Danmachi: God of Heroes

Disclaimer: I just realized that Eina might not be attending the guild yet, due to this issue in the previous chapter, she won't be mentioned again until the story gets close to canon. Thank you so much for reading this.

Thanks to For'Sleep 3rd for giving me the idea for Veldrin's character.

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First Person Narration (Veldrin):

The sound of my footsteps mixed with the faint echo of the Dungeon. This place was strange, although I didn't exactly feel uncomfortable, I couldn't let my guard down either.

I gripped my dagger tightly, mentally reviewing what I had learned so far. I didn't have the best armor or the best equipment, but at least I had my spells. And considering I was alone, I would have to use them well.

It wasn't long before the first enemy appeared: a small, green-skinned goblin with a rusty dagger in his hand. He looked at me, growled, and charged at me without a second thought.

"Well, let's see how it goes."

I pointed my hand and let the magic flow.

"Burn mana."

A dark bolt of lightning shot out from my fingers and struck the goblin squarely. The creature trembled, its body hunching as if something within it was consumed, and within seconds, it collapsed before disintegrating into motes of light.

I let out a small sigh. Yes, this spell worked quite well. Although... the slight dizziness in my head reminded me that I couldn't overuse it either.

It's been three days since my first foray into the Dungeon. At first, every fight was a challenge, but little by little I learned. I adapted.

I discovered something interesting about Burn Mana. I thought it only affected enemies with Mind, but it turned out it worked on monsters too. The reason? Most likely their magic stones.

Monsters are born from the Dungeon with a magic stone inside them, and when I use Burn Mana, it runs out of energy, causing the creature to collapse almost immediately. Sure, I still need to calculate my mind well so I don't run out of energy in the middle of a fight, but it's definitely a huge advantage.

Right now, I'm on the first floors, surrounded by goblins and kobolds. Facing them isn't as difficult as it was on the first day. My dagger moves more accurately, my spells are more efficient, and although my stamina is still not the best, I know how to avoid taking unnecessary hits.

A new fight begins as a kobold lunges at me with its claws ready to tear me apart. I dodge to the side and reach out.

"Burn mana."

The dark bolt hits his chest, and an instant later, his body shakes violently before crumbling into motes of light.

I smile. Yeah, I'm definitely getting used to this.

I scanned the surroundings, making sure there were no more enemies nearby. Every time I used Mana Burn, I felt a slight pang of exhaustion in my head, but nothing I couldn't handle.

Still, I needed to do this more efficiently.

That's when I came up with an idea... to make a monster race (patent pending)

I moved quickly through the dungeon tunnels, allowing the monsters to spot me before I ran off. At first, only a few followed me, but the further I went, the more joined the chase. A few goblins, then a couple of kobolds… and then more.

When I felt I had enough following me, I activated Immolation.

Flames immediately engulfed my body, and without hesitation, I ran through the monsters. I felt the heat burning around me, but I was already used to it. The goblins and kobolds tried to react, but they were too slow.

The fire consumed them before they could harm me.

I stopped at the end of the hallway, turning to look at the result. All the monsters had turned into specks of light, leaving behind a pile of magic stones scattered on the floor.

I smiled.

This method was definitely much faster.

Just as I was collecting the magic stones, I heard footsteps approaching quickly. I looked up and saw three adventurers walking towards me with unfriendly expressions.

"Hey, you moron!" growled the one in front, a muscular guy with a short sword on his hip. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

I frowned. "Collecting my magic stones."

Another adventurer, a skinny-looking archer, clicked his tongue. "We're referring to the fact that you almost killed us with that crazy thing you did. You attracted a bunch of monsters to our area! If we hadn't been careful, we could have died."

"But they didn't die."

The third adventurer, a woman with a spear, gave me a fake smile. "That's not the point, newbie. Down here, we all have to be responsible. And since you were the one who caused the trouble, we think it's only fair that you compensate us."

He pointed at the magic stones he had collected. "Those will be fine."

Oh. So that's what it was about.

"What if I say no?" I asked, looking at them calmly.

The swordsman smirked. "Then we'll take it from you."

Well… that made it easier.

I didn't say anything. I just sighed and put the magic stones back into my bag.

The swordsman smiled mockingly. "My, how obedient—"

Before he could finish his sentence, I activated Immolation. A layer of flames covered my body in an instant, and the sudden heat caused the three adventurers to step back in surprise.

"What the hell?!" the archer shouted, raising his bow in a hurry.

I didn't give him time. I ran straight towards him.

The spear flew in my path, but with a quick movement I dodged the sideways blow and slid underneath, feeling the heat of my own flames brush against his weapon. I immediately got up and kicked the archer in the stomach before he could shoot. The impact, coupled with the fire, made him scream as he fell backwards.

The swordsman responded with a downward slash. I raised my dagger and deflected the blow to the side, feeling the vibration of the clash of metal. I took advantage of his open stance and spun quickly, stabbing him in the side before stepping out of the way.

He screamed in pain and stepped back, holding his side with a shaking hand.

The spearwoman took advantage of her companion's distraction to stab me straight to the chest. I twisted my body, narrowly dodging, and let her spear fly past. Before she could pull it back, I stepped forward and struck her in the face with my fist engulfed in flames.

The woman screamed as she fell to the ground holding her face.

"Damn—" The swordsman tried another attack, but the pain from the wound I gave him slowed his movement. I dodged his slash with ease and struck him in the leg with a swift kick, knocking him to his knees.

By this point, the archer was still on the ground, trying to smother the flames on his clothes, and the spearwoman could barely stay on her feet.

The swordsman gritted his teeth and raised his hand. "Wait! We surrender!"

I extinguished the flames of Immolation and crouched down next to him. "So now we're talking about responsibility, huh?"

I didn't wait for an answer. I took his bag of magic stones and hung it on my belt.

"Consider this my compensation."

I stood up and began to walk away, leaving the three wounded and humiliated adventurers behind.

I heard the sound of quick footsteps behind me.

I turned just in time to see the archer, his face still twisted in pain, raising his bow with an arrow already at the ready.

Tch. They don't learn.

I activated Immolation again just as he fired. The arrow grazed my shoulder, but as soon as the archer tried to back away, I was already upon him. With a quick spin, I struck him in the face with the back of my dagger wreathed in flames. There was a crack and the guy fell to the ground, unconscious.

The spearwoman screamed in fury and lunged at me with another thrust. This time I didn't dodge entirely, but instead twisted my body so that her spear just grazed my side, leaving a shallow cut. I took the opportunity to grab the shaft of her spear with one hand and, with the other, I buried my dagger in her thigh.

He let out a heart-wrenching scream and fell to the ground, holding his leg with both hands as his gun slipped through his fingers.

The only one left was the swordsman. And he had no intention of giving up.

