anwhile, on the fifth floor, where Soma and the girls had already determined, Akane, who is currently with the other second-year students, stood in front of the massive door that would lead them toward the boss room.
After discussing the plan and picking so people who had so skills and strengths, Akane, Kaori, and six other people were chosen to accompany them in searching for those who had disappeared. As for the remaining people, Akane and Kaori decide to let them go back toward the entrance and inform the teacher to help her in the situation.
"You guys ready, right?".
Everyone in the group nods their heads and puts their tense expressions on their faces. Their team consists of eight people whom Akane personally knows and picks to ensure the mission they take goes well.
"Everyone, I am thankful for your help".
Kaori, who had been in distress since earlier because of the disappearance of Ryuu, bowed her head ninety degrees in front of the people in place.
All of them began to scratch their cheeks in embarrassnt, and Akane, as the leader of this operation, approached and then helped Kaori to straighten her posture.
"Kaori, it is too soon to celebrate, besides do that when our investigation succeeds".
What Akane says is probably rather cold from the other ears, but this is already a usual occurrence since the two of them were relatively close in age and stayed in the sa class for years, giving them enough opportunity to deepen their friendship.
"Fufu, you are right, but regardless, thank you for coming with us, everyone".
"No Problem with . I plan to see how strong the challenge in this dungeon is".
"We are indebted to the Leader, after all."
"Don't worry, Miss Kaori; with this team and the addition of our teacher, I am sure we will succeed".
"Rather than discussing here, we better hurry and catch up with the first year".
"Yeah, he is right. Let's move out".
"...".
"Look, Kaori, we are here on the sa mission, so let's put aside the gratitude and hurry up to dive deeper; you are also worried about that first-year, right?".
Kaori, who was being rained down by an optimistic statent from the other, smiled happily, for she was happy to create such an amazing club and create many strong bonds that could support each other in this situation.
"Let's go, everyone".
Akane, who saw Kaori had strengthened her determination, nodded her head and turned to look at the other before the massive door in front of her.
Ti had passed since Soma had already defeated the boss inside, and the door already shut back, indicating that the monster had already spawned and was waiting to be challenged. This phenonon happened so fast because of the many floors that were just created in this dungeon. The less it had, the faster the dungeon spawned its monster; it also happened in reverse.
[Do you want to challenge the Boss Room?]
[Yes or No]
Akane sighed as she began to tense the muscles around her body, followed by the others who put their gear on, ready to face the challenge.
"Yes".
The massive door shook, letting out a rumbling that shook everyone's attention, raising the tension in their heart, and as the door opened in front of them, a new challenge awaited.
"Let's go, everyone!".
"Yeah!".
***
Hina, Xiao Lian, and the other students were exploring the field with dread plastered on their faces. It also included their leader, Ryuu, and Serafina, who had never had this tense expression on their face ever since they knew them.
Xiao Lian, who stood beside Hina, occasionally twitched at the slightest movent from the area around her, for this was her first experience diving in this dangerous area.
After the quarreled earlier, Serafina convince Ryuu and he convince the other to follow this plan for sure. As Hina said, they couldn't just sit there waiting for eternity to help co, but reluctantly, they moved their trembling feet and stood in confinent following Hina's lead.
"Hm?!".
With a slight turn on her face, Serafina and the whole group stopped in their advance. Hina, who realised that, turned her head behind and saw Serafina raise her index finger to show Hina there was a monster ahead of them.
"I see". Hina nodded her head and began to change her course to the left. She carefully explored the field that was still near the surrounding wall of the dungeon.
At first, Hina planned to explore deeper, but after discussing sothing with Serafina, she abandoned the thought and followed her suggestion as she also didn't have a clue where she should start.
While holding a book in hand, Hina drew a small circle to give her a clear picture of the route they had taken ever since they left the cave. Luckily, she sotis saw the video on how to draw a basic map like Soma did, just to relieve her curiosity, but who knows what knowledge could be used in this situation.
"Red Hair?!".
"What?".
Xiao Lian whispered softly from her side as she pointed her finger in front of her, only to find a glittering light that shone in this dense tree in the forest. Hina and the others began to get close to the site, and the light took their attention.
"?!".
Everyone's breath was taken away as they saw a blue water that stretched vastly toward the other end, letting out a brilliance of glittering light, reflecting the bright luminance from the dungeon ceiling above.
