WaterLocked (Danmachi)

//Support me as I get into the writing groove.

3 chapters a day until Chapter 25. Then 1 a day and 2 on Patre0n. Donate to Patre0n to help reach the set goal. When the goal is reached, I'll released 30 extra chapters at the end of every month.

Patre0n:

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Goal: $8.91/$900

Discord:

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BAM!! BAM!! CRASH!!

"Hehe. Soldiers got a little give to him today. I think I almost killed him with that last one."

"Yeah, cool story. However, try not to knock him around near the edge of the roof. If he really kicks the bucket, then we'll all go down with you. Don't be a dumbass."

"Yeah, yeah. Hey, Vorago. Get your bitch ass off the floor!! We ain't done."

Grimy fingers curled through Tenebra's fluffy black hair, gripping it tight before pulling the youths head back, trying to yank him onto his feet. A wave of pain washed through the individual as he was forced upwards, grabbed by the scruff of his school uniform, and hoisted off the flat concrete roof. Blood dripped from his nose and his busted up lip, one of his eyes near swollen shut, ensuring that not even the assailants could see the color of Tenebra's eye. Bruises lined the visible parts of the boys body, old and fading mixed with fresh ones that had only just begun to bloom. All in all, paired with a tattered black button-down and worn-out cargo shorts, Tenebra could easily be mistaken for homeless or a hospital patient.

Even when the beefy high-school teen had pried the boys' body from the ground and into a standing position, Tenebra nearly stumbled over once again.

"I barely got started. Don't tell me you're nearly done already." The assailant scowled as he watched the youths attempt to fully right himself. "Maybe if you weren't such a pûssy áss little bitçh, you'd have a family who loves you. Who appreciates you. Heck, even your dear old daddy-"

For the briefest of moments, a spark of life erupted in Tenebra's eyes, a look of intense anger that fixed onto the blabbering individual. Taking a step forward, the youth summoned the last vestiges of strength left in his body and jabbed towards the tip of his assailants chin. The clenched fist made contact, snapping the bullys head backward before sending him tumbling to the ground, eyes rolling back into his head. Groaning, he didn't get back up. At the same time, Tenebra also crumbled to the ground, falling onto his knees as his stamina hit rock bottom, body completely giving out.

"That's what you get for playing with your food," the other bully said, slowly closing the book he was reading. "Even the weak can lay out the unsuspecting."

The bystander in question rose up from his seat, standing up to his full 182cm, bright red eyes staring down Tenebra, like a lion staring down a newborn wolf cub. He was nothing like the one that had just been knocked down, easily making the black haired youth himself seem like a toddler in comparison. Toned muscles could be seen even under the loose school uniform, and the way he moved held a sort of confidence, as if he could take on the whole world with nothing but the clothes on his back. Tenebra was admittedly quite familiar with this brute of a human being, much more than he would've liked to be. Getting beaten by him and his cronies once every few days tended to do that to one's memory, the feeling of pain being carved deep into the youths consciousness. This was Archard Numo, chief enemy to most freshmen attending the same high school as him.

"So, the plaything can fight back, huh?" Archard reached into his pocket and pulled out a small green box as well as a white lighter. Sparking up a cigarette, the teen let out a puff of smoke. "You never raised a hand against us for the entire time I've known you. If I had known you had some life left in you, I would've pushed you harder. However, no matter what you have left, you're merely a Toy Soldier. Nothing more. And toys aren't meant to defy their owners."

Archard walked up to Tenebra with slow steps, taking his time. Pausing in front of the kneeling individual, he raised his leg. Without a sound, he slammed his heel into the jaw of his prey, forcing him onto the floor.

"Now, how should I deal with this rebellion?" Archard squatted down and grabbed Tenebra by the collar.

BAM!!

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BAM!!

The red carnivorous beast was easily put into the dirt, with almost no effort on the part of the attacker, an older individual with wolf ears and a tail. Tenebra didn't even fully see what had happened, just a blur of grey followed by an overturned monster that Tsubaki had called a "Bloodsaurus", a creature that had immediately begun dissolving into mixtures of black smoke and dust.

