Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 73: The Tree Labyrinth, the Effect of "Mystery"

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A chaotic roar echoed through the air.

The ceiling, walls, and floor of the area were all formed from tree bark, while lush moss growing along the passageways glowed with hues of blue and green, creating an ethereal landscape that resembled a hidden realm.

The roar of the monster caused leaves of varying shapes and mysterious flowers, glistening with silver droplets, to sway gently.

Deep within the maze-like forest, a fire flickered amidst the dense foliage, and flashes of silver light occasionally pierced through the darkness.

"Gah—!"

A bird-shaped monster darted between the trees, emitting sharp cries as if issuing a warning or challenge.

But its intended target wasn't interested in heeding such threats. In a flash, the figure leaped through the trees, closing the distance instantly.

A dull thud followed as a weapon pierced the creature's body. The bird-shaped monster barely had time to react before it was skewered by the sharp tip of a spear.

---

One of the basic truths every adventurer knows:

After a level-up, the power of suppression is absolute.

While Izzy had previously only a vague understanding of this concept, he now fully grasped why it was so universally accepted.

It felt as if an endless stream of energy surged through his body, making him lighter, faster, and stronger than ever before.

He could do anything—or at least, that's how it felt—but he wasn't about to let such newfound strength inflate his ego.

Still, there was no denying the transformation. Compared to his former self, the change was monumental.

To make a cliché comparison, Izzy estimated he could easily defeat three of his past selves at once—without even using any skills.

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Bounding between the trees, Izzy struck down another "Firebird" before landing lightly on a sturdy branch for balance.

But he didn't linger. Leaning forward, he gripped his spear tightly and pushed off the tree trunk with his right foot.

In an instant, his surroundings blurred as the world seemed to rush past him.

The next "Firebird" came into view, the whistling wind filling his ears as he closed the distance with incredible acceleration.

Initially, this newfound speed had left him vulnerable, almost causing him to be caught off guard.

But after repeated attempts to adapt, Izzy had learned to control the sensation, using it to his advantage.

"Puff—!"

The spear swung cleanly, slicing through the "Firebird" with the ease of cutting through tofu.

Against these airborne foes, Ize temporarily employed this straightforward approach, picking them off one by one.

He couldn't help but relish the power and precision granted by his upgrade.

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The "Firebird," as its name implied, was a bird-shaped monster capable of launching fire-based attacks.

From the 19th floor onward, such formidable enemies emerged, with their ability to fly and wield fire granting them a natural advantage in the "Large Tree labyrinth."

These creatures were notorious for turning vast areas below the 19th floor into infernos, making them particularly troublesome adversaries.

Even worse, they often flew up to the safe zone on the 18th floor, threatening the town of Rivira. As a result, adventurers frequently prioritized eliminating them to protect the settlement.

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The "large Tree Labyrinth" spanned the 19th to 24th floors of the dungeon.

Upon leaving the safe zone and stepping into the 19th floor, adventurers would find themselves in an entirely new environment.

Gone were the dark caves and rocky grottos of earlier floors. In their place was a vast forest composed entirely of trees.

Here, the ceiling and walls were crafted from bark, enclosing the area in a surreal, organic labyrinth.

It felt as though one had wandered into a secret realm—like Alice stumbling into Wonderland after following the rabbit.

The ceiling's moss glowed like countless twinkling stars.

The air carried a fresh, watery wood scent, reminiscent of a lush green forest.

In one corner of the flora-filled space, water dripped from the roots of a massive tree above, falling into a small pool nestled between the roots. The drops created soft ripples as they spread across the surface.

If one could ignore the lurking danger of monsters emerging from the bark at any moment, this place could truly be considered beautiful.

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"The feeling after upgrading is different, huh? Sure, we can take down those firebirds faster now, but instead, you decided to toy with them! Meanwhile, I was stuck down there, exhausted from picking up all the magic stones."

After clearing out over a dozen firebirds, Izzy and Raul regrouped, only to be met with playful complaints from the latter.

"Hey, you noticed? Looks like you had a bit of fun yourself," Izzy responded with a grin, entirely unbothered by Raul's remarks.

Who were Izzy and Raul, after all?

They were close friends who would often grab meals together—certainly not the kind to take such minor gripes seriously.

Naturally, neither of them felt any real pressure while traversing the 19th floor, given their skills and experience.

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"It's not just my imagination—my weapon's gotten a lot stronger. Look, it's even glowing..."

While exploring the labyrinth, Izzy raised his silver-gray spear, showing it to Raul.

At some point, mysterious patterns had started appearing on the spear's surface. They were the same silver-gray as the weapon itself but shimmered faintly whiter.

Whenever Izzy engaged in combat, these patterns would emit a soft glow.

The weapon now felt sharper, lighter, and far more attuned to him, with its performance visibly enhanced.

In gaming terms, it was as if the weapon's attributes had been upgraded.

Before his level-up, this phenomenon occurred occasionally. Now, it happened consistently in every fight.

If Izzy's instincts were correct, this was the work of his development ability, Mystery.

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Mystery was said to invoke 18 miracles belonging to the gods—a super rare development ability nicknamed "God's Skill."

One of its unique traits was the capacity to create or enhance magic items.

It seemed that his silver-gray spear had undergone an enchantment of sorts, imbuing it with extra attributes that boosted its power.

"Izzy, your development ability is Mystery, right? Could that be what's causing this?" Raul asked, voicing the same conclusion Izzy had come to.

Unlike personal skills, development abilities gained after leveling up weren't something one had to keep secret.

Besides, the exciting news that Loki Familia had gained a new Mystery wielder had already been celebrated by Loki herself during the last carnival banquet.

After all, this ability was exceedingly rare in Orario, with only a handful of adventurers possessing it.

"Yeah, I think so too, though I'm not entirely sure how it works just yet," Izzy admitted.

"But it feels positive—another jaw-dropping ability, I guess."

Raul laughed, imagining the chaos that would erupt in the familia once Izzy fully understood and harnessed this newfound power.

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"Jigii!"

Their conversation was interrupted by a guttural growl.

From several openings in the trees, a group of monsters burst forth, charging toward them.

Among the attackers was a hulking beast with the body of a giant bear, its massive frame moving with an agility that defied its size.

It was a "Bug Bear," a monster native to the 19th floor.

"Here we go, Izzy! Get ready!" Raul called, shifting into a combat stance.

"Ah, leave it to me!" Izzy replied, gripping his spear tightly.

And so, their adventure in the Labyrinth continued.

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