Dungeon Refrigerator 277

Test

Dungeon Stampede 2.0 Blind Faith

[[[Zpaaaan!!!]]]

The torso of the boss-level monster was deeply pierced by the Katsuo-kun bat, and the other side exploded spectacularly. The kinetic energy, with nowhere left to transfer, erupted in a blast.

"Kyumomomooooooo!!"

[[Uzu-doban! Uzu-doban…!]]

Even so, it wasn’t a fatal blow. The giant caterpillar, now severed into two parts, writhed violently, thrashing about in rage.

"Whoa! Everyone, fall back!"

"Yeah, let’s save Cricket-chan while we can!"

"Ah, wait! I can't pull the bat out!"

"Leave it, Ruu-chan! It's too dangerous right now!"

Trying to retrieve the embedded bat from the thrashing monster was too risky. Following Shizue’s advice, the group retreated and turned their attention to rescuing the giant cricket trapped in the sticky mucus.

[[[(Fuyoyoyo…)]]]

"Ah! If I knew this would happen, we should've brought the Pixies too."

"That wouldn’t have worked. Remember, Koachi said people don’t look kindly on others bringing monsters around."

The Pixies summoned by Egetsu could only be stored in their card forms through his magic, so the three of them couldn’t carry them around easily.

"Yeah, but I think the Pixies would've been fine."

"I get it—they're cute, so it makes sense. But to someone who’s lost family to monsters, any monster is the enemy, no exceptions."

"Yeah, I know. Even back at Shark’s Highschool, some of the evacuees were hostile towards the Pixies."

"Well, if you understand, don't say such silly things."

"Oops, my bad."

"Okay… Cricket-chan is safe now. Thanks, everyone."

With Ruu’s magic, the giant cricket transformed into a copper plate.

"So, uh, what should we do about that?"

Manchi pointed at the still-writhing caterpillar.

[[Uzu… doban! Uzu… ban!]]

"Hmm, but it looks a lot weaker than before."

Thanks to the dungeon's vastness, they had managed to keep their distance. Now, from afar, the boss monster appeared significantly weakened, likely from blood loss.

"Shall we get a bit closer and attack with acid?"

"Yeah. Close combat is too dangerous—if it stays still, that's our best shot."

...

"(Oooo... Oooooooo…)"

However, when they approached, the embedded Katsuo-kun bat looked… strange.

"Kyuu… kimooo…"

[(Byukun… byukun…!)]

The bat emitted a suspicious black aura, and veins-like patterns surfaced on it, as if it were drawing the monster’s bodily fluids.

"Wh-what… is that!?"

"Whoa… what’s happening to it…?"

"Kyuu… kimooo…"

[(Byukun… byukun…!)]

"Hey, since it’s weak now, how about we finish it off?"

""What!?""

Ruu’s calm suggestion to deal the finishing blow, despite the eerie state of the bat, shocked Machi and Shizue.

"Ruu, don't you think that’s strange??"

"Yeah! No way that looks normal!"

"Huh? But there’s no issue using it, right? Besides, Coach said to use whatever tools and situations we can when fighting in a dungeon."

"".........""

Ruu was extremely earnest and sincere by nature. However, it was only now that the other two realized how blindly she had taken Egetsu’s teachings to heart.

"…Right! Okay, let’s take care of that monster first!"

"Y-yeah! We'll think things through after!"

"Got it! This time, I’ll make sure to take its head off. Machi, hand me the crowbar!"

"Oh, uh, sure! Go get 'em, Ruu-sensei!"

...

[[[Zonu!... Zpaaaan!!!]]]

And so, as Ruu charged forward once more, golden life energy erupted throughout the dungeon...