Live Dungeon!

Korinna often found herself observing the Monitors with a sharp, discerning eye, and Tsutomu had even entrusted her with the responsibility of selecting the team for their latest mission. She had crafted her own strategies for defeating the mutated Shell Crab, yet when she learned their competition would include a formidable mixed party composed of Scarlet Devil Squad, Golden Tune, and the Guild Master — none other than Amira’s mother — a dizzying wave of unease swept over her. Even so, Korinna steadied herself, convinced that her team had a fair, if hard-fought, chance at victory.

Amy had recently begun employing her skills in innovative ways, and she could even maintain the [ transformation via [. This evolution meant their team effectively boasted two members with unique skills. Meanwhile, both Amira and Leleia had been improving at an almost alarming pace, honing their talents to levels that even left Tsutomu, typically decisive to a fault, grappling with difficult lineup decisions.

[Everyone is strong,] Korinna reassured herself. [As long as I don’t hold them back, we can do this…!]

Her confidence rested on her team’s pure damage output, the synergy she had cultivated with Amy and Amira, as well as her understanding of how to maximize the potential of [. She had also devised a rotation system to give Hannah much-needed breaks, knowing the latter’s stamina could become a liability in the prolonged fight. Additionally, Leleia’s Spirit [ offered a trump card Korinna hoped would tip the scales in their favor.

The battle began seamlessly. Hannah charged in, drawing the Crab’s aggro while delivering fierce attacks, buying precious moments for Amy to activate [ and Leleia to form her Spirit [. Korinna deployed her support buffs at just the right time, bolstering the team’s strength and cohesion. The plan to leave the Crab’s right pincer intact worked out, allowing Amira, their most devastating Attacker, to zero in on the creature’s other vulnerable spots. Amy clung to the monster, striking with calculated precision, while Leleia’s support fortified the offensive.

The rotation system, too, held firm. Hannah rotated out at carefully timed intervals, giving her the opportunity to recover and maintain the team’s rhythm. But the tide turned when Amira, attempting to land a crushing blow with her greatsword, was pushed back by the Crab’s deflecting swing. She stumbled, her legs sinking into an unexpected trap — a patch of sticky white substance that clung to the ground like congealed sap.

”Ugh, you’ve got to be kidding me…” Amira grumbled.

She summoned the formidable strength of [ to wrench herself free, but the effort only sapped her stamina at an alarming rate, leaving her effectively immobilized. With Amira incapacitated, the rotation system faltered. Hannah, deprived of reprieve, was forced to sustain the aggro alone, her body trembling from overexertion. Korinna, too, struggled to improvise her way out of the situation — her [ provided fleeting relief, but against the Crab’s seemingly inexhaustible stamina, her healing felt woefully inadequate. Amy, empowered but unseasoned in enduring [’s punishing stamina drain, began to falter as her movements slowed. Meanwhile, Leleia focused entirely on freeing Amira, rendering her unable to contribute meaningfully to the offensive.

[I have to do something! I have to fix this!]

Korinna’s mind raced, but the pressure mounting on her only seemed to cloud her judgment further. The sight of her teammates faltering wrapped around her heart like a vice. Sensing the presence of death around Hannah, Amy, and Amira, she had already cast [ on Hannah — the one in the most danger — as a desperate preemptive measure against the worst-case scenario, but the fight’s trajectory remained grim.

It was painfully clear that Hannah needed rest, yet holding the Shell Crab’s attention, even for a brief respite, would be an ordeal of near-impossible proportions — especially now, with only two Attackers left. They had struggled to keep pace earlier, even with three; without Amira, the task was a mountain too steep to climb. But Korinna knew they had no choice. If Hannah fell, the entire party would collapse like a house of cards.

[Amy looks so exhausted… And Leleia, as a Spiritualist, can’t possibly sustain this either. Can the two of them really hold out?] Korinna’s thoughts swirled in frantic circles. [If not, I need another plan… But what? What else can I do?]

