DanMachi: It's destined to lose its self.

Chapter 9: The goal?



Kopii spent long and endless hours within the cramped, foul-smelling walls of the adventurers' guild, sheltering from the world behind its heavy doors. Emerging from the building into the bright morning light, he headed towards his home, lost in deep thought about the strange, mysterious force that tirelessly draws people onto this dangerous path of adventure. The greed for glittering gold, the thirst for fame, the passionate urges for heroic feats… For others, their families, already legends of the dungeons, served as examples. Behind each back lay their own goal, their own reason to risk their lives in this dangerous world. Kopii, however, had no one he sincerely sought to protect, except for a deep sense of duty towards Miach. His compass, in essence, was a simple task: to accumulate enough precious valis to pay off Miach's debt for Naaza. This help he provided them was the only thread connecting him to the world that continued to spin around him. He needed money. To burn himself out with training, to penetrate the darkest, most dismal corners of the dungeon and extract more magic stones. He needed to discard the old strategy, like a worn-out, tattered cloak, and create a new, fresh one. The previous tactic was like a rusty blade – not bad, but not efficient enough. He needed a method like lightning to quickly deal with hordes of goblins. However, Kopii decided to postpone these plans until the evening, as Naaza was waiting for him, needing help.

In the evening, immersed in the depths of reflection on the day, Kopii lay on the hard bed, as if dissecting his mistakes during his first descent into the dungeon. He gradually realized that his vigilance had weakened, like a drawn bowstring, and he had not noticed a goblin creeping up on him, spawned behind him during the battle. Kopii realized that without his weapon, he was like an exposed nerve – too vulnerable. The only thing he could do when the green nightmare fell upon him was to push it away. The decision matured instantly – he needed to earn enough to purchase an additional weapon, a second short sword. Due to perpetual need, he could only afford to buy a blade in the guild, where prices were not so steep, but the quality left much to be desired, as if after a rain.

In the morning, Kopii, like a hound, broke loose and rushed to the guild. The armory was dimly lit, like the belly of an ancient beast, and the thick smell of grease mingled with the smell of old metal, creating a unique atmosphere, like in an old workshop. He carefully surveyed the blades on display, as if searching for a pearl in a pile of sand. Most of them gleamed dimly, covered with a layer of rust, but one short sword, like a spark in the night, caught his attention like a magnet. The blade was far from perfect, slightly curved, but the steel seemed strong enough to withstand the fury of the most brutal battle. The hilt, wrapped in rough leather, as if deliberately created for his hand, fit comfortably in his palm. After a moment's hesitation, like a person standing before an important choice, Kopii made a decision – he would buy it.

Returning to his room, Kopii, as if possessed, began to train intensely. He repeated simple movements, honing the speed and accuracy of his strikes until they became like a graceful dance. With two swords in his hands, he felt much more confident, like a predator who had found his sharp fangs. Now he could not only defend himself, but also attack simultaneously, giving the enemy no chance of escape. In his imagination, he imagined goblins attacking from all sides, and practiced various combinations, like a conductor directing an orchestra of death.

By evening, Kopii was exhausted, as if after a heavy, brutal battle, but satisfied, like an artist who had finished his masterpiece. He felt that he had become stronger, like a mighty tree that had put down new roots in the ground. A new strategy for the dungeon had almost formed in his head, like fog dissipating under the rays of the sun. He planned to use one sword in battle, like the main tool, and keep the other as a backup, like a last hope, in a difficult situation. It was lighter than the main sword, which made it easier to carry and should not slow Kopii down too much at a critical moment.

The next morning, Kopii greeted with enthusiasm, like a traveler who saw the light at the end of a long tunnel. He felt a surge of strength and confidence, like a warrior ready for a fierce battle. Breakfast was meager, like alms from a beggar, but enough to satisfy his hunger. As if gathering his courage, he collected the necessary minimum of supplies and headed towards the entrance to the dungeon, like one going to his execution. This time he was ready for anything, like a rock standing against a powerful storm. But despite all his efforts, Kopii felt fear, like ice that had gripped his heart. What if he was unlucky and died, like a broken toy forgotten in the attic? He decided to discard these doubts and gloomy thoughts, like weeds, so that they would not interfere, but his trembling hands said otherwise, like leaves in the wind. He descended to the first floor and saw the same picture as last time: someone descending down, as if into the abyss, and someone rising up, as if from hell. The further he went, the fewer people there were, until they disappeared completely, like a mirage in the desert.

Kopii walked in full readiness, like a tiger stalking its prey, when suddenly he heard that familiar sound again, which was etched into his memory forever, like a brand. Kopii turned towards the sound and saw one goblin, like the embodiment of his nightmare. Without waiting for him to appear completely, Kopii rushed forward, like an arrow released from a bow, and launched a swift attack towards the goblin. He hit, but did not kill him, like a snake bite that did not reach the heart. Kopii recognized him, like an old enemy, and taking advantage of the fact that the goblin had lost his balance, trampled his head until he disappeared, as if into oblivion. Picking up the dropped magic stone, like a warrior's trophy, he went on. Fear gradually began to recede, like the darkness of night, and was replaced by determination, like the rising sun, full of hope.

