JOURNEY BEGINS 1

In a world where superheroes were no longer the norm, but rather a thing of the past, the once famous Justice Guild and the Avenger Guild were struggling to find new members with extraordinary powers. They were now relegated to hunting monsters and beasts inside dangerous dungeons, where the risk was high but so were the rewards.

The former superheroes were now mere shadows of their former selves, but they still held on to their names and appearances, albeit with some modifications. Clark Kent, the man formerly known as Superman, now wore armor that was blue and red, but not as flashy as his old suit. He had ditched the cape and replaced it with a set of wings, which allowed him to fly faster and more efficiently. His backstory was also different. He wasn't an alien that landed on Earth, but rather a denizen that came from a dungeon portal and was found by an elderly couple who raised him as their own. He kept his actual name, Clark Kent, and only used the nickname Superman when it was necessary.

Thor's origin story was also in question. Nobody knew if he was a real Norse god or just a man with extraordinary powers. He was a tall, muscular man with long blonde hair and a full beard. He wore a red cape that covered his broad shoulders and a black suit that looked like armor. He wielded a massive hammer that could easily crush rocks and boulders, and he used it to fight monsters and beasts in dungeons.

Batman, on the other hand, was a vampire. He had been bitten by one many years ago, but instead of drinking blood, he drained the lifeforce out of his victims. He didn't wear a cape or a mask anymore, but instead, he wore a black suit that looked like armor. He was tall and lean, with sharp features and piercing eyes that glowed in the dark. He was a formidable fighter, and he used his enhanced senses and speed to track and defeat his enemies.

Spider-Man was also different. He didn't wear a mask anymore, but instead, he wore armor with the same markings as his former costume. His face was exposed, and he went by his actual name, Peter Parker. He had retired from being a superhero a long time ago, but he still hunted monsters and beasts in dungeons. He had also created a set of Spider Gauntlets made from an arachne, which gave him enhanced strength and agility and the ability to shoot webs infinitely.

Lander Macho was new to this world. He had mysteriously received the power of "Increase, Decrease," which he was still experimenting with before applying to the Dungeon Association for a license to hunt monsters and beasts inside dungeons. He decided to lay low and make his powers seem weak, by only being able to increase an item's size by two and decrease the speed of a rotating top to a mediocre amount of slowness. This was to hide in plain sight and make other people not wary of him and not get caught up in schemes. His powers were for his own selfish self, not for others to make money off of him.

The Dungeon Association accepted him, because even if his powers were weak, he was still above normal humans and he could hunt dungeons at any time. They reminded him that higher-leveled dungeons were dangerous, and it was his own discretion if he went inside one. He didn't hunt immediately but experimented on his powers in his rented room.

"Lander Macho, and my power is to increase and decrease anything," Lander replied confidently.

The judges looked at each other, then nodded. "Very well, Mr. Macho. You're now officially a dungeon hunter. We'll provide you with a map of the nearest dungeon, and you can start your training there. Do you have any questions?"

Lander shook his head. "No, I don't have any questions. Thank you for accepting me."

As Lander exited the Dungeon Association headquarters, he felt a sense of excitement mixed with apprehension. He had always been fascinated by the idea of dungeon hunting, but now that he was officially a part of it, he couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated. He glanced at the map provided by the Association, trying to memorize the route to the nearest dungeon.

As he made his way towards the dungeon, Lander couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He had heard stories of dungeon hunters who had met gruesome fates, torn apart by ferocious monsters that lurked within the depths of the dungeon. But he also knew that the rewards of dungeon hunting were great - not just the monetary rewards, but also the thrill of the hunt itself.

As he approached the entrance to the dungeon, Lander took a deep breath and stepped inside. The air was damp and musty, and he could hear the sound of dripping water echoing through the cavernous space. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small flashlight, shining it into the darkness.

For the next few hours, Lander explored the labyrinthine corridors of the dungeon, his heart racing with excitement every time he encountered a new monster. He used his power to increase the size of his flashlight, illuminating the surrounding area and allowing him to see more clearly. He also experimented with decreasing the size of the rocks he found on the ground, turning them into pebbles and throwing them at the monsters.

