Unexpected Challenges
The bustling streets of Tokyo seemed to blur around Itachi as he made his way through the city, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of his past and present. The raids that had become a part of his new routine had come to an unexpected halt, as Haruto needed to attend a personal event. This lull in activity provided Itachi with an opportunity he had been yearning for – a chance to investigate his own existence in this world.
Itachi spent days poring over public records, searching for any trace of his name or family. The sleek computers of the local library hummed softly as he navigated through databases, his fingers flying across the keyboard with increasing desperation. But his efforts yielded nothing substantial, no hint of the life he supposedly led before awakening in this world.
It was only when he broadened his search that he stumbled upon an intriguing piece of information. In a article from years ago he found out about the dungeon break incident where 'he' lost his parents. Reading that article he understood that his father was indeed from Japan, his mother, it seemed, hailed from Korea. This discovery ignited a spark of hope in Itachi's chest.
Frustrated but not defeated, Itachi returned to his rigorous training regimen. As he channeled mana through his body, attempting to refine his control over the magical energy, he noticed something alarming. His body seemed to be rejecting the constant use of mana, reacting poorly to the foreign energy. Each spell left him feeling drained and slightly nauseous, a stark contrast to the invigorating rush he had initially experienced.
"This could be problematic in the future," Itachi muttered to himself, his brow furrowed in concern. He made a mental note to research this phenomenon further, wondering if it had something to do with his unique circumstances.
Pushing aside his worries for the moment, Itachi turned his attention to his kenjutsu practice. The familiar weight of the katana in his hands brought a sense of comfort, and he lost himself in the fluid motions of his sword forms. Hours passed unnoticed as he honed his skills, his movements becoming sharper and more precise with each repetition. By the time the sun began to set, Itachi had reached a level of mastery that would have taken others years to achieve.
Not content with just refining his sword skills, Itachi dedicated the remainder of his evening to strength training. Push-ups, pull-ups, and various bodyweight exercises left his muscles burning, but he pushed through the discomfort, knowing that physical strength would be crucial in the battles to come.
As Itachi was cooling down from his workout, his phone rang, the screen illuminating with Ryuji's name. "Itachi," Ryuji's deep voice came through the speaker, "We've got a B-rank dungeon raid tomorrow. Be ready."
The next morning, Itachi arrived early at the designated meeting spot, finding Haruto already there. The swordsman's eyes lit up with interest as he noticed the katana at Itachi's hip.
"A new addition to your arsenal?" Haruto inquired, nodding towards the weapon.
Itachi nodded, his hand resting casually on the hilt. "Just being cautious," he replied simply.
Haruto seemed to understand, asking no further questions. Instead, he briefed Itachi on the dungeon they were about to face. "It's technically B-rank, but it's bordering on A-rank difficulty. We'll need to be on our toes."
As they discussed strategy, Ryuji and Miyu arrived, followed shortly by the other party of six they would be collaborating with. Together, they entered the swirling portal of the dungeon gate.
The world shifted around them, and they found themselves standing in what appeared to be the courtyard of an ancient castle. Crumbling stone walls loomed on all sides, and an eerie mist clung to the ground. The air was thick with the scent of decay and the tang of dark magic.
No sooner had they oriented themselves than the first wave of enemies appeared. Skeletons, their bones bleached white and held together by some unholy magic, shambled towards them with rusted weapons in hand.
Ryuji sprang into action, his fists glowing with mana as he shattered skeleton after skeleton with powerful blows. Haruto's blade flashed in the dim light, slicing through bone with precision. Itachi provided support, alternating between casting spells and using his katana to dispatch any skeletons that got too close.
"Behind you, Miyu!" Itachi called out, swiftly decapitating a skeleton that had been sneaking up on their healer. Miyu flashed him a grateful smile before returning her focus to maintaining the party's health.
As they progressed deeper into the castle, the fights became more intense. In one particularly harrowing encounter, they found themselves surrounded in a narrow hallway. Itachi, thinking quickly, used a wind spell to create a vortex, lifting the skeletons off their feet and allowing Ryuji to shatter them with a series of rapid punches.
Finally, they reached the boss room. Massive double doors groaned open, revealing a cavernous chamber. At its center stood their adversary – a towering Skeleton Knight, clad in ancient, rusted armor and wielding a greatsword that radiated an aura of death.
