Danmachi: the Great Devourer

C42: Peak of 3, Orario Prepares*

Word count = 1968 on 2/25/2024

When the trio woke up in the morning, Axel found Raikou and Kaoruko lapping up his dick. As such, he could only go ahead and restart their activities from yesterday. It's only around Noon that they all finally settled down.

Once they had settled down, they all found that Axel was back to just 2 arms but Axel himself could feel that he could bring them back with ease, he would just have to stop his buddhist chants as that would allow his rage to flow forth once more to manifest the appendages of destruction.

Raikou reasoned that since he had faced off against this special monster rex outside the dungeon then his stats should have increased very nicely. Axel lies down with his back up as they reveal his progress.

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Name: Axel Gram

Title: Titan

Level 3 (no level yet)

(before war) --> (after war) -->(before Antares)--> (after Antares)

Strength: I: 50 --> G: 202 --> B: 763 --> SS: 1450

Endurance: I: 49 --> H: 160 --> B: 799 --> SS: 1340

Dexterity: I: 30 --> H: 155 --> B: 727 --> SS: 1330

Agility: I: 42 --> H: 173 --> B: 744 --> SS: 1342

Magic: I: 38 --> F: 321 --> B: 769 --> SS: 1338

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Cleanse-simple cleaning spell that dispels dust, stains on clothing or substances upon one's body.

(New but mentioned) Create Water: a simple elemental spell that converts humidity in air into water. Water can not be more than 5 ft away from user, otherwise control is lost (dnd style)

Flame Wave: An intense blast of fire magic that spreads out in a 10ft cone in front of the user.

FlameBolt- fire formed into a spear-like structure that possesses exceptional piercing power.

Mind manipulation- low leveled mind control spell that is only useful for making suggestions, can be overridden if intellect is high enough (weak monsters only)

Reinforcement magic (trace): enhance aspects of an item through its physical aspects. Cannot copy items. Can reinforce flesh and human body parts.

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Anima Scissa- Holders of this skill are torn beyond construction and thus are unable to use magic. Comparably, the possessor may tap into the power of their soul to unearth new found abilities comparable to magic. When the vessel possesses enough power, new fragments may be unearthed.

l(Magister daemonium): tapping into the soul, the user may exhibit the power of a gluttonous demon who may consume the strength of others through the incantation, "Shadows of the Abyss, I AM the Endless, Rapture of Power and Possessor of All that Belongs to Others." Level 2 incantation: I am the endless, Rapture of Power and Possessor of All that Belongs to Others. Level 3 Incantation: "I am the Endless, Possessor of all "

Anima Scissa (parasitica corpus): allows controlled body manipulation (only self) which can be refined of muscles to draw out enhanced strength temporarily. Transformations rely on Mind to maintain. Call out the incantation "Mura" to direct energy according to the user's thoughts. Distractions can negate the transformation.

Anima Scissa (Odr): A binding of love and commitment that can never be broken. This skill serves as the eternal reminder. You share aspects of those you love and love you back.

Freya - enhanced charm.

Raikou - enhanced strength growth

syr Flova - enhanced Charm.

Murasaki Shikibu -illusion resistance

Anima Scissa (Umbra Sui): A shatter soul cannot simply rest in passivity. Provides a semi corporeal body to provide assistance to the user. Incantation is "Shade that I am". For the next 5 minutes, can freely manipulate the formed shades according to their specialties.

Magisters Daemonium- gluttonous spirit that creates shockwaves of devouring force

Parasitica Corpus- a nimble spirit that manipulates it's own body to shred thine enemies.

Umbra Sui-An elfish spirit that overlays the users power in the form of shockwaves.

Caro Irae/Invictum Furorem - A 6 armed bulky figure that can be overlayed by other spirits to grant them similar physiques and greatly enhanced strength.

(NEW) Anima Scissa (Caro Irae) [1]Flesh of Rage: Thine body is a divine temple for untold rage. The god of wrath has descended upon thy flesh, granting thee the Asuran Physique and Might.

(NEW) Anima Scissa (Invictum furorem)[2]indomitable rage: Rage is a powerful tool for the Asura, Godhood and invincibility are the result of such rage. Rage is a catalyst for unmistaken power. Rage = power. Deathly blows are not fatal under this state. Temporarily sets Berserker Development skill to EX rank.

Limit Break: A status that goes beyond simple mortality. Users receive extra Excellia facing foes of a higher level.

Development skills

Berserker: H

Mystery: I

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They all find that Axel has indeed surpassed the standard of stats for Orario adventurers but he isn't at the same level he has been the past 2 times he has leveled up. It's possible he wasn't pushed far enough by Antares and Axel himself seconds this as it was mostly his own abilities working against him.

Axel explains the reason behind his words by telling them what actually happened at the ruins as they are not fully in the know except that there is a monster on the loose outside Orario. Afterall, the news of how the Artemis Familiia might have already been destroyed had spread while Axel was traveling. One lower rank Ganesha member had let it slip out when they overheard the conversation. They were naturally punished but the city is still aware nevertheless.