Hina raised her hand to stop everyone else as she saw a huge dark-skinned boar with a large tusk ducking its head down to the water to satiate its thirst, a little bit far away from them. Xiao Lian and the other students' faces were tense because this was the first ti they had seen a monster on this floor.
"That?".
"Mad Boar, isn't it?".
"You are right".
Serafina, who ca close to Hina's side, inford Hina, who couldn't get a good grasp of the monster. Hina heard that boar's na from the book. It was classified as Rank B, and the book said that the Mad Boar was considered a delicacy for its delicious at that tends to be served in high-class restaurants.
The boar itself was not sothing that was born purely a monster. They were animals at first until they got contaminated by mana, which evolved into their current physique and intelligence to beco monsters. Sadly, they were currently inside the dungeon, and the monster inside the dungeon could not be retrieved.
Hina, Serafina, and Xiao Lian, who stood in front, stiffened their faces as they were alerted by the movent of the boar that suddenly turned its head to their side with a bit of a weird tilt.
"Crap!". They muttered those words in their heart as they slightly prepared to attack, trying to kill the boar in one fell swoop to avoid attracting the other monster.
However, different from their fear, the boar's slightly twitching body began to turn around and leave the place it had been drinking earlier.
Hina and the other sighed in relief as the board had gone from its place, and now, with light steps, the other mbers ca out from their hiding, standing on the side of the lake.
All of them stood dumbfounded because of the beautiful scenery that was on display; however, after Ryuu softly chided them, they began to resu their exploration and planned to circle the lake.
Slowly and carefully, under the lead of Hina and Serafina in front of the mbers, after several tis, they finally passed a quarter of the size of the lake. But sothing happened when one of the first-year students who had been resisting the pressure from earlier, with a bated breath and pale face, lost strength in her legs; she dropped down to the ground.
Hina and Serafina turned their backs and saw several cases begin to happen as other mbers with pale faces began to flop to the ground, drenched in sweat and heavy breath.
"I can't…".
"Please, no more".
"I want to go ho".
This was a severe situation. Hina knit her brows as she turned to her sides and saw Xiao Lian and Serafina also drenched in sweat, but for their breath, they still retained their normal state.
Ryuu, who noticed the situation, hurriedly approached the front side and entrusted the back side to Leon.
"Miss Akabane, I think we should probably take a breath for a bit".
"...Yeah, Leader. I'm aware of it".
"So, how about it?".
"...Okay, but we are pressed by ti, and the surroundings are a bit overwhelming…".
"Duh, we know that already. Just give so ti to catch my breath!".
One of the first-year students who couldn't take Hina's Imposing tone yelled, creating a tense atmosphere around the other mbers. The second-year students with better stats had it a bit easier than the first-year students, except for Hina, Xiao Lian and Leon. The remaining first-years were down to the ground with despair filling their faces.
"...".
Hina didn't utter any words of rebuttal and only cast her cold gaze toward her. Then, she scoffed at her attitude before turning to Ryuu.
"Leader, please, but we don't have much ti in this place. We don't know what kind of danger that would ambush us".
"...You dare! Acting cocky since earlier…".
"Enough!".
With low and slight anger in Ryuu's voice, the first-year girl stopped, making the other mbers gulp in nervousness, for they had never seen their leader so nacing before.
"All of you, hurry, do tend to your exhaustion, and we will resu our exploration in a half-hour".
After Ryuu stated his order, no one dared to argue, and the first-year student's gaze lowered to the ground, biting her lips in frustration.
On the other hand, Hina separated herself from the mber, leaned herself toward the tree in the surrounding area, and took sothing from her storage.
"Are you alright?".
Xiao Lian approached her side and asked in a worried tone, which made Hina's lips parted and took another mineral bottle before tossing it toward her.
"Mm, prepare as usual".
"Ehehe, I learn from the best after all".
The other mbers, who saw them gulping water in their hands, turned their gaze toward the lake and cautiously scooped so of it into their hands. The water was crystal clear with no odour and no impurities mixed within; one of the female senior students cautiously slurped the water and, after finding out the water was fine. The other began to copy her doing.
Serafina, who had already finished her discussion with Ryuu, approached the two girls who were sharing so drinks while chatting happily despite this grave situation.
However, the mont she tried to approach, the ground started to shake, alerting the other mbers. The source ca from below them. It was from underwater. Simultaneously, the lake and the ground began to let out an eerie rumbling sound, and then, from deep within the lake, sothing burst forth, creating a tall body of water before revealing its true form.
"That?!".
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