While still trying to decipher the message Saé had spoken to him, Ishikawa was taken aback when Miura asked him this question.
"And by the way, what's your mission?"
A seemingly simple question, but one that suddenly seemed difficult to answer. He was faced with a dilemma, for he had not yet found his own mission in this ordeal.
At first, Ishikawa wondered how Sae had been able to communicate with him telepathically. This surprising ability intrigued him, and he wondered about the limits of this mental communication. How was it possible for Saé to contact him in this way, and for what specific reason?
As Ishikawa tried to make sense of this unexpected situation, a notification arrived, shedding light on the mystery of telepathy.
[Your 'mastery in communication!' allows you to communicate telepathically with the solver Sae Kiryū. This ability relies on the deep connection and mutual understanding shared between you].
[! As your maestria is low-level, communication can only last 1min30 every 24hrs!]
He thus learned that he was able to communicate telepathically with Saé for a limited period of only 1 minute 30. This revelation surprised him, but it also gave him a new tool with which to exchange information discreetly and efficiently with Saé.
Yet, despite this discovery, Ishikawa was still faced with Miura's question. What was his mission in this ordeal? He felt at a loss, as he had yet to find a clear answer to this crucial question. However, as he thought more deeply about the situation, he realized that he had to search for his mission, that he had to find something that would guide him through this challenge. It was with some hesitation that he answered Miura.
"Well, I guess I have to find something..."
As Ishikawa and Miura stood on their home turf, their gazes were suddenly drawn to the adjacent field where they spotted Bun. At the sight of his friend, Ishikawa felt a powerful instinct to move towards him. So he set off, but to his surprise, a translucent barrier suddenly sprang up in front of him, blocking his passage and preventing him from leaving his area.
"What? Why can't I get out?"
Ishikawa stared incredulously at the barrier, trying to figure out what was going on. Why was this barrier there? Who had put it there and for what purpose? All these questions swirled in his mind as he vainly tried to cross this invisible boundary.
"It can't be done. I really can't cross it!"
Meanwhile, Bun seemed to be observing the scene with a strange look, a mixture of menace and emptiness. Her eyes, usually so expressive, were still devoid of any emotion, and yet a sense of menace emanated from her gaze. It was as if something had altered his personality, transforming him into a presence both disquieting and enigmatic.
Ishikawa felt a shiver run down his spine as he found himself trapped within this strange barrier, and Bun's gaze only reinforced his unease.
"Bun? What's the matter with her?"
He wondered what could have happened to his teammate to make him adopt such a strange, threatening attitude.
While Ishikawa tried to make sense of the situation with the barrier, Miura, for his part, carefully scanned their terrain. After a few minutes of silent observation, he shared his thoughts with Ishikawa.
"Before all this happened," Miura began, "we heard that expression right!"
"What do you want to talk about?"
"'Mastery of nature'. I believe it's this power that's keeping us prisoner here."
Miura's words echoed in Ishikawa's mind, adding a new layer of perplexity to the already complex situation. If their captivity was linked to this power of nature, it meant they were at the mercy of a force they didn't fully understand.
"But then... that means..."
Ishikawa felt overwhelmed by a growing sense of helplessness. If their situation really was linked to this mysterious power, it meant they were trapped in a potentially dangerous and unpredictable situation. The prospect that their land could explode at any moment was no longer simply a theory, but an unsettling reality that weighed heavily on his shoulders.
Miura asked Ishikawa innocently, breaking the heavy silence that enveloped their exchange. "Do you think Bun did it?" he asked curiously.
"No. He'd never do anything like that!"
Ishikawa looked away, reluctant to admit the possibility that Bun might be involved. For a moment, he wrestled with his own thoughts, trying to ward off the suspicions that were beginning to creep into his mind. But as he recalled the previous scene, a flash of realization crossed his mind.
At that moment, Bun wasn't with Saé. His memories blurred, but he remembered the menacing looks Bun had given him recently. Those looks, imbued with a dull hostility, seemed to confirm Miura's growing fears.
"But still... It could be that..."
A heavy realization washed over Ishikawa as he reluctantly accepted the possibility that Bun might be behind their captivity. He swallowed hard, realizing that they might be at the mercy of a once close ally, now a sinister mystery to be solved.
