The faint illumination from Endo's conjured flame cast flickering shadows across the weary, battered faces of the students huddled in the rest chamber. The stone walls, uneven and cold, amplified the somber mood. Their gear, once symbols of prestige and strength, now bore clear testament to their arduous journey—armor plates were dented or missing, fabrics frayed, and magical enchantments visibly weakened from sustained use.
Eri slumped against the chamber wall, her mage robes scorched and frayed from the relentless casting required each day. Her tired eyes gazed absently into the dim firelight, deep fatigue apparent in every line of her expression. Beside her, Suzu leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. Her staff, typically held with confidence, lay loosely by her side as she stretched out her legs with visible discomfort.
"My legs feel utterly useless," Suzu murmured quietly, a hint of resignation in her voice. "I genuinely doubted we'd ever make it this far."
Eri offered a faint, exhausted smile in response. "If I have to cast another barrier or offensive spell today, I might honestly faint. My mind feels completely drained."
Across from them, Daisuke sat with legs crossed, casting occasional glances toward the strongest among them—Kaori, Shizuku, Ryutarou, and Endo—who rested silently at the far side of the chamber. Kaori appeared lost in thought, her gaze distant and troubled, fingers intermittently clenching with subtle anxiety.
"They're on a completely different level," Daisuke said softly, his voice tinged with both awe and underlying frustration. "Kaori, Shizuku, Ryutarou—even Endo—carried us here almost single-handedly."
Suzu, hugging her knees to her chest, nodded thoughtfully. "Every floor deeper, they seem stronger, while we're barely managing to keep up."
The ensuing silence stretched uncomfortably until Suzu quietly broke it. "Floor 87… that one was particularly hard."
All present visibly tensed at the memory.
Eri closed her eyes, briefly revisiting the painful moment. "The mimic's nest disguised as an alchemist's refuge. When Kaori said Hajime's name aloud, I truly thought we'd found them."
"It felt unmistakably real," Suzu added softly. "Those carefully transmuted walls and precise magical imprints seemed exactly like something Hajime would create."
Suzu's voice trembled slightly, eyes focused on her staff as she spoke. "Then we discovered it was merely a monster imitating alchemy. The expression on Kaori's face… it was heartbreaking."
Daisuke shook his head with resigned certainty. "That moment solidified it for me. Hajime and Selena didn't survive the fall from Floor 50. The fact we've kept searching this deep into the labyrinth, following ghostly traces, feels absurd."
Suzu frowned slightly. "Yet Kaori and the others haven't stopped believing. Kaori insists she senses something, Shizuku meticulously searches each new room, Endo constantly scouts ahead, and Ryutarou follows without question. They've been relentlessly looking for any evidence that Hajime and Selena survived."
At this moment, Kouki stepped forward from the chamber entrance, overhearing the tail end of the conversation and speaking with characteristic assurance. "Exactly. This entire expedition has strengthened us immensely. By reaching the bottom, we'll be prepared for the conflict ahead."
Daisuke shot Kouki a pointed look but said nothing. Eri and Suzu exchanged skeptical glances, silently questioning his grasp of their true situation.
Suzu hesitated, then carefully ventured, "Kouki… do you really not understand what's happening?"
Kouki tilted his head slightly, puzzled. "Understand what?"
Eri sighed softly, choosing her words with care. "Kaori and the others haven't given up searching for Hajime and Selena. They still think they're alive."
Kouki frowned in confusion. "Why? They fell ages ago. By now, monsters surely would have—"
His blunt words lingered awkwardly, silence following swiftly.
Suzu gently interrupted, attempting clarity. "That's not the issue, Kouki. They haven't given up hope. It's that hope driving them forward, making them stronger."
Kouki shrugged, dismissing her sentiment lightly. "We're all here to get stronger, aren't we?"
Irritated, Daisuke muttered quietly under his breath, "High stats don't mean anything if you can't work with your team."
Either Kouki didn't hear or chose not to respond. He moved away, oblivious to the heavier silence he left behind.
Suzu watched him depart, then turned toward Kaori, her expression shifting to empathy. "Maybe their hope is reckless, but seeing Kaori like this… part of me wishes I still had faith in something as strongly as she does."
Eri nodded slowly, understanding evident in her weary eyes. "Me too."
The chamber fell into silence once more, the magical fire dwindling gradually, deepening the shadows around them. Kaori sat unmoving, gaze resolute yet distant—persistently reaching toward a belief only she now fully embraced.
After a few short hours of rest, the hero party began moving again. Their bodies ached, and their armor still bore cracks and soot, but they pushed forward—eyes fixed on the goal that felt just within reach.
The staircase winding downward from Floor 94 was narrow but steady, and the air felt noticeably warmer with each step. Kouki took the lead, his sword slung over his shoulder with casual confidence. Ryutarou walked beside him, arms loose but eyes sharp. A few steps behind followed Shizuku, quiet and focused, her hand resting on her katana's hilt.
As they descended further, the atmosphere began to shift. The chill that had clung to the walls for dozens of floors was fading, replaced by a growing dampness that clung to their skin and armor. The dry, musty air of the stone halls turned humid, almost tropical.
Suzu blinked and wiped at her forehead as the temperature climbed. "Aww man, this place is way nicer than the last ten floors," she said, half amazed, half annoyed. Her eyes scanned the corridor ahead. "But… how is there sunlight?"
