The warm golden haze of the morning sun crept between the blinds, nudging me from a dreamless sleep. Ryu stirred beside me, her breath soft, her presence grounding. She rose without a word, joining me for our routine just like every day for the past four months passed.
First starting with some push ups, squats, plank hold then we ran circling Orario's outer streets, the wind nipping at my skin as the city slowly woke. Ryu kept pace beside me with quiet ease, never tiring, always watching I could tell I was hold her back.
The rhythm of my days had become sharp and defined. After our run then more calisthenics with the occasional morning spar sometimes even the other girls ( Anya, Chloe, Lunoire and May) would join us. I was still no match for them and they toyed with me more then Ryu did she always took me seriously but it felt like they saw me like a punching bag to stay in shape until Ryu gave them a reality check.
Then it was errands for Mia—supplies, herbs, rare spices along with my regular duties for my shift at the Hostess of Fertility: cleaning, I started pouring drinks, serving guests. Afterward, I made my way to the Guild, where Rose would teach me about monsters, Dungeon structures, territory shifts, and the countless ways one could die unprepared.
At night, it was swordplay and sweat under the fading sun, Ryu testing my balance, my endurance, my will over and over again. I never won. Not once. But I got better, stronger, faster, smarter.
Four months. It passed like a blink then, Nyx called me. In the privacy of my small room, she smiled down at me as I knelt shirtless on the bed. Her touch was cool and soft, her finger drip blood on the divine mark on my back. A subtle shimmer, and the Falna's ink rose to the air. Numbers moving and the light reflecting off her face. The light would fade and she would grab a parchment and trace her finer along it on top of my back
She handed me the parchment. I stared in silence.
Cain Dawnstar – Level 1
Strength: I (0) → H (100)
Endurance: I (0) → I (98)
Dexterity: I (0) → H (110)
Agility: I (0) → I (90)
Magic: I (0) → I (5)
Luck: B
Abnormal Resistance: C
Elder Blood: (I)
Haki: (I)
Mind's Eye: (I)→(H)
A rush of pride welled up in my chest. "I've made progress." Nyx's arms wrapped around me from behind, her chin resting on my head. "You've made me proud, my child." I hugged her in return. "Thank you."
Later, when I showed Ryu, she nodded with a rare flicker of warmth. "That's good progress for just four months—especially while working, learning, and training. You've earned the right to challenge the Dungeon."
I grinned. "That's what I'm hoping. I'm going to see Rose see if she'll sign off." As I left, I passed Syr on the steps. She was smiling but something was different in her face. Something... conflicted. I didn't have time to dwell on it.
Rose met me at the Guild. As stoic as always, her red hair pulled tight and her expression unreadable. I handed her the parchment. She studied it in silence, then motioned for me to follow. We entered a quiet testing room. For the next hour, she grilled me monster traits, battlefield tactics, party structure, terrain hazards, field medicine, rare drop identification. I answered everything. Clean. Confident. No stumbles.
Her lip curled up faintly before vanishing again behind her mask. "You pass. You now have clearance to explore the Dungeon I advise you to stop at floor 5 for now. I can assign you a supporter from our trainee list someone to help guide and support you."
I shook my head. "Thank you, but I want to try the first four floors alone." She hesitated. "If you're sure just be careful." Just then, Eina entered, whispering something to Rose's ear. Her eyes widened genuine surprise. She turned to me.
"Cain. Someone is here to see you." I followed them to the front lobby. And there towering, quiet, and immovable it was him. Ottar the strongest adventurer in all of Orario. The very mountain at Freya's side.
Rose turned to me. "This is Ottar, Captain of Freya Familia." "I know who he is," I said, startled but keeping my voice steady. Ottar's gaze didn't flinch. "We'll speak outside. Alone." Rose looked at me again. I nodded.
We walked in silence to Babel Tower. Without a word, Ottar led me toward the towering Dungeon entrance. Just before the final archway, he stopped and slung a case from his shoulder.