As he continued to explore, Lander realized that his power had a lot of potential, even if it seemed weak at first. He could use it to manipulate his environment, creating obstacles or distractions for the monsters he encountered. He also realized that he needed to be careful with how he used his power, as he didn't want to accidentally cause harm to himself or others.

Eventually, Lander emerged from the dungeon, exhausted but exhilarated. He had managed to defeat several monsters, and had collected a decent amount of loot. As he made his way back to his rented room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had proven to himself that he had what it took to be a dungeon hunter.

Over the next few weeks, Lander continued to hone his skills as a dungeon hunter. He took on more challenging dungeons, learning how to use his power in creative ways to outsmart the monsters that lurked within. He also began to learn more about the other dungeon hunters in the area, and the two rival guilds - the Justice Guild and the Avenger Guild.

Despite the rivalry between the two guilds, Lander found that he didn't really have a preference for one over the other. To him, dungeon hunting was more about the thrill of the hunt than it was about allegiances or rivalries. He continued to lay low, not drawing too much attention to himself, but slowly building up his reputation as a capable dungeon hunter.

As time passed, Lander began to realize that the world of dungeon hunting was not so different from the world of superheroes that he had read about in comics. It was a world where individuals with unique abilities were able to make a difference, whether it was by protecting innocent people from harm or by earning a living through hunting monsters.

But at the same time, Lander also realized that the former superheroes - or rather, the individuals who had once taken on those personas - were just like him. They had powers that set them apart from normal humans, but ultimately, they were just people trying to make their way in the world.

As he reflected on this, Lander began to wonder if he could ever be more than just a dungeon hunter. Could he use his power for something greater, to make a name for himself in the world of super-powered individuals? But he quickly pushed those thoughts aside, reminding himself that he was only in this for his own benefit, to make money and survive.

He made his way back to his rented room and closed the door behind him. The room was small and cramped, but it was all he could afford on his meager earnings. Lander took out a small rock from his pocket and held it in his hand, focusing his power on it. The rock began to grow in size, slowly increasing until it was about the size of a basketball. Lander smiled in satisfaction, knowing that his power was growing stronger with each use.

He spent the next few days experimenting with his power, trying to see how far he could push his limits. He was careful not to draw too much attention to himself, only using his power in private and never in front of anyone else. Lander knew that in this world of dungeon hunters, it was every man for himself, and he didn't want to become a target for those who would try to exploit him for his abilities.

After a week of training and experimenting, Lander felt confident enough to tackle his first dungeon. He made his way to the entrance of the nearest dungeon, a small one located just outside the city. The entrance was hidden behind a thick patch of bushes, and Lander had to use his power to shrink himself down in order to crawl through the narrow opening.

Once inside, Lander found himself in a large, dimly lit cavern. The walls were covered in moss and dripping with moisture, and the air was thick with the scent of decay. Lander shuddered at the sight and sound of the various monsters lurking in the shadows, but he steeled himself and pressed on.

As he made his way deeper into the dungeon, Lander encountered various creatures, ranging from small goblins to giant trolls. He used his power sparingly, only when he needed to increase his own size or decrease the speed of his opponents. He didn't want to draw too much attention to himself, and he knew that his power could only take him so far.

After several hours of exploring the dungeon, Lander came across a large room filled with treasure. Gold and jewels were piled high in stacks, and Lander's eyes widened at the sight. He approached the treasure slowly, knowing that it was likely guarded by something dangerous.

Sure enough, a large dragon appeared from behind a pile of gold, its eyes fixed on Lander. Lander froze for a moment, then quickly began to retreat. But before he could make his escape, the dragon lunged at him, its jaws snapping.

Lander closed his eyes and braced himself for the impact, but to his surprise, he felt a surge of power flow through him. Without thinking, he increased the size of his arm and punched the dragon in the face. The force of the blow sent the dragon reeling its face crushed, and it crashed into a pile of gold.

Lander stood there for a moment, stunned at what he had just done. He had never used his power like that before, and it had worked better than he could have ever imagined. He quickly gathered as much treasure as he could carry and made his way out of the dungeon.

As he emerged from the bushes outside the dungeon, Lander felt a rush of excitement and satisfaction. He had survived his first dungeon, and he had come away with a fortune. But he also knew that he couldn't let this newfound power go to his head. He was still just a lowly dungeon hunter, and he had to be careful not to attract too much attention.