Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

What follows is a misty "magic".

They then transformed into a cloud of light, summoning a patterned vortex and a hammer of light above Haruhime's head.

The dazzling light even attracted the monsters' attention, causing them to stop moving for a moment.

"【-Grow bigger...】".

The girl's long eyelashes trembled.

Chunji opened her eyes, raised her eyebrows, and announced that the "magic" was complete.

"【The Magic Hammer】!"

In an instant, the light hammer cracked open with a high-pitched sound.

The brilliant fragments of the light hammer were absorbed by the light tail, emitting equal brilliance.

"Let's dance!"

Immediately afterwards, Chun Ji's arm stretched straight up to the sky, her fox tail broke off at the base, and she flew into the air.

The powerful tail of light gathered in the air and then transformed into a dazzling ball of light, which fell upon the team that was still fighting.

Life, cherry blossoms, Welf, Daphne, and Aisha all absorbed the light orb.

All of a sudden...

"!!"

The light of "leveling up" radiates in a chain reaction.

There were a total of five instances.

The adventurers' levels have been temporarily upgraded.

"Ugh ugh ...

The adventurers' roars repelled the monster's devastating onslaught.

The combined force of the weapons easily broke through the encirclement and began a counterattack.

"W-wh-what!?"

"The movements and actions are different now!?"

Luvis and Dorumur witnessed several "leveling up" and let out strange cries.

This is Haruhime's new magic, "Ninefold".

This unique additional magic allows a real fox tail of light to appear on the caster's body, "loading" the effects of another type of "magic" that is connected to the incantation onto the tail. Then, through Haruhime's will, she can activate the same number of "magic" as the tail.

The Nine-Tails (Kujō), which absorbed "magic," and the "Demon Sword" are essentially the same kind of magical catalyst.

It is like the "Killing Stone" that seals away "sorcery", allowing the girl's "level-up" to be applied to multiple people at the same time.

"...Hey! What on earth happened!?"

"Where did this incredible, almost superhuman power come from!?"

To put it simply, everyone has [leveled up].

"Huh!?"

Hearing Lily's overly simplistic explanation, the elves and dwarves were so shocked that their eyes rolled back and they foamed at the mouth. They had come across something beyond common sense and were forced to witness an extremely illegal move.

This is a combined skill caused by "Sorcery": Level Up for all allies.

It is the new trump card of the Hestia Familia.

“Ah—”

[Ability Values] Records indicate a maximum of nine tails. However, currently, Haruhime can only conjure a maximum of five tails.

Having exhausted much of her strength, the girl's knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground. She was just one step away from succumbing to mental exhaustion. This was Haruhime's current limit.

However, the adventurers received more than enough rewards.

"Drink—!!"

"Gahh ...

The girl's grace transformed into countless particles of light, enveloping the bodies of Ming and the others, fully unleashing its sublimation power.

A sense of omnipotence overflows, and the surge of power brings excitement. The adventurers become faster, tougher, and stronger, blocking the monsters' attacks and sending them flying with their respective weapons.

(The situation has improved.)

As morale soared with increased ability, Aisha calmly assessed the battle situation.

The group tore through and swept away the still-thick monster encirclement, displaying equal strength despite being outnumbered. Each person used their own power to prevent the despairing "Monster Feast" from approaching them.

They survived the most terrifying weapon in the dungeon—the human wave tactic.

(For a moment I thought we were doomed... If we could just reduce the number a little more, we could escape this area.)

The number of monsters on a single floor is limited. On the "lower floors," due to the shorter production intervals, monsters spawn more quickly. However, with so many monsters appearing in a localized cluster, if this situation can be weathered, the dungeon should remain stable for a short time. The frequency of encounters with monsters will inevitably decrease significantly.

The time limit for "Level Up" hasn't expired yet. The scales will soon tip in the adventurers' favor.

(This is on the premise that this momentum can be maintained.)

Conversely, failure here would have unimaginable consequences.

Therefore, what she was wary of was that abnormally overpowered "enhanced species".

(Alright, let's see what you do now? Outnumbering us won't work, as you've seen. If you're trying to incite the weaker monsters to weaken us, that attempt will also fail. If you want to continue with your tricks, we'll crush you all.)

At this stage, Aisha, whose ability (ability value) has reached Lv.5, has shown remarkable performance.

With a single swing of her broadsword, she could slice through several large-sized monsters—a sight that would be a nightmare for any beast. Now, there was only a large empty circle around the spot she was guarding. Even that "enhanced" monster could be easily slaughtered by her now.

Aisha squinted boldly and fearlessly, scanning all directions. Just then, she finally recognized the figure of the "enhanced species" with her naked eye.

(Found it!)

