Chapter 38.

Ultra-short Chapter to be sure.

Well, that's not to say the milestone reached with this post isn't important.

…

…

…

It was supposed to be 2-3k words.

It really was.

But...

It's f-ing 7k words long -_-

Why?

I do not know.

Honestly, I do not know.

Some things just...never change, I guess.

Anyway, not gonna say anything of importance this time around except in the end AN.

So yeah.

Have fun reading and see you down below.

Kay bye.

XXX

He was not anywhere near as smart as his Captain, he would be the first to dismiss any such claims of course.

However when his prediction had come to pass, he had not been surprised in the least. Indeed, he had managed to get the number down exactly as it had happened.

'So twenty from the original forty-six decided to go back as soon as we reached the entry to the 2nd Floor. A little under half of them, as I predicted would happen.'

With that said he could not blame them, they made the reasonable decision of taking the reward without putting themselves at risk. A good decision to be sure, safe and logical.

Fuzen had made sure the goal behind his Quest stayed as hidden as possible for exactly this reason.

Some might say such a Quest was a waste of money, but that had yet to be seen.

At the moment he sat alongside Modaka and Seiji upon Raiju, the dragon hovering in place above ground as the remaining twenty-one applicants, five had already gone back when they reached the 3rd Floor, engaged the group of Monsters attacking them. They were now on the 5th Floor, it would not be long until they reached the stairs leading further down.

Screams and shouts echoed from all directions, most of the applicants having at most fought against weak Monsters like Goblins and Kobolds until now, either being the sole members of their respective Familia or having became Adventurers just recently.

And still, even with all that said…

'They suck.' The thought did not manifest itself in Fuzen's mind for the first time since the Quest began. Quite on the contrary, in fact: he had lost count of how many times it became clear to him. 'They are all older than me but they lack all but the absolute bare minimum in a fight. And that bare minimum can be summed up in the weapons they hold in their hands and nothing else. Haaa…'

He had began this whole ordeal with that in mind, obviously enough, but to be shown reality this close up…

"Hey, look out! You almost hit me too!"

"Keep your distance then!"

"I need help here!"

"It's only three Monsters, do it yourself!"

'Holy damn, they suck. Forget individual strength, they cannot even adapt to fighting as a group. If you use a shield, protect the damn flanks of the spear users. If you use a sword, fight close to at least one other and make sure neither of you are overwhelmed. If you use a bow stay the frick back behind your allies and don't shoot them in the fricking back. You'd think after going through five Floors they would at least get used to the ones fighting to their left and right. Haaa…But, worst of all are…'

"Take that!" A young man yelled as he faced off against a Kobold, avoiding a claw attack by sheer luck and thrusting his sword forward, impaling the Monster in it's gut and then pulling it back out as the Kobold fell to the ground.

The fledgling Adventurer then swiped his sword to the side for no reason whatsoever before boldly turning around and flashed a smile at the girl close to him. "Are you alright?"

The young girl, probably no older than thirteen herself, seemed hardly interested as she threw a blank-stare at the boy. "I had him."

"Now, now. No need for the cold shoulder-"

"Look out!"

The girl shouted as the Kobold the boy had engaged just moments ago jumped back to it's feet, claws and fangs ready to rip the loathed Adventurer who hurt it apart. Having struck a pose for reasons far beyond Fuzen's understanding the boy was in a vulnerable position: he could not dodge nor block the Monster's attack.

Just as the Monster was about to reach the boy a flash of blinding light illuminated the half-lit opening they found themselves in, the sound of crackling accompanying it. A bolt of lightning struck one side of the Kobold's body and exited the other end, hitting the Magic Stone in it's chest and dispersing the Monster into ash.

After making sure the situation was looking good for everyone else by means of both his own eyes as well as those of Raiju, Fuzen turned to face the boy, tilting his head to the side. "Focus. I may be here but we are still within the Dungeon."

"R-Right...Thanks for the save." The now humbled boy replied with a stutter and a lowered gaze.