Based on what he had seen thus far, most beasts the group had run into had always met the same fate, dissolving or erupting into nothingness whilst leaving behind swirling crystals of various sizes. The stones themselves seemed to hold some sort of inherent value, seeing as each and every one was either pulled from the corpses of the deceased monsters or picked up after the body had disappeared. As questionable as the area Tenebra was in, the youth highly doubted that armed individuals would take the time to pick up pieces of junk, especially given the hostile environment and the need to remain vigilante at all times. More than likely, the rocks could be traded in for money, or maybe melted down to make something. Tenebra had read countless books regarding the uses of stones for metallurgy and even its value as a currency.

Setting that aside, Tenebra was still trying to figure out where he even was, let alone what the rocks were. If he lived long enough, he could always figure out the swirling stones another time.

Around an hour had passed since Tsubaki and Ais had first found the black-haired individual, and not a lot of things had transpired within that timeframe. The group had continued to wander the dense underground forest of monsters, dispatching unwelcome guests and chatting amongst themselves. However, while only a tidbit of action was witnessed, a whole storm of information was hurled in Tenebra's direction solely from the ongoing back and forth conversations as well as what Tsubaki tried teaching him.

Admittedly, most of it flew over his head. The puzzle pieces weren't matching together for him very well.

The Dungeon. Monster Feria. Orario. Levels. Loki Familia. Hephaestus Familia. Floors. Adventurers.

A whirlwind of knowledge was overheard, but none of it was processed. It didn't fit in with any of the things that Tenebra knew about the world, a testament to how out of place he was and how little it all matched up. There was definitely logic and reasoning in regards to his environment, but he wasn't at the point where he could freely shove it all together to form a picture. All he could do was continue to listen and gather Intel until he had a definitive grasp on the ongoings of the world and its inhabitants.

"So, does that help?" Tsubaki asked, snapping Tenebra back to the present. The youth was still positioned on the woman's back, still unable to walk properly on his own. "Did you get all of that?"

Tenebra didn't reply at first, emotionless hues staring at the back of the one-eyed woman's head. He had listened to everything she said, but it was still difficult to digest it all, given the youths current mindset. Essentially, she had explained things about the Dungeon since everyone there had formulated the assumption that he had memory loss. It was a reasonable conclusion to make, but it wasn't one that the youth would confirm if actually asked about it. He obviously hadn't lost any sort of his own abysmal past, as much as he would've liked to.

The Dungeon was a place where monsters spawned, though that was something Tenebra could have figured out himself. Within the walls and ceilings of this "Dungeon", beasts were formed and spat out with the sole purpose of ripping other beings into shreds. Adventurers dove into the Dungeon to combat these creatures, traveling downwards into the depths to fight stronger and stronger monsters. It was a pretty straightforward explanation, but it was also one that raised a bunch of questions for the black-haired individual.

Why would Adventurers want to dive into the Dungeon and put their lives at risk? For exploration sake? For the Stones? If so, were the stones alone worth risking ones life? Or was it deeper than that? Maybe it gave them a sense of purpose? A way of life? The deeper you went, the stronger the monsters. Did the value of the gems go up as well? Enough to constitute the risk of one's very breath?

These were only the very tip of the mountain of questions the black-haired youth was currently faced with, a never-ending pile of unknowns that only grew the further the group went.

"The Dungeon.....," Tenebra almost choked with how much it hurt to talk, but he continued anyways. "How far does it go down?"

Tsubaki frowned slightly, openly thinking about the question. "It's not really known I guess. The Loki Familia takes various expeditions down into the lower floors. They usually reach Floor 50 and occasionally try to push further beyond that."

(("50 Levels at the minimum. Referred to as THE Dungeon. Meaning only one, or at least the only one known. Monsters spawn in repeated intervals, beasts that have valuable cores and even leave behind items on occasion. Stronger monsters on lower levels.")) Tenebra glanced around at the group. A number of them didn't seem too bothered about where they were whilst others never let their guards down. (("Levels. Adventurers. Armor and weapons. It's like every standard fantasy merged into one. Maybe, instead of looking at it from MY reality, I look at it from one of fiction. Where the illogical becomes the logical."))