He gripped his sword in both hands and charged at me with a frontal thrust. At the last moment, I twisted my body and slid to the side, letting the Immolation fire pass dangerously close to him. His clothes caught fire, and before he could react, I kicked him in the wrist. The sword fell to the ground with a metallic clatter.

"Damn it!" he screamed, backing away and trying to put out the fire on his clothes.

I looked at him without saying anything. At this point, the fight was over.

The swordsman gave me a hateful look and, with a growl, picked up his wounded companion. The unconscious archer was still on the ground, but I didn't bother to follow them.

I turned off Immolation and sighed.

"Idiots."

The swordsman was the last one standing. He gritted his teeth in fury and charged at me with a downward slash.

I didn't dodge. Instead, I stepped right into his guard, letting his sword slide past him as my dagger, still warm from Immolation, sank into his side.

He flinched and let out a cry of pain, his weapon falling from his hands and he staggered back.

Without giving him time to react, I stepped forward and delivered a hard knee to his stomach. His eyes rolled back, his strength left him, and he fell heavily to the ground, unconscious.

I turned to see the other two. The spearwoman was already unconscious from loss of blood, and the archer was still lying there, unmoving.

All three, defeated.

I sighed and ran a hand over my forehead, feeling the sweat mix with the heat of the flames still dancing around me.

I turned off Immolation.

I left them there. I didn't kill them. But I wouldn't wait for them to wake up either. I could already hear the monsters coming to this place, I'm sure they'll finish the job. I'd rather not get blood on my hands.

Without saying another word, I picked up my bag of magic stones and walked away.

Third Person Narration:

Veldrin arrived at the guild with a firm step, although fatigue was accumulating in his body. The fight against those three adventurers had left him more exhausted than expected, but at least it had been worth it.

As he approached the counter, The receptionist was already waiting for him with her typical professional smile, although as soon as she saw him more closely, her expression changed slightly.

"Veldrin, you look more tired than usual. Are you okay?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"I'm fine," he replied shortly, dropping a heavy bag onto the counter.

The receptionist raised an eyebrow at the sound of the magic stones clanging together. With a soft sigh, she took the bag and began to empty its contents onto the table.

The half-elf's eyes narrowed in suspicion as she saw the amount of magic stones in front of her.

"This is more than you normally bring…" he muttered, picking up a few to evaluate them. "And don't get me wrong, but the quantity of these stones is inconsistent with the time you spent in there."

Veldrin maintained his neutral expression.

"Twelve thousand valis," The receptionist announced after a moment, looking up at him.

Veldrin extended his hand without hesitation. "I'll take it."

The half-elf stared at him for a few seconds before letting out a soft sigh.

"Where did you get so many stones?" he asked, leaning his elbows on the counter.

"I killed monsters," he replied without hesitation.

The receptionist frowned. "Just that?"

Veldrin didn't look away. "That's what adventurers do, isn't it?"

The receptionist clicked her tongue, but didn't press any further. Finally, she took the money and handed it over.

"As long as you don't get into trouble, I won't say anything… but be careful, okay? I've seen adventurers make too much money at once, and it almost never ends well."

Veldrin pocketed the money without immediately responding. Finally, he bowed his head slightly in farewell and left the guild.

The receptionist's gaze followed him until he disappeared into the crowd.

Arriving at the inn, Veldrin felt fatigue begin to weigh on his shoulders. It had been a long day, and although the fight with those adventurers hadn't been too difficult, the tension was still present in his body.

He pushed open the door of the inn and entered, feeling the warm atmosphere of the place contrasting with the cool evening air. His footsteps echoed lightly against the wooden floor as he made his way to his room.

Before he could open the door, Xander's voice stopped him.

"Wow, what a surprise. You came back without a scratch this time."

Veldrin turned his head and saw the god sitting in a chair near the window, a glass in his hand and a relaxed expression on his face.

"It's not like I get hurt every day," Veldrin replied, crossing his arms.

Xander smiled slightly. "Maybe, but after seeing you come in injured last time, I was expecting something similar."

Veldrin snorted and walked over, dropping his bag with a clang.

"Was it a good day at the Dungeon?" Xander asked, arching an eyebrow.

Veldrin nodded. "Twelve thousand Valis."

Xander whistled in surprise. "That's quite a lot for someone who's only been in the Dungeon for a few days."

The young adventurer simply shrugged. "I managed."

Xander stared at him for a moment, as if analyzing his words, but then just smiled in amusement.

"Well, at least I don't have to play nurse with you this time. Come on, sit down. Get some rest before you end up collapsing on the floor."

Veldrin rolled his eyes, but eventually accepted the invitation and took a seat. After all, tomorrow would be another day in the Dungeon.

Xander stands behind Veldrin and says "I'll update your status" with dagger in hand. Veldrin takes off his leather armor and shirt

Veldrin Lightstorm

Level 1

Strength: I33 → I96 Endurance: I25 → I72 Dexterity I19 → I59 Agility I72 → H110 Magic I66 → H101

Magic:

Burn Mana: Magic without chant. Sends a beam of negative energy that burns 15% of the target's mind, dealing damage in proportion to the mind eliminated. Requires the magic stat to be different than I0.Immolation: Magic without chant. Generates a small layer of flames around the user, consumes mind while active

Skills:

Incarnation (Demon Hunter): Through the altar of the elders, the body adapts to the Demon Hunter's history. Manifestation of Demon Hunter Skills and Magic

Xander watched Veldrin's status update with a mix of surprise and fascination. Although he already knew that the growth of his first and only follower was abnormal, seeing the numbers go up so quickly in just three days left him speechless for a moment.

"Well… This is officially ridiculous."

Veldrin, sitting on the chair with his back open, turned his head slightly in curiosity. "How ridiculous?"

Xander let out a small laugh as he rested his chin on one hand. "Your agility and magic are both at H now. Three days ago you were barely past half of I."

Veldrin frowned, trying to process the information. "That's good, isn't it?"

Xander shook his head, though he smiled in amusement. "Well, yes, but what worries me is that this kind of growth isn't normal. Most adventurers take months to get to where you are now… and that's if they have any talent."

Veldrin was silent for a moment before sighing. "I don't have an explanation, but I'm not going to complain either. As long as I get stronger and survive in the Dungeon, I don't care."

Xander clicked his tongue. "Yeah, but if anyone else notices this, things could get complicated."

"Then we won't tell."

Xander raised an eyebrow, amused by the simple, straightforward answer. "You know, I like the way you think."

Veldrin simply shrugged. "Anything else in the update?"

"No, just that. You still don't have any new abilities, but with that growth, I wouldn't be surprised if something else happens soon."

Xander leaned back in his chair a little, twirling the dagger he'd used to update Veldrin's status between his fingers.

"Well, now that we're done with that… did anything interesting happen in the Dungeon?"