However Fuzen paid little attention to those tells, his mind focused on something else entirely as the Monster threat had been dealt with.

'They should not be at the age where copulation with a member of the opposite sex becomes an unconscious biological priority for the sake of spawning the next generation...Hmm, did the books I read lie to me...?'

Indeed, after being made slightly more aware of his inability to read social cues by the members of his Familia Fuzen had set out to search adequate material and read more on social behaviour to make up for what he was lacking.

Obviously this did by no means take priority over his training nor over his goal, but he had done his best to thoroughly read on the little he did manage to find regarding this subject. It surprised him a little to realize what he had read might have been a hoax.

'Need to check on this matter once the current task is done…'

Soon enough they reached the path leading to the 6th Floor and it was here that three more applicants decided to quit, bringing the group down to eighteen active members. As the serpentine dragon brought them back to the surface alongside Modaka the group was allowed a moment of respite while Fuzen took it upon himself to deal with any threats, should they appear.

Seiji soon approached him as well after being done with checking up on the applicants. "It's looking good so far, bro. No major injuries, just scratches and a few bite wounds."

"Mhm. What about the Potions?"

"We still have enough left, don't worry. Even with the Monsters getting stronger as we go deeper, I don't think we'll burn through them too fast. Unless we mess up big time somewhere along the way."

"That won't happen. I am here."

His long-time acquaintance shrugged with a smile. "Well, I don't doubt it. Still…" Seiji turned to look at the group of applicants resting a short distance away, then turned to look at Fuzen again.

The smaller boy pondered for a moment, then nodded as he crossed his arms across his chest.

"Hahahahahaha! They really suck, don't they?!"

"Yeah, they do."

Obviously enough the words of the two boys did not go unheard and many pairs of eyes turned to look in their direction.

"As in, big time. Hahahaha!"

"Indeed, that is just so."

It wasn't long before the scorn of the group of applicants became palpable to the two. "Hey, hey. Sir Quest giver, is that not a bit too rude?" A gutsier girl asked as she rose to her feet facing the two, but neither Fuzen nor Seiji turned towards her.

"Well, at least use their mistakes for yourself, Seiji, for when you find yourself in a similar situation." Fuzen continued as he lifted off his index finger. "Observe your group." Then he lifted off his middle finger. "Realize where your individual strength is most needed." Lastly, his ring finger. "Adapt according to the situation and communicate your intentions. Those are the steps necessary for survival when you work with people you have no coherence with."

"Mhm, just as God Hachiman taught us. If I ever decide to switch to a bow I should always have an arrow notched and make sure my buddies know which enemy I will focus my arrows on, right?"

"Yes. I see you remember your lessons well. Indeed, when you lack familiarity with your comrades style of combat it is best to make your actions known. Heroes survive because of their heroic strength, skill and luck: warriors survive because of their discipline and the battle tactics tested and improved by the countless others who came before. Well, be it one or the other...in the end it's still a gamble."

From the corner of his eye Fuzen could see the applicants pondering on his conversation with Seiji and some of them switching their focus from the two eastern boys to their fellow quest-takers.

In truth the information the two had shared with the group was nothing mind-boggling. It was just common advice anything with a little bit of experience behind them would know. However that did not change the fact they were all Level 1's who lacked any such experience. At most they would have headed into the Dungeon with small groups of three or four people which was a different approach than a group of their size.

Yet even with that advice given to them it did little to change the fact that they were young.

Glory and recognition.

The downfall of many a young aspiring Adventurer and Warrior, alike.

Though they might try to work better now, there would still be hot-headed individuals who disregarded group coherence and would recklessly jump into the fray to prove their worth and their, non-existent in Fuzen's mind, skills.

'Well, this is about as much as I can...No, as I want to help them. Everything else is up to them now. The 6th Floor is up next, I wonder how many of them can fight against War Shadows…'

Within the next twenty minutes Raiju had come back from flying those who quit back to the surface and the group advanced once more into the 6th Floor.

