Noon the next day.
The news around the world had exploded.
Yami Tsukishiro stepped out of the room, his expression calm.
On the sofa in the living room, Sayuri and Utaha were sitting side by side, both of them focused intently on the TV screen. The broadcast was filled with nothing but coverage of the monster crisis that had erupted yesterday.
"What's the news saying?" Yami asked casually as he walked over.
The two of them lifted their heads.
Their eyes widened slightly at the sight of his bare upper body—well-defined muscles and a perfect figure that made them momentarily forget how to breathe.
Neither of them spoke until Yami popped open a can of beer with a sharp click. The sound snapped them out of their daze.
Sayuri glanced toward the door that was still firmly shut.
"I don't know how Eriri's doing… she still hasn't come out since last night. Even now, at noon."
Utaha's lips tightened, her eyes tinged with a faint jealousy.
She wanted to throw Yami down right here, right now, and erase all traces of Eriri's presence that lingered on him. But she held herself back, swallowing down the impulse.
Yami, of course, had expected this reaction.
The broadcast continued. Not just Tokyo—the entire Alliance was reporting outbreaks. Monsters had appeared in various regions across the world.
Fortunately, modern thermal weapons still proved effective against them. The number of monsters wasn't overwhelming, and law enforcers alongside the military were working quickly to suppress them. Even so, casualties had piled up, and many creatures had escaped into the wilderness or hidden in dark corners.
The world was clearly changing.
Warnings scrolled across the screen: Do not go out unnecessarily. Avoid outdoor activities, especially at night. Keep doors and windows locked. Report any signs of monsters immediately.
The anchor's voice grew heavier as the report shifted.
"During this incident, many people with supernatural powers were exposed once again. In response, the [Superpower Management Bureau] has been officially established worldwide. As the name suggests, this organization seeks to gather and manage superpowered individuals, offering extremely high incentives and benefits to those who enlist."
The number of awakened abilities had already exceeded twenty thousand. Some of these people would surely be lured in by the promise of power and rewards.
Yami only took a sip of his beer. This wasn't something he needed to concern himself with.
The Alliance had already reached out to him through Mizuki.
But now? With his strength complete, Yami Tsukishiro was confident—he could casually shoulder a nuclear weapon, or even unleash multiple nukes at once, and not even bother dodging.
Human civilization no longer posed any threat to him.
So he rejected the proposal outright.
Why become someone else's subordinate when he could form his own force, on his own terms, for his own amusement?
Mizuki's idea had merit, but… now was not the time.
"The world has really changed."
Sayuri let out a soft sigh.
When she woke up this morning, it felt as though everything had shifted.
That feeling was especially strong in this home—because here, inside these walls, they were safe. Protected by Yami Tsukishiro.
While the rest of the world panicked, she had been able to sleep soundly.
"Don't worry. It's not that exaggerated."
Yami's tone was calm, reassuring. There was urgency, yes, but nothing beyond his control.
In fact, this so-called "outbreak" had brought plenty of benefits.
Overnight, he had harvested one hundred eighty thousand magic stones.
And the shadow soldiers remained as efficient as ever—slaughtering monsters without pause.
"For now, don't go out. Stay inside, alright?"
Yami Tsukishiro instructed firmly.
Utaha nodded immediately. "Okay. Besides, the school's already announced a holiday."
Sayuri, however, found herself slightly flustered. His serious, almost fatherly tone caught her off guard. She was an adult woman, and yet here she was—being cared for and protected by a young man much younger than herself.
It was… a little embarrassing.
--
Without another word, Yami finished his drink and shifted his focus inward. His figure faded, consciousness diving into the dungeon.
Inside, Ella greeted him with good news: Akame and the others had finally decided to challenge the fifth floor.
"Next is the fifth floor. Everyone, be cautious."
Kocho Shinobu inhaled deeply, her tone heavy. The thought of the fifth floor weighed on all of them like a looming shadow of death.
Stepping through the portal, they were met with a familiar yet tense environment. The air itself seemed heavier, pressing down on their shoulders. Palms grew clammy as weapons were readied.
"Everyone, spread out!"
Busujima Saeko's command was sharp and immediate. After their disastrous first attempt—where they had been wiped out completely—no one dared to hesitate. They scattered, creating distance to minimize losses.
Akame and the others moved swiftly, positioning themselves with precision.
Moments later, a harsh glow flared—the monster's light descending upon the center.
