Author's Corner: Last side story and the start of the heroes gaining much needed experience and wisdom.

Legend

" " = people talking

italics = people thinking

* * = sounds

' ' = people talking within telepathy

CAPS = Power usage

Book 2: Chapter 5.5: Hina Time!

After many days of intense training I finally got to do something I’ve been dreaming of my entire life… ride a dragon! When I heard we were going to a 100 level dungeon with just the cute little dragon my blood started to boil! Finally, I get to use my skills and fulfill my promise.

I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was not even 3 years old and left the house for the first time. There was a park across the street from my house right between where Hiro and Aya lived and on my first time out I was excited to see the sandbox as I’d never seen one before.

Out of instinct I looked both ways before crossing the road and then started to run to the other side. But before I could get more than a little over half way, I tripped and fell on my hands and knees really hurting myself. I was a real baby and started to cry when a loud horn sounded in the distance. I looked up and saw a large vehicle coming right for me! But before it could get close enough a little boy grabbed my hands and pulled me the rest of the way across the street to the playground. He told me I had to be more careful as the street isn’t safe.

One look at my savior and I knew he was the greatest person alive and at that moment I dedicated my all to him. Hiro and Aya always played together and I would diligently play to the side and watch in case Hiro ever needed me. I was always the silent watcher and ever vigilant! I never talked much in these days as I did not think it was necessary. Eventually I realized I didn’t know what to say if I ever talked and ended up shy even though I had much to say on the inside.

Fortunately one day when I was 3 and the others had turned 4 I finally got my true purpose. We were playing one of those silly games that Hiro’s dad made us play when the man himself came to me and asked me what I wanted to be when I got older. I told him I wanted to protect Hiro and stay by his side forever. He gave me a nod then gave me a book and a set of daggers.

Of course I didn’t know how to read and told him so, so he taught me. Hiro and Aya never noticed as they always played together while I just watched. It only took me 2 days to learn how to read the book and only three months to learn how wield the daggers. Fortunately I learned how to read from that book so I memorized it instantly. Sure many of the skills did not make sense as they were skills from a video game but the training methods still worked so every night I could leave my house and train in the arts of the assassin.

As I grew up I realized that the feelings I had for Hiro were more than just admiration and respect. I actually loved him! When I got to high school I realized that Aya felt the same way and since I didn’t want any more people talking to him, I started to talk to both him and Aya and staying with them at all times as if to ward off others. Fortunately Aya helped with her ice cold stare, but she had no killing intent, that was all me.

Unlike Aya and Hiro, I was surprised at all when we got summoned. I mean how dumb can you be? Hiro’s dad has been telling us for years this would happen after all. I also couldn’t understand why they were so weak and always hesitated while fighting. Even the first level 50 bear we had to kill was a total weakling! It only took me a single breath to kill it and I didn’t even use any skills! And what is with Hiro vomiting like what he did was bad or something… I’ll never understand the weak, but I guess that is why I’m here as only I can protect them.

“We are here. This place is a maze, I hope one of you are able to lead the rest as I am forbidden.” –Voarag

“Any ideas? I’m not good with directions, I don’t even have a drivers license!” –Hiro

“Me neither, who drives when you live in a big city like Kyoto?” –Aya

“F follow me.” –Me

Not sure what else to say, so I just did the best I could. I do have a drivers license as it is a necessary skill for any assassin.

After a few minutes of walking we finally came to the first intersection of the maze. Not sure what would get us to the next level I made sure to ask.

“W what lets us get to next level.” –Me

“Find and kill the floor boss to advance.” –Voarag

“Swiftly follow.” –Me

With that I immediately dashed to one of the pathways and quickly ran ahead as finding the bosses is easy. It is clearly the place with the highest concentration of mana.

“Traps, follow my steps.” –Me

Seeing many weak traps I simply told my two friends to follow my steps so that we can get there faster. Like this we arrived at the boss in about 45 seconds, this mana manipulation is amazing!

“Boss.” –Me

“Okay listen up! I’ll be the vanguard, these bosses are regular monsters and are not evil so our special abilities won’t have any effect. Aya you fight on the flank and Hina the rear.” –Hiro

Of course these idiots are too slow and by the time they got done talking about a plan I had already kill this weak level 1 boss. Who needs a plan for a level 1 boss?

“Too slow, follow.” –Me

The puzzled looks on their faces was priceless, but no time for this as I can tell the later floors have magical beasts.

After 9 floors we took a rest as the length of each floor increased substantially and even with my trap finding abilities it wasn’t enough as now I had to disarm them first. Fortunately I gained the skill for it as well as a few other nifty ones along the way.

On the 10th floor we finally found our first real boss. A level 10 magical beast Wind Wolf. Analyze wasn’t needed for me to tell he had 50,000 mana core strength which means he was at least a rank 6 beast which means most likely every boss in this dungeon will be as well.

