Volume 3 Chapter 55
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”That’s strong…”
”Yes, it is,” Mana replied. “It only looks weak because Kanade-kun is the one fighting. For us, taking one on alone would be a struggle.”
”Yeah. We’d have to throw everything we had at it just to bring one down.”
Standing outside the ninety-ninth floor, Mana and Sakurako watched Kanade fight as though he were casually demonstrating a technique. While observing him, they ran through the battle in their heads, imagining how they would move if they were the ones facing those enemies.
”If everything goes according to plan, Sakurako-san and I should be able to win,” Mana said after a moment. “Ten minutes, give or take.”
”That sounds about right.”
”The difficult part will be timing the finishing blow.”
”Exactly.” Sakurako let out a quiet breath. “Kanade said we’d definitely pull it off, but that’s a pretty heavy expectation.”
A wry smile touched Mana’s lips.
”Even so, we cannot disappoint Kanade-kun, can we, Sakurako-san?”
”You’re right, Mana. We’re the ones who love Kanade, and…”
”Yes.” Mana met her gaze. “We’re also carrying the feelings of Rin-sensei, Minami-san, Haruka, Maria-san, and everyone else who could not be here today.”
Their eyes locked.
”We can definitely take them down!”
Their voices rang out as one.
The two clasped hands firmly, then waited for the precise moment Kanade finished off the three Mechanoids. As soon as the opening came, they stepped onto the ninety-ninth floor and moved to either side of him. Ahead of them, more Mechanoids emerged from the pillars rising out of the ground, and both women fixed their eyes on their targets.
♢♢♢
(Ugh, they’re way faster than I expected!)
Sakurako’s heart pounded against her ribs.
(I acted confident in front of Mana, but this is cutting it pretty close!)
Even so, panic never took hold.
She brought up her sword to meet the yellow Mechanoid’s attack, dodging a punch, turning aside a kick, and flowing straight into a counterattack. Whenever a relentless barrage threatened to overwhelm her guard, she sprang backward and gave ground, letting the force of the attack disperse instead of meeting it head-on.
It was a battle fought on a razor’s edge.
One thing had relieved her, however. She had worried that fighting alongside Mana and Kanade would count as a joint battle, but it seemed that was not the case. Her [Samurai of Solitude] buff remained active. If it had disappeared, the entire operation might have collapsed the moment she fell behind.
(As long as I can keep fighting, that’s enough!)
A determined smile crossed her face.
(And… it’s getting easier.)
Kanade had been destroying them in a single strike, so she had not noticed before, but the Mechanoids seemed to lose efficiency as they took damage. If that was true, lining up the final attack would be much easier. All she had to do was land the decisive blow at the exact same moment as Mana and Kanade.
(Heh. I’m actually confident I won’t mess this up. I’ve really changed, haven’t I?)
There had been a time when Himezaki Sakurako, the Samurai of Solitude, carried the weight of Japan entirely by herself. Now she trusted her companions from the bottom of her heart, and alongside the members of Resonant Melody, she stood on the verge of reaching even greater heights as a samurai.
After casting a quick glance toward the blue Mechanoid Mana was fighting, Sakurako returned her focus to her own opponent and steadily whittled it down while pushing herself to the absolute limit.
♢♢♢
(I put on a brave face for Sakurako-san, but I’m getting close to my limit too.)
Coincidentally, Tanaka Mana was thinking almost the exact same thing.
After strengthening her body with (Dungeon Energy Cloak), she relied on her natural combat instincts to match the blue Mechanoid blow for blow. In terms of raw damage, they were roughly even, but there was one thing the monster could never match.
Intelligence.
Whenever she managed to create some distance, Mana unleashed (Dungeon Energy Bombardment) or (Dungeon Energy Explosion) to widen the damage gap. At the same time, she used (Dungeon Energy Barrier) to soften incoming attacks and reduce the punishment she took.
Each advantage was small on its own.
Over ten minutes, however, those small gains became impossible to ignore.
(Alright. Now all I have to do is match my timing with Sakurako-san and Kanade-kun.)
Her focus sharpened further.
(We’ve shared our hearts and bodies countless times. There’s no way we fail here.)
Mana briefly checked on Sakurako’s battle before turning back to her own. Then she carefully shaved away the blue Mechanoid’s remaining HP until it stood on the verge of collapse.
♢♢♢
”Hmm… I wonder why I feel kind of guilty,” I murmured while watching Mana and Sakurako-san fight with everything they had. “Is it because I’m the only one taking it easy?”
The red Mechanoid writhed beneath my foot, desperately struggling to escape.
Naturally, it could not.
All I had to do was crush it at the same moment Mana and Sakurako-san defeated theirs.
”Seeing those two trust each other that much almost makes me feel left out,” I grumbled with a faint smile. “Man, I wish Mana and Sakurako-san would look at me like that too…”
For nearly ten minutes, I waited and watched the battle unfold.
The moment was finally approaching.
I could not afford to fail. If I messed this up, all the effort Mana and Sakurako-san had poured into this plan would be wasted.
Still, I was not worried.
The bond between the three of us was real.
We had shared our hearts, our bodies, and everything in between. If anyone could strike at the exact same instant, it was us.
”Mana, Sakurako-san… alright. Let’s do this together…”
Even without looking, I could feel their breathing. I could sense their movements, and I could almost hear the feelings hidden in their hearts.
Guided by that connection, I brought my foot down.
The red Mechanoid shattered beneath it.
