The members of the Beheading Squad were confirmed.
A new problem immediately presented itself to everyone.
"How do we get over there?"
Fujiwara Chika asked softly.
For humans, once the number of fallen comrades exceeds thirty percent, it will cause the collapse of the entire team, but this rule cannot be applied to shadows.
Shadows have no fear. Even if their companions are captured one by one by Accio, they still obey Hiruko no Kami's command, guarding the cave entrance firmly, neither afraid nor scattering and fleeing.
Kitagawa Marin put her right hand on her hip and suggested softly:
"How about we just force our way through?"
Amamiya Natsuki shook his head:
"No, it's too dangerous."
It's fine for everyone to act as a hidden sixth member and launch sneak attacks, but in a head-on confrontation, they are definitely not a match for so many shadows. After all, shadows are not afraid of bleeding or death, but players are.
Hayasaka Ai extended a slender finger and suggested:
"Using Kaguya-chan's Dark Shadow?"
"Still very dangerous," Amamiya Natsuki whispered. "They are all Dark Shadow skills. When we enter the shadows, we will be discovered by those shadows and then attacked."
Shinomiya Kaguya said softly:
"In short, this passage in front of us is impassable... Let's try to find a way to bypass it."
Everyone's current location was outside an artificially excavated passage. Shadows firmly guarded the entrance to the passage, and both sides of the passage were black rock walls, silently extending to both sides, all the way to the end of the mist and darkness.
Amamiya Natsuki nodded slightly, turned his head to look at the Human-Faced Dog, and instructed:
"Yuuko, go find if there are any other exits."
The Human-Faced Dog was very unhappy: "You keep ordering me around, can't I rest for a while?"
Amamiya Natsuki said without changing his expression:
"Be good, I'll give you a big bone later."
"Bastard!" The Human-Faced Dog was furious. "If you dare to stick the big bone in, I'll bite it off in one bite!"
Hey, hey, what are you talking about? Don't have strange misunderstandings!
Sayu half-squatted down, stroked the Human-Faced Dog's head, and said pitifully:
"Yuuko, don't argue, please, after we clear the level, I'll buy you whatever you want to eat."
"Tsk."
The Human-Faced Dog grumbled and disappeared into the mist.
Amamiya Natsuki pondered for a moment, then called out Mrs. Shimizu.
"Little Natsuki?" Mrs. Shimizu crossed her arms over her chest and looked around. "Do you finally need me to fight?"
"Not yet for now," Amamiya Natsuki said truthfully. "Shimizu-nee, fly up and see if we can go over the top of the cliff."
Although Mrs. Shimizu was sometimes childish, she never failed at critical moments. She hugged the two Leg Attachments and rubbed them, then floated up along the cliff face, her transparent figure quickly disappearing into the mist.
A moment later.
The Human Faced Dog and Mrs. Shimizu returned one after another.
The two of them... well, neither of them were human, and they brought back two pieces of news.
"One good news, one bad news," Mrs. Shimizu extended two fingers, not keeping them in suspense. "The good news is that by climbing up the cliff, you can bypass it from above. The bad news is that the cliff is dozens of meters high."
"Climbing the cliff?"
Amamiya Natsuki looked up, only to see the mist swirling, and higher up, there was only endless darkness. Even after drinking the potion, he couldn't see clearly, giving him a sense of a towering, sheer cliff.
"Then let's climb over," Shinomiya Kaguya tilted her pretty face up and said softly. "It shouldn't be difficult for us to climb over."
Players' physical fitness completely surpasses that of ordinary people. Even if they are not professional rock climbing enthusiasts, they can still climb such cliffs.
"Th-that..." Kitagawa Marin stammered softly, "I'm a little afraid of heights."
It was normal for this Succubus Girl to have a fear of flying and heights.
"Marin-chan, don't worry," Fujiwara Chika offered a solution. "You can just turn into a Leg Attachment."
Kitagawa Marin's eyes lit up, and she nodded in agreement:
"Leg Attachment, I'm destined to be one."
Amamiya Natsuki exhaled softly and said seriously:
"I'll climb last, Shimizu-nee, you provide route guidance at the very top."