She stepped out of the stairwell and gasped as golden light filtered through a dense canopy above. The ceiling of the floor—if there was one—was hidden behind layers of thick, green leaves and vines. Sunbeams spilled through the trees, casting dappled shadows across mossy ground and shallow puddles. The scent of damp earth and fresh greenery filled the air.
Kaori smiled gently beside her. "I know, Suzu. It almost feels like we're outside."
Tall trees—some with trunks wider than a castle tower—stretched high overhead. Insects chirped softly, and water dripped somewhere nearby, echoing faintly through the overgrown terrain. Thick roots twisted across the forest floor, making each step feel like walking on the back of a living creature.
Eri, trailing a bit behind them, scoffed lightly. "We're not outside. We're in a labyrinth. Remember?"
She gestured around them. "This whole thing? Just another illusion. A biome built by magic. Don't let your guard down."
"I know that," Suzu muttered, crossing her arms. "But still… it's kinda nice."
Endo walked past, glancing upward toward the leaves, his voice low but thoughtful. "No direct mana fluctuations. The 'sunlight' might be artificial, but the humidity and heat are natural. Someone—or something—designed this layer carefully."
Shizuku narrowed her eyes. "Which means there's something dangerous hiding in all this beauty. Stay sharp."
They moved cautiously now, the towering foliage around them shifting with every breath of wind—if it was wind. The rainforest floor was too quiet, the tension hanging just beneath the surface.
And yet… there was a strange peace to it too.
A reprieve, however brief, from stone, blood, and fire.
"Still," Ryutarou said with a grin, elbowing Kouki lightly, "compared to that lava floor? I'll take some sweaty leaves any day."
Kouki chuckled, the sound echoing just a little too loud for comfort.
As they advanced into the dense jungle of Floor 95, none of them could shake the feeling that something was watching—waiting.
For the moment, the forest seemed to offer the group a tranquil welcome.
Endo had departed approximately ten minutes earlier, scouting ahead.
Kouki appeared troubled, casting uncertain glances around the group.
"Hey, is something bothering you?" Ryutarou asked, noticing Kouki's apparent discomfort.
"I just have a nagging feeling we're forgetting something," Kouki admitted.
"Endo already went ahead to scout, remember?" Shizuku gently reminded him.
"Oh, right," Kouki sighed. "You'd think after ninety-four floors, he'd be easier to remember."
"Wow, Kouki, that's harsh…" Endo's voice suddenly interjected, causing everyone to jolt with surprise as he materialized in front of them. Kouki instinctively drew his holy sword, and the other students similarly readied their weapons—except for Ryutarou, Shizuku, and Kaori, who maintained their composure.
"Endo! Seriously, you'll be the death of me!" Kouki groaned, lowering his sword cautiously, still mindful of potential threats. They had only ventured half a mile into the new floor, with thick foliage obscuring their visibility.
Endo appeared unsettled. "It's strange—I climbed into the trees and even sent my clone ahead on the ground, but nothing triggered any alarms or traps. Honestly, it's unsettling."
Kouki activated his Life Sense ability, his brow knitting in confusion. "I'm not detecting anything either—just us."
"Are you only activating your Life Sense now?" Shizuku reprimanded him sharply. "You should keep it active continuously. It's crucial for detecting ambushes or anyone becoming separated."
"You're always vigilant enough for all of us, Shizuku," Kouki weakly defended himself, well aware that his negligence had nearly cost them dearly in the past—particularly against the spiders on Floor 66.
"Nevertheless, Endo is right," Eri interjected, refocusing the conversation. "This floor is distinctly different from the others we've encountered."
"Exactly," Suzu agreed. "Maybe the monsters here can evade magical detection methods?"
"Then perhaps we should continue moving," Daisuke proposed nervously.
"Agreed," Kouki nodded decisively. "Endo, did your scouting reveal any clues about where to go next?"
"Not particularly," Endo admitted, scratching his head thoughtfully. "I only went directly ahead of our current position. Maybe we should head right and hope something presents itself?"
"Works for me," Kouki replied, leading the party to the right.
As time passed without incident, the silence of the floor began to weigh heavily on the group. The unnatural calm gnawed at their nerves, and though no one said it aloud, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Suzu, unable to stand the stifling atmosphere any longer, suddenly bounded forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Kaori from behind in an exaggerated display of affection.
"Kaori, I need a hug to recharge my Kaori energy!" she declared dramatically, burying her face into her friend's back and inhaling deeply with a ridiculous flair.
"Ahh! Suzu, cut it out, that tickles!" Kaori yelped, squirming helplessly in her grasp, her cheeks coloring as a few of the nearby boys glanced over, confused and flustered.
Without missing a beat, Shizuku stepped in, her expression unamused. With a swift and decisive karate chop to Suzu's head, she halted the antics immediately.
"That's enough fooling around," Shizuku said firmly, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. "We haven't faced any threats yet, but that doesn't mean we can let our guard down."
Eri knelt beside Suzu and helped her back to her feet, while the shorter girl rubbed her head with a pout, clearly playing up the drama. "I can't help it—this place feels completely deserted! Maybe this floor is actually safe?" she suggested hopefully, though her voice wavered with lingering doubt.
Shizuku raised an eyebrow. "Sure," she replied dryly. "And tomorrow, the sun will rise from the west."
