章 15: Meeting A Directionless Swordman.
Driving a white Porsche Macan that his parents had gifted him a few years ago, Adam could be seen. On the front passenger seat next to him, an annoyed Rumi sat with crossed arms.
" Rumi, are you seriously still mad?"
The Bunny looked away with furrowed eyebrows, showcasing discontent with Adam's question.
" If you didn't belittle me, I wouldn't be mad."
Adam could only shake his head.
As soon as they finished their first night session, a few others came.
After around 4 hours of intense lovemaking, Rumi started to feel sore. Even though she said nothing to Adam, he noticed she had reached her limit for the night.
Since this was the case, the young man put a stop to their heated battle, nestling Rumi in his embrace as they both fell asleep.
To Adam's dismay, Rumi seemed to have taken their first time as a sort of competition. And to her understanding, with no lack of foundation whatsoever, she had lost.
Now you may wonder. Was that enough reason to get mad?
If this was all there was to it, then the answer would be no.
The problem is...
" I told you not to go easy on me!! "
Due to her kin senses, she figured out that Adam never gave his all in trying to dominate her.
He abstained from overdoing it during their first sexual intercourse to prevent Rumi from overexerting herself after all. And this was not appreciated by her.
' Such a twisted reason to get mad...'
Adam was speechless at his now official girlfriend's antics.
Not finding the right words to get her to forgive him, as bizarre as it sounded, Adam opted to redirect her competitiveness in a different direction.
Smiling sinisterly, Adam asked:
" So, you won't forgive me~?"
Rumi looked at him accusatorily, but her stance was firm.
"NO!"
Adam nodded his head, finding the current Rumi to be quite cute.
" If that's the case, how about we have a little competition?"
Immediately, Rumi uncrossed her arms and sat upright. Her ears that were previously dropped stood up like a pair of antennas. The fire in her eyes indicated attentiveness while her distinct crazed smile reflected anticipation.
Words were unnecessary on her part, so Adam continued.
" Whoever gets more kills before reaching the Boss's room wins. The winner gets to do whatever they want with the loser."
As he said these words, any remaining annoyance disappeared and was subtly replaced by pure excitement.
" Good! Be ready to lose pretty boy!"
Side glancing at Rumi's display of fervor put a new loving smile on Adam's face.
This was one of the sides of the girl he would never get tired of seeing.
" That being said..."
He focused back on the road, transitioning to the most crucial topic at hand.
" Is it ok to go into a B-Rank dungeon like you said? A C rank one would be safer?"
Having raided all the dungeons from the F to D rank divisions he could, his next target was supposed to be a C-ranked dungeon. Yet, the bunny hunter came out with an odd proposition.
Although Rumi had the qualifications to be considered a B rank, she was just a rookie D-ranked hunter on paper.
B-ranked individuals could solo B-rank dungeons, but those hunters were not plenty.
Usually, those who could clear a dungeon of their same rank by themselves are hunters who have already advanced to a superior Rank but haven't made it official.
And looking at Rumi's information with his "Eyes of the Truth" power, Adam was sure that she wasn't there yet.
[ Target's Name: Rumi Usagiyama
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Race: Human (Hybrid-power type)
Rank: B Rank. (Lowest stage.)
State: Excited, In love, non-hostile.]
Then there was the official law of guild-affiliated individuals.
Those of lower rank had to be accompanied by a higher-ranked individual from their guild.
Since Adam was freelancing no one could say anything to him, but that was not the case for Rumi.
No matter how obstinate she was, Kenji would not allow her to partake in a B-rank subjugation mission unless someone from the same rank or higher went in with her.
At Adam's question, the girl simply shrugged her shoulders, though Adam could perceive some traces of annoyance.
" If I understood your powers properly a C-rank dungeon would provide little benefit to you, so a B-ranked one is the best solution."
Adam nodded his head with a tender smile. It seemed as though she hadn't chosen this high-level dungeon just for fun, but to make his leveling-up process a lot easier.
But even if that was the case, he had to ask.
" I'm assuming someone from your guild is coming with us?"
Rumi nodded in irritation, not liking the fact that someone had to babysit both her and Adam.
" Yeah…that guy will join us."
Adam said no more and continued driving the car as they approached their destination.
Who this "guy" was?
He had no clue.
....
Coming out of the car, the couple started to walk toward the site where the dungeon was.
Far from the simple infrastructure around which a typical F to D rank dungeon was found, C rank dungeons and above were heavily guarded and surrounded by a gigantic perimetrical wall.
