Chapter 01

CLANG!

A tall, armored man gritted his teeth as his sword met the jagged blade of a towering, seven-foot-tall lizardman. The creature snarled, its reptilian eyes glowing with primal fury.

“They’re endless!” the man growled, pushing back against the brute strength of his foe.

Suddenly, a stream of searing fire shot past them, engulfing three more lizardmen in blazing heat. Their shrieks echoed off the dungeon walls as they crumpled into ash.

“Hey, watch it! I’m swinging here!” barked a bald man wielding a massive poleaxe. He cleaved through another lizardman’s skull with a brutal swing, the crack of bone sharp and final. He turned to glare at the source of the flames, a pink-haired girl in a black tank top, her arms shimmering with residual heat.

The girl sighed, her exasperation barely hidden behind a forced smile. "Sorry about that, Hashida-san. I’ll be more careful." Her tone soured as she turned back to the fray, muttering under her breath. "Tch." Another wave of fire leapt from her fingertips, catching a cluster of lizardmen in its path.

Hashida grunted, spinning his poleaxe to ready another strike. "Hmph!"

But the fight wasn’t done with him.

"Graaah!"

Two lizardmen burst from a hidden crevice in the wall, an almost invisible hole worn into the stone. Their jagged spears lunged for Hashida.

"Shi..!"

CLANG!

The attackers’ weapons clattered harmlessly against a towering triangular shield that interposed itself just in time.

“Are you alright, Hashida-san?!”

The voice came from a black-haired woman, her face set in determination as she braced behind the shield. With a powerful shove, she forced the lizardmen back, holding the line.

Before the creatures could react, their heads jerked violently as arrows punched through their skulls. The lifeless bodies dropped to the dungeon floor, the tension in the air easing slightly.

Hashida exhaled sharply. "Thanks for the save, Kaede-san."

Kaede turned, her eyes soft but alert. She smiled, positioning herself between her team and the advancing enemy. "No problem. As a D-Rank Tank, my attack stat isn’t very high, but you can leave all the defense to me!"

"Oi, Hashida!"

A brown-bearded man called out, swinging his sword in a clean arc that took down four lizardmen. Their bodies collapsed with heavy thuds. "Don’t go flirting with the little girl. She’s a minor. Keep it in your pants!"

The pink-haired girl paused, her flames flickering as she brought a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh. She failed, a soft chuckle slipping out.

"Hey, Shinji! Not cool, dude! I wouldn’t do that!" Hashida snapped, turning to glare. Tick marks pulsed on his bald head as he jabbed a finger in her direction. "And quit laughing, Vivi, or I’ll smash that pretty face of yours!"

Vivi shrugged, still smirking as she turned back to the fight, flames coiling around her fingers.

Kaede’s eyes twitched behind her shield. She murmured, "But I turned eighteen last month…" Yet, her words were swallowed by the chaos of battle.

She tightened her grip on the large triangular shield, stepping forward to meet the next wave. The lizardmen hissed, their eyes wary.

From the left flank, a sharp voice rang out.

"The left wing’s almost clear! Just a bit more, and we can help the others!"

It was a red-haired boy, loosing arrows with smooth precision. Each shot struck true, dropping a lizardman where it stood. His eyes glinted with excitement. "I wanna see the C-Rank Hunters take down that C-Rank Boss!"

The group pressed on, the end of the skirmish within sight.

---

Hunters.

Human warriors who possess magical powers, fighting magic beasts and clearing dungeons.

Exposed to the existence of mana, they are individuals who awakened after mana integrated with their bodies, gaining unique powers tailored to themselves.

---

The battle against the seemingly endless waves of lizardmen was finally over. All nine hunters stood amidst the carnage, taking a moment to catch their breath.

"Let it be known that I hate mazes," Hashida groaned, his bald head glistening with sweat as a black-haired healer tended to his shoulder.

"I hate swamps. I hate dark spaces. I hate lizards. In short, I hate this entire damn dungeon!" He yelled the last part, his voice echoing off the damp stone walls.

