Danmachi: The Multiverse Portal Chapter 22 22: [BONUS] - First Battle in the Dungeon

400PS Bonus

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Stepping onto the first floor, August witnessed the grandeur of the Labyrinth for the first ti.

The interior was structured like a series of massive, cavernous corridors. Just navigating these winding passages would take a considerable amount of ti.

August paused his steps.

"My na is August. What's yours?" he asked, introducing himself.

"My na is Lili," the Pallum quickly replied, keeping her tone respectful.

August nodded. That was the extent of their small talk.

"From here on out, your job is to collect the Magic Stones. However, you'll also be picking up so extra items for ," August explained, laying out the workload.

"As for the cut—we split it sixty-forty."

"I take sixty. You take forty."

The terms and the pay were laid out clearly.

"Understood." Lili nodded, acting as if she took him at his word.

She was left speechless. A sixty-forty split? The offer alone was enough to catch her off guard. Of course, she did not believe a word of it. She knew exactly how adventurers in Orario operated. The city's cruelty had been carved into her bones long ago.

The two ventured deeper, and it didn't take long for the Dungeon to offer its welcoming committee.

A pair of glowing, emotionless eyes stared back at them from the gloom. Since they were only on the first floor, the monster wasn't particularly strong. It was about the size of a small animal.

"August, that's a monster native to the upper floors—a Kobold," Lili warned, taking a cautious step back. "A normal civilian can't fight it alone. It usually takes four or five grown n to kill one, and even then, two or three of them won't make it back alive."

As she finished her warning, the Kobold bared its fangs. Its feral instincts kicked in, and it launched itself at August and Lili. It moved with the reckless ferocity of a rabid beast, desperate to tear the intruders apart.

"First battle," August muttered. A steel combat knife slid into his grip.

"Handgun."

With a flick of his blade, the space over his right shoulder distorted. A modern pistol materialized, hovering mid-air within a spatial ripple.

"Fire."

Bang.

The shot cracked through the corridor. The bullet slamd into the Kobold's torso, hitting center mass instead of its head.

But the monster did not go down. It took the hit and only grew more frenzied. With a shriek, it lunged forward at twice its previous speed, aiming straight for August's throat.

"Dungeon monsters really don't feel pain. That shot should have crippled it," August analyzed calmly.

"Whatever. Looks like one pistol isn't enough to drop a Kobold."

"Let's go with a volley."

"Fire."

August raised his hand and swiped the air.

Five more handguns materialized behind him, locking onto the target.

A rapid barrage of gunfire erupted.

The charging Kobold was shredded mid-air, its body dropping lifelessly at August's feet.

Seconds later, the monster's corpse dissolved into a pile of gray ash. Left behind in the dust was a small Magic Stone—and a cluster of deford copper bullets that had ripped through its flesh.

"So the bullets don't disappear," August observed as he looked over the remains. The monster's body had vanished, but the physical rounds lodged inside it had been left behind along with the Magic Stone.

"Lili, get to work. Use this. Pick up the Magic Stone, and toss all those little tal chunks into this pouch." August tossed her a heavy-duty canvas bag.

Lili stared at the ash pile in horror.

Just monts ago, she had taken him for a naive rookie. And yet, he had summoned strange, thunderous weapons out of thin air and blown a monster apart in an instant.

"Y-Yes, sir." To her, the entire scene felt like a fever dream.

What had just happened? A handful of bizarre objects had appeared at his side, erupted with deafening thunder, and the beast was dead. She had no idea what kind of magic or artifacts they were, but she did know one thing. Her job had begun.

She hurried over to the ash pile and began collecting the loot.

Watching her scavenge, August didn't move forward. Instead, he started running diagnostics on his gear.

"The computer can't establish a long-range connection with the terminal back on the surface?"

"We should still be right beneath Orario. There should be so signal, but it's dead."

"It seems the Dungeon emits a strong bio-magnetic field that scrambles radio frequencies."

He glanced at the tactical smartwatch on his wrist. It tracked his heart rate and also served as a signal receiver. Outside communication was still jamd, but the internal systems were functioning perfectly.

"Whatever. Let's keep moving."

August reached into his [Spatial Backpack] and pulled out a tactical helt. Following the manual he had already morized, he switched on the built-in recorder.

"Internal system is green. Video feed is stable. No anomalous fluctuations. The image is crystal clear."

"All systems are operational."

August slipped the helt on, completing his combat loadout.

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Having finished gathering the loot, Lili noticed his new look.

He wore a heavy green tal helt that fully covered his head, its solid build making it look almost indestructible. With a practiced motion, he adjusted the visor until it clicked into place.

"August, I've collected everything." Lili didn't understand what he was wearing, but she decided it was best not to ask.

This rookie was far too strange.

"Good." August didn't even bother counting the loot. He simply took the bag and tossed the spent bullets directly into his [Spatial Backpack].

Watching him from up close, Lili finally realized he was using a spatial storage ability. That was an ultra-rare skill, even among high-tier Supporters.

"Is... is that the legendary spatial inventory?"

"The skill that lets you carry an infinite amount of gear?"

She had wondered where his weapons ca from. Now she realized they were being deployed straight out of a pocket dinsion, hovering in his blind spots to provide cover fire.

"Sothing like that," August nodded, making no effort to hide it.

His registered class was a Supporter, not a combat adventurer, and his spatial inventory was already on record at the Guild anyway. There was no point in keeping it a secret.

"That's amazing," Lili whispered.

It was the first ti she had ever t a rookie with an ability like this. For a Level 1 to possess that kind of firepower and utility was terrifying.

And yet, it also left her deeply insecure.

If this rookie had a pocket dinsion and self-firing weapons, why did he need to hire her?

With an ability that convenient, he could easily solo the Dungeon, blast monsters from afar, sweep up the Magic Stones himself, and pocket all the profits.

Why did he need a Supporter? She didn't understand.

Having experienced the malice and cruelty of Orario's adventurers firsthand, she couldn't suppress her paranoia any longer. She needed to know.

"August," Lili asked softly, gripping the straps of her backpack. "Why did you choose ?"

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