Don't use Type-Moon references in Oregairu!

Fujimaru Ritsuka remained silent for a moment, then asked curiously, "Why are you the only ones here? Didn't you say that other organizations had already taken over the management of the Spirit Tomb Albion? Where are their people?"

Hachiman Hikigaya gestured towards the disheveled reconnaissance team: "Isn't that right? A team of twenty people, and only five of them made it back. I just asked the more stable survivors, and they said they were ambushed by the elusive Knights of the Round Table in the Vein Corridor, and then attacked by monsters. They almost didn't make it back."

Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked in disbelief and asked, "You guys held out for almost half a month without any other organizations intervening, and then when the second outbreak happened, not a single other organization intervened except for the reconnaissance team?"

"Being able to assemble a team of twenty is a compromise, I suppose. Everyone has their own territory to watch over, and they don't want other organizations with spare capacity to come in and develop it extensively. But once they go back, it should attract attention, right?" Hachiman Hikigaya sighed. "Besides, we have reinforcements. We started with more than twenty people, and now we're almost forty. It's just that the monster attacks are too frequent, and the physical and mental exhaustion is quite high."

Fujimaru Ritsuka turned to Tsukamoto Yakumo, who was walking over, and frowned: "So, Tsukamoto-kun, how are you feeling? Hakiga and the others are so tired, do you still have the energy to come down with us?"

His concerns were not unfounded. According to Hachiman Hikigaya, Yakumo Tsukamoto had also stayed in the Demon Cave for quite some time, and theoretically, he should be similar to Hachiman Hikigaya and the others, exhausted...

“I’m fine. You should know Attila, right?” the girl replied quietly, her tone calm and rational. “She possesses a body that is as if it were a gift from heaven, has special divinity, and ruthless and efficient combat skills. Even with this level of combat intensity, I could continue for more than a month without any problem.”

As he said this, Tsukamoto Yakumo scrutinized Fujimaru Ritsuka with a strange look, only to find that he was completely unable to read her mind.

Before awakening the power from Attila, the girl named Tsukamoto Yakumo possessed a strange ability: she could sense the thoughts of those who were fond of her. It's not an exaggeration to say that Attila's spirit origin granted her a special talent called [Natural Body], enhancing her physical abilities and making her even more dazzling, possessing a bewitching charm that's almost a curse.

This kind of beauty does not change because of gender or sexual orientation, but is a natural affinity that humans have for the concept of beauty.

It's not that everyone's heart is captured by her, but everyone Tsukamoto Yakumo encounters harbors at least some goodwill towards her, allowing her to sense vague emotions at first glance. Only a few people with distorted aesthetics are completely unaffected, but Fujimaru Ritsuka wasn't sensed by her either. Could he be one of those people?

Recalling the guys he'd encountered before who could be called [Nurgle] ​​believers, Tsukamoto Yakumo shuddered, but he couldn't believe that Fujimaru Ritsuka was also that kind of disgusting person.

Fujimaru Ritsuka ignored Tsukamoto Yakumo's curious gaze, inwardly chuckling: "You little brat, don't get your hopes up. [Iron Will] is more than enough to build up a strong mental defense; you can forget about spying."

However, if the Tsukamoto Yakumo in Fujimaru Ritsuka's memory was an introverted and shy high school girl, the current Yakumo is full of a warrior-like aura of coldness, like a pudding that has been frozen.

Perhaps even after melting, it will still have that soft and tender interior?

Fujimaru Ritsuka stopped daydreaming and instead raised her hand to signal her companions to gather for their departure. Hachiman Hikigaya and the others also packed their things and headed towards the entrance of the Demon Cave. Before both groups left, Hachiman Hikigaya waved vigorously at them: "Fujimaru, don't die! I'll treat you to a good meal when we get back."

Fujimaru Ritsuka made a gesture of disdain and impatience, and that was the end of it.

-------------------------------------

"Speaking of which, Tsukamoto-kun, why did you come here to go on an adventure?" After another small skirmish, Fujimaru Ritsuka suggested taking a short break and then asked Tsukamoto Yakumo in a gossipy manner.