"Please try to stay still, Hashida-san," the healer said softly, her hands glowing as she continued to mend the wound.

Nearby, the pink-haired girl approached Kaede, her steps light but purposeful.

"I still don’t get why you let that jerk get healed first," Vivi said, arms crossed. "You’re obviously in worse shape than him."

Kaede smiled gently. "Ah, Vivi-san. Thank you for worrying, but it’s really alright. My skill lets me harden my body, so it’s not as bad as it looks. I didn’t take much damage to my health."

"I saw," Vivi replied, her gaze sharp. "Honestly, I was kinda surprised when you said you were a tank. Sure, you've got some muscle on you, but still... the strength needed for a tank is no joke. You have to push back against a multitude of attacks, sometimes all at once. Tank classes aren't as common as people think. Was it the only option for you?"

Kaede hummed softly, her gaze drifting to the red-haired boy and the others not being healed. They crouched over the fallen lizardmen, digging into the bodies to extract glowing crystals, Essence Crystals, the tangible rewards of their victory.

"I’ve never really been a fan of pain," Kaede said, her voice thoughtful. "And yet, I’ve always wanted to be a hunter. When I awakened last year and got my skill, Reinforcement, I was excited. But my parents… they weren’t. They forbade me from becoming a hunter. They think I’ll end up like my big sister."

She paused, her expression distant. "I went behind their backs and registered about five months ago. I was a little naive, thought it’d be fun. My first dungeon was E-Rank. Goblins. I had a sword, and while I struggled at first, it got easier. They couldn’t hurt me much thanks to my skill."

Kaede’s eyes drifted to where the bearded man was arguing with the group's assassin, the latter laughing nervously. Her smile faded.

"Then the skull-masked goblin appeared, and everything went to hell."

Vivi grimaced. "Yeah, I read about that on the news. You were there?"

Kaede nodded. "I was. It was terrifying. That thing was fast. One moment, hunters were losing limbs, and the next, their lives."

Vivi’s brow furrowed. "But a B-Rank Hunter rushed in and saved you, right? That’s how the news told it."

Kaede’s smile was faint. "Yes. A B-Rank Hunter killed it… seven hours after it first appeared."

Vivi’s eyes widened. "Seven hours? How did you survive that long?"

Kaede’s gaze turned distant again. "It was the tanker in our party. He looked so average, but he kept us alive for seven hours. He stood in front of that monster. He looked so vulnerable, but… he felt invincible." Her smile softened. "That’s when I decided to become a tank."

Vivi let out a low whistle. "Whoa. That’s some story. My life isn’t half as interesting. The less said about my motivation, the better."

"Alright, hurry up over there. The C-Rankers might need our assistance," the tall hunter said, gesturing to the healer.

"Right! Yama-san!" the healer responded, hurrying over to Kaede's side.

Unlike Hashida's treatment, Kaede’s healing took only seven minutes. As soon as it was done, the team rushed towards the lair of the final boss.

Upon finding the entrance to the chamber, they froze.

"Oh? I didn’t expect you guys to finish off those fodder so quickly."

The walls were splattered with blood, limbs scattered across the ground. The sharp, metallic tang of iron filled the air.

Vivi's breath hitched as her eyes landed on a fallen figure. "Nagi-san… No." Her voice trembled.

Nagi’s corpse lay sprawled with a massive hole in his chest. Around him, six more bodies, each of them C-Rankers, were butchered, torn apart across the corridor.

At the center of the carnage stood a large man with grey hair, holding the severed head of a blonde woman. She had been one of the healers who'd joined the assault team. Her lifeless eyes stared blankly at nothing.

Hashida took a slow, unsteady step back. 'A C-Ranker shouldn’t be able to kill multiple C-Rankers alone… unless he’s a false ranker.'

The realization hit the others as well. One by one, they all began stepping back, tension thickening the air.

The grey-haired man chuckled, his grin wide and savage. "Oh well. I was gonna kill you all anyway."