The other party charged in first, their weapons and spells glancing harmlessly off the Knight's armor. With a single sweep of its massive sword, the Knight sent three of them flying across the room.
"We need a new strategy!" Haruto shouted, deflecting a blow meant for one of the other party members.
But before they could regroup, tragedy struck. The Knight, displaying an unexpected level of intelligence, targeted the healers first. With a burst of speed, it closed the distance to the other party's healer, its blade cleaving through the unfortunate man before anyone could react.
"Protect Miyu!" Ryuji roared, interposing himself between the Knight and their healer. The Knight's sword came crashing down, and though Ryuji managed to block it, the force of the blow sent him skidding backward, his arms trembling from the impact.
Haruto attempted to flank the Knight, counting on Itachi's magical support to create an opening. But Itachi's spells, usually precise and powerful, went wide, missing their mark. Without the expected cover, Haruto's attack was easily parried, and a armored foot to his midsection sent him tumbling across the floor.
Ryuji launched himself at the Knight, his fists a blur of motion. But the Knight matched him blow for blow, eventually catching Ryuji's fist and hurling him across the room.
With his companions down and the Knight advancing on Miyu, Itachi knew he had to act. His hand went to the hilt of his katana, drawing the blade in one smooth motion.
"Itachi, what are you doing?" Miyu's voice was tight with fear.
Itachi didn't respond. Instead, he dashed forward, his blade singing through the air as he engaged the Knight. Their weapons clashed in a shower of sparks, the force of the impact sending vibrations up Itachi's arms. But where others had failed, Itachi held his ground.
In a display of skill that left even Haruto wide-eyed, Itachi wove between the Knight's attacks, his katana finding the gaps in its armor. A precision strike to the Knight's knee joint threw it off balance, and Itachi capitalized on the opening, delivering a powerful kick that sent the massive creature crashing to the ground.
But the Knight rose again, seemingly unharmed. "The core!" Miyu shouted. "You need to destroy its core!"
Understanding dawned on Itachi. He charged forward once more, this time with a plan. As the Knight's greatsword came whistling towards him, Itachi dropped low, the blade passing harmlessly overhead. In the same motion, he drove his fist into the Knight's breastplate with all his strength, enhanced by a burst of mana.
The armor cracked, revealing a pulsing, crystalline core within the Knight's ribcage. Itachi locked eyes with Haruto, who had regained his feet, and gave a subtle nod. As Itachi engaged the Knight again, keeping its attention focused forward, Haruto circled behind.
With a final, powerful strike, Itachi forced the Knight to overextend. In that moment of vulnerability, Haruto struck, his blade piercing through the Knight's back and into its core. The crystal shattered, and the Knight collapsed into a heap of lifeless bones and metal.
As the dust settled, a heavy silence fell over the chamber. Then, slowly, it gave way to the sound of relieved laughter. Miyu moved among them, her healing magic soothing their wounds and fatigue.
After the excitement died down, Ryuji pulled Itachi aside. "Your magic seemed off today," he said, concern evident in his voice. "Is everything alright?"
Itachi hesitated, then replied, "My concentration was off for a moment. It won't happen again." He hated lying to his companions, but he wasn't ready to share his concerns about his body's rejection of mana.
Haruto joined them, clapping Itachi on the shoulder. "Your skills with that katana are incredible," he said, admiration clear in his tone. "I'd say you're easily on par with an A-rank hunter in swordsmanship alone."
The conversation shifted to lighter topics as they made their way out of the dungeon, the weight of their victory evident in their tired but satisfied expressions.
Thanks to the valuable corpse of the Skeleton Knight, Itachi's share of the loot came to 3 million yen. Without hesitation, he transferred the money towards his debt, leaving only 2 million yen remaining. The sight of his dwindling debt brought a small smile to his face.
That night, as Itachi sat in his modest apartment after a quiet dinner, his mind wandered back to the issues he'd experienced with his mana during the raid. Why was his body suddenly rejecting the magical energy? Was it a consequence of his soul being transferred to this world, or was there something else at play, something he had yet to uncover?
As he pondered these questions, Itachi couldn't shake the feeling that the answers he sought might be more complex – and potentially more dangerous – than he had initially believed. But one thing was certain: he would need to find those answers if he hoped to truly thrive in this new world. With that resolution firmly in mind, Itachi closed his eyes, allowing himself to drift into a restless sleep, his dreams filled with swirling mana and the echoes of a past he couldn't quite remember.