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"Asai... Are we really going to enter another dungeon so soon? We basically just cleared Ignis' dungeon, and then we threw ourselves into that spider-infestation that was basically another... Fought against and wiped out a criminal organization and now we're about to charge head first into another?"

A rare moment of Robin actually voicing her concern. Such a thing caught him slightly off-guard as he finished off his last minute checks with his supplies, weapons and armour.

"You can sit this one out if you're tired." 

"It's not me I'm worried about!"

Having finished with himself, he went over to ensure Robin's belts and latches were securely tied. Ensuring her clothing itself wouldn't prevent her from performing her best vaults as the leather now clung tightly to her curves.

"It will be fine, what's the worst that could happen?" "With someone as broken and overpowered as you by my side, I doubt anything could topple us."

Glancing over towards the dungeon portal, that was hidden within the mountains. That was, until Asai decided to utilize the mountain range as target practice, and blew the land apart. Asai felt greatly tempted and curious, as to the results of feeding his blood and mana to a dungeon portal that was already ready and open.

Only to change his mind after catching Robin shaking her head side-ways within the corner of his vision.

[Asai de Trichia: Lvl 97]  [Robin Sol: Lvl 93]  [Olivia: Lvl 81]

[Bethel: Lvl 69]  [Mel: Lvl 62]  [Sora Kaka: Lvl 43]

"6 people in a party. The supposed optimal number for dungeon-diving..."

Seeing as everyone appeared to be ready, Asai strolled through, shortly followed by Robin who was eager to fight alongside him.

Whilst Bethel was extremely excited to be entering a dungeon, rather than fighting the usual rabble of goblins and lycans. Olivia was quick to the perform the holy cross sign upon her chest before entering. Sora, who had decided to continue wearing her own set of armour, that clearly identified her as a military member of Par'Talucca's elites, adopted the same mindset her king had.

"What's the worst that could happen? His Majesty is so strong, what could possibly prove to be a threat in there?"

As such, all party members quickly entered.

...

kophzi

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...

Within the empty darkness, land void of life, land and sky. The party found themselves standing upon a stone platform. Before them was a single path that stretched as far as their eyes could see. Spaced out throughout the path were hundreds of red tori-gates, typical of shrines and temples.

Both Asai and Bethel cheated with their systems and failed to find any hostiles. Whilst the duke observed their surroundings more, prior to advancing. Even with mana imbued eyes, he failed to catch sight of anything else apart from the path before them, and the small pale moon that hovered above within the heavens. 

"Oh no..."

Olivia murmured... Soon followed by Mel, as they realized the dungeon portal had disappeared. Leaving them with no way out, but forwards.

Trying to catch any slight indications of enemies, Asai funnelled mana into his ears.

"Robin, you hearing what I'm hearing?"

The half-elf opened her eyes, and nodded in confirmation. Within the far distance, there seemed to be a source of music playing. Far different from what the people of Del Lagos enjoyed. As the humans mostly practiced the piano and violins, whilst the elven enjoyed harps, flutes and vocals.

The music they could barely hear currently seemed to be a mix of strings, sharply plucked and a consistent drum beating.

With no choice but to enter onwards, the group followed Asai into the dungeon. Quick to noticing the music increasing in volume and bass as they shorted the distance towards its source.

Once the party could practically hear the music and feel the bass, within one of many gaps between the tori gates. Their first hostile emerged.

[Samurai: Lvl 40]

"A dhan!?" Sora, a dhan herself was surprised to find her own people be utilized as monsters.

"Samurai!?" Exclaimed Bethel, who recognised the oriental armour set the samurai wore. Even coming with its own oni-helmet.

Inspecting closer, Asai could notice the hollowness of the armour. 

"Living armour. There's no dhan inside that. Sora, go."

Having received her orders, Sora had the honours of first-blood. Fighting katar versus katana, the dhan swiftly side-stepped its first strike and punching her blade through its chest-piece. Whatever soul or being that held the armour set together instantly faded, as the pieces collapsed before instantly turning into dust. As if time had resumed, and consumed its integrity.

Having defeated the first, another two emerged, blocking the path.

[Samurai: Lvl 50]  [Samurai: Lvl 50]

Whilst Sora was eager to prove her worth in the eyes of her king, Asai quickly dismissed her and sent out Bethel and Mel.

Seeing as the path was too thin for her to utilize her usual great sword. The pink-haired warrior had to settle for a longsword instead. Whilst Mel had two steel-daggers in hand.

"Go."

Bethel roared as she charged onwards, performing a straight-forward thrust with great ferocity, she naturally drew their aggro towards her and allowed Mel into slipping into their blind spots, delivering critical blows from both the front and back.

Entire aware of Asai's intentions towards training them, Robin sought to make herself useful in others ways. Activating [Ascension] she hovered out of the path and above the gates, trying to see if she could spot anything worthwhile. That was, until a straw arrow pierced her heart and sent her plummeting back down into the ground before Asai.

And whilst Asai did try to catch the girl, her body shrunk until she looked just like a little sprite.

As if it was all but a prank, even her outfit had changed. A jar emerged out of thin-air and caught the girl, plugging itself before anyone could react.

[No cheating]

[Robin Sol shall remain within the jar until later]

[Condition: Temporary]

[Höðr sends his regards]

Looking around, Asai quickly confirmed that the others were also capable of viewing the message, thus Robin could only sit and pout as she was literally disqualified until further notice.

"It's alright Robin, you'll be back out soon enough..."

Utilizing a sturdy string, Asai tied the jar up securely before wearing it like a necklace. Ensuring Robin could still see and witness everything they would go through. Deciding doing so, would be better than throwing her into one of his many pockets and leaving her in the dark.

...

Cotton woke up from his little nap to find himself also shrunk. Gazing up in horror as he saw Asai's gigantic mug.

In great shock, he fell from the top of Robin's beautiful white-hair and into her cleavage, where he quickly surmised everything to being a nightmare and continued to sleep.

kophzi