Sup, been more than a week since my last upload. I apologize for that, my graduation is by the end of the month. As a matter of fact, I just finished my finals this Tuesday and Wednesday. After that, I also need to finish some of my projects and requirements to graduate.
So I really apologize for the delay, it's been a busy week for me.
As a heads up though, I can promise frequent updates and chapter release after this month. Cause my summer vacation is in April through May, and the school year would start around the first. week of June if I'm not mistaken. During those months, I'll do my best to release 1-2 chapters every day of the weekdays or even at weekends if I get worked up.
Btw, I made another adjustment on Yuuya's status. Because I genuinely don't know what the past me is having to put 6 stat categories when there are only 5—being strength, endurance, dexterity, agility, and magic—at least according to the wiki. Basically the change would be the removal of vitality and defense being turned into endurance.
Yuuya Mitsukuji
Level 2
Race: Human
Strength: 357
Defense: 301
Agility: 348
Dexterity: 318
Magic: 318
Development abilities:
N/A
Skills:
Monstrous Talent & Potential
Magic:
AEEOC
Skill/Magic Creation
Satanas Verion
Mana: 1,818/1,818
Excelia: 156,983/2,000,000
That's all for now, please enjoy the chapter.
∆∆∆∆
[Congratulations Yuuya, you finally got your first magic. Satanas Verion.]
'It succeeds?'
[Yes. Now, you're going to be in a mind down since it drained all of your mana. Goodnight.]
'yeah I suppose... Goodnight...' thought Yuuya before everything went black.
In Yuuya's consciousness, he felt as if he was underwater. Cold yet fluid.
'So this is what mind down feels like, this is what Bell experienced.' Thought Yuuya's consciousness.
Then suddenly, the cold underwater feeling disappeared. It was gradually replaced by new sensations.
First he suddenly felt as if, he was on solid ground. Then after that, he felt, warm—no, it was as if he was embraced, being cradled in someone's arms.
This new, foreign feeling and change in environment prompted Yuuya to open his eyes. After doing so, he finds that his vision is all blurry. Nothing looks clear.
'Ah, I must be dreaming.' thought Yuuya. 'but... Why am I on the ground?'
Yuuya then looked around and he saw people all around him. Yuuya is certain that they were saying something to him but he cannot comprehend what it is. Their facial features are also obstructed by light.
But they are not the one Yuuya is focusing on no—he is just seeing them in his peripheral vision. What he is focusing on the most is the person who was cradling him in their arms.
It was a woman, and she was crying. She is saying something, but Yuuya cannot hear what it is.
'She looks like... She was bargaining? Begging?' Asked Yuuya himself.
Yuuya is confused, he tried to look closely, but her face was covered by light, stopping him from deciphering who it was. The only thing he can slightly make sense of is the color of her hair.
'Is that... Platinum or... Silver?' Asked Yuuya, observing which of the two is the woman's hair color.
Then for a moment, maybe due to the grief of his passing and leaving his loved ones back on Earth, Yuuya thought—maybe, just maybe, it was her.
That it was his girlfriend, his fiance. Where did he base this assumption? It was due to the fact that she had platinum hair.
'ah, no. . . Don't cry.' At that moment, all that Yuuya can think about is to reassure the woman who is currently holding him. To say to her it's all fine, that it's alright now.
In the dream-like state, Yuuya manages to lift his hands. Slowly, it reaches the face of the woman in his dreams.
He placed his hands on her cheeks, gently cupping it. Conveying his feelings, that everything is fine now. That she can stop crying now.
For a moment, it seems like it has an effect, but not the one Yuuya is hoping for. For a moment, the woman in his dreams seized—her mouth agape. As if not believing what Yuuya just said.
Then, she started crying harder, her tears kept on falling in an increased intensity as she brought her face to the crook of Yuuya's neck—her embrace in his tightening. As if she doesn't want to let him go—no, it was more like she was afraid and begging him not to go.
Before Yuuya can say and do anything, his dream cracked, until it shattered into pieces like glass.
.
.
.
.
For a moment, there is silence, then the sound of chirping birds entered his ears.
Yuuya opened his eyes, it was now morning. Yuuya looked around and didn't see Hestia anywhere.
