*

　After waking up, Makoto and the others took a meal and resumed their exploration of the dungeon.
　A similar scene continued to unfold no matter how far they progressed.
　It was a repetition of narrow passages and open spaces.
　I thought there might be some sort of regularity, but I couldn't find anything that looked like them.

'I think I understand why the Knights specialize in dungeons,'
It's a big place. It's not going to be easy going solo.
Well that's not what I meant.

　I thought that the Knights had adopted the Polar Regions Method, but the fact that Yuka knows nothing about it may be different.
　Incidentally, the Polar Method is a method of climbing that involves establishing a base camp and then setting up a series of forward camps.

''Wait ... wait.''

　Mako stopped in her tracks.

'What's going on?'
I smell blood. Let's go slow.

　I walked slowly, listening and looking around.
　I hear a squishy, squishy sound.
　The air is hot.
　No, should I say it was impregnated with a stench?
　It was a smell that even made me feel physical pressure.

''What is that smell?''
....

　We walked out into the open space, where two zombies were devouring the corpses.
　Fortunately, they were so engrossed in their meal that they didn't notice us.

''It's a preemptive strike,''
....

　Yuka doesn't move with her grip on her staff.
　Her complexion is pale and her hand holding the staff is trembling in small increments.
　Perhaps it was a zombie, or a corpse that he knew.

''Yuka!''
Luno Cuesta Agata, Periolis the Imperishable, pierce me like a gravel through my enemy!　Magic bullet!

　Yuka fired a magic bullet and a small pillar of earth rose.
　He missed his aim.
　The zombie slowly turned around.
　It was young, an age that could be called a boy.
　It had the expression of a hungry beast, and its mouth was wet with blood.

''Oh, oh!''

　The zombie stood up with a jerky motion and approached us.

'Ignition!'

　Jet-black flames enveloped my right arm.
　However, it was still repeatedly turning on and off erratically.

''Ooh!''

　The zombies let out a yell and jumped at him.
　Three days ago, they would have been killed without a way to do it, but now that they have gained some experience, it's different.
　It's a good idea to be able to see the enemy's movements.
　Makoto walked around the side of the zombie and slammed his fist into it with all his strength, surrounded by flames.
　The zombie's lower jaw is shredded off.
　The jet-black flames are strengthening his attack power.
　Otherwise, there was no way Mako's power could destroy the human body.
　The bite is blocked, but both arms are still intact.
　Since the level is increased, I can shake them off when they grab me.
　But if the other one stops eating and attacks me, it will be a struggle.
　The zombie will grab you.
　Even though it has lost its lower jaw and can no longer eat humans.
　Why in the world would it come at me?
　I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get away with it.
　If it were a human, the pain would have slowed him down--.

''Oh, oh, oh, oh!

　The zombie is approaching even as it emits a sound.
　They are vindictive, or rather, hateful.
　They can't help but be envious of the people who are alive.
　They enjoy what they have lost as if it were natural.
　That's what makes them envious, envious, and hateful.
　I ducked the zombie and slammed my fist into it in a way that rubbed me the wrong way.
　I can feel the hard touch.
　They are wearing leather armor.

"You bastard!

　Jet-black flames flared up violently and engulfed the zombies.
　It felt like a scene from a movie because I didn't feel the heat.
　The zombie crumbled to pieces in the flames.
　Still, they sluggishly approach, perhaps to take out their hatred.

'Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!
Magic bullet!

　Yuka released her magic and blew the zombie's head off.
　The zombie collapsed to its knees and turned to dust as soon as it touched the ground.
　All that was left was to defeat the zombie that was devouring the corpse and that was it.
　As Makoto turned his gaze, the zombie slowly stood up and turned to face us.

''Oooh!

　As the zombie let out a yell, something strange happened.
　Suddenly, its body swelled up.
　The swollen body pushed the leather armor apart from the inside.
　A snapping sound could be heard, and the leather armor and clothes flew off.
　The skin changed to a blackish color, and the nose protruded like a dog.
　Furthermore, the canine teeth grow.

[The zombie has reached its level limit and has evolved into a ghoul]

　The angel's voice echoes in my head.

'Evolution!
I don't know what you're talking about!

　When Makoto shouted, Yuka followed suit.
　It's only an instant wizard, I guess.
　What kind of curriculum did they set up to educate him?
　I want to question the king for an hour or so.

''Ooh!
"Luno Cuesta Agata--

　As the zombies, or rather the ghouls, rushed in, Yuka began to chant.

'O Periolis the Imperishable, like a piercing gravel, become a gravel that pierces my enemy!　Reveal, magic bullet!

