Destiny's Reshaping: A Danmachi Reincarnation Tale

Zoe felt quite integrated into life in Orario. Her relationship with Hestia was turning out to be special: even though the goddess was a bit eccentric, her sweetness and sense of protection made her unique. Moreover, as promised, Hestia had introduced her to Miach, the skilled alchemist and an old friend. From that day on, Zoe began spending a good part of her mornings with him and Naaza, the only survivor of the Miach Familia.

During that incident, Naaza lost her arm, and since there was no potion or magic capable of restoring a lost limb, Miach bought a prosthetic arm for her, which led them to have a significant debt to the Dian Cecht Familia.

"Zoe, this is… extraordinary!" - Miach exclaimed, observing a potion she had just created.

Zoe smiled, appreciating the compliment. - "Thank you, god Miach, but I'd say that a lot of the credit goes to the quality of the ingredients you use."

Miach shook his head. - "Nonsense. Even in the past few days, I've seen your talent with the various potions you've created. I don't know who your teacher was, but it seems he taught you well."

Zoe smiled, thinking of Al, her teacher. It was rare for someone to praise Al directly, but whenever it happened, she felt a deep gratitude for what he had imparted to her.

Naaza, with her violet eyes and always a slightly sleepy expression, approached to observe the potion. - "You should take it; it's a good healing potion."

Naaza had long brown hair, violet eyes, dog-like ears, and a tail. They were the same age, which had helped their bonding.

Zoe shook her head. - "I can't accept it. You're already letting me use your lab and materials; taking the potion would be too much."

Naaza sighed lightly while Miach smiled amused. - "Alright, Zoe. But from now on, all the potions you produce will be sold, and we'll split the profits. Is that okay?"

Zoe smiled. - "You are too kind, god Miach, really."

One of the reasons Miach and Naaza's debt was so difficult to pay off was precisely due to the god's generosity, which tended to offer more than to ask for in return.

Suddenly, a sound echoed through the city. *Ding! Dong! Dan!* The city bell marked the end of the morning, and Zoe knew it was time to go to the Dungeon to meet the others.

"I'd better go; the others must be waiting for me."

"See you later, Zoe." - Miach smiled at her. Naaza waved with a slight nod, but Zoe noticed that the girl's tail seemed to droop slightly, showing a hint of sadness.

"I'll see you soon, Naaza." - She said, before giving her an affectionate hug.

Naaza, with a slight blush on her cheeks, returned the hug, and as Zoe walked away, she couldn't help but notice her tail starting to wag happily.

'Adorable.' - Zoe thought, holding back a smile.

Leaving the lab, Zoe headed towards the Dungeon, reflecting on the events of the past week and how she had adapted to life with the Hestia Familia. In particular, she thought about Bell, her new companion, and the friends she had met through him.

In the first few days, her relationship with Bell had been… unusual. His shyness and extreme kindness made him apologize constantly, treating her almost with excessive respect, which sometimes made her uncomfortable. Every time he walked past her, it seemed he held his breath to avoid looking her in the eye, perpetually blushing during any conversation.

Thanks to her ability, Zoe could sense the embarrassment Bell felt about sharing the same roof and realized his difficulties in finding common ground. However, as the days went by, the two learned to understand each other better, managing to establish a more relaxed relationship, although moments of awkwardness were not lacking.

She noticed that Hestia seemed to have a genuine, perhaps somewhat romantic, adoration for Bell, even though he didn't seem to notice at all.

"Not that I'm interested in that way…" - Zoe thought, smiling to herself.

Then there was Lili, who, although she lived with them, didn't belong to the Hestia Familia; she came from another one that she rarely spoke about, hinting that she had some issues in the past. Lili was a lively and energetic girl… and she also seemed to have feelings for Bell. Zoe discovered that Lili was not a chienthrope, as she had initially thought, but a pallum with a unique magic: she could change her appearance at will.