He then sat up and saw a piece of paper on the table. Curious of what it was, he got up and walked towards it to see what it was.
'It has Hestia's writing in it.' Thought Yuuya as he reads the paper.
Good morning Yuuya! By the time you're reading this, I should probably be in my work now. It seems like you overslept, but I don't want to wake you up since you look like you're having a good dream. Make sure to eat your breakfast before going to the dungeon! Be careful on your dungeon dive today, take care and good luck! See you in the evening!
- Hestia
A small genuine smile appeared on his lips, grateful for the Goddess's consideration of him. "Good dream. . .? If anything, I'm confused goddess. . ." Said Yuuya in a solemn voice while still standing there, looking at Hestia's note. His grip on the paper visibly tightening a bit. Clearly showing how much the dream affected him. He laments on the fact he failed on reassuring the woman in his dreams that looked eerily similar to his girlfriend back on Earth.
Then, a moment of silence passed.
Yuuya sighs, a long one. He then shook his head, tossing the lingering remnants of the dream aside.
He couldn't afford to be haunted by ghosts—whether they were from Earth or some deep, cellular memory of the Falna. He had power now. He had a weapon that didn't require steel.
With that in mind, Yuuya then opens the system to take a look at his new magic.
~~~~
Name: Satanas Verion
Description: A super short chant magic that hits enemies with a block of sound.
Chant: •Gospel•
~~~~
"Hey system."
[Sup?]
"What are the conditions for casting this magic? Do I need to extend my arm to the direction I want to cast it on?"
[No. You can just face the direction you want to cast it on. But you can also use your hand to channel it through. You can use it if you want to fool your enemies into thinking you need to extend your arm out when casting it, there is no need to do it.]
"I see," Yuuya replied, still looking at the screen of the system "You mentioned that I can channel it through my hand yeah? Then I can use the gospel punch for this."
[Yup. You'll be just like her.]
With that confirmation, Yuuya began to eat his breakfast, eager to try out his new magic. Because after all, magic didn't exist in his past life. This would be an entirely new experience for him.
After finishing his breakfast, he takes a light bath to wash himself. He then put on the new clothes that Hestia buys for him a day earlier.
Lastly, Yuuya wears his armor that he had cleaned yesterday before going to bed. He made sure everything was strapped on properly and not loose before putting the remaining hilt of Welf's sword on his waist. Before finally putting on his helmet and leaving the place.
∆∆∆∆
'As expected, there's already a lot of people even in the morning.' Yuuya noted mentally as he walked through the street.
[It is living up to its name as the center of the world.]
'It certainly is.' Yuuya replied as he does a quick glance on the Hostess of Fertility before passing on.
As Yuuya continues to walk on towards Babel, he can't help but feel some eyes on him.
[They're looking at you. Mostly on the sword on your waist or rather, what remains of it.]
'They're probably thinking why some guy who has a full set of armor is carrying a hilt of a sword that has no blade.' replied Yuuya as he passed another group of adventurers who were staring at him.
[I'm betting 10 mind down that they are thinking you are probably some mentally deranged person. Not that it was an uncommon occurrence here anyways.]
'Oh zip it. . . Though you do have some point,'
[See? I always have a point—]
'Pointless bullshit.' Replied Yuuya to the system, cutting it off.
[. . .]
[. . . Fuck you.]
'Consider that nerve touched. That is if you have one.' replied Yuuya as he physically smirked inside his helmet.
A little more walking later, Yuuya arrived at the entrance of the dungeon.
Without wasting another second, he begins his descent to the upper floor. As he notes yet another curious stare of some adventurers along the way.
'Hey system, I got a question.' Thought Yuuya.
[I'm listening.]
'I'm curious about my growth skill. When I first got my falna, I was instantly a level 2 right?'
[Yeah, what about it?]
'I'm wondering what are my stats in level 1 as well as where my stats caps at.'
[Ahh, I'll answer the latter first. Your stats caps at 1500 points, that goes for Bell as well. For the former, all of the categories are maxed out in 1500 points.]
Upon hearing this, Yuuya stopped walking for a moment before continuing again.
'I see. So that's why you said I can reach somewhere around floor 20.'