Despite her theatrics, those who knew Suzu well could tell she wasn't just being silly. Her antics weren't entirely thoughtless—she was trying to ease the oppressive mood, to give the others something lighthearted to focus on, even if just for a moment. Because they all felt it: something wasn't right. The floor might've seemed quiet… but it was too quiet.
Quiet laughter rippled briefly through the group, easing the tension momentarily as they continued carefully through the enigmatic silence of the forest.
The forest was quiet—eerily so—until the sudden rustle of leaves broke the silence. A small black cat darted through the underbrush, pursued by slithering, thorn-tipped tentacles that lashed at the air behind it.
At first, some of the girls in the party took a step forward, instinctively moved to help. The cat looked harmless—just like the ones from their world. Suzu even gasped softly, already preparing a spell to drive the tentacles away.
But then the cat did something... strange.
It stopped and turned, its fur bristling as it conjured its own weapon—a black, whip-like tentacle that extended from its paws, shaped like a pointed spear. With shocking precision, the spear-tentacle intercepted the grasping, hand-shaped ones that had been reaching for it. The small creature moved with fluid grace, clearly trained or intelligent, countering the attacks with calculated skill.
That's when the illusion shattered. This wasn't just a cat. Whatever it was, it had adapted to survive in this hellish forest.
The party watched as the strange cat pushed the attacking tentacles back. It seemed to have the upper hand… until something even faster struck from the shadows.
Without warning, a blur of black muscle exploded from the side—a six-legged panther, sleek and silent. Its fangs closed around the strange cat in a single, brutal motion. The panther landed and vanished into the deeper woods in the blink of an eye, dragging its prey with it.
Blood stained the forest floor.
At first, it was almost imperceptible—the wind stilled, the trees no longer swayed. Even the distant chirping of birds vanished, replaced by an oppressive silence. The group tensed. Something wasn't right.
A surge of killing intent rushed in like a crashing wave.
"Right side! Incoming!" Endo shouted, his hand flying to his weapon.
From the underbrush burst a sleek, black shape—feline in form, but twisted. It had six legs that moved with unnatural grace, and two long, bladed tentacles trailing from its shoulders. The panther-like creature blurred as it pounced, its body flickering like heat haze. It dove straight at Suzu.
Kaori screamed, instinctively casting a barrier. The monster slammed into it, claws screeching, before vanishing again in a shimmer of warped light.
"Where did it go?!" Kouki barked, already raising his sword. He spun in place, eyes darting around frantically.
Another shadow lunged from the left—then one from the trees above—then two from behind.
Twelve panther-like monsters revealed themselves, silently encircling the group. Their yellow eyes gleamed with malice as they stalked forward, tails lashing like whips.
"They've got us surrounded!" Ryutarou growled, stepping up beside Kouki, fists clenched and aura rising.
"No… wait," Shizuku narrowed her eyes, her hand gripping her sword tighter. "Some of those are illusions."
"Which ones?!" Kaori asked, already charging a spell.
Before anyone could answer, Daisuke stepped forward and fired off a quick burst of wind bullets. "Let's find out."
With a flick of his hands, he unleashed three tightly packed gusts of compressed air, each one aimed at different beasts. One struck a panther square in the chest—and it vanished without a sound.
"Fake," Disuke muttered, and immediately followed with a volley of rock shards from the ground. The next two targets dodged effortlessly, but when a water blast curved toward one that hadn't moved…
It vanished as well.
"They're reacting to our attacks—even the illusions move like they're real!" Eri shouted, frustrated, as she loosed a fiery explosion into the mass. It engulfed two creatures, but they both dissipated into shimmering smoke.
"They're messing with our instincts. Making us waste spells!" Ryutarou shouted, slamming a foot into the ground and launching a chunk of earth at another target. Another miss—another illusion.
Suddenly, one of the real beasts took advantage of the confusion. It darted forward, its blurred form nearly invisible until it was right in front of Kaori. Its tentacle lashed out—only for Suzu to tackle her friend aside, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the blow. Suzu took the hit instead, crying out as the barbed appendage tore through her arm and knocked her to the ground.
"Suzu!" Kaori shrieked, immediately kneeling over her, green light already glowing from her hands.
"Focus!" Shizuku snapped, cutting down a panther in front of her—only for it to vanish again. But this time, her eyes narrowed.
That one hadn't left tracks.
"I think I get it now," she murmured. "The illusions aren't just visual—they're partial magical constructs, tied to the forest's ambient mana. But they're not perfect."
She took a breath, sharpening her focus. The panther-like monsters moved almost identically… but only the real ones left weight in their steps. Only the real ones made sound as they moved.
"Watch their shadows!" she barked suddenly. "The fake ones don't touch the ground right!"
Kouki looked down, just in time to see one beast's shadow flicker strangely beneath it. He immediately redirected his attack to a nearby one with a solid, stable form. "Got it!"
His holy sword flared as it struck true this time, slicing deep into one of the real beasts. The creature howled in pain, black ichor spraying as it tumbled backward.
"That's one!" Kouki shouted triumphantly.
"They're adapting—fall back and regroup!" Endo yelled from the side, cutting down a vine to create space. "Shizuku, you've got the eye for this. You call targets!"
Shizuku nodded. "Daisuke, cover fire. Nakano, Saitou, help him. Nagayama, keep Kaori and Suzu safe. Eri, with me!"
From the edges of the skirmish, Daisuke unleashed another barrage, with Nakano and Saitou cooperating to do the same as him—this time layering wind and fire to create bright detonations, not to kill but to illuminate the battlefield. The flares burned the mist back just enough to see outlines clearly.
