Danmachi: A Mage's Journey

Chapter 277: Heroes' Bridge

...

"Uaagh..."

Vomiting, retching, spitting it all out.

Inspired by those who came before, Raul had pushed himself forward, lying to himself with every step, all because he wanted to win, to be useful, to help his beloved captain even a little but his body had long reached its limit.

Everywhere he ran, the stench of blood clung to his senses. The endless tragedies painted across the streets gnawed at his heart, destroying both his physical and mental balance.

He was not permitted to stand upon the battlefield. And yet Raul had taken on the duty of a messenger, racing through the city day and night. Now, his strength failed him. Supporting himself with trembling hands, he collapsed to the ground and vomited violently.

"Raul!?"

"Ugh—! Cough! Cough!"

The acrid stench of bile burned his nose and throat. He only prayed Anakitty wouldn't come closer, that she wouldn't see him like this.

"Raul! Please, take a break. You've been running nonstop since that night!"

Anakitty's desperate voice trembled, her hands patting his back as tears brimmed in her eyes.

Her worry cut Raul deeper than any blade. His chest ached with guilt. His vision blurred with tears he had no right to shed.

'No... I can't stop. I have to keep running. I have to help captain, help others.'

'I didn't even fight. I wasn't even there. I was protected away from the battlefield... so why am I this pathetic!?'

The answer was cruel, yet simple. Once the numbness wore off, Raul was nothing more than a mortal, a little stronger than most, but still just a mortal.

"Why... why am I so—"

The truth shamed him. His soul felt like it was collapsing. No matter how strong Finn and the others were, the words "I can't hold on any longer" were bubbling dangerously close to the surface of his suppressed heart.

Sensing his despair, Anakitty whispered softly, "...Raul..." Her own voice carried the same powerless tremor.

His body shook. His knees threatened to give way.

Clang. Clang.

"...?"

The faint sound of metal striking stone suddenly reached their ears.

Startled, Anakitty's cat ears perked up sharply. Raul also lifted his head. They were in the western part of the city. The waterways spread out like a giant grid, mist rising faintly into the cold air, blurring the outlines of the streets.

"...The sound of a hammer?"

Raul wiped his mouth with his sleeve, then slowly stood. Drawn by that steady rhythm, he and Anakitty followed the sound forward.

It was calm, steady, and clear, unlike the chaotic cruelty of Evilus. The mist gradually parted, guiding them toward the source. And soon, they arrived.

"...Hero Bridge?"

A massive stone bridge stretched before them, over sixty meters long and ten meters wide. Lining the railings on either side were rows of statues, standing proud even in ruin. As its name suggested, this was the Hero Bridge.

It was the pride of humanity, erected by those who had once fought to block the massive underground dungeon entrance, a monument carved into Orario itself. The statues depicted the figures of the great heroes of old, men and women who had achieved legendary deeds upon this land.

Raul and Anakitty had both come here when they had first arrived in the city. They had looked up at those heroes with reverence, had prayed to one day stand among them. They had aspired, as all adventurers did, to reach the same heights.

And now, on this very bridge, they saw him.

A lone god, hammer in hand, was repairing the ruined bridge. There were no followers around him. Only his solitary figure working in silence.

The bridge had not escaped the aftermath of the Great Struggle. Its surface was scarred, its arches cracked, its proud statues marred and broken, some missing arms or heads, others toppled and leaning.

Raul and Anakitty stood frozen in awe before stepping forward, their footsteps tentative as they approached.

"Goibniu-sama... why are you here?"

The god of forgecraft did not look up from his work. His taciturn reply was as curt as the ringing of his hammer.

"The forging of weapons has been left to my children. Every furnace in the city is lit. I have no need to tend them." His words sounded like an answer, yet carried none of the weight of explanation.

Raul gulped, his voice trembling with confusion as he asked again, "Then why... why repair this bridge? There are far more important facilities waiting for restoration—"

Goibniu interrupted, his hammer striking down once more. "This place is different."

Goibniu's words cut off Raul's question, leaving him frozen.

He said, never taking his eyes off the statues, "This bridge is the only thing that must never be lost."

His gaze lingered not on Raul, nor on the enemies that surely lurked beyond, but only on the stone effigies and the arch of the bridge itself.

"Lose this bridge and we will never rise again."

Silence fell.

The origins of this bridge was ollder than the Age of Gods. Monster tides, earthquakes, wars among men, it had been destroyed countless times, yet always rebuilt, repaired, and carried forward.

It was as if the world itself had declared: "We will not surrender our glory."

"Heroic myths." Goibniu muttered, scarred hands tightening around his hammer. "Those alone must never be broken."

Every mark on his weathered palms spoke of endless work, of an artisan who had mended countless things with his own strength. At that moment, another statue regained its form under his chisel.

A small masked warrior upon a mighty steed, spear raised high. The horse's hooves etched the path of triumph into this land.

Raul's chest clenched. He didn't know why but tears streamed down his face. Beside him, Anakitty wept as well. They had stood before these statues once before, wide-eyed new adventurers, praying that one day they might walk in the footsteps of these heroes.

Even broken, even burned, even toppled, the thirty-one heroic figures still stood. Still watching.

"Is that... an adventurer?" A cruel voice cut the silence.

"!!!"

Six masked figures emerged from the mist, evilus. Their eyes gleamed with mockery, their mouths dripping contempt.

"Three little adventurers alone on this bridge?" one sneered.

"Hah! Perfect prey." another laughed. "What use is repairing stone? Heroes are long dead."

Raul knew what would come next. They would kill him, kill Aki, and then shatter the bridge itself, grinding Goibniu's devotion into dust. But before he could speak, the hammer struck stone again.

Clang.

Goibniu said, his back never turning, "I'll continue the repairs. The rest is for you to decide."

"Yes!" Raul shouted.

He drew his blade. The trembling in his hands vanished. Beside him, Aki's twin swords flashed free, her hesitation gone.

No matter the odds, no matter their strength, here, on the Heroes' Bridge, defeat was unthinkable.

"Let's go, Aki!"

"Right behind you!"

Adventurers could fall. They could break. But like the heroes who came before, they could also rise again, and stand defiant until the last breath.

Even Raul, no warrior but a messenger, felt the weight of it. If nothing else, he could still run. Still carry their will forward. Even if he was only a small stone beneath the feet of giants, he would roll forward with them.

The heroes of the past looked on in silence. And beneath their gaze, Raul and Aki carved their names into history.

(End of Chapter)

[New Series]

One Piece: Entry System

Hiroto arrives in the world of One Piece thanks to the almighty Truck-kun.

Thankfully, he acquires an entry [Transmigrator] for achieving the miracle, which gives him the possibility of entry extraction, fusion and granting.

The more impact he makes in the plot of One Piece, the more Disortion energy he gets, which equals better entries.

[Entry: Budget Shinso]

[Effect: After activation, extends the length of sword-type weapons to 40 meters. The extension speed and width are determined by the degree of physical stamina consumption. Returns to original state after cancellation.]

[Entry: Effort King]

[Effect: Experience categorized as training or learning is multiplied by 200 times after settlement.]

[Entry: Fiery Heart]

[Effect: Adds fire damage to any attack. The range, power, and temperature are determined by the amount of stamina invested.]