Live Dungeon!

”So, Absolute Helix is finally taking a shot at it.”

”Looks like they’re going for another first-time win too. They’ve been prepping, sure, but… yeah, I don’t see it happening.”

The ninetieth layer of the Dungeon had first been challenged by Ealdred Crow. Their current composition — one Tank, two Attackers, and two Healers — was the product of extensive trial and error. However, progress remained slow, as they continued to test out new equipment and magic tools more than shooting for a win.

Meanwhile, Silver Beast had also been making steady progress down the layers over the past two weeks. And in fact, they recently launched their own attempt on the ninetieth layer. Although they failed to clear it on the first try, their teamwork and gear were impressive enough that whispers had begun that, perhaps, they could rival Ealdred Crow in due time.

”Their party’s lineup is… well, decent enough,” one spectator muttered. ”Though Hannah still feels like a liability.”

”She didn’t do that well against the Winter General, sure, but that’s only because she couldn’t fly then” another chimed in, ”She’ll do well in this fight. I mean, she WILL get to fly, and she’s the best among the evasion-based Tanks. Plus, she’s got Magic Fist. Seems like a good matchup against this boss in particular.”

”Leleia’s a solid pick too. Just plain strong.”

”I personally would’ve liked to see Amira. She’s been growing fast lately.”

”True, but since she can’t use the [ with Diniel, Leleia’s the better call. [ gives her more flexibility.”

While the Dungeon Maniacs argued over Tsutomu’s chosen party, another group nearby — those fascinated by the monsters of God’s Dungeon — was deep in their own discussion. The creature known as the Corrupted Shell, its name recently revealed by an Ealdred Crow appraiser, had become the latest hot topic.

”Silver Beast gave us a good show. Now I want to see Absolute Helix push themselves.”

”That said,” another replied, ”they’ve only ever followed in Ealdred Crow’s footsteps. Silver Beast shows more drive, honestly. Best not to get your hopes up.”

”I’m just bored. There’s no new content in, what, a couple months now? Even Ealdred Crow’s been dragging their feet. Someone’s gotta shake things up.”

The Monster Maniacs, as they were called, tended to see Explorers as little more than set dressing, and their commentary could be cutting. From the third-person view on the Monitors, the Corrupted Shell’s wide-area attacks were perfectly visible — leading many to scoff at Explorers who failed to dodge them. Of course, being unaffected by the disorienting effects of Dark Silence or petrification made it easy for spectators to run their mouths.

”Hardly anyone’s betting on Tsutomu this time,” someone scoffed near the wagering stalls.

”Yeah, at this rate the whole pool might collapse. Get Amy’s fans in on it or something! We need numbers!”

The buzz around the Monitors was growing again, thanks to the news that Absolute Helix would soon take on the ninetieth layer. Bets on the participating members’ number of deaths were already flying, with most predicting a total wipe. After all, not even Ealdred Crow had found a winning strategy yet. Those running the gambling operation were scrambling to keep the pot attractive enough to draw in new wagers. And it was not just fans or Dungeon Maniacs who were taking an interest — Explorers themselves wanted to watch it live, too.

▽▽

”I’m taking tomorrow off to watch Absolute Helix at the Pedestals. Is that alright with you?”

Stephanie, who until now had kept her focus squarely on Dungeon runs and personal growth, declared her intention without hesitation. She had been watching Tsutomu the whole time, but after reporting back from her own party’s defeat, she made the announcement to Rook. Her teammates were clearly surprised — but no one raised any objections.

▽▽

”We’re taking the day off too, right?” asked Lorena.

”Yeah,” Misil nodded. ”It’s their first time in there — they’ll totally be on Pedestal #1. Plus, the betting scene’s gonna be wild! I’m throwing in myself.”

”You betting on Tsutomu?”

”Who knows? Honestly, even I’m not sure this time. Ealdred Crow’s been struggling like hell. This one’s brutal. Most of the bets are on Tsutomu dying.” ℟á₦ỒBƐS

”Then I’ll bet on him!” Lorena declared, her long rabbit ears perking up. ”It’ll be against the majority — so if I win, it’s a sweet payout. And if I lose, I get to blame HIM! Either way, it’s a win for ME!”

Misil, too, had no objection. Silver Beast had no problem giving up the Monitor #1 slot to Absolute Helix’s debut. Between the raised stakes and the morbid betting odds on Tsutomu’s survival, it was shaping up to be quite the spectacle. Energized, Lorena trotted off toward the Guild bank, one ear folded down in excitement. She returned with a hefty sum of Gold, and her bold bet added fuel to the gambling frenzy.

▽▽

”Bwahaha… The day he finally bows to me is coming,” Alma said with a smirk.