And in that light, five real panther-like monsters stood out, their shadows sharp and deep beneath them.
"There!" Shizuku called, pointing with her sword.
Kouki and Ryutarou moved as one, charging in with renewed purpose. Their blades and fists collided with fur and flesh this time—not smoke. A second beast was slain under their combined force, its body falling to the mossy ground with a satisfying thud.
The remaining illusions flickered—and the surviving real beasts roared in fury. Their false duplicates shimmered violently, reacting to the damage to their creators.
"They're linked!" Eri shouted, catching on. "If we hit the real ones, their copies destabilize!"
With the illusions seen through and the true panther-like monsters revealed, the party wasted no time preparing their counteroffensive.
Kaori was already at Suzu's side, her hands glowing with concentrated healing magic. "Hang in there," she whispered, channeling a focused regeneration spell directly into the torn flesh of Suzu's arm. "This'll stop the bleeding."
Suzu winced but nodded. "I'm okay... Just a scratch. I've had worse during training."
"Not funny," Kaori muttered, voice tight with worry, but grateful her spell had already sealed the worst of the wound.
A few feet ahead, Kaori knelt beside them, chanting softly. Her hands traced glowing lines in the air—support magic laced with healing energy to reinforce Kaori's work. "I'll keep the flow steady. Get her stable."
Meanwhile, Ryutarou stepped forward, his expression steeled.
It was time to take the lead.
He planted his feet into the soft earth and raised his voice in a powerful, guttural shout.
"Face me, my enemies! We shall do battle!"
The moment the words left his lips, a rippling wave of energy surged outward from his body. His taunt skill activated—this time amplified with a full chant. The spell pulsed with strength, pulling the attention of the beasts.
Two of the remaining panther-like monsters snarled and turned their glowing yellow eyes toward him. They broke into a sprint, charging with terrifying speed—distorted images of their forms trailing just slightly behind them, still trying to fool the eye.
But Ryutarou was ready.
He dropped into a low stance, scanning for the subtle clue Shizuku had mentioned—the shadows.
There. Between the two advancing figures, one cast a solid shadow trailing to the side.
But another shadow—thinner, more distinct—was closing in from behind.
His eyes widened, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he activated Diamond Skin, a ripple of hardened energy surging across his body, coating his arms and chest in glimmering crystal.
"Got you."
The moment the real panther-like monster lunged for his back, Ryutarou twisted, meeting it head-on with a clenched, blazing fist. Elemental Fist—Fire. His punch connected with the beast's chest, flames erupting on impact and stunning the creature mid-lunge.
The panther-like monster skidded to the side, dazed.
Endo appeared like a shadow, blade flashing.
"Thanks for the opening."
With a clean, practiced motion, Endo's sword sliced through the beast's neck. The body crumpled, twitching once before going still. The illusory copy behind it shimmered and collapsed into mist, disappearing into the shadows.
"That's another one!" Ryutarou panted, the fire fading from his fists. He dropped to one knee for a second, his breath heavy.
"Dammit… that chant version costs way too much mana," he muttered, shaking off the exhaustion and rising again. "But it worked."
"Three left!" Shizuku called. "Keep it tight, we've got this!"
The back line moved as one.
Saitou raised his hands, summoning a cascade of sharpened wind blades from above. Shinji followed up with a barrage of fire lances, driving one of the remaining panthers out of the cover of the brush and into the open.
"That one's real!" Shizuku shouted.
Nomura pointed. "I've got a spell ready!"
The beast roared and bounded away, weaving through the spellfire. But its path was narrowing. It darted right into a trap laid by Nomura and Nakano: a stone kiln that closed the moment the beast entered it.
"Combination spell: Magma Burst!" Nomura and Nakano chanted in unison.
A fiery pillar erupted from the kiln, super heated it till it boiled into magma slowly melting from the inside.
A chain reaction of explosive magic detonated beneath the panther-like monster, engulfing it in a flash of thunder and flame. It was lifted off its feet and slammed into a nearby tree, its limbs twitching as it slumped to the ground, smoking.
"One more down!" Nakano cheered from his position near the Suzu and Kaori.
"Last one's hiding again," Endo muttered. "Trying to reset the field."
Shizuku narrowed her eyes. "Then we don't give it the chance."
She raised her sword and motioned forward. "Let's finish this.
Just as the party regrouped, a flicker of movement from the edge of the clearing caught Kouki's eye—the final panther-like monster, circling wide, its movements slower but still dangerous. It hadn't given up.
Kouki's jaw clenched. He hadn't done enough. Guilt gnawed at him—the others were bleeding, tired, casting spell after spell, and he'd hesitated too long. Not this time.
He raised his hand high, voice breaking with emotion.
"Divine Wrath!"
A radiant beam of holy light erupted from his palm, searing through the thick jungle air. It wasn't a perfect shot—but it didn't need to be. The beam clipped the beast's hindquarters, striking both legs with a harsh burn. The creature screamed, collapsing into the dirt with a twisted snarl.
Its form flickered—real.
"You actually hit it?" Ryutarou said, half in shock.
Kouki blinked, stunned. "I… I didn't think—"
"You got lucky," Shizuku cut in sharply, then sighed. "But it worked. Now finish it!"
"On it!" Reichi shouted.