[Yep. In raw stats alone, you're basically a high level 2 already. Your combat prowess is also formidable. That is also why I suggested maxing out all of your stats first before, if you want to challenge the Goliath in the 17th floor solo.]
[Though it won't be an easy battle either. A typical Goliath is a level 4, but if the dungeon decides it wants to screw you, it might spawn a black variant which is a level 5. Let's assume the former, even with all of your stats maxed out at 1500 points at level 2—which would make you a high Level 3—the Goliath would still out level you and be slightly to moderately stronger than you.]
'Well that is considering only the strength and endurance part. I should still be faster and be able to outmaneuver it no?'
[Well yes. A Goliath isn't the type to be fast in the first place anyways. But remember what I told you when you wake up?]
'That I was an anomaly in this world and that it would try to eradicate me if it has the chance?'
[Exactly. There is no telling when this world will screw you. Heck I'm even willing to bet that every time you fight a floor boss, it'll be either a semi-black or a black variant entirely.]
'Semi-black variant? Such things exist?'
[That's what I like to call it. It's the gray area in between the normal and black variant. It basically possesses some of the power of the black variant. For example the Goliath itself, a semi-black variant of it have a stronger regeneration ability.]
'Well that's new, such mention of monsters aren't even in the original lore.'
[Bro, your sole existence itself is a violation of the original lore itself.]
'. . .Fair.'
[Anyways, now you have two options. First is the long but easy way, where you'll max out your excelia first and level up. Because as you know, thanks to me, you don't need any grand achievement to level up. As long as you fulfill the required excelia, you can level up.]
[Now for the second option—a high risk high reward—you can challenge the Goliath solo and risk a semi-black or a black variant event once you max out your stats. If you succeed, I'll even provide a reward.]
'hoh, a reward you say?' Replied Yuuya, intrigued by the offer.
[Yes. It's just a small compensation for your hard work. Also if you succeed, the excess excelia will even leak into your next level as well as the stats.]
'Well that's... Generous.' Replied Yuuya as he finally steps foot at the first floor.
[Damn right, worship me peasant.]
'Later and never. I have a new magic to try.' Replied Yuuya as he steps foot at the 5th floor.
Where he finds himself in a large, circular chamber. In the center, the walls were already beginning to bulge. The Dungeon was birthing a fresh batch of War Shadows and Frog Shooters.
"Perfect timing," Yuuya said as he faced them. "Be my guinea pigs."
Normally, he would immediately close the distance, fist clenched or his mana blade ready. But this time, he doesn't. He stood on his ground, his right hand on the hilt.
Once the monsters are fully birthed, it immediately lunges towards Yuuya. A single War Shadow dived from the ceiling, its elongated claws aimed at his throat. Three Frog Shooters prepared their tongues from the periphery.
Yuuya then took a short, sharp breath. He didn't scream. He didn't even raise his voice. He simply spoke the command as if it were a law of nature.
•Gospel.•
The instant the word left his mouth, the air rippled in response. There was no flash of light. No roar of thunder. Instead, there was a sudden, violent thrum—a vibration so intense it made the very air look like shattered glass.
The War Shadow didn't even have time to shriek. The moment the invisible ripple hits it, its entire body is liquefied mid-air. It hit the floor not as a monster, but as a pile of grey slush that instantly turned to ash.
Yuuya notices the three remaining Frog shooters behind. He does quick work of them by giving them their own individual gospels.
Which upon hitting the Frog Shooters, they were slammed back into the walls, their internal organs turned to pulp by the sheer frequency of the sound before turning into dust moments later.
After that, silence returned to the room. Total, absolute silence.
[That's 200 mana down the drain.]
"50 mana per cast? That's surprisingly less than I expected."
[Well it was meant to be used frequently. It was quite literally Alfia's signature magic.]
"I suppose. But there's a peculiar feeling when I cast it," Yuuya remarked. "When I said the word, it felt like the sound left the room for a second."
[That's the nature of her magic, Yuuya. It was her silence and it doesn't destroy by burning or cutting. It destroys them by literally silencing their existence.]
"Ah, so this is how she must've felt," replied Yuuya. "It forces—she forces—everything she deemed noisy for its own good into a state of absolute silence."
