Destiny's Reshaping: A Danmachi Reincarnation Tale

The group began their ascent. As they passed by the Wall of Grief, Mark observed it for several moments, tightening his grip on the claymore before continuing to follow them.

'I will find a way to get that fragment.' – He promised himself.

"So, Mr. Mark, how long have you known Zoe?" – Lili asked curiously, her gaze wandering between him and Zoe.

"I'd say about two months." – Mark replied, glancing at Zoe, who nodded with a slight smile.

"Exactly, we left Citadel 12 and spent quite some time together." – Zoe said, but recalling a particular episode in a cave made her blush. Fortunately, Bell's next question distracted everyone.

"Citadel 12?" – Bell asked, intrigued.

"It's one of the thirteen citadels scattered along the canyon of the former dwarf kingdom, to the west of the continent. It's considered one of the three unexplored territories." – Welf explained in a knowledgeable tone.

"You should study more, Bell." – Lili chided him, shaking her head in disappointment, making Bell feel a bit down.

Mark watched the scene with a half-smile, but then, remembering something, he turned to Welf. – "By the way, why did you call me Crazy Prince earlier?"

The four stared at him with surprise and curiosity while Zoe tried to stifle a laugh.

"You don't know? It's the nickname you got because of the strange things you did, like cursing at the top of your lungs every time you entered Rivira." – Zoe chuckled.

Mark's eyes widened in realization, and then he sighed. – "Well, it makes sense, but… Crazy Prince is too much."

Just the thought of people referring to him by that nickname made his skin crawl with disgust.

"Wait." – Lili interrupted the moment, looking at him with an inquiring expression. – "If you arrived with Zoe in Orario, then you've only been here for a week, right?"

"I'd say yes." – Mark replied with a nod.

"And how did you manage to get down to the eighteenth floor alone? It seems like you've even explored the subsequent floors." – Lili said, confused and with a vaguely suspicious tone.

The others, hearing that observation, were stunned and stared at Mark with questioning looks, especially Zoe. The Dungeon was complicated and labyrinthine; only those with extensive experience could navigate it effectively. That's why the group relied on Lili, who had already reached the eighteenth floor multiple times.

Mark realized their curiosity and answered with the first excuse that came to mind. – "I memorized the maps."

"...Seriously?" – The four stared at him with some incredulity.

If it were that simple to learn the routes on the maps, expert navigators like Lili wouldn't be necessary. Naturally, Mark wasn't a skilled navigator, but he couldn't reveal that a consciousness superior even to their gods resided in his soul and acted as his navigator.

*GRUAAAA!

A sudden roar from a charging minotaur snapped them from their thoughts, putting them immediately on alert. But Mark quickly broke away from the group, advancing toward the monster with extreme speed.

The minotaur attacked, but Mark dodged agilely. With a swift swing of the claymore, he severed one of the beast's legs, causing it to stagger, and, using the momentum, he spun around, cleanly cutting off the creature's head with a decisive blow, eliminating it in moments.

"Haaa, I need to improve my equipment; this isn't good..." – The blade of his weapon was chipped, and even the armor he had bought at Citadel 12 was damaged.

As Mark sighed over his equipment, the others stared at him in shock.

"Just out of curiosity, how long has he been a level 2?" – Welf asked, shocked.

"...Now that I think about it, I have no idea." – Only then did Zoe realize that despite all the time spent together, she still knew so little about him.

What she did know, however, was that Mark's strength had skyrocketed. She remembered how during the journey he had faced several level 2 monsters, struggling quite a bit, and those monsters were even weaker than the minotaurs.

"That blow was impressive!" – Bell exclaimed with admiration, earning a skeptical look from Lili.

Mark didn't even have to use 'overload,' since during that week his ring had grown once again and was now at 92%.

With the contribution of three level 2 fighters, one of whom had the strength of a level 3, Zoe and her extraordinary magic, and Bell all-around, the return to the surface proved to be a real walk in the park. So much so that Lili and Welf, feeling somewhat superfluous, ended up collecting the magic stones and the drops left by the three.