Flames erupted, engulfing his figure as Vivi launched a full-force attack. "Run!" she shouted.

No one hesitated.

The team turned and bolted.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" the red-haired boy cursed as he sprinted down the corridor. "Why the hell is there a false ranker here?!"

Kaede lagged slightly behind, her face grim. Her hand tightened around her shield. 'Maybe I should...'

Spurt!

Blood sprayed through the air.

The assassin, who had been leading their desperate escape, suddenly lost his head. His body crumpled, tumbling across the ground in a lifeless heap.

Everyone skidded to a halt, horror rooting them in place. The healer’s scream pierced the silence, raw and terrified.

Standing ahead of them, as if he’d been there all along, was the grey-haired man. His expression was calm, almost amused, as he pressed his boot down onto the severed head.

The silence following the assassin's death was suffocating, broken only by the healer's ragged sobs. Fear gripped the group, their instincts screaming at them to flee, yet their bodies refused to move.

The grey-haired man tilted his head, studying their horror-stricken faces with cold amusement. His boot pressed down harder on the severed head, a wet crunch echoing in the corridor.

"One down," he said casually. "How many more before this gets interesting?"

"Run!" Vivi screamed again, but her voice trembled this time. She raised her hands, flames flaring to life, as the only other C Ranker, she was their strongest combatant.

Before she could release her fire, the man vanished.

Kaede’s instincts screamed. She spun around just in time to see him materialize behind the healer, a grin slicing across his face.

'No!'

Kaede surged forward, her shield already moving. The grey-haired man’s glaive slashed down, but metal met metal as Kaede slammed her shield between him and the healer. Sparks flew, the force of the impact jarring her entire arm.

The man chuckled. "You’re fast. For a D-Rank."

Kaede gritted her teeth, pushing back. "Why are... You doing this!?"

For a moment, they were locked, strength against strength. Then, with an effortless shove, he threw Kaede back. She stumbled but didn’t fall, bracing herself with her shield.

"Kaede-san!" Vivi’s voice was sharp, filled with panic. She unleashed another burst of fire, forcing the man to retreat a step, though the flames barely singed his jacket.

"Vivi the walls!" Yama barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Everyone, run back! Don’t let him pick us off!"

It wasn’t a perfect plan, but it was their only option.

Vivi sent another stream of flames at the grey haired man, and as he effortlessly dodged, she sent a bigger blast at the cave itself, forcing a cave in on the man.

The grey haired man simply chuckled as he was bathed by massive debris.

The group bolted, sprinting down the branching tunnels, back towards the boss room. Footsteps echoed, uneven and panicked.

Kaede grabbed the healer’s arm, pulling her along. "Stay ahead of me. Don’t stop."

"But..." the healer gasped, her eyes brimming with terror.

"Don’t look back!" Kaede barked.

They ran.

But the footsteps behind them were too quiet.

Kaede could feel it. The hunter had become the hunted.

They regrouped at the entrance to the boss room, breaths ragged, hearts hammering.

"We can’t keep running, Shinji." Hashida growled. "He’ll pick us off one by one."

Shinji, the bearded hunter, slammed his fist against the wall. "How the hell did a false ranker end up here? This was supposed to be a clean sweep!"

Vivi’s hands trembled as she reignited a weak flame in her palms, her voice low. "My mana is already half. He’s faster than any of us. Stronger too."

Kaede said nothing. She stared at her shield, where a deep gouge now marred its surface.

"We need a plan," Yama said grimly. "Or we die."

Everyone turned to Vivi, the only C-Ranker among them.

She lifted her eyes, resolve hardening behind them, though Kaede could see the faint shimmer of tears pooling beneath that determination. "One of us will have to stay behind and distract him long enough for the rest to escape."

Kaede's breath caught. She can't mean... Her thoughts raced. 'Is it because of the story I told her? Does she want me to stay behind? I'm the only tank, it makes sense, but...'