[Yeah. She isn't called the "Maiden of Silence" for no reason.]
While Yuuya is intrigued by this particular feeling of "silence," he strangely finds himself not bothered by it. If anything, he actually kinda likes it.
But just then, Yuuya's train of thoughts is interrupted at the sound of cracking stones behind him. It was another batch of monsters.
Yuuya tested it again.
•Gospel.•
•Gospel.•
•Gospel.•
This would go on for a while. He walked through from corridor to corridor, and every time a monster appeared, he uttered the word.
By the tenth time, he noticed the feeling he noted earlier becoming more prominent. While the mana cost was manageable, the peculiar feeling he has been having earlier is growing louder. Each time he used the magic, the face of the "Incarnation of Talent," the "Silence" or the face of Alfia herself, flickered in his mind for a split second.
While he doesn't dislike it, it was still a new feeling to him. Something he isn't used to. Feeling overwhelmed by this phenomenon, he stopped, leaning against the damp dungeon wall.
"System... why do I see her every time I use this?"
[Well normally, this wouldn't happen. It's just that, the magic you decided to create is unique. The magic you manifested isn't just something like Bell's firebolt, Yuuya. You pulled it from the records of this world using your memories. You're using the 'Satanas Verion' of the Hera Familia. That magic has weight. It has history. You aren't just using a spell; you're echoing a legend from the past Yuuya.]
"Will it eventually pass?"
[Yes. This is just a temporary effect.]
Upon hearing this, Yuuya sighs in response. "As if a voice in my head that somehow has my exact voice isn't enough of a pain in the rear already."
[Hey.]
Putting the bantering with the system aside for now, Yuuya didn't waste another time on the upper floors. With Gospel now part of his arsenal, the upper floor monsters of the first ten floors weren't even speed bumps; they were fuel. Every time a group of Goblins or Kobolds blocked his path, a single, low-voiced word deleted them, leaving Yuuya to simply walk through the resulting clouds of ash while the System's automatic pickup hummed in the background.
"While I appreciate the effectiveness of this magic, it will still drain my current mana pool faster than I can naturally recover it." Yuuya remarked as he walks down towards floor 15.
[On your next dive, let's try investing some mind potions even if it's a low tier one's. It'll extend your time here in the dungeon. But for today—]
"For today, back to the sword it is. Then go home after that," Said Yuuya as he stepped foot at the 15th floor, where he was immediately welcomed by the sight of a minotaur, looking all menacing. "But before that, I'm curious how a minotaur is affected by it. •Gospel.•"
When the said minotaur is hit by the magic, it's chest cavity notably caves inwards. A short moment later, a burst of shockwave exited through its back, spilling all of its gore before turning into dust.
While Yuuya just stands there, staring at the minotaurs magic crystal that is being collected by the system, surprised at the development.
"Well that is. . . Brutal." Yuuya remarked as he decided that his experiments have concluded. Just right on time as a new batch of monsters arrived.
He drew the broken handle of his Crozzo sword. With a surge of will, the ethereal blue Mana Blade flickered into existence, humming with a stable, sharp energy. As he begins yet another hunt.
After turning the cows into steaks on the 15th floor, Yuuya began his descent to the 16th. Where he is immediately welcomed by a pack of hellhounds. Upon seeing them, Yuuya immediately draws his mana blade.
A pack of six Hellhounds spotted Yuuya in return. They didn't growl; they immediately opened their maws to let loose a coordinated volley of fireballs.
"Too slow," Yuuya muttered as he dodged the volley using the full extent of his agility stat.
He sprinted horizontally along the cavern wall, gravity-defying for a few seconds as the fireballs exploded behind him.
He dropped into the center of the pack. The Mana Blade swung in a wide, horizontal arc. Because the blade was weightless energy, his swing speed was limited only by his own muscles.
Slash. Slash. Slash.
Three Hellhounds were decapitated before they could close their mouths. The remaining three lunged, but Yuuya stepped into their guard. He punched the fourth hound in the ribs with his off-hand with all of his might, shattering its ribcage while his Mana Blade pierced the skull of the fifth.
The last hound tried to retreat, but Yuuya pointed his left hand towards it.
