Underground Lair—-
Kagetō and a group of hunters entered a large chamber where Kohaku was sitting atop her throne, legs crossed and heels clicking on the floor.
"Did you find any trace of Nyugawa or the boy?"
Kagetō shook his head. "No, Miss Huntress."
She stood up, angry. "How come? This hunting ground is no large area, they cannot be far!"
She examined her nails, which were sharp like a cat's. "The boy has fierce energy. He could make a unique pet. And as for Nyugawa…"
She extended her arm, slashing a deep cut into the walls. "He'll be mine. Just imagine the children one such as him and I can have! We'll be unstoppable!"
One of the hunters spoke up, nervous.
"Miss. I don't believe he wants to marry you. We've done all our research on Nyugawa, and he's a solitary man."
Kohaku slowly got up, the air of the room shifting. The hunter immediately bowed as she placed a heel on his head. "Tell me, do prey speak?"
"N—no, ma'am!"
"Then why do you voice your opinion?"
She grabbed the man by his neck. "Soon, I will take his last name. And he will rule the dungeons alongside me!"
With a crunch, the man's neck snapped, and Kohaku dropped the body, stepping over it. "Bring me the rest of the footage. I wish to see the true abilities of my future spouse.
They nodded and quickly left.
"Once you defeat me," Kohaku thought. "Then, we'll put a start to a new era…Omariro Nyugawa. With you as our new leader!"
The halls could hear the echo of her laughter from miles away as she sat back down.
Shikōki Island—-
Rika, in her own white dress and heels, sat down inside a dojo-like simulation while Sora sat before her.
"Ma'am," Rika wondered. "What am I supposed to be doing?"
"Well, Han and Zaria are training their combat skills, I believe. You're not combat-oriented, so we'll make you stronger in the ways that matter for you."
"Oh, how will we do that?"
"First, you should know your abilities are tied to your emotions. The deeper connection you feel with someone or a certain place, the stronger your abilities become. Tell me, who are your two strongest connections?"
Rika thought for a moment. "That's easy. Zaria and Mr. Nyugawa. Han's not too far off either, but he likes to be a jerk sometimes. Still love him though."
"And can you explain why?"
"Well, me and Zaria are best friends, we've been squatting at houses for years before we met Mr. Nyugawa. And Mr. Nyugawa, he's…like my idol now. Plus the only adult I really care about after my family dropped me."
Sora remained silent for a while. "Very intriguing."
"So, can you tell me why we're in a dojo?"
"We're going to push your powers past their limit. I want you to think of the things that give you motivation and strength, because this will take a lot out of you. You're free to back out now if you wish."
Rika shook her head. "Nope. I want to be better."
"Well then, prepare yourself. You'll have a partner joining you."
"A…partner?"
Sora nodded. "My son."
At the clap of her hands, a young boy with gray hair and eyes ran into the dojo, wrapping Rika in a big hug.
"Friend Rika!"
"Sōshin?"
The boy nodded. "Mhm!"
Rika awkwardly returned the hug. "It's…nice to see you as a human…but what are you doing here? Isn't this dangerous for him?"
Sora shook her head. "He's not as fragile as he looks. Just reckless."
"Ugh, tell me about it," Rika sighed. "He and Zaria go hand in hand."
"The two of you will protect this cargo as it's escorted to its destination. As a healer, you can heal both Sōshin and the cargo if either is damaged."
"Wait, are we doing the test in this room?"
"Yes and no. Get ready."
As Sora stepped back, the environment around Sōshin and Rika shifted, and they were now in a subway station, with a large box beside them.
〈Cargo HP: 100%〉
"How are we gonna move THAT?"
Sōshin raised his hand. "I can do it!"
"Really? That thing's heavy, and I thought you could only take over vehicles!"
Sōshin shook his head. "Nope! I can make anything into a moving object! Watch!"
Sōshin touched the box. "Jugen-Sōunsha: Densō—Dai-san Giyā!"
Suddenly, four wheels burst out from the bottom of the box, along with two seats. One at the front and one at the back.
"Whoa! When did you learn that?" Rika gasped.
"Mom taught me!"
Rika rubbed her head. "Sorry for underestimating you, Sōshin. You've really got some special talent!"
"Thanks! Can we go now?"
"Yeah, just please don't damage the box."
Sōshin flipped onto the front seat of the box, while Rika got behind him. "Densō—Dai-ni Giyā!"
He held out his hand, and the box began to glow and take off on the rails, causing Rika to nearly fly off.
"Hey! These heels are slippery, please don't speed!"
"Weeeeee!"
