It was six in the morning. The sun, still timid, was beginning to pour its first golden rays over Orario, but in the cobblestone streets, the night was still reluctant to leave. The cold, damp air of dawn clung to the city, bringing with it the scent of wet stone and bread baking in the awakening bakeries. Hachiman walked amidst this transition, the sound of his boots echoing in the silence, broken only by the growing hum of urban life. Handcarts creaked, merchants shouted orders as they raised the awnings of their stalls, and the aroma of strong coffee began to compete with the smell of the earth. Like him, a few other adventurers, the most diligent or desperate, were already moving like shadows toward their common destination: the dungeon.
Wearing his faithful companion, the Aspháleia armor, he felt the cold metal against his skin, a promise of protection and power. Every step was confident, every breath an anticipation of what was to come. After several minutes immersed in the city's morning pulse, he finally reached his destination: the colossal structure of Babel, its tip seeming to scratch the pale sky.
His eyes swept the plaza, ignoring the sleepy faces and curious gazes, searching for a specific figure. And he found her. Leaning against a wall, in a discreet corner that seemed to deliberately flee attention, was Ryuu Lion.
She was an island of calm amidst the incipient movement. Her adventurer's attire, an emerald green ensemble, stood out and yet blended with the shadows. A flower-shaped hood, worn in a way that veiled most of her face, gave her an air of mystery but couldn't completely hide her fine, aristocratic elven features, nor the glint of her deep, piercing sky-blue eyes. A sleeveless white top lightly contoured her torso, contrasting with the green bloomer shorts that promised agility and freedom of movement. Her arms and legs were protected by brown leather gloves and boots, and a white sash wrapped around her waist, supporting the scabbard of her main wooden sword and the twin kodachis that rested on her back. She looked like a forest nymph who had decided to venture into the concrete jungle.
Hachiman approached, slowing his pace so as not to seem abrupt. "Good morning, Ryuu."
She pushed off the wall in a fluid motion, her head tilting in a slight nod. "Good morning, Hachiman-san." Her blue eyes scanned him from head to toe, not with judgment, but with the practical analysis of a veteran. A crease of doubt formed between her eyebrows. "Are you ready for the descent? Forgive my frankness, but... it's strange. Besides the armor on your body, the only thing you're carrying are these five rings on your left hand. I don't see any potions, backpacks, or even an item pouch."
Hachiman smiled under his helm, anticipating her reaction. To any sensible adventurer, his appearance was that of an arrogant novice or a suicidal fool. "Don't worry, I have everything I need," he assured, his voice resonating with a calm that contrasted with his apparent lack of preparation. He raised his left hand and, with his right, removed the ring from his little finger. The small, dark metal jewel looked simple, almost mundane. "Here."
Ryuu looked from the ring to his face, confusion clear in her features. "What... is this?"
"Hold out your hand, please," Hachiman asked, his tone patient.
A slight hesitation ran through Ryuu. Her thoughts, for a fleeting and embarrassing moment, betrayed her, painting the scene with the colors of a marriage proposal, which brought an almost imperceptible blush to her cheeks. Shaking off the foolish idea, she extended her right hand, her long, elegant fingers on display. Hachiman took her hand with a care that surprised her, his skin warm against hers for a brief moment, and slid the ring onto her index finger.
"Now," he said, letting go, "focus a bit of your mana and send it into the ring."
Distrust still lingered in her eyes, but curiosity won. Ryuu closed her eyes for a second, concentrating. As soon as a thread of her mana touched the metal, her eyes widened in genuine and absolute shock. There was no flash or sound, but an avalanche of information flooded her mind. It was as if an inventory page had opened within her consciousness: a perfectly organized list of high-quality mana and health potions, antidotes for exotic poisons, sterile bandages, and travel rations. All of it contained in a space that did not physically exist.
"This... this is a spatial storage item!" she exclaimed, her voice a whisper laden with amazement. Her eyes fixed on him, now not with doubt, but with a growing awe. "How did you get something so rare? Items like this are worth a fortune... they're almost legendary!"
"It's a project I've been developing with a new skill," Hachiman explained, keeping his tone discreet. "Soon, some of these rings will be sold in Orario, but I ask that you keep the origin a secret. The sale will be conducted as a new discovery by the Hephaestus Familia. It's better not to associate them directly with me for now."
Understanding dawned in Ryuu's eyes. She immediately understood the need for discretion and the monumental value of what she held in her finger. With a quick movement, she began to pull the ring off to return it. "Hachiman-san, I can't accept this. It's far too valuable... it's a gift that far outweighs any help I can offer."
Hachiman stopped her with a gentle gesture. "You don't have to return it. It's yours," he said, showing his own hand, where the other four rings gleamed subtly. "I still have plenty. Consider it a thank you for fighting by my side and an advance reward for helping me today. Think of it as a tool for our partnership."