　The magic bullet hit the ghoul's knee.
　If it were a zombie, the knee would have been abducted, but perhaps its durability had increased due to its evolution, and its movements were slightly slowed down.

'Ooh!

　The ghoul let out a yell and rushed forward.
　Mako took a decent hit from the ghoul's body and was blown away.

''Kehaha!''

　He slammed into the ground from his back, forcing the air in his lungs to be squeezed out.
　Mako rolled on the ground as a shadow appeared in her tear-stained vision.
　A murky wind noise could be heard from up close.
　Perhaps it was a ghoul swinging his fist down.
　He understood the concept of martial arts.
　The evolution must have enhanced his intelligence as well as his physical abilities.

''d*mn!''

　Mako rolled on the ground and used his momentum to get up.
　Even though he got up quickly, he must have created an opening.
　The ghoul had rushed at him to exploit the gap.

''Magic Bullet!''

　A magic bullet pierced the side of the ghoul, slowing its speed slightly.

''Chance!''
'Gohhhh!'

　The ghoul screamed in pain as Mako slammed a fist into his side.
　The epidermis crumbled to pieces, exposing the reddish-black flesh.

'Another hit!'


　When I slammed my fist into the exposed area again, the ghoul screamed out on its back.
　If you look at it, the flesh is gouged wide open.
　I can do it, and I step in.
　Then the ghoul swung its arms around recklessly.
　With each wave of his arm, a murky wind noise is created.

''Magic bullet!''

　The magic that Yuka unleashed hits his back, but the ghoul doesn't seem to feel the itch.
　He doesn't try to take his gaze off of Mako.
　Apparently, Ghoul seems to have judged Mako as a threat.

''Roooooooooooooooooooooo!

　The speed at which he swings his arms increases.
　It's a big swing, and it's full of gaps.
　If Makoto had a little more skill, he could have ducked under the arm, stepped in and delivered a blow.
　Frustration erodes the mind.
　The opponent is in control.
　This is a losing pattern in randori.
　He thinks he has to regain the initiative, but he can't move his body.
　He knew that he would be impoverished if he didn't, but he couldn't make a revitalizing move.
　My vision swung wildly.
　The hollow in the ground caught my footing.

''Shima--!


　Ghoul swung his arms and Mako crossed them as quickly as she could.
　The impact goes through his entire body and he is slammed into the wall.
　I almost lose strength from my knees, but I desperately stepped back.
　If it's a randori, the opponent will rest his hand when we lose the will to fight.
　But this is a real battle.
　If the opponent shows weaknesses, you attack there, and if the opponent loses the will to fight, you launch a follow-up attack.
　That's what the exchange of lives is all about.
　The ghouls jumped at me with their fangs bared.
　My aim is the neck.
　I'm not familiar with the structure of the human body, but still, I know that the bite is the end of the world.
　Makoto reflexively covered his neck with his left arm.
　Fangs pierced his clothes and caught his arm. The first thing he felt was heat.
　Then, the heat that covered his left arm became an intense pain and hit his brain.

''Ha, gee--!

　Mako bit down on her scream desperately.
　It wasn't because he didn't want to worry about Yuka or show her how effeminate she was.
　He felt like his heart would break if he screamed here.
　Surely, the status must be higher for the ghouls.
　Besides, if he lost with his heart - if he accepted defeat, he would completely lose his chance to win.
　It's a ridiculous mentality.
　How is it different from a boss who wields a mentalism?
　But right now, there is nothing to cling to except that mentality.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　How much muscle power does he have in him?
　Mako's body floats and swings around violently.

''--!

　He grits his teeth and grabs the ghoul's head.
　The skin crumbles into tatters, but the reddish-black flesh beneath it is intact.
　Why?　Why?　And a question fills my thoughts.

'....Luno Kesta Agata!　O Periolis the Unutterable, burn, burn, burn my enemies like a flame!　Reveal, Fire Bullet!

　Yuka unleashes her magic.
　The fist-sized flames spread explosively when they touched the ghoul's back.
　It's like a Molotov cocktail.

''Guuuuuuut!

　The ghoul gritted its teeth, perhaps to endure the pain.
　There was a thumping sound and Mako was thrown into the air.
　He hits the ground and reaches Yuka's feet, rolling over two or three times as he hits the ground.

'Ah, anta, arm!
I know!

　I glanced at my left arm and saw that blood was spurting out of it in time with the beating of my heart.
　Probably a wound to an artery.

'Let's run!'
Where do you think you're going?