Veldrin, who was still adjusting his shirt after having left his back exposed, paused slightly before answering.

"It depends on what you find interesting."

Xander raised an eyebrow. "Veldrin, with how fast you're growing, I'm sure you've had some sort of problem or strange situation. Come on, tell me."

Veldrin sighed and crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "Well… Some adventurers tried to rob me."

Xander blinked, then laughed out loud. "Ha! Really? And how did that end?"

"I knocked them unconscious."

There was a brief silence before Xander snapped his fingers and smiled. "I knew it was going to be something like this."

Veldrin rolled his eyes. "It was nothing special. They were just upset that I was attracting too many monsters with my strategy, saying that I almost killed them and that I had to give them my magic stones as 'compensation'."

Xander let out a sarcastic laugh. "Wow, how generous. They probably wanted to help you 'handle your load'."

"Yeah, well, they're sleeping in the dungeon now. Surely some goblin is eating them."

Xander shook his head in amusement. "Well, I can't say I'm surprised. I hope this doesn't cause any problems down the road, though."

Veldrin shrugged. "If you bring them, we'll deal with them when they arrive."

Xander leaned his elbows on the table and gave her a smile. "You're more trouble than you look, you know that?"

Veldrin simply plopped down into the opposite chair. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Xander leaned back in his chair a little, looking at Veldrin with a mischievous smile.

"By the way, speaking of interesting things… we should talk about money."

Veldrin raised an eyebrow. "Money?"

Xander nodded, pulling out a small cloth bag and dropping it onto the table. The metallic sound of coins clinking inside echoed through the room.

"Doing the math, after separating what I have to pay from my loan, we have a total of 32,500 Valis."

Veldrin nodded as he mentally counted the money. "Well, we have a decent amount. But how do you plan to spend it?"

Xander leaned an elbow on the table and smiled. "That's the question, isn't it? Upgrading equipment is an option, but I don't want to spend it all at once either. If we keep accumulating, maybe we can do something bigger."

Veldrin frowned. "Something bigger?"

Xander shrugged. "I don't know yet. It could be anything from buying better weapons to investing in something stable… but that's for later. Do you have any ideas?"

Veldrin thought for a moment. "Well, not for now. But I do think getting better weapons wouldn't hurt. I've already seen some monsters start to withstand my blows better."

Xander nodded. "Makes sense. We don't want a broken weapon coming back to haunt you at the worst possible moment."

Veldrin crossed his arms and sighed. "I suppose we could go check prices in the afternoon. I don't want to go out to the Dungeon again today after the fight earlier."

Xander smiled. "Good idea."

Veldrin nodded. "Then, after we rest a bit, let's go see what we can find in the shops."

"Sounds good to me." Xander stretched, relaxing in his chair. "But there's one important thing missing. Are you comfortable with your current weapon?"

Veldrin looked at his dagger and turned it over in his fingers, thinking. "I've gotten pretty used to it, but…" He paused, as if hesitating. "I feel like I'm a bit short on range at times. If the monsters are too close, it's fine, but if they're a bit far away, I have to get really close to attack."

Xander nodded, resting his chin on his hand. "Makes sense. So, do you want to stick with a dagger or would you rather try something else?"

Veldrin put away the dagger and crossed his arms. "I don't want a weapon that's too big. Something longer than a dagger, but not too much of a hindrance… maybe a short sword would work."

Xander smiled. "Good choice. It's versatile and won't get in your way if you need to move quickly. We could look for some in the afternoon, see what we can find."

Veldrin nodded. "Yes, better to see options before deciding."

Xander stretched out in his chair. "Okay, then after a nice rest, let's go shopping."

Veldrin listened attentively as Xander spoke.

"The Incarnation (Demon Hunter) skill adapts you to that Demon Hunter's history, right? So maybe we could take a leaf out of how he fought to decide which weapon suits you."

Veldrin tilted his head. "Do you have any idea how he fought?"

Xander nodded. "Yeah. The original Demon Hunter used a rather peculiar weapon… something called a warglaive. It was two weapons, one for each hand, with a curved blade on both the top and bottom, and the handle in the center."

Veldrin frowned, trying to imagine it. "That sounds… unconventional."

Xander laughed. "Yeah, but it was an extremely effective weapon. It allowed for quick attacks, sweeping slashes, and deadly combinations. And considering how much you've improved in agility, you could handle something like that pretty well."

Veldrin crossed his arms in thought. "Hmm… that makes sense. If my ability suits me for that fighting style, maybe it's the best thing for me."

Xander smiled. "Exactly. I'm not saying you should get the exact same weapon now, but we could look into something similar. Maybe start with a couple of short swords and see how you feel about them."

Veldrin nodded decisively. "Yes, I like the idea. Let's try that."

Xander nodded. "Yeah, that's the problem. It's not a common weapon you can find at any store. If you really want a warglaive, we'll have to find a blacksmith willing to do a custom order… and that means more time and more money."

Veldrin sighed, crossing his arms. "Makes sense. A weapon like that can't be easy to make, especially if I need two of them."

Xander smiled. "Exactly. We could ask at Goibniu's forge or some other well-known armory in Orario, but such an order would probably cost us a fair amount of valis and a few days, if not weeks, of waiting."

Veldrin frowned thoughtfully. "Then, in the meantime, I should get something more practical. You said I could start with a couple of short swords, right?"

Xander nodded. "Yeah. They're easier to get and will allow you to adjust to fighting with two weapons. By the time we get the warglaives, you'll be used to the fighting style."

Veldrin smiled slightly. "I like that plan. Then, tomorrow we should go find a pair of short swords."

Xander raised a finger. "Yeah, but we also need to find a blacksmith for the job. We might as well get ahead of that."

Veldrin nodded. "Alright. Then, it really will be a busy day."

Xander stretched and stood up. "Well, if we still have time, why don't we go now? Babel has some of the best forges in Orario, and we might be able to find a blacksmith willing to do the job."

Veldrin nodded. "Yes, better to do it as soon as possible."

The two of them left the inn and walked towards Babel, the imposing tower in the center of Orario. Inside, on the lower floors, were some of the best shops and forges for adventurers. With so much money in their hands, it was the perfect time to find a blacksmith who could make Veldrin's warglaive.

Upon arrival, his eyes scanned the various signs and shop windows. Famous forges had their names in large gold letters, while others, more modest, offered more affordable prices.

Xander crossed his arms. "Okay, now the question is… do we go for quality regardless of price, or something cheaper but decent?"

Veldrin looked around thoughtfully. "If I want a weapon that will last, we can't skimp too much on quality. But we can't waste everything we have either."

Xander nodded. "Then let's find something in between. Let's ask around."

