danmachi: skill gacha system

Chapter 8: The Grind Continues – Mastering the Dungeon

The 27th floor of the Dungeon was a place of both beauty and danger. The air was thick with humidity, and the atmosphere was heavy with the sound of rushing water and the distant echo of monstrous roars. John stood in the midst of the vast, flooded expanse, his sword gleaming under the light of the Dungeon's ethereal glow. His Temporal Mobility skill had already given him an edge over the first few encounters, but now, the real test was beginning.

The monsters on this floor were unlike any he had faced before: Mermen, Kelpies, Afanc, and the infamous Lamia—each more deadly than the last. But John was no stranger to danger. He had studied the monsters thoroughly, memorizing their attack patterns, weaknesses, and even the terrain they inhabited. It was time to put his abilities to the test.

The First Encounter: Mermen

John moved silently through the waterlogged corridors, his sword at the ready. His boots barely made a sound against the wet floor, and his instincts were sharp. Then, he heard it—the unmistakable sound of splashing water, followed by a low, guttural growl. A group of Mermen appeared, their blue-scaled bodies glistening under the faint light. They wielded crude, nature-made weapons—spears crafted from bone and sharp-edged rocks.

At the head of the group, a Merman Leader led the charge, his eyes glowing a fierce red. John's eyes narrowed as he observed them, taking note of their movement and tactics. They attacked in a coordinated fashion, flanking and trying to box him in. The Leader stayed at the rear, directing the others with sharp commands.

John's mind raced. He knew from his earlier observations that if he took out the Merman Leader, the rest of the group would fall into disarray. But he needed to be careful. These creatures were agile and used the water to their advantage. His sword flashed, and he charged in, his body moving faster than the Mermen could anticipate.

The Use of Temporal Mobility:

The first few strikes felt like a blur—John was in the middle of a whirlpool of water, his sword cutting through the air with ease. But then, he made a mistake: he miscalculated the timing of his parry. A Merman's spear grazed his shoulder.

"Damn it," John muttered, and without hesitation, he activated his Temporal Mobility.

The world around him slowed. Time rewound, and John found himself back to the moment just before the spear's strike. This time, he was prepared. He sidestepped, the spear narrowly missing him. He took this opportunity to close the gap, using his speed boost from his armor to reach the Merman Leader faster than expected.

In one smooth motion, John thrust his blade forward, piercing the Merman Leader's heart. The Leader let out a gurgled scream, and as expected, the other Mermen faltered. Their coordination fell apart, and John made quick work of them, slashing through the remaining monsters with precise strikes.

The Next Challenge: Kelpie

John didn't linger. The 27th floor was vast, and he knew there were stronger monsters waiting for him. As he pressed forward, the sound of galloping hooves echoed across the water. A Kelpie emerged from the water, its blue mane flowing like liquid under the Dungeon's eerie light. The creature was magnificent, resembling a horse but with fins on its sides, allowing it to move effortlessly through the water. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural intensity, and it charged at John with terrifying speed.

He barely had time to react. The Kelpie's hooves struck the ground with bone-crushing force, sending shockwaves of water flying in all directions. John barely managed to sidestep, using his swiftfoot boots to increase his speed. He drew his blade, ready to strike, but he had to be cautious. The Kelpie's agility was unmatched on this terrain, and a single mistake could lead to disaster.

Another Use of Temporal Mobility:

The Kelpie charged again, its sharp hooves aimed directly at John's chest. He had no choice but to activate Temporal Mobility once more, rewinding time to the point where he had misjudged the Kelpie's attack.

Now fully aware of its speed, John repositioned himself. As the Kelpie approached, he dodged to the side and struck out with his sword, slashing at its rear legs. The creature let out a shrill neigh and faltered, momentarily losing its balance in the water. Seizing the opportunity, John rushed forward, his sword carving into the Kelpie's flank. With a final, decisive strike, he pierced its heart, and the creature collapsed into the water, its once-vibrant blue mane now dulled by the blood.

The Tide Turns: Afanc and Dodora

John was starting to feel the strain. The Kelpie had been a challenge, but it was far from the worst of what he would face today. As he made his way deeper into the Dungeon, he encountered the Afanc, a massive water beast resembling a giant beaver with tusks. It wasn't as quick as the Kelpie, but its size and strength made it dangerous in close quarters.

The Dodora, a monstrous sea elephant, was even more troublesome. It charged through the water with surprising speed, its tusks tearing into the environment. John could feel the force of the creature's movements even from a distance. The key to defeating both these beasts would be strategy, not just brute force.

The Power of Knowledge and Temporal Mobility:

John studied the Afanc's movements carefully. It was slow but powerful. He let it charge at him, and when the moment was right, he activated Temporal Mobility. Rewinding, he observed the Afanc's weak spot—its underbelly, where the water pressure was less intense, leaving the creature vulnerable to strikes.

The second time, when the Afanc charged again, John sidestepped and drove his blade deep into the monster's exposed belly. The creature shrieked and collapsed.

But the Dodora was a different story. It was faster, stronger, and its tusks could easily break through his armor. John knew this would take everything he had. He observed its charge, timing his evasion perfectly. Just as the Dodora's tusks reached him, John rewound time and tried again, making a subtle shift in his position.

This time, he managed to avoid the tusks and get a blow in just behind the creature's ear. The Dodora staggered, but it wasn't finished. John had to repeat the process, taking advantage of his ability to predict and counter the beast's attack patterns until the Dodora was finally brought down.

The Amphisbaena

As John pushed forward to explore more of the 27th floor, he encountered the Amphisbaena—a massive, two-headed dragon that was far more powerful than anything he had faced so far. Its red and blue heads could unleash devastating breath attacks: a crimson mist that destroyed magic and a blue flame that could burn even water.

John knew he had to be strategic. The creature's movements were erratic, but its power was immense. He had observed it from a distance before engaging, making sure to memorize its behavior.

Final Battle of the Day:

The Amphisbaena roared, its red head releasing a fog of crimson mist that disrupted John's magic abilities. His Temporal Mobility couldn't undo the damage to his magical defenses, so John relied on his physical skills to dodge the flames of the blue head. His sword flashed in the water, but the dragon was too quick for a direct strike. It used its long, powerful necks to lash out at John, its bodies swinging like massive serpents.

After multiple rewinds, John finally found an opening. He used his knowledge of the Amphisbaena's movement and evaded just in time. With one final slash, he struck the beast's underbelly, cutting deep into its scales.

The Amphisbaena let out a deafening roar before collapsing into the water. John stood over its fallen body, drenched in sweat but victorious.

Chapter 8 end

you know what they say gotta grind boi!!!

- The Master of Systems

love you guys and thanks for the support!!! please tell us what you think of the chapter!!!

-Gachadevildog