The reason he was last was to be prepared for any eventuality. If someone accidentally fell from above, Amamiya Natsuki could activate Time Stop in time to catch the falling person.
Mrs. Shimizu saluted:
"Leave it to me."
Shinomiya Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest and said softly:
"I'll go first."
Fujiwara Chika's eyes sparkled, and she raised her right hand:
"I'll follow behind Kaguya."
Kitagawa Marin had already admitted defeat in advance and decided to become a Leg Attachment, so naturally, only Senpai was left.
Koyasu Tsubame coughed twice, her gaze wandering:
"Ahem... Then I'll follow behind Chika."
"..."
The discussion concluded.
Mrs. Shimizu quickly floated upwards, providing climbing route guidance for everyone.
The young mistress followed closely, reaching out to grasp the protruding rocks on the cliff face and climbing upwards.
Next were Chika and Senpai.
Amamiya Natsuki stayed at the end, looked at Yukinoshita Yukino, and whispered:
"Hiranoshita, after we leave, you take good care of everyone. Safety first."
Yukinoshita Yukino's pretty face tightened, and she bit her silver teeth:
"I know... Don't call me that."
"Hai hai."
Amamiya Natsuki agreed, then whispered a few words to Juju, Sayu, and Shoko one by one, and then followed behind Senpai, climbing up the cliff.
This cliff face was quite steep, almost a ninety-degree vertical angle. Fortunately, it wasn't a smooth rock wall, and there were many places to step and climb.
Amamiya Natsuki moved swiftly and lightly, as if an ape, at ease, and soon arrived at Senpai's feet, finding Senpai's movements slow, and urged softly:
"Senpai, hurry up."
"Don't rush me." Koyasu Tsubame clung tightly to the rock wall, her pretty face slightly red, and looked down, "Natsuki-kun, don't look around!"
Amamiya Natsuki whispered:
"It's not like I haven't seen it before..."
"Hmm?!"
Senpai's eyebrows shot up.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong," Amamiya Natsuki apologized decisively. "The light is too dim, I actually can't see anything."
Having already drunk the Witch Potion, he must be able to see clearly!
Koyasu Tsubame rolled her eyes at him, not in the mood to argue. It was just panties, so what if he saw them? It wasn't like he hadn't seen them before. Now there was a more urgent matter...
Dizziness.
Accelerated heart rate.
Sweaty palms.
Shortness of breath.
Senpai looked down, only feeling the mist swirling below her, giving her a sense of a bottomless abyss. Her heart rate accelerated even more, her breathing became rapid, and she felt her head start to spin, so she couldn't help but whisper:
"Se-Senpai..."
"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing..."
Koyasu Tsubame bit her silver teeth, took a deep breath, forced down the nervousness in her heart, and continued to climb upwards.
Unfortunately, after climbing only a few meters, Tsubame had to stop again, leaning tightly against the cliff face, closing her eyes, and breathing rapidly.
Amamiya Natsuki had already noticed Senpai's abnormality and did not stay below. He used his arms slightly, quickly climbed to Senpai's side, and whispered:
"Senpai, are you also afraid of heights?"
Koyasu Tsubame opened her eyes, not daring to look down. At this point, seeing that she could no longer hide it, she bit her lip and whispered:
"A little."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Tsubame's voice was aggrieved: "...I didn't want to trouble everyone. I originally thought I could climb up."
"Facts prove, you can't." Amamiya Natsuki exhaled softly, inserting his right hand's fingers into a crack in the rock wall to steady himself, then wrapped his left arm around the trembling Senpai, pulling her into his embrace, and whispered, "Senpai, have you ever seen a koala in a zoo?"
Koyasu Tsubame was startled, and subconsciously replied:
"I have."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"That's good. Quickly hold onto me tightly like a koala."
Koyasu Tsubame: "..."
After realizing what Amamiya Natsuki wanted to do, Koyasu Tsubame quickly shook her head:
"No, it's too dangerous for two people."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"It's dangerous when Senpai climbs alone."
Koyasu Tsubame bit her lip: "Even so, no..."
"Senpai, quickly hold me tightly," Amamiya Natsuki interrupted. "Then close your eyes, and leave the rest to me."
