Danmachi: Magic Meister

Mutated Jackbird Part 1

.

I grumbled as I put what happened a week ago into the back of my mind. Even though I was duped by a goddess, I couldn't do much about it. At least I had ten years to find something out. Which was the silver lining I suppose. Right now, I'm in the dungeon blowing off the steam that I was feeling by smashing Goblin and Kobold heads in. The dungeon was happy to comply with my death wish as it spawned more for me to break over my knee. I even encountered some Dungeon lizards finally, and finding out they dropped their hides upon magic stone removal.

Needless to say, I was gonna have a big haul today. I wasn't even using magic yet! Just pure brute force!

After an hour or so of mindless combat, I calmed down enough to get all the magic stones with a new knife I bought. It was sharp and strong enough for the task and that was all I needed. Once I was sure that I collected all that I could, I packed them away. As I was doing so, I heard an unusual cry of a monster. I whipped around and found myself face to face with a giant rooster-like bird. I could tell that it was once a Jackbird, but that was about it.

I could hazard a guess that someone had left magic stones lying around and the Jackbird ate them. But the better guess had to do with the entrails around its legs. That, I didn't want to know or think about.

I slowly raised my knife in my left hand and prepared to cast magic in my right. But then I made a big mistake, I blinked. At a speed faster than I could blink, the Mutated Jackbird disappeared and a cut appeared on my shoulder.

.

'Fast!' I thought as I whipped around to find the Jackbird pecking at its foot trying to get the entrails off.

.

I took my chance and launched a bolt of Lightning at it, which just bounced off its feathers like it was a small stone thrown at it. I nearly shit myself as the bird turned its glowing red eyes towards me. Then it disappeared again as another cut opened up on my stomach. All I could do was defend myself as I got cut again and again.

I racked my brain to find an answer as I covered my vital parts. Right now, I have two options, run away or fight. And running was out of the question. My eyes flickered to and fro to try and keep track of this monster. My mind then thought of several ideas that I didn't dare even try as they were too dangerous at my level. One of which was transmuting the Dungeon itself. I didn't have time to draw a transmutation circle and this monster wouldn't give me time to do it.

 As my mind raced I heard the caw of the Mutant as it stopped and looked at me from a distance. I could tell that it was playing with me, as a cat would play with a mouse before eating it. And I was the mouse in this situation. I could feel its blood lust as it stared right at me. Acting quickly on a stray thought, I reached into my bag and pulled out several magic stones. I dumped as much mind as I could afford into them before chucking them at the Mutant. The Mutant Jackbird didn't even bother to dodge as it let them bounce lightly off its feathers which gleamed like polished metal.

The Mutated Jackbird just looked at me like I was an idiot. But, before it could even squawk at me for my ridiculous plan, the stones began to glow. The Jackbird looked at them curiously, before they detonated. The entire dungeon shook as the multiple explosion shockwaves bounded off the walls. Smoke filled the cavern as I covered my face to protect it from debris. Soon the smoke began to clear and still standing there was the mutated Jackbird. However, its feathers were now ruffled and it was leaning to one side with a leg possibly broken. I knew if I survived this, I would be qualified for a level-up as those explosions could damage a level new two with just one. I threw four.

This monster was a level higher than that. As I struggled with what to do, I heard voices rushing to my location. My mind briefly flashed with hope then I realized that I needed this to grow. I wasn't a stupid anime protagonist that wanted to grow stronger. I wanted to live damn it! Without any worries and to make Hecate proud!