Click it open and Inside were beginner weapons. Basic, but clean and polished. Blades of steel.
Without speaking, he offered the open case. I scanned it and picked a pair of short twin blades. They felt good—balanced.
He nodded." Now take a stance." I blinked. "What?"
" I said take a stance." There was no warmth in his voice no anger either. Just challenge.
I stepped back, settled my feet, lowered my weight with the twin blades up. Ottar's gaze sharpened but his stance didn't change.
My stance was solid—twin blades raised, my breath steady.
I focused harder then I ever did before knowing this wasn't training with Ryu this was Ottar training. Definitely told to do so by Freya, this explains Syr look before I left.
I lunged first, blades flashing in a crisscross pattern aimed at his neck and side. His great sword, still sheathed across his back, shifted only as he reached behind and unslung it in one smooth motion. The ringing clang of steel meeting steel echoed like a gong of finality.
He hadn't even budged. He blocked with a single, effortless movement.
I didn't stop. I pivoted low, cutting toward his legs. He shifted his weapon diagonally, the edge catching both of my blades at once. A jolt ran through my arms like I had struck stone. I twisted, slashing upward. He raised the great sword with a flick of his wrist blocked again.
Every angle. Every variation. Every feint, misdirection, and reversal I had trained with Ryu he saw through it. I slashed from behind, then spun mid-step and came at his side, switching grips mid-air.
He didn't even turn his head. Clang. My palms stung and my fingers ached. My hands were bleeding from the friction of the hilts of my blades.
Then I blinked. Pain exploded through my nose. I didn't even see the punch. One moment I was upright, the next, I was on my knees, blood dripping onto the dungeon floor.
"What the hell…?" I gasped, clutching my face.
Ottar's voice was like a glacier shifting. "Is this all you've got?"
I pushed off the ground, blood trailing down my lips. "Not even close."
For the next five minutes, I became a storm of reckless persistence. Blades sliced air, fists followed blades, feet sought cracks in his foundation. Ottar remained a mountain.
He didn't dodge. He didn't flinch. He absorbed every strike with effortless poise. I wasn't even scratching him but I loved it.
No holding back I could push myself and go all out cause he could take and deal it back a hundred times over. This was the wall I had to climb no matter.
Ten minutes in, I could barely lift my arms and I was breathing heavy.
Then Ottar said: "Now you're ready."
"Ready for wha—"
Then boom.
His foot slammed into my stomach, sending me flying through the threshold of the Dungeon entrance. I crashed against the ground, my lungs struggling to find air. Within seconds from the walls bodies emerged with movement and glowing red eyes shit it was Kobolds.
Six of them. They howled and charged. I staggered to my feet, blades loose in my hands. My breath was shaky, but my heart pounded like a war drum. The first one lunged—I ducked and sliced through its neck.
Dust. Drop.
A small crystal clinked to the ground. I let it stayed there I have bigger concerns right now.
The rest closed in.
One lunged at me with its claws. My arm took a cut and I bled. My body instinctually went into defensive mode dodge there attacks again and again. I kept blocking and getting cut up but after a few minutes of this something hit me and I refused to step back any further
What would Bell Cranel do if he was in my shoes. He would fight to win because it was his adventure his dream to reach Ains? What would Ains do she would struggle through to achieve her dream to avenge her parents. Then I thought to myself why did I choose this world again?
Then I realized I wanted to go on a adventure to become strong and live the life I want in a simpler time. I nearly died on this floor when I first got to this world. I guess this is my baptism to show I was truly reborn. First I gonna show this Fucker Ottar to watch his heels because by the time Bell gets here I will be ready to surpass him.
I surged forward. "WATCH THIS!" I roared at Ottar.
One blade forward—I rushed and slashed the second Kobold across the gut, ducked under another, tackled it, and drove both swords into its ribs.
Another bit at my arm I couldn't dodge. I let it sink its fangs in, I screamed through the pain, and stabbed upward through its jaw.
