Hooves capped the feet that trampled the earth, and the hide and hair covering their bodies appeared entirely inhuman. Dual horns sprouted from hairless heads, and the fangs protruding from their maws were no less sharp. Their numbers easily exceeded a hundred, their crimson eyes scanning the area with terrifying gazes.
Deep within the forty-ninth floor of the Dungeon, this wasteland swarmed with a herd of hybrid creatures—a fusion of bulls and rams possessing distorted humanoid forms. The monsters raised thick arms, hoisting heavy weapons high above their heads. At the sight of this, the order was immediately given to the front-line defenders to brace their shields before panic could take hold.
"──!!"
Immediately after, the earth shook violently, accompanied by a deafening roar. Dust clouds billowed as the monsters' blows collided with the heavy shields of the vanguard, veiling the entire area until visibility vanished.
However, the obscurity did not last long. As the view began to clear, the mage defending the rear lines──Lefiya Viridis──finished her incantation, manifesting a massive fireball that floated in the air.
"──Fusillade Fallarica!!"
The sphere expanded in an instant before exploding, transforming into countless fire arrows that incinerated the monsters with staggering heat.
Their fates varied: some turned to ash before they could let out a single cry, while others barely survived with charred bodies. Regardless, the lives of every monster in that vicinity ended beneath the raging fire fueled by her immense magical power.
Yet, despite her title as the "Thousand Elf," her barrage was not enough to fully exterminate the nightmarish herd.
Proof lay in the hundreds of monsters still standing, which began their advance once more.
"Support!! Tiona, Tione, hurry to the left wing!!"
Following the instructions of the Pallum captain, the Amazon twins dashed forward, cleaving through the monsters one after another with their weapons. Nevertheless, the tide still favored the enemy. While the first-class adventurers exerted every effort to maintain the battle lines, the relentless march of the monsters did not stop.
Those beasts, with massive bodies that seemed forged from metal, swung black iron clubs as long as a man was tall, tearing through the air and driving the defenders into a corner. Every strike from their weapons, powered by brute strength, shattered the ground and sent violent tremors through the earth.
Amidst the chaos, one presence stood out most prominently. A gargantuan body nearly bursting with power, it far surpassed the rest of the herd in size and possessed a hardiness that words could not fully describe.
Coarse, steel-colored hair covered its frame, and its reddened eyes gleamed with a voracious lust for combat, expressing an insatiable desire for destruction that sent a rhythmic trembling through the legs of the front-line fighters.
Indeed, it was the monster known as a "Fomor," and it was now preparing to deliver a crushing blow.
As soon as the massive club, charged with extraordinary force, slammed into the tower shield carried by one of the defenders, the warrior could not withstand the impact and was sent flying. This created a breach in the front defensive wall.
The monsters seized this opening and surged toward the rear lines they were supposed to protect, intent on delivering a lethal strike. But before they could arrive, a lone young man stood in their path with lightning speed.
At the sight of that white shadow appearing skillfully with his cloak fluttering behind him, the monsters roared in delight, as if they were anticipating more slaughter.
Despite being the focus of all those monsters, he stood his ground without a shred of fear.
He wore no heavy armor, only light combat attire, and possessed no protection save for metal gauntlets. But that did not matter.
The Fomor's demonic appearance and alloy-like body were not mere show; a single strike from this monster was capable of killing first-class adventurers from the elite Loki Familia, the strongest Familia in Orario.
Under normal circumstances, this monster was a terrifying foe that even Level 5 adventurers could not take lightly. However, its luck had run out this time. The man standing before it was now the strongest man in the city and the fastest man in the world—the supreme adventurer whose majestic titles were famous even beyond the city walls.
"───── Thunderbolt."
He was the strongest weapon of the Loki Familia, the family that rivaled the Freya Familia led by the Goddess of Beauty──the "Sword Saint" Al Cranel.
Simply and with a single word, he released his magic known as "Thunderbolt"—an offensive spell that launched electrical discharges with a fiery glow from his hand or weapon.
The bolt struck with lightning speed, hitting the monster's head with pinpoint accuracy. The beast froze, screaming from the electric shock, followed by a series of bolts that pierced the monsters one after another.