But this time, no giant boss weapon awaited them.
Instead, waves of zombies poured forth—ordinary second-level creatures. Yet among them lumbered three towering abominations, each with grotesquely oversized arms.
"Third-level…?"
Kocho Shinobu's eyes widened in shock. Confusion rippled through the group.
Only three monsters of that caliber? That was hardly what they expected from the dreaded fifth floor.
"Is the information… wrong?"
Akame's brows furrowed, suspicion flickering in her gaze. The uncertainty gnawed at her.
"No — Saeko's intel was right. The fifth floor's gotten easier."
Viper said it plainly, like stating the weather.
"So what are you waiting for? Hit them! I want revenge!"
Jade-chan didn't waste words — she just booted a zombie.
"Charge!"
Nobody hesitated. They swarmed the monster horde with brutal efficiency.
Yami had already seen the ending before it happened; the fifth floor fell without much fuss.
"Master, why didn't you stop them on the fifth floor?"
Watching the stream from the dungeon, Shion frowned. If it had been her, she'd have cut them down on sight.
Yami shook his head. "Killing them blindly only makes them shrink, not grow. The benefits created by risk-takers aren't earned that way."
He raised a finger and casually compiled a new rule into the Muliverse Dungeon.
[Adventurers on the first level can only be promoted to the fourth level!]
If they never enter the second level, they'll stall at fourth and won't be able to advance further. It prevents people from farming the first level forever.
"Shion, remember: go long and catch the big fish."
Yami wasn't going to be so generous as to let them breeze through the first ten floors. Greater challenges waited deeper down. Without the Ox talisman, their true combat value was easy to read at a glance. Increase the difficulty a little in later dungeons and casualties will follow — that's how they grow. That's how the world's resolution improves.
He toggled off the surveillance feed. The fifth floor's outcome was set; no need to babysit it further. Time to raise the dungeon's stakes.
First up: Ella — and a new meme seemed to fit her perfectly.
[Ding! The immortal girl Ella requires 10,000 magic stones to fuse the C-level meme [Netherworld Fire Apostle]!]
It was pricey, yes—but worth every stone.
"Master… did you grant me new power?"
Ella's palms flared with deep blue flames, the fire dancing like something pulled straight from the underworld.
Shion padded closer, curious. He extended a claw and poked the flame.
"…It's blue fire, but it feels burning hot."
"This is netherworld fire."
Yami explained calmly, then turned toward Kaen and Shion, his gaze weighing them.
"Kaen, Shion—develop in different directions. One of you should focus on physical strength, becoming a warrior. The other should pursue the path of a combat magician. If you cooperate, you'll complement each other perfectly. Decide for yourselves."
He hadn't even finished before Shion blurted out:
"Master, I want to be a warrior!"
"And you, Kaen?"
Kaen smiled softly. "I'm more inclined toward becoming a battle magician."
"…Good."
That matched Yami's expectations exactly. Kaen was sharp and rational, suited to strategy and the bigger picture. Shion, reckless and bold, was born for frontline slaughter. Together, they'd be like a general of wisdom and a general of might.
Yami assigned the fusion of Strange Power to Shion, and the fusion of Fear to Kaen.
Each consumed 1,000 magic stones—a small cost. Afterward, Yami poured 76,100 stones into upgrading Ella's Netherworld Fire Apostle meme up to level 6.
He didn't push it further. Low-level memes could be strengthened quickly through battles inside the dungeon, and monsters there didn't truly die—they'd revive after spending some stones. It was efficient enough.
Already, many of Kaen and Shion's D-level memes had advanced to levels two and three. Their growth was fast.
The [Fear] meme even allowed for creating monsters directly. With only 10 stones, one could hatch 1,000 creatures.
[Ding! Monster hatched successfully—you obtained the [Fear Mummy] monster template!]
These bizarre zombies were pure offensive units, third-level monsters that struck hard. Paired with the fear aura of the Dread Mummy, it was an excellent combination.
Finally, Yami turned his attention to his own treasure.
[Ding! Consumed 76,100 magic stones—the A-level meme [Treasure of the King] has been upgraded to Level 6!]
A golden arsenal gleamed brighter than ever.
--------------------------------------
Support me at patreon.com/Arthorain and read upto 50 Advanced Chapters and R-18 Content!
--------------------------------------
Every 100 power stones = 1 Extra Chapter
By voting with [power stones], you can easily get double the number of chapters.