Suffice to say this marked the start of the real challenge as well as the beginning of Potions being used in large qualities. But this was good. A person's true nature showed itself when danger became palpable to them.

The group unity they had gained at the beginning of the 6th Floor was already threatened by the time they were halfway towards the next Floor, few of the remaining applicants wishing to take point when dangerous Monsters like War Shadows and Frog Shooters could jump them at any time.

However this simply meant those with more determination began to shine more.

Firstly there was a Hume Bunny girl with a very slender build who confidently took point despite the current Floor being a bit more than she was used to.

Though he had no idea what Familia she was from, the cheap spear in her hands was a good indication she belonged to a new and poor Familia. Mayhaps she was even it's first member.

Whatever the case might have been, she was a slightly better fighter than most of the ones who remained.

Making good use of her racial perks, the girl would build up strength in her legs and jump forward at the Monsters killing them with a well-placed thrust of her spear to the chest. She always waited until the enemy was halfway through their attack motion to surprise them with her speed and deliver her fatal counterattack.

By all means she was slightly above most of the others, not thanks to talent as she lacked greatly in the basics of fighting, but thanks to her confidence.

Even so Fuzen could not praise her.

All she had to her worth was a single move and nothing else.

Her racial perks would only be so useful and although her one move was good, it would prove useful only against weaker opponents. Once she faced stronger opponents someone of Level 1 could not hope to defeat in a single attack her risky technique would put her in danger.

'Still, she's gutsier than I expected any of them to be. Recognition should be given where it is due even if praise is not earned.'

Next to take point despite the obvious danger was a Half-Elf boy roughly three years Fuzen's senior in age.

His weapons of choice were a pair of straight short-swords, as well as a dagger fastened at his hip. Fuzen's initial impression of his had been that he managed to join a medium-ranked Familia, simply because otherwise rookie Adventurers would be unable to afford that many weapons nor the leather armour said Half-Elf was wearing.

None of his equipment was excellent of course, but it was good for a beginner.

Add in the fact that his movements were slightly more refined, hinting at the fact that someone obviously took time to teach him the basics and the only conclusion Fuzen could come up with was that he probably belonged to a family of former Adventurers which put a lot of emphasis on their child, making sure he was well equipped and trained before either allowing or sending him off to join a Familia.

The reason he believed this to be the case was the boy's wariness of the Dungeon: he had not dived for a long time.

Had he truly joined a medium-ranked Familia he would have been tasked with the role of a Supporter not unlike Fuzen when he first joined Loki Familia but his visible wariness told Kenshi this was not the case.

Overall he had a few basics down and fought well, but there was one problem.

He was easily one of the most tired out of the group. His stamina was low.

A bit too low for someone with a Falna.

Was it because of his lithe body, or because he was unconsciously mentally tiring himself out?

It remained to be seen.

'Dual-wielding is not something everyone can get used to, even less so apply it in a real fight. He has many shortcomings but at least for that, I will praise him.'

Lastly, the third person to take point ahead of the group was someone he was slightly more familiar with.

Mikoto Yamato, of the Takemikazuchi Familia.

Level 1 and fourteen of age.

Despite having more familiarity with her, acting as her Familia's Dungeon guide when they first arrived in Orario, Fuzen had not paid too much attention to her during their short time together. Back then he mostly took out the Monsters by himself and only let one or two of them alive for the Familia of six to take out, together.

Ever since the start of his Quest he had however paid attention to her, and subsequently to her two companions who never left her side. Chigusa and Asuka, he believed their names were.

Overall, their basics were good. The three girls did not hide their wariness nor their anxiousness, but they fought on.

However...they hesitated.

Each time before a battle ensured, they hesitated.

Their God had trained their bodies well, but their minds were still...untested.

Untempered.

'Well...I'll recognize them for at least fighting on despite that.'

By the time they reached the path leading into the 7th Floor the group was out of breath and tired. Despite the Falna on their backs their Stats were low: they did not possess the necessary strength to deal with the stronger Monsters of these Floors.