”I know you’re talking about Tsutomu — and he deserves that, sure, but you sound SO petty right now,” Eunice replied dryly.

”Oh? That’s rich coming from you, Eunice. I thought you’d be more thrilled about it. When’d you become such a softie?”

”Sh-shut up, already!”

Eunice turned away, cheeks puffed in embarrassment, while Alma laughed, clearly enjoying herself. She had learned of Tsutomu’s more specific opinions on the Black Staff — and how he MIGHT ask to borrow it if he felt the need — and she had been in good spirits ever since. The Scarlet Devil Squad and Golden Tune would be watching the challenge too, eager to glean whatever information they could. Other mid-tier Clans and even beginner Explorers were abuzz with excitement, drawn in by both the battle, the gambling, and the gossip surrounding Tsutomu. Even the orphan children who had recently become Explorers were chatting in the Guild hall, curious to see the man they’d heard so much about.

▽▽

”What a commotion, eh?”

Absolute Helix’s first foray into the ninetieth layer had become the talk of the town. All eyes were on them now.

At the Forest Apothecary’s shop, the elderly Elf lounged against the backrest of a floor chair behind the counter. She held out a newspaper to the visitor in front of her, the front page showing an article of obvious interest. The young man took one glance, then snorted dismissively.

”I REALLY don’t appreciate people making a spectacle of my life — or my death.” He grumbled.

The old woman chuckled, unbothered. ”Can’t be helped, now can you? Maybe the fuss would die down if you died a few more times in the Dungeon, Tsutomu. But you don’t fancy that, do you? Then you’d best learn to live with it.”

Tsutomu sighed. ”Anyway, that project you were doing… was it successful?”

”Sure was,” she said, placing a dull, gray Potion on the counter.

The concoction, she explained, was an incredibly rare formula — possibly capable of reversing petrification. Tsutomu had come to the Forest Apothecary to prepare for tomorrow’s battle, and this was what he’d been waiting on.

Currently, researchers from Ealdred Crow were working on developing Potions to cure conditions like Dark Silence and petrification, but their efforts had yet to bear fruit. The old Elf, however, had first-hand experience with petrification — dating back centuries.

Back then, a monster called the Basilisk — now extinct — could turn any creature to stone with a mere glance. Entire multi-race villages were destroyed in the chaos that followed their path. The old woman had taken part in the subjugation campaign, and on the battlefield, she had concocted a Potion that could reverse the petrification.

Unfortunately, the ingredients were rare, their sources unreliable, and the supply chain nonexistent. Mass production was out of the question.

”My apprentice says it tastes like drinking ash,” she warned.

Tsutomu raised an eyebrow. ”It does look the part.”

”It’s a liquid, but powdery enough to make you cough if you’re not careful,” added the young Elf woman — the current apprentice of the Forest Apothecary. ”Best to gather as much saliva as you can before swallowing. If possible, take it with water.”

”Understood.”

As she talked, the apprentice’s expression bordered on disgust. She looked as if she never wanted to lay eyes on that gray Potion again. Even so, she dutifully explained its properties while Tsutomu, wearing a wry smile, tucked the Potion into his Magic Bag.

”There might be different types of petrification, just like there are different poisons,” the old woman added. ”If that’s the case, this might not work at all — so don’t go relying on it.”

”I’ll treat it as a good-luck charm, then,” Tsutomu replied.

”Don’t push yourself too hard. Just making it to the eighty-ninth layer without anyone seeing you die is impressive enough. No need to throw yourself away trying to keep up a record.”

”You’re right. I’ll play it safe.”

The old woman let out a dry cackle. ”Heh heh… somehow, you don’t look like the ‘play it safe’ type.”

Tsutomu gave the Elves a casual wave and pulled his hood up before stepping out of the shop, careful not to draw attention.

▽▽

The eighty-ninth layer was bathed in the eerie glow of a blood-red moon. Near the Black Gate to the ninetieth floor, Absolute Helix’s Team 1 waited, conserving their mental energy and reviewing strategies for dealing with the Corrupted Shell — an enemy they had trained for over the past two weeks.

”Until everyone’s used to it, I’ll keep giving orders,” Tsutomu said. ”And if it helps, I’ll stay close by. Especially you, Hannah.”

”I-I know!” Hannah replied with a slight pout, nodding.

Despite her usual bravado, Hannah was the type to get nervous before a big fight. But now, being chosen for the main team seemed to outweigh any anxiety — her restlessness was more excitement than nerves. The others were calm, sharp-minded veteran Explorers who had already absorbed the information they needed.

”All right, let’s move out,” Tsutomu said.

”…It doesn’t feel like a big moment, does it?” murmured Daryl. ”Even though everyone’s watching us.”

