Volume 2 Chapter 17
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We pushed through the third floor—a standard grassland layout—and survived the suffocating, humid miasma of the fourth-floor wetlands. Finally, we set foot on the fifth floor¹.
Between the trekking and the brief, uneasy naps we took on the landings between floors, about a full day had slipped by. It was a stark reminder that a Phase Three dungeon isn’t something you can just speed-run; the sheer scale of the place demands its pound of flesh in time.
”But now all we have to do is find Maria-san and her crew!” Minami-chan chirped, her energy seemingly bottomless.
”She’s a survivor,” Haruka-san added, her voice steady. “I’m sure she’s hunkered down somewhere, waiting it out.”
”Yeah, yeah! Maria-chi is way too tough to kick the bucket here!” Mana agreed.
”You’re right,” I said, forcing a nod. “If anyone can pull through this, it’s Maria.”
Relying on their optimism, we began our sweep of the dungeon’s final floor. “The fifth floor looks like a mix of plains and dense forest,” I observed. “The terrain isn’t the problem, but finding a needle in a haystack—or Maria-san in these woods—is going to be the real challenge.”
”Splitting up would be faster, but this is a Phase Three endgame floor,” Haruka-san cautioned. “It’s better to be slow and together than fast and dead. Let’s not rush this.”
”Fair point,” Mana chimed in. “B-rankers like Maria-chi’s group wouldn’t last five minutes out on the open plains. If they’re still breathing, they’ve probably found a cave in the rocky sections of the forest to hide in.”
With a plan in place, we moved away from the grasslands and headed toward the dark canopy of the forest. We cut through a few roaming monsters along the way—Baby Fenrirs and Small Wyverns. Don’t let the names fool you; “baby” or not, these things were apex predators befitting a final floor.
But they weren’t anything we couldn’t handle. Minami-chan moved like a blur, her blades dancing faster than the Fenrirs could snap their jaws. Once she’d hamstrung them, Mana’s heavy fists and Haruka-san’s brutal mace swings finished the job.
The Wyverns were a pain since they stayed airborne, but Haruka-san grounded them with (Divine Magic Shot)² while Minami-chan shredded their wings with (Sky-Ripping Slash)³.
Once they hit the dirt, Mana and Minami-chan made sure they stayed there. I kept my (Pressure Point Gun)⁴ leveled and ready, but my team was so efficient I didn’t even have to pull the trigger.
”Here we go… the forest,” I whispered as the light dimmed under the trees. “Should we expect Treant-types?”
”Most likely,” Mana replied. “Oh, but since this is a Phase Three forest, that thing is going to show up.” She tapped her outfit meaningfully.
”The Black Anaconda. I’d love to farm some [Black Anaconda Suits], but we can’t exactly go trophy hunting while people are missing.”
The Black Anaconda was a beast, but one we’d put down plenty of times. Normally, I’d use my (Adversarial Pressure Point)⁵ to juice the drop rates, but today, every second was a luxury we didn’t have. “Stay sharp,” I warned. “Visibility is going to be crap in here.”
”Right!” Minami-chan said.
”Got it,” Mana replied.
”Understood,” Haruka-san added.
We plunged into the deep woods. For an hour, we carved our way through sentient trees and chitinous monsters, calling out for Maria-san’s group. Then, the silence of the woods was shattered.
”KYAAAAAAH!!”
”GURGH… AHH!!”
Blood-curdling screams erupted from a clearing just ahead. I felt my heart skip a beat.
”Move!” Haruka-san barked.
We tore through the undergrowth, branches catching at our clothes as we sprinted toward the noise. We burst into a clearing and the world seemed to stop.
There was Maria Higuchi, pinned and helpless, the massive maw of a Black Anaconda hovering inches from her face. It was a gore-strewn nightmare. One of her arms was gone—torn away at the shoulder—and the ground beneath her was a growing pool of crimson. She was seconds away from being a meal.
”Kanade-kun!” Mana shouted.
”Do it! Mana, aim for the head!” I yelled back.
”On it! (Dungeon Energy Mastery)⁶!!!”
Mana didn’t just throw me; she manifested a surge of energy that turned her into a human catapult. She seized me by the waist and launched me with bone-shaking force. I flew through the air like a kinetic slug, hurtling straight at the snake’s massive skull.
Even at this speed, my (Perception Enhancement)⁷ slowed the world to a crawl. I saw every scale, every drop of blood, and the glowing red dot of the monster’s kill-switch. I wasn’t going to miss.
”…NOW! (Adversarial Pressure Point)!!”
I slammed my strike home, driving the technique directly into the (Instant Death Pressure Point)⁸ on the Anaconda’s head.
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Summary:
Kanade’s party reaches the final floor of a Phase Three dungeon to rescue a missing comrade. They navigate a dangerous forest transition where high-tier monsters like Small Wyverns and Black Anacondas roam freely. A sudden scream leads them to Maria Higuchi, who has been brutally maimed and faces a lethal strike from a giant serpent
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Trivia:
- The specific crafting utility of Black Anaconda skins for ‘Suits’
- The logistical difficulty of resting in stairwells between floors
- The difference in power scaling between ‘Baby’ versions of high-tier monsters and normal dungeon mob
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Character Insight:
Kanade shows increased tactical decisiveness, prioritizing Maria’s life over rare item drops, while Mana demonstrates trust in Kanade’s combat ability by physically throwing him into the fray.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Minami – A cheerful blue haired twintail loli member of the party who utilizes a two-handed sword in combat. She exhibits high energy and enthusiasm during dungeon exploration. A combatant characterized by her extreme speed and agility. She utilizes twin blades to slice through enemies, often acting as the party’s primary vanguard to hobble faster monsters like Baby Fenrirs. A member of the party who is supportive of Maria joining the group. She uses the nickname ‘Maria-chi’ for her friend.
• Maria – A blonde, tanned B-rank adventurer and “Four Heavenly King,” is known as “Boob Gal” for her exceptionally large chest and tiger-print bikini attire. As the tank for team Headlong into Gyaru, she possesses high durability despite losing an arm to a Black Anaconda. Currently recovering from her injuries, she experiences intense vulnerability and develops romantic feelings for her healer, Kanade.
• Haruka – ‘The Prince,’ is an androgynous, busty short-haired 3rd-floor Holy Priest wielding a mace and Divine Magic. While she maintains a composed, cautious, and supportive role in the party, her modest exterior hides severe burn scars, a masochistic streak, and a trauma-linked obsession with Hirosawa’s scent. Mana’s close friend and Kosaka’s stalking target, she struggles to balance duty with fractured self-control.
• Mana – A bespectacled Sage and Four Heavenly Kings member with a black ponytail and immaculate armor, serves as the protagonist’s mentor in combat and intimate relief. She is joined by a composed, pragmatic strategist in a glossy black bodysuit. Both are Dungeon Energy Masters; while Kanade provides restorative support, her partner acts as the party’s tactical lead and heavy hitter, using raw strength to crush foes. Former class president.
• Higuchi – Family name of Maria the blonde tanned gyaru.
• Kanade – A calm, analytical academy student and high-ranking adventurer, leads the party Resonant Melody as a Vital Point Practitioner. Wielding the Lizard Fang Sword, a Pressure Point Gun, and the Black Ball storage item, he uses precise pressure-point manipulation to heal, buff, and control combat. Clad in a Black Anaconda Suit, he is deeply devoted to his companions, especially Minami.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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