Floor 1,400—
The hunters furiously attacked Omariro, but he easily defeated them all, firing arrows at them and batting them away with his sword. The kids rushed out to help.
"Sir!" Zaria called out. "Be careful! These guys want you!"
"Men irrelevant."
He backhanded one with ease, sending him flying into a roof. Rika rushed over to check on Omariro. "Are you okay, Sir?"
"No concern. I remain fine."
Han looked around. "What's going on here?"
"What is going on is you'll all come to the final floor, or your precious Kaidanchō will be massacred into pieces."
The group turned around, where they found a UI feed of the Huntress standing in front of the cage with the other Kaidanchō inside of it, except Atsushi. Yuka was lying against a wall in the corner, still unconscious.
"What the hell——?" Zaria thought.
"The final prey," Kohaku chuckled. "Omariro Nyugawa."
"Woman unknown," Omariro replied. "Begone."
He slashed the UI, but it remained. "Such assertiveness. I enjoy that! But you don't make the rules, prey. Come to Floor 10,000. Or all of your colleagues will be torn to shreds."
The UI disappeared just as a gate emerged underneath it.
"Sir," Rika worried. "We're not really going down there, are we?"
"Only way to finish tournament. Come. Stay close."
The kids all nodded and followed Omariro as he walked through the gate, which crumbled behind them.
Outside—-
Marin hurried over to Chiyoda, where Hayate was standing with the crowd, watching the feed from the dungeon. "Sir!"
Hayate didn't respond, and she tugged his arm. "Sir!"
"Huh? Oh, Marin. What is it? We've got complications in the tournament right now."
"We have complications out here, too. We've been infiltrated. I believe some organization is targeting Nyugawa."
"What?"
"A white-haired kid snatched Junpei and stole an array of important files. I need you back at HQ, sir."
"But I've gotta stay and monitor this! If it gets too dangerous, I need to pull the plug and get them out!"
"Isn't it already dangerous?"
"Yeah, but Nyugawa's there!"
Marin slapped her forehead. "We really shouldn't waste time, sir."
He held up a hand. "We won't. But hold on, it's getting to the climax."
Sure enough, the feed showed Omariro and his group walking out of the gate…
…and into the arena.
Floor 10,000—-
A line of hunters waited for Omariro as he exited the gate, beating drums and making wolf noises as he walked past them.
"Sir," Han worried. "I'm not usually one to say this, but I really think this is a bad idea. Maybe we should try a different approach?"
Omariro looked up at the Huntress, who returned his gaze with an ecstatic smile. "No other way, boy."
As they got to the center of the arena, the hunters suddenly got quiet. "Omariro Nyugawa. I hope you'll be more of a challenge than your weakling friends."
"Woman speak now."
"Hmm?"
"What does woman want?"
She cracked her neck. "A mate."
The kids all stared at her, shocked, as Omariro remained calm. "Hmm."
"You want Mr. Nyugawa as your husband?" Rika exclaimed.
"No way!" Zaria shot down. "You can't have him!"
"For too long I've been leading these hunters alone, carrying them on the backs of my own power. I want someone strong enough as an equal, one who can help me take over all the dungeons! If Nyugawa is the one, then he shall be the one."
"Blind woman," Omariro replied. "No mate for you."
"We shall see. The others have proven disappointing. All except one. Your opponent. And best believe, prey, he's been waiting for a chance at you."
The other gate opened, and Atsushi stepped out, with Nonoka and Yuzuha by his side.
"Mr. Omariro," Rei said, tugging on his arm. "He looks mean!"
"Ahh, you've brought the children," Atsushi remarked. "Good. Then they can watch what I make of you."
Omariro remained silent.
"It's him," Han realized. "Leader of the top division, Kaidanchō Sunahara."
"He's proven strong," Kohaku commended. "But will it be enough?"
"Who's those chicks beside him?" Zaria wondered. "Do you know, Sir?"
"No."
Nonoka leaned up to Atsushi's ear. "Is this the guy, Atsushi?"
"Yes. Yes, he is."
Yuzuha analyzed Omariro. "He's short! And old! And like…super frail!"
"Don't underestimate him. He may be out of his prime, but he'll still be the toughest challenge you two have ever faced. Are you sure you're willing to do this?"
Nonoka nodded. "You're already past your limit. I want to help."
"I…uh…" Yuzuha stammered. "I'll do my best! But please tell me you're paying me well for this."
Nonoka elbowed her. "Ow!"
The air in the arena began to shift as Kohaku turned her attention to Omariro. "Legendary Kadianchō. You may bring two of your warriors into this fight. And only two."
The kids all shared a look as Omariro turned around, looking between them.
"Children at risk. Which will step up?"
They all raised their hands.
"Hmm."
"I can do it," Zaria promised. "Please."
"I wanna help too!" Rika insisted.
"Let me on the field, sir! I won't fail!" Han stated.
"Can I join, Mr. Omariro?" Rei asked.
"Me! Me!" Sōshin cheered, still in Rika's phone.
Rika and Zaria shared a look.
"Can it be us two?" Zaria asked. "We need to make up for our mistake."
"Here we go," Han sighed. "Mr. Nyugawa doesn't need the speech; he needs competence."
"I'm serious, Han!"
Rika nodded. "I know I don't fight well, but I really want to show you that I can help! Not just be a burden!"
"Me too," Zaria added. "Please, sir?"
Omariro looked between them. "Girls sure?"
They both nodded.
"Then come."
Han sighed. "You two better not get Mr. Nyugawa killed."
"Just go sit down," Rika replied.
Rei and Han went over to the stands as Rika and Zaria stood beside Omariro.
"Hmm," Kohaku remarked. "They look like mere cubs. But this should be interesting. Take your places, warriors!"
Atsushi and his group stepped forward, and Kohaku sat down. "This time, I'll make it interesting. We'll put a time limit on this battle. A true hunter must always know how to act swiftly and decisively. 30 minutes!"
A UI appeared.
〈Time Remaining: 30:00〉
"Hunt each other down. No mercy!"
Rika grabbed Omariro's arm, and Zaria did the same.
"Do you believe we can do this, sir?" Zaria asked.
"I'm feeling a little nervous," Rika admitted.
"Girls stand strong. Stay close. No fear."
"Yes, sir!" they replied.
"Handle the girls," Atsushi ordered. "The man is mine."
Both Yuzuha and Nonoka nodded.
"Begin!" Kohaku announced.
〈Begin.〉
Without warning, Atsushi rushed at Zaria, preparing to attack, but Omariro pushed her out of the way, and Atsushi punched him into the wall.
BOOM.
"Sir!" Rika and Zaria screamed.
"Same as ever!" Atsushi laughed. "I see your protective instincts aren't dead, even as you age! Now FALL!"
Atsushi lunged at Omariro, who waved the dust away with his staff, catching Atsushi's fist with one arm.
"Stone shatters," Omariro growled.
With a solid grip, he shattered Atsushi's stone arm, which slowly reformed itself. "Not this stone!"
With a roar, he attempted to punch Omariro again, but the man easily evaded his attacks. Zaria and Rika both watched him, worried, before a curtain of vines ensnared them.
"Hey!" Zaria demanded. "Get this shit off me!"
Yuzuha turned to Nonoka. "Okay, now you can do your thing!"
Nonoka stretched her shoulders before touching her neck.
"Your legs!" Rika called out. "Use your legs, Zaria!"
Zaria tried to drive her knee up, but the vines only cracked an inch. Nonoka zoomed over and pushed them both, sending them flying and further breaking the vines.
"Pfff. These are his soldiers? Kinda anticlimactic."
From the other side of the arena, Omariro was busy blocking all of Atsushi's attacks when he noticed Rika and Zaria.
"Girls."
With a summons of his bow, he unleashed an arrow that split the vines and freed both of them.
"Thank you, sir!" Zaria shouted.
"Zaria!" Rika exclaimed. "He just saved us! Again! We need to handle this! We're supposed to be helping him, not the other way around!"
"R—right!"
Zaria formed her spear as Nonoka watched. "Cute pitchfork."
"Yeah, I'm gonna pitch it right up your ass."
"Ooh," Nonoka taunted. "I'm so scared."
Zaria swung her spear at Nonoka, but she easily blocked with her arm. "Too slow, sweetheart."
Zaria swung again and again, but Nonoka effortlessly dodged before disarming her with a kick.
"The hell…?" Zaria wondered, confused. "You're a Sōunsha user, how can you fight like this?"
"All Jugen Classes can fight, you idiot," Nonoka pointed out. "Just like playing a sport, you need skills."
She looked Zaria up and down. "Seems you don't have any. Some master."
Zaria growled and reformed her spear, throwing it at Nonoka, who caught it but immediately dropped it.
"Ow! What is that thing?"
"My weapon. It's cursed, so only I can hold it."
"Well then…"
Nonoka stomped the base of it, causing it to spring up, before kicking it at Zaria, who kicked it back, grazing Nonoka's side and nearly impaling Yuzuha.