"..."
Tsubame had no choice but to trust Amamiya Natsuki. Her pink eyes closed tightly, her arms wrapped around Amamiya Natsuki's neck, and her legs were also firmly fixed around Amamiya Natsuki's waist, transforming into a koala, breathing rapidly:
"H-holding tight."
Amamiya Natsuki took a deep breath and began to climb upwards: "Don't let go unless I tell you to."
Koyasu Tsubame: "I definitely won't let go!"
Amamiya Natsuki: "Then will Senpai hold me for a lifetime?"
Koyasu Tsubame: "..."
Still thinking of teasing people at a time like this, Natsuki-kun is really bold!
However… for some reason, listening to Amamiya Natsuki's breathing and heartbeat, Koyasu Tsubame felt her heart quickly calm down, and her previous tension and unease silently vanished.
After an unknown amount of time, once she had completely calmed down, Tsubame quietly opened her eyes, biting her lip as she said:
"Natsuki-kun, are you tired?"
Amamiya Natsuki said in a low voice:
"Not tired."
"You're lying." Koyasu Tsubame whispered, "I feel much better now, how about I climb myself?"
"I'm really not lying." Amamiya Natsuki said helplessly, "Senpai, you can look up yourself and see if there's any sweat on my forehead."
For an ordinary person to go rock climbing while holding a girl is 100% a suicidal act, but with Amamiya Natsuki's current physical condition, holding a Senpai while climbing wouldn't consume much stamina.
"Mmm…"
Koyasu Tsubame slightly raised her pretty face and looked towards Amamiya Natsuki's forehead.
His forehead was clean.
Indeed, she didn't see any sweat…
As warm and sweet breaths landed on his cheek, Amamiya Natsuki couldn't help but look down, only to see Senpai's lips slightly parted, revealing her pearly teeth, and her eyes moist. He couldn't resist lowering his head and kissing Senpai's soft, slightly cool lips.
"..."
Koyasu Tsubame's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.
Stupid Natsuki-kun! We're rock climbing on a cliff right now, this isn't the time to be thinking about kissing!
However, for some reason, the fiery touch from Amamiya Natsuki's lips at this moment felt even hotter than their first kiss. Tsubame-senpai only felt her body tremble slightly, and her heart suddenly accelerated, making her unable to resist responding.
Fortunately, Senpai quickly regained her composure, turned her head away, and said with a flushed face:
"We'll... we'll kiss when we get back. Safety first right now!"
"You promise." Amamiya Natsuki let out a light breath and said in a low voice, "Senpai, don't go back on your word then."
Koyasu Tsubame couldn't help but glare at him: "I would never go back on my word."
Amamiya Natsuki continued climbing upwards while saying in a low voice:
"Can I kiss you for as long as I want?"
Koyasu Tsubame puffed out her pink cheeks: "Of course not."
Amamiya Natsuki looked down: "Then I'll just keep kissing you."
"No." Tsubame's flushed cheeks puffed slightly, "Stupid Natsuki-kun, be careful."
Amamiya Natsuki continued:
"Then Senpai, promise me one thing."
Koyasu Tsubame: "What?"
Amamiya Natsuki said: "I like Senpai, Senpai, will you officially date me?"
"I don't want to!" Tsubame-senpai's pink cheeks puffed up high, "Natsuki-kun, don't try to take advantage of me!"
"..."
A moment later.
Amamiya Natsuki flipped over and successfully climbed to the top of the cliff.
"Eh, Senpai?" Fujiwara Chika's surprised voice rang out from beside them, "What kind of pose are you and President in?"
Koyasu Tsubame's pretty face flushed, and she quickly jumped down from Amamiya Natsuki. As a result, her hands and feet felt weak, and she almost couldn't stand steadily. She covered her chest and quickly explained:
"I was a bit afraid of heights just now, so…"
Amamiya Natsuki tidied his clothes and said from the side:
"Senpai is afraid of heights, but she hid it, not wanting to cause trouble for everyone, and it did end up being quite troublesome. So, if anyone has any issues, you must speak up and not hide them."
