Okinawa Dungeon—-Fourth Floor:
〈Data Does Not Compute.〉
Zaria, Han, and Rika watched as the terrain shifted back to a white room, with flashing red lights.
〈Level: 99,999. Error. Error.〉
"What's wrong, Mr. Nyugawa?" Zaria asked. "Are you too OP for the room or something?"
"Hmm," Omariro replied. "Room broken."
Suddenly, the room stopped flashing red.
〈Error Fixed. Selecting Opponent.〉
"That fast?" Han questioned. "Who could they possibly put against Mr. Nyugawa?"
〈Selected. Level: ??? Domain Boss: Fumetsu no Ryū no Musume—-Michiko Dragonsbane〉
The entire room shifted into a realm coated in darkness. The trio watched as Omariro found himself on a floating platform, with a pillar of thunder at its center.
"What the hell is this?" Zaria gasped. "The aura just…shifted!"
With a flash of thunder, a young woman with glowing red eyes in a black and red kimono emerged from the pillar, landing softly on the ground.
"Omariro Nyugawa," she announced. "So the legend's true."
She slowly walked around him, her eyes bearing into him. "I felt a strange presence while attending to my father. I guess that was you."
"Father. Dungeon Boss."
Michiko clapped. "A smart one. That's right. My father, Muhairyū Raizen, is the ruler of this dungeon. As his oldest child, I cannot let you reach him."
"Girl in way. Will be moved."
She chuckled. "I thought you'd say that. Come, let us see what the 'Legendary Kaitansha' can truly do."
She held out her hand, and a large mace appeared, lightning crackling off it.
〈Goal: Defeat Michiko Dragonsbane. Begin.〉
BOOM.
Michiko slammed her mace into the ground, lightning striking the platform.
〈Domain Effect: Thunderous Fury. Lightning will have a 75% chance to strike when Michiko Dragonsbane unleashes an attack, dealing 1,000% extra damage.〉
"Be careful, Mr. Nyugawa!" Zaria shouted.
Michiko swiftly attacked Omariro, swinging her mace again and again, but despite his age, he effortlessly avoided her attacks.
"You're pretty spry for an old man!"
"Jugen-Mahōshi: Ten'yokukyū!"
A bow of golden light formed in Omariro's hands, and he fired a barrage of golden arrows at Michiko, who blocked with her mace.
"A Celestial Mage…"
She tapped her weapon on the ground, and lightning leveled the platform, with thunder clouds forming over the land.
"Jugen-Tōshi: Cursed Hex Armor!"
Golden armor formed around Omariro's body, and he fired another wave of arrows at Michiko, some of which struck her.
〈Boss HP: 100% → 60%〉
"Those things pack quite a punch," she remarked. "Can't have you hitting me again."
In the blink of an eye, her mace was aiming right for Omariro's head.
"Slow."
Omariro caught the mace, jumping back just as lightning rained down between the two. He pointed his bow at her again, but she was above him, and he summoned his blade and blocked her attack, delivering a powerful kick to her face.
〈Boss HP: 60% → 25%〉
"He's making that girl look like a warm-up!" Han stated. "And she doesn't even have a level!"
Rika, holding her side, coughed.
"He's…awesome…"
On the platform, the two fighters clashed faster than the eye could see, with Omariro dodging all of Michiko's attacks with his hand behind his back. Lightning struck repeatedly, but Omariro evaded it, before slashing Michiko with his sword.
〈Boss HP: 25% → 0%〉
Michiko dropped to the ground, panting. "Father was right…you're no pushover…"
"Girl weak. Move."
She wiped the blood off her chin, laughing. "We're…not finished yet."
The center pillar began to glow; and so did Michiko's body. "You've shown your strength. Now, I'll show you mine!"
BOOM.
A powerful wave of black and red energy blasted Omariro back, who used his sword to anchor himself.
"What's she doing, Mr. Nyugawa?" Han worried.
Omariro held up a hand. "Back. Dangerous!"
Michiko rose into the air, and wings formed on her back. Reddish-black armor slowly coated her body, and a draconian mask covered her face. Her mace shifted into that of a large red claymore, and she slammed the ground, causing it to crack.
〈Warning! Warning! Room Destabilizing.〉
The walls of the room began to break, and so did the floor. Zaria and the others looked down, just as the entire floor collapsed, sending them all tumbling below.
〈Now Entering Floor 999.〉
When Zaria opened her eyes, she found Omariro carrying her, Han, and Rika, setting them on the ground.
"Sir, what happened?"
