Okinawa Dungeon—-Floor Three Thousand:
Omariro felt the bright lights on him as the curtains pulled back to reveal a large crowd. Each of them was masked in shadows, leaving their features obscured.
〈Rule: Complete the *Play.*〉
"Greetings!" a young man announced. "I am Yousuke Katagiri! Stage Director of Floor 3,000!"
He was dressed in a tuxedo and top hat, carrying a cane. He skipped over to Omariro, bending down. "Huh. You're pretty short. And old. Are you a Kaitansha?"
Omariro ignored him.
"Not very chatty, hmm? Who's your partner over there?"
Han slowly got up, rubbing his head. "Mr. Nyugawa? Where did we land?"
Yousuke's eyes lit up as soon as he heard the name. "Nyugawa? As in—-Omariro Nyugawa? The Legendary Kaitansha? Why didn't you lead with that?"
Yousuke broke into a dance. "You hear that, crowd? We've got the legendary Omariro Nyugawa on stage! Screw the acting, we've got the real deal right before our very eyes!"
Music began to play, and Yousuke started tap dancing.
"Sir," Han whispered. "What is going on here?"
"Entertainment," Omariro replied. "We now puppets."
Yousuke twirled to the corner of the stage. "Let's not wait! Let's begin the play with Act 1: Birth of a Legend! Props, please!"
The lights dimmed, and the curtains drew back. When the curtains opened, a holographic image of a baby Omariro in a young woman's arms appeared.
"Omariro," the woman remarked. "That's your name. I don't know if your dad will approve, he wanted to name you Omarion."
The baby gushed and giggled. The scene shifted into another flashback years later, where Omariro, now a small child, was twirling a staff in his hands. His father, a tired businessman, typed away on his computer.
"Son," his dad said. "Could you please play with your stick outside?"
"Papa, play with me!" the boy insisted.
"I can't. With dungeons now widespread, I'm in charge of monitoring them for HQ."
Little Omariro paused. "I want to explore a dungeon!"
"Dungeons aren't toys, son," his father warned. "They are complex, deadly labyrinths. We don't even know how they work or what they're for. They've only been around for a decade."
"How will we learn more if we don't explore?"
His father remained quiet for a long while. "That's a good question, son. I don't know how to answer that."
Omariro tossed his staff into the air, catching it. "I'll be the greatest dungeon hunter ever known! A true legend!"
"They're called 'Kaitansha,' son," his dad corrected. "Explorers of the floors. And you've got to manifest a Jugen percentage of at least 20% to attempt that risk."
"How do I check mine?"
"Age 14. All youths get an examination at the hospital. Then, we will see where you rank, son."
The scene shifted into that of one six years later, where a teenage Omariro was stationed in a hospital, sitting in a chair with a pair of wires hooked up to his head. His mother and father were beside him.
"Beginning Jugen Scan now," the doctor advised. "Please remain still."
He pressed a red button, and the wires began to glow. Suddenly, the room's lights began to flicker on and off, and Omariro's parents began to panic as Omariro's eyes glowed dark purple.
"What's happening?" his mom asked.
"Is our son okay?" his father exclaimed.
The doctor quickly stopped the test as the equipment began to shut down. Once he looked at the reading, his eyes widened.
"Jugen Percentage: 10,000%!"
His parents gasped, but Omariro smiled. "Does that mean I can become a Kaitansha?"
The doctor took a deep breath. "Kid, you've just manifested 10 times the previous record. To answer your question: you might be the greatest Kaitansha we'll ever see."
The scene shifted again, now showing a young adult Omariro slicing through waves of goblins, demons, and golems with ease.
"Ha! Jugen-Tōshi! Jugen-Mahōshi! Jugen-Kōbisha! Jugen-Sōunsha! Jugen-Metsusha!"
The entire enemy army was blasted into oblivion. Omariro descended to floor 500, then 1,000, then 5,000, and finally, 10,000, where a large chimera awaited him.
"Jugen-Henshōsha: Tenzen no Kinryū!"
His body shifted into that of a massive golden dragon, which dwarfed even the chimera. With a bolt of golden light from its mouth, the dragon disintegrated the boss in seconds, with a totem emerging from the ashes.
