DanMachi Universe, Lower World, Dungeon, Sixth Floor.
After the encounter with the Frog Shooter, Tatsuo and Sakura continued to explore the Dungeon's Fifth Floor. During the exploration, they engaged in battle seven more times before eventually finding the stairs leading down to the Sixth Floor. Unfortunately, that was also about the time they were scheduled to head back to the surface. So, with a heavy dose of disappointment, Tatsuo led Sakura back to the surface for the day.
After leaving the Dungeon, nothing out of the ordinary happened. The group went to the Pantheon to trade in their magic stones and the drops they did not need for Valis. Then, they headed back home where Tatsuo and Alfonzo made and served dinner. Meanwhile, the others did whatever they felt like doing until dinner was ready. Then, they all had dinner together.
After that, Tatsuo worked on any Familia work that needed to be done. The others continued to do what interested them, as well.
One thing that was admittedly strange to everyone was the fact that Elicia's playful and mischievous nature was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she sat quietly while intently working on an evening gown design for Freya's city-wide request.
Before long, the night came to an end, and everyone went to sleep to get ready for the next day's dive into the Dungeon. Then, when the next morning came, the three teams entered the Dungeon before heading to their designated hunting areas.
"Finally, we're on the Sixth Floor," Tatsuo said while looking around the new corridor where he and Sakura stood. "I wonder if we'll run into a War Shadow or a Killer Ant first."
"War Shadow," Sakura said calmly while spreading her shadows in all directions.
*Swish!*
*Crack!*
A moment later, Sakura's shadow jumped from the ground before skewering a War Shadow through the chest. Unfortunately, thanks to her unfamiliarity with the monster, her shadow tendril also pierced through its magic stone, completely shattering it.
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"Oh… Um… Oops," Sakura stammered while lowering her head in embarrassment.
"Don't worry, it happens," Tatsuo said while reaching up and patting Sakura on the shoulder. "We'll make up for it while we're down here."
"Yeah," Sakura replied quietly.
With that, the two continued down the corridor killing any monster unlucky enough to get in their way. They also ran into a group of Adventurers training and hunting along the way. However, they did not get close to these Adventurers, letting them do their own thing. Though, if any of them called out for help, they would probably help.
*Click!* *Click!* *Click!*
Eventually, the couple reached the opening to a more open area in the corridors. However, before they arrived, they could hear the sound of rhythmic clicking sounds. And upon hearing those sounds, Tatsuo and Sakura exchanged glances. Then, they slowly and silently approached the open area.
When they arrived at the opening, the two looked around the corner, careful not to expose themselves. And what they saw was a group of eight insectoid monsters with red carapaces, four legs, a pair of arms, a pair of mandibles, and a pair of glowing red eyes scurrying around the room in what seemed like random patterns.
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"Well, we got to see more monsters," Tatsuo said with a grin. "So, let's get started."
"We have to be quick," Sakura reminded. "Killer Ants call for help when they're in danger."
"That might not be such a bad thing," Tatsuo said while looking at the scuttling ant monsters. "I mean, it's kinda like an infinite respawn glitch, isn't it? We could level up quick with this."
In response, Sakura only shot Tatsuo a flat stare.
"Fine… fine…" Tatsuo said while holding his hands up disarmingly. "I'll take this seriously."
Hearing that, Sakura nodded her head in satisfaction. Then, she started chanting her [Kage Sosa] spell quietly. A few moments later, Sakura's shadow lengthened, and she sent tendrils flying at the unsuspecting Killer Ants closest to the chamber's entrance.
At the same time, Tatsuo sprinted around the corner, weaving between Sakura's shadow tendrils with no fear of getting caught up in her attacks. Then, after the tendrils drilled into the spots between the carapaces of the closest two Killer Ants, he rushed past them as a magic circle flared to life around his right leg.
"[Void Dragon's Talon]." Tatsuo chanted as he whipped a kick at the next closest Killer Ant's head.
*Shatter!*
However, instead of the entire Killer Ant's head shattering on contact, only the carapace around the impact point shattered.
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"Damn... Do their carapaces have magic resistance, or something?" Tatsuo muttered as he pulled his foot back and two more magic circles flared to life in front of his hands. "[Void Dragons Tearing Claw]."
In the next instant, Tatsuo's hands, also coated in his midnight purple [Spatial Energy] plunged towards the Killer Ant's head.
*Squelch!*
Then, without resistance, Tatsuo's hand sank into the Killer Ant's head, killing it on the spot. Then, in the next moment, he vanished from where he stood with a [Blink], reappearing in front of Sakura.