The answer eluded her. The priority was clear — Hannah’s survival had to take precedence over the Attackers — but the weight of asking Amy, visibly on the brink of collapse from the relentless toll of [, to face the Shell Crab alone was unbearable. Fear of making the wrong call and dooming the entire team gripped her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a futile hope whispered that perhaps there was another way — some overlooked strategy that would save them all. Paralyzed by indecision, she issued no commands.

This hesitation seeped into her skills. Her focus wavered, her timing faltered, and in her distress, she failed to notice that Hannah’s [ had expired.

”Ah.”

The realization struck her too late. Hannah’s movements faltered, her senses thrown off by the change in movement speed, just as the Shell Crab raised its crystalline claw high. The sharp, deafening crack of impact echoed through the air, the force of the blow shattering the crystals encasing the monstrous appendage.

Hannah’s blood splattered across the sand, and with her death, Amy — already gasping under the weight of [ — became the Crab’s next target. Its sharpened claw, now glistening with both blood and malice, flexed in the dim light as the creature crouched low, preparing to strike. Then, like a coiled spring, it launched itself toward her with terrifying speed.

Amy leaped back on instinct, her sweat-drenched white hair whipping around her face. She had spent hours studying the Shell Crab’s patterns, her reflexes honed to anticipate its attacks. For a fleeting moment, it seemed she had evaded the deadly strike.

”Wait, no–”

But her calculations were based on the Crab’s claw before its crystal shattered. Now, the newly exposed edge extended further than she had expected, like a wickedly sharp blade unfolding from a hidden sheath. The claw found its mark. Amy staggered, clutching her abdomen as blood bloomed across her shirt. Her attempt to defend herself was futile. A heartbeat later, her body dissolved into particles of light, leaving only her gear behind.

”–!”

The Shell Crab, emboldened by its quick kills, inspected its sharpened claw with its stalk-like eyes before flicking away the remaining blood. Then, with unsettling agility, it scuttled toward Leleia, the last standing Attacker.

”Korinna, resurrect them!” Leleia’s voice cut through the chaos, steady yet urgent. The Sylph, freed from its [ with Hannah, perched on her head.

Leleia’s green hair billowed as she drew her rapier in a single, fluid motion. Harnessing the Sylph’s wind, she deflected the incoming claw just enough to avoid a fatal blow.

[What in the… I’m not sensing death?]

She had assumed Leleia’s fall was inevitable, that the Shell Crab would cut her down within moments. Yet, against all odds, the aura of impending doom she had come to dread was absent. Instead, Leleia stood firm, displaying extraordinary resilience amidst the carnage. Incredibly, she was holding her own. Amy and Amira had been working as a trio with Hannah to stagger the Crab’s assaults, each covering for the others. But now, Leleia — alone — was managing to keep the mutated Shell Crab at bay.

If it had been any ordinary Spiritualist, the fight would have ended the moment the Crab closed the distance. But Leleia was no ordinary combatant — born into a knightly lineage, she had undergone rigorous training in the art of dueling. Since entering God’s Dungeon, she had honed her craft further, seamlessly blending her swordsmanship with the unique abilities of a Spiritualist. Though her Job was designed for ranged combat, she had adapted, becoming a formidable force in close quarters.

The mutated Shell Crab’s attacks were nothing short of devastating — each strike a brutal display of raw power that even a seasoned Tank could barely endure. Yet, Leleia and the Sylph stood their ground with a grace that seemed almost surreal. Her rapier, slender and delicate compared to the Crab’s hulking pincers, seemed an unlikely match for such overwhelming force. But with swift, precise slashes, she deflected the monstrous blows, the blade whistling sharply through the air. Above her, the Sylph darted and twirled like a tiny dancer.

Korinna, captivated by the extraordinary display, felt the fog of despair lift from her mind. Determination flared in her chest, and she promptly channeled [ and while [ for Leleia. Then, she sprinted toward the place where Hannah had been crushed. Her boots pounded against the sand as she scrambled to collect the scattered remnants of Hannah’s equipment.

[Leleia is holding her ground! I have to do my part too!]