Two came from behind. I didn't see them with my eyes it felt like I saw the whole Dungeon floor, was this observation haki? It doesn't matter I thought I stayed focused. I threw my twin blades behind me, each finding their mark, pinning them to the wall as they vanished in bursts of ash.
I looked up at Ottar, panting, my face bloody and spit. Then final Kobold stepped forward hesitating like it was afraid and I it should be I cracked a smile.
My fist tightened. Haki surged. I punched through the Kobold's chest. BOOM. Dust. Drops.
I collapsed to one knee, coughing and wheezing. I looked up at Ottar. "Round two?" I rasped, wiping the blood from my face.
He stepped forward. "Whenever you're ready." I heard the sounds of the dungeons wall moving I could tell more monsters were being birth again. I didn't care I grabbed my blades and got into a stance as goblins were coming out the wall I could see them coming towards us through Observation Haki again. But my eyes never turned away from Ottar.
Then I ran in charging at him with a full power slash. Thirty minutes later, I was unconscious. The dungeon ground was littered with monster stones and drops. My clothes were shredded. Blood coated my skin, dried and fresh. I was broken, bruised, exhausted.
Ottar stood over me, untouched.
He knelt, uncorked two healing potions, and poured them over me slowly. My wounds began to seal. My breathing eased.
Then, without ceremony, he gathered the monster drops into a bag, slung me over his shoulder, and carried me out of the Dungeon. Outside the Hostess of Fertility, Syr stood at the entrance. Her eyes widened in disbelief as Ottar approached with me unconscious, battered and limp.
He walked past her saying. "He did well.", she would smile. Ottar walking past the stunned patrons and staff, ignoring the whispers. Ryu stepped forward. "Cain! Is he okay? What happened?! Why are his clothes in tatters?!"
Ottar ignored her, look at Mia who gestured him to the back. Walking toward the back rooms. Ryu ran ahead, opening the door to my room.
Nyx was there, naked her long raven hair cascading down her form, veiling her pale skin like shadows clinging to moonlight.
She stepped forward, smiling softly. "I'll take him from here."
Ryu hesitated. "Is he—?"
Nyx held my face in her hands. "He's fine. You have my word." Ryu nodded slowly. Ottar gently lowered me into Nyx's arms. She cradled me close, whispering, "You worked so hard, my child. I'm so proud of you…"
The door closed behind them. Outside, Ryu spun on Ottar, her eyes sharp. "Did you do this to him?" Ottar didn't turn. "What if I did?"
Her hand twitched toward her hidden knife. Ottar stopped at the doorway, still facing forward. "If you want him to come back whole next time help him grow stronger." Ryu face looked frustrated as Ottar walked away.
I stirred in the early hush of pre-dawn. My body ached in the best and worst ways. Nyx's arms were wrapped around me like velvet chains—soft, warm, and possessive. Her breath was slow and steady, brushing the back of my neck. Her leg draped over mine, and her raven hair blanketed us like the night sky still clinging to the horizon.
I didn't want to wake her but I couldn't stay still in bed.
Something in my chest burned—excitement and frustration. The image of Ottar's unflinching stare as he blocked every attack I threw at him was burned into my brain. I had landed no hits. But I had tasted something just beneath the surface during that dungeon fight with him and the monsters, Haki.
It had stirred, if only for a second but I needed to understand it more. I carefully slipped out from Nyx's arms, pulling the sheets back over her. She murmured something in her sleep—"My sweet child"—and rolled over.
I dressed quickly, grabbed my twin daggers, and headed out the back of the Hostess. Ryu wasn't outside. Her room was empty, window open, curtains rustling like whispers. I followed the path behind the tavern, past the crates and the storage sheds, until I reached a solitary tree farther out in the clearing—a gnarled sentinel, perfect for what I needed.
I stood in front of it, bare-knuckled, remembering the sensation I had when I punched through the Kolbold's chest. My will and focus my force of spirit channeled through flesh. I took a deep breath, held it in my core, clenched my fist—and struck.