“Rank 6 Wind Wolf. Careful.” –Me

When we got to this dungeon we only had regular clothing and our starter weapons which had no stats, but after 9 bosses we all had armor to go with our weapons. Hiro even had a shield to go with his full plate armor. Aya like me was wearing enchanted leather armor for speed.

For this boss I stood back just to let the two weaklings get some experience. Hiro does a nice shield bash on his face allowing Aya to catch up and freeze the four legs. This will drop his mobility enough to stop him from flying, good strategy. Then Hiro does some crazy dance and fires erupt everywhere and consume the wolf leaving only his magic core behind and a chest.

We were able to get some interspatial rings from the Princess so we used them to store our loot, so the core went there and we opened the chest to find jewelry. Each of us got a nice upgrade to our stats with it and we continued on down, slowly but surely.

“Not bad, going through 10 levels in one day, now you have 20 days to finish the dungeon, get very good magical gear and max all your levels and skills. Use each night to cultivate, the fighting will help stimulate and make it go faster.” –Voarag

“I got some new skills! I got shield bash as well as some holy shield spells which is really cool!” –Hiro

“Me too, I got some quick draw skills and an upgraded water movement skill!” –Aya

“Traps and detection skills.” –Me

Not one to say much I just added my little bit and went to bed. The experience these two gained today should be enough, and since our party exploits experience eventually we should all be level 200 by the 50th floor at this rate and hopefully the fights after that are hard enough to get to the 100,000 mana barrier.

After a full night of cultivating decided to show our new stats and skills before running off and starting again.

“I’ll go first. Show status and skills to all!” –Hiro

*DING*

STATUS WINDOW!Name:Yuusha HiroAge:17Race:HumanAlignment:GoodLevel:50Mana:66000Titles:Hero, Righteous HeroStrength:600Vitality:600Dexterity:600Concentration:600Intelligence:600Wisdom:600Unlocked Affinities:Light, Fire, SoulfireStat Points:383

SKILL LIST!

Active Skills:Analyze (level 10)

Cultivation (level 10)

Taunt (level 10)[table]Passive Skills:Light Spell Mastery (Level 10)

Fire Spell Mastery (level 10)

Soulfire Spell Mastery (level 10)

Magic Mastery (level 10)

Mana Manipulation (level 10)

Mana Control (level 10)

Shield Mastery (level 10)

Soulfire Sword Mastery (level 10)

“Me next! Show status and skills to all!” –Aya

*DING*

STATUS WINDOW!Name:Rei AyaAge:17Race:HumanAlignment:GoodLevel:50Mana:66000Titles:Hero, KuudereStrength:600Vitality:600Dexterity:600Concentration:600Intelligence:600Wisdom:600Unlocked Affinities:Light, Water, Holy IceStat Points:392[/tr ]

[tr]SKILL LIST!

Active Skills:Analyze (level 10)

Cultivation (level 10)

Quick Draw (level 10)[table]Passive Skills:Light Spell Mastery (Level 10)

Water Spell Mastery (level 10)

Holy Ice Spell Mastery (level 10)

Magic Mastery (level 10)

Mana Manipulation (level 10)

Mana Control (level 10)

Holy Ice Sword Mastery (level 10)

“S show status and skills to all.” –Me

*DING*

STATUS WINDOW!Name:Hyu HinaAge:16Race:HumanAlignment:GoodLevel:50Mana:75000Titles:Hero, DandereStrength:600Vitality:600Dexterity:600Concentration:600Intelligence:600Wisdom:600Unlocked Affinities:Light, Dark, BalanceStat Points:374[/tr ]

[tr]SKILL LIST!

Active Skills:Analyze (level 10)

Cultivation (level 10)

Disarm Trap (level 10)

Mapping (level 10)

Stealth (level 10)[table]Passive Skills:Light Spell Mastery (Level 10)

Dark Spell Mastery (level 10)

Balance Spell Mastery (level 10)

Magic Mastery (level 10)

Mana Manipulation (level 10)

Mana Control (level 10)

Balancer Dual Dagger Mastery (level 10)

Detect Trap (level 10)

Sense Presence (level 10)

“How are you so strong so fast Hina?” –Aya

“Cultivate.” –Me

It’s annoying when I get asked questions since I don’t like talking. I even got that stupid nickname Dandere because of it. Our classmates are lucky they are not enemies of Hiro or they would have pieces of their dead relatives with a note telling them how it’s their fault. I’m not shy or cold! I just am determined to stay on task and have nothing to say!

___

Don't be fooled, just because one of the heroes is a total badass and cant kill everything in her way, doesn't mean the others won't get stronger by the end of this dungeon.