They headed to one of the renowned forges, where a muscular blacksmith in a leather apron was hammering a red-hot blade on an anvil. Noticing their presence, he stopped hammering and looked at them curiously.

"What are you looking for?" he asked in a hoarse voice.

Veldrin stepped forward. "I want to make a special order. A pair of… unconventional weapons."

The blacksmith raised an eyebrow. "Define 'unconventional'."

Veldrin described the warglaives, making a quick sketch on a piece of parchment. The blacksmith watched him with interest, stroking his beard.

"Interesting design. I haven't done anything like this before, but I might try. I warn you though… it won't be cheap or fast."

Xander smiled. "We knew you'd say that. How much time and money are we talking about?"

The blacksmith thought for a moment. "Good quality materials, custom design... I'd say at least six days of work. And the price, about 40,000 valis for the two weapons."

Veldrin grimaced. "We're a bit short on money for that."

Xander sighed. "We could give a down payment and pay it off when we pick them up."

The blacksmith nodded. "I'll start the job with 20,000 valis. The rest, when you deliver them."

Veldrin and Xander looked at each other.

Veldrin nodded resolutely. "Alright. We accept the deal."

Xander pulled out his valis bag and counted out 20,000, handing them to the blacksmith. "Here's your advance. We'll be sure to bring the rest when they're ready."

The blacksmith took the money and put it in a small chest behind his workbench. "Fine, then I'll get started right away. Come by in six days. If there are any changes, leave a message at the forge."

Veldrin looked at the drawing of his future weapon with restrained excitement. "Thank you. I'll be waiting."

The two of them left the forge, now with only 12,000 valis in their possession. Xander sighed, stretching. "Well, we're officially almost out of money now. I guess you'll just have to keep going to the Dungeon to replenish funds."

Veldrin smiled confidently. "That's what I was planning to do anyway."

Xander patted him on the back. "I like that. Now let's get back to the inn. Tomorrow is another day of work."

With that, they both headed back, excited for what was to come in the next few days.

As they walked down the stairs of Babel, Xander and Veldrin came across a group of adventurers exiting the Dungeon.

At the front was a young red-haired girl in red and gold armor, walking with a confident expression. Several women in combat suits and light armor followed her, some talking to each other.

Xander recognized two of them immediately: Ryuu, with her calm demeanor and sharp gaze, and Kaguya, who was wearing her typical kimono with the robe over it, looking relaxed but with a playful smile on her lips.

The redhead was the first to notice him. She stopped and crossed her arms, smiling confidently. "Wow, who do we have here? I didn't expect to find you wandering around here, Xander."

Xander smiled calmly. "Alise. Looks like the Astrea Familia had a good day in the Dungeon."

Alise laughed and pointed at the large bag of magic stones that one of her companions was carrying. "Not bad, not bad. Although I have been hearing strange rumors about a certain rookie adventurer of elven race on the first floors attracting several monsters like a stampede."

Veldrin hearing this tensed up with an awkward expression.

Kaguya put a hand on her hip and looked at Veldrin with an amused expression, noticing his face. "Don't tell me it was you, rookie."

Veldrin felt Alise, Kaguya, and Ryuu's gaze on him and scratched his cheek with a slight smile. "Eh… I don't know what you're talking about."

Ryuu looked at Veldrin curiously, but didn't say anything. Xander sighed. "Well, it seems news travels fast."

Alise stepped forward and patted Veldrin on the shoulder. "If you're going to use crazy tactics, at least make sure you don't drag the wrong ones down with you. We don't want any more trouble on the first floors."

Veldrin nodded, somewhat nervously. "I'll keep that in mind."

Xander looked at Alise with a raised eyebrow. "So what are you two going to do now? Rest or are you planning to keep going?"

Alise spread her arms. "We're done for today. But we'll be back tomorrow. We have deeper goals than the first floors."

Kaguya smiled mischievously. "I'll see you around… if you survive, newbie."

Veldrin felt a chill run down his spine at Kaguya's mocking gaze, while Xander simply laughed.

Alise and her group continued walking, but did not separate from Xander and Veldrin. It seemed that they still had more to say.

"So…" Alise glanced at Veldrin with a sly smile. "You haven't told me how you came up with that crazy tactic. Running like crazy through the dungeon and then hacking through the monsters while they're burning? It's not exactly a common occurrence."

Veldrin shrugged. "I realized I could lure them out by running without them catching me. And my active spell… well, they just fell before they could catch me."

Kaguya laughed softly. "You have guts, I'll admit. But you also have luck. I don't want to imagine what would happen if you took the wrong direction and ended up surrounded with no way out."

Ryuu, who had remained silent until now, spoke in a calm tone. "It's an effective method, but a risky one. You won't always be able to rely on your speed to get through unscathed."

Xander put his hands behind his head and smiled. "Oh, believe me, I told him that too. But this guy seems determined to live on the edge."

Veldrin sighed. "It's not that I like taking senseless risks. But if it works, why not take advantage of it?"

"That's what everyone who ends up dead in the Dungeon says." Kaguya looked at him mockingly, but there was a warning tone in her voice.

Alise tilted her head. "Anyway, if you plan on continuing to use that tactic, maybe you should upgrade your equipment. It won't always work to rely on magic and speed alone."

Xander nodded. "We were just doing that. We went to Babel to commission a custom weapon from a blacksmith."

Alise raised an eyebrow. "A custom weapon? Wow, a newbie doesn't have the money for something like that. What kind of weapon?"

Veldrin explained the idea of ​​the warglaive based on the Demon Hunter Incarnation. When he finished, Alise let out a whistle. "Now that's a rare weapon. I don't know how many blacksmiths in Orario have made something like this before."

Kaguya looked at him with renewed interest. "So a pair of glaives, huh? You'll look like quite the demon on the battlefield."

"(Hahaha what irony)" Xander thought laughing

Ryuu nodded slightly. "If you can master them, they can be deadly weapons. But you'll need a lot of training."

Veldrin nodded determinedly. "I'm ready for whatever it takes."

Alise smiled. "I want to see that. But anyway, what do you plan to do now? Rest or continue training?"

Xander looked at Veldrin with a raised eyebrow, as if leaving the decision in his hands.

Veldrin crossed his arms and thought for a moment. "Well, we already ordered the weapon and made quite a bit of money these days. We could use a break."

Xander laughed. "Wow, that's weird. Veldrin wanting to take a break? Save the date, because this doesn't happen every day."

"Ha ha, very funny." Veldrin rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying, there's no point in going into the dungeon if I don't have my weapon ready. I can still use the dagger, but I want to get used to fighting with what I'm going to use in the future."

Alise nodded with a smile. "Good mentality. Many newbies just take what they have and head straight into the Dungeon without thinking about the long term. But if you want to be a real adventurer, you need to prepare well."

