Chapter 28 — Duel with the Minotaur!
Fwoosh—
A golden silhouette streaked through the dungeon's shadows, like a firefly glowing amidst the night, leaving a trail of dazzling light that demanded attention.
"Amazing… Lady Ais…"
Deep within the dungeon, a young elven girl stood still, mesmerized by the scene before her. To her, the figure moving elegantly through the monsters wasn't just fighting—it was dancing. Her gaze overflowed with admiration.
Ais Wallenstein. A level 5 adventurer from the Loki Familia, renowned across Orario by her title—the Sword Princess. A name that carried weight in every corner of the city.
Just yesterday, the latest expedition of Loki Familia had concluded.
But even after only a single night's rest, the Sword Princess had already returned to the dungeon.
And once again, a devoted admirer had chosen to tag along.
Well, to be precise, "volunteer" was probably a more fitting term. After all, in every battle, Ais fought alone. The elf girl simply followed, picking up magic stones and item drops left in her wake.
Slice—
With a final swing of her blade, the last monster fell, dissolving into a cloud of black mist and leaving behind a single glowing magic stone.
"That was incredible, Lady Ais!"
As the battle ended, Lefiya rushed over with shining eyes and a beaming smile. Her whole expression sparkled with devotion—completely enamored by the idol she worshiped.
To her, Lady Ais was everything.
"Not enough… I'm still not strong enough," Ais murmured.
In the back of her mind, she couldn't stop thinking about that boy—Shin Akira—whom she'd encountered just yesterday.
After returning to headquarters, it hadn't taken long to learn more about him. With the help of Loki Familia's connections and some quick assistance from the Guild, she gathered the details she needed.
Apparently, the boy named Shin Akira had only arrived in Orario two days ago. He had been personally escorted by Tsubaki, captain of the Hephaestus Familia, to register as an adventurer and receive a Falna.
That meant today was only his third day since receiving the blessing of the gods.
And yet, in that unbelievably short time, Shin Akira had already demonstrated power that defied logic—something almost too absurd to believe.
Ais herself had spent nearly a full year training in the dungeon, supported by her Familia, learning to read the rhythm of battle and gradually building her foundation.
Compared to that… Shin Akira had already surpassed her.
"Lady Ais, you're already strong enough! You're a level 5 adventurer! Other than our captain, no one in our Familia can compare to you!"
"No. It's still not enough. I have to become stronger… I must."
For Ais, strength was everything. It was the only meaning in her life. Everything else was secondary.
Even Lefiya—despite her constant adoration—was, at best, a fellow Familia member.
ROOOAARR!!
Suddenly, a fierce roar echoed in the distance, drawing both Ais and Lefiya's attention.
"That sound… there's no mistaking it! It's a Minotaur, Lady Ais!"
As an elf with broad magical knowledge—and the chosen successor of Riveria—Lefiya wasn't just skilled in magic. She could also identify monster species with remarkable precision.
Fwoosh—
Without saying a word, Ais dashed off toward the 17th floor. Lefiya was left behind in a panic.
"Lady Ais! Wait for me!"
She tried to keep up, but the difference in speed between her and her idol was simply too great.
— — —
Tap tap tap—
Ais sprinted down the corridor, her footsteps echoing as she reached the crystalline zone of the 17th floor.
When she arrived, she stopped in her tracks.
What she saw left her speechless.
The boy from yesterday—Shin Akira—was locked in solo combat with a Minotaur. And in the distance, eight figures dressed in all black were each engaged in their own one-on-one battles against four other Minotaurs.
Just yesterday, Ais had been stunned when Akira single-handedly defeated a Young Dragon.
But now… he was up against five Minotaurs.
THUD!
With a powerful kick, Shin Akira sent the Minotaur flying backward. A wild smile danced on his bloodied face, burning with thrill.
As someone who inherited the combat experience of Enkidu, Shin Akira's fighting style was raw, reckless, and overwhelmingly aggressive. He relished the brutality of close-quarters combat.
The Minotaur staggered to its feet in the distance, glaring at Shin Akira—but it didn't charge again.
Unlike Akira, who was clearly fired up, the monster had begun to hesitate. Throughout the fight, it had been overwhelmed and repeatedly injured by Akira's strange weapon.
Even though dungeon-born monsters were designed to hunt humans, wild instincts still warned them of danger. Fear was a universal response—and even monsters could feel it.
"What? We're just getting started. Come on, don't stop now."
Shin Akira raised his long sword, crimson droplets dripping from its edge. His own body was smeared in blood from head to toe.
Unlike most adventurers who relied solely on the power of their Falna, Shin Akira's strength went far beyond divine blessings.
He was the successor to the King of the Shadowkhan template—master of shadows. Even if his Falna were revoked, he'd still be far stronger than any level 1 adventurer.
Akira didn't put much faith in the gods' blessing. The system had too many flaws.
If a Falna were sealed, the power it granted would vanish. That could happen for many reasons—whether through divine intervention, switching Familias, or if the god who granted it was recalled to the Divine Realm.
There was no denying the Falna was a powerful system, unlocking human potential like nothing else. But its vulnerabilities were too significant.
To Shin Akira, it was simply a tool—nothing more than a supplementary boost to his true inheritance.
GRAAAAHH!!
The Minotaur growled, watching as Akira calmly closed the distance. It lowered its head, aiming both massive horns forward in preparation to charge.
Then it sprinted—charging with full force.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!"
Rather than flinch, Akira laughed in excitement. He raised his blade and dashed straight toward the beast.
CLANG!!
Horns collided violently with steel. The impact rang out, echoing like a hammer striking an anvil.
CRACK…
A splitting sound followed. One of the Minotaur's horns began to fracture—thin cracks snaking their way across its surface—
SHATTER!!
With a single explosive burst, the horn shattered into pieces, flying through the air like shards of glass.
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