Then she also met Welf Crozzo. The famous Crozzo surname was known to her, as Al had taught her about it. A family that had been gifted the blood of a spirit, allowing them to create unstoppable magical swords. But due to the damage they had caused, they lost their ability, although Welf was different.

He had awakened his family's ability but refused to create them, so he fled from Rakia and settled in Orario, in the Hephaestus Familia. He was the blacksmith responsible for Bell and someone you could count on.

After a few minutes, she arrived near the tower, where the others were already waiting for her.

As soon as she reached the Tower of Babel, Zoe greeted the others with a nod. Bell welcomed her with a smile, while Lili and Welf gave her a quick wave.

"Sorry for the delay." - Zoe apologized.

"Don't be; I think a good alchemist needs their time to make good potions." - Lili smiled at her, earning a nod of agreement from the other two.

"Well, that's fine; I can't wait to visit the famous 18th floor." - Zoe said excitedly.

Since she was the newcomer and had never been in the Dungeon before, they had trained just to the beginnings of the Intermediate Floors to improve their coordination and teamwork.

"I'm sure you'll love it; the first time I saw it, I was left speechless." - Welf said.

And so they began their descent. During the descent of the upper floors, Bell and Welf took the lead to avoid wasting Zoe's energy, as she was in the rear with Lili.

Their pace was quick since the upper floors no longer offered much challenge for them, quickly reaching the stairs that would lead them to the Intermediate Floors. There, they decided to take a short break to allow Welf and Lili to catch their breath, as they were the only level 1.

"From this point, we'll take command, Bell." - Zoe said, and Bell nodded seriously.

He had experienced firsthand how dangerous the Middle Floors could be.

While they rested, Zoe let out a worried sigh, not because of where they were, but for Mark.

'Where are you?'

Aside from the first day they arrived, she hadn't seen or heard from him. When she went to Eina to inform the Guild of the Familia she belonged to, she tried to ask if she had seen him, and she only replied that he had gone into the Dungeon.

Initially, it didn't worry her, but then she began to feel annoyed by his lack of interest in her and Astrea. However, that annoyance turned into concern when she didn't hear from him for several days. She knew Mark was strong, but the Dungeon was unpredictable, and she started to imagine the worst, which filled her with anguish.

'Today is also the seventh day of the week, which means his illness will reactivate this evening. I have to find him.' - She promised herself.

"Let's go." -Said Bell, resuming their descent.

As soon as they arrived on the 13th floor, it didn't take long for a group of monsters to appear, including a pack of almiraj.

"So many, Bell." - Lili commented.

"Yeah." - Welf nodded.

"Can you stop making that joke all the time?!" - Bell shouted, feeling defeated.

Even Zoe momentarily smiled before turning serious. - "Firewall."

The monsters charging at them collided with a wall of fire that suddenly rose, killing them instantly.

"...Many say that my 'firebolt' is unfair, but your multi-instant spells are much more so." - Bell had to say, watching the spectacle.

"Cheater." -Welf and Lili commented together.

The first time they saw her magic, they didn't think much of it, but after witnessing the enormous amount of magic she had, they were all shocked.

Zoe could only shake her head, resigned to her new title, as they moved on.

Continuing towards the 14th floor, they were attacked by a group of hellhounds. Welf, with his great sword, stood as a barrier against the fire, but Zoe decided to counterattack by piercing them with stone spears. Bell and Lili coordinated to prevent any of the monsters from getting too close.

The following floors were a continuous struggle with ligerfang, minotaurs, and crystal mantis, but thanks to their coordination and Zoe's powerful magic, they reached the Wall of Grief.

"So this is where Goliath is born." - Zoe said, fascinated. - "You told me you faced one, didn't you?" - She asked.

"Exactly." - Lili nodded proudly.

"More than facing it, we defended ourselves. Who would have expected it to pop up on the 18th floor?" - Welf said with a sigh.

"Welf is right. If it weren't for the help of all the adventurers from the village of Rivira, it would have been impossible to face that black Goliath." -Said Bell.

"You say that, but you were the one who dealt the finishing blow." - Welf said, playfully nudging him.