Kaguya looked at him with some mockery. "But that doesn't mean you can relax too much. Rest yes, but without getting lazy."

Veldrin sighed. "Yes, yes, I know. Anyway, we could take advantage of the opportunity to watch some training or learn more about combat skills."

Alise sighed with a faint smile as they walked. "You know, Veldrin, you should train more. It's not just about fighting in the Dungeon, but about constantly improving your technique."

Kaguya nodded. "Yes, from what we've heard, your method of fighting is effective, but too risky. One mistake and you could end up surrounded with no way out."

Ryuu, in his calm tone, added, "If you can't completely trust your team, then you must at least trust in your ability. And that only comes through training."

Veldrin nodded, crossing his arms. "I know. Now that I've ordered my weapon, I want to start practicing with it as soon as it's ready. There's no point in specializing in a technique if I don't have the right tool."

Alise laughed softly. "That's a good mindset. If we weren't so busy with the Evilus problem, maybe we could give you some advice."

Xander raised an eyebrow. "Is it that bad?"

Kaguya sighed. "Quite a bit. There have been more suspicious movements lately, and while most adventurers are going about their normal lives, the Families that are actually involved in maintaining order have to be on alert."

Veldrin and Xander exchanged glances, realizing that the situation was more serious than they had imagined.

"Anyway, be careful," Alise said with a confident smile. "We don't want a rookie with potential to end up getting into trouble."

"Same here," Veldrin replied with a slight smile.

After exchanging a few more words, the group finally went their separate ways. As they walked back to the inn, Xander spoke up.

"Well, that explains why I haven't seen much of them lately." Xander spoke his thoughts out loud.

Xander sighed. "Nothing we can do about it right now. We might as well focus on our own."

"Yes. In improving," Veldrin replied with determination.

Four days later…

The sound of the inn door opening echoed through the silent reception area. Veldrin entered, his clothes somewhat worn and bearing traces of dirt from the dungeon. His breathing was heavy, but he still kept a steady pace as he made his way to his room.

Xander, who was sitting at the table with a jug of water in his hand, looked up and let out a light laugh. "Looks like you've had a long day."

Veldrin dropped into a chair with a sigh. "You have any idea… the monsters seemed endless today. I barely had any breaks between fights."

Xander crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair. "That means the Dungeon is still throwing out challenges, which is good for your growth."

Veldrin smiled tiredly. "Yes, though I feel like my endurance is being tested every day."

Xander looked at him curiously. "So how did the hunt go?"

Veldrin took out a bag and placed it on the table. "Pretty good, I managed to get down to the fourth floor this time, plus I got a good amount of magic stones this time."

Xander raised an eyebrow and took the valis bag, weighing it in his hands. "I see… it seems you haven't been wasting any time."

Veldrin stretched and let his head fall back against the back of his chair. "By the way… is my weapon ready yet?"

Xander smiled. "I was just going to mention it. It should be ready the day after tomorrow."

Veldrin opened his eyes and straightened up a little, his expression showing mild interest. "Perfect. I can't wait to try it."

Xander shrugged. "Then we'll pick her up the day after tomorrow. For now, you should rest."

Veldrin nodded with a slight smile. "Yeah, I think I can finally sleep without worrying about goblins trying to rip my throat out."

Xander laughed. "Welcome to the adventurer's life."

Veldrin Lightstorm

Level 1

Strength I96 → H111 Endurance I72 → H107 Dexterity I59 → I90 Agility H110 → H165 Magic H101 → H144

Magic:

Burn Mana: Magic without chant. Sends a beam of negative energy that burns 15% of the target's mind, dealing damage in proportion to the mind eliminated. Requires the magic stat to be different than I0.Immolation: Magic without chant. Generates a small layer of flames around the user, consumes mind while active

Skills:

Incarnation (Demon Hunter): Through the altar of the elders, the body adapts to the Demon Hunter's history. Manifestation of Demon Hunter Skills and Magic

Xander looked at the new numbers on Veldrin's back and clicked his tongue. "If you keep this up, I'm going to have to start calling you 'the monster' instead of 'the rookie'."

Veldrin dropped his jacket onto the bed and sat down heavily in the chair. "That sounds more like a problem than a compliment."

Xander chuckled. "I'm serious. There are adventurers who spend years at level one without seeing even half of that progress. And you, in less than a week, already have several stats in H."

Veldrin rubbed his neck, feeling the exhaustion building up. "I guess it's the reward for diving headfirst into the Dungeon every day."

Xander raised an eyebrow. "Or because you have an ability that seems to be leading you down a very specific path."

Veldrin sighed. "Yeah, yeah… 'Demon Hunter Incarnation' and all that. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if one day he wakes up with horns or something."

Xander crossed his arms, pretending to think about it. "Hmmm... I don't know what the hell, but if you wake up with green skin, you better let me know so I don't burn the inn down."

Veldrin let out a light laugh, but his expression became more serious. "Seriously speaking, although I'm getting used to fighting in the Dungeon, I feel like I'm still lacking something. As if… I'm not using my full potential."

Xander nodded. "Well, we'll pick up your new weapon tomorrow. Maybe that'll help you find what you're missing."

Veldrin smiled tiredly. "I hope so."

Xander stretched and sat down. "For now, what you need is sleep. And so do I, before I start looking like the walking dead."

Veldrin nodded, settling into bed. "Good night, Xander."

"Good night."

The next day, Xander and Veldrin sat at the inn table with a bag of Valis between them.

Xander pulled out some paper and started doing the math out loud. "Well, before the purchase with the blacksmith, we had 32,500 valis. Then the custom order left us with 12,500. And in the last few days we spent 1,500 on food and other minor expenses, so now we have 11,000 valis."

Veldrin nodded, crossing his arms. "That's not even counting what I've been earning in the Dungeon. We should add it up."

Xander grabbed a separate bag and started counting. "So, over the past four days, how much did you get each day?"

Veldrin raised his hand to his chin. "The first day, 8,000 valis. The second, a bit more… I think 9,500. The third, 10,000. And yesterday, 11,000."

Xander whistled. "Wow, your performance is definitely improving. Well, that gives us 49,500 valis in total."

Veldrin smiled with a hint of satisfaction. "Pretty good for someone who started with a simple dagger."

Xander finished counting the coins and nodded in satisfaction. "Well, that's just what you made. You also have to add in what I've earned these days from my performances at the plaza."

Veldrin looked at him curiously. "Right, how much did you get?"

Xander smiled proudly. "Let's see... the first day it was 4,800 valis. The second, 5,500. The third, I had a bigger crowd, so it was 6,000. And yesterday, even though there were fewer people, I still made 4,700."

Veldrin did a quick mental calculation. "That's… 21,000 valis in total."

Xander snapped his fingers. "Correct. Adding that to what you got, we have a total of 70,500 valis."