Upon hearing this, Tsubame couldn't help but glare at him, then let out a light hum and turned her head to look elsewhere.
As they spoke, Sadako also climbed up.
Amamiya Natsuki commanded:
"Miss Sadako, lead the way. Take us to find the fellow who is currently in fear."
"..."
Miss Sadako said nothing, quietly walking ahead to lead the way.
Amamiya Natsuki and the others quickly followed, continuing their journey.
After crossing the top of the cliff, they hadn't walked far when they arrived at another broken cliff. According to Miss Sadako's senses, they still needed to climb down.
However, this time it was much simpler. With the retractable grappling hook, it only took a minute or two for them to descend to the bottom of the cliff.
A moment later.
A wooden house appeared in their sight.
"They actually built a house in a place like this." Fujiwara Chika's eyes widened, "How extravagant."
Kitagawa Marin rested her right hand on her chin, analyzing:
"Ordinary shadows definitely wouldn't be able to live in this house… Could the target be inside?"
Amamiya Natsuki looked at Miss Sadako and asked:
"Is the scent of fear in the house?"
Miss Sadako stopped, and a faint voice came from beneath her thick black hair: "…It's inside."
Senpai couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, covering her chest as she said:
"Finally, we're here."
Shinomiya Kaguya turned to Senpai and said in a low voice:
"Senpai, it's up to you."
"Mm."
Koyasu Tsubame nodded seriously, silently using the Bubble Blowing skill.
Pop, pop, pop ~
Transparent soap bubbles appeared at Senpai's mouth, then floated unsteadily towards the house.
[Skill: Bubble Blowing]
[Usage: Learn and Master]
[Category: Active Skill]
[Description: You can create bubbles and control their trajectory to a certain extent. When they touch a target, the bubbles will burst and transmit the image of the moment they burst to you.]
This skill had many drawbacks, such as slow bubble flight speed, easy breakage, and limited detection range, but it also had advantages: it could blow many bubbles, and the moment the bubbles burst, they could transmit images.
At the same time.
Yote, clad in mud armor, was pacing back and forth in the house, completely unable to calm down.
"Ten minutes have passed, and the shadows guarding the cave entrance haven't had any more casualties. Where are those players, and what are they doing?"
Due to the effect of the Mist Card, all the surveillance equipment previously set up in the Cave had failed. Yote didn't know what Amamiya Natsuki and his group had done or where they were, but he was certain that they wouldn't give up easily. The feeling of unease in his heart grew stronger, and he became increasingly anxious.
So many cycles had passed; the two sides were already in a death feud.
"Hmm?!"
His peripheral vision suddenly caught a glimpse of a transparent bubble floating in front of him. Yote was startled, abruptly jumping backward, while vigilantly taking out a black spear, ready to respond to an attack at any moment.
However, nothing happened.
The bubble floated slowly in the air, then hit the wall, bursting with a 'pop' and disappearing without a trace.
"Where did that bubble come from?"
Yote was puzzled, and the feeling of unease in his heart grew even stronger.
"…I saw him."
Koyasu Tsubame opened her eyes, let out a light breath, and whispered:
"Hiruko no Kami is inside the room, and Yote, wearing black mud armor, is pacing around Hiruko no Kami. Only the two of them are in the room."
Amamiya Natsuki said in a low voice:
"What about the Shrine Priest's clone?"
"He's in the furthest corner room." Tsubame-senpai pursed her pink lips, "The moment the bubble burst, I saw him holding something that looked like a remote control."
Amamiya Natsuki heard this, turned, and exchanged glances with Kaguya, both understanding each other's meaning.
"It's a bomb detonator."
It proved that Amamiya Natsuki's caution in bringing Senpai was not wrong.
Yote had used explosives in the last cycle to collapse the tunnel, ultimately leading to a time reset. Such a useful tool, of course, wouldn't be abandoned in this cycle.
If caught by players, Yote would definitely choose the tactic of mutual destruction again, allowing Hiruko no Kami to reset time.
Fujiwara Chika whispered:
"Senpai, where is the bomb?"
"I don't know." Koyasu Tsubame shook her head, "I didn't see it."