"Really?" - Zoe said, amazed.

Bell nodded, embarrassed, scratching his cheek.

Stare

Feeling someone watching her, Zoe turned to see Lili looking at her suspiciously, which made her smile. She gestured for Lili to come closer and whispered in her ear.

"I'm rooting for you with Bell too."

Seeing Zoe's mischievous smile, Lili turned red as a tomato, lowering her head in embarrassment.

"Are you okay, Lil? You're all red." - Welf said oddly.

"It's nothing!" - Lili shouted, embarrassed. - "Let's go down to the 18th floor!"

Zoe laughed again, but when they reached the eighteenth floor, her eyes sparkled with wonder.

The entire floor was surrounded by a lush forest, with a towering tree rising from it, adorned with scattered crystals decorating the landscape. The unusually high ceiling was adorned with bright, shining crystals of two colors: the white crystals in the center resembled the sun, while the blue ones evoked the sky. These crystals helped mark time, emulating day and night as if they were outside.

"It's magnificent." - Zoe said, enchanted, with a spellbound smile. Every day, the Dungeon amazed her more.

The others smiled at seeing her so captivated, as they had experienced the same wonder when they first set foot on that floor.

They slowly walked toward the village of Rivira, built by adventurers as a safe base in the Intermediate Floors. The eighteenth floor was indeed one of the few where, despite the presence of monsters, they did not attack people without provocation.

Rivira was lively and crowded, populated by various adventurers buying, selling, and trading goods and items of all kinds. The village's structures were not refined but solid and practical, with wooden inns and shops, as there was no way for carpenters to go down so deep and build more complex buildings.

"What do you say we take a tour and then head back up?" - Welf suggested, seeing Zoe's curiosity.

"That would be fantastic." - Zoe nodded, happy.

And so they began to explore the village, where they were frequently greeted, especially Bell, recognized by his alias "Little Rookie" for how quickly he had leveled up.

'If I think about it, it's surprising that it took him only a month and a half.' - Zoe thought, amazed.

They explored the most well-known places, and although Rivira wasn't very big, it still had some unique corners. The only downside was the exorbitant prices.

"10,000 valis for a completely worn-out bag?" - Zoe exclaimed in disbelief at yet another item sold at outrageous prices.

"Get used to it; that's how it works here," - Lili told her, shaking her head.

"Strange, the Crazy Prince hasn't shown up yet."

"Yeah, it's hard not to notice him."

A couple of people nearby were talking, and the group overheard their conversation.

"Crazy Prince?" - Bell asked, confused.

"Oh? Haven't you heard about him, Little Rookie?" - Asked an adventurer-merchant who was selling the bag to Zoe with a smile.

"To be honest, I've heard some rumors, but nothing specific," - Lili chimed in.

"Understandable if you don't live here." -The man said, nodding, then continued: - "A few days ago, this guy arrived, and even for me, as a man, I can't deny he was charming, hence the name 'Prince.'"

The others looked at him strangely until Welf asked. - "So why they added Crazy?"

"Simple, because he's crazy." -The merchant said, shrugging. - "Even though he's presumed to be level 2, he goes down alone from the nineteenth floor onward and always comes back in terrible shape. He has a strange habit: every time he arrives, he rants, sells the loot he found, rests, and then leaves… to do the same cycle again."

"Fuck the Dungeon!"

While they were talking, a scream was heard coming from the village entrance, catching them off guard.

"It seems he has arrived." -Said the man.

"That voice...!" - Zoe darted off. The others tried to call her, but seeing that she didn't stop, they chased after her.

Meanwhile, Zoe ran towards the village entrance, her heart pounding and a growing excitement tightening her chest. She couldn't help but recognize that voice after traveling so long with it.

Upon reaching the entrance, Zoe saw a figure leaning on his claymore. His clothes were torn, his hair was disheveled, and he had the expression of someone who was truly annoyed, but it was still him.

"Mark!" - Zoe shouted, barely restraining the urge to run to him.

He looked up, surprised, before regarding her strangely. - "What are you doing here?"