"Girl."
Michiko slowly lowered herself below, illuminating the floor, which was an enclosed arena with a runic floor.
〈Floor Rule: Defeat Domain Boss Fumetsu no Ryū no Musume—-Rairyūhi〉
With a flap of her wings, Zaria, Rika, and Han were blasted back.
〈Boss Instance Triggered: Boss +500% HP.〉
Her blade flew toward Omariro on its own, who blocked it with his own.
"This will be fun," she taunted. "It's been decades since I've shown my true form! Unyielding Thunder!"
Massive lightning filled the arena, but Omariro side-stepped it all, forming his bow and firing a wave of arrows at Rairyūhi, who used the wind from her wings to steer them off course.
"Show me your full strength!"
Her blade grew to an enormous size, and she slammed it on the arena floor repeatedly, causing lightning barrages.
〈Domain Effect: Once Rairyūhi shifts into her Unyielding Heiress State, all forms of Jugen except Jugen-Tōshi will be ineffective.〉
Han's eyes widened. "She can cancel Jugen?"
A red orb formed in Rairyūhi's hand, and she pressed it into the ground, causing a red dragon manifestation to appear around her.
〈Unyielding Heiress Activated. Only Jugen-Tōshi will work.〉
Rairyūhi fired blasts of lightning from her mouth, and Omariro deflected a beam from hitting the kids.
"My cube!" Han exclaimed. "It won't summon!"
"I don't feel my healing energy either!" Rika noticed. "We're powerless!"
Zaria summoned her spear. "Not me. Sir, let me help!"
She tried to rush forward, but a barrier formed, blocking her from the fight.
"We can't fight, remember?" Han pointed out. "It's still Mr. Nyugawa's test."
"But the attacks can hit us? What sense does that make?"
"I don't know! We shouldn't even be on this floor!"
"CRUMBLE!"
Rairyūhi flew into the air, a ball of lightning forming around her that shot out lightning every which way. Omariro jumped into the air, slicing the ball with his blade.
〈Boss HP: 500% → 200%〉
The dragon roared at Omariro, who backflipped over its claw attack.
"Unstable. Your weakness."
With an uppercut to its jaw, the dragon stumbled back into the wall, causing Rairyūhi to reemerge.
〈Boss HP: 200% → 75%〉
Rairyūhi teleported back into the center of the room, slamming her claymore down like a massive warhammer. Omariro jumped away from the attack.
"Our Jugen's back!" Han cheered.
"Kick her ass, Mr. Nyugawa!" Zaria called out.
Rairyūhi slowly moved her arms in a circle.
〈Use Jugen-Sōunsha to dodge Rairyūhi's *Lethal Skill.*〉
"Lethal Skill…?" Rika wondered. "That's new…"
Omariro narrowed his eyes as a giant lightning bolt rose into the air.
"THUNDERSTORM!"
Omariro teleported away just as the energy from the bolt released, utterly decimating the arena. When Rairyūhi spotted him again, he had moved the teens out of the way. She moved to attack, but Omariro already had his bow aimed at her.
"Jugen-Mahōshi: Ten'yokukyū."
A massive golden arrow fired, piercing Rairyūhi right through the chest.
〈Boss HP: 75% → 0%〉
Her body began to shake and crackle. "You…you're a step…above…the rest…"
〈Boss Defeated. Challenge Completed.〉
"My father…" Rairyūhi declared. "Sent me to halt your advance…our homes…these dungeons…they seek to destroy you…the Endless…seeks to destroy you…it fears what you are…"
Omariro lifted an eyebrow.
"I'll see you…on the Hellsfloor…Omariro Nyugawa…once you reach 'Hell.'"
She disappeared, and a totem appeared. The barrier dropped, allowing the kids to approach Omariro.
"That was badass, sir!" Zaria remarked. "You haven't lost a step!"
"You didn't even break a sweat!" Han acknowledged. "Man, why can't I be like you?"
"Because you're Han," Rika explained. "Not an icon like Mr. Nyugawa."
Omariro grabbed the sigil, handing it to Rika. "Hold. Floor 1,000 next. Caution required. Tests tougher."
The three nodded, and Rika took the sigil.
〈Totem Seal Acquired. Level 1,000 Clearance Enabled.〉
The floor parted to reveal a stairway leading down. Omariro descended, and all the kids waited a moment, foreheads sweating, before they did the same.
Okinawa Dungeon—-One-Thousandth Floor:
Omariro and the party found themselves standing on a beach. Zaria looked around.
