Floor 10,000—-
Kōichi opened his eyes, holding his head.
"Damn. Felt like I got hit by a truck. Did that big oaf fall on me?"
"No. Something worse."
He quickly got up, noticing Mizuki next to him. "What are you doing here?"
"Same as you," she replied. "Locked up as prey."
They were locked in a cell, and he noticed that Kaoru and Gakuto were trapped there as well. "Four of us? That woman's got balls."
"She hit me super hard!" Kaoru moaned. "All because I didn't wanna get in the cell!"
"Yeah, well, that's self-explanatory."
Gakuto stretched out his arm. "Why hasn't anyone tried to bust out this cell yet?"
"The bars seem to be protected by a sigil," Mizuki explained. "It negatively impacts our Jugen."
"Who is this hunter chick?" Kōichi wondered. "We sure she isn't part of the tournament, and the boss is just lying?"
"It seems she's TAKEN over the tournament!" Kaoru pointed out. "But that means we can't win! Only Yuka, Atsushi, or Mr. Nyugawa!"
"To hell with that," Kōichi grumbled. "I didn't get outta bed to watch from the sidelines."
He tried forming a seal, but to his shock, nothing happened.
"The most we can do is wait," Mizuki told him. "Patience is a virtue."
"Some virtue."
Suddenly, a door in the background clicked open, and the Huntress walked in, a cold smile on her face.
"Greetings, prey."
The four stood up.
"I think it's time you told us who you are, lady!" Gakuto demanded.
She raised a finger to her lips. "Quiet. Prey do not speak."
"We aren't your prey," Kōichi replied. "Just open the door."
"I would, but you've all disappointed me," she stated. "You boys show no heart, no killer instinct, and your female companions here lack any kind of hunting skills."
"But you didn't even have us fight!" Kaoru pointed out.
"And yet you're still inside here, aren't you?"
"Um..."
"Point proven. I was told the Kaidanchō have strong warriors among them, one I could *use* for special purposes."
"Let me guess," Kōichi scoffed. "Evil plans for an evil woman."
She chuckled. "The mind of a sheep. No matter. Whichever of your remaining allies proves themselves worthy will both win this tournament and my blessings."
A feed popped up, showing Atsushi, Yuka, and Omariro each on their separate floors, fending off hunters.
"Blessings...?" Mizuki wondered. "Please explain."
"You will see, little one. You will see."
With a dismissive grunt, she turned away, leaving the room.
"I think the four of us could take her," Gakuto remarked. "What do you think, guys?"
Kōichi sighed and sat back down. "Someone just send me to hell, already..."
Floor 5,000—-
"Madam! There's too many!"
"Fight on! These foes aren't anything but mere tricksters!"
In a snow-like domain, Yuka and her Kaitansha were busy fending off hunters, who attempted to trap her with nets.
"Take the Kaidanchō! Leave the vermin!"
"Take me?" Yuka repeated. "Hah. Only if you wish to lose your lives."
As a group of them swarmed her, she unleashed a mighty eagle of ice.
"Jugen-Mahōshi: Shimotsuki Raisan no Washi!"
The eagle slammed into them, sending them flying into various snow hills.
"Anyone else?"
Baruto, Bakuō, and Shino quickly hurried over to her side.
"Who are these guys, Miss?"
"I do not know," she admitted. "Nothing more than an extra challenge that will sweeten the reward."
A hunter approached Yuka, bowing.
"You show great skill, Ice Kaidanchō."
Yuka got into a fighting stance. "What do you want?"
"Come with us to the final floor. The Huntress wishes to see you."
"She can find someone else. I am not under her control."
"Really? You must know she's in control of this dungeon. And I am her right hand, Kagetō."
"Where are the other Kaidanchō? Is the tournament still running?"
"Of course it is. Your comrades are located on the final floor, waiting for you. As for the rest, they'll be there soon."
"And what happens if I accept your challenge?"
"Then, you have a chance to prove yourself! And win!"
"Fine," Yuka stated. "Take me to the final floor."
Kagetō cleared his throat. "Those three must come as well."
Yuka turned around, noticing he was pointing at the triplets. "Why?"
"The more prey, the merrier."