In his view, as a character in "School Rumble," Tsukamoto Yakumo should theoretically be living a carefree, bittersweet life with her older sister, Tsukamoto Tenma, and shouldn't be involved in such matters. For her, only her familial bond with her sister is the most important thing.

Hachiman Hikigaya is doing this because of his younger sister, and Naruzo Machigaya seems to be doing it for a purpose—to build up his muscles. Saika Totsuka is probably doing it for friendship, but what about Yakumo Tsukamoto? Could it be some kind of messed-up, melodramatic plot? Like, the older sister gets caught up in an incident, and then, to get revenge, the girl picks up the three-colored iron rod and embarks on a path of vengeance?

Fujimaru Ritsuka was lost in a jumble of nonsensical thoughts, but Tsukamoto Yakumo didn't refuse to answer him. He shook off the blood from the sword of the God of War in his hand and gave an unexpected answer:

"Well... how should I put it? The primary reason is probably money."

Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes widened, and even the girls who had quietly come over to eavesdrop almost made strange noises.

How should I put it? The girl's cold and taciturn appearance was even more inorganic than Yukino Yukinoshita, who was full of coldness. It was hard to believe that she would have any worldly desires.

"Hey, is it because Yakumo needs a little money at home? Don't let Tou's plain clothes fool you, he's actually quite wealthy." Yui Yuigahama once again called out the strange nickname as if they were old friends, and started pestering him.

Yukino and Utaha were both secretly clicking their tongues in surprise: "What you're saying makes it sound like she's trying to hook up with a rich guy, and you're even telling her who that rich guy is."

"You ungrateful husky! You want your boss to give you money right off the bat, huh!" Fujimaru Ritsuka smacked Yui on the head, subtly apologizing to Tsukamoto Yakumo.

I'm so angry! It's not because Yui asked me to give her money, but because her words sound like they might offend Tsukamoto Yakumo. If I can't convince her to join, I'll definitely hang that jerk Yuihama up.

Although a little uncomfortable with Yui's enthusiasm, Tsukamoto Yakumo smiled and stopped Fujimaru Ritsuka from abusing Yui: "I know what Yui-san means. But I'm saving money for two reasons: first, to send my sister abroad to accompany her friend for medical treatment, and second, to see if I can buy or accidentally acquire some extraordinary materials that my sister's sweetheart can use."

Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly realized, "Is this Karasuma Oji, the eccentric manga artist from 'School Rumble' who suffers from amnesia due to illness? As expected of a strong siscon, he's willing to go to such lengths for his sister...?"

Thinking of something, Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled and said, "Is that all?"

Yakumo Tsukamoto leaned on his sword, the God of War, and sighed, "Lying is bad civilization, but spying on a girl's heart is also bad civilization."

She gave Fujimaru Ritsuka a reproachful look, knowing exactly what he meant—Attila's impulse for destruction and desire for battle also affected her.

Seeing their tacit understanding, Shiyu nudged Yukino: "Fujimaru... it feels like you're hiding a bunch of little secrets."

Yukino rolled her eyes at her: "You know just as much about how this guy knows about so many Servants, don't you?"

Abigail was eating the pancakes that Fujimaru Ritsuka had specially packed for her when her eyes suddenly lit up: "Captain! Noshu and Ruthal say they've found the place."

Fujimaru Ritsuka, whose conversation had been interrupted, was overjoyed. When they parted ways with Hachiman Hikigaya's group, they encountered too many enemies on their way to their destination.

Werewolves, ghouls, sphinxes, genies, chimeras...

One monster after another kept attacking, which finally prompted Fujimaru Ritsuka to come up with a solution: to release the two cats that Abigail was holding to search for their destination.

Noshu and Rutal, as Abi's familiars, could remotely inform Abi of their discoveries through telepathy, while their own combat abilities ensured mobility and a chance of survival. As a result, they managed to evade attacks from many monsters, only dealing with them separately according to their strength when they couldn't avoid them.

