Danmachi: The Counter-Guardian

Altair and Bell had just registered at the Guild, an experience that required patience to handle the paperwork as well as their new Hestia Familia advisor, Eina Tulle. She was a scholar with a serious and calm demeanor, always displaying profound wisdom that inspired respect in everyone around her.

In the original, Eina had always been a sisterly figure to Bell, someone he could trust, which remained unchanged here as well. Their brief interaction made Altair notice Eina's fondness for Bell. However, when Altair interacted with her, something else emerged: a mutual understanding, a partnership. He was older, at 21 years of age, though his appearance resembled that of someone 18 or younger, which caused some confusion.

With the responsibility of looking after Bell, Altair decided to take on the weight of this task. He knew that, with his skills and experience, he could be the anchor for the budding adventurer at his side. Bell was still inexperienced, and Altair, with unshaken composure, naturally became his protector.

After the brief meeting at the Guild, the two novice adventurers headed toward the Dungeon, with the Beginner's Road on the 1st floor stretching out before them. The floor's walls were a light blue color, and the wide corridor gave a sense of distance and isolation, something uncomfortable for rookies like Bell.

The monsters that appeared there were Goblins or Kobolds, the most common types for those just beginning to explore. Level 1 adventurers, with stats ranging from I to H, typically spent a considerable amount of time on this floor before moving on to more dangerous places.

Altair glanced sideways at Bell as they walked. The young man was trembling slightly, nervously gripping the dagger in his hands. It was clear he was tense, but at the same time, he was trying to hold himself together. Altair, on the other hand, let out a deep sigh, as if absorbing the responsibility of guiding the boy.

He approached Bell and, with a calm gesture, ruffled his hair—a clear sign that he was there to support him.

"Let's go," Altair said, in a calm and determined tone, as he moved ahead.

"R-right!" Bell replied quickly, forcing a smile and following behind, trying to keep up.

After about a minute of walking along the Initial Path, they heard the first sounds of movement. Goblins. These small monsters, with their short and ugly forms, came into view, emerging from the shadows of a corner in the hallway. Bell hesitated for a moment, his fingers tightening around the dagger's hilt as his body began to tremble slightly.

Altair, however, appeared completely calm. Although he had never seen a Goblin before, he showed no signs of fear or uncertainty. In his mind, however, a peculiar and eccentric thought passed fleetingly.

'Ugly thing of disgrace,' thought Altair, looking at the Goblins with slight disdain. In his eyes, they were even more repulsive than he had imagined. For anyone else, the sight of such creatures might evoke disgust, but for Altair, they were on the level of mere pests.

He spun on his heels, preparing to attack.

"Alright, let's go!" Altair exclaimed, letting out a defiant shout as he dashed toward the Goblins, his arms stretched back.

Bell, seeing Altair move forward without hesitation, couldn't help but feel astonished.

'He's going to fight barehanded?!' he thought, a mix of disbelief and concern flashing through his mind.

However, his doubts vanished in an instant. Blue streaks of energy erupted around Altair's hands, enveloping them with a vibrant aura. Suddenly, two objects began materializing in the air: a short white sword and a black one, both gleaming with an impressive intensity.

"Kanshou and Bakuya!" Altair shouted powerfully, before leaping impressively into the air.

Bell watched, slack-jawed, as Altair spun in midair, his blades slashing with an almost supernatural speed. He flew through the five Goblins, who had no time to react before being completely obliterated by the swift and deadly cuts. The gleam of the white and black blades was all Bell could see before the grotesque creatures hit the ground, their forms already undone.

Altair landed effortlessly and, without even glancing back, wiped his blades on the clothes of one of the defeated Goblins, lightning still crackling around his hands. He looked at Bell with a smile, his eyes shining with confidence.

Bell was speechless, utterly stunned by how easily Altair had dealt with the Goblins. He had never imagined the fight would be so simple for him.

Altair looked at the boy after collecting their magic stones and said with a calm smile:

"Let's go, Bell. We don't have time to waste."

And, without waiting, he began moving forward down the corridor once more.

Altair and Bell spent the day exploring the dungeon's first floors, learning to work as a team and honing their combat skills. Bell, though nervous at first, quickly adapted to the rhythm of the battles. He began to show more confidence and skill with the dagger, although he still relied on Altair's experience and leadership.

On the other hand, Altair displayed impressive mastery with Kanshou and Bakuya. The twin swords, with their [Anti-Monster] nature, made the job seem incredibly easy. Each strike was lethal, instantly disintegrating the monsters and leaving Bell amazed at his companion's prowess.

