Chapter 12: Blood and Steel
After Ethan washed the blood and grime from his body in the river, the water swirling red before clearing again, he stood up and took a deep breath. The cold helped clear his mind, but the weight of what just happened lingered on his shoulders.
Then—ding!
A familiar blue screen flickered to life in front of him, and a robotic voice echoed in his head
[System Activated]
Welcome to the New World.
Current World: Danmachi (Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?)
Main Objective: Reach Orario. Join a Familia. Begin your story."Danmachi?" Ethan blinked at the floating text. "Bell? Hestia? The dungeon?"
He was stunned for a moment, his heart racing. He had watched the anime before. He knew how dangerous this world could be, especially in the deeper floors of the dungeon. But the idea of living in it—of meeting the characters, of fighting monsters and leveling up—filled him with a mix of excitement and fear.
He clenched his fists. "So that's the world I ended up in..."
After drying off and putting his torn clothes back on, he followed the dirt road again, his grip on the sharp stick firm. Now that he knew where he was, he had a goal: reach Orario.
He walked for almost half an hour when a sudden shout echoed through the trees.