The trio leave the home and head to the guild to get a possible update on what is going to happen. They learn from Illyasviel about how the guild is sending out missions to Loki, Ganesha and Freya Familias to inform them of the situation. Ganesha himself is aware but it would be hard to mobilize his people on a whim which is why the guild sent an official letter as an incentive to all their members.

On the other hand the Loki and Freya familias were contacted to gather up their strongest members as it is likely that Antares would begin its attack before the one month deadline through its 'children' as the seal only works on the area with the spikes which is just the entrance. It would take Antares itself too long to break through anywhere else with its body so it could send out an army first to potentially take back Artemis.

Speaking of Artemis, she and her final familia member, Kyrene, have been hidden away by the guild until after Antares was defeated or sealed away more permanently. Like how it was before. That or deliver a killing blow but there are other things to worry about.

This worry comes in the form of the monster rampage. It had already been occurring outside Orario but many surface monsters had been grouping up and attacking villages in the surroundings of the ruins. But with Antares being fully awake and rampaging to be let out, it has even begun to affect the dungeon as the monsters there have been ganging up and leaving their normal floors. The guild has increased the amount of guards at the entrance and the Loki familia is down there even now to suppress the beasts along with the ganesha familias weaker members.

The guild may even be willing to propose a mass extinction quest for the general populous of adventurers to hurry them more into the dungeon so that the more they kill, the better their reward but many upper management are against this as the guild coffers would be rapidly run out even if they get monster cores faster and more abundant. This would lead to a situation where adventurers would be hired by merchants to escort the stones out and that leaves Orario slightly more defenseless. Especially with war with Raikia on the horizon.

The situation feels fairly bleak and Axel doesnt like it. So he proposes to enter the dungeon as well in hopes of leveling up before Antares breaks out. He quickly checks if the Goliath has respawned and is saddened to learn that it has but was quickly killed off by the Sword Princess Ais Wallenstein of the Loki Familia which helped her level up.

Axel dismisses that Rex. he then asks about the next one which is supposed to show up on the 27th floor, Amphisbaena. He learns that it's supposed to revive in the next 6 days and Axel grins before leaving the guild building. He says goodbye to both his lovely ladies and runs off.

"Oh shoot, i've forgotten to tell him. I was all caught up in the moment" Raikou suddenly says as she wipes her hand with a snap of her fingers.

"What did you forget?" Kaoruko curiously asks.

"Well….." The two begin to talk as they walk home.

Meanwhile for Axel himself, he first went home to get his dungeon gear before he collected Daisy, Welf and then visited the Takemikazuchi familia as well as Hestia home to collect his party for a day of dungeoneering. He proposed the goal of going past Rivira which makes the new group's supporter, Lily, begin to yell in panic as they have never gone past it before, she even tries to drag bell into her panicked scheme but he is curious about the confidence of Axel. Granted Lily has never seen Axel fight much as all the lower floor monsters didn't help his growth at all so he let the others handle it but he is far stronger now.

The others get their gear and strap up while Lily is still complaining about how there is a monster wave going on with how monsters from lower floors are showing up on higher floors. Making it dangerous for anyone. Axel lets her words enter through one ear and out the other as her concerns are valid but he is confident in his strength.

Once they line up and enter the dungeon, Axel begins taking off his shirt.

"WOAH" the others call out in surprise though the girls, except Daisy and Lily are more caught up in his physique. Daisy because she is already in a relationship and has seen him half naked after the Goliath fight but she didn't care then and neither now. And not Lily because he threw his shirt on her. She was too held up in her grumbling over being assaulted with a 'dirty' shirt.

Axel gets a few curious questions from the group such as from Bell who asked how he got so buff or from Welf who asked why he took his shirt off and downs a strange green liquid

"My familia helped me exercise when I first got started and I still do it occasionally but most of it is from my skills. As for you Welf, it's because my shirt will just get in the way. I don't want to rip it apart already" Axel calmly answers as they enter the dungeon and after they walk the long stairway down, the group realizes the threat before them as well as Axel's words.

The threat being frog shooters, dungeon lizards and war shadows appearing in just the first floor with the shredded corpses of goblins and kobolds. As for Axel, he has stopped mentally chanting his hymn, very quickly red lines grow on his body with it changing a shade darker and 2 extra pairs of arms manifesting around his shoulders.

"LET'S GOOOO" He charges first into the horde of monsters, Arms swinging.

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[1] Caro Irae - supposedly translated to Flesh of Wrath.

[2] invictum furorem - this means Indomitable Rage.

Normally a fragment would only provide a single ability but since 2 fragments (1 major and 1 minor) awoke under the same premise. They 'synergized' which allowed 2 to awaken even though a minor frag would typically never awaken a proper ability