—
Summary:
Kanade, Sakurako, and Mana orchestrate a synchronized strike against three powerful Mechanoids on the ninety-ninth floor. While Sakurako and Mana push their physical and tactical limits to survive, Kanade monitors them with a mix of protective concern and slight jealousy. The scene ends at the precipice of their unified final assault.
—
Trivia:
The ninety-ninth floor serves as a specific difficulty gate in the dungeon hierarchy.
Sakurako’s [Samurai of Solitude] buff is contingent on solo combat, making her survival strategy precarious.
Mana utilizes Dungeon Energy in three distinct modes: Cloak, Bombardment, and Barrier.
Kanade’s restraint of the red Mechanoid is a deliberate tactical choice to ensure simultaneous defeat.
Notes:
• Kanade – powerful protagonist of Resonant Melody, this young man uses ultra-enhanced perception, speed, and bare-handed pressure point combat to guide a party of five powerful women who coalesce around him. Maria’s boyfriend, he is a relaxed leader capable of instant death and healing.
• Mana – An alluring, black-ponytail A-Rank explorer and Resonant Melody sub-leader who serves as Kanade’s deeply devoted partner and calm strategist. A core member of a trio with him and Sakurako, she shares a deep emotional and physical bond with her allies. Empowered by Kanade, this tactically minded woman uses Dungeon Energy and cloak combat against dragons while mentoring Aina.
• Sakurako – An S-Rank, voluptuous swordswoman known as the “Samurai of Solitude” and companion to Kanade, who once carried the weight of Japan on her shoulders. She has long, black princess-cut hair, sharp, intense eyes, and wears an off-the-shoulder kimono. Fierce, direct, and loyal, she fights with blinding speed and 100+ clones. She mentors Mana and shares a deep, intimate bond of love with Kanade.
• Sakurako-san – A powerful, voluptuous S-Rank “Samurai of Solitude” explorer with sharp eyes and black hair in a princess cut. Wears an off-the-shoulder kimono, wields a katana, and commands 100+ clones. She is a reliable Resonant Melody member who mentors Kanade’s party—deeply loving him daily—and is the only group member who wasn’t his academy classmate.
• Rin-sensei – A mentor or teacher character known for possessing appraisal skills.
• Maria-san – Blonde, tanned “Dark Gyaru” Maria Higuchi, nicknamed “Boob Gal,” is a busty, high-durability tank explorer wielding a greatsword for the “Headlong into Gyaru” team. Missing her lower left arm, she wears tiger-skin hot-pants and a bikini top. A member of the Four Heavenly Kings, she is deeply devoted to her partner Haruka and was the first to fall in love with her teammate Kanade.
• Haruka – Tall, handsome, and short-haired, Haruka (“The Prince”) is an androgynous, voluptuous Holy Priest and stoic vanguard for Resonant Melody. She wields a massive mace, hides burn scars on her fit physique, and manages security with Maria. Though currently absent—leaving her deep feelings to be carried by her allies—she melts into submissive vulnerability around her obsession, Hirosawa.
• Minami – Blue-haired, twintail academy idol and petite “Young Princess” of the Four Heavenly Kings, this cute, sadomasochistic Light Warrior is a completely groomed, dual-blade vanguard and scout for Kanade’s party. Resolute in danger, she uses wind magic. Currently absent, her feelings are carried by her allies. Devoted to Kanade, she cherishes Mana, Sakurako, and Haruka, and teases Maria.
• Maria – A voluptuous, dark-skinned blonde Dark Gyaru and one-armed Transcendent greatsword tank for Resonant Melody. Powerfully muscled yet affectionately playful and intimate with Kanade and the narrator, she is now absent, her supportive guild bonds and deep feelings carried onward by her New Tokyo allies and Mana.
• Rin – An intellectual, composed academy instructor and Resonant Melody member, Rin-sensei blends a seductive, maternal aura with a voluptuous figure in her lab coat. Though physically absent from the relocation group, she remains a significant source of emotional inspiration, team guidance, and Appraisal mentorship. She highly values Kanade’s strategic protection and contributes to group intimacy.
• Himezaki – Sakurako Himezaki, silver‑haired S‑Rank explorer of the Himezaki lineage, bears the [Samurai of Solitude] title. As a top solo dungeon conqueror and leading Guild member, her reputation shapes her identity; allies and rivals alike view her as the benchmark of Japanese dungeon exploration.
• Tanaka Mana – Tanaka Mana, a serious, neat beauty with long black hair in a ponytail and glasses, is a refined, disciplined former Class President famed for her purity and Kanade’s top favorite. An elite close-quarters combatant with high agility and martial arts mastery, she’s a sadistic competitor who recently split from soccer ace Kosaka, feeling worthless like a house centipede. As the Tanaka family heir, she provides the core ‘cheat’ utility for Resonant Melody and is linked to its sub-leader.
• Tanaka – Tanaka Mana, a neat beauty with black hair, is the youngest captive, a martial artist, and underground heir. Recently split from soccer ace Kosaka, she is Kanade’s top favorite and tied to Resonant Melody’s sub-leader via shared lineage with Aina. Shifting from a serious, glass-wearing former Class President to a twin-tailed beacon of hope, she serves as her group’s core utility and encouragement.
• Dungeon – An artificially‑created, androgynous‑beautied woman, once an S‑Class Dungeon Explorer, now serves as the Guild Master of the Dungeon Explorer Guild. She administers a hyper‑advanced dungeon, leading and guiding its members, and is known as the Dungeon Master, wielding authority that shifts with each dungeon phase, her beaming smile a constant hallmark.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply