Screen:
"1 hour remaining until the First Floor gate opens."
In the Yakuza association camp, an eerie silence reigned. Everyone was sharpening weapons and checking gear with grim focus. The Yakuza boss cast a heavy gaze around and declared:
"If you fail, kill yourselves right there. If you can't even beat the First Floor monster, you don't deserve to live. Either you win… or you get buried there!"
Screen:
"40 minutes until the gate opens."
The Yakuza commander stood, raised his sword, and roared so loudly the whole area shook:
"Men! Onward to victory! We either take it… or we die with honor!"
Everyone answered with synchronized war-cries, slamming weapons against the ground, ready to march into the hell of the First Floor…
Screen: 20 minutes until the First Floor gate opens.
Several teams had already gathered in front of the gate: the Yakuza, the Red Cloaks, the Floor Conquerors, and the Godly Single-Blade swordsmen.
While every team lined up, a lone figure in a black cloak stood silently beside the gate. No one had noticed when he arrived.
One of the Yakuza members stepped forward and sneered:
"You planning to go in alone? Good luck, hero."
Yagami only glanced at him. Said nothing.
The commander laughed:
"Ignore him. Maybe he'll make a nice sacrifice for the First Floor king, hahahaha."
Screen: Countdown began… 10… 9… 3… 2… 1
The gate opened with a deafening boom. Everyone braced to charge, but…
Before a single person could step inside, the massive main screen appeared in front of everyone:
"First Floor Boss Defeated"
Defeated by: One-Eyed God
Level Appraisal: Unknown (Unidentifiable)
Everyone froze in shock. No one had heard a sound, seen a flash, or even watched anyone enter.
The cloaked man? He was simply gone. Vanished like a shadow that had only appeared to complete its mission… leaving no trace.
The moment the screen announced the boss was dead, the entire Yakuza group stared in disbelief. For a split second they saw Yagami by the gate, wearing that demonic grin; then he disappeared. One member opened his mouth to speak, and his head slid off his shoulders. One by one, every Yakuza member's head hit the ground. The commander stood wide-eyed, clothes soaked in blood, staring at his fallen men.
Only the commander remained standing, drenched in blood among the corpses, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Terror consumed him; he turned and ran.
But suddenly, a man in a black cloak and hat appeared right in his path.
With ice-cold calm, he said:
"Tell your boss Yagami says hello."
The commander stumbled, fell several times, scrambled back up, and fled without looking back.
Yagami stood there with his devilish smile…
The screen was still lit, displaying only one message:
Defeated by: One-Eyed God
Level: Unappraisable
Shaking uncontrollably, soaked in sweat, the Yakuza commander was dragged into the boss's room. His eyes were empty, his voice broken, repeating over and over:
"He's coming… he'll kill you all… it only takes one blink… I'm still young… I don't want to die…"
The boss slapped him hard across the face and barked:
"What the hell are you babbling about?! Who's coming?! Where are the others?!"
The commander whimpered:
"He said his name is Yagami… and told me to give you his regards…"
The boss roared:
"Which Yagami?! Speak clearly, you idiot! Where are the rest of my men?!"
The subordinate who had dragged the commander in replied:
"The rest are dead."
The boss:
"How?! Which clan did this?!"
At that exact moment, a faint laugh came from behind him.
The boss spun around in terror; only an open window. When he turned back, the commander's head hit the floor with a heavy thud. Dead.
Everyone stepped back. The boss screamed:
"Protect me, you morons! Why are you just standing there?!"
Seconds later, a scream; the boss's daughter; echoed from upstairs.
They all rushed to her room… but it was empty.
On the bed lay only a single letter.
With trembling hands, the boss picked it up.
It read:
"If you want your daughter back… come to this address."
Beneath it, in sharp red ink, a single signature:
"Yagami"
The boss roared in fury:
"Why are you staring at me?! Move! Everyone get ready! Idiots! I swear I'll kill him… just wait and see…"
His team mobilized instantly. Following the address in the letter, they headed toward a dark, mysterious cave. Torches lined both walls, casting faint light, yet the atmosphere inside was oppressively heavy and suffocating.
Two of the boss's men whispered to each other:
"You hear that? They say the commander died with just a look… I don't know why we're risking our lives for one spoiled little girl…"
The boss said coldly:
"Anyone who's scared can turn back right now. I won't stop you."
The two immediately turned to flee…
But suddenly, thorny vines erupted from the ground. They coiled around the men like serpents, thorns piercing skin and muscle in an instant… even forcing their way into their mouths.
Muffled screams echoed through the cave. The rest just watched… frozen. Only the rustling of vines and fading groans could be heard…
Magic Skill: Plant Control
Level: 50 HP: 130 XP: 3320
Special Skill: Exploding Pumpkins
The Yakuza boss, an A+ rank user, wielded ruthless, terrifying power.
With an icy voice he said:
"Anyone else want to talk about my little girl?"
Silence.
"No? Then let's move."
When they reached the designated spot, what they saw froze them in place…
The boss's daughter sat in the corner of the cave, body covered in wounds, hands and feet bound with chains… her eyes half-open, filled with terror and pain.
The boss ran to her, eyes blazing with rage and hatred.
Voice shaking with fury:
"Who did this to you?! Speak, my daughter! I swear… whoever caused this… I'll make them suffer the worst death imaginable. Just hold on…"
He turned to his men and roared:
"Come on, you bastards! Heal my daughter! What are you doing?!"
No one moved.
The boss:
"Why are you staring at me like idiots?!"
In a single instant… every single one of his men dropped to the ground.
Like trees felled by one swing of an axe. No warning. No scream.
The boss, clutching his daughter in terror, looked around frantically; then a heavy blow struck the back of his head.
His daughter's image blurred before his eyes… everything went black…
And he collapsed.