Taking a deep breath, the black-haired youth closed his eyes. One by one, he began to rearrange the puzzle, but this time, he took an entirely new angle.

An adventurer, one who dove into the mysterious and dangerous tunnels and rooms making up the Dungeon, a vast underground pit just underneath a place called Orario. These adventurers lived their lives to fight the monsters within the Dungeon, collecting the stones and items dropped and 'maybe' using them to level up. It would explain why they were so valuable, though it was possible that they leveled up a different way and the crystals acted as a mere currency. Either way, one of the main reasons for going into the depths of hell in the first place was to get stronger and go even deeper, where the real treasures lay such as rare item drops and valuable monster cores. Tenebra was quite familiar with books depicting dungeons, and they almost always had the hard to find loot near the bosses and in deeper parts of the area.

Familias were a bit harder to understand, but the teen managed to grab the gist of it. A group of adventurers whose guild or clan were named after gods and goddesses, though not solely following any particular religion. Loki was from Norse mythology. Hephaestus was from Greek.

Tenebra would need a lot of information to be filled out before he could come to any solid conclusions, but he did what he could. He wasn't in any hurry to survive but he DID want to learn about the things around him and comprehend what it all meant.

Why was he here? Had he not fallen off the school with Archard? He should've been dead to rights. How'd he get there? What purpose did a pathetic waste of space have in a fantasy world other than to feed the beasts that roamed the Dungeon? What use was a Toy Soldier in a place of actual strength?

The party stopped at the 28th Floor, at a spot that Tsubaki referred to as a Safety Point, a place within the Dungeon that didnt spawn monsters. It was unclear how long it had taken the coalition of Adventurers to reach their current destination, what with the lack of sunlight and time related devices, but Tenebra estimated it to be around 5 or so hours, give or take.

Apart from learning a bit more information regarding the dangerous and downright otherworldly labyrinth known as the Dungeon, nothing of note had happened. Everyone continued to do their own thing and press forward.

In regards to what Tenebra had learned though, there were three main topics that only served to peak his curiosity even further. It was one thing to speak on particular subjects but completely different when it came to seeing it for oneself.

The areas within the Dungeon were divided up into three main sections, the Upper Floors, the Middle Floors, and the Lower Floors.

The Upper Floors contained the first through the twelfth layers as well as the entrance to the Dungeon itself. This area was pretty much the starting point for all Adventurers and contained the weakest monsters such as Goblins and Kobolds. Level 1 and Level 2 Adventurers mainly roamed around these parts in order to gain experience and hone their abilities as much as possible.

Then there were the Middle Floors, a different breed when compared to the 'beginner stages' of the Dungeon. Encompassing the 13th to the 24th floors, these areas were considerably more difficult, to the point where parties would need to be formed in order to properly clear them. Monsters were far more deadly and spawned much more quickly, making the Upper Floors seem like a leisurely stroll through the park. The Cave Labyrinth and the Large Tree Labyrinth were two places Tenebra took note of when Tsubaki was explaining.

"When we talk about the Middle Floors though, the most popular place amongst Adventurers is Floor 18." Tsubaki took a swig of water from a strange looking canister, gesturing towards the black haired youth from her spot on the Dungeons stone floor. "Its another Safety Point similar to this one, only much nicer."

"In it, there's a town called Rivira. It's like a resting point for those Adventurers who make it that far."

"Oh, Tiona." The one eyed Adventurer glanced back as a young girl with a weapon the size of a small tree danced into view. "Joining in?"

Having paused the slow but steady trek upwards, the group had taken up camp at the aforementioned Floor, situating themselves to get a proper amount of rest for what remained of their lengthy venture. With everyone relaxing and attempting to replenish their energy reserves,Tsubaki had pulled Tenebra aside, away from the hustle and bustle of the other Adventurers. Whether it was to prevent the youth from getting overwhelmed or to properly update his 'memories' on all things Dungeon related, Tenebra had yet to find out.

The one who had joined in on the conversation, offering a smidgen of knowledge of Floor 18, was one of the girls he had seen earlier.