"If you hurt them, so help me——"
"They won't get hurt. Not as long as they comply."
Yuka took a deep breath. "Let's go, rookies. The rest of you, wait here."
The three nervously surrounded Yuka as Kagetō held up a Teleportation Sigil, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
Meanwhile, Floor 7,455—
In a medieval-styled town, Naraku-Kaidan attempted to fight off the hunter swarm, while Atsushi held back, gripping his side.
"Just a little while longer, men!" Atsushi called out. "Even with my strength spent, I can muster one more transformation!"
"No, you can't!" Nonoka insisted. "Kaitansha can't transform more than three times a day! It's too dangerous!"
"We are already in the midst of danger, child! If these hunters claim the mighty Naraku-Kaidan, we will be nothing!"
"That isn't true!"
Yuzuha rolled over to them, hiding behind Atsushi. "So...friends of yours?"
"Not even close," Atsushi answered. "Use your summons, elf!"
Yuzuha held her hand out, and archers appeared, firing their arrows at the hunters and striking them.
"Subdue the elf!"
A net flew out, trapping Yuzuha. "Hey! Get this thing off me!"
As Atsushi moved to help her, another net flew out and trapped Nonoka.
"Crap! Just—just go on without me!"
More nets trapped the Kaitansha, and with a single press of a button, they were shocked. Atsushi watched as a band of hunters pointed their rifles at him.
"What will it be, Kaidanchō of Stone? Will you come take part in the final commission or not?"
Atsushi looked around, staring at the struggles of his division. "Only if you can promise me a challenge."
The hunter grinned. "A true predator. Come, One of Stone! We shall go to the Huntress at once!"
Using a sigil, the division all disappeared alongside the hunters.
Floor 10,000—-
Kōichi was busy tossing a die at the wall when suddenly a new UI feed popped up, showcasing the arena above them.
"Huh," Kōichi noted. "Looks like they're playing some good entertainment."
As two opponents emerged from either side, the four immediately stopped.
"No way!" Kaoru gasped.
"Lady Yuka! Sir Atsushi!" Gakuto realized. "This can't be!"
"It is," Mizuki confirmed. "They have to fight."
Above...
Atsushi took in the arena crowd as Yuka did the same, before they both locked eyes.
"So," Atsushi muttered. "They dragged you here, too."
"Indeed," Yuka replied. "A true pity we couldn't have this match on...other terms."
The Huntress appeared on her throne, standing. "Ahh, there you are, warriors! Confusion on your faces, I see!"
"You must be the one behind this," Atsushi mused. "Though none of us know who you are."
The Huntress took off her coat, revealing a woman with white and black striped hair, eyes like a tiger, and a beautiful but toned physique, wearing a dress made from a tiger's hide.
"Kohaku Kurotsuki," she introduced. "Leader of the Furōa Kariudo-dan."
"I've never heard of you people," Yuka interrupted. "Are you a new faction?"
She chuckled. "Hunters don't like to be seen by their prey."
She cracked her neck. "Enough about me. You two will fight. Both for me and the reward of facing Omariro Nyugawa."
She showed them a feed of Omariro. "Only one can remain."
Atsushi turned back to Yuka. "Hmph."
Yuka lifted an eyebrow. "I don't expect you'll hold back."
"With a chance at Nyugawa on the line, not a shot. Sorry, Natori."
Ice began to rise around Yuka. "Wouldn't have it any other way, Sunahara. May the best win."
Kohaku chuckled. "Good, arms at the ready! Begin!"
〈Begin.〉
Without warning, Yuka immediately launched an ice eagle at Atsushi's head, forcing him to duck.
"She's still got tons of energy, it seems," he thought. "Can I even manage a full transformation?"
Yuka stomped the ground, and four more eagles rose, diving at Atsushi.
"Shi—-!"
BOOM.
When the dust cleared, it showed Atsushi blocking the attack with two stone arms.
"All I can muster..." he groaned. "But it'll have to be enough!"
Yuka slid next to him, slamming one hand into the ground. "Jugen-Mahōshi: Yukigumo Bukyaku!"
Ice legs formed from her back, and they began rapidly striking at Atsushi, who raised his arms to block.
"My arms can't hold up long; I need a solution!"