Ryuu hesitated, the ring halfway off her finger. She looked at his face, searching for any sign that he was joking, but found only sincerity. With an almost inaudible sigh, she slid the ring back to the base of her finger, her face still slightly flushed. "Thank you... Hachiman-san. I will use it with care."
"Ready?" he asked, his helm turning toward the mouth of the dungeon. "Yes."
And together, the two adventurers, one an enigma of growing power and the other a legend shrouded in mystery, set off into the depths.
The descent was less an exploration and more a harvest. The upper floors, with their Goblins and Kobolds, were a blur. Hachiman and Ryuu moved with relentless speed, uninterested in the low-value magic stones or the items those monsters might offer. The goal was the nineteenth floor, and everything in their path was merely an obstacle to be removed. War Shadows, Orcs, Silverbacks, and even a lone Infant Dragon that had the misfortune to cross their path, all crumbled into dust and black smoke under Hachiman's blows. He wasn't just fighting; he was reaping. He left a trail of magic stones he barely bothered to collect, moving with a speed and strength that made it clear that these floors were, to him, nothing more than a playground.
Upon entering the Middle Floors, the pace did not slow. The air grew thicker, the monsters more dangerous, but the result was the same. Fire-breathing Hellhounds were extinguished before they could even release their first flame. Almirajs, with their legendary speed, seemed to move in slow motion. Crystal Mantises had their crystal carapaces shattered with a single precise strike. Dungeon Worms that emerged from the earth were sliced in half before they could even pose a threat. Nothing held him back, nothing could even touch him. With his Level 2 status already at Rank S, boosted by the Aspháleia armor and his perfect projections, he felt imposing, lighter, and infinitely more powerful than the last time he had been there.
Finally, they reached the fifteenth, and then the seventeenth floor. The memory of the brutal battle against the Minotaurs was still fresh in his mind. When the two-meter-tall beasts came into view, brandishing their giant axes, a predatory smile formed on Hachiman's lips. He advanced with Kanshou and Bakuya in hand, and what he met was pathetic resistance. The same creature that had nearly killed him days before could now barely keep up with his movements. A charging Minotaur was met with a feint, followed by a deep cut that severed its arms. Another that attempted an overhead strike had its axe shattered in two before Bakuya's blade found its magic stone. Lygerfangs that tried to ambush them were dispatched with the same clinical efficiency.
Ryuu, for her part, moved like a silent shadow beside him. She was his rearguard, his flank, his sentinel. With lethal grace, she dispatched any monster that attempted an opportunistic attack, her wooden sword moving in precise arcs that broke bones and crushed magic stones. Most of the time, however, she was a privileged spectator. Her eyes, from behind her hood, watched, fascinated, Hachiman's display of power. She had already seen him defeat a Level 5 Goliath, a feat that still echoed through Orario. But to witness firsthand that exponential growth, the way an adventurer who should be struggling to survive on these floors dominated them with such ease, was something that challenged everything she knew about the laws of growth and power in Orario.
They reached the vast cavern that served as the boss room on the 17th floor. The silence was heavy and absolute. It was empty, as expected. The dungeon would take much longer to spawn another Goliath, especially after the carnage of four days ago. Hachiman took advantage of the calm moment to observe the architecture of the place, the marks of the battle still visible on the walls, before they moved on.
As they descended to the 18th floor, they found a scene of frenetic activity. Rivira was being rebuilt. Dozens of adventurers from various Familias—burly dwarves from the Goibniu Familia, skilled humans, agile prums—worked side by side. The sound of hammers striking wood and saws cutting beams echoed through the floor. The decision, apparently, was not just to rebuild, but to strengthen. The flimsy wooden palisades were being replaced with more robust walls, reinforced with metal and stone. 'Makes sense,' Hachiman thought. 'How could simple fortifications stop two mutant Goliaths and an entire horde?'
Wherever they passed, they were recognized. Hachiman, the 'Dragon Slayer,' the unexpected hero of the battle, and Ryuu, the mysterious and lethal elf who had fought alongside them. They were greeted with respectful nods, tired smiles, and enthusiastic greetings. A dwarf blacksmith slapped Hachiman vigorously on the back, nearly knocking him over. "Good work with that monster, kid! You saved us from a real bind!"
After observing for a while, Hachiman turned to Ryuu. "Do you want to stay in Rivira for a bit, or should we leave immediately?"
"Let's continue," she replied, her gaze sweeping the crowd with a hint of discomfort. "This way, we'll return sooner. I prefer the silence of the dungeon to the noise of cities."
They ate some rations in silence and set off for the nineteenth floor. The transition was drastic. The stone walls, floor, and ceiling gave way to dark, twisted wood, as if they were inside a gigantic, hollow tree. The phosphorescent light was replaced by a radiant moss that grew across the floor and walls, emitting a mysterious and ethereal blue glow that cast dancing shadows. It was the Labyrinth of the Great Tree, a place of treacherous beauty, known for its unexplored areas, insect-type monsters, and rare plants.