She was slightly taller than he was, standing at around 165cm compared to his own 157cm, and quite possibly weighed more than he himself did. With pitch black hair that fell to the small of her back, wild green eyes that held a mix of amusement and curiosity, and skin a color of tan he wasn't familiar with, Tenebra was immediately transfixed on the new arrival.

She moved gracefully on the ground, her bare feet lightly touching the pavement with every movement, as if she were floating over it. The girl wore revealing clothes, donning a simple white tube top to cover her modest breasts and a brown pareo around her waist, yet she made it seem elegant in a way. Above all else though, she seemed to have a sort of wild nature to her as depicted by the way she moved, strong and carefree, as if nothing could faze her. Coupled with a bright smile and friendly demeanor that held no animostity whatsoever, she was the perfect example to the phrase "full of life".

The exact opposite of Tenebra himself. It seemed silly to label her so distinctively when she had just walked into his line of sight, but that's the impression the youth got.

"You guys got room for one more?" Tiona grinned playfully before moving in close, not even waiting for an actual answer. "You won't even know I'm here."

"I somehow doubt that-"

Before Tsubaki could even finish her sentence, Tiona had already shifted towards to Tenebra, eyes filled to the brim with an innocent curiosity. Front, back, sides. The girl viewed the youth from every angle, as if looking over a new pet or some interesting animal she had come across in a petting zoo. Honestly though, Tenebra didn't care that much, allowing her to do as she pleased with saying a single word.

"Hmmmm." Tiona tilted her head, as if thinking. After a minute, she broke out into wide grin. "I like you. Your name was Teneb....something, right? I'm Tiona Hiryute."

"Tenebra....Vorago," the youth responded, ignoring his strained vocal chords.

"That's a rather interesting name." Tsubaki didn't seem to find Tiona's actions very concerning, letting Tenebra know that that's just how she was. "However, going back to what we where discussing. The Dungeon. The last one you should know about is the Lower Floors, the levels we're currently at right now."

The Lower Floors consisted of the 25th to the 36th floors and contained two major regions within them, Water City and the Dense Forest Ravine. These areas were usually explored by higher ranking Adventurers and Familias, very rarely were they ever ran solo. Additionally, these Floors were MUCH larger in scale compared to the Middle and Upper Floors, to the point where just getting from Floor 50 to the Upper Floors was estimated to take 5 full days with a large party.

There were Floors that existed beyond the three main sections, but the vast majority of Familias and Adventurers never touched them. Only those with strong members, proper knowledge, honed skills, and adequate experience dared to traverse the Dungeons lower depths.

"Aside from that, we have the Deep Forest Ravine which is the region we just passed through. It's basically just a forest. And then we have-"

"Pardon the intrusion."

All three of them, including Tenebra himself, turned to look at the one who had spoken up.

It was another person that the youth had seen upon meeting the Adventurers. A green haired woman with pointy ears and flowing garments that oozed refined elegance. From what Tenebra knew about fantasy, he assumed that this was an elf.

"Tenebra Vorago, was it?" The Elven individual seemed to assess the youth carefully, glancing over him with analytical green hues. "Come with me. Finn wishes to speak with you."

Without a word, the young teen rose onto his feet and carefully made his way over, moving at a slow yet steady pace. Though having recovered some energy during the time it took to get to the 28th Floor, it still wasn't to the point where Tenebra could walk properly, at least not without putting a decent amount of effort into it. It was only when Tiona quickly stood up and offered herself up as a crutch that he was fully able to follow along with the green haired elf.

"Thank...you." Tenebra gave the girl a nod as he hobbled along.

"Of course." The girl smiled. "We gotta help each other out right? You can pay me back when you have the time."

"I....don't have..... any money."

"How about, when you get your memories back, you tell me about yourself?" Tiona carefully guided the injured youth around a few Adventurers. "Simple."

Though not having agreed to be an amnesiac by any means, or having confirmed that he had actually lost his memories, Tenebra nodded. "Okay."

"Perfect. I'll hold you to it then Teneb!! Dont forget." Tiona smiled mischievously, almost making the youth regret agreeing to the request in the first place.