Time: April 17, 2032. 08:00 AM.
Location: "New Tokyo" Tower (Level 1 Dungeon). Entrance Hall.
The plaza in front of the Tower resembled an anthill. Hundreds of hunters scurried back and forth, forming parties, sharpening weapons, and smoking their last cigarettes. The air was thick with the smell of adrenaline, cheap coffee, and fear.
Amidst this chaotic crowd, our duo—Kenji and Laylo—stood out starkly.
Laylo, dressed in the pale blue, light-armored suit from the "White Tiger" boutique, looked like a true fairy tale heroine. On her back, however... was a massive canvas backpack twice her size. (Inside: water, sandwiches, two extra knives Kenji insisted on "just in case," and... a thermos of hot tea).
Kenji, on the other hand... looked like a lost tourist. He wore a plain black t-shirt, simple jeans, and at his waist hung the cheapest, rustiest "Beginner Iron Sword" (Attack Power: 5) issued by the Guild. He sucked on a lollipop, gazing around with complete indifference.
"Brother," Laylo panted. "Isn't this backpack a little too heavy? I know I'm the porter, but it feels like you packed bricks in here."
Kenji glanced at his sister and subtly twitched a finger.
[Minor Spell: Weight Reduction]
The load on Laylo's shoulders instantly became as light as cotton. She nearly fell backward from the sudden shift.
"Whoa!" Laylo looked at her brother in amazement.
Kenji winked.
"It's just 'Adrenaline,' sis. You're a strong girl. Come on, let's find ourselves some 'victims'... sorry, 'teammates'."
They approached the "Party Search" board. F-Rank hunters couldn't enter alone; a minimum group of five was required.
"Hey, you! The kid with the sword!" a rough voice called out.
Kenji turned.
Standing before him was a tall guy with hair spiked up with gel, wearing shiny (but mostly plastic) armor. A C-Rank badge hung proudly on his chest. Beside him stood two lackeys: a skinny mage and a slightly overweight tank holding a shield.
"Yeah, you, F-Rank!" the C-Rank guy said, chewing gum loudly. "We need a 'Meat Shield' and a porter. Want to join our party? I'm Ryu. The future star of this district."
Kenji laughed internally. Ryu? With that haircut, he looks more like a 'Hedgehog'.
But outwardly, he adopted a submissive and naive persona.
"Whoa! C-Rank Mr. Ryu!" Kenji exclaimed, eyes wide with feigned awe (Laylo bit her lip to keep from laughing). "It would be an honor to walk with someone as great as you! I'm Kenji, and this is my sister Laylo. We... we are very weak, please protect us!"
Ryu looked at his partners with satisfaction.
"See? He knows respect. Alright, kid, stand in the back and don't get in the way. 90% of the loot is ours, you get 10% and the experience. Deal?"
It was blatant robbery. But Kenji didn't need money; he needed an "entry permit."
"Of course, of course! Whatever you say, Boss!"
Inside the Tower: Floor 1. The "Steel Forest"
The group passed through the portal.
The scenery shifted instantly. They were no longer in Tokyo, but in a strange forest where the trees were made of metal and the leaves were razor-sharp steel blades.
The air was damp and heavy with the scent of iron.
Ryu strutted in front.
"Don't be scared," he said, waving his sword (which wasn't of much higher quality than Kenji's). "I've cleared this place five times. The monsters run when they see me."
Just then, a growl erupted from the bushes.
Kenji had already sensed it. His "Sense" covered a 300-meter radius.
Three Steel Wolves. Left side. Rank: E. This is going to be... a bit difficult for Ryu, Kenji analyzed.
"Enemy!" Ryu shouted. "Attack!"
Three wolves burst from the undergrowth. Their fur stood on end like needles, and their teeth were daggers.
Ryu and his team engaged.
"Fireball!" the mage yelled, but his flame barely singed the tail of one wolf. The wolf, now enraged, lunged at the mage.
The Tank (the chubby guy) raised his shield, but the second wolf simply shoulder-checked him. The Tank fell onto his back, flailing like an overturned turtle.
"Help me!" the Tank squealed.
Ryu was grappling with the third, largest wolf—the Alpha.
"Die, filth!" Ryu struck the wolf's head with his sword.
Clang!
The wolf's head was harder than steel. Ryu's sword skidded off, the impact jarring his arm to the bone.
The wolf opened its maw and lunged for Ryu's throat.
Ryu froze in terror. He wasn't fast enough.
Laylo screamed:
"Brother!"
Kenji remained calm. He gripped the hilt of his rusty sword.
Well... If I slice this thing in half right now, Ryu will get suspicious. So, let's go with the 'Accident' scenario.
Kenji took a clumsy step forward, acting as if he were fleeing in panic.
"Oh no! I slipped!" he shouted (with very unconvincing acting skills).
As Kenji "fell," he thrust his sword forward.
It wasn't just a thrust. It was a strike of millimeter precision from a Sword God with eighty years of experience.
The tip of the rusty blade met the leaping wolf at its only weak point—the soft palate inside its open mouth—and drove straight into its brain.
Squelch!
The wolf stopped in mid-air, eyes rolling back, and dropped like a sack of potatoes onto Ryu. Thud. Dead.
Kenji lay on the ground next to Ryu.
"Whoops..." Kenji said, standing up and dusting himself off. "Look at that, he ran right into my sword! What a stupid wolf, huh?"
Seeing their Alpha dead, the remaining two wolves tucked their tails and fled.
Ryu scrambled out from under the wolf's corpse. His face was pale, his armor scratched.
He looked at the dead wolf, then at Kenji's rusty sword.
"You..." Ryu panted. "Did you kill it?"
Kenji shook his head vigorously.
"No way, Boss! You had already killed it! Your strike must have scrambled its brain. I just... held my sword wrong. This is your victory!"
Hearing this, Ryu suddenly straightened his posture. His arrogance came flooding back.
"Yes... of course! I had already weakened it! Your rusty scrap metal just finished the job."
He looked at his team.
"See? I handled the Alpha wolf all by myself!"
The mage and the Tank nodded at Ryu in admiration (and to justify their own uselessness).
"Ryu-san, you are a true hero!"
Laylo stood in the back, covering her mouth with her hand, shaking. Not from fear, but from suppressed laughter.
She had seen it clearly: As her brother "fell," he angled the sword so perfectly that the wolf kebab-ed itself.
Kenji walked over to Laylo and winked.
"See? 'Luck' is the strongest weapon."
"Let's move!" Ryu commanded, now even more confident. "The Floor 1 Boss is waiting for us! I'm going to set a record today!"
Kenji walked slowly behind with his sister.
"You'll set a record alright," Kenji whispered. "A record for the 'Narrowest Escape from Death'."
They ventured deeper into the forest. Ahead awaited the Floor 1 Boss—the "Iron-Shelled Bear." And it wouldn't die as "luckily" as a simple wolf. Kenji would have to offer a slightly more serious "helping hand" this time.