Veldrin whistled. "That already sounds like a decent number."

Xander nodded. "Yes, but remember that we also have to keep spending on food, the inn, and eventually more equipment or upgrades."

Veldrin crossed his arms in thought. "Well, for now, the most important thing is to go pick up my new weapon."

Xander stood up, stretching. "Come on then. I'm curious to see how well the warglaive turned out."

Veldrin stretched out his arms. "Then let's go pick her up."

Xander stood up with a smile. "I hope the blacksmith did a good job."

…

Xander and Veldrin walked through the bustling streets of Orario towards Babel. The sun was still high in the sky, and the city was as active as ever.

Soon, the gates of Babel appeared before them, imposing as ever. They entered the building and climbed up to the area where the blacksmiths had their workshops and shops.

Upon arriving at the blacksmith's workshop with whom they had made the deal, they found the man waiting for them with a large wooden box on the table. He had his arms crossed and a satisfied expression on his face.

"Just in time," the blacksmith said with a smile. "The order is ready."

He opened the box and inside were the two warglaives. They were imposing weapons, with a curved design and sharpened at both ends. The metal reflected the light with a polished shine, and the handle was reinforced with a material that looked sturdy but comfortable to the touch.

Veldrin reached over and picked one up, feeling its weight in his hand. He gave it a couple of test moves, turning it fluidly. It felt light but firm, and the balance was perfect.

"Spectacular," Veldrin murmured with a smile.

Xander also inspected the weapons with interest. "Definitely worth what we paid for them. How do they feel?"

Veldrin spun both glaives rapidly, trying out some basic movements. "Perfect. They feel natural in my hands."

The blacksmith nodded proudly. "I used the best materials I could get for the price you paid. They are sharp, sturdy, and balanced. Take good care of them."

Veldrin nodded. "I will. Thank you."

Xander smiled. "Well, now that you have your new weapon, it'll be interesting to see how you perform in the Dungeon with it."

Veldrin turned the glaives once more before putting them away. "Yes, we'll find out later."

Xander finished handing the remaining 20,000 valis to the blacksmith, making sure everything was in order. The blacksmith counted the coins quickly before nodding in approval.

"All right. Good luck out there, kid," he said, turning to Veldrin.

Xander nodded with a smile before turning towards the exit. However, as soon as he took a few steps out of the workshop, he saw Veldrin standing in the middle of the hallway, surrounded by a group of three adventurers. From Veldrin's serious expression and the attitude of the others, it was clear that the conversation was not exactly friendly.

"What's this about?" Xander muttered to himself, walking over calmly.

The spearman let out a mocking laugh as he looked Veldrin up and down in disdain.

"You know, I'm surprised an elf is causing trouble in the Dungeon," he said with a sly smile. "I thought elves were all snobby people who thought they were better than everyone else and avoided getting their hands dirty with real work."

The dagger-wielding man chuckled. "Yeah, they're always going around with their noble airs and talking about purity and mystical nonsense. But look at him, an elf running around the lower floors like a stray dog, making a fuss and putting others at risk. How embarrassing."

The woman with the sword crossed her arms. "Maybe he's a bastard with no lineage, that's why he doesn't act like a real elf. Or maybe he's just too dumb to realize he doesn't belong here."

Xander, who had remained silent until that moment, glanced at Veldrin. He knew him well enough to know that he was not affected by easy insults, but there was something in his expression, a slight stiffness in his jaw, that made it clear that Veldrin's patience was being tested.

The young elf exhaled slowly and looked at them calmly, although there was an irritated tone in his voice.

"Wow, how original," he said in a dry tone. "A group of generic adventurers trying to provoke with elf insults. What a surprise, I've never heard anything so deep and elaborate before."

The three of them frowned as they saw that Veldrin did not react as they expected.

Veldrin continued, his voice laced with sarcasm. "But since we're on the subject, allow me to return the favor."

He looked at the man with the spear. "You, with that cheap leather armor and poorly balanced spear, are clearly the type who thinks you're better than the rookies just because you've survived a little longer than them. But I bet that as soon as things get tough, you'll be the first to run."

The one with the daggers narrowed his eyes.

Veldrin turned to him. "And you… it doesn't take a genius to realize that you're the type to stab your allies if you think it will benefit you. What's wrong? Have you never managed to excel at anything without resorting to dirty tricks?"

The guy clenched his fists, but Veldrin had already turned to the woman.

"And you… ah, yeah. The classic second-rate adventurer who thinks she's superior because she has a sword bigger than her own talent. You probably think being loud and threatening makes you intimidating, but really you just come across as someone who's compensating for something."

A tense silence fell between them. Xander, at her side, brought a hand to his mouth, suppressing a laugh.

Veldrin narrowed his eyes and took a step forward. "So, are we continuing this little game or are we done?"

The three adventurers gritted their teeth, clearly furious at Veldrin's response. The man with the spear pointed at him angrily.

"You have some nerve talking like that, damn elf!" he spat. "But let me be clear, you just provoked the Cardea Family."

The one with the daggers smiled maliciously. "Yes, and I assure you that we will not forget this. No matter how good you think you are, in Orario things can get dangerous very quickly."

The woman with the sword clicked her tongue, looking at him with contempt. "You better have eyes in the back of your mind, because this isn't stopping here."

Veldrin just looked at them indifferently, not bothering to respond. It wasn't the first time someone tried to intimidate him with empty threats.

Xander, beside him, sighed with a look of mock concern. "Oh no, how scary, the Cardea Family." Then he smirked. "That's assuming anyone was stupid enough to take them seriously."

The three adventurers' expressions hardened, but they didn't seem inclined to start a fight right in the middle of Babel's entrance. They just gave one last warning glance before leaving with annoyed murmurs.

When they finally disappeared, Veldrin exhaled slowly and looked at Xander.

"Well, that was annoying."

Xander patted him on the back with an amused smile. "Yeah, but I'll admit I loved how you left them speechless. Though... that whole provoking thing about already established families could lead to problems down the road."

Veldrin shrugged. "If they try something, let them do it. I'm not worried."

Xander looked at him for a moment and then laughed. "Well, if one thing's for sure, it's that this never gets boring with you."

Xander looked at the glaives Veldrin now carried with him and smiled approvingly.

"You know, besides being a cool weapon, these things also help with your image," he commented, crossing his arms.

Veldrin raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Xander gestured casually at the glaives. "They're rather large and unconventional. At first glance, they make you look more dangerous. People won't just see you as an ordinary elf, but as someone who knows how to fight and who shouldn't be messed with."

Veldrin looked at his weapons for a moment, as if considering the idea. "It's not like I care too much about what others think."

Xander laughed. "I'm not saying you should, but if idiots like those guys from earlier think twice about getting you into trouble, good for you. And if they don't, well… at least you'll have something else to kick their butts with."