He braced his stance, spear glowing with a blend of wind and pressure magic. "Sonic Thrust!"
His body launched forward like a rocket, wind screaming in his wake. The panther-like monster, though wounded, lashed out with a tentacle as he closed the distance. The jagged limb tore across Reichi's side, slicing through cloth and drawing blood.
But he didn't stop.
He gritted his teeth, eyes burning with focus. The pain radiated up his ribs, but he poured every ounce of momentum forward, ignoring the sting, ignoring everything.
"—GO DOWN!"
With a roar, he drove the spear straight into the beast's skull.
The impact cracked the earth. The force of the thrust smashed the panther-like monster into the ground with a bone-rattling thud, pinning it beneath Reichi's weight and fury. The monster twitched once—and then went still.
Reichi remained crouched over it, panting heavily, blood dripping down his side.
"Ha… ha… Got it…"
Kaori gasped, immediately running toward him. "You're bleeding—!"
"I'm fine," Reichi grunted, not looking away from the beast's corpse. "That thing wasn't getting back up."
Just as the last panther-like monster staggered to its feet, its body trembling, blood leaking from its wounds—it let out a guttural growl and flickered with distortion again, preparing a final illusion.
The party was getting ready to end the pather life.
But then… the air shifted.
What looked to be Fog.
A thin mist crept in, low to the ground, curling unnaturally around the beast's legs. It came from nowhere, swallowing sound and light with eerie silence. The party froze—not from fear, but from instinct. Something was wrong.
And then they emerged.
The same cat-like creatures they'd seen before—small, black-furred, and unnervingly silent—began to materialize from the fog like ghosts. Their yellow eyes glowed dimly in the haze as they padded slowly toward the panther-like monster. There was no sound. No growling. No pouncing.
Just precision.
They moved as one, circling the beast. One moment, they were shrouded in mist. The next—they struck.
With a wet crunch, one of the creatures leapt up and drove its scythe-like forelimb straight into the beast's skull. Another dug a blade-like appendage into its shoulder, pinning it in place. A third slashed across its spine, severing tendons with surgical precision.
The panther-like monster shrieked—but it was already falling.
Its head hit the ground with a thud, eyes wide and unseeing, as the cats tore into it from all sides. Limbs. Tentacles. Eyes. Nothing was spared. The mighty predator was reduced to a twitching pile of ruined flesh in seconds.
Then, just as quickly, the creatures stepped back. Their kill complete.
Without a sound, they melted into the mist again—vanishing as suddenly as they'd come. The fog itself seemed to retreat with them, as if being swept away by an unseen wind.
Silence.
The party stood frozen.
"What the hell…?" Ryutarou muttered, eyes locked on the mangled corpse.
"They tore it apart," Eri said in a hushed voice. "Like it was nothing."
"They didn't even look at us," Kaori added. "It's like… we weren't even worth noticing."
Disuke's fingers twitched near his staff. "I thought they were just some weird monsters before, but now..."
"They're something else entirely," Shizuku finished grimly.
Then, a new voice broke through the clearing.
"Ah~ You're still alive. Wonderful."
They turned in unison.
A little to the left, just past a patch of broken vines, a woman walked into view—elegant, composed, and far too calm. Her red hair shimmered faintly under the filtered sunlight, and her dark coat trailed behind her like smoke.
Her face was beautiful in the way a statue might be—unmoving, flawless, and cold beneath the surface. Yet she wore a kind, playful smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Kouki stepped forward, blade half-raised. "Who are you!? Stop right there!"
She tilted her head, mockingly surprised. "Oh my~ Is that any way to treat someone who just saved your life?"
Her voice was sweet, like honey... with a razor hidden inside.
"You sent those things," Endo stated.
Her smile widened. "Things? How rude. I prefer to call them... companions."
The group didn't relax. If anything, their formation tightened.
"I suppose introductions are in order," she said, clasping her hands behind her back. "But only if you promise not to stab me."
She winked.
"After all... the real monsters haven't shown up yet."
The woman turned her gaze toward Kouki, her lip curling slightly. "Now then, I take it you're the hero? The one dressed up in that ridiculously sparkly armor?"
"I-It's not ridiculous!" Kouki blurted, puffing up a bit. "This armor is a symbol—a divine blessing from the gods! A demon like you wouldn't understand its significance!"
The reaction was a bit overblown, likely because he hadn't expected to see a demon here—especially not one so casual. Still, he tried to gather himself, adjusting his stance as though striking a noble pose would somehow win the moment.
The demon gave him a long, unimpressed look and sighed.
"Well, you certainly are… earnest," she said dryly. "Seriously though, this is the 'great hero' they want me to recruit? Hmph. Not what I expected. But orders are orders." She looked him over again, more bored than impressed. "You—yes, you in the stupid shining armor. Want to join our side?"
"W-What!?" Kouki blinked, looking genuinely thrown off. "Join… your side?!"
"Slow, aren't you? Literally what I just said. I'm inviting you to join the demons. You might find we treat you better than your fellow humans do."
There was a pause as the weight of the offer sank in. The rest of the students turned toward Kouki, watching to see what he'd say. Even the air felt tense.
Shizuku walked up next to Kouki, and just before she could tell him to calm down…
Kouki straightened, brushing dust from his chestplate with exaggerated care. "I refuse," he declared, trying to sound composed but coming off more dramatic than firm. "You think I'd betray my comrades? My people? I've sworn to protect them. Your offer just proves the demons are as manipulative as the stories say."
