Awaiting Azathoth's answer made me realize how odd yet beautiful the scenery around us looked. It had a similar vibe to that backroom floor where it's just a plain field with a bunch of houses scattered everywhere.
"The ultimate goal is to seal the dungeon and stop the monsters from existing, which would ultimately lead to the collapse of the adventuring system we have today. The Gods, unable to use adventurers for their amusement, would mostly return to the Heavens, leaving only a few behind."
I already somewhat knew that. Since the underwater dungeon is sealed, why couldn't the original one be as well?
This is actually kind of similar to what happened in Lord of the Rings. After defeating Sauron once and for all, the Elves eventually left Middle Earth, leaving only humans, dwarves, and hobbits as sentient species.
Ages later, dwarves went extinct for whatever reason, as did the hobbits, leaving only humans to wander around the once multiracial planet.
Stories became legends over time, turning historical events into aspects of mythology or fairy tales. It was said that the kingdom of men existed for many years after.
Something like this awaited the world of Danmachi too, possibly.
Sealing the main dungeon would lead to the collapse of the adventuring system. With no monsters to grind excelia on, most adventurers would leave their profession and seek another purpose in life.
The last generation of higher-level adventurers would die out over time, eventually leaving only level 1s behind if the Gods still gave falnas by then.
Surface monsters would most likely be hunted to extinction, leading to a simple medieval fantasy world, just without monsters and overpowered people.
Maybe humans could then focus on technology, eventually reaching the point where they no longer need swords and bows, just like in my previous life.
Stories of the dungeon and powerful adventurers would become legends by then, and Gods roaming the earth would sound like fairy tales.
Another reason why I think mythology is a more trustworthy source than official history is that it is written by the people, not by victors like official history.
Sure, edits and changes to mythology always existed, but mythology was ultimately written by the people.
"You haven't listened to any of my talks; instead, you wandered deep inside your thoughts!" She was acting angry, but I knew she was teasing me.
"Sorry, I get what you're trying to say, though. I agree with you on it. The idea of making the cycle of adventuring infinite sounds good to me."
"Your job is to unseal the dungeon in Melen and venture to the deepest floor to make the dungeon permanently unsealed. Doing that would prevent any adventurer from sealing it, no matter how powerful they might be."
She finished speaking by kissing my ear. Her entire goal sounded like something I would do even without her involvement.
"Fine by me. And how long do you plan on doing all this to me? Besides, there are more important things I want to talk about..."
"My status is broken. Many things are just confusing, and I don't get how it works completely. Would you mind making it a bit easier to understand, perhaps explaining?
"I am going to edit your powers a little bit, just to make them look simpler and get you some new quests, sub-skills...
She seemed amused by my neutral face. The next moment, I found myself standing in front of a blue screen that said, "STATUS."
Standing beside me with her hand around my shoulders, she said, "See this? I will give you a cleaner status with revamped skills and powers."
She held me by the shoulders and moved the status creation screen that towered above my height.
--- STATUS MAKER ---
Name: Niall
Race: *REDACTED*
Level: 2
Power: 0 I
Survivability: 0 I
Durability: 0 I
POWERS
(Force of Authority)
- Gravity Manipulation
The user can increase, or decrease gravitational force in a specific area, pinning enemies to the ground or crushing objects with immense pressure.
- Planetary Devastation (LOCKED)
- Almighty Push (LOCKED)
- Universal Pull (LOCKED)
(Hastur's Cloak) Current level protection: 0-3
It grants the user the ability to summon a golden transparent cloak around their body, completely protecting them from any harm that is level below or above their own.
QUESTS
Gather 100 Kills
- Progress: 54/100
Reach the 30th floor in the dungeon
- Progress: Uncompleted
Defeat Goliath
- Progress: Uncompleted
Unseal the Underwater Dungeon
- Progress: Uncompleted
--- --- ---
"So honey, everything practically stays the same only I decided to give your skill a new name and a set of sub-skills for you to grind for. The skill is even more efficient than the previous one since it's a combination of both Hector and Pain's gravitational powers."
This sounded too good, Sleeping Chaos was a combination of Pain and Hector's powers before too but this skill is now more developed and stronger as it seems.
"You aren't limited to the shockwaves anymore Niall, you can even fly by using the skill but you need to practice something like that first..."
Azathoth passed me a smug smile that was giving me mixed signals, these buffs must come with a cost since why would I get them for free?
"And what do you want from me in return? Surely these buffs and new powers aren't free since nothing in life is free."
"I want you to continue completing my quests with utmost determination, you won't be seeing me for a while since I have some busyness to do. Continue living your life to the fullest and you will be rewarded with even greater power in the future, you will need it.
The last comment made me want to question her but I gave up.
"Now, got anything to say to me before we depart?"
I looked her directly in the eyes with a neutral expression. She stared down at me with her beautiful red eyes. Her face gleamed in the artificial sunlight, revealing her divine beauty to the fullest.
"Thank you for letting me experience a new life in my favorite anime world, and for giving me affection, I guess..."
"We will meet again pretty soon. Until next time, Niall," was the last thing I heard before my consciousness turned dark.