Her mind flashed to the false ranker's grin, the cold certainty in his eyes. A chill ran through her. 'I... I don't want to die.'

"It has to be me."

Kaede's head snapped up, shock widening her eyes as Vivi continued.

"It makes sense. You're all D-Rankers, and I'm a C-Ranker, so I'm the strongest one here," Vivi said, her voice steady despite the tremble Kaede thought she saw beneath it.

'Maybe I can help her.' Kaede thought, activating her skill's secondary effect, reinforcing a single ally. No one noticed the transparent sheen that covered Vivi for a single second before dissipating.

"Hold on there, kid."

It was Yama, his voice sharp as he stepped forward. His gaze was hard, but not unkind. "Don't go throwing your life away so easily."

"Let me be the one to stay behind," Yama said firmly. "You're still basically a kid, and I can't let someone so young die in a place like this not if I can help it."

"Mr. Yama-san..." Vivi's voice wavered, guilt and worry flashing in her eyes. "But you won't be able to..."

"As fun as that might be," a cold, mocking voice cut through the air, echoing off the dungeon walls, "I'm getting bored... and running out of patience."

The chill in the voice froze everyone in place, dread seeping into their bones.

"Gah!" Blood splurted out of Shinji's mouth as a large blade exited from his throat.

The group stiffened, fear rooting them to the ground. Slowly, they turned, eyes wide with terror.

The grey-haired man stood there, behind the bearded man, his grin sharp and cruel. Blood still dripped from his blade, pooling at their feet.

"Deciding who gets to die first?" the grey-haired man asked, tilting his head slightly. His grin was sharp, cruel. "How'd you like my pick?"

"He... urgh!"

Shinji staggered, blood bubbling from his lips as he gasped for breath. His hands clutched his throat, but it was no use. With a choked gasp, he crumpled to the floor, dead.

Silence fell.

No one moved. Death hung in the air like a suffocating fog. The finality of their fate pressed down on them, cold and merciless.

The grey-haired man chuckled darkly, licking the blood from his glaive. His eyes gleamed with sadistic delight. "There's just something about killing another human being that's so... thrilling. No monster could ever compare."

The bloodlust radiating from him was suffocating, freezing the group in place. No one dared move. No one dared speak.

Then.

Kaede stepped forward.

Her hands trembled, her heart hammering in her chest, but still, she lifted her shield. She planted herself between the group and the grey-haired man, her stance firm despite the fear that gnawed at her.

Vivi’s eyes widened, her breath catching. "Kaede..." she whispered, her voice soft but carrying enough to reach the others.

Understanding dawned.

"Dammit," Yama muttered, stepping up beside Kaede. He drew his sword, the blade gleaming under the dim dungeon light. "Can't let a little girl show us up, can we?"

The red-haired boy, Shiro, nocked an arrow and leaped back to stand beside the healer. His jaw clenched, eyes fierce. "I don't plan on dying today. But if I am..."

"Better it be fighting," Hashida cut in, spinning his poleaxe with a grunt. His bald head glistened with sweat, but his stance was solid. "We'll go down swinging!"

Vivi gritted her teeth, flames bursting to life along her arms. She stepped forward, determination hardening her gaze. "Stand strong, everyone."

Kaede swallowed thickly, her heart pounding so violently she thought it might burst. But she held her shield high, her voice shaking but resolute. "Don't worry, everyone. As long as I'm here, no one is going to die. Leave the defense to me!"

A beat of silence, then.

"Right!"

---

"Urgh!"

Kaede screamed through blood-filled teeth as the grey-haired man's glaive slowly pierced through her armor, stabbing cleanly through her chest and exiting from her back. She dangled helplessly in his grasp, lifted off the ground by the throat.

Around them, the scene was a massacre.

Yama lay sprawled on the ground, the top half of his head missing. The healer's body had been cleaved in two, her lifeless halves soaking in a pool of crimson. The red-haired boy was pinned against the wall, an arrow driven through his skull, his own arrow.