*Bang!*
"These things are faster than I thought," Tatsuo said after kicking away a Killer Ant lunging at Sakura.
"It takes a lot more Mind to kill them than I'm used to, too," Sakura added as she controlled her shadows to whip two more Killer Ants away.
"[Void Dragon's Roar]." Tatsuo chanted while bringing his hands up in front of his face in a trumpet shape.
At the same time, another magic circle appeared at the end of Tatsuo's hands. Then, he exhaled a breath through the space between his hands, which transformed into a beam of [Spatial Energy] after passing through the magic circle.
A moment later, the two Killer Ants Sakura sent flying were punched through by the beam of [Spatial Energy], killing them both before they turned into piles of black ash.
"That's five down," Tatsuo said as he turned towards the Killer Ant he kicked away earlier.
"Actually, it's six," Sakura said after using her shadows to rip the head off another Killer Ant.
"Then, this will be seven," Tatsuo said as he spread his arms and a pair of magic circles appeared over his outstretched hands. "[Void Dragon's Disrupter Implosion]."
As he chanted, a pair of [Spatial Energy] orbs appeared over Tatsuo's hand. Then, he brought his hands together, combining the two orbs into a single, larger orb before hurling it at the Ant that was just getting up after getting kicked.
The spell Tatsuo cast was created in reference to Natsu Dragneel's [Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame]. However, instead of causing a spatial explosion on impact, it warped space around the point of impact, twisting the target apart with the surrounding space.
"All right, and now there's only…" Tatsuo began to say ass he turned towards the last Killer Ant.
*Screech!*
Unfortunately, before Tatsuo could start moving to finish off the last Killer Ant, or even finish his sentence, the Killer Ant raised its head and let out a high-pitched screech that echoed not only through the chamber but the corridors connecting to it.
"… one… left…" Tatsuo muttered the last two words of his sentence. "Shit…"
*Click!* *Click!* *Click!* *Click!* *Click!*
In the next instant, the rhythmic clicking could be heard stampeding towards the chamber. At the same time, Tatsuo [Blinked] above the screeching Killer Ant and slammed a [Void Dragon's Tearing Claw] into its head, shattering it on impact.
"I guess we weren't fast enough," Sakura muttered as the shadows in the room began to wriggle violently.
"*Sigh* Looks like it's gonna be a long day," Tatsuo muttered while scanning all the entrances to the room warily.
With that, Tatsuo and Sakura spent the next few hours fighting Killer Ants with the occasional Frog Shooter and War Shadow finding their way into the mix. And by the time they were finished, they were both exhausted, with barely enough Mind remaining to drink a Mind Potion before they would have passed out. Then, with fatigue heavy in every movement, they started making their way up to the surface, only killing monsters when it was absolutely necessary.
DanMachi Universe, Lower World, Orario.
Back on the surface, the setting sun cast a gentle orange tint over the city of Orario while many Adventurers filed out of the Dungeon's entrance at the base of Babel Tower. While some Adventurers exited the hole in the ground that led down to the Dungeon via a long, winding, spiral staircase, the other eight members of the Aislynn familia stood off to the side while watching the Dungeon entrance with varying levels of worry in their expressions.
"They're really late," Alfonzo muttered with his arms crossed as he tapped an index finger against his bicep.
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"Should… someone go down there to find them?" Violet asked in a concerned tone.
"I could go," Akatsuki said with a resolute expression. "With [Sneak] and [Silent Step], I could probably make it down to the Fifth Floor without any Adventurers or monsters noticing me at all."
"Even if your stealth skills are great, I don't think that's a good idea," Momo said in a worried tone.
"Yaomomo's right," Elicia said in a solemn tone. "There's a chance you could miss them. Then, you'd be running around down there like a chicken with its head cut off."
"Did you know chickens can actually run around for a little while with their heads cut off?" James asked in an obvious attempt to change the mood.
"Although the attempt to lighten the mood is appreciated, I do not believe now is a good time," Zelretch said gently.
"Tatsuo, please be okay," Aletia said, her tone making it clear just how worried she was.
Like that, another half an hour passed. By now, the number of Adventurers leaving the Dungeon had thinned rather noticeably. Yet, neither Tatsuo nor Sakura had come out of the Dungeon yet.
"We need to go in," James said in a solemn tone. "They might need our help."
"I agree," Alfonzo said. "But we shouldn't all go in. In case something goes wrong, we need someone to stay up here to tell Aislynn."
"I'm definitely going," Violet said resolutely.
"Me, too," Aletia added, her tone letting everyone know she would not be taking no for an answer.