She gulped down a Blue Potion, the liquid invigorating her mind as its power coursed through her body. Encouraged by Leleia’s valiant stand, Korinna turned her full attention to reviving her fallen comrades. With quick, practiced movements, she laid out Hannah and Amy’s gear, ensuring everything was ready for when the [ took effect. For the moment, she made the painful decision to halt support for Amira, who remained immobilized in the adhesive trap. Instead, she cast a preemptive [ on Leleia as the growing weight of death’s presence around her no longer could be ignored.

”Hannah! As soon as you’ve got your gear on, get back in there!”

”Woo! I’m back and feeling great!” Hannah exclaimed, her grin as wide as ever. Thanks to the [, she was revived in full health.

Korinna worked quickly, sending the God Eye elsewhere and then helping Hannah into her equipment. All the while, she maintained her focus on supporting Leleia, who now showed visible signs of exhaustion.

Moments later, Amy was also revived. With Hannah successfully reclaiming the Shell Crab’s relentless aggro, the team managed to stabilize — albeit tenuous. Yet, despite their best efforts, Amira remained ensnared, her strength useless against the adhesive that bound her. Without her devastating attacks, the party’s damage output was insufficient to turn the tide. The battle dragged into a grueling stalemate, each passing moment sapping their energy further.

Korinna, steadied by Leleia’s earlier courage, found her rhythm once more. She juggled her responsibilities with the precision of a seasoned Healer — bolstering and restoring with seamless efficiency. When she was at her best, her skills were unparalleled, even earning sincere praise from Tsutomu, whose standards bordered on unrealistic. Her past experiences supporting weaker, unreliable parties had tempered her resolve, forging an iron will that refused to falter under pressure.

But even the best of Healers could not defy the laws of aggro forever. Each skill she channeled tipped the fragile balance, drawing the mutated Shell Crab’s attention closer and closer.

The moment came without warning — the mutated Shell Crab’s stalk-like eyes swiveled toward her, and before she could react, its razor-sharp pincer lunged forward. Korinna, weighed down by her low AGI, had no chance to evade. The claw pierced her abdomen with sickening force, lifting her into the air like a ragdoll.

”Agh–!”

A strangled gasp escaped her lips as pain shot through her body, but it lasted only a moment. With a faint shimmer, her form dissolved into particles of light.

”I’ll hold it off! Pack up your equipment!” Amy’s voice rang out.

With Korinna gone, the party was left vulnerable, their lifeline severed. A Healer’s absence was a death knell in any prolonged battle, and the mutated Shell Crab showed no signs of retreating to its nest. Resigned to what was now an inevitable defeat, Amy took command, promptly instructing the others to gather their gear — get everything into their Magic Bags, so as to minimize their losses.

This attempt had always been a calculated risk. They’d come armed with backup equipment, leaving their most treasured gear behind. The only powerful items they carried were weapons looted from the Light and Darkness layers. Still, even their backup equipment was worth a small fortune, enough to sustain a family of three for an entire year. Amy did her best to buy as much time as possible, ensuring that every piece of gear was accounted for and stowed away.

What followed was a desperate, frenzied struggle.

”Take this, you bastard!”

Hannah’s battle cry tore through the air, and with a reckless determination, she charged toward the mutated Shell Crab, a Large Inferno Magic Stone clutched in her hands. The explosion that followed was devastating, a blinding inferno of light and heat that consumed everything in its wake. The Magic Fist detonated with catastrophic force, unleashing a fiery shockwave that scorched the ground and sent shards of debris flying.

When the smoke began to clear, the battlefield was a scene of utter devastation. Hannah was gone, her body obliterated in the self-destructive attack, and Amira had been consumed in the blast as well. But this, too, had been part of the plan. Amira, with her unwavering resolve, had requested to be caught in the explosion rather than fall to the Shell Crab’s claws.

The aftermath revealed the monstrous creature’s battered form. Its once-impenetrable black carapace was nearly gone, stripped away by the inferno to expose the raw, pulsating red flesh beneath. And yet, even in its ravaged state, the mutated Shell Crab refused to fall. It rose from the wreckage, its massive pincers raised high in a gesture of defiance and fury.