Hearing that, Shizuku facepalms her face, hearing Kouki being so emotional.
The demon raised an eyebrow. "You're seriously turning me down when I'm offering you better treatment than the world that uses you as a pawn?"
"You may have come to persuade me," Kouki said louder, his voice gaining volume as he got more into his speech, "but coming alone was your mistake! You're outnumbered, and justice is on our side. I suggest you surrender while you still can."
He struck a pose, trying to radiate authority.
She just blinked at him.
Then, flatly: "What if I said you could bring your classmates too?"
"My answer's still no," he snapped, gripping his sword tighter. "No matter what you offer, I won't betray the humans."
The demon stared at him a moment longer, then looked around at the exhausted, mana-drained group behind him and sighed once again.
"This is why I hate hero types," she muttered. "Always so blinded by ideals, you can't even recognize a good deal when it's handed to you."
Kouki didn't respond—though from the stiffness in his shoulders, it was clear he wanted to argue further. But even he could sense that the mood had shifted.
And not in his favor.
Just then, two white ravens flew overhead.
"She's sending out scouts," Endo muttered, eyes narrowing. He formed a quick seal. "Shadow Clone Technique."
The clones leapt into action, darting toward the ravens from opposite flanks. One managed to reach its target—only to be ambushed. A blur of movement. The black cat from before struck with a scythe-like limb, tearing through the clone's chest. Before the others could respond, it vanished back into the shadows.
"Tch!" Endo threw a smoke bomb, shrouding the party in thick gray mist. "Everyone, this way! Retreat!"
"What? Retreat?!" Kouki snapped, readying his sword. "Why the hell are we running?"
"Stop being stupid!" Shizuku barked. "We already burned too much mana just surviving that last fight. And that woman vanished when Endo went for her—don't you think she has more monsters hiding?"
Kouki faltered, letting the weight of her words settle in. Gritting his teeth, he followed as the group broke into a sprint, retreating deeper into the jungle floor.
"This way!" Endo's voice called from above. Vines dangled from trees like natural ropes, and he was already scaling them. The others followed suit.
Behind them, a chilling mewl echoed.
"Crap!" Ryutarou barked, falling back to the rear guard. "I'll hold the back line!"
"I'm with you," Reichi said, spear in hand, as he followed Ryutarou to cover the others.
From the canopy above, a feline silhouette dropped like a stone—its limbs extended, blades flashing. Shizuku caught sight of it midair and leapt, intercepting the blow. Her blade met its scythe with a loud clang, but the force pushed her back.
"Shizuku!" Kouki rushed forward, sword glowing as he caught the creature's next strike. "Got you!"
"Thanks…" she panted, trying to steady her stance. "Where now?"
"We regroup," Endo called, "but not here! This floor's too dense—we're going up!"
"But those monsters—" Suzu's voice trembled.
"Do you have a better idea?" Endo snapped. "When my clone attacked, I saw the air distort. There's more than just cats hiding out there..."
"Watch out!" Eri screamed.
Tentacles lashed from the vines beneath them, striking at the backline. One nearly caught Yoshiki's ankle. Eri launched a dark bolt, striking the tentacle just in time, but it hit the side of the vine. The whole structure trembled.
"We're up here!" Suzu cried, struggling to run. Eri grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.
"If we ran through the forest," Shizuku realized, "we'd be slowed by every turn. Endo chose this route because he scouted it beforehand!"
More feline shrieks echoed.
"Incoming!" someone shouted.
Two more cat-beasts lunged from the trees. Saitou stepped up, eyes fierce. "Wind Slash!"
Blades of compressed air sliced toward the enemies. Moments later, Nomura followed up with a shout—"Earth Bullet!" Though it missed, the resulting shock forced the cats to misstep, buying time.
Kouki and Shizuku vanished in a blur, reappearing right above the beasts. Their blades flashed—clean, precise. The monsters dropped before they even had time to react.
No one spoke. They just ran.
Endo, well ahead now, glanced back. The fallen cats were being dragged away—tentacles wrapping around their limp bodies. His spine shivered.
What the hell are those panther-things doing with the corpses? he thought grimly. Nope. Not finding out. Just keep moving.
The vine-path finally ended at a massive tree trunk. Endo leapt down first and landed hard—but rolled quickly to his feet. Just ahead, stone stairs came into view—leading to the next floor. Hope flared for a second—until he saw them.
Two ogres stood at the base of the stairwell, thick clubs raised and ready.
"Dammit—!" Endo summoned another clone and split. The ogres roared, swinging their weapons as both Endo and his double darted between their legs. He sank into the shadows while the clone danced in front of them, acting as bait.
Above, Kouki and Shizuku saw the ambush and reacted instantly.
As both Shizuku and Kouki leapt into the air toward the ogre, the towering creature let out a thunderous roar. It raised its massive club and swung it wide, aiming to smash them mid-flight—turning them into meat paste before they could strike.
Shizuku's eyes narrowed. "Shatter—Moonlight Fang!" she chanted, and her blade flared with light.
With perfect timing, she brought her katana down in a sharp arc, meeting the club head-on. Steel clashed with enchanted wood. The impact cracked through the air like thunder—and the ogre's weapon split clean in half.
The force of the blow knocked Shizuku back, her body tumbling through the air. But her strike had done enough.