Tsutomu gestured at the rest of the party. ”Take a look around, Daryl.”

”Huh? At what?”

Daryl glanced at his teammates, confused. Hannah was bouncing on her heels like a child waiting for a festival to start. When she noticed the attention, she tilted her head, as if to ask whether something was wrong.

”Nuhuhu…” Leleia hummed to herself. ”Amira, oh, Amira. She must be absolutely seething. The only initial recruit of Absolute Helix left out of the main team… I wonder what kind of face she’s making as she watches the Pedestals…”

She wore a smug grin, utterly lost in her own world. The prim and proper woman she had once seemed to be was long gone.

”Let me touch your ears,” Diniel said to Daryl.

”Er… no,” he replied flatly.

Diniel — well, she was always herself, continuing to drift closer to Daryl, who tried to ignore her and sighed in defeat.

Tsutomu gave the ground a tap with his White Staff. ”That’s enough. Time to move.”

”Come on, Miss Diniel. We’re going in,” said Daryl.

”Killjoy,” Diniel muttered.

”Let’s do this!” Hannah chirped.

”The time has finally come,” Leleia whispered, almost to herself. ”Nuhuhu…”

With his four companions in tow, Tsutomu stepped up to the Black Gate. After ushering Hannah and Daryl through, he followed them into the ninetieth layer.

The ground on the other side glowed faintly, like the last light before dawn. Above them stretched a sky blacker than night, and from it descended a massive gray mass.

”[!”

Daryl charged forward in full plate armor, the metal clanking as he ran. A red aura flared around him — his aggro skill drawing the enemy’s attention.

”[, [, [,” Tsutomu chanted.

Much like a hatching egg, the gray mass unfurled what resembled wings and began to rise. As it did, Tsutomu cast his support skills, buffing Daryl first, then applying [ to Hannah and Leleia. For now, he refrained from using any on Diniel, who was already watching their opponent closely.

It was larger than a Winter General — perhaps eight meters tall. Its body was cloaked in ash, particles constantly shedding into the air. Though it had once been an Archangel, now it looked more like a wretched phantom of death. Technically female, perhaps — but nothing about that face could be called human anymore.

The creature — what remained of the Angel, now twisted into a Corrupted Shell — let out an ear-splitting shriek the moment it caught sight of Daryl approaching, his gaze fixed on the ground to avoid meeting its eyes.

”KYAAAAAAAHHHHH!!”

”Everyone, get ready…” Tsutomu called out. ”Area Attack, Pattern One!”

It was the creature’s signature opening move: a sweeping barrage from above, raining down lattice-like beams of light across the entire battlefield. The team, well-practiced by now, looked up at the pitch-black sky, scanning for safe zones between the lines of light. Once they spotted them, they broke into motion.

Tsutomu, reaching his designated spot, raised his voice again.

”Once you’re in a safe zone, look down at the floor! If the ground goes dark beneath you, don’t try to dodge — just hold your position and raise your hand! I’ll fix it with [!”

From overhead, streaks of light split the darkness. Holding a megaphone to his mouth, Tsutomu kept an eye on Daryl while scanning the faintly glowing floor, watching for patches that dimmed to a murky gray.

The moment the light barrage ceased, plumes of black smoke erupted from the darkened areas on the ground.

When one of those beams hit, the victim would be afflicted with Dark Silence, a status effect that could render a fighter useless — and the placement of the beams was completely random. One might be lucky and avoid them all, or unlucky enough to take a hit no matter how carefully they moved. In theory, one could avoid it altogether by ascending high enough with [, but getting hit while airborne would most certainly be fatal. Most Explorers wouldn’t risk it.

This time, luck was on their side. No one had been afflicted. Seeing this, Tsutomu glanced at the floating Corrupted Shell as it began drifting toward Daryl, who had drawn the creature’s aggro. With a silent gesture, he motioned to Diniel and Leleia — it was now time to attack.

Diniel nocked an arrow without a word. Leleia, already accompanied by the contracted Sylph she had summoned during the initial barrage, moved to flank the enemy.

”Hannah,” Tsutomu called, ”watch the Corrupted Shell’s movement while we’ve got the opening.”

”Roger!” she replied, clacking her gauntlets together with anticipation.

She narrowed her eyes, watching intently as the Corrupted Shell swiped at Daryl with grotesquely elongated, razor-sharp nails. Daryl held firm, defending himself with his massive tower shield and keeping his face hidden behind its broad surface, refusing to meet the creature’s gaze.

”[!” Diniel’s voice rang out, calm and sharp.

Her shot flew true, and with that first strike, the battle against the Corrupted Shell had begun.