After all, your ordinary Level 1 would spend months fighting the weaker Monsters on the first Floors of the Dungeon until their Status was high enough to challenge the enemies found on the 6th Floor and deeper.

"Have you still not found what you are looking for?!" Yelled one of the applicants as they took a break at the stairs leading further down.

Fuzen shook his head. "Not yet."

"At least tell us 'what' you are looking for!"

"No." Came the blunt reply. "That is for me alone to know."

"This is getting us nowhere!"

"Yes. Bitching about a vague Quest you decided to take part in will get you nowhere. You knew from the get-go what you got yourself in, don't make a scene about it now."

"...That's it, I'm out. This isn't worth it."

"I see. Then please, sit upon Raiju and he will take you back to the surface."

Not betraying any emotions Fuzen calmly extended an arm towards Raiju and once again told the applicants that they will continue until he found what he was looking for.

By the time the dragon flew off the group was down to thirteen applicants, five having quitted just now.

If he had to guess, those that remained were the ones who understood that this Quest would give them invaluable experience regarding the Dungeon layout and the Monsters they would have to face in the future.

They were making an investment, putting themselves at risk now while they had the infamous Kenshi and his Magic with them in order to improve their chances once they reached these Floors on their own.

'Certainly smart of them…'

Roughly five hours later they had reached the end of the 9th Floor with a group that was down to eight applicants: Mikoto and her two friends, the Half-Elf boy, the Hume Bunny girl and three others who mostly focused on the rear of their formation.

The last archer had quit a Floor before and now all eight of them had to fight in melee which made them even more tired.

Going anywhere past the 11th Floor was probably a pipe dream at this point.

'Guess the next Floor might be the last. I doubt I'll find it this time around...Haa…'

The 10th Floor was no joke, even Fuzen had to admit that. Lack of visibility and the appearance of large-type Monsters made for a very hard fight for rookie Adventurers.

Basic Abilities of at least C were recommended for this Floor. Going by the way they moved he doubted any of the remaining applicants had Stats higher than H. Cutting through the skin and muscles of Monsters from here on out would be a challenge.

It was, in all likelihood, a suicide dive for them from this point forward.

And indeed, it did not take long after they stepped foot on the 10th Floor for the challenge to come to them.

"Monster ahead!" The Hume Bunny girl yelled as her ears picked up on the Monster's approach faster than anyone else with the exception of Fuzen. Within the next two seconds it's silhouette became visible from behind the mist, and a moment later the body of the approaching Monster was no longer shrouded by the mist, nor the sight of his large club.

The Half-Elf took a step back, the swords in his hands shaking ever so slightly. "What the hell is that?!"

He was faltering.

"Orc!" Mikoto shouted as she drew her sword. "Watch out for his reach!"

The Half-Elf turned around to face Fuzen, the fear obvious on his face. "That's not something we can take on!"

Fuzen's reply came as a shock to both the Half-Elf boy as well as everyone else.

He shrugged.

"Fall back, then."

"Wha-?"

"No point in fighting a battle you already lost. Fall back. If all of you do so and jump on Raiju's back, I will take on the enemies and the Quest will be terminated."

Suffice to say the Half-Elf did not need to be told twice and he jumped on the dragon's back faster than everyone else, followed by the three applicants who remained in the back line.

Only four remained on the group, Mikoto and her friends as well as the Hume Bunny girl.

Mikoto looked back as well, her eyes meeting Fuzen's. Her body twitched ever so slightly: she too pondered on falling back.

She might have already faced Orcs before when Fuzen first guided her through the Dungeon, but back then he only left a Monster behind for them to fight as a group of six.

Right now only half of her Familia was present, and Chigusa and Asuka were tired and out of breath. The girl to her right was no different either, the spear in her hands shaking as the Orc drew closer.

It would be mere moments until he was upon them, the decision needed to be made quickly.

Fuzen observed her, how she gripped the sword tighter, how she bit into her lower lip.

Then the girl made her decision.

