DanMachi: A Day In The Dungeon

A Terrible Beast

Suddenly, a loud noise startled the boy, causing him to jump to his feet and both daggers found their way to his hands within the same moment. In the distance, heavy footsteps were heard. The boy's breathing increased, shakier than ever. He knew exactly what it was, an almost deadened spirit muttered a single word.

"Minotaur..."

As if in response, the huge, towering man-bull stomped out of the shadows, a large stone axe held in its arms, ready to sever the head of the boy. Despite the large size difference, the towering beast was just as fast.

A powerful swing sent the rigid blade in an arc that could have decapitated Bell if he hadn't ducked underneath and slid his dagger along the tough skin of the deadly beast's forearm, doing little more than what appeared to be no more than a simple paper cut.

Another giant fist reeled back and was sent flying into the chest of the fighter, who had attempted a poor block instead of a dodge. The impact sent him rocketing into a wall, various pieces of his armor breaking apart and falling off as smoke marked the sheer force of the blow.

He stumbled out of the rubble that scattered from the attack, panting and vomiting what used to be his lunch before wiping his mouth. "I can't run away..."

A blood curdling roar erupted from the Minotaur. Another punch could have shattered his ribcage, but thankfully for the boy's agility, he managed to sidestep. He countered, driving his daggers over the hoofed legs of the beast. A second, swift stab punched through and blood oozed out of the newly created wounds.

Before a third hit could be placed, however, the giant creature impaled Bell on its horn, jerking its head around as blood spewed out. He tried to pull himself free, but failed. The Minotaur swung its head and flung him off, slamming him into the ground.

Overwhelmed by the pain of his rather useless arm, he continued to stand tall, holding his arm and trying to prevent more blood from cascading down his forearm and dripping onto the floor. A crushing blow crashed into the chest of the boy, knocking him back and sending him to his knees. Yet, he came reeling back and refused to give up. "I... I have... to fight..." The daggers crossed over each other once more, one trembling due to being held by the impaled arm.

He slid underneath another swing from the oversized stone axe, recoiling by leaping into the air as he spun, crashing down while both knives dug deep into the flesh of the Minotaur and twisting each blade, breaking his adversary's arm.

A roar of agony rang out from the beast, getting up and dropping the weapon. Bell sheathed his red dagger and pried the axe from the ground, then created two large crossed slashes across the chest of the beast, blood spattering onto the dungeon floors and onto his face. It flailed the broken arm against the ground, failing to hit its target twice since he had already jumped back to evade.

Standing at opposite sides of the cleared area, the Minotaur lowered itself to stand on all fours, Bell holding the axe ever so tighter in his grip. Then, they charged. What would ordinarily be a death sentence for any other adventurer, Bell took a small step to the side and the stone head clashed with a horn, breaking the weapon. In a final attempt to stab the boy with its horn again, the man-bull rammed to the side.

This failure cost the beast its life, as Bell slid under and drove his dagger into the gut, applying a Firebolt within the wound. The beast stood up in pain as flames scorched its insides, blood spewing from the mouth as it began to inflate. It tried to lift a hand and smack the warrior away, but found itself too weak to do so.

"What, you want more!? Firebolt!" A second flash erupted and fire filled the quarry again, resulting in a weak cry of agony and pain as twice as much gore flood to the surface of the skin while inflating it even more so.

"Firebolt!" The third and final spell executed the Minotaur, forcing an implosion. Fire burst out like a volcano from what remained, until only a pair of legs dropped to the floor and vanished with a large gust of wind and dust. In its place, a stone matching the size of the teen's head was left behind, his for the taking.

He weakly stumbled to the purple rock, lifting it up with his arm that hadn't suffered the pain of a horn piercing through the tissue. His bag had been laying on a larger rock that survived the fight, and somehow, it remained unscathed. The adventurer opened and shoved the magic stone inside, then closed it while putting it on his back, easily ignoring the continued bloodflow which threatened his consciousness.