Danmachi: The Quiet Reincarnate

Author: Bro I don't even know what I am doing, stones?

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Cael grinned grimly. Perfect. This was just the type of challenge he needed.

The Giant Bee immediately launched itself forward, a droning projectile, its stinger aimed directly at his chest. The two Killer Ants scurried low, attempting to trip him.

Cael reacted with a burst of speed, sidestepping the bee's powerful lunge, the wind of its passing whipping his hair. As he moved, one of the Killer Ants snapped at his ankle, its mandibles narrowly missing.

He brought his sword down in a quick, clean arc, bisecting the ant before it could retreat. It dissolved into mist.

The Giant Bee circled back, its buzz growing louder, more aggressive. Cael met its charge, not dodging this time, but thrusting his sword forward.

The blade met the bee's chitinous armor with a jarring impact, a shriek of steel against hard shell. He felt a sharp jolt up his arm, but the strike held, creating a deep gouge.

The bee reeled, momentarily stunned. Cael pressed his advantage, twisting his blade, widening the wound, before tearing it free.

The bee let out a furious, high-pitched buzz, circling him erratically.

The second Killer Ant lunged, trying to climb his leg. Cael brought his foot down, crushing it with a brutal stomp. It vanished.

His focus returned to the Giant Bee. It suddenly darted forward, its stinger glowing faintly, a sign of impending venom.

Cael dodged, but not entirely. The stinger grazed his arm, a searing, burning pain erupting where it touched. His flesh immediately began to numb, a cold sensation spreading.

Venom.

But the injury, though painful, fueled his Bladebond. His sword felt sharper, lighter, imbued with a fierce energy.

He moved with a sudden, devastating surge of speed. His blade became a silver blur, a whirlwind of cuts and thrusts.

He parried the bee's next stinger attack with precise timing, then drove his sword deep into its head, severing its nervous system.

The Giant Bee shuddered, its wings beating erratically for a moment before it exploded into a shower of black mist and shimmering magic stones.

Cael stood amidst the fading haze, his arm throbbing, the venom slowly spreading its numbing chill.

He quickly collected the magic stones, his movements precise despite the discomfort. The numbness in his arm deepened, a cold, heavy feeling that was beginning to impede his grip.

He knew he could not sustain this for long. He needed to rest, but more importantly, he needed to heal.

However, the use of Martyr's Halo would result in immense pain, and he preferred to keep himself hidden while recovering from a major Crimson Rebirth.

He clenched his jaw, enduring the spread of the poison. It was not enough to incapacitate him, but it was a constant, irritating burden.

He pressed deeper into the third floor, his senses on high alert.

The passages here were becoming more erratic, less like carved tunnels and more like natural caves, with stalagmites and stalactites creating eerie, shadowed forms.

The monsters were more varied.

He fought a small group of Worms, their slimy bodies surprisingly agile, their bites leaving festering wounds.

He dispatched them quickly, his Bladebond making short work of their segmented bodies.

The constant small skirmishes, though not as intense as the Giant Bee, were steadily accumulating excelia.

He felt the familiar internal tremor, the precursor to another painful transformation.

He rounded a corner and came face to face with a larger party of adventurers, about five of them, heavily armored and moving with practiced coordination.

Their leader, a grizzled warrior with a scarred face, eyed Cael's solo presence with a mix of respect and caution.

One of the party members, a healer with kind eyes, noticed Cael's arm.

"Are you alright? That looks like bee venom." She started to approach, pulling out a small vial.

Cael shook his head. "I'm fine."

He appreciated the gesture, but he preferred to handle his own troubles. Besides, he knew a potion would not fully help with what was coming.

He moved past them, giving a brief, polite nod.

He heard their whispers as he went:

"He refused a healing potion?"

"Must be a rookie trying to act tough."

But then the scarred leader spoke, his voice low:

"No. He's not just tough. There's something… different about him. I felt it when he passed. Like a predator."

Another member, a female mage with a sharp gaze, added, "His eyes… they're too calm for someone fighting alone on this floor. Like he's seen worse."

Cael heard their observations, a faint amusement stirring within him. He did not mind their scrutiny; it was part of this new world.

He found a secluded cave, a small offshoot from the main path, where the light of the crystals barely reached.

He stepped inside just as the agonizing surge of excelia overwhelmed him.

Crimson Rebirth Activated.

The pain was immediate and absolute, sharper than any blade, hotter than any fire.

He dropped to his knees, his body writhing uncontrollably.

This time, it felt like his very muscles were being ripped from his bones and rewoven, strand by agonizing strand.

A guttural groan escaped his lips despite his best efforts to suppress it.

Sweat streamed down his face, his vision blurred into a kaleidoscope of agony.

The venom in his arm, though still present, was overshadowed by the sheer, overwhelming torment of his growth.

He curled into a fetal position, gritting his teeth, enduring the forced metamorphosis.

Every cell in his body screamed, reshaping, reforming.

The agony stretched, pushing him to the absolute brink of consciousness.

Then, just as suddenly, it receded.

Cael lay there, utterly spent, his chest heaving, his muscles trembling violently.

The silence that followed was a welcome balm.

He slowly uncurled, pushing himself up.

His body felt heavy, bruised, but undeniably more powerful.

His muscles felt denser, his movements smoother, his reflexes sharper.

The venom in his arm, while still there, felt less impactful, as if his body's internal systems had also been enhanced, making him more resistant.

He clenched his fist, a profound sense of raw strength thrumming beneath his skin.

This was the curse. This was the blessing. He had grown again.

"Another one down," he rasped, his voice hoarse, a bitter smile touching his lips.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling the subtle changes in his physique.