Next to this place, was the usual building where payments had to be made and where hunters would submit their loot.
Coming inside the building, Rumi and Adam reached the counter.
They would have paid through an online transaction already, but it was still needed to report their arrival to get permission to enter the dungeon.
As soon as the worker at the counter saw the hunter duo, she bowed lightly with a polite smile.
" Welcome to Isis's B-Ranked Dungeon Quarter, how can I help you today?"
Although she showed a business smile throughout her greeting, a certain light of doubt was present in her semi-closed eyes.
Perhaps, this was due to Adam's current appearance.
The young man was currently wearing black trousers and a pair of white sneakers. On his torso, he wore a big, hooded cape that covered both his arms, head, and whatever he was wearing underneath it.
His face was hidden behind a plain red mask with no orifices or holes, which made it impossible for anyone to see who was behind it.
Lately, there was a rumor going around about a rookie who wore a red mask just like his.
The rumors revolved around the fact that in less than a week he had managed to clear around 10 Dungeons all ranging from F to D rank all by himself.
He made himself known as RED and was considered one of the candidates for becoming the next rising star of Star City in the future.
The woman was doubtful since no matter how good the rumors made out RED to be, it was practically impossible for a Rookie like him to attempt a C-rank dungeon, let alone a B-rank one.
" We came for a Dungeon Raid; my hunter code name is "Mirko" and I'm from Zenith Guild."
Rumi was currently wearing the usual costume from the anime Adam remembered.
Thinking back at the challenge he proposed a sudden idea popped into his head.
' Should I make her wear the custom next time we get into it...?'
While Adam was having questionable thoughts that only a true man of culture would reach, the woman behind the counter opened her eyes widely.
"O-Oh! It's an honor to have you, Hunter Mirko! Please give me a second to find your appointment."
As the lady skimmed through her computer's database, Mirko looked around as if looking for someone.
" Did that guy get lost again?"
Hearing this, Adam turned his head toward Rumi, wondering who this person was.
" Rumi, who's this 'guy' you've been talking about? And shouldn't he be here already?"
Mirko sighed in exasperation, knowing that an incoming headache was on its way.
"He is a green-haired idiot who happens to be an A-Rank hunter in our guild."
"Idiot?"
" What else would you call someone with zero sense of direction?"
Adam had a sudden idea as soon as he heard this new set of information.
Green Hair.
Zero sense of direction.
' Don't tell me...'
" Sir! That's not where the Dungeon Quarter is! You are going in the opposite direction!"
"UH!?"
Outside of the dungeon Quarter, a worker from the Hunter Association was doing his best to direct someone into the building but the latter was having some difficulties following his instructions.
"*sigh* There he is."
Rumi was questioning her father's decisions as she heard what was happening outside.
' So, my hunch was right...'
Adam on the other hand was quite expectant to meet this A-Rank hunter.
....
After the counter worker confirmed they were who they were claiming to be she gave them the green light to proceed into the dungeon. To her utter surprise, the guy accompanying Zenith's hunter, Mirko, was indeed the rookie she suspected.
Although she minded her own business and said nothing about it, she couldn't help but wonder just how someone could enter a B-Rank dungeon so early in their Hunter career.
As Adam and Rumi came out of the building, they found themselves watching a peculiar scene.
The same worker who was shouting directions earlier could be found on the floor, panting for air as if they had just run a marathon.
"S-sir... As I-Iv'e said... that's not the way-"
The person he was talking to, was a tall green-haired man wearing a long, open dark-green coat closed on his waist that was held by a red sash, into which three swords were tucked, with a black bandanna tied around his left forearm.
Thankfully for the worker, Rumi came to the rescue.
*BAM!*
"Ouch!"
Before Adam could say anything, Rumi rushed to the man and delivered a roundhouse kick to the latter's head, making him fall face-first against the floor.
" I'm sorry for this guy, we'll take care of the rest."
The worker almost teared up at Rumi's actions, she looked like a knight in shiny armor straight out of a fairy tale.
" Oi! What was that for!"
The man stood up with a bleeding nose and an angry frown.
Rumi paid no mind to the swordman's anger and instead began to introduce him to Adam.
" This is the guy I was talking about; he may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but he's pretty strong. Dad sent him to help us clear the dungeon without any issue."
Adam stared blankly at Rumi's display.
" Did you have to hit him though?"