Kouki shot past her without hesitation, his blade glowing with divine energy. He drove it straight through the ogre's forehead before it could react. The beast let out a strangled cry, then collapsed backward with a heavy crash, dead.
Shizuku landed hard, sliding across the ground before catching herself. She coughed once, then stood, her hands still trembling slightly from the recoil.
"…That was way too close," she muttered. "I barely made that cut. That thing was so damn strong…"
She looked at the broken remains of the club, still steaming where her blade had cleaved it.
"If it hadn't swung at us with full force—if it had just braced instead—I don't think I could've cut through. I would've lost that exchange."
Kouki glanced back at her and nodded solemnly, his sword still dripping with blood. "Then it's good it was too stupid to play smart."
Ryutarou dropped down next, covered in scratches and red claw marks. His shoulder was bleeding, one arm hanging stiffly as he gritted his teeth. Beside him, Reichi looked just as battered—his uniform was torn, and one of his legs had a noticeable limp.
"Ugh... I never want to fight those freaky cats again," Ryutarou muttered, swinging his arm to try and loosen it.
"We held back as many as we could," Reichi said, leaning on his spear. "But they're fast. Too fast."
Eri descended last with Suzu. Eri's face was pale, her hands singed with what looked like burn marks from casting too many spells in rapid succession. Suzu looked even worse—panting hard, nearly dragging her feet. Her clothes were ripped from sharp claws, and there was a gash along her thigh, hastily cauterized by Eri's magic.
"They're still out there…" Eri said between breaths. "I heard more of them while we climbed. They're not far behind."
Daisuke and Nomura landed moments later. Saitou was bleeding from a long slash across his back, while Nomura was nursing a bruised rib, wincing with every step.
Endo glanced over the group, his usual calm rattled. "We can't fight again like this. Everyone's too injured. We're almost out of mana, and we've got no formation."
"Then we need to move," Shizuku said firmly. "We're not fighting our way out of this."
"Stairs are just ahead," Endo nodded toward the tree trunk, where the stone spiral led up toward the next level. "We make it to the next floor—we can regroup there."
"What if it's worse up there?" Suzu asked weakly, barely staying on her feet.
"We don't have a choice," Kouki said, taking her arm. "Staying here just gets us swarmed."
"Let's go!" Ryutarou barked. "We're not dying in a damn tree."
As the party gathered what little strength they had left, groans and growls echoed from the forest below. The branches shook. Something was climbing.
They didn't wait to see what.
One by one, they fled up the stone staircase, bloodied and burned, battered but alive—each step dragging them further from death, and closer to whatever awaited above.
But none of them dared to believe they were safe yet.
We gotta keep running…" Reichi panted, doubling over as he climbed, sweat pouring from his brow.
"How?! We're all cut up and running on fumes!" Nakano gasped, limping behind, his robes tattered, face pale from mana loss and fear.
Then—Thud!
Kaori's staff struck the ground with a dull crack, her voice quivering. "Ether Flow…"
A soft glow bloomed around the group. The magic light rippled across their bodies, knitting torn skin, closing gashes, dulling the sting of exhaustion for just a moment. The wounds they'd suffered from the panther-like monsters, the cats, the ogres—it all started to close. But it wasn't enough to restore their strength. Only enough to help them survive a little longer.
Kaori stumbled the moment the spell ended, her knees buckling. She'd been holding barriers with Suzu this whole time—tanking the worst of the damage to protect the others—and now the cost had hit her like a boulder.
Ryutarou rushed to her side, catching her just before she collapsed completely. "Can you grab on? Around my neck?" he asked, already moving to support her.
Kaori managed a weak nod. "I think so…"
Daisuke came up behind them, already unfastening a long belt from his waist. "Here—tie her down. We can't risk her falling off while we're running."
He wrapped the belt securely around her waist and Ryutarou's torso, tightening it with a rough tug.
"Thanks, man…" Ryutarou said, shoulders heavy with more than just weight.
"Yeah, whatever," Daisuke replied, not meeting his eyes. "I just don't want anyone else to die…"
His voice cracked slightly at the end.
The group pushed on, Ryutarou carrying Kaori on his back, Reichi supporting a limping geomancer, Suzu practically being half-dragged by Eri. The magic had helped, but fear was eating at them faster than their wounds could heal.
Finally—mercifully—they reached the boss room of Floor 94.
It was empty.
No monster. No sign of respawn.
Just stone and silence.
The party collapsed inside, gasping for breath, wide-eyed and bloodied. A few even started crying softly, unable to stop themselves.
Kouki's blade hung loosely in his grip as he turned to Endo. "What's the plan?" he asked, voice rough, breath uneven.
Everyone looked to Endo. Even the exhausted ones found enough strength to sit up and listen. They needed to believe there was a reason they'd been forced to flee this far. Something. Anything.
Endo's eyes stayed sharp.
"We're not stopping here," he said. "The monsters on this floor—if they smell blood, they go into a frenzy. If that demon follows us up with her forces, they'll draw attention."
"But won't that mean they'll attack us too?" Suzu asked, her voice wavering, eyes wide with fear.
"Yeah," Endo admitted. "But the moment her monsters start bleeding, they'll become the bigger target. These things won't care who's who—they'll attack whatever's closest. Even other demons."
There was a pause. Eri chewed her lip, thinking it over.
"It's risky," she said. "The whole floor is basically a warzone waiting to explode. But… it might just work. So long as we keep moving, stay quiet, and don't stop to fight unless we have no choice."