He grabbed one of her ice legs and pulled her close. "Still afraid to attack head-on, eh?"
With a punch, he sent her flying backwards, but she backflipped and recovered.
"You want close?"
Atsushi leapt next to her and swung for her head, but her ice legs repelled the attack, and she sprang from the ground and kicked him in the face.
"Good, good!" Kohaku cheered. "These two have more fight than the last!"
Yuka and Atsushi began fighting hand-to-hand, with Atsushi swinging haymakers at Yuka and Yuka responding with high-paced kicks.
"Jugen-Mahōshi: Hyōga Sōmetsu!"
With a press of her hand to the ground, a large ice hill formed, erupting waves of ice that began to crack Atsushi's stone and slash his shoulders.
"The woman's ice dulls your stone, Sunahara," Kohaku warned. "What will you do?"
Atsushi slammed the ground, cracking the ice.
"Stubborn as ever," Yuka thought. "And he's not even fighting at his full power. Enough beating around the bush, Natori."
With a stomp, a large shockwave of ice shot out from the glacier, knocking Atsushi back into a wall.
BOOM.
As Atsushi got up, he heard voices calling to him from the stands.
"Sir!"
"Umm, Mr. Atsushi! Over here!"
He noticed Yuzuha and Nonoka nearby, watching him with worried looks. "You two..."
Yuzuha held up a sigil. "Mister! Use this!"
Atsushi noticed what it was. "No! Save it!"
"But you can't go on much longer!" Nonoka worried.
"I said save it!"
On the other side, Yuka heard her rookies cheering her on.
"You got this, Miss!" Shino shouted.
"Y—yeah! Kick his butt!" Bakuō added.
"When are we going home?" Baruto asked. "Kinda...tired."
Yuka dropped from her ice as Atsushi brushed some off of him. "Still pulling out the same tricks. You never change."
"Neither have you," Yuka replied. "I guess staying on the top doesn't do much for one's personality."
As the two got into a fighting stance, Kohaku held up a skull. "Let us change the rules, shall we?"
The terrain around them began to shift, and soon, they were standing among clouds, with thunder striking every which way.
"How is she doing this?" Atsushi questioned.
"She's in control of this dungeon," Yuka noted. "A significant problem."
"Ahh, well. We have a fight to finish."
〈Domain Effect: Thunderous Fists. Striking your opponent with a *Melee Attack* will cause *Lightning* to fall and do additional damage.〉
"Just what I needed," Atsushi grinned.
With a roar, he charged at Yuka, but she flipped over him, using her ice to strike at his arms. Atsushi deflected and punched her in the face.
BOOM.
Lightning struck down, but she narrowly blocked it with her ice eagle, her hair now singed. She took a strand in her hand.
"Now I'm upset."
"Good."
Yuka formed an eagle and rose high into the sky, forming ice legs that began to extend and strike the ground near Atsushi.
"Using two skills at once! You really are a crazy son of a bitch—-!"
An ice leg whacked him, nearly sending him spiraling over the edge of a cloud, and thunder came down just as he raised his hands to block.
"Argh!"
"Atsushi, be careful!" Nonoka called out.
As shocks spiraled through his body, he forced himself up, straining his brow.
"Just a little more...I need more...to beat her!"
Yuka swooped down over his head, nearly knocking him off.
"It all comes down to this," Kohaku announced. "Which of you wants it more?"
Yuka unleashed more ice attacks against Atsushi, whose body slowly grew stone around his chest and shoulders.
"Searing pain, can't even think!"
Yuka swooped past him again, tripping him.
"No, no! I will be the best! Natori! Come down and fight!"
With a final scream, as Yuka swooped over him, Atsushi threw his arm out.
"Jugen-Henshōsha: Kokuyōseki Gōremu!"
And with a yell, his arm grew into the side of a golem's and slammed right through Yuka's eagle, striking her.
BOOM.
And with a blast of thunder, she fell to the ground, unconscious. Atsushi dropped to his knees.
"Good fight...Yuka. Good...fight."
"We have a winner indeed!" Kohaku declared. "Atsushi Sunahara!"
And at the sound of his name, Atsushi fell unconscious as well.
"Nyugawa...just...wait."
——-