"Sir? We still in the dungeon?"
Omariro nodded.
"Feels more like a vacation," Rika commented.
"Or a trap," Han warned. "What do we do, Mr. Nyugawa?"
Omariro looked at the waves. "Find Rule."
〈Rule: Complete Odayasu Beach Puzzle.〉
"A puzzle?" Han perked up. "My specialty! Say the word, sir! I'll solve it in no time!"
"Nerd alert," Zaria whispered to Rika.
Omariro's ears caught wind of a sound. "Not alone. Stay focused."
The kids immediately got into battle stances, but a slow clapping sound could be heard.
"Well, well? Crazy how the elderly geezer is the sharpest one of the bunch!"
A group of three teens, two guys and one girl, approached, wearing rugged Kaitansha outfits. The tallest, a Japanese man with long black hair, took off his shades.
"Never thought I'd see a man of your status hauling around a couple of brats," he taunted.
"Who are you again?" Zaria questioned. "And why are you talking to Mr. Nyugawa like he's a decrepit hag?"
"Yūto Hyūga," he introduced. "Level 1,500 Kaitansha. This here's my band of dropouts, Rio
Shirasagi and Airi Ichinose."
"Definitely some strange names," Rika muttered.
"What's yours? Anna, or something?"
"No, it's Rika! Rika Amakawa!"
"Call me Zaria. Not saying the last name."
"Han. Jisoo."
Airi rolled her eyes. "And you mock our names."
"Trying to insinuate something, Princess?" Zaria growled.
"What if I am? You gonna do something about it?"
Rio dug in his ear. "Can we do something already? We've been here for hours…"
"You have?" Han questioned. "On the beach puzzle?"
Rio nodded. "Never knew puzzles could be so hard."
"Yeah," Yūto confirmed. "We've been down here for a little minute. Checking that boardwalk over there for clues or hints or anything that can get us off this damn beach."
"Bunch of dumbasses it sounds like," Zaria murmured.
"What'd you say?"
"Me? Nothing. Nothing at all."
Omariro noticed the large beach city boardwalk. "Group. Come. Complete puzzle."
Han, Rika, and Zaria sized up the rival trio before following Omariro.
"Perfect," Yūto grinned. "Then we'll follow you and wait for you losers and your master to do the work for us!"
"You wish," Rika scoffed.
"Is that a challenge? You know what, how about we race, then? Whoever doesn't find the answer is stuck here!"
Zaria glared at him. "You're on, man-bun."
"You'll eat those words, bitch!"
He raised his hand. "Dokkōdan, spread out."
They disappeared, and Rika tilted her nose. "What's with them? And Dokkōdan? I never knew there were seven divisions."
"Independent," Omariro stated. "Unofficial bandits."
"No wonder."
On the boardwalk, they stopped in front of a pizzeria. Han scanned the area with his cube. "Scan for clues."
"Your dingy little cube can do that?" Zaria blurted out.
"Duh. What do you think scanning for solutions means? Pulling traps out of its ass?"
"Yeah?"
Han slapped his forehead. "Ridiculous."
[*0* Relevant Clues Found.]
"Looks like this place is clear. Where next?"
Omariro stopped them. "Revisit beach. Boardwalk red herring."
Han paused. "You think so? I mean, it is kinda big."
"Distraction."
He jumped into the air, landing back on the beach. Han, Rika, and Zaria followed. Once they caught up to him, they found him staring at an oddly placed seashell. Omariro pointed to it.
"Boy. Now."
Han scanned the shell.
[*1* Relevant Clue Found.]
"We've hit one!"
Zaria used her spear to dig under, and sure enough, a totem rose from the ground, which Rika grabbed.
〈*1* Totem Sigil Acquired. Collect *4* more to open Floor 1,001. *9* sigils remain *overall.*〉
"We can beat those dorks," Zaria insisted. "Just gotta find 4 more."
Han pointed to a boat far in the water. "Looks like that's a solid place to search. Only question is how do we reach it?"
Omariro used his staff to tap the ground. "To me, now."
"Oh, right."
With a few taps, they vanished. Out of the shadows, the Dokkōdan emerged, with Yūto holding a remote in his hand.
"They fell for it, just like I thought. Once they climb on the boat, we'll send them across the ocean, and we'll have the beach all to ourselves! Airi, you got those sigils?"
Airi pulled out 4 sigils. "Sure do. Let's get this last one before the old guy finds us out."
Yūto pressed the button. "Don't worry, he won't."
The boat began to start up.
"We've already won."
—-