"But that means no rest," she added, looking around. "Not until we get off this floor. That's… going to be hell."
Before anyone could argue, a low rumbling echoed from the stairs behind them—deep and growing louder.
The kids froze.
Thud… thud-thud-thud…
Something—many somethings—were charging up from below, faster than the party had climbed. The sound was like a stampede.
Terror rippled through the group.
"Time's up," Ryutarou said grimly, tightening his grip on Kaori. "Let's move!"
"Now!" Endo snapped, already leading the way across the boss chamber toward the other exit—toward Floor 93.
He didn't have to look back to know what was coming.
Suzu was pale, but she forced herself to run. Reichi's limp had worsened, but he shoved forward, face set in a grimace. The mages dragged their bags, arms numb, hands cracked from overcasting.
Most of the party was holding together by threads.
But not all of them were afraid.
Ryutarou, face steeled, moved like a man with nothing to lose.
Shizuku had gone quiet—focused. Resolved.
Endo didn't flinch as the sound behind them drew closer. His fingers hovered over his smoke bombs.
They weren't the same party they were when they entered this labyrinth. That innocence had died on Floor 94.
This wasn't a test anymore.
This was war.
They had not seen what that demon was capable of, but from the sound of it she had a lot more monsters waiting and ready.
And Kouki… Kouki had pissed her off in the worst way.
Now, she wanted them to suffer.
No one had any delusions anymore.
If they stopped, they'd die.
So they ran.
Fear gripped most of the kids like a vice as they ran, their footsteps echoing through the stone corridor beyond the boss room. Every breath burned. Every muscle screamed.
They hadn't gone far when they saw it.
A massive, rock-like creature loomed ahead—part squid, part earthen monstrosity, with a singular massive eye that turned and locked onto the party.
"Oh no…" Reichi breathed. "Not one of those again."
"Hang on, Kaori!" Ryutarou barked.
She barely had time to react before Ryutarou slammed his gauntlets together, sparks of flame bursting between his fists. He bent his knees, muscles coiling—then launched himself forward like a missile.
"W-Wait, what are you—AAAAA!" Kaori screamed, clinging to his shoulders as he rocketed toward the giant rock squid's face. "I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS!"
The creature, expecting a spell barrage or a ranged attack, hesitated.
That was its mistake.
Ryutarou didn't hold back—he drove both flaming fists straight into its two bulging eyes, the only known weak spot. They'd learned from experience that magic could distract the monster, but brute force was needed to take it down.
The blow landed with a sickening crunch.
The monster let out a bone-rattling screech, collapsing to the ground and flailing.
Kaori, now plastered to Ryutarou's back, immediately reached around and started choking him with both arms.
"WARN ME NEXT TIME YOU'RE GONNA LEAP AT A GIANT SQUID LIKE A DAMN LUNATIC!"
"Uncle! Uncle!" Ryutarou wheezed, patting her hand as she throttled him. "I started the show! They're coming!"
"IDIOT!" she hissed, still strangling him.
The rest of the party caught up—only to freeze.
Charging toward them now was something even more grotesque: a beast with the head of a lion, a second head of a goat mashed awkwardly into its side, and a snake tail that hissed and snapped wildly.
"What the hell is that?!" Suzu screamed.
"Chimera variant!" Endo shouted. "Just go!"
Ryutarou, still recovering from Kaori's wrath, slammed his gauntlets together once more—this time wind magic wrapped around his fists. He drove one into the fallen squid's eye, bursting it. Blood exploded into the air, spraying everywhere.
And that was when she appeared.
The demon woman.
No longer grinning. No longer amused.
She emerged from the shadows with quiet fury, eyes locked on the party.
"That's far enough…" she said coldly.
But the floor had other plans.
The moment the squid's blood hit the ground, it was like the entire dungeon woke up. Just like their first time descending to this floor, the environment turned hostile in an instant.
The walls trembled.
From both sides of the corridor, more rock-squid creatures emerged—massive, towering, and angry. They lunged toward anything moving.
Yet strangely, the ones closest to her froze. Something invisible shimmered around her—an aura, a field. It kept the monsters from crushing her immediately.
Until her mistake.
The blood.
Her minions had joined her too closely, and now they were splattered with the squid's blood from Ryutarou's attack.
The scent.
The frenzy.
The squids turned on her.
"No…" she muttered. But it was too late.
The monsters descended, smashing and screeching, crashing into her and the creatures flanking her—driven mad by the bloodlust. They could no longer tell friend from foe.
"AAAAAAH! I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD FOR THIS!" The demon woman roared, slashing through the first rock-squid that dared touch her.
But more kept coming.
Behind her, the battlefield devolved into chaos—massive monsters turning on one another, walls crumbling under their weight.
And the hero party?
They were already gone.
Long gone.
Running.
Not stopping.
Not looking back.
Because they knew what they'd just done: They hadn't beaten the demon in a fight—but they'd outplayed her. Turned the very floor against her.
"Let's not waste this chance!" Endo shouted as they sprinted.
They pushed on—Kaori strapped to Ryutarou's back, Suzu limping beside Eri, Kouki and Shizuku guarding the front. The tension was still thick. None of them were celebrating. Not yet.
Because while they'd survived this long…
They knew that demon woman wasn't done with them.
And next time, she wouldn't fall for the same trick twice.