〈Totem Seal Acquired. All *10,000* Floors Completed.〉
Omariro shifted back into a human, holding the seal in his hand. "Dungeon #157 done. 310 remain."
The hologram disappeared, and the crowd clapped.
"Wasn't that marvelous?" Yousuke cheered. "A god among the world in his apex? I might faint just from looking at the sight!"
Han looked between Omariro and the stage. "Sir—? You can turn into a DRAGON?"
Omariro nodded.
Han nervously laughed. "Sir. I think you've been holding out on us a bit."
Omariro grunted.
Yousuke approached the pair. "Now for the best part! You and your new pal here get to participate in the next Act!"
The lights suddenly shifted to blood red.
"Act 2: Death of a Legend."
Okinawa Dungeon—-Floor Two-Thousand Fifty-One:
Zaria and Rika got dumped into an enclosed concrete room. There was a dim light in the corner, and two metal chairs on either side of a stone table.
〈Rule: Do Not Confess.〉
"Do not confess?" Rika questioned. "Do not confess to what?"
"I dunno about you, but I'm not a wanted felon," Zaria remarked. "Gotta be talking about something else."
A policeman walked into the room, holding a stack of papers as he sat down. "Let's see here. Rika Amakawa and Zaria Takeno. You there, Zaria. Have a seat."
Zaria sat down, crossing her legs. "Yeah? What do you want?"
"Jugen-Tōshi user. Level 51. Unregistered Kaitansha. Crimes include Illegal Floor Exploration, multiple claims of trespassing, says here you put three kids in the hospital and got expelled from four different high schools, and labeled yourself as a self-proclaimed 'Omariro Nyugawa superfan.' Care to explain?"
"Nope," Zaria shrugged. "No idea what you're talking about."
"So that's the game we're playing. I know it all, Zaria."
He pulled out a remote and pressed the button. A projector behind Zaria showed her strolling in a school hallway, listening to music, when a group of three muscular boys in football gear approached her.
"Hey, barbie," one laughed. "This is our hallway. Take a hike."
"My locker's here," Zaria told him. "Just getting my stuff."
"Don't care, didn't ask."
"Didn't have to ask," she scoffed. "I wasn't asking. I was telling."
She continued walking.
"So you're a mouthy little broad, huh?"
The jock knocked her books out of her hands, kicking them across the floor. "Go on, pick them up like a good girl."
He slapped her back. "Go ahead and bend over, girlie."
His buddies laughed, and so did most students in the hallway.
Zaria took off her bag. "Nah. I think I'll make you do it."
She quickly elbowed him in the face, drawing blood. "Ow, bitch! You broke my nose!"
She quickly flipped him over her shoulder, pulling his arm behind her back. "Okay! Okay! Stop!"
"Go on," she ordered. "Pick them up."
"What are you two waiting for?" he shouted. "Kick her ass!"
One of the bullies lunged for her, but she kicked him in the stomach, causing him to drop down in pain and vomit blood.
"Shit! What are you, a tank?"
The other one looked between Zaria and his fallen friends. Zaria stood up. "So? Make a move."
He hesitated for a moment before throwing a punch, and she caught it, twisted his arm, and slammed his head into the nearest locker.
"I see no one picked up my damn books," she hissed. "Whose arm am I breaking next?"
The trio got up, limping out of the hallway, as Zaria watched, hand on her hip. "Soft ass bitches."
The other students quickly hurried out of the hallway, as a school resource officer approached, taser in hand.
"Here we go," she sighed.
"Don't move, girl!"
Later that day, she was inside the principal's office. The woman sitting at the desk gave her a stern look.
"Ever since you got to this school you've gotten in over 17 fights!" the principal chastised.
"They tested me," Zaria dismissed. "Ain't my fault."
"That doesn't mean you cripple them!"
"Sure does. Any guy demands I 'bend over,' I'm bending him first."
The principal shook her head. "I'm sorry, Zaria, but we can't have you causing chaos in this school any longer."
"Dramatic," Zaria said, rolling her eyes.
"I'm calling your guardian to pick you up. Your tenure at this school has ended, for good."
"Uh-huh," she replied. "Get better students."
Not long after, she was in the carpool lane, where a rugged young man in a biker outfit pulled up on a motorcycle.