Fujimaru Ritsuka was forced into this situation because the monsters they defeated on their way forward were all undead that didn't drop any extraordinary materials. If there were even a small reward, Fujimaru Ritsuka wouldn't have chosen to avoid them.

"Damn it, if I catch you with any clues, you're dead! You were supposed to be my subject!" Fujimaru Ritsuka, even in this other world, is still full of the spirit of a madman.

But the ordeal was finally over, and they discovered the entrance to the second level.

After regaining some strength and energy, the Chaldea group followed Nosh and Ruthal's directions and went there.

Then they saw a huge hole, like the mouth of an abyss.

119. A Just Ambush (4K version)

After they climbed over the massive obstruction blocking their view, a chasm leading to the depths of hell unfolded before them.

The deep opening was irregularly oval-shaped, like a burrow dug by some giant beast. Looking down, one could see a faint blue-green light.

Before the abyss, there are man-made staircases leading to that bottomless darkness.

Instead of rushing down, Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others first observed their surroundings and confirmed the location of their environment.

The steps are several tens of meters wide and are made entirely of stone. Each step has ancient patterns, carved with unknown designs, or Semitic script whose original form is difficult to discern.

Then they looked back at the giant object that was blocking their view next to the mouth of the abyss, and the more they looked at it, the more familiar it seemed.

"No matter how you look at it, it looks like a claw?" Fujimaru Ritsuka said hesitantly, echoing everyone's thoughts, which drew a chorus of agreement.

Indeed, if you remove the outer rocks and growing plants, then what looks like a small hill resembles a petrified claw of some giant dragon.

After a moment of silence, Fujimaru Ritsuka exclaimed in amazement, "As expected of a dragon that is 2 kilometers long, it is twice as tall as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and is equivalent to a behemoth of more than 60 stories."

Taking this opportunity, Fujimaru Ritsuka also reiterated what she knew about the Spirit Tomb Albion.

"Captain, you know something but you don't tell us~ That dragon is so pitiful, its body is broken and scattered throughout the Spirit Tomb, and it didn't even achieve its goal." Abigail listened to Fujimaru Ritsuka telling the story of the dragon, shaking her head and feeling sorry for the dead dragon.

"It's so lonely... to die like this in a place where even my family won't be able to see me." Tsukamoto Yakumo looked at the scenery before him and couldn't help but think of his older sister.

If one day I die somewhere my sister doesn't even know, how heartbroken she will be.

“So, we need to try our best to survive. Let’s go, to the second level. Let’s catch those two guys and send them to keep the fake Bedivere company on the ground.” Fujimaru Ritsuka interrupted their nostalgic reverie and pulled everyone down the stone steps.

The stone steps were extremely wide, and the journey was very long. As you walked down, the light gradually weakened and dimmed. At this moment, the white light was replaced by a blue-green light that appeared out of nowhere.

Walking listlessly, Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't help but think of something and asked Tsukamoto Yakumo, an explorer familiar with the Spirit Tomb: "Speaking of which, I didn't notice it when we were on the previous level, but now I realize there's something I hadn't thought about—what is the source of the light in the Spirit Tomb?"

Tsukamoto Yakumo understood that Fujimaru Ritsuka wanted to ease the silence on the stairs, but she couldn't quite answer the question: "At first, everyone suspected that there was something like a moonstone or a lighting facility at the top of the spirit tomb that provided light, but it was later proven not to be that."

"Within the spirit tomb, there is an unnatural alternation of day and night, and the specific time and pattern are unpredictable. The source of the light, through detection, was found not to be any magical reaction or artificial creation, but rather as if some kind of pattern or concept was leaking out."

"So this is just a guess?" Fujimaru Ritsuka asked with curiosity, listening to Tsukamoto Yakumo's uncertain tone.

"Well, even someone like the [con artist] you know, or a genius from the Tsuchimikado family—a top figure in the field of magic—can only eliminate incorrect answers, leaving only a guess. By the way, we're almost there," Tsukamoto Yakumo reminded everyone.

The surrounding environment had completely darkened, and everyone finally saw the blue-green light itself.