Kopii killed goblins as if mowing thick grass, but it was strange, as if the order had been disturbed. He did not see more than two goblins at a time, as if they were afraid of him, like a deadly pursuer. Having collected 9 magic stones, he realized that this was extremely small, like a few drops in an endless sea. At this rate, he would never pay off his debt, as if he were tied to a heavy stone. Stopping to rest, like a tired traveler weary of a long journey, Kopii was deciding whether to descend to the second floor, as if peering into the jaws of a dragon. He was in no hurry, because this was only his second descent into the dungeon, like an inexperienced infant taking his first steps. Monsters became more aggressive with the onset of night, like wild beasts awakening from a deep sleep. Kopii decided not to delay and began to rise from the dungeon, as if escaping from a raging fire. On the way up, he met only a couple of goblins, like casual passers-by who did not want skirmishes. Leaving the Valion tower, Kopii found that it was already dark, as if it was midnight. This circumstance did not stop him, and he headed to the guild to exchange magic stones for valis, as if hoping for a miracle that should happen. As Kopii expected, the proceeds were small, like alms to a beggar who asks for alms. Tired, he went to the "Blue Pharmacy," as if seeking solace in this stuffy environment.

Later, lying in his humble bed, Kopii reflected on his second descent into the dungeon, as if analyzing every detail of the battle. He decided that next time he would go down to the second floor to get more magic stones, as if looking for a treasure from a dream.

The next morning, Kopii woke up as usual, as if by an alarm clock, washed and trained, as if preparing for war. Going out for a run, he saw that the "Blue Pharmacy" had already opened, and Naaza was standing behind the counter, as always sleepy, like a sleepwalker awakening from a deep sleep.

"Good morning, Naaza," said Kopii, smiling slightly.

"And good morning to you, Kopii, you're training hard as always," she said, starting the day with a slight irony.

"You yourself know that I must become stronger every day. Well, see you later."

After talking a little more with Naaza, Kopii went up to the second floor and approached Miach's room, knocked and entered, as if inviting luck. Kopii was lucky, Miach was in place, focused on his affairs.

"Good morning, Miach-sama," said Kopii with a slight bow.

"Good morning," replied Miach in response, without looking up from his notes.

"I have come to update my stats, Miach-sama."

"Well, okay, get undressed and sit on the chair," said Miach with an unparalleled persistence.

Kopii again felt drops of sweat and excitement touch his back, and then Miach wrote everything down on paper and handed it to Kopii.

"Good results," said Miach, not hiding his satisfaction.

Kopii looked at the paper that Miach had given him and saw:

Strength: H 117

Endurance: H 123

Dexterity: H 108

Agility: H 121

Magic Power: I 0

"Magic"

[ ]

"Skills"

[Copying] "You can be anyone you want, but not yourself"

He looked at the results and was not surprised by anything, realizing all his efforts.

"Well, I'm going to train again, Miach-sama," said Kopii, already anticipating his future achievements.

"Well, go, just be careful," said Miach and waved goodbye to him.

He waved back and said, "Okay, I'll be careful."

Kopii left Miyaha's room and headed towards the exit of the apothecary. He was met on the street by fresh morning air, like a breath of life that invigorated him slightly after the stuffiness of the room. He decided to spend the rest of the day training and preparing for another descent into the dungeon, as if preparing for a decisive battle. He needed to think through a strategy for the second floor, where the monsters were rumored to be much stronger and more dangerous, like demons from the underworld, ready to attack at any moment.

All day Kopii trained diligently, as if obsessed with his goal. He ran, did push-ups, practiced with swords, honing his skills, like a careful sculptor creating a masterpiece out of marble. He tried to develop his endurance and agility to be ready for any surprises in the dungeon, as if foreseeing a future full of mysteries. By evening, he was completely exhausted, like a squeezed lemon, but felt satisfaction from the work he had done, like a mountaineer who had conquered a difficult peak.

Before going to bed, Kopii carefully checked his equipment, as if preparing for the last, decisive battle. He sharpened his swords, checked the strength of his armor, gathered supplies, like a caring father preparing everything necessary for his children. He wanted to be sure that he was ready for anything, like an invincible warrior who does not tolerate defeat. Lying in bed, he pondered what awaited him on the second floor of the dungeon, as if reading coffee grounds, trying to foresee his fate. Fear and anticipation mixed in his soul, like poison and antidote, bringing him anxiety.

The next morning, Kopii woke up early, full of determination, like gladiatorial warriors ready for battle. He had breakfast, said goodbye to Naaza and Miyaha, as if saying goodbye to life, and headed towards the Valion Tower. This time he intended to reach the second floor and obtain enough magic stones to bring closer the day of paying off Miyahu's debt, as if seeking long-awaited salvation. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but in his heart burned a flame of readiness for any trials, like a hero of legend, ready for the greatest feat.

At the entrance to the dungeon, Kopii took a deep breath, filling his lungs with fresh air, and stepped into the darkness, as if into an abyss. He was ready for new adventures and dangers. The second floor of the dungeon awaited him, full of difficulties and unexpected encounters.


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