Veldrin let out a light sigh, but couldn't help but crack a small smile. "I suppose you have a point."

Before parting ways, Veldrin and Xander stopped just outside Babel. Xander looked at Veldrin with an amused smile, watching as the elf spun one of his glaives with ease.

"Well, I must admit, you do look a lot more imposing in those things." Xander crossed his arms and inspected him from top to bottom. 'Now you really do look like you could easily split someone in half.'

Veldrin rolled his eyes, though he secretly accepted the compliment. "If it helps fewer idiots try to mess with me, then I welcome it."

Xander laughed and patted him on the back. "Just don't get too confident, kid. Being good with a gun is one thing, but too much confidence can get you into trouble."

Veldrin nodded. "I know. But I feel like these weapons… I don't know how to explain it. It's like I've always known how to use them."

Xander looked at him curiously, but then nodded in understanding. "I suppose that's the influence of your ability. Demon Hunter Incarnation… it seems to give you not only magic, but also combat instincts."

Veldrin smiled slightly. 'I'll find out in time.'

Xander sighed and stretched. "Well, I have other things to do. Don't kill yourself in the Dungeon, okay?"

Veldrin smirked. "I'll try."

With that, the two parted ways. Xander headed into the city, while Veldrin descended into the Dungeon, eager to test out his new weapons.

As soon as he set foot on the first floors, a group of goblins and kobolds appeared in his path. Veldrin did not hesitate. He moved his glaives quickly, sliding them through the monsters with terrifying ease.

The blades cut through the monsters' flesh and magic stones effortlessly, each strike precise, each movement fluid. There was no hesitation, no clumsiness, only instinct.

As he advanced, more creatures fell before him, without even having time to react. He wasn't just adapting to the glaives; it was as if he had always fought with them. They moved like an extension of his body, as if they were part of him.

By the time he finished with his last prey, Veldrin looked at the remains of the monsters around him and let out a breath.

"This… this is incredible."

There was no doubt about it. These weapons were rightfully his. And this was just the beginning.

Veldrin didn't stop. With every step, with every slash of his glaives, his confidence grew. It wasn't just the speed with which he eliminated the monsters, but the way his body moved almost by instinct.

The first few floors passed by in the blink of an eye. Goblins, kobolds, even the sword-wielding goblins and bipedal lizards that sometimes appeared on the fourth floor, none of them could offer any resistance. Their attacks were agile, precise and deadly.

But Veldrin was not satisfied with that.

Without realizing it, he had already descended to the fifth floor. Here, the monsters were a bit more resilient, and appeared in larger groups. However, that didn't stop him.

A group of war shadows emerged from the shadows of the dungeon, their dark and sinister bodies slithering towards him with their claws ready to tear him apart. For many novice adventurers, they were a nightmare. For Veldrin, they were an opportunity.

He smiled confidently and adjusted his grip on his glaives.

"Let's see how well they work against you."

The first war shadow leapt at him with impressive speed, but Veldrin reacted without thinking. His left glaive spun in an upward arc, cutting the monster in two before it could even touch him.

The others attacked in unison, trying to corner him, but Veldrin slipped through them with fluid movements. His glaives danced in the air, drawing clean cuts that dismembered the enemies without giving them a chance to react.

Within seconds, the entire group had disappeared, reduced to specks of light and magic stones on the ground.

Veldrin exhaled slowly, lowering his weapons as he observed the result.

"Yes... they were definitely the best choice."

And with that, he continued exploring the fifth floor, feeling stronger and more prepared than ever.

After a few hours…

Veldrin advanced through the first floor of the Dungeon, his body still filled with the adrenaline of combat, but without losing his composure. His training with the glaives had been an absolute success, and although he was tired, the satisfaction of his progress made the exhaustion worth it.

However, just as he turned into a narrow hallway, something caught his eye.

A creature stood before him, motionless. It was neither a goblin nor a kobold… No, it was something completely different.

A plump bird with fluffy yellowish-green feathers stared at him with its small black eyes.

Veldrin blinked, surprised.

"A Jack Bird?"

Almost immediately, his mind processed the information. He had heard about them. They were rare monsters, incredibly fast and cowardly, but with such a valuable drop that any adventurer would jump in without hesitation if given the chance.

"At least one million valis guaranteed!"

The Jack Bird cocked its head as if appraising him, but as soon as Veldrin moved a muscle, the bird reacted with a high-pitched screech and took off running.

"Not so fast!"

Wasting no time, Veldrin lunged forward, his legs responding with all the agility he had developed over the past few days. He knew that if he lost sight of him for even a moment, he would vanish.

The Jack Bird zigzagged with ridiculous speed, its legs moving in a frenzy of feathers as it tried to get away. But Veldrin was not far behind. His glaives, though large, did not seem to hinder him in the slightest as he ran after his prey.

Every second counted.

Veldrin tensed his muscles and prepared a slash with his right glaive, but just before he could reach it, the Jack Bird made an unexpected leap and changed direction with absurd agility.

"Tch!"

He spun around and went back to the chase. He couldn't let him get away. Not when he had the chance to get his hands on such a big prize.

The Jack Bird let out a mocking squawk before darting off down the hall, his legs moving with absurd speed, leaving behind a trail of floating feathers.

Veldrin reacted instantly, pushing off and taking chase.

"You're not going to get away that easily."

His boots clattered against the stone of the dungeon as he kept his eyes fixed on the monster. However, the Jack Bird was no simple frightened rabbit. Instead of fleeing in a straight line, he zigzagged erratically, suddenly turning tight corners and taking unexpected paths.

Veldrin grunted as the Jack Bird rounded a corner and leapt from wall to wall with insulting agility, as if showing off its speed.

"Are you making fun of me? Damn bird."

The elf picked up the pace, closing the gap whenever he could with calculated leaps. Every time he thought he had him cornered, the Jack Bird would find another route, almost as if he knew the Dungeon better than anyone.

But Veldrin was no rookie.

Instead of blindly following, he began to analyze its movements. The monster always turned in repeated patterns, as if trying to make him dizzy, but there was one detail: it never repeated exactly the same route. Probably because it knew its limits.

"So, if I block the only possible exit…"

Veldrin pretended to follow the Jack Bird through a curved tunnel, but at the last moment, instead of turning, he pushed off the side wall and took a shortcut.

The Jack Bird, confident that it had lost the boat, slowed down for a brief second… and that was its fatal mistake.

"Gotcha!"

Veldrin spun around and launched his glaive in an upward slash.

The blade sliced ​​through the air with a whoosh and caught Jack Bird in the leg, sending him stumbling with a startled squeal.

Before he could react, Veldrin was already upon him.

With a second precise strike, his glaive descended with lethal speed.

SLASH!

