Danmachi: A Mage's Journey

The terrain, the ecology, the monsters—everything in the Large Tree Labyrinth formed a unique, terrifying ecosystem.

Each element interlocked like a natural chain of survival and death. The further one ventured, the more the Dungeon tilted the scales.

Monsters were empowered by the terrain, while adventurers were gradually whittled down, both physically and mentally.

It was an unforgiving exchange.

Even if an adventurer matched a monster in level, their actual performance could plummet under the pressure of the environment.

In contrast, the monsters would thrive. This fragile equilibrium tipped violently on the battlefield, often making seemingly equal encounters feel like insurmountable odds.

The path ahead was narrow—packed with numerous trees, their thick, overlapping branches forming a winding, uneven road.

The density of the foliage, the inconsistency of footing, and the limited space made movement perilous. Here, there was no room for error, no space for clumsy maneuvers.

From the nineteenth floor to the twenty-fourth, this region was known as the Large Tree Maze—a living forest that demanded constant vigilance.

The dense fog concealed both friend and foe, and direction itself became a riddle. Every step tested more than just strength. It tested the mind.

You needed awareness.

You needed precision.

And above all, you needed resistance—abnormal resistance. Without it, later floors would become a death sentence.

It was no coincidence that every seasoned adventurer who dared delve into the Deep Floors had honed their resistance. It wasn't optional. It was compulsory for survival.

As Akira and Ais stepped into the suffocating mist of the tree maze, the dungeon offered no welcome.

From above, several poisonous mushrooms attached to low-hanging branches twisted violently—then burst, releasing clouds of spores in all directions.

Ais reacted instantly. "Tempest—!"

Her short incantation unleashed her enchant magic Ariel. A gust of emerald wind enveloped her lithe figure, lifting her lightly off the ground.

Her body shimmered with wind-forged armor, boosting her attack, defense, speed—and giving her short-distance flight.

With a whoosh, Ais launched herself forward.

Desperate gleamed in her hands, guided by the currents of the spell. She slashed down with clean precision. The blade carved through the toxic mushroom's cap, slicing it in two. As the pieces tumbled from the branch, the gust dissipated.

But the Dungeon wasn't finished yet.

Just as her feet touched down, something surged from the fog behind her—a bear-like monster, enormous and hulking. It lunged at her, razor claws slashing toward her back.

CLANG!

A one-handed sword blocked the strike mid-air, the clash ringing out like a warning bell.

Akira had reacted on instinct.

Ais spun around the moment she landed. Desperate flashed, piercing the bear monster's skull with pinpoint accuracy. At the same moment, Akira twisted and cleaved its arms clean off.

The beast crumpled, lifeless.

But there was no time to rest.

The mist trembled again, and from its shifting veil emerged four more Bugbears, charging like stampeding bulls.

"Ais—two each!"

Akira called sharply, falling into a ready stance.

He wasn't used to teamwork, but he instinctively carved out the battlefield in his mind.

Ais nodded with calm confidence. "Understood."

At Level 3, these monsters weren't much of a threat to her. But she deliberately slowed down, allowing Akira space to test himself.

The air churned.

Her wind-imbued sword stirred the mist into a swirling dance as Akira recalled something Kaguya had once taught him: destroy the magic stone, and the monster dies.

So he adapted.

Rather than defend against the Bugbear's swipe, he ducked low, swept his blade upward, and severed its entire paw. With a quick pivot, he thrust under the bear's armpit—the perfect blind spot.

CRACK.

The stone shattered inside the monster's chest and dropped.

The second Bugbear came at him from the side. Akira caught the wind's subtle change in pitch—his reflexes flared. He leapt into the air, spinning as the blade hissed in a crescent arc.

Three crimson lines slashed across the Bugbear's body.

He landed on a sturdy branch overhead, then kicked off, diving straight down. His sword, driven by gravity and momentum, pierced the monster's skull, impaling it to the forest floor.

Silence returned.

Ais approached quietly, having already defeated her two. She handed him two shimmering magic stones with a smile that barely touched her lips—but her eyes gleamed with amusement.

"You're really amazing, Ais." Akira praised, grinning.

Her expression softened. The curve of her mouth was small but unmistakable—she was pleased. This younger Ais... was unexpectedly charming.

"Hmm—"

A sudden cry cut the moment short. Above, the mist split like torn fabric. A firebird emerged from the canopy, its feathers blazing like embers. Flames spiraled in its beak, and it began to dive.

"Firebird!" Ais exclaimed.

"Tempest—!"

But Akira raised a hand. "Ais—leave this one to me."

He mimicked a stance he'd learned from the Swift Master, shaping air into a bow.

A massive wind-forged bow shimmered into being in front of him. The wind howled, kicking up debris as he drew the string, forming an arrow from condensed air and magic.

As the bird unleashed its breath of fire, Akira planted his feet and released the shot.

BOOM!

The arrow pierced the flame. Trees swayed violently under the gale. The projectile tore through the monster, reducing it to fragments midair before disappearing into the sky.

Akira lowered his arms and smiled. "How was that, Ais? I'm not so easy to push around on these floors."

Ais nodded, eyes glowing with admiration. "Akira is really strong. I'm not worried."

She leaned closer, grabbing his sleeve like an excited child. "Akira, how can your wind do that? Can I learn it?"

Akira chuckled and gently ruffled her hair. "I'll try to teach you. But don't get too excited just yet."

He looked around the still-dangerous maze and said, "Let's wait until we're back on a safer floor. For now, let's focus on reaching the 22nd floor."

Ais nodded obediently and said, "Okay. I'll listen to Akira."

And so, the two ventured further into the Large Tree Maze.

The next floor—the 20th—was unlike any they had faced so far. A swarm of mad beetles burst from the trees like an avalanche. Their numbers rivaled the infamous Monster Parties. It was a stampede, a torrent, a storm of fangs and claws.

But Akira and Ais didn't flinch.

They became storms themselves.

Wind and steel raged through the swarm. Every movement, every spin, every step was precise. Carcasses piled in their wake, and yet they pushed forward.

Ais's breath had begun to quicken, her rhythm faltering just slightly.

Noticing this, Akira said nothing. Instead, he silently increased his magical output, weaving wind barriers and suppressing threats before they could even approach her.

(End of Chapter)

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