They had barely entered when Hachiman recognized his old enemies. The first sound was a loud rustling amidst the winding trees ahead. A burly, hairy figure emerged from the shadows: a Bugbear. The creature, with the strength of a Minotaur but possessing a treacherous agility, let out a guttural roar and charged, its claws ready to tear them apart.
Hachiman did not retreat. With a fluid step, almost like a dance, he dodged to the side, the Bugbear's charge passing him with a violent displacement of air. Kanshou described a precise, ascending arc, cutting deep into the creature's leg tendon. The monster roared in pain and fell to its knees. Before it could even process what had happened, Bakuya gleamed under the bluish light and plunged into its nape, finding the magic stone with surgical precision. The creature dissolved into black smoke without making another sound.
Without pausing, he continued. A group of seven red-scaled Lizardmen hissed upon seeing him, surrounding him and brandishing their spears. A smile of pure defiance spread across Hachiman's face. He threw Bakuya. The black sword spun through the air like a deadly boomerang, deflecting the first Lizardman's attack and opening a gash in its flank. As the creature stumbled, Hachiman was already in motion, Kanshou blocking the second's spear and sliding down the shaft to open a deep slash in its chest. Bakuya returned to his hand in time to parry the third's attack from behind. With both swords now in a deadly ballet, he became a whirlwind of steel and death. The last ones were eliminated by a horizontal blade of energy, launched with a small impulse from his 'Single Strike.'
Ryuu, at his side, acted as a true guardian. While Hachiman dove headfirst into the main fights, she cleared the flanks, her movements as graceful as they were lethal. A Mad Beetle that attempted an ambush from above was split in two by a cut from her wooden sword before it even got close. Seeing that he had this impeccable and reliable cover, Hachiman allowed himself to go further.
A red aura, subtle at first, began to emanate from his body. His eyes took on an intense crimson glow. His skill, 'Wild Determination,' was activated. The world around him seemed to slow down as his combat instincts sharpened to a superhuman level. Like an impetuous tornado, he began to advance through the floor, attacking every monster that appeared. His technique, once precise and controlled, became fierce and overwhelming. Bugbears, Lizardmen, Battle Boars, Firebirds, Vouivres—all fell before Hachiman's relentless assault. His goal was clear and primitive: to gain as much excelia as possible, to squeeze every drop of power from that floor, knowing that, as a Rank S Level 2, the difficulty to level up would only increase.
Ryuu watched him, clearing his perimeter with calm efficiency, but concern was visible on her face beneath the hood. She saw the savagery in his eyes, a controlled fury that bordered on chaos.
After what felt like an eternity of frantic hunting, they found a refuge, a small clearing where the moss shone more brightly. "Hachiman-san, are you alright?" Ryuu asked, her voice soft but laden with genuine concern as soon as his crimson aura dissipated. "Your mental state... for a moment, it seemed like you weren't entirely present."
Hachiman took a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline recede. He understood her concern. "I'm fine, Ryuu. It's a skill. It enhances my strength and instincts in exchange for a bit of... focus. It's demanding, but don't worry, I'm in control."
Knowing this, she seemed reassured, though a trace of unease remained in her eyes. "We've been here for a long time. Our bags are full. Do you still want to continue?"
"No," Hachiman replied, looking at the heavy sacks of magic stones. "I think that's enough for today. We got what we came for."
Just as they were preparing to begin their ascent, something attacked them from the densest shadows of the wooden forest. It was a blur, a movement too fast to be seen clearly, accompanied by a metallic glint. Hachiman had no time to think; his body reacted on pure instinct. He raised Kanshou, blocking the attack. The sharp sound of metal hitting metal echoed through the clearing.
He counterattacked instantly, forcing the figure to retreat. The aggressor was incredibly agile, dodging his blow, but the tip of Hachiman's blade managed to tear the hood covering its face, destroying it.
The figure, now exposed, leaped back and, in a surprising move, spat a fireball in their direction. Before Hachiman could move, Ryuu was already in action. With lightning speed, she interposed herself, her wooden sword cutting through the air in a precise arc that intercepted and dispelled the fireball in an explosion of flames and smoke.
When the smoke cleared, the blue light of the moss clearly illuminated the attacker. And both adventurers froze, stunned.
Hachiman's mind raced, trying to process the impossible sight before him. A name from a distant world, from a past life, escaped his lips in a shocked whisper.
"Agumon?!!"
That was exactly what the creature looked like. A small bipedal dinosaur, about a meter tall, with large, expressive green eyes and sharp claws on its hands and feet. But there were crucial differences. This one's skin was not orange, but a deeper, almost reddish hue. And in its eyes, there was not the innocence of the character he knew, but a wild and cautious intelligence.
The creature looked directly at Hachiman, and then tilted its head to the side, a gesture of genuine curiosity and doubt upon hearing the name he had called.