The next morning.
After breakfast, Lin Dong took Lili to the East District first.
They withdrew every last coin from her vault, then headed to the Takemikazuchi Familia.
"Morning, Lin Dong."
Sakura was leading morning training.
"Morning. This is yesterday's payment."
Lin Dong pulled a gemstone from his bag and tossed it to Sakura.
"This is… a dwarf gemstone?!"
Sakura yelped.
Dwarf gemstones and minerals were expensive and could be used for magic tools. Even if Sakura wasn't an expert, he knew this was valuable.
"I only had you tail someone. You didn't need to pay this much."
"It's fine. Call it a hiring fee," Lin Dong said breezily. "I need you to help with something in the dungeon later."
Behind him, Lili lowered her head silently.
Of course it's fine. It's not your money.
She repeated to herself: It's okay. It's okay. This is all for leaving Soma Familia.
Only then did she look around—and realized Takemikazuchi Familia members were looking at her… strangely.
Her instincts weren't wrong. Many of them had participated in yesterday's surveillance. Lin Dong catching Lili so quickly was, in large part, thanks to them.
Sakura leaned in and whispered, "So… what's her situation?"
"Don't worry about it. Treat her as my supporter."
"And yesterday's thing…?"
"Keep it secret for half a month. After that, it won't matter whether she knows."
Sakura nodded. He understood.
"Is Takemikazuchi-sama around?" Lin Dong asked.
"He's working on your Breathing method," Sakura said. "Progress sounds good."
"Good."
That was what Lin Dong came for—checking on the refinement timeline.
Half an hour later, they gathered at Babel Tower.
After buying supplies, Lin Dong—fully geared—led everyone into the dungeon.
After syncing with JOJO Lin Dong, Lin Dong's physical specs had climbed again. On Floors 1–12, monsters were basically unarmed children to him.
They bulldozed their way down to the passage into Floor 13.
After descending the slope from Floor 12, a single long stone corridor stretched into the depths.
"Floor 13 is mostly long connecting corridors between caverns," Sakura explained, knowing it was Lin Dong's first time here. "To fight safely, we should move fast to the first cavern."
Lin Dong already knew. He wasn't the type to get a little strong and then sprint blindly into the deep.
He had studied monster intel and the maps from Floors 13 to 17 before leaving.
They advanced—and soon Mikoto stopped.
"Monsters."
Her skill helped her confirm quickly.
"Hellhounds. Four of them."
A chorus of tap-tap-tap footfalls thundered from the corridor ahead.
Four black-skinned, bull-sized quadrupeds emerged—wolf-like faces, faint red eyes, teeth bared.
"Starting with a nasty wave," Sakura said, expression tightening. Axe and shield ready, he moved to the front.
"I'll hold two with the others. Lin Dong, you and Mikoto take—"
"No need."
Lin Dong walked past him.
Thunder Breathing — First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!
He inhaled, stepped forward—then vanished.
The four hellhounds howled and charged, momentum explosive.
Fifty meters disappeared in an instant.
At the moment of impact, the hellhounds' movements slowed in Lin Dong's eyes—like the world entered bullet time.
Courage Anthem flared, and every weakness, every opening, became obvious.
Steel flashed. Lin Dong passed between them, severing one hellhound's head cleanly.
At the same time—crack.
His left leg twisted at an impossible angle, and he rotated backward instantly.
Shhk—shhk—!
In a single breath, two more hellhounds were cut in half.
"Not bad."
Lin Dong shook his leg; the twisted joint snapped back into place with a series of clicks.
This was one of JOJO Lin Dong's Ripple-derived tricks—based on the principle of a spring-loaded punch. By "unloading" a joint and using controlled force, he could pivot instantly.
In close-range cross-slashes, turning first meant winning first.
The last surviving hellhound skidded to a stop, facing him.
It lowered its body and raised its rear, sparks spilling from its fangs as it charged flame.
"These days even magical girls don't get invincibility frames during transformations," Lin Dong said lazily. "And you're charging a move in front of me?"
He flicked out a throwing knife. Ripple energy surged along the blade.
Silver Ripple Dash!
The knife became a streak of light and pierced the hellhound in the next instant.
BOOM.
The forming flame dispersed. The last hellhound collapsed.
"Average," Lin Dong muttered, tugging at his pants.
Close call. When he unloaded his leg joint, he almost unloaded his pants too.
-------
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