The monster vanished in a burst of light, leaving behind a single object: a gleaming golden egg.

Veldrin picked it up carefully, looking at it under the dim lighting of the Dungeon.

"This is worth a million valis…"

He let out a breathless laugh, still catching his breath.

"Xander isn't going to believe this."

With a satisfied smile, he put the gem away and made his way back to the surface. Today had been an excellent day.

Veldrin walked out of the dungeon with a firm step, still feeling the adrenaline rush through his body after the intense chase. In his hand, the golden Jack Bird egg shone under the sunlight that filtered through the doors of Babel.

"A million valis…"

I couldn't help but smile. It wasn't every day that someone caught a Jack Bird, let alone on the first try.

Wasting no time, he headed to the guild. At this hour, the reception was quite busy, with adventurers coming and going, some exchanging their rewards and others reporting their raids.

When he arrived at the counter, the receptionist who usually served him greeted him with her usual friendly expression, although when she saw him carrying a different bag, she raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"How did it go in the Dungeon today?"

Without answering immediately, Veldrin simply took the golden egg out of the bag and placed it on the counter.

The sound of the object against the wood caught the attention of several nearby adventurers.

The receptionist blinked, then her eyes widened in surprise.

"Is this…?"

"A Jack Bird egg," he confirmed, with a slight smile of satisfaction. "I caught it a few minutes ago."

There was a murmur in the room. Some adventurers who had heard the conversation turned their heads to look at the golden egg in amazement and envy.

The receptionist, still surprised, carefully took the egg and nodded.

"It's… impressive. Not many can catch a Jack Bird, let alone alone."

He turned around and called another union employee, who after a quick inspection confirmed the authenticity of the drop.

Moments later, the receptionist returned with a heavy bag and handed it to Veldrin.

"Here you have the full reward: one million valis."

Veldrin took the bag and felt the weight of the money in his hand.

"I've never had so much money at once."

With a satisfied smile, he secured her in his gear and looked at the receptionist.

"Thank you." Veldrin said.

She looked at him with a mixture of pride and concern.

"Just… don't get too confident, okay? You may be strong, but the Dungeon is always dangerous."

"I know. But today was a good day." Veldrin nodded with a calm smile.

With that, he turned around and walked out of the guild, ready to tell Xander the news.

…

Veldrin arrived at the inn with a firm step, still feeling the excitement of the day in his body. As soon as he opened the door, the warm light of the interior greeted him, along with the sound of conversations and laughter from the regular customers.

Xander was sitting at one of the tables, resting with a mug in his hand. Seeing Veldrin enter, he raised an eyebrow.

"Wow, you came back in good spirits today. Did you do well in the Dungeon?"

Veldrin sat across from him, resting an elbow on the table with a confident smile.

"More than fine. I got something special."

Xander looked at him curiously and set his mug aside.

"Oh yeah? Don't tell me you found a treasure chest or something."

Veldrin shook his head and pulled out the bag of money, dropping it onto the table with a heavy clang.

Xander blinked, looking at the bag and then at Veldrin.

"How much is that?" he asked cautiously.

"A million valis."

Xander was silent for a few seconds, blinking slowly. Then he leaned forward slightly, as if he hadn't heard properly.

"Sorry, did you say a million valis?"

Veldrin nodded, enjoying his companion's reaction.

"A Jack Bird appeared on the first floor. I chased it and managed to catch it. Its drop item was a Golden Egg, and the guild traded it to me for the full reward."

Xander let out a long whistle, leaning back in his chair with an expression of disbelief.

"A Jack Bird… and you managed to catch it?"

Veldrin smiled proudly. "It was difficult, but yes."

Xander laughed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Well, I didn't expect that. Seriously, who is lucky enough to meet and catch a Jack Bird?"

"I guess today was my day," Veldrin said with a light laugh.

Xander took the bag and lifted it slightly, feeling its weight.

"With this… we are in a pretty comfortable position."

"More than comfortable," Veldrin corrected.

Xander smirked and nodded.

"Definitely. Don't get too excited though. Having a lot of money also brings trouble if you don't use it well."

Veldrin crossed his arms. "I know. But that doesn't mean we don't have enough options right now. Maybe we can upgrade our equipment or save up for the future."

Xander nodded in approval. "A wise decision. But first, let's celebrate. It's not every day that someone earns a million valis in a single hunt."

He stood up with energy and walked to the door.

"Today we drink to the elf with the best luck in Orario!"

…

Back in the inn room, the night was at its quietest. Xander slumped into his chair with a sigh, the effects of the alcohol still making his head feel a little lighter than usual. Veldrin, meanwhile, sat on the bed, arms crossed and eyes fixed on Xander.

"Are you sure you can do this in the state?" the elf asked with a slight mocking smile.

Xander let out a lazy laugh and shook his head. "Please, I'm a god. A couple of drinks aren't going to stop me from doing my job."

With that, he stretched a little and gestured for Veldrin to turn around. Veldrin complied, removing his shirt and leaving his back exposed.

Xander took a pin and made a small cut on his finger, letting a drop of his blood fall onto Veldrin's back. Instantly, the divine hieroglyphics began to glow, expanding with new information.

Xander's eyes scanned the numbers calmly at first… but then he arched an eyebrow and let out a soft whistle.

"Well, well… it seems that it wasn't just your wallet that had a big growth today."

Veldrin turned his head slightly. "Have they improved that much?"

Veldrin Lightstorm

Level 1

Strength H111 → H139 Endurance H107 → H137 Dexterity I90 → H158 Agility H165 → G209 Magic H144 → G205

Magic:

Burn Mana: Magic without chant. Sends a beam of negative energy that burns 15% of the target's mind, dealing damage in proportion to the mind eliminated. Requires the magic stat to be different than I0.Immolation: Magic without chant. Generates a small layer of flames around the user, consumes mind while active

Skills:

Incarnation (Demon Hunter): Through the altar of the elders, the body adapts to the Demon Hunter's history. Manifestation of Demon Hunter Skills and Magic

Veldrin frowned as he looked at his new values. "My agility and magic have already gone to G…"

Xander dropped the quill and stretched with a satisfied expression. "Not only that. All of your stats grew by a ton in just one day. Looks like the glaives really did you some good."

Veldrin looked at his own hand with a slight smile. "It feels good to see progress so quickly."

Xander chuckled. "Well, keep it up and you'll be close to a level up soon. Don't forget, though, that stats aren't everything."

Veldrin nodded. "I know. But it's good to know I'm on the right track."

Xander stood up and flopped down onto his own bed with a sigh. "Anyway, tomorrow's another day. And this time, no drunkenness."

Veldrin smiled in amusement as he sat back. "I promise nothing."

The room fell silent, both of them relaxing after another day in Orario.

"Today was definitely a good day."

---

Please tell me if there is any error in the translation.