Episode 88: The Scenery of the Deepest Part
The group continued onward. Yuma tried to conserve his ‘Metallization’ and ‘Bloodstained Ore (Bloody Ore)’ abilities, avoiding their use as much as possible.
On floors they had visited multiple times, they chose routes that avoided Monsters, and when they did encounter Monsters, they cooperated with the President to defeat them. As a result, they reached the eightieth floor at the fastest pace yet.
“Alright, this eightieth floor is the deepest level the Self-Defense Forces ever explored. We’re the first to go deeper than this in the Yokohama Dungeon!”
Aisha, walking ahead of the two, urged them on, saying, “Let’s go!”
Hearing those words from behind, the President and Yuma sighed.
“If she wasn’t here, we could proceed much easier…”
“There’s no point in saying that now.”
The President swallowed his complaint, responding to Yuma’s words with, “You’re right.”
“By the way, President, is it really possible to reach the lowest floor today?”
“Well, this isn’t a wide Dungeon. If we’re just going to the lowest floor, there should be enough time. That is, if we don’t have to fight Monsters.”
“I see.”
“But Yuma, if you can use the Liquid Metal ability so well, don’t you think you don’t need a Pickel?”
The President asked with a dubious expression.
“No, there’s a limit to the amount of Liquid Metal I can use, and it’s much easier to use something with a fixed shape as a base.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
“If only the Pickel’s handle could extend or the head’s direction could change, it would be even easier to use…”
Aisha, who had been listening from behind, interjected.
“Yuma-kun, I can make something like that for you.”
“Eh, really?”
“The Laboratory I use was originally a metal processing factory. The equipment and tools are still there. I’m good with my hands, so I can make as many as you want.”
“Ah, thank you very much.”
“I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to you, we might be able to unravel the mystery of the ‘Black Dungeon’.”
“The mystery of the Black Dungeon?”
“That’s right. The Black Dungeon is clearly different from other Dungeons. Although many people think it’s a useless place, I believe it has some kind of role.”
“A role…?”
“Yes, finding that answer is my research theme. I have a feeling you’ll be the key to it. So, I look forward to working with you, Yuma-kun.”
Perplexed by Aisha’s unusually kind demeanor, Yuma and the others hurried onward.
◇◇◇
“The number of Monsters has really decreased,”
Yuma muttered to the President, cautiously surveying the surroundings. They had already passed the hundredth floor and reached the hundred and first.
As Aisha said, the deeper they went, the easier it became to proceed. But—
“Quiet!”
The President suddenly stopped and hid behind a rock. Yuma also hurriedly pressed his back against the rock, holding his breath.
“Yuma… look at that.”
Urged by the President, Yuma cautiously peeked out from behind the rock. In the depths of the Cave, he saw a huge human figure sitting with its back against the rock wall, legs stretched out.
The figure, which looked like a large stone statue, had its eyes closed and its head bowed, not moving at all.
“I-Is that a Monster too?”
“No doubt about it. It looks several times bigger than the Golem you defeated.”
Several times bigger was an understatement. If it stood up, its head would probably hit the ceiling.
Fighting something like that was out of the question. For a moment, he wondered if it was dead, but it was faintly moving.
It seemed to be sleeping.
Yuma and the others made sure not to wake the giant, silently leaving the area.
After that, with each floor they descended, the three witnessed unbelievable sights.
When they thought the ground was shaking, they looked up to see a black “Buffalo”-like Monster, about thirty meters long, striding about.
They carefully slipped through the rocky area, making sure they weren’t seen.
On another floor, there was a Hercules Beetle-like Monster with long, magnificent horns. Its entire body was covered in an Iridescent shell, and Yuma couldn’t help but mutter “Cool…” as he watched it walk, shaking its huge body.
On yet another floor, there were hundreds of black bat swarms clinging to the entire ceiling.
Each one was about three meters tall. If they were attacked all at once, they would surely die. Yuma and the others advanced, erasing their footsteps so as not to provoke them.
They desperately descended the Dungeon, trying not to encounter any enemies.
And the final straw was—
“Look! You two, look at that!!”
Aisha pointed excitedly. What is it? When they looked, there was a black Monster with its wings spread, a “Black Dragon.”
“Wow, Dragonkind sightings are extremely rare. We’re lucky to have encountered one!”
Aisha snapped photos with her phone’s camera. She wasn’t using the flash, but the President and Yuma were nervous that the sound would alert the Monster.
“Hmm, it’s too dark to get a clear picture… Can I get closer?”
As Aisha tried to approach the Black Dragon, the President grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and dragged her away.
“Kotaro! I want to observe the Black Dragon’s ecology a little more!”
“Don’t be an idiot! We’ll all get killed!!”
When they reached the downward slope leading to the next floor, Aisha drooped her head in disappointment.
“It’s said that only that Black Dragon drops a Black Diamond, a Magic Gem instead of Demon Ore. Of course, no one has ever seen it because no one has ever defeated a Black Dragon, but it’s a Black Diamond! Don’t you two want to see it?!”
Yuma and the President were dumbfounded. Aisha was the only person in the world who would want to get involved with such a monster.
The figure of the “Black Dragon,” glimpsed from behind the shadow of the rock, was a monstrous creature itself.
Even Yuma, a novice, knew how dangerous Dragonkind were. The President said, “Alright, let’s go!” and dragged the resisting Aisha away from the floor where the Black Dragon was.
◇◇◇
The 147th floor of the “Black Dungeon”—
Yuma and the others advanced through numerous dangerous floors, and after fourteen hours, they finally reached what seemed to be the lowest floor.
It was an open space, a floor that seemed to have been hollowed out through several levels. Stalactites extending from the ceiling reached the ground, forming several rows of huge stone pillars.
It was somewhat brighter than the Caves they had passed through, but a misty white haze hung in the air.
The haze covered the entire Cave, dyed a slightly pinkish color, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Yuma and the others descended the steep slope along the wall, heading to the final floor.
“Somehow… this is a creepy place. Is this the lowest floor?”
Yuma spoke as he stepped onto the floor. Looking around, a reddish-white haze spread throughout the Cave.
“There’s no mistake. In terms of floors, it’s the 148th floor, but this is a deep floor that seems to have been hollowed out through three or four levels. It should effectively be over 150 floors.”
Aisha said with a smile. She must be happy that they were able to come this far.
“It should be here… the final guardian protecting this Dungeon.”
At those words, tension ran through the President and Yuma.
—That’s right, it’s here. The last boss of the Deep Dungeon!
He gripped the Pickel in his hand.
“For now, let’s take a picture as soon as we confirm the Monster’s appearance and go home immediately. If we accidentally defeat it, the Black Dungeon will disappear. That would be terrible.”
In contrast to Aisha, who was talking cheerfully, Yuma and the President warily surveyed their surroundings with grim faces.
“I’ll go first.”
The President walked ahead, followed by Yuma and Aisha. Hiding behind the stone pillars, they peered into the depths of the Cave.
Beyond the reddish-white haze… something stirred.