Had it been ordinary offensive magic, it would have been unremarkable. However, the reason Riveria Ljos Alf, the greatest mage in Orario, described this magic as "beyond the standards" was twofold: first, it was a fast-cast magic that required no long incantation.
Magic usually possesses a common weakness: "casting time." Whether it is offensive, healing, defensive, or even curses, an incantation is necessary for activation. The stronger the magic, the longer the chant—some spells even take full minutes.
Naturally, techniques like "Concurrent Chanting" or "Super Short Chanting" exist to cover this weakness, but the chant itself never disappears. Al's magic, however, was a rare exception that broke this rule entirely; it activated with a single word, allowing him to fire it in rapid succession.
The second reason was its sheer destructive power.
As stated, the power of magic is directly proportional to the length of the chant. For this reason, the magic released by Riveria or other high-ranking mages requires an incredibly long incantation.
But Al's Thunderbolt defied this logic as well.
Being lightning, it was fast and impossible to avoid, and furthermore, it caused paralysis even if the opponent survived the strike. Its power equaled the barrage magic resulting from a long chant by a first-class adventurer, capable of eliminating deep-floor monsters in a single hit.
In some cases, a direct hit from it could knock a first-class adventurer unconscious, even if they possessed high endurance and anti-magic equipment.
With speed no less than his magic, he drew multiple silver arcs in the air resembling flashes of thunder. In the blink of an eye, the bodies of the Fomors exploded, their remains scattering amidst waterfalls of blood. Everyone stood stunned before the scene.
It was overwhelming dominance. The massive bodies of the monsters flew through the air as if made of paper. It wasn't just one or two, but dozens and hundreds were slaughtered without the slightest resistance. It was a massacre in every sense of the word.
With complete coldness and devoid of emotion, his silver sword carved its way to create dozens of corpses in moments. It was an art of death, more beautiful and cruel than anything else—a dance of death that annihilated all the fierce beasts amidst the roar of thunder.
Al did not fight alone. After he wiped out the monsters attacking the vanguard, the "Sword Princess" and six other first-class adventurers joined him, raining a barrage of strikes upon the enemies.
They rushed forward with all their might so as not to be outdone by Al. The mages also began releasing their spells as soon as their chants concluded, fireballs launching simultaneously.
Wind blades, ice spears, rock masses, liquid poisons, and lines of fire resembling flamethrowers assaulted the monsters.
"──Soon, the fire will be released. Rage, O crimson flames. O merciless heat. You are the incarnation of hell. Sweep everything away, and put an end to this great conflict."
"Burn everything, O Sword of Surtr──My name is Alf!"
"Rea Laevateinn!!"
Eight first-class adventurers representing the leaders of the Loki Familia, along with a cadre of high-level adventurers, stood ready. Al, Ais Wallenstein, Bete Loga, and other front-line fighters had bought the necessary time for Riveria to finish her incantation.
After their mission ended, the battle's conclusion was declared with the launch of the greatest offensive magic by the city's finest mage: the second-tier fire annihilation magic, "Rea Laevateinn." Glowing green magic circles formed, and the spell's range covered the entire battlefield.
Massive crimson spears made of intense heat swept across the ground. The fiery projectiles exploded on impact, hurling monsters left and right. The explosions swallowed the beasts, who had no means of surviving this hell.
The Loki Familia was in the midst of an "Expedition," a mission imposed by the Guild on high-ranking Families.
They had reached the fiftieth floor of the Dungeon's depths, an area trodden only by a few powerful Families like the Freya and Ganesha Familias. Now, they were advancing toward unknown floors that no adventurer in the modern era had reached.
At that moment, they planned to establish a base camp and take a long rest. This rest was essential for the expedition members to recover their strength for the next phase.
"Alright, let's start setting up the camp."
Based on the words of Raul, who was responsible for leading the second-string members, the members began moving actively: pitching tents, securing food, and installing lighting using magic stones.
They appeared very accustomed to these outdoor activities; their work was organized and swift. The tents, stoves, and cooking utensils were already being prepared.
Some members took on guard duty, even though this floor is considered a rare "Safe Zone" in the Dungeon where monsters do not appear, making the danger almost non-existent.