While watching them in action, Mark couldn't help but be amazed: Zoe's magic was as impressive as he remembered, but Bell proved to be truly extraordinary. Hearing that he had leveled up in a month and a half was one thing; seeing with his own eyes the instantaneous magic and the strength surpassing that of a novice level 2 was an entirely different experience.

[Are you regretting the decision you made?] – The Guide asked.

'You must be joking; if it weren't for the cultivation system you taught me, I would have been dead a long time ago.' – Mark said without hesitation.

He didn't know if he would have done better or worse, but thinking about past choices didn't make sense, and all he could do was focus on doing his best in that moment.

Finally, after several hours of walking and fighting, the group reached the entrance point of the Dungeon, able to savor the fresh air and the warmth of the setting sun once more.

"We made it up earlier than expected." – Bell sighed with a tired but satisfied smile.

"We had Crazy Prince with us; it's a natural result." – Zoe joked, crossing her arms with an amused smile.

"Please, don't call me that." – Mark pleaded with an exasperated expression, receiving a satisfied look from Zoe in response, who had no intention of giving up the nickname so soon.

Lili adjusted the bag of collected magic stones, casting a curious glance at the others, particularly at Mark. – "So, Mr. Mark, will we see you participating in tomorrow's tournament?" – Her tone was light, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"That's the goal, while today I'll make a stop at the shops of the Efesto Familia in the tower." – Mark explained, as if he were already immersed in plans for the next day.

"Then I recommend you visit the amateur blacksmiths on the 4th floor. They have good equipment at a moderate cost; otherwise, you'd have to spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions of valis, just for a piece of gear." – Welf advised with a practical and friendly tone. It was clear he knew the secrets of the trade like the back of his hand.

"Thanks for the advice. And what about you guys? What will you do?" – Mark asked with interest, looking at the group.

"I think I'll craft something." – Welf said, showing his desire to continuously improve as a blacksmith.

"Lili and I will stop by the Guild to evaluate our earnings, and I'll also see if I can study something while I'm there. Of course, we'll then give you your share." – Bell added quickly, with a friendly smile. Mark nodded with a satisfied glance, then turned his gaze to Zoe.

"Do you mind if I come with you?" – Zoe asked, trying to keep a casual tone.

She could feel Lili's strange smile behind her and notice the probing gaze of Bell and Welf, but she did her best to ignore it. A slight hint of embarrassment had painted her cheeks, but she didn't show it.

"I don't mind, do you need to buy something too?" - Mark asked, raising an eyebrow, almost curious.

"I'll see if I find something." - Zoe replied, not entirely sincere, and her gaze wandered elsewhere.

In reality, the weapon gifted to her by Al was exceptional, forged with unmatched skill and durability. Moreover, she had a robe given to her by Ryuu, which would fit until she reached level 4. So, equipment wasn't the real reason she wanted to accompany Mark.

Mark gave a slight smile, catching the evasive tone in Zoe's voice and sensing that perhaps she had motivations beyond a simple purchase. Without pressing, he nodded and greeted the others.

"Well, shall we go?"

"Okay." - Zoe nodded, feeling a thrill of excitement as they prepared to explore new places together.

They headed toward the tower's elevator, and Mark pressed the button for the 5th.

"I thought we were going to the 4th?" - Zoe said, confused, with a trace of embarrassment now that they were alone.

'Why should I be embarrassed? This isn't the first time we've been alone.' - Zoe promised herself to shake off that thought, attributing the feeling to the fact that they hadn't seen each other for a week.

"There's nothing wrong with taking a look around, is there?" - Mark added with a mischievous smile, trying to lighten the mood.

The truth was he had over two million valis at his disposal and wanted to buy something good, something he could rely on.

The elevator quickly arrived at the floor, the doors opened with a light ping, and they were greeted by a long corridor adorned with high-end shops from the Efesto Familia. The displays sparkled with vibrant colors, showcasing finely crafted weapons and armor decorated with precious stones, rare items that would make any adventurer's eyes light up in search of glory and adventure.