"I would imagine that no one wants to stay behind," Zelretch said in a tired tone. "So, does anyone have an idea how we should decide?"
"Drawing straws," Elicia said calmly. "It's just the fairest and fastest way to do it."
Then, Elicia turned to look at Momo.
"Yaomomo, you can make straws for us to draw, right?" Elicia asked.
"That would be no problem at all," Momo replied.
"Then, let's---" Akatsuki started to say before two familiar voices interrupted her.
"God damn it. That little bastard really was fast. "
"I told you, you should have used [Blink] from the beginning."
Hearing those familiar voices, the conversation ended immediately. A moment later, the group saw Tatsuo and Sakura, both covered in copious amounts of monster blood, climbing out of the hole leading to the Dungeon. On top of that, Tatsuo was carrying a large golden egg, the drop from a Jack Bird, in his arms.
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As soon as Tatsuo and Sakura completely emerged from the Dungeon entrance, they, too, noticed the rest of their Familia waiting for them.
"Oh, you guys are still here," Tatsuo said in a pleasantly surprised tone. "Good. I thought you guys would have sent someone in to find us since we're so late. Honestly, I didn't think it would take so long to catch that bastard."
"It wouldn't have if you had listened," Sakura said softly.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Tatsuo replied while shrugging his shoulders. "But I still caught it in the end, didn't I?"
Reaching that point, Tatsuo turned to the rest of the group with a bright smile on his face as he held up the golden Egg.
"By the way, after we cash this in, let's go to the Hostess of Fertility for dinner tonight," Tatsuo said happily. "My treat."
The blank gazes Tatsuo received from the other eight members of the Familia let him know that they were not particularly pleased with him at the moment. But at the same time, he could also see relief in their expressions.
"So, you caught a Jack Bird?" James said in a dry tone.
"Yeah," Tatsuo replied with a nod. "It would have been nice if you had been there. [Flash Step] would have made catching it a lot easier."
"I feel like I shouldn't be angry at you at all," Akatsuki said in a similarly dry tone. "But for some reason, I want to punch you in the face right now."
"Huh?" Tatsuo asked in a genuinely confused tone. "Why?"
"Do you have any idea how worried we were about you two?" Elicia asked with her arms crossed. "We've been waiting here forever."
"Oh… My bad," Tatsuo replied, a hint of guilt in his tone. "I just didn't wanna let the Jack Bird get away... I guess I lost track of time while chasing it."
"And why didn't you use [Blink] like Sakura-Chan said?" Violet asked.
"Because I wanted to see if I could catch it," Tatsuo replied. "And as it turns out, I could."
In response, everyone narrowed their eyes at Tatsuo in displeasure.
"What are you guys looking at me like that for?" Tatsuo asked indignantly. He then pointed at James, Alfonzo, Elicia, and Akatsuki as he continued. "Don't act like you wouldn't have wanted to try it, too. You're all just as competitive as I am.", if not more."
The four Tatsuo pointed out, James, Alfonzo, Elicia, and Akatsuki were the fastest members of the Familia, aside from Tatsuo. And like he said, they would have also tried chasing down the Jack Bird. And because they all knew that, they quietly averted their judgmental gazes from him.
The other four, Violet, Aletia, Zelretch, and Momo, however, continued to stare at Tatsuo with the same judging gazes.
"You all shouldn't look at me like that, either," Tatsuo said while letting his gaze pass over the other four. "We talked about this before we ever went on our first dive. If any of us saw a Jack Bird, we were allowed to chase it as long as it didn't put anyone in danger. And we were perfectly safe while I hunted the damn thing down."
"We're not upset that you went to chase it down, Young Tatsuo," Zelretch said calmly. "But you should have let Sakura come up to tell us what you were doing, so we wouldn't be worried."
"Alright, there's no need to argue," Sakura said softly before Tatsuo could respond. "We're all back safe, isn't that enough?""
"Oh, that's how it is," Violet said as her eyes narrowed. "Judging by how quickly you answered in Tatsuo-Kun's place, he actually did tell you to go back, didn't he, Sakura-Chan?"
"But you wanted to spend more time alone with Tatsuo," Aletia added. "So, you refused."
Immediately, Sakura's face turned red and she looked away, letting everyone know that what Violet and Aletia said was right. Then, they all looked at Tatsuo apologetically.
"Anyway, let's go back home and get cleaned up," Tatsuo said quickly, his smile letting everyone know he was not against spending more time with Sakura. "Like I said, dinner's on me tonight. And Aislynn would be pissed if we didn't bring her along, too."