Vivi's body lay crumpled near the edge of the cave, her head slumped forward. Her entire right arm was gone, severed cleanly at the shoulder. Blood pooled beneath her, staining the stone beneath.

Kaede’s mouth filled with more blood as the grey-haired man twisted the blade lodged in her gut.

"So... what do you have to say for yourself?" he sneered, his grin cold and merciless. "As long as I'm here, no one is going to die, right?"

Tears streamed down Kaede’s cheeks, her body wracked with pain. Another scream tore from her throat as the blade twisted again, agony exploding through her.

Suddenly.

GRRRAAAAAARGH!!!

The cavern trembled with the guttural roar. The grey-haired man paused, his grin faltering as he glanced past Kaede. His eyes widened slightly at the sight.

Crawling along the ceiling of the cave was a towering lizardman, its scaled body stretching nineteen feet in length. Its eyes burned with primal rage, saliva dripping from razor-sharp fangs.

The final boss. Drawn out by the slaughter and the stench of blood. Rare, but not unheard of.

The grey-haired man chuckled, releasing his grip. Kaede's body crumpled to the ground like discarded trash, her shield clattering beside her.

"I guess I'm done here anyway," he said, his tone casual, almost bored. He pulled his glaive free, wiping the blade clean with a flick. "Once I kill the boss, the gate will close, and the bodies can vanish, or whatever."

Without sparing another glance at the broken corpses, he turned to face the lizardman, a savage grin curling his lips.

---

(A black-armored girl stood, holding a large rectangular shield, facing off against a massive blue bird wreathed in ice.)

[Connecting]

What's going on?

(She sat in a wooden hall, surrounded by seven smiling companions as they engaged in lively discussion.)

[Installing Interface]

These memories... they're not mine.

(A three-headed poison dragon burst from her dagger, flooding an entire dimension with toxic venom.)

[Updating Software]

No. They're mine... but from a past life.

(She led a team, two hammer-wielders, another shielder, a swordswoman, a mage, a crafter, and an assassin, standing strong together.)

[Restoring Backup]

It's funny, isn't it? In death, I'm reliving my life... and even the one before that.

(She stood tearfully beside a hospital bed, holding the hand of a brown-haired girl who lay unconscious.)

[Uploading]

Ah... Risa. Sally. I swear, I'll save you.

(She pressed a gentle kiss to the girl's lips.)

[Uploading]

I swear...

[Uploading]

I'll save you.

---

Bang!

The gray-haired man's glaive clashed with a massive cleaver, the force of the impact causing the entire chamber to tremble. With a roar, the Lizardman sent the man crashing into the ground, leaving cracks spider-webbing across the stone.

"What the hell? This is an abnormal monster. Did the dungeon jump up a rank or something?" the man growled, his gaze sharp.

The Lizardman lunged, cleaver descending with terrifying speed, too fast for even a B-Rank Hunter to dodge.

Boom!

The gray-haired man gasped in pain as he barely managed to block the strike, his body cratering into the floor from the impact.

Spitting out a glob of blood, he grimaced. "Guess I’ve gotta escape. Unless it’s a red gate, the portal won't close anyway." He chuckled darkly. "Today was fun, though. I'll be back for you, you stupid lizard..."

"Sally!"

A rasping voice echoed through the chamber, carried on a cold breeze that swept through like a deathly whisper.

"What?" The man stiffened, turning toward the entrance, only to find it obscured by swirling purple smoke, burning like phantom flames.

From within the haze, two tiny purple lights burned like twin suns.

The smoke parted, revealing Kaede. She stood like a specter, her body pale and corpse-like, shadowed by three massive, floating jaws that loomed behind her like ethereal phantasms. Each jaw breathed, exhaling wisps of purple mist.

The smoke dispersed completely, unveiling a monstrous three-headed dragon behind her. Kaede was now wearing a black armor that glinted ominously, her eyes glowing with an intense, wrathful purple light.

She stepped forward, silent but seething.

.

.

.

.

[Ready Player Two]