In the distance, she caught a glimpse of it through the gaps between the still rampaging minions (monsters).

The giant, covered in gaudy, lush green moss, paid no heed to the constant roars of the clashing monsters and the shouts of the adventurers. It simply wandered through the great passage, crouching, standing up, and then crouching again, repeating these actions endlessly.

(...? What are they doing...?)

Seeing its incomprehensible movements, Aisha couldn't hide her astonishment.

As she swung her broadsword and used her long legs to knock the monster away, she stared intently at it—and saw it turn its head.

The "enhanced species" was facing her.

On the other side of the thinning monster's high wall, it revealed that thing to Aisha, just as it had kindly answered her question.

What the giant held in his hands were countless "magic stones" that emitted a blue-purple glow.

(──────)

Time stands still for this female hero who has fought countless battles and is exceptionally brave.

Her beautiful long black hair sent a chill down her spine.

Aisha unfortunately discovered it.

The enemy's goal is not to outnumber the enemy, nor to exhaust the adventurers.

(That bastard—)

Instead, it was to collect the large number of "magic stones" generated from the results of Aisha and the others defeating the monsters.

When the "enhanced species" met her gaze, it revealed its emotions for the first time.

grin.

It tore its mouth wide, leaving sticky saliva trailing behind, and indeed sneered.

Then, it threw the entire pile of "magic stones" into its gaping mouth.

"!!"

The moment it bit into a handful of blue-purple crystals, and this wasn't a metaphor, the "enhanced species'" body did indeed swell.

Each upright patch of moss was as sharp as dragon scales, and the tree skeleton covering the whole body stretched out with a crackling sound, its roots extending all the way to the fingertips and toes. Just as one could see the mouth and corners of the eyes split open, what followed was a face that looked like a demon.

The monster, now more present, slowly raised its head and looked at Aisha.

Now those eyes were red and completely cloudy, the monster's eyes gleamed with ferocity as it kicked the ground.

「!?」

The monster trampled other monsters, then charged forward while driving them away.

Faced with the approaching threat, Aisha raised her broadsword high above her head.

The broadsword clashed with the fist that tore through the air.

“Wu!?”

"Roar! Ro ...

After a startlingly dull thud that made one want to plug their ears, Aisha swayed backward.

She has now gained the power of "leveling up," but she still has to assert that the power of this punch was simply too heavy and too strong. Intoxicated by the feeling of omnipotence, the "enhanced species" roared with ecstasy like a broken music box, and punched repeatedly, sending large nails from the tree skeleton one after another.

Aisha was certain that on their way here, the "enhanced species" had greedily devoured every single one of the monsters they had defeated and left unattended along the way.

It absorbed the "cores" of dozens or even hundreds of monsters.

(What...this guy is going to do...?)

How many times must the operation exceed the adventurers' (our) predictions to be satisfactory?

She had initially thought it was all just a trick by the monster, but now she had to admit that the monster was cunning enough.

Sweat dripped from Aisha's forehead.

A moment of wavering and anxiety created a vulnerability in her.

She still needed to prioritize her own abilities (stats); there was still a way to turn the tide. Just as she was thinking this—

The moss giant's thick neck stretched out like that of a dragon.

「!?」

As her brown shoulders were grabbed by her opponent, the "enhanced species'" fangs bit into the base of her neck.

Flesh was torn apart, bones were crushed, and blood splattered everywhere.

Lily, Welf, and the others noticed something amiss and turned around. The sight that greeted them left them speechless.

“──!”

Aisha coughed up blood, her almond-shaped eyes wide open.

She channeled all her strength into her clenched fist, pounding it into the enemy's jaw, pushing him away along with the bitten flesh. She then delivered a spinning kick to the staggering "enhanced species," forcing it to retreat.

"Ah... Sister Aisha!?"

Haruhime, her vision blurred, slumped to the ground and let out a scream as sharp as tearing silk.

As the "enhanced species" retracted its elongated neck and filled its shattered jaw with moss, Aisha, panting heavily, pressed her left hand against her shoulder, where a chunk of flesh was missing.

She bled profusely and laughed bitterly.

"I messed up..."

As soon as she let go, "parasitic trees" grew from the wound. "Vines" slithered up her brown skin, covering her left shoulder and left arm, from her navel to her waist, and even extending to her full breasts.

This scene created a shockwave that swept through the adventurers.

The moment she was bitten, the enemy implanted the "seed" directly into her body.

"Haaah..."

"That ugly monster...!!"

Watching his clone parasitize the Amazonian body, the moss giant sneered, drool dripping from its fangs.

The enemy attacked relentlessly, and Aisha began to break out in a cold sweat, but she had no choice but to fight back.

"Get out of here!"

Welf left his defensive position and rushed out.