Rumi nodded with a resolute expression as if his question posed no difficulty for her to answer.
"It was needed."
The green-haired guy almost had a vein popping out from his forehead at the bunny's lack of respect.
" If it wasn't for Dracule and Mr.Usagiyama I would cut you here and now."
At hearing this, Rumi became excited and positioned herself for combat.
"Bring it on broccoli hea-"
Before things escalated though, Adam swiftly moved behind Rumi and covered her mouth with his left hand, while extending his right one for a handshake.
" RED, F-Rank hunter, for now. It is nice to meet you Roronoa Zoro."
Looking away from the battle-thirsty woman, Zoro finally gazed upon the person who was next to Rumi.
He examined him for a few seconds, which was more than enough time for him to conclude:
'That's not an F-Rank hunter. This guy is pretty strong for a rookie.'
Zoro accepted his handshake.
" Nice to meet you, RED."
As they professionally shook hands, Rumi came to a halt and eventually released herself from Adam's grip.
She looked at Adam quizzically but didn't say anything. If he did not want to introduce himself with his real name that was not for her to question.
" Now that introductions are in place, how about we go over the raid planning for a bit?"
Adam wanted to get a good idea of everyone's role during the raid, but the other two looked quite uninterested.
...
Around half an hour later, three individuals appeared out of thin air in what appeared to be an endless desert.
"So, this is Isis, a B-Ranked Dungeon. It looks quite different than the low-rank ones I've been to."
Adam looked amazed at the views in front of his eyes. More than a dungeon this place resembled a different world.
The heat coming from the intensity of the sun above them, the warm air breezing through his scarlet hairs, the sand under his feet. It was impossible to compare this sensation to the dungeons he had previously visited over the last few days.
" It is more dangerous too, so be careful where you walk. And that goes for you too, brat."
" Call me brat one more time and I will put a new scar on your face."
"Eh!? Wanna go?!"
"Bring it on!!"
Adam was seriously wondering if this raid was a good idea.
Rumi seemed a bit too excited since he proposed to have a competition, she hadn't stopped smirking with her usual battle-ready smile since they entered the dungeon.
" You two... just stop. We have a dungeon to clear."
The two came to a standstill but they kept gazing at each other tauntingly like a pair of siblings.
Before the two could start bickering again though, Adam did something that surprised not only Zoro but Rumi as well.
" Arise."
The moment he said those words, his shadow expanded until it reached a terrifying 1 Km radius around the group.
Following this bizarre event, an even more bizarre thing started happening.
From within his expanding shadow, hundreds of hands, claws, and other unrecognizable limbs started to emerge. Soon, the upper bodies followed by their lower halves were exposed, and before they knew it, the three of them were surrounded by over 500 monstrosities encased by shadow-like armor.
"W-what the fuck?"
The swordsman found himself astonished at what he was seeing.
Just by looking at these beasts, he could easily estimate their ranks.
' All of them are at the beginning of C-Rank. And that big guy should be close to B-Rank.'
Ragnar, after becoming a shadow, underwent a considerable transformation.
His enormous frame remained unchanged, but his muscles became more compact, giving him a more athletic look. His face which was previously morbid became sharper, resulting in a regal appearance, making him look more humanoid.
On his shoulder, rested his enormous axe, but unlike before it now possessed a shadow coating that made it seem more sinister.
Although he found himself incredulous at such a spectacle, he wouldn't shy away to fight these monsters. As an A-Rank hunter in the upper ranks, he could exterminate this army, though it wouldn't be an easy task.
Before Zoro could get serious and begin an onslaught, all the shadow beings kneeled in Adam's direction, halting the green-haired man's actions in the process.
" These are my subordinates, Zoro, there's no need to engage."
Rumi was less surprised since she already heard of Adam's power the day before, but it was still hard for her to digest what she was seeing.
" Ragnar."
Listening to his master's call, the giant obliged.
" Yes, master."
" Take 200 soldiers and go south, meet me again in one hour. Fight whatever comes your way, only retreat if necessary."
As if his words were an ultimate law, Ragnar stood up and started moving without asking any questions.
Turning to his team members, Adam sneered once he saw their facial expressions, though none of them could appreciate it as his face was hidden.
" Now, shall we go?"
.
.
.
.
.
.
Nothing much happened in this chap since I wanted to introduce Zoro as best as I could.
As a One Piece fan, I have always wanted to include this guy in a ff, and so I did.
The next chap should have some more action going on.
As always, have a good day.
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