Before them stood countless towering, enormous walls, like a labyrinth. On these walls were regular, mysterious patterns, each line flashing and flickering like an LED light.

If you look closely, you'll see that not only the patterns on the wall, but the wall itself also flickers alternately, though the former is more frequent and the latter is longer and slower.

Their light flickered on and off, illuminating the darkness in the vast, completely black space, like the glow of fireflies dancing in the summer night.

Fujimaru Ritsuka breathed a sigh of relief: "This is the Vein Corridor? The legendary magic loop left behind by the relocation of the fairy village? It's truly magnificent and beautiful. And good mountains and rivers produce good people; the lovely residents here are also very hospitable."

In the darkness before them, pairs of scarlet eyes lit up, and low growls from their throats revealed a greedy desire for flesh and blood.

"Oh dear, I didn't expect there to be so many annoying guys." Abigail used a slang term she had recently picked up from secretly reading comics, her tone quite displeased. "The only reason you failed is because you bothered me."

"Same here. Cut them all down!" x3

All the girls present wore extremely gloomy expressions.

They were furious. They had just seen a beautiful environment that resembled a fluorescent underground world and were about to immerse themselves in it when a bunch of strange things came to disturb them!

Angry girls are scary, but five angry girls are even scarier.

Dark tentacles, the God of War's sword gleaming with tricolor light, along with sword legs, samurai swords, and magic, all surged wildly, attacking the monster like a storm.

Monsters: O_o

The monsters haven't been having a good time lately. They're not quite clear-headed and feel like they haven't eaten in ages. A while ago, a strange aura surged in the underground level, and then something appeared.

The human bodies, which they hadn't perceived as particularly strong, suddenly exuded an aura of superiority ingrained deep within their bloodlines, intimidating the monsters of the third level and driving them away from their homeland. Those living on the second level also frantically fled to the first. After that, they couldn't remember anything, only that after losing consciousness and waking up, they were back on the second level. The weak monsters and plants that had previously served as their food no longer held any appeal for them.

On the contrary, the naked apes, which have no fur and are otherwise ordinary, are becoming increasingly attractive to them, and they have already managed to eat a few.

But are the people we're facing now really the same kind as the previous group?

This was the last thought that crossed their minds as their bodies were torn apart.

As Fujimaru Ritsuka watched the girls' onslaught, she shrank back, sweating profusely, feeling a little scared.

The monsters piled up here were of various kinds and numbered close to twenty, but they were quickly killed by their outburst—so don't make the girls so angry.

Wait, stop desecrating the corpse!

Fujimaru Ritsuka quickly spoke up to stop the spendthrift women from wasting their magic and stamina: "How are you doing, Kasumigaoka? Do these guys still have that strange aura they had before?"

They reluctantly withdrew. Kasumigaoka Utaha softly chanted the blessing of the Lord of Mount Tai, and the corpses of the demons lying on the ground slowly dissipated, their pale aura being purified and disappearing.

She frowned and nodded: "It's still the same. These guys look like they should have died long ago, but they're just acting as the dead under the influence of that aura."

Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at the spotless floor, not a single hair left behind, and sighed heavily: "What a loss, what a loss. Who said the Spirit Tomb Albion had countless materials? There's nothing here at all, what is this?"

He exaggeratedly pounded his chest and stamped his feet, looking like a persecuted tyrant, which made everyone burst into laughter and finally eased the atmosphere.

"Alright, alright, let's keep moving forward and catch him quickly. Otherwise, leaving Fujimaru-kun in this place where nothing can hurt him will give him psychological trauma." Utaha spoke up for everyone, but she didn't notice something appearing beside her.

"careful!"

clang.

Almost at the critical moment, Tsukamoto Yakumo, the perfect warrior standing beside Shiyu, blocked the broad, silvery blade with the God of War's sword.

But because of this, she could no longer stop another dim and lusterless demonic sword.

But at that moment, Yukino Yukinoshita displayed her agility, instantly blocking the other attacker with a gorgeous side flip kick.