Immediately, her expression froze, while her smile twitched as she tried to hold back her anger at his laid-back attitude.

"You know how it is, I'm exploring in search of someone who's been missing for a week without-ever-getting-in-touch." - Zoe pronounced the last words emphatically.

Hearing her words, Mark scratched his head awkwardly. Thinking about it, his behavior hadn't been nice; at the very least, he should have left a message. - "Haaa, you're right. I've been a bit busy in the Dungeon."

"I see..." - Zoe said, observing his state.

"Anyway, I didn't think you'd miss me this much and come looking for me all the way here." - Mark joked, igniting Zoe's temper.

"How about we celebrate with a nice punch in the stomach?" - Zoe smiled before charging at him.

Soon after, the others arrived, surprised to see Zoe arguing with someone, especially when—

"He's hot." - Was the unanimous comment from the three.

Mark blocked Zoe's punch with an amused smile but struggled a bit given his tired state. Zoe didn't let go and glared at him furiously, though there was also a slight spark of relief in her eyes.

Bell, Lili, and Welf stood at a distance, watching the scene with interest and a bit of surprise. It wasn't often that Zoe got so emotionally involved, and it seemed there was a much deeper connection between her and this "Crazy Prince."

"So, here's the famous Crazy Prince…" -Welf murmured, studying him from head to toe with a hint of admiration.

"Yeah." - Lili nodded with a smirk. - "Now I understand the nickname."

Noticing their admiration, Bell scratched his head and looked at Mark with curiosity. He was the kind of person who didn't go unnoticed: an aura of confidence, a touch of madness, and a charm that struck everyone at first glance.

"Do you know them?" -Mark asked Zoe.

Sighing, Zoe pulled away from him and approached the group.

"First of all, I'm officially part of the Hestia Familia." -Zoe said, earning a raised eyebrow from Mark.

"Isn't that the family with the famous Little Rookie?" -Mark asked. Even though he had spent most of his time exploring, he had still heard whispers from the adventurers of Rivira.

"Exactly, and this is him, Bell Cranel." -Zoe introduced.

"Nice to meet you, Mark Tormeto." -Mark said, introducing himself and extending his hand.

"The pleasure is mine." - Bell replied, shaking his hand with a smile. - "I didn't think Zoe had an interesting friend like you."

"How sad, you didn't talk about me? And I thought we were best friends." - Mark said, dramatically.

"If you don't stop, I'll hit you." -Zoe huffed before continuing. - "This is Liliruca Arde and he's Welf Crozzo, both members of our party."

Mark greeted both of them before focusing on Welf. - "By Crozzo, do you mean that family that can make magical swords?" - Mark asked, based on what he had learned from the Guide.

"Exactly." - Welf nodded.

"I see." - Mark said thoughtfully.

"… Aren't you going to ask me if I can make you one?" - Welf had to ask, as it was a common question for everyone who discovered he was a Crozzo.

"Would you make me one?" - Mark asked calmly.

"…" - Hearing Mark's direct question, Welf didn't know how to respond, but his silence was already an answer for Mark.

"I figured as much, and don't worry, I was just curious. Besides, I don't know how much I could trust something that might break during use." - Mark commented, unaware that those words had increased Welf's respect for him.

"So, what about you? It seems you've had a lot of... experiences." - Zoe asked.

"I just explored the Dungeon." - Mark said with a sigh.

In those days, he was able to scout most of the areas of the 19th and 20th floors without finding the slightest trace of the fragment, which only increased his frustration.

"Anyway, I would have gone back up today since tomorrow there's going to be a tournament of the Loki Familia." - Mark said.

"You're aiming for the Loki Familia? It won't be easy." - Lili said.

"If you don't even try to aim high, there's little point in your life." - Mark said nonchalantly.

"So do you want to come with us? We were getting ready to go back up, if that's okay with you all of course." -Zoe said turning to the others, who responded with a nod. 

"Why not, we're all going in the same direction in the end." 

With those words, Mark joined their group.