Depature

In a mere fortnight, Ari had come to regard Davy as a protective elder sibling, finding solace in his presence despite his indifference. The enigmatic necromancer dungeon loomed before them, its gates sealed mysteriously. Davy, intrigued by this anomaly, queried the system, only to find it as clueless as he was. A sudden report shattered the silence, revealing the dungeon's unstable reaction.

"Prepare yourselves," warned the system urgently, foretelling an imminent dungeon break. The hunters, motivated not by duty but by unbridled greed for experience points, sprinted towards the dungeon entrance. A multitude of fellow hunters, ranging from D-ranks to seasoned C-ranks, already congregated there. Within this hierarchy, Davy and his team were ambiguously classified, yet their strength was estimated to be at least that of B-ranks. His keen eyes scanned the crowd, identifying the mightiest among them with a Combat Ability (CA) of 15,000, an impressive sight.

As the dungeon gates creaked open, a lone skeleton emerged, triggering the hunters to adopt battle formations. But their anticipation turned to alarm as a horde of skeletons poured forth, their collective menace far exceeding their individual feebleness. Mages and knights trailed behind, further complicating the situation.

The hunters surged into action. For now, Davy and his team observed, assessing the chaos. A glaring absence caught his attention—the boss remained inside, an unexplored enigma. Determination etched on his face, he motioned his team to follow as he sprinted towards the dungeon's mouth. Skillfully, they dispatched the skeletons in their path. Ari, displaying a surprising mastery of magic, astounded Davy. Her proficiency was evident as she cast flames, swiftly joining the fray. Davy, gripped by exhilaration, slashed through the skeletal horde, honing his swordsmanship with each strike.

"Heh, excellent—experience for everyone! What are you waiting for? Dive in!" His laughter resonated amidst the battle, a sinister edge to his smile.

His teammates, though slightly perturbed by his ruthlessness, followed suit. Ari wasted no time, launching fiery spells alongside her companions. Experience points flowed as the skeletons fell.

"DING! Swordsmanship proficiency increased. You have leveled up. Intimidation has evolved into Soul Touch. A god has noticed you," chimed the system unexpectedly.

"A god noticed me? What does that mean?" He inquired, intrigued.

"Gods are celestial rulers, viewing you all as mere entertainment," explained the system matter-of-factly. "You and everyone else are pawns in their cosmic games."

"Entertainment, huh? Well, when I'm powerful enough, we'll see who's playing the game," he retorted, his grin resembling that of a villain in a tale.

The system fell silent, but he paid it no heed. The party advanced, their goal in sight—the boss room. Upon a gruesome throne adorned with bones, cloaked in darkness, stood the skeletal figure of a necromancer. Its aura, darker than the abyss, radiated malevolence. As it descended, every step sent ripples of eerie energy toward Davy, yet he remained unflinchingly resolute.

"Stand back, everyone! This guy…" he began, but his words trailed off as he glanced over mid-sentence, only to find they had already retreated a considerable distance.

His companions knew his penchant for facing formidable adversaries solo. A grin crept across his face as he unsheathed his sword, ready for battle. With a swift motion, he struck with a wind slash, but the necromancer summoned bones from the earth, forming an impromptu shield. Bone arrows shot towards him, but he deflected them effortlessly. The clash intensified; he landed a powerful kick on the necromancer, enveloped his sword in flames, and lunged forward. Yet, his attack met a bone shield even sturdier than before.

"Is big brother struggling?" Ari inquired, her voice tinged with concern.

"No, he could have ended this fight a long time ago. He's just enjoying himself," Suzy remarked, a playful smile gracing her lips.

"Hehe, big sis Suzy loves big bro Davy," Ari teased, a smug smile playing on her lips.

"Wh-what? N-no way, we dated before, but I broke up with… um, let's just forget about this and focus on the fight," She stammered, her words a mix of nervousness and panic.

Ari giggled, and Sakura cast a slightly jealous glance in Suzy's direction. The battle grew tedious due to its one-sided nature. He unleashed his signature move, [Soul Slicer]. The attack cleaved the necromancer in half, obliterating everything in its path, including the throne.

"DING! You have defeated the boss, a C-rank necromancer. 75,000 points awarded. You have leveled up. You've gained the skill The Bringer of Death, allowing you to deal 30% damage to opponents ranking higher than you. The final reward is tower-exclusive. You've been granted entry into the tower. Certain gods observe you with hatred, while others watch with interest."

"Sweet, I can finally enter the tower," he exclaimed joyously, his face lighting up with delight. The gods' attention hardly registered in his excitement.

Excitement crackled in the air as he informed his teammates about the reward granting them entry into the tower. Their enthusiasm was palpable as they eagerly anticipated the mysteries that awaited within. Exiting the dungeon, they were met by a throng of hunters, their voices raised in protest, demanding a share of the rewards he had secured.

Upon spotting Davy's singular arm, recognition dawned on the faces of the protesting hunters. Without a word, they swiftly made way for him, their previous aggression dissipating like mist before the sun.

Making their way to the association, a hushed silence fell over the room as they entered. Hunters scattered, leaving an eerie quiet in their wake. At the reception desk, he calmly produced the cores he had collected over the past few weeks, a treasure trove acquired from his adventures.

"I would like to sell all these cores," he stated, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Of course, sir. Please give me a moment," the receptionist replied, her tone laden with nervousness.

An efficient calculation later, he received a staggering sum of 4 billion Zin. With their newfound wealth, they purchased supplies for their journey, stowing everything away neatly in his inventory.

"Excellent, we have everything we need now. Shall we set forth?" He asked confidently.

"YES!" his teammates chorused, their faces glowing with anticipation.

They ventured out with smiles, their expressions akin to those setting off on a carefree camping trip.

[IN THE HEAVENS, THE GODDESS OF LIGHT]

The Goddess of Light observed Davy with keen interest. "What an intriguing human. This boy is truly remarkable, but only outside the tower. Within, he is a mere ant. He will learn his place soon enough. I have my eye on you, my dear Davy."