The two were defeating Goblins, Kobolds, and other monsters while collecting the magic stones that dropped from their bodies. The small luminous stones were the main reason novice adventurers ventured into the dungeon, serving as a source of income when sold at the Guild.

After a few hours of exploration, the bags they carried were completely full, the pouches swollen and looking like balloons. Altair held one of the sacks in his hands, gauging the weight and volume that were beginning to hinder his movements.

He frowned before coming up with a practical idea. "It's better to store this in the [Subspatial Inventory]. That way, we avoid any issues with theft," he murmured to himself.

With a simple motion, he focused his attention on the sack in his hand. A blue electric spark appeared, and the sack vanished in the blink of an eye.

[A Sack of Magic Stones (Bulky) has been added to the Inventory]

"Hey, Bell," Altair called, turning to his companion. "Hand me your sack of magic stones. I'll store it in my [Subspatial Inventory]."

Bell, still riding the adrenaline from the recent fight, looked at Altair, blinking in surprise. "Ah, right!" he said, extending the full bag. Just like before, the sack vanished in a flash of blue energy, safely stored in the limitless space of Altair's inventory.

With their loads now lightened, the two continued descending the floors. They had cleared the 1st floor in about three hours, meticulously defeating every monster they encountered. This pattern repeated on the 2nd floor, where they faced a larger number of enemies but still managed to clear everything within another three hours.

On the 3rd and 4th floors, the monsters became more numerous and slightly stronger, but Altair and Bell maintained their pace. Altair led the fights, eliminating entire groups of monsters with the lethal strikes of Kanshou and Bakuya, while Bell dealt with isolated opponents, growing increasingly confident in his abilities.

After clearing the 4th floor, the two stopped to catch their breath. Bell's body was covered in sweat, and he looked exhausted but satisfied. Altair, on the other hand, was calmer, his breathing still steady. He smiled at Bell, noticing the progress the boy had made throughout the day.

"Good work, Bell. You've improved a lot since the beginning," Altair said, offering a slight nod of approval.

Bell smiled back, feeling a wave of pride in his chest. "Thank you, Altair! But... I still have a lot to learn."

Altair laughed, ruffling Bell's hair again. "And that's why we'll keep training. But for today, we've done enough. Let's head back before something unexpected happens."

When Altair and Bell were about to return to climb the dungeon floors, fate decided to play a cruel trick. At the end of a corridor, a figure emerged from the darkness. Tall, with massive muscles, thick fur covering its body, red eyes glowing with wild fury, and horns that seemed made to pierce anything in its path.

The air around them grew heavy, as if the very environment was reacting to the presence of the monster. Bell froze in place, his body trembling as he held his dagger with shaky hands.

Altair, however, sensed the creature's approach even before seeing it. Under the effect of his [Mind's Eye (True)] skill, his mind remained clear and focused. He let out a controlled sigh, pulling the Kanshou and Bakuya swords from his inventory in an instant.

"Bell, stay behind me," Altair said firmly, his eyes fixed on the enemy.

The creature advanced, its steps echoing like thunder down the corridor. With an agile movement, Altair dashed towards the beast, dodging the monster's first heavy strike. In a quick and precise attack, he leaped into the air, slicing one of the creature's eyes with a clean motion.

The Minotaur roared in pain and fury, its massive hand reaching out to grab Altair. However, before the monster could react, Altair spun in the air, delivering a powerful kick to the creature's chest, forcing it to stagger back a few steps.

Without wasting any time, Altair grabbed Bell by the arm and pulled him away, putting a safe distance between them and the Minotaur. When they finally stopped, Bell was out of breath, his eyes wide with shock.

"This... This is a Minotaur!" Bell exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear.

Altair, still on guard, looked at the creature roaring in the distance, his hand covering the missing eye as blood streamed down in thick threads. He narrowed his eyes, analyzing the situation.

"How the hell is a Minotaur here on the 4th floor?" he muttered to himself.

And then, as if a distant memory emerged in his mind, Altair remembered the incident that marked the beginning of Bell's journey. The fateful encounter with a Minotaur and the heroic rescue by the famous Aiz Wallenstein. He glanced at Bell, seeing the boy practically paralyzed by the recollection of a story he himself knew well.

Altair clenched his fists around his twin swords, his expression taking on a mix of determination and slight irritation. He let out a brief, bitter laugh.

"How troublesome," he murmured.

The Minotaur, now even more enraged, charged again, the ground trembling under its massive weight. Altair positioned himself, his blades ready, and shot a steely glance at Bell.