CRACK— A jolt shot up my arm. I staggered back, numb from wrist to shoulder. "…damn," I muttered, clutching my arm. "Adrenaline made it easier yesterday…"
But I smiled I'll get it next time.
I dropped into my routine: pushups, squats, plank holds. Sweat poured, and my muscles screamed but I embraced it. When the sun began to tease the edge of the horizon, I bolted into a sprint, dashing through the winding streets of Orario toward the Tower.
I kept my hood low, daggers strapped across my back. The Dungeon entrance came into view just as a familiar duo stepped out. Ais Wallenstein—her blonde hair tied in a small braid, armor scraped and dirty, sword dragging slightly in her hand. She couldn't have been older than twelve. Beside her was Riveria Ljos Alf, her eyes stern and analyzing even in exhaustion.
I slowed my pace. This was a rare chance.
From my pouch, I pulled out one of the beginner potions I bought from Miach's shop last week—simple, but effective. I stepped forward and offered it without ceremony.
Ais blinked. "Huh?" "My name's Cain Dawnstar," I said. "New adventurer. Big fan. Here—just a gift." Riveria tensed subtly, but said nothing. Ais looked at the potion like I'd handed her something something dangerous.
"You sure?" she asked, blinking her golden eyes. I nodded, giving a relaxed smile. "Absolutely. You earned it."
Then I turned and running away. Behind me, I heard: "Riveria… should I drink it?" "If it's poisoned, I'll know immediately," Riveria said, a faint hint of amusement in her voice. "So… okay then." Gulp.
Riveria watched me go. "There's a rumor about him," she said softly. "Half-elf. New Familia. Strange blessings. The Guild is keeping eyes on him."
Ais just nodded. "Okay." By the time I returned to the Hostess of Fertility, the sun was fully up—and so were Mia, Ryu, and Syr. They were waiting arms crossed and glares coordinated.
Mia pointed a spatula at me. "Talk. Now." I scratched my head. "About yesterday?" "Damn right."
So I did. I told them about Ottar, the fight, how he threw me into the Dungeon to test me. How I took it as a challenge, not an attack. Ryu's eyes flashed with fury.
"What if he killed you?" "But he didn't," I said, meeting her gaze. "And he wouldn't there was nothing to gain he was showing me where the peak was."
Mia sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Crazy little bastard…" Syr just pouted.
Mia tossed me a bag. "Here. Drops from your first trip. You got some rare ones."
I peeked inside. My eyes widened. "These don't look half bad." "Exactly," she said. "Go report it to the Guild."
I nodded, bowing slightly. "Thank you." Before I left, I cleaned up, helped prep breakfast, and even brought Nyx a tray—eggs, sweet bread, and grilled peppers. She was still asleep, her body coiled like a panther, but she smiled faintly as the smell hit her.
At the Guild, Rose was waiting behind her usual desk I walked in, placed the lunch box in front of her. "…what's this?" she asked. "Lunch. To say thanks. Also… I've got drops." I handed over the materials: Goblin fangs, Kobold claws, monster stones.
Rose raised a brow. "Goblin fangs? Most don't get that many on their first day…" "I didn't expect it either." She sent them off for exchange. A few minutes later, I had a tidy stack of coins 3,500 valis. "Not bad for a rookie," she said with a ghost of a smile. "And you didn't even leave the first floor."
"Thanks." Then I paused. "One more thing."
"Hm?" "Do you know where I can find the Hephaestus Familia?" I asked. "I'm looking for a beginner blacksmith."
That made her blink. "You looking for gear already?" "Not just gear," I said. "A partner. Someone like me—who can grow with me." Rose's eyes searched mine for a moment.
Then she nodded slowly. "I'll mark a few names. But be warned… the best ones don't come cheap, and the worst ones can still make weapons that explode in your hand." I smirked. "I'll take my chances." She turned, stepping into the back to fetch the list.