"Wow, look here!" - Zoe exclaimed, letting her curiosity guide her as she approached a shop showcasing beautiful lances and swords. She wasn't an expert in the field, but the quality of the displayed gear was evident even to her.

Mark looked around, able to see beyond the shops, various adventurers emanating a strong aura.

'I should find something good here.' - Mark thought, but when he saw the price of some daggers reaching already 400,000 valis, he started to sweat.

'Am I going to become poor?' -He had to wonder, with growing anxiety.

The reason for such high prices wasn't just related to processing costs and materials used but also to the unique skills that each weapon possessed. When a blacksmith reached level 2, he acquired the development ability of blacksmithing, which allowed him to infuse a special attribute into the crafted product.

For example, armor could boast the attribute of durability, making it more resilient, or Durandal, making it indestructible.

"Mark, come see, this should interest you." - Hearing Zoe call him, he approached her, intrigued.

In the display, Mark could see a truly remarkable weapon. Its size was similar to his, but the blade was slightly wider, with a brass-colored handle and guard, designed to maximize power when used with both hands.

The cost was 1,000,000 valis, but the weapon had the attribute 'cutting edge,' which drastically improved cutting capabilities.

"I can't deny that I'm interested." - Mark nodded, impressed by the beauty of the weapon.

"It seems quite expensive." - Zoe said, surprised. She just wanted to show him the weapon, not expecting him to intend to buy it.

Mark entered the shop, followed by Zoe, and they were greeted by the saleswoman, whose expression suddenly became complicated.

"Welcome to the stor-ghe!" - The saleswoman's presentation abruptly halted as soon as she saw Zoe.

"Uh... Hestia?" - Zoe exclaimed, incredulous.

The person who welcomed them was none other than Hestia, the goddess of the Hestia Familia, the same Familia as Zoe and Bell.

'So, she is the goddess Hestia... quite surprising.'

Mark wished to express that he had accidentally shifted his gaze to the goddess's chest, but when that area occupied a third of her body, it was hard not to notice.

'Seriously, did all the growth substances end up there?' -He wondered, bewildered and, at the same time, very uncomfortable since Hestia was also quite short.

"Are you thinking of something strange?" - Zoe asked him quietly, scrutinizing him with a probing look.

"I'm thinking about geometry and the ratio of mass." - Mark replied nonsensically, getting a confused look from her.

"*cough... what are you doing here, Zoe?" - Hestia said, recovering from her surprise.

"...I was accompanying a friend to look at some equipment." - Zoe replied, still surprised by her presence there.

Only then did Hestia turn to Mark, and then look back at Zoe. - "Boyfriend?"

"No." - Both replied in unison, but with very different expressions.

"Didn't you hear the part about f-r-i-e-n-d-s?" - Zoe said, sighing at the goddess's words.

"Hah! Let me tell you something: between a man and a woman, friendship cannot exist!" - Declared the goddess authoritatively, pointing a finger to the sky as if proclaiming a universal truth.

"..." - Mark didn't know what to say, while Zoe covered her face, so embarrassed she wished to be buried alive.

"Haah... I'd like to see the sword on display, I'm interested in buying it." - Mark said, trying to mask his evident discomfort.

"Of course!" - Her personality changed drastically, transforming into a model employee who hurriedly took the weapon with enthusiasm.

"Just... sorry. Hestia is a bit eccentric." - Zoe said, still embarrassed, trying to find the right words to justify the situation.

"More than anything, I wonder why she's working?" - Mark asked.

"Long story." - Zoe said with a sigh, recalling the debt Hestia had to Hephaestus.

"A-And here's your weapon... ah! How much does it weigh!" - Hestia dragged the sword toward him with difficulty. Her height similar to that of the sword made the scene quite funny.

Zoe turned away, holding back a laugh that ended up betraying her with shaking shoulders. Mark, noticing the goddess's difficulty, decided to step in, easily taking the weapon.

"Thank you." – Hestia thanked him, relieved, while he nodded in response.

'Hmm, it's heavier, but not too much.' - Mark thought, swinging it with one hand.

In his hands, it felt good and seemed quite sturdy.

