man.

I had been listening in on the entire conversation about the plan. I found out I was on floor 16, three whole floors below. That does explain the large drop. However, the thing that sparked my interest the most was the decision the two leaders from each respective party gave to the large group.

"We're stuck in the back alleys of floor 16. Now, we have two choices. Either try and make our way back up to floor 15 and hopefully escape the monsters or..."

"Or what Elliot?"

The man, Elliot, sighed. "We could try and get to the safe zone of floor 18."

Safe Zone?

I continued to listen with curiosity. Apparently, floor 18 is a completely safe area in the dungeon where no monsters spawn at all. There is even a town there. I struggled to believe it but apparently everyone else had heard of it and they thought of it.

I mean, it is technically closer than the safety of the upper floors but won't the monsters on floor 17 be harder than the ones above.

If I knew where I was going, as a solo adventurer I think I'd try and sneak back to upper floors but with no knowledge, the appeal of the 18th floor isn't out of the question. For some reason, it is easier to descend than it is to go back up in the dungeon.

However, if I got to the 18th floor, then what? I'd have no way to get back to the surface. Yes, I could probably rest and heal up but I'd have no map and it's not like I could just ask for help if I still wanted to remain hidden.

If I wanted to show myself, I'd have done so already. If the group had chosen to go to the 18th floor, I'd probably just follow whoever they asked to help them back up, like I'm doing now. Going straight back to the 15th floor and onwards cuts out the unnecessary step of going down only to go back up, that's how I see it anyway.

But the group had chosen to not go down. They believed they had enough numbers to work together and deal with any monsters and with the extra stink bomb, they should be able to rest for a bit.

I watched as the group picked up all their belongings, made one sweep of the corridor and with the dwarf leading the way with his arm outstretched holding the bag, they set off down the corridor.

In the middle were the worst injured members while at the back stood the beast people, wanting to be as far away from the stench as possible.

This was my ticket out of here. I kept close to the wall and stayed just out of sight of them. Finally moving from behind my hiding spot, I followed the awful smell and the group that I'd hope would get me out of the dungeon.

For anyone wandering, the weird weapon the man and amazon were carrying, there were pickaxes. Can't believe they put something from Minecraft in anime.

So, Perseus now has hope of escape. Following a group of adventurers. And another pass parade. It seems Orario is getting mroe and more chaotic. How much longer can Perseus survive in the stomach of the dungeon.

Reviews:

Jose Blas - Thanks and: 1. Could do. 2. She may be inclinced to help out protaganist at some point. 3. No, Bell will join Hestia.

Sora Stream - Let's jsut say canon Bell right now won't be able to beat Perseus when we reach canon time now, that's how strong I plan to make our boy. Also, thanks for the support, glad you like it.

004 - Well, he has been given a lifeline this chapter... maybe. And yes, it will be a while before he see's sunlight again.

As always, thanks for reading. I'll see ya next time, Peace!