•Gospel.•
THWUMP.
The air rippled, and the Hellhound was slammed into the ceiling, its body disintegrating before it even hit the ground.
For the next four hours, Yuuya became a whirlwind of destruction. He alternated between the Mana Blade for precision and Gospel. He pushed his mana down until the 500 mark before feeling the early signs of mind down. After which, he had decided he has done enough and heads back up.
∆∆∆∆
Back at the surface, Yuuya took a detour through a back alley to "dump" his loot into a massive burlap sack he had created using AEEOC. He dragged the heavy bag into the Guild, attracting stares from everyone in the lobby.
Eina Tulle looked up from her paperwork and nearly dropped her pen. "Yuuya? You're back already? And what... what is that?"
"Today's haul," Yuuya said, hoisting the bag onto the counter with a heavy thud.
The exchange office took nearly thirty minutes to process everything. When the head teller returned, he looked at Yuuya with a mixture of respect and suspicion.
"Total exchange for the Magic Stones and drop items from Floors 13 through 17..." the teller cleared his throat. "185,000 Valis."
"Nice." Said Yuuya, proud of his work.
Eina gasped. "One hundred and eighty-five thousand? In one afternoon? Solo?!"
Yuuya took the heavy pouch of coins. Adding it to his previous 75,000 and his savings, he now had roughly 265,000 Valis.
Feeling like he doesn't want to deal with yet another of Eina's antics, he decided it's time to go.
"See you tomorrow Eina, I'm exhausted so save the talks for later." Said Yuuya as he leaves while waving to her with his back turned.
While walking back home, Yuuya can't help but notice the smell of foods that are being sold in the stalls.
Which makes him pause for a moment. A rare flicker of warmth crossing his mind.
'Maybe I'll buy something for Hestia. A Goddess shouldn't have to worry about where her next meal comes from when her only child is bringing in nearly 200k a day.' Thought Yuuya as he approached one of the stalls.
[Look at you, being a filial son. It's almost sickeningly sweet.]
'Shut up.'
[Make me, peasant.]
Though it's still quite early, around mid afternoon, buying food in advance won't hurt as Hestia will come back before dinner.
After Yuuya gets his order, he continues his slow patient walk back to the abandoned church.
Upon arriving, he puts the food he bought on the table and immediately unbuckles his armor before putting it back to the armor stand.
After which, he decided it's a good time to have his lunch. The basement of the church is particularly quiet.
The only sound that Yuuya can hear is the sound of him chewing his food. Other than that, it's particularly quiet.
Upon finishing his lunch, Yuuya took a bath to wash off the dirt and sweat. After that, he dries himself before heading towards his armor.
Where he then begins in cleaning it, his last task before finally resting.
After everything is done, Yuuya finally lays down on the bed. It was still quite early and he had nothing left to do. But he is a bit curious.
"Hey system." Yuuya said.
[I'm here go on.]
"I wonder. . . Is the time here parallel back to my past world?
[ . . .Yes.]
Yuuya's breath hitched for a moment from the revelation.
"Then, is it possible using the magic you gave to me—where I can make any magics or skills I want—to make a spell which I could use to go back to Earth?"
[If you get strong enough and you have the enough mana pool for it, then yes.]
". . .I see, thank you."
After that, the room was once again filled with silence except for Yuuya's mind.
'Time flows the same here as it was back on Earth huh,' Yuuya thought as he closed his eyes on the physical world. 'It also mentioned that if I get strong enough, I'll have a shot in returning back.'
At that moment, Yuuya has made up his mind. Starting tomorrow, he will start trying harder.
The sooner he gets stronger, the sooner he can return to his old world. Where he'll finally have the chance to finally fulfilling his promise. Especially to her.
Just then, exhaustion finally got the best of Yuuya. As he falls asleep, his body repairing itself so that it can prepare for the incoming hardships it'll face tomorrow and in the future.
∆∆∆∆
That's all for now. Hope you guys like the chapter.
If you guys noticed some spelling of grammar errors in the chapter, pardon me. I'm quite literally making this chapter at 2:30 a.m. My mind is very sleepy and I don't have any more energy to proof read my work. I'll do it later once I get my sleep.