Ishikawa, overcome by doubts about Bun's loyalty, chose to put his concerns aside for the moment. He turned to Miura, determined to look after him in this precarious situation.
"We'd better look for food," he told Miura in a calm voice, hoping to dispel the dark thoughts haunting his mind. "You must need to recharge your HP bar."
Gratefully accepting the proposal, Miura nodded silently, acknowledging Ishikawa's thoughtfulness despite the uncertain circumstances.
Ishikawa and Miura then set off, exploring their terrain in search of resources, their footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence that enveloped their captivity.
As they scoured their land for provisions, Ishikawa and Miura were lucky enough to find some edible food. Miura was impressed by the speed with which Ishikawa identified plants and fruits that were safe to eat.
"How do you know all this?" asked Miura, admiring his survival companion's expertise.
Ishikawa smiled slightly before answering, his voice carrying the weight of his past memories. "Before this world changed, I was in the Japanese army. I had to learn various survival techniques to cope with the worst situations imaginable. It was a difficult time, but it taught me the importance of adapting and surviving in extreme conditions."
Miura listened attentively, absorbing his comrade's words. He could feel the strength and resilience emanating from Ishikawa, bolstering his confidence as they fought for survival in this hostile environment.
As night fell, Ishikawa and Miura returned from their expedition.
"Good. Maestria, mastery in the kitchen!"
Ishikawa immediately set to work like a true chef, using the meager provisions they had found to concoct a comforting meal. He skilfully assembled the ingredients and prepared them with care, using his creativity to make the most of what they had.
He added a pinch of salt to enhance the dish's flavor, using skin salvaged from a monster corpse they'd discovered during their exploration. Despite the difficult conditions, Ishikawa managed to transform the simple ingredients into a tasty meal, warming Miura's heart and stomach.
Miura was impressed by Ishikawa's culinary skills, but the latter modestly attributed his talent to almost unconscious actions, as if the skills he had acquired had become second nature to him in his constant struggle for survival.
While Ishikawa was deep in thought, he glanced at the information displayed on his features window.
[Information
Name: Bushi Ishikawa
Age: 32
Belonging Dome: Tokyo
Floor 9
- XP: 3247/3520
+ Physical strength: Lvl.17
+ Agility: Niv.16
+ Magic energy: Lvl.12
+ Toughness: Lvl.23
Spotlight: Waiting...
Maestria: Combat Mastery - Level 17 | Cooking Mastery - Level 9
NFT Card: None
Inventory: empty
Coin: 800
Diary:
You can access your health bar at
! Some information has been hidden because you haven't discovered it yet].
[- HP: 100/100
Hunger: 3/30
Thirst: 2/50
Tiredness: 5/20
Sensitivity: 5/5
! When one of these characteristics reaches 0, you automatically lose one point of HP!
! This data is only visible because you're in the riddle -The invulnerable beings-!]
Miura snapped him out of his reverie.
"What about you? Don't you eat?"
Ishikawa replied calmly.
"I thought it would be better to mix my share with yours, so you'll have a larger quantity to eat."
Miura was deeply touched by Ishikawa's selfless generosity. Eyes shining with emotion, he expressed his desire to return the favor, but Ishikawa politely declined. It was a natural gesture for him, an act of solidarity and compassion towards a comrade in need, with no expectation of recognition or reward in return.
"Don't worry... I've still got enough to survive!" he said with a deceitful smile.
This scene illustrated Ishikawa's deep empathy and nobility of heart, willing to sacrifice his own comfort for the well-being of others. It was a moment of human warmth and camaraderie, strengthening the bonds between Ishikawa and Miura in their common struggle for survival.
As the night wore on and silence enveloped their precarious shelter, Ishikawa let out a disappointed sigh.
"It's a pity you couldn't find a living being to kill so you could accomplish your mission."
His words echoed in the darkness, laden with shocking weight and brutal sincerity.
"It's all right. We've still got tomorrow morning, we'll work something out. And for your mission too!"
In a moment of disarming truth, Ishikawa uttered words that chilled the atmosphere of the small room. It was a proposal as unsettling as it was disconcerting, uttered with apparent indifference, but laden with tragic undertones.
"If we find nothing in the morning... I'll give you my life so you can succeed in your mission."