"Bell, trust me. Stay back and watch. I'll handle this," he said, before charging forward to face the enemy with a defiant smile.

Altair knew that Aiz Wallenstein could arrive at any moment, but he refused to depend on her or anyone else. This was his test, his battle to prove himself and protect Bell. With Kanshou and Bakuya in his hands, legendary and reliable weapons of EMIYA, he felt invincible, confident that he could deal with any threat that came his way.

He took a deep breath, his eyes locked on the Minotaur, and his mind focused on the battle. The world around him seemed to slow down as his concentration reached its peak. Then, without warning, he charged. His speed was extraordinary, so fast that to Bell and the Minotaur, he became a black-and-white blur, almost impossible to track.

In an instant, Altair appeared beside the monster, his twin blades glowing with a fierce aura. With a single precise strike, he severed the Minotaur's right leg, which roared in pain as it staggered to the side. Blood gushed from the severed limb, spreading across the dungeon floor.

The monster, even in agony, did not retreat. It roared, full of hatred, and charged at Altair with its left horn, attempting to impale him with a wild strike. Altair, however, was prepared. At the exact moment, he slid beneath the giant, barely escaping as Kanshou sliced through the Minotaur's chest with a light, but precise blow.

The monster's roar of pain echoed through the halls. Altair quickly rose, spinning to face the enemy again, giving the creature no chance to retaliate.

"ARGH!" roared the Minotaur, its voice filled with rage and agony as it struggled, leaning on its remaining leg. The cut on its chest, though not deep, seemed to burn more than it should, thanks to Kanshou's anti-monster nature.

Bell, who watched everything from afar, was astonished. He had never seen anyone fight like this, with such confidence and skill. Altair seemed like a legendary warrior, an unstoppable force that nothing could halt.

Altair, on the other hand, remained focused, his heart beating in a controlled rhythm. He knew the Minotaur was not yet defeated, but each strike that landed weakened the creature, bringing him closer to victory.

"You won't last much longer," Altair said calmly, spinning Kanshou and Bakuya in his hands as he prepared for his next move. "I'll finish this with the next attack."

The Minotaur, even weakened, roared once more and tried to advance, but Altair was already in motion, determined to end the fight before Aiz or anyone else could interfere.

Altair positioned himself, his eyes glowing with determination. He flexed the muscles in his legs, adjusting his weight and leaning slightly forward. Every fiber of his body was ready for the next move. Kanshou and Bakuya, the twin blades, gleamed in his hands, reflecting the soft light of the dungeon. He crossed the blades in front of his chest, aligning them under his shoulders as the tension in the air grew.

In an instant, Altair launched himself forward. The dungeon floor seemed to vibrate under his feet as he charged like an arrow, his speed creating a breeze that lightly pushed Bell's white hair. The Minotaur, aware of the danger, tried to raise his arm to block, but Altair's speed was overwhelming.

The bronzed figure closed the distance in seconds, his body a blur of black and white. When he got close to the monster, he twisted his torso with calculated precision and, in a fluid and powerful motion, executed an X-shaped cut. The blades crossed the air in a perfect arc, emitting a blue glow as they traced the deadly path.

Altair passed by the Minotaur, gliding with ease as he completed the strike. A dry sound echoed when the swords cut through the creature's tough flesh. For a brief moment, everything was silent. The Minotaur remained motionless, its back to Altair, as if the attack had no effect.

Then, a line of deep red blood appeared on the monster's chest, following the shape of an "X". The creature tried to move, but its body began to give way. First the knees, then the torso, and finally, it collapsed to the ground with a crash, defeated.

Altair straightened up, spinning Kanshou and Bakuya in his hands before returning them to his [Subspace Inventory]. He glanced over his shoulder, watching the Minotaur's body now begin to dissipate into sparkling particles, signaling its death.

Bell, who watched everything with his mouth agape, could barely contain his surprise. He never imagined anyone could fight so skillfully and elegantly, especially against a Minotaur.

Altair took a deep breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "And that's how it's done, Bell. A little strategy, a little strength, and... well, a bit of luck too." He smiled, trying to ease the tension.

Bell, still in shock, simply nodded. "Altair... you're amazing."

"Don't exaggerate," Altair replied, signaling for Bell to follow him. "We need to get out of here before another one of those shows up. And next time, I'll make sure you're ready to fight by my side."

The two began walking back, leaving behind the spot where the intense battle had taken place. However, what they didn't know was that those responsible for letting the Minotaur escape had seen everything.