After that major battle, a mood of calculated relaxation prevailed among the members, without reaching the point of negligence.
The first-class adventurer leaders were no exception.
"There were quite a lot of them today, weren't there?"
"Yeah, it was a bit exhausting."
The two girls carrying luggage that outweighed the loads of the other members several times over were the Amazon sisters, Tione and Tiona, who had fought a fierce battle moments ago.
Originally, leaders are not required to perform the manual labor done by lower-ranked members, but Tiona took the initiative to help, and Tione followed suit.
By the way, they wore clothes resembling dancer outfits that revealed their tanned skin, the characteristic attire of the Amazon race. Though it was an attention-grabbing outfit, they always fought in it.
Tiona possessed a small physical build compared to the size of her massive weapon, but she was far stronger than average adventurers.
She was lifting wooden crates filled with supplies and moving them, while Tione was no less strong or enduring than her sister, carrying the luggage with a calm face despite her violent combat.
"What? You still have all this energy!!"
"Shut up."
"Please, don't overexert yourselves; you were fighting on the front lines."
Tiona continued working with a smile, while her older sister smiled faintly despite her grumbling. At that moment, Lefiya, the orange-haired elf girl, appeared and spoke in a worried tone.
"It's fine, it's fine!! Tione and I aren't hurt. Rather, you're the one who should be tired, Lefiya, after all that magic you used."
"No, I... I'm not at all..."
Signs of fatigue were clear on Lefiya as well. Although she was providing magical support, keeping up with the warriors on the front lines amidst that grueling battle was no easy feat. Nevertheless, she did not show her exhaustion and spoke kindly to her seniors, demonstrating the strength of her resolve.
Tiona directed a mischievous smile toward her. In reality, in terms of "Level," Lefiya was still far from the level of Tiona and the others, but her magical power—which the Familia's god called "Stupid Magic" due to its sheer scale—made her a massive destructive force against large numbers, and she sometimes surpassed Tiona in achievement.
Lefiya is considered Level 3 within the Loki Familia, but in terms of wide-range magic, she ranks second only to her mentor Riveria, though she does not fully realize her own true value.
Hearing their conversation, Bete approached. The Amazon sisters scowled upon seeing him, but he didn't care and spoke to them. It wasn't because their relationship was bad, but rather a mismatch in temperaments.
Bete's blunt personality always grated on their nerves. Similarly, Bete did not find the sisters' company enjoyable, so he did not wish to speak with them long and addressed only Lefiya.
"Hey, where are Ais and Al?"
Lefiya seemed confused for a moment; she had indeed noticed their disappearance. Tione answered from her side:
"The two of them are in that tent, getting a lecture from the Captain."
Inside the largest tent, inscribed with the Familia emblem—the "Gesticulating Clown"—were the top leaders along with a young man and woman.
In the tent was a large bed, and beside it a small table piled with files. This tent served as the command headquarters for this expedition.
Finn Deimne, the captain of the Loki Familia, was a handsome man with golden hair and blue eyes suggesting intelligence. He had an appearance suggesting he was a boy despite being a Level 6 adventurer.
"Alright, Ais. Why didn't you stick to the orders to maintain the defensive lines?"
At the Captain's words, the girl with flowing golden hair and divine beauty lowered her eyes. She was Ais Wallenstein, nicknamed the "Sword Princess," and one of the leaders of the Loki Familia.
She remained silent and did not answer, which made Finn sigh helplessly.
"Ais, you are undoubtedly strong. But for that very reason, your actions as a leader affect those below you, whether positively or negatively. You must realize this."
"..."
"Are you feeling uncomfortable? With your current position?"
"... No, I'm sorry."
Despite her strength fitting her title, she was still a girl in the process of growing up and had not yet matured psychologically.
"No need to apologize. Just be careful to pay attention next time."
Finn smiled kindly, and Ais nodded her head slightly. She was thinking to herself: Why am I so weak?
Although her sword skills had made her one of the most prominent powers in the city, she felt unable to scale the wall standing before her.
She felt confused, as if she had returned to those days when her head held nothing but the slaughter of monsters in the labyrinth. She thought that pursuing strength might open new horizons for her, but now she wondered what she truly needed.