"Fight with me!" She shouted at the girl besides her, the Hume Bunny startled at the sudden shout. Mikoto's confidence seemed to shake her out of her fear however, and she nodded. "Chigusa, Asuka, take the left side! I'll take the right! You go for the Magic Stone when you see the chance!"

It wasn't a bad choice.

Cutting through the strong Monster would prove far more difficult for Adventurers of their Status than trying to go for it's one true weakness, the Magic Stone in it's chest. Fuzen commended her quick thinking.

The girls set out and executed the plan, chipping away at the Monster and trying to weaken it. The two girls on the left worked in unison, their familiarity with each other showing. They had trained together for a long time and knew each other's movements and strength.

Fuzen could see that they had a little trouble evading the Orc's swings of his left arm, but they managed not to get hit by falling back every time.

That's what mattered in the end.

Mikoto on the other hand was mostly fighting defensively as the Orc tried to squash her with it's club, leaving little room for her to get close and attack. He could see what she was trying to do: attack it's arm and weaken it until it could no longer hold the club, the item most dangerous to them.

'Hmmm...A few opportunities passed her by. She's not taking risks. A fight without risks...there is no such thing.'

Unlike him however, the Hume Bunny girl did not seem to understand what Mikoto was going for and with gritted teeth she recklessly charged forward when she noticed the Orc's arms further away from it's chest.

"Wait!" Mikoto shouted as she saw the approaching girl but her shout fell on deaf ears.

The girl yelled, jumped and stabbed her spear into the Orc's chest and a smile appeared on her face.

Fuzen commended her, not many rookies would possess the accuracy to target the exact spot where the Magic Stone was located. However...she lacked the power to thrust it all the way to the crystal, and the Orc was far from dead.

This realization made the girl froze in fear as the Monster looked down at her and raised it's club high in the air, now focused solely on her.

"Look out!" The black haired eastern girl shouted as she realized the peril her teammate was in. In mere moments the club would fall down and she would be dead.

So she moved before her brain could come up with a real plan.

She circled around the monster and to it's front, jumping up on it's belly and then once again towards it's descending arm, impaling her sword into the elbow.

Her plan worked and with a yelp of pain the Orc let go of it's club.

However the momentum of his descending arm fell upon Mikoto and threw the girl back to the ground, her back hitting the floor hard.

Despite the pain however she pushed herself up quickly, rushed to the Hume Bunny girl and grabbed her spear with her hands. With all the strength they could muster the girls pushed the spear deeper in and the Orc dispersed into ash moments later as it let out it's last, dying roar.

'Hmmm…'

"Haaa...We did it…" The black haired girl whispered as she fell down on her butt, by now most of her strength gone.

"T-Thanks. I thought I was dead…"

"Ahh, don't worry about it. We did it together. Chigusa, Asuka. Are you two all right?"

"Somehow." Asuka replied while Chigusa nodded as well. "You?"

"That fall hurt more than I thought, but yes. Still…" She looked at her friends and they nodded, her eyes then trailing off towards the Quest giver. "Fuzen-dono. I don't think going any further will be-"

"Eyes ahead." The boy cut her off and pointed a finger ahead.

Turning around the four remaining girls noticed another shadow approaching them from the mist. However, unlike the Orc they had just slain this shadow was bigger.

With steps that made the ground quake ever so slightly the Monster became visible to the group.

It was an Orc, but not an ordinary one. It had darker skin and a body larger by at least half the normal Orc.

A strengthened species.

'Hmm...I heard that because of this mist which hinders visibility, a lot of rookie parties are forced to fall back and leave behind their loot when more Monsters creep up on them unexpectedly. That's why there were rumours going around which said that you have higher chances of meeting a strengthened species on the 10th to 12th Floors, as they devour the Magic Stones as well as cannibalize the weaker Monsters left behind by the fleeing parties. This is actually a stroke of luck.'

"Come on, get up! We can't fight something like that!" The Hume Bunny shouted as she pulled on Mikoto's arm and pulled her up, obvious that she was scared out of her mind but nonetheless choosing to stand behind and help the person who helped her.