"Ryder," she acknowledged. "You're late."
"Get on the damn bike."
She got on the back of the bike, and Ryder drove off. Minutes later, they were inside a rundown apartment, where Ryder tossed his helmet.
"Expelled again?" he sighed. "Kid, if you get kicked outta one more school, there's gonna be no more schools!"
She plopped on the couch. "Well, the people here like to bully, so I bully back. I don't see the issue. Isn't that the Kaitansha way? Brave, headstrong, bold?"
"Sure, whatever," Ryder said. "Just one thing, you aren't a Kaitansha. You're a 16-year-old girl. And right now, I'm in charge of you, per your mother's orders."
Zaria folded her arms. "Yeah, well maybe this schooling isn't for me. Maybe I was meant to go dungeon hunting!"
"Sure, get yourself killed," he stated. "But you'll play by my book until you're eighteen, got that?"
"Whatever."
"Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta pay off these parents so they don't press charges for all the bones you broke."
"Deserved," she muttered.
Ryder left, and Zaria secretly turned on the TV, which played the news. The headline was:
"DUNGEON DIFFICULTY INCREASING. IS OMARIRO NYUGAWA'S RETIREMENT PREMATURE?"
Zaria smiled. "If only I could meet him. That's my purpose. Right there."
The news played old footage of Omariro clearing dungeons effortlessly.
"Just wait."
Present—-
Zaria leaned back. "No clue who that is."
"Same hair, same build, and same arrogance," the policeman pointed out. "Your rap sheet is almost as big as your penchant for violence. You think Nyugawa likes loose cannons who can't control their emotions?"
Zaria got up, slamming her hand on the table. "I'm not a loose cannon! And how would you know what Mr. Nyugawa likes? For your information, I only beat up people that piss me off! And when they piss me off, it's for a good reason! And you're about to give me one of those reasons!"
"Zaria!" Rika called out.
〈Rule Broken. Enforcing Penalty.〉
"Crap. My bad."
The policeman smirked. "Seems my job here is done. That's a confession if I've ever heard one."
〈Penalty: Party Member *Zaria Takeno* will be sent to *Detention.*〉
"The hell's detention?" Zaria wondered.
"You'll find out," the policeman said. "Ta-ta."
An army of guards burst through the door, tackling Zaria and wrestling her out of the room.
"Hey!" Rika shouted. "Leave her alone!"
"Come," the man ordered. "Have a seat, Rika. I've got a different kind of case for you. One involving your poor little brother, wouldn't you say?"
Rika's face turned red.
"Now. Sit."
Rika sat down, visibly nervous. "Brother? What brother? I don't have a brother."
He pulled a video up on the projector, which showed a younger Rika sitting on her bed, brushing her hair as she streamed on her laptop.
Three years ago—-
Rika kicked back on her bed, streaming herself on her PC.
"Hey, everyone! I know you all missed your favorite Kaiseisha girl! It's me, Rika!"
She got tons of likes and comments, and she made a cute face. "Aww, you guys are so sweet!"
Rika heard a knock on her door. "Yes?"
Her mother's voice answered. "Rika, love, your father and I have to visit your grandmother for a while. She's been incredibly sick. Can you watch over Riku for us?"
"Sure, Mom. I guess."
"I mean actually. You know he can be a handful. Make sure you keep a close eye on him."
"Yes, Mom," Rika groaned. "I got it."
"Okay. Bye, dear!"
Once her mom left, Rika went back to her stream. "Finally. Now, fans, who wants to see my shoe collection—-?"
Another person knocked on her door. "Ugh! Who is it?"
"Riku!" the voice answered. "Let me in, Sis!"
"Go away!" she demanded. "I'm busy!"
"C'mon! Mom said you agreed to play with me!"
"I did NOT agree to that!"
"Pretty please?"
"Seriously, get lost!"
She turned back to her stream, and a few comments in particular caught her attention.
"Queen Rika, show us your Kaiseisha powers!"
"How far can you push them?"
"Demonstration! Please!"
Rika tapped her chin. "Actually, on second thought, you can come in, Riku."
"Really?"
"Yep. But you gotta keep this secret, okay? We're gonna play a game."
——