"And you too, Al, don't pretend this doesn't concern you. I know you're the strongest among us, but you rush in too much. This behavior of yours prevents others from developing, and more importantly, it will lead you to ruin."
The other person was a youth with hair white as snow and eyes red as blood, possessing a masculine beauty resembling Greek statues—this was Al Cranel. He was the same age as Ais, and together they represented a constant headache for Riveria due to their reckless actions.
"... I will restrain myself."
Al said with a sullen face, and Finn smiled bitterly, thinking, He doesn't really understand. The truth was that Al's power surpassed the other members in this expedition by leaps and bounds, and in terms of pure combat skill, he was undoubtedly the strongest.
But Al was still in the development stage, and his talent had begun to bloom fully, yet he tended toward excessive risk in his pursuit of power. For this reason, he received reprimands repeatedly without noticeable improvement.
(Well, I must find a solution to this matter somehow).
"Don't be too hard on them, Finn. They must have rushed into the Fomor herd out of a desire to protect us front-line fighters. Even if they almost caused the formation to collapse."
"And to be fair, my slowness in chanting was my fault as well."
Those who provided this support were Gareth Landrock, the powerful Level 6 dwarf, and the High Elf Riveria. Faced with the mediation of his two friends, Finn smiled again and said while looking at Ais and Al:
"I'll overlook it this time, but pay attention in the future."
"... Understood."
"... Acknowledged."
Ais answered shyly, while Al answered curtly as usual. Finn shook his head as he saw this contrast between them.
"Strength is a good thing, for you and for the Familia."
Finn murmured after they left.
"But they are far too impulsive. And Al specifically, he crosses the limits."
What was crossing the minds of Finn and Riveria was the image of that boy who always returned from the Dungeon with his white hair stained with blood and his body covered in wounds. That boy who never retreated a single step even when Loki threatened to seal his abilities, reaching Level 7──the highest rank for adventurers──in just three and a half years.
"Since he reached Level 7 six months ago, he's started feeling confused again."
Six months ago, during the return from an expedition, an extraordinary floor boss (Balor) appeared suddenly. Al sacrificed himself and stayed alone to fight the monster and secure the escape of the injured members. After a fierce battle, he succeeded in slaying it and his level rose.
──Yes, Al Cranel feels anxious, and he fears stagnation. That boy who became a first-class adventurer within one year of receiving the "Blessing" is still unsatisfied despite reaching the peak of power at Level 7, and looks toward what lies beyond.
Finn understands Al's feelings, but he sees his current situation as dangerous.
"He underestimates his life too much. That wasn't the first time he fought alone to protect us."
"Yes, I know he cares for everyone. But at this rate, he will walk alone to a place where even Ais cannot catch up to him in his pursuit of power."
"... What is he truly aiming for?"
One reason for Al's unnatural growth speed was his skill [憧憬追想 - Longing Remembrance]. It is a rare skill that makes the owner grow at a speed proportional to the intensity of their feelings. Loki had never seen its like before, and only the Goddess and the big three in the Familia knew of its existence.
When Al first came to Orario, he said he had no parents.
Unlike Ais, he had a younger brother, but despite that, he did not enjoy the warmth of a family. Perhaps for this reason, there is still a slight barrier between him and the rest of the Familia members.
Finn does not understand why he seeks with all this persistence to become stronger, but he sees that he is advancing toward his goal steadily.
"We'll find out one day."
"I hope so. Regardless of his skill, he possesses superlative talent. It's as if I'm seeing 'Silence' before me again."
Yes, he resembles her greatly. He resembles "Alfia," nicknamed "Silence," who was considered an exceptional case even within the Hera Familia, the strongest in history. It was said she was the being most loved by talent since the age of the Gods.
"Perhaps there is a blood relation between them; the name and appearance are similar. ... And because of his overwhelming talent, no one can stop him."
"Sigh, what can we do?"
Although they were in a "Safe Zone," caution was mandatory. Nonetheless, the members of the Loki Familia allowed themselves some fun to relieve the fatigue of combat.
In the middle of the camp, a massive pot was placed, emitting a delicious aroma, and the members gathered around it exchanging talk.