Amamiya Natsuki said calmly:
"Given Yote's personality, he might even have Hiruko no Kami swallow the bomb directly."
"No way?" Kitagawa Marin's eyes widened when she heard this, "Hiruko is both his wife and his mother, wouldn't doing that be too much?"
Mrs. Shimizu smiled:
"To survive, even the most perverted things can be done."
"Besides the Shrine Priest's clone, Yote's clone likely also has a detonator in his hand." Shinomiya Kaguya clasped her hands across her chest and said softly, "In other words, we must subdue both clones simultaneously, giving them no chance for mutual destruction."
As for Yote's main body, intelligence obtained from Hiruko no Kami in the last cycle indicated that his main body was barely clinging to life, having completely lost its ability to move, so there was no need to worry.
Amamiya Natsuki said in a low voice:
"To catch both clones simultaneously, we'll have to split up… The Yote wearing the mud armor is my responsibility, and the Shrine Priest's clone is yours."
"No problem." Shinomiya Kaguya nodded lightly, "President, we'll use a love amulet to synchronize time."
"Cough, cough…"
Amamiya Natsuki immediately started coughing.
He had just secretly indulged with Kaguya and Maid-chan, if memories accidentally surged in his mind, Kaguya would probably turn dark and kill him, right?
She definitely would!
"President?" Shinomiya Kaguya tilted her head in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine, my throat was just a bit itchy…" Amamiya Natsuki's mind raced. At this moment, he didn't have any gum to force himself to calm down, so he couldn't keep his mind clear. He could only look at Marin and say, "Marin and I will use the amulet. Her Charm skill needs to be instant, there can't be any delay."
Shinomiya Kaguya felt this reason was a bit far-fetched, but she didn't say much, nodding lightly in agreement.
"Eh heh ~" Kitagawa Marin happily raised her right hand, her smile bright, "Then let me do it."
"..."
Amamiya Natsuki and Marin quickly completed the confession ritual, activating the equipment effect of hearing each other's thoughts.
"Natsuki, why didn't you use the love amulet with Kaguya just now?"
Marin's voice echoed in Amamiya Natsuki's mind.
It was clear that the Succubus Girl had also noticed the unusual reaction just now.
"Ah…"
Amamiya Natsuki began to seriously recall the rubbish plot of the Wakanda vs. Avatar battle.
"Don't think about messy things, you must be feeling guilty." Kitagawa Marin chided in her mind, "Let me guess… did you do something you wouldn't dare let Kaguya know about?"
"I didn't."
"Could it be something lewd?"
"…"
Amamiya Natsuki finally couldn't hold back, and his inner thoughts revealed his terrible memories with the Maid-chan.
"Eh eh eh?!"
Although the inner thoughts flashed by, the impact it brought still made Kitagawa Marin suddenly stop.
"Marin, what's wrong?" Fujiwara Chika asked curiously.
"N-nothing…" Kitagawa Marin took a deep breath, forced a smile, "Let's continue."
Too much!
Absolutely too much!
To actually do such a thing behind our backs, no wonder you don't dare to listen to Kaguya's inner thoughts, you'd definitely be beaten to death!
"My deepest apologies."
Amamiya Natsuki apologized obediently. At this time, no excuses should be made, just an honest apology would suffice.
"So mean…" Kitagawa Marin's voice was aggrieved, "I was clearly the first one to date Natsuki, but he ended up doing that with someone else…"
Amamiya Natsuki tried his best to control his mind, not letting his inner thoughts be exposed: "So it was actually an accident…"
"No!" Kitagawa Marin pouted, "I want to do it too!"
Amamiya Natsuki was stunned: "What?"
"I'm the official girlfriend, it should clearly be me first!" The Succubus Girl's inner thoughts were super angry, "I want to do that too! Ten times! I must win it back!"
Hey, hey, that's too exaggerated, even an iron man couldn't handle that!
Amamiya Natsuki couldn't help but reveal his inner thoughts: "Girls should be a bit more reserved…"
"I don't want to!" The Succubus Girl's voice was aggrieved, "My boyfriend was stolen by someone, if I remain reserved, everyone will surpass me, even though I was the first to date… Wahhh…"