〈Goal: Deliver Cargo to Destination〉
〈Objective *1*: Keep Cargo HP above 70%〉
〈Objective *2*: Complete Goal in less than 10 minutes.〉
〈Objective *3*: Use a Recovery Attack *2* times.〉
"Recovery attack?" Rika questioned.
Sora's voice echoed through the subway. "Since you're a Kaiseisha, some sigils you create can both heal and damage at the same time. It's called Siphoning. When the time comes, you'll figure it out. Now stay alert!"
"Okay, Mom!" Sōshin called out.
"Sōshin, buddy, what do those gears do?" Rika asked.
"Second Gear lets me speed things up! Third lets me turn anything into a moving object! And first…."
He touched the box. "Slows things down! Densō—Dai-ichi Giyā!"
The box began to move more slowly, just as motorcycles rolled up on them from behind, with humanoid wolves riding on them, guns in hand.
"Uh, Miss Sora? Is this part of the test?"
"Indeed. Work together!"
One of the wolves shot the box.
〈Cargo HP: 100% → 88%〉
"That did more damage than I expected," Rika realized, standing up. "Sōshin, keep driving? Okay?"
"Okay!"
Rika touched the box, her body shuddering. "Jugen-Kaiseisha: Forbidden Healing."
She stood up. "I don't even want to know how much life that took off me."
"Do not fret," Sora assured. "Now that you've unlocked your second skill and leveled up. The cost is not as grave. But don't mistake that for it being free. You will still pay the cost, in worse ways than some."
"What does that mean? Sora? Miss Sora?"
A wolf shot her in the eye. "Ow! Damn furball! You ruined my face!"
She touched herself, healing the wound. More wolves drew their guns as Rika turned around. "Okay Sōshin, do me a favor please, and kick this thing into high gear!"
"Okay! Jugen-Sōunsha: Densō—Dai-ni Giyā!"
The box took off as the wolf bikers hit the gas pedals.
Rika cupped her hands together. "I'm going to need a boost."
Her eyes began to glow. "Jugen-Kaiseisha: Chiyu no Shirushi!"
〈Sigil Created: Health Boost. All Party Members can now take 50% more damage before dying.〉
"That's useful, but not what I need! Ugh, screw it!"
She crushed it in her hand, causing a shockwave that temporarily stunned the wolf bikers.
〈Sigil Activated.〉
Sōshin looked at his arms. "Yay! I feel super energized!"
Rika put her hands on his shoulders. "That's great! Keep your hand, foot, whatever on the gas and don't look back, mkay?"
Sōshin nodded. "Okay!"
Rika looked at him for a while, thinking.
"Wow. He kinda reminds me of my little brother. Well, back when I still had one."
She shook it off. "Focus, Rika. He's your responsibility. Okay. Just protect the cargo, and make sure he doesn't get shot."
A wolf jumped onto the cargo, tackling Rika to the ground. "Ew! Get off! I don't want your germs!"
"Quiet, lady! This box is ours!"
"In your dreams!"
She kicked him in the face with her heel, bloodying it. The wolf growled and bit her leg, causing her to wince. "No, no! Don't tell me I got rabies!"
"Is everything okay, Friend Rika?"
"Mhm! Keep driving, you're doing great!"
The wolf lifted her into the air, slamming her against the walls of the subway tunnel. "Weak! Weak! Weak! Why would you even be in a dungeon?"
"Because, I chose to be!"
She knee'd him in the chest, before forming another sigil.
〈Sigil Created: Vitality. All party members do increased ATK damage based on their current health.〉
"Okay, that's better."
She healed herself, and punched the wolf, causing him to fall off and knock a few bikers over.
"That's 2. I can't use all 5 in one day, though!"
More wolves drove up on them.
"Just great. Wait until Zaria, Han, and Rei hear about this bullshit—-"
The front 3 drew their guns, firing on the cargo.
〈Cargo HP: 88% → 66%〉
"Crap! Can't let it go below 70!〉
〈Cargo HP Under *70%.* Mission Failed in 5s…4s…〉
Rika quickly rushed down to touch the cargo, healing it.
〈Cargo HP: 66% → 98%〉
"Phew," she said, dropping to one knee. "Starting to feel sick. Maybe I should pace myself…"
One wolf stood on top of his bike, lining Sōshin's head up in his sights. "Oh no! Sōshin, look out!"
Without warning, Rika used her forearm to block the bullet just as the wolf fired, nearly shredding her arm.
"Ow!"
Sōshin turned around, where he noticed Rika healing herself. "Friend Rika!"
Rika gave him a thumbs-up. "I'm okay…keep…ugh…"
She collapsed, passing out. The wolves continued firing at Rika, but Sōshin touched his body.