What was in the pot was a stew made of dungeon forest fruits, meats, and produce, prepared by Al. Despite being the strike force of the Familia, he had learned cooking from the strongest dwarf in Orario and became responsible for preparing appetizers for the Goddess Loki. The stew was perfect for warming tired bodies.
"Excuse me, are you sure you don't want to eat?"
"Yes, it's fine..."
"You're pretending to be strong while your stomach is making audible noises!!"
Ais answered Lefiya's question curtly, but her stomach's betrayal by letting out the sound of hunger made Tiona and the others laugh, causing Ais's face to turn red with embarrassment.
It was not surprising; Ais believed that eating too much negatively affected combat, so she settled for ready-made food rations and did not consume real meals.
In such a case, it was impossible to resist the smell of a delicious stew like this. Ais felt embarrassed and shrank in her place, so Tiona laughed and said:
"Eat, we don't want you to faint in a time of need."
"Oh..."
Since Al was the one who prepared the food—and he was like an older brother to Ais—she found no escape from eating. As soon as she tasted the first spoonful, her eyes widened in shock.
She began eating silently and quickly, emptying her bowl one after another. When she finished rapidly, she asked for more, and Aki filled her bowl again.
(... It's warm).
She didn't know if she meant the food or her companions, but that is what she felt. However, she wondered within herself: Do I have the right to be here? Is my place among these people correct?
Do I deserve this warmth and kindness? Doubt nagged at her and anxiety gnawed at her—a feeling that she was in a place where she did not belong.
(I...)
Can someone like me enter this circle? Can I stay with everyone? She asked herself, but before she could utter a word, Tiona leaned on her with her usual bright smile, as if her presence there was the simplest of natural rights.
●○●○●
I, Al Cranel, am a person transferred to this world (reincarnated). I was born as a child in a quiet rural land. Shortly after I learned to crawl, my younger brother was born, and when I heard his name, I was stunned.
This world is the world of DanMachi!
My little brother is Bell Cranel, and our grandfather who raised us is that large, eccentric man who replaced our parents who disappeared. I confirmed it then; this is the fantasy world where adventurers hunt monsters in the labyrinth.
Since then, I pretended to be a normal child and hid the memories of my previous life.
According to my fading memories, DanMachi is the story of the hero Bell Cranel who saves the heroines in the city of Orario and grows to become a hero with his companions. This work is full of characters who possess sad and painful pasts that make one want to see how they will overcome that black cloud (suffering).
When I realized I had reincarnated in this world, the first thing I thought was: Ah, I want to become a wound in the hearts of these people and die a majestic death.
In my previous life, I was someone who loved dramatic and tragic stories (Kumorase). Since I had died once, my fear of death had diminished, and I longed to satisfy this desire. As soon as my body matured and I became capable of fighting, I headed to Orario.
Of course, I had to join the Loki Familia where the main characters were. I thought joining would be difficult, but my high stats plus my "cute" appearance when I was twelve years old caught the attention of the Goddess Loki, who loves beauty, so I entered the Familia easily.
Since then, I pretended to be that mysterious, silent young man who cares for his companions and hides a dark past. I made friends with Ais, Bete, and the others, and I was planning to sacrifice myself to protect them... but.
This body is too strong. At Level 1, I could defeat an evolved baby dragon, and I killed floor bosses alone; I was never able to die. In the beginning, I was satisfied with some simple drama, but I began to feel unsatisfied, and now I want to leave with a big bang.
Even when I face a very strong opponent who nearly kills me, my body reacts automatically and I get a sudden surge of power in the moments of death, just like manga heroes, and I win in the end.
This repeated until I reached Level 7. Now, there is almost no opponent who can defeat me.
There is no reason to fight Ottar...
Ah, what do I do now?
──────────────────────────────────────────────────
Al Cranel's Magic Level (Level 7) and his very short chant is equivalent to Riveria's power (when she was Level 5), so he is very strong. Al's age is 16.
Al Cranel"Magic"[Thunderbolt]
Fast-cast magic.
Lightning element.
"Skills"[Longing Remembrance]
Early growth.
Effect lasts until the goal (Drama/Suffering) is achieved.
Efficiency increases proportionally with the intensity of emotions.
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