"Hey!" Yuzuha demanded. "Watch it!"
"A little backup here?" Nonoka asked.
"Uh, sure! Jugen-Mahōshi: Erufu Ōchō no Kago!"
An army of elven leaf archers formed, and they pointed their weapons at the girls.
"Wait," Rika realized. "She's an elf? How did you guys recruit an elf? That's not fair!"
The archers fired at Rika, forcing Zaria to jump in and defend her by blocking the arrows with her spear. "Focus, Rika!"
"Sorry! I don't know what to do! I'm not good in fights like this!"
An archer grabbed her from behind, lifting her, and as she threw an elbow back, the archer caught it. Zaria impaled it through the head.
"Think! What's something only Rika can do?"
"I—I don't know! Stream? Heal? Mess things up?"
Yuzuha fired an arrow at her, forcing her to duck. "Hey! Watch my hair!"
Zaria shook Rika. "You can do this! Just think what Mr. Nyugawa would tell you?"
Rika began to tear up. "I don't know! I don't know! Zaria please! If he sees me like this, he'll kick me out! What do I do? What do I—-?"
"Jugen-Mahōshi: Yasei no Kariudo no Shugo-jika—Kakuta!"
A large deer charged at them, slamming them into the wall. Yuzuha flexed her hands. "Wow, thanks, Nonoka! This buff really does the trick!"
"Don't mention it," Nonoka muttered.
From the stands, Han watched as Rika and Zaria slowly got up, with Rika sobbing into her hands.
"That woman," Han noted. "Always so insecure! You'd think she'd have learned by now, but she's still wallowing in her own self-doubt!"
"Is Rika okay?" Rei wondered.
"I hope so. If not, they'll lose this match. Mr. Nyugawa can't babysit and fight at the same time. Not with that stone psychopath on his case."
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Sure enough, Omariro and Atsushi were bouncing around, colliding into the walls as the Huntress cheered.
"What a battle worthy of watching!" she declared. "Unleash your full strength!"
On the other side, Zaria helped Rika up. "C'mon, bestie, don't cry!"
Nonoka watched as the two stood, shaking her head. "Just a bunch of wimps."
"Shut up!"
Zaria threw her spear, but Nonoka blocked.
"Zaria, just leave me…" Rika begged. "Go help Mr. Nyugawa…I'm worthless…"
"That's not true! Who's gonna heal us if we get banged up? They might have fighters, but they only got so much fire in them before they dull out! Remember what Mr. Nyugawa told you? Protector, not fighter! So protect the squad, mkay?"
Rika wiped her tears. "D—do you think I can do it?"
Omariro landed in front of the two, placing hands on their heads.
"Tears unnecessary. Girl no weakling. Neither of girls."
"Really, Mr. Nyugawa?" Rika wondered.
"No. Find use. Find self. Hardship brings strength. Girl made it far. Now must finish."
"Okay," Rika agreed. "As you command, sir!"
Zaria gave them both a hug. "See? We got this——!"
She turned around, and her eyes immediately widened. "Sir, look out!"
Behind him, Atsushi swung a fist, and Omariro blocked.
"Nonoka! Pull out the sigil!"
"But sir, you've passed your limit! It could kill you, or corrupt your mind, or worse!"
"Do it now, soldier!" Atsushi commanded. "That's an order!"
Nonoka pulled out the sigil and looked at it with a conflicted look before sighing. "Yes, sir."
She squeezed it, and it cracked. "Jugen-Sōunsha: Noroi no Sukiru Kyōka…"
〈700% Buff Applied to *All* Party Members.〉
Without hesitation, Atsushi slammed his fists together.
"Jugen-Henshōsha: Kokuyōseki no Kentōshi!"
The Huntress watched with glee as Atsushi's body began to grow, shift, and change into that of a stone warrior.
"That maniac," Han gasped. "He's gonna ruin himself and everyone else just to beat Mr. Nyugawa!"
Atsushi's body finally shifted into its centaur form, and he pointed his mace at Omariro, shedding just enough of his mask to speak.
"Now, you fall, Nyugawa!"
Omariro pulled the girls behind him just as Atsushi slammed the ground, causing it to crumble before breaking underneath him. As he fell, he grabbed Omariro with his free hand, and Zaria and Rika quickly tried to catch his arms.
"Hang on, sir!" Zaria shouted.
"We've got you!" Rika assured.
But as Atsushi fell, Omariro fell with him…
…down into the depths below.
——-