Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 23: Additional Magic! Full Power!

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The sound of soil grinding against itself filled the air, accompanied by faint phosphorescent light that poured from the ceiling and illuminated the pale green walls of the cavern in every direction.

This area, known as a cave room, was a square open space often encountered in the labyrinthine underground city.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak—"

Within the room, the monsters that emerged from the seventh floor made an unnerving sound, sharp and grating, like nails scraping against a chalkboard.

These monsters were Killer Ants.

With four well-developed claws protruding from their forearms, the creatures carried a menacing presence. Their jagged, twisted appendages glinted under the dim light, a stark reminder of their lethality.

The attack power of these claws was unmatched compared to the weak monsters found on the upper floors, like goblins or kobolds.

Their exoskeletons, akin to armor, deflected most attacks. Even direct strikes with sufficient force often failed to penetrate their tough shells.

For adventurers, it wasn't just their defenses that posed a threat—it was the speed and ferocity of their attacks. Before they could even mount a proper offense, Killer Ants would often strike them down with their razor-sharp claws.

This made them infamous. Adventurers knew them well and had given them an apt nickname: Rookie Killers.

---

"This… isn't good. That many of them…"

Raul's voice was tinged with unease as he scanned the area. Saying there were "a dozen or so" Killer Ants would have been an understatement.

The reality was worse—there were over twenty of them spread throughout the cavern.

It was a scene akin to a small-scale Monster Feast.

Raul's eyes twitched at the sight. He hadn't anticipated running into such a situation immediately upon entering the seventh floor.

A Monster Feast was a phenomenon typically encountered starting from the tenth floor, where an area would suddenly be flooded with monsters.

What began as an empty space could, in moments, become a den of chaos.

Though this was only the seventh floor, encountering twenty Killer Ants at once was no small matter.

Worse yet, the Killer Ants had a dangerous ability—summoning reinforcements.

Instead of loud cries, they emitted pheromones imperceptible to human senses, which attracted nearby ants in droves when they sensed danger.

For rookie adventurers, this could easily turn into a nightmare.

---

Raul had only intended to show Izzy the Killer Ants, the signature monsters of the seventh floor, as part of their exploration.

After all, Izzy would eventually venture into the dungeon alone, and Raul wanted him to be prepared for encounters like this. A single misstep against Killer Ants could prove deadly.

But now, the situation had escalated far beyond what Raul had expected.

"Do you want to retreat? The stairs to the sixth floor are right behind us, or..."

Raul's eyes shifted to Izzy as he posed the question, his hand already resting on the hilt of his sword.

The reason senior adventurers accompanied rookies into the dungeon was simple: to prevent situations like this from turning into tragedies.

At this moment, retreating was undoubtedly the safest option.

Still, there was merit in staying. Facing the swarm could be a valuable test of strength.

Raul, a seasoned level 4 adventurer, was right there as backup.

At his level, Raul possessed overwhelming power compared to these monsters.

Not even twenty Killer Ants—nor double that number—could truly threaten him.

---

"Perfect timing..."

Raul froze for a moment, startled by Izzy's muttered words.

Perfect timing?

The phrase caught him off guard, and Raul couldn't stop himself from voicing his confusion.

"What's 'perfect' about this?"

Izzy turned to him, his expression calm but with a faint smile curling at his lips.

"I've been working on a new spell. This feels like the perfect chance to test it out."

He raised his silver-gray spear, the tip lowered in a ready position as if preparing to strike.

Hearing this, Raul couldn't help but take a deep breath.

A human awakening two magics at their first attempt? Was that even possible?

Not aware of Raul's mixed emotions at the moment, Izzy exhaled slowly, focusing on the power surging within him.

Call it forth. Reveal it!

With determination, he began to chant, ready to unleash his magic.

"[Draw the Curtain—Orionids]!"

In the next instant, the magic within Izzy broke free of its restraints.

---

A light resembling a starry night sky blossomed beneath his feet, enveloping him completely.

But the dazzling glow lasted only for a moment before dissipating, leaving behind traces of shimmering starlight that lingered around him.

Izzy could feel it—a transformation, a sublime elevation of his abilities.

A faint blue flame ignited, dancing around his form. It flowed like liquid energy, deeper than the longest night, more radiant than any star.

His golden hair shifted as though caught in an unseen breeze, while his clear blue eyes were overlaid with a striking silvery-white hue, exuding an ethereal intensity.

(Think of it like Ultra Instinct.)

---

At that moment, raw power surged through him, far beyond anything he had experienced before.

This was additional magic—an enchantment that imbues the user or their weapon with magical energy to enhance speed, physical strength, and combat ability.

It was rare, potent, and incredibly versatile.

Among the many ways it could be used in battle, Izzy chose the simplest and most direct method: to coat his body in its brilliance.

But simplicity didn't mean weakness.

"It's more than enough…" Izzy muttered, gripping his silver-gray spear tightly.

The enchantment caused a river of star-like flames to flow along the length of the spear, radiating such intense heat that the very air around it shimmered and distorted.

---

Seeing the terrifying aura radiating from Izzy, the Killer Ants visibly hesitated.

Though their intelligence was limited, they instinctively understood the threat before them. It was as if a tornado were about to tear through a parking lot—complete devastation.

The ants' mouthparts twitched nervously, emitting high-pitched squeaks as their bodies trembled.

These creatures, typically emboldened by their numbers and tough exoskeletons, found themselves at a standstill despite their overwhelming numerical advantage.

"They're calling for reinforcements!" Raul called out, recognizing the distinct sound.

"Yeah, I know." Izzy nodded.

The ants were emitting pheromones, an invisible signal to summon more of their kind.

---

The urgency wasn't lost on Izzy. He didn't need Raul's reminder to understand the situation—they had to act quickly and decisively.

Additional magic, while powerful, came at a steep cost. It drained his physical and mental strength rapidly.

Even with the recovery effects granted by his Heart of the Earth skill, the consumption far outweighed the replenishment.

"Time to finish this," Izzy said, a spark of excitement flickering in his voice.

Gripping the spear's shaft firmly, he shifted his stance, aiming at the densest cluster of Killer Ants.

The air around him seemed to crackle as his strength reached its peak.

Then, he struck.

---

With a thunderous explosion, the ground beneath Izzy's feet shattered, launching a powerful shockwave that howled like a gale.

The force behind the thrust was meteoric. The spear pierced through the air, breaking through the swarm with devastating precision.

"[Orionids]!"

In that instant, the cavern erupted.

A deafening roar filled the space as faint blue magical flames tore through the passageway.

Everywhere the light reached, destruction followed.

The silver-white brilliance, wrapped in dark blue flames, flooded the room, shaking even the sturdy walls of the dungeon.

Raul, standing at the staircase to the sixth floor, raised his hands to shield himself from the storm of energy.

The sheer intensity of the light made it impossible for him to keep his eyes open.

---

When the light finally subsided, silence fell over the room.

Raul lowered his arms and took in the sight before him.

The cave had been utterly devastated, the ground littered with shattered fragments of magic stones—remnants of the Killer Ants.

"This… this is a Level 1 adventurer?"

Raul muttered, his voice thick with disbelief.

He stared at Izzy, then at the destruction around them, feeling as though everything he knew about Level 1 adventurers had been a lie.

His previous understanding of what it meant to be a rookie now seemed utterly ridiculous.