"Jugen-Sōunsha: Densō—Dai-ni Giyā!"
Quickly, Sōshin grabbed Rika, darting across the subway and knocking the front line of wolves off their bikes before returning to the cargo box, Rika still slumped over his shoulder.
"Rika safe with me!"
"Someone blast the kid!"
"Boss is coming! Move outta the way!"
Sure enough, the wolf gang separated as a large wolf, with muscles all over its body, drove through the pack.
〈Domain Boss: Shūgeki Ōkami-dan Taichō—Jettofangu. Level: 58,722. Domain Effect: Jettofangu can use a *Burst* to increase his speed every 10s〉
"Ditch the box, kid," Jettofangu ordered. "Before you get waxed."
"Waxed?"
"I'll show you. Wolves! Formation!"
Sōshin looked back to find the wolves making a V formation with Jettofangu at the head, guns ready.
"Fire!"
They lit up the box, but Sōshin increased the speed and zoomed down the subway tunnel.
〈Time Remaining: 5:12〉
"So he wants to race, eh?" Jettofangu remarked. "Wolven Burst!"
〈Wolven Burst In Effect.〉
Jettofangu's motorcycle kicked into overdrive and caught up to the box, to the surprise of Sōshin. "You're fast!"
"The fastest. Should've quit while you were ahead, kid!"
He pulled out a large shotgun, firing at the box.
〈Cargo HP: 100% → 72%〉
The shot jolted Rika away, who noticed she was on Sōshin's shoulder. "Sōshin? What happened?"
"Friend Rika was in trouble! I had to help! Now we're getting close to finish line, but a big wolf is after us!"
Rika noticed Jettofangu behind them, reloading his shotgun. "You…saved me? And you survived that big thing?"
Sōshin nodded.
Rika, still woozy, hugged him. "Thank you."
"No problem! Friend Sōshin always here to help!"
"Can I call you brother?" Rika asked.
"Brother? Hmm! Okay! Do I call you Sis Rika?"
She nodded. "Now give me one second. I know what to do."
Rika focused, thinking deeply. "I've got too much to lose now. I gotta do this right."
Jettofangu leveled his shotgun at her, pulling the trigger.
"Jugen-Kaiseisha: Chiyu no Shirushi!"
〈Sigil Created: Siphon. User can absorb 80% of damage and return it back to sender while restoring 40% of HP to all party members. Charges: *2.*〉
Rika smirked. "Finally."
Just as the bullet struck her, she crushed it, and the bullet knocked her to the ground.
〈Siphon Activated.〉
The bullet turned around and hit Jettofangu in the chest, causing him to wobble.
〈Recovery Attack: 1/2〉
Rika got to her feet, noticing her wounds closing. "Still a little sore…"
〈Time Remaining: 1:21〉
Sōshin swerved as Jettofangu drove beside them, firing again and again as Sōshin weaved between the bullets.
"Wolven Burst!"
Jettofangu sped up even further, now driving backwards as he turned to face the two.
"What now, Sis Rika?"
"I got this! Just keep me steady!"
Rika stood at the front of the box as Jettofangu fired, missing as Rika dodged. Behind him, a large green flag could be seen.
〈Warning! Waypoint Incoming.〉
Jettofangu fired instead at the box, and Sōshin quickly jumped down, taking the bullet face-first and causing it to return to Jettofangu.
"What—?"
The bullet hit him in the face, causing him to wobble and crash into the wall. Rika grabbed Sōshin's arm as he fell, just as the two crossed the green flag, toppling off the box.
〈Recovery Attack: *Completed.〉
〈Time Remaining: 0:32〉
〈Goal Complete.〉
Rika and Sōshin both got up as Rika quickly hurried to check out Sōshin. "Hey, are you okay?"
Sōshin gave her two thumbs up as the room returned to the dojo, where Sora was clapping.
"Well done. Despite both of you being support classes, you managed to fend off that deadly gang and protect the box. Here you go."
She handed them two Level-Up sigils.
"Thanks for this, Miss Sora," Rika replied.
"Yep! Thanks, Mom!" Sōshin added.
"Now. We will resume later. Want to save your strength for the harder stuff."
She left the room, just as Sōshin turned to Rika. "Why did you want me to call you sis, Sis Rika?"
"No reason," Rika said, a smirk playing on her lips. "Hey, do you believe in second chances, Sōshin?"
"Hmm…sure! Why?"
She crushed the sigil in her hand, patting him on the head. "Because I do."
〈Level-Up! +1,000 Levels.〉
——-