Danmachi: Obligations To The Past

Dan never thought himself particularly gifted, however, he knew himself better off than most. He had a family and friends who cared for him. Perhaps that was the crux of his problem. Drilled day after day on what was expected of him was extremely stifling for him. Don't get him wrong, he loved his family and there was nothing wrong with expecting great things from your child, but all he wanted was freedom. The freedom to make his own choices wether they be wrong or right.

However, life is never that simple so he found his own outlet. He began to read light novels and watch the anime where he could live the freedom he craved through their shoes. Today was no different. He was currently in a hurry to return home from his classes so that he could read the new release of the Danmachi light novel. Though he had his complaints about the main character, the story itself was intriguing to him.

'I wonder what kind of journey he'll find in the labyrinth this time' Daniel thought to himself when "ooof".

While caught in his thoughts, he walked into something that felt almost like glass. He was confused because there was nothing in his path. He was walking on an empty sidewalk to his dorms. There were many around walking through where he just hit the wall.

'So strange. It's like no one noticed what happened to me at all.'

Then he began to feel pain in the locations that hit the wall. It was like a burning sensation that was spreading outward from all places of contact.

"What is happening to me!?" He struggled to say through clinched teeth.

It was like something was invading his body and by the time he released the skin and clothes on those regions began to disintegrate. He lost all ability to speak coherently or think. His brain was overloading with signals from his nervous system. With panicked eyes he searched around him for help, but it was like he was invisible to everyone around him.

"Gaaah" he gasped at air as he slumped to the hard concrete. Looking down only to see that he had no legs from the knee down and the muscles beneath the skin on his stomach and c.h.e.s.t were exposed. Seeing his own insides was the last straw that broke the camels back. He fainted only to completely disappear altogether.

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Whilst Daniel was suffering there was an entity observing from an unknown location frowning.

"I set up the barrier to find a worthy successor and I found one, but that boy somehow interfered with the process and was eliminated by the system. Damn, now what am I gonna do about that boy. His soul can't return to this worlds cycle of reincarnation because he was taken by said system."

Contemplating what to do about the boy who just disintegrated in front of him when his creation returned.

"I guess I'll give him a few wishes and send him to a world of his choice. This is really troublesome. The others will be quite displeased." He said before retrieving the boys soul.

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Daniel was enveloped in a warm feeling like he was floating in a warm pool. He was truly relaxed till he opened his eyes to see nothing but a starry sky and yet not one that could be seen from Earth.

'Am I still dreaming. Geez, this at least is pretty good compensation for that horrible nightmare from earlier.' He thought.

"You are not dreaming mortal. You were killed for intruding on something you were never supposed to be a part of. My system quarantined you off and erased you to complete the task I gave it. I never saw you in the my foresight. Truly anomalous."

The deep voice caught him off guard. He looked down to see a single floating throne and upon it a robed man with white hair and blue eyes.

"What is gonna happen to me?" Dan was on edge at this point. Who wouldn't be nervous in this situation. This kind of thing only happens in those novels and he couldn't see it ending well for him.

"Simple, you were forcefully stripped from the fabric of reality which is the reason for the pain you experienced. I am not able to bring you back or send you back to that cycle. Thus, I will send you to the world of your choosing along with three gifts to facilitate your survival. However, they can't be too powerful in service of retaining the balance of the world. So what say you?" Said the robed man.

Daniel began to think. Which worlds exist and what would he prefer. The gears in his mind were churning out the possibilities, but one needs to hear it from the horses mouth as they say.

"Don't refer to me as a horse. Ask your question." Said the man. You could clearly hear the annoyance at the insult.

"Ah, sorry. How do the worlds work? What can I choose?" Daniel asked.

"There are infinite parallel universes and infinite outcomes. All exist. You could go to any world you can think of because it will exist merely by being thought of as is the way of creation." Said the man.

Daniel was at a loss of words. All he could think was how badass this was. He could choose his own place to go and the wishes. He didn't even begin to contemplate the wishes and he was already salivating. If this wasn't freedom then he would never have it so he came to a decision.

"I want to be reincarnated as Bell in Danmachi." Said Daniel.

"This can be arranged. I will send you after his accident with the goblin. What are your wishes?" Said the man.

'Now the true problem. What do I want. There are so many possibilities.' Dan was having a hard time deciding. 'I know I need one of those systems to facilitate my growth but more to make sure I don't get lost in the dungeon. I also really want sword skills to stay alive and some special power. Like a dōjutsu or something.' He was deep in thought before being interrupted by the man.

"I can give you a system, but it's up to you to figure out the details. Dōjutsu' can be arranged with some tinkering but what kind of sword skill do you want?"

"I want something that gives me aptitude in one sided blades like the uchigatana." Daniel asked.

The man sat silent for a while before finally speaking. "I will give you increased learning at sword skills. All other skills can be obtained through the system. Since it's not much of a gift considering the system already could provide it I will give you a blade to begin your journey. It'll be in your inventory. The dōjutsu I will give you will be much like the sharingan, but it's abilities are altered to fit the world. It's up to you to discover it's abilities. I wish you luck, Bell Cranel."

And like that Daniel or now Bell Cranel, was sent to his chosen journey.