"Is it possible to test it?" - Mark asked.

"Of course, this way." - Hestia led them to a room inside, equipped with dummies for testing weapons, and began to describe the sword's features.

"Let's see… the blade's body is primarily made of obsidianite, a material that gives it excellent cutting ability, reinforced with the femur of a spartoi." 

"Thanks for the explanation. Now let's see how it performs in the field." – Mark said, getting into position and striking the dummy. The blade passed through it effortlessly, revealing its power.

'Much better than any other weapon I've ever used.' – Mark thought, definitely satisfied.

"I'll take it." – He declared.

"Yes! Commission!" – Hestia exclaimed, making a small victory gesture.

Soon after, Mark's attention was drawn to the armor displayed nearby. It had a silvershard, a hard and flexible metal covering the arms, legs, and torso, while the other areas were protected by a black fabric made from the cloak of a skull sheep. The price was 1,400,000 valis, lower than it should have been thanks to the 'resistant' attribute, the lowest grade concerning durability.

'It's a bit depressing to think that almost all my earnings are worth just a weapon and armor, which will become useless when I face opponents above level 4.' – Mark reflected with a sigh, though he was aware that in the lower floors, the earnings would increase accordingly.

Trying on the armor, Mark felt it was perfect, with no discomfort at all, as if it had been made for him. He initially expected the metal part to be cumbersome, but it was flexible and comfortable.

"…I'll take this too." - He declared, feeling his wallet painfully lighten.

Hestia, radiant from the great deal, finalized the sale for a total of 2,400,000 valis.

"Thank you for your purchase!" – She exclaimed happily, while Mark waved goodbye with a nod.

"I'll see you at home later, Hestia." - Zoe said, bidding her farewell and following Mark.

"Enjoy your date." – Hestia said with a mischievous smile. Immediately, Zoe rushed back towards the shop entrance, visibly blushing.

"It's not a date!" – She protested.

"Yeah, yeah, and I'm not a goddess." – Hestia replied sarcastically.

Mark couldn't help but smile at the scene as Zoe desperately tried to explain herself, still embarrassed by Hestia's comment. The idea of a date between them was surreal.

"So… shall we go?" – Mark asked, breaking the awkward silence as they left the shop.

Zoe nodded, still slightly flushed. - "Yeah… let's go and ignore everything she said."

"Not that I took it seriously." - Mark joked, but for some reason, Zoe felt like hitting him.

They continued wandering through the shops in the tower, eventually arriving at the place indicated by Welf, where Mark bought a pair of good daggers for 30,000 valis, nearly emptying his funds.

"I've become poor in less than an evening." - Mark said with a sigh once they were out of the tower with Zoe.

"More than anything, I'm surprised you had all that money." - Zoe said, surprised.

"Let's just say it was a lucky event." - Mark replied.

Once in the square, illuminated by magical lamps to brighten the darkness that had fallen over the city, a silence fell between the two, so in the end, Mark was forced to speak. - "So, why did you want to follow me today?"

"It's not that I wanted to follow you." - Zoe said, offended. - "But you know, today is that day… your problem, remember?"

"Unfortunately, I never forget it." - Mark said, feeling down.

"I imagine." - Zoe nodded in understanding.

"Even so, I doubt you want to follow me to my room to help me." - Mark joked, but Zoe was more serious than expected.

"Of course I will, I promised you." 

'Well, damn, it seems I underestimated her.' - Mark thought, but he needed to set some boundaries.

"As you know, Zoe, I've always been grateful when you've helped me, but do you realize that entering a man's room at night isn't exactly appropriate and could lead to gossip?" - Mark explained.

"That's... true." - Zoe admitted, realizing only now the implications of her action.

Unlike other times, when there were usually people around, they would be completely alone, but she couldn't bear to give up.

She really wanted to help Mark, and besides, this was the only time she could be in contact with him without issues, but she knew that such actions couldn't last long. She knew that if he joined the Loki Familia, they would see each other less and less, causing her deep sorrow, so she decided it was time to finally be honest.

"Can I tell you something, Mark?"