　Mako spat and glared at the ghoul.
　His eyes flickered in front of him, probably because of the bleeding.

'If you're going to run, just you run.
You want me to go first?
You're going to die.

　If we're lucky, we might get away, but there's a good chance they'll catch up with us and kill us.

'Then what are we going to do!
We'll have to go with the best we can get.

　We're going to put everything we have to beat the ghouls.
　It's a stretch and warp gamble.
　The smart ones don't.

"Aren't you going to do everything you can with that thing you just did?　Or have you awakened to a new power in a time of crisis?
This isn't a boy's comic book character.
You're four years old.
"....change the way we do things.

　Makoto focuses his attention on his right arm.
　The jet black flames are controlled by his own will.
　Then it should be possible to make it converge.
　'Converge, converge,' he calls out in his mind.

' '........I'll kill you.

　Just as he muttered, the gears interlocked.
　The flames swelled up and converged at once - his right arm was enveloped in jet black light.
　The ghoul approaches, speeding up.

'Yuka, put fire under his feet!
It's moving!　Of course it's impossible!
"I don't care if it's a rough draft!
I don't even know you anymore!

　Yuka thrust her staff and began to chant.

'Luno cesta agata!　O Periolis the Unutterable, burn, burn, burn my enemies like a flame!　Flaming bullets!

　Makoto ran out as soon as Yuka released her magic.
　The flaming bullets exploded as soon as they touched the ground.
　The ghoul stopped in his tracks as he remembered that his back had been burned.

''Hey, hey!''

　Not even bothering to stop Yuka, Mako plunged into the flames, not even bothering to get burned.
　The ghoul's eyes widened in surprise as he leapt through the flames to the other side.
　Mako thrust her right fist out.
　The ghoul tried to brush it off, but the right fist turned the area it touched into dust and pierced his torso.

'Crumble down!'
Guh-oh-oh!

　The converging flames were unleashed inside his body.
　Jet-black flames erupted from holes called holes all over his body, and the ghoul's body crumbled down in the blink of an eye.
　A small sound of knots could be heard.
　When I looked to see what was going on, I saw something that looked like a marble had fallen to the ground.

''Ahhh, shindoh.''

　He extinguishes the flames and slumps into place.
　Then--.

[Your level has increased. Level 10, strength 16, strength 14, strength 14, agility 15, magic 20, with 5 bonus points awarded.

　The angel's voice echoes in my head.
　My left arm stopped bleeding and the wound healed rapidly.
　It healed completely in about thirty seconds, but it wasn't pleasant to watch.

'I really knocked him down,'
It's all right.

　Makoto stood up and staggered.

'Are you okay?'
I feel so lazy.

　Apparently, leveling up doesn't recover the feeling of fatigue.
　No, the jet-black flame may be fueling something that won't be recovered by leveling up.
　When I looked next to her, I saw that Yuka was holding her mouth in thought.

''........I guess it can't be helped.

　With that, Yuka turned her palm to Makoto.
　A blue-white light is emitted.
　It's a warm light even though it appears cold.
　The feeling of fatigue seems to be easing somehow.

''So you were able to use your recovery magic?''
Yeah, I do.

　Don't lie to me, I shove it in my mind.
　I didn't cast a spell, so this must be a skill, not magic.
　After a while, the light went out.

'Is it over?'
I'm tired of using recovery magic.

　Yuka said, sounding miffed.
　Just when I was about to ask for details, a moan sounded.
　The corpse that was being devoured turned into a zombie.

'Oh, oh!
"...ignite.

　Mako muttered softly, and jet black flames enveloped her right arm.

''It's going to go out any minute now?''
I'm saving my power.

　He turns his palm upward.
　The jet-black flames turn into a sphere and float away.

'It's like a human soul.'
Have you seen it?
That's why I'm here.
That's what I'm talking about.

　Mako throws jet black flames at the zombie.
　The flames spread out in one fell swoop as they hit the chest, turning the zombie into dust.

'Come to think of it, you were hesitant to attack, were you friends?
We're not friends, we're just classmates.

　Yuka let out a small sigh.

''Well he wasn't very good at fighting, so he was assigned to the support team.''

　'Right,' said Makoto, nodding.

'You said it was safe since the support team wouldn't be involved in the battle.
You and your friend Kouki?
Hossino-san will be fine.
Hocino?
Hoshino Kirara-san the vice-chairman of the class and the one who organizes the girls.

　When Makoto parroted the question, Yuka frowned uncomfortably and said.
　Apparently, the two of them don't get along.
　I have a bad feeling about this, Mako scratched her head.