That was...commendable.

"Hey bro, not questioning your decision or anything, but that looks a bit much for mere Level 1's. Shouldn't you, like...jump in there?" Fuzen heard his acquaintance address him from behind but paid it little mind.

His eyes were instead focused on the four girls rushing towards him and Raiju, focused on scanning their faces and trying to decipher what was going inside their minds.

The Hume Bunny was easy to read, for she was simply scared out of her mind. She was not yet crying but tears began to form in her eyes. Even so she lend her shoulder to Mikoto who took a hit for her sake.

Someone who even when scared did not forget the debt she owned.

'Good.'

The girl Asuka ran by Mikoto's side, her sword still tightly held in her hand. She too was scared but after glancing over at Mikoto her fear was washed away by something else: anger.

Someone who felt anger at the injuries her comrades received.

'Good…'

On the other hand, Chigusa ran a single step behind the other three, glancing over her shoulder at the approaching Monster. She too was scared, but...not so much for herself as for those running before her.

Someone who, despite being weak, positioned themselves between the enemy and their comrades, ready to fight for their sake.

'Good…'

Lastly was the girl Mikoto.

Among the four she was the only one limping, the force of the Orc's arm descending upon her and the subsequent meeting she had with the floor having left it's damage on her.

Interestingly enough, it was not fear that was prominent on her face, but disappointment.

'Hmm...'

"...Seiji."

"Yeah bro?"

"Potion. A weak one." Fuzen voiced as he extended an arm towards Seiji, his eyes still plastered on the girls running towards them.

Once the potion was in his hand he jumped down and walked towards the approaching group.

The Hume Bunny immediately locked eyes with him. "We're out of this Quest so take care of that thing, Kenshi!"

No reply came however and by the time they reached the Loki Familia boy he stopped them, unscrewing the top of the Potion and throwing the liquid on Mikoto. He stared at her for a long moment, then his lips parted. "Are you running away?"

"…!"

"You can kill it." He stated as he lifted a finger and pointed it at the approaching Monster. "So why are you running?"

"I...can kill it?"

"Hey, what nonsense are you spewing?!" Asuka yelled as she got between Mikoto and Fuzen. "She would die!"

For all her anger however the girl soon felt the words she wanted to let out die in her mouth. The individual before her might have been younger, and his face might have been the most youthful of any of those present.

But his eyes, they could stare down any who did not possess an unshakable will.

The intensity within that stare of his was not fit for someone of his age, but it was present nonetheless.

Asuka felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to face Mikoto, her friend's expression one of unexpected resolution. "Can I...really kill it?"

"You can. Not alone. But with my guidance. If you draw your sword and follow my instructions, that Monster will fall before you do. This, I promise of my name, school and mine own life."

As the Monster drew closer Fuzen mentally told Raiju to keep it away a while longer and with a bare of his teeth the strengthened Orc kept his distance, though it did not lose any of his desire to approach and kill the Adventurers before him.

This moment of respite have Mikoto the time she needed to decide, and so she made her choice.

She drew her sword and turned around.

"Then...please tell me. How to defeat it."

"...A fine choice."

"Mikoto, what are you doing?" Chigusa asked hesitantly as she stared at the back of her friend, surprised when the girl turned to her with a shaky smile on her lips.

She was scared, no doubt of that.

"Stay back, Chigusa, Asuka. I'll...I'll kill it."

She had not told this to anyone but the boy known as Kenshi had left a strong impression on her after the time he guided her Familia through the Dungeon.

There he was, a boy younger than her yet with a sword mightier than anything she could have imagined, making a name for himself through his prowess alone.

So she wondered:

What did this young boy, young enough to be her younger brother, go through to achieve such a strong, confident sword?

One that did not shake nor falter?

One that did not leave any disappointment behind it's strokes?

"Draw your sword." That same boy voiced as he stood to her side. She nodded and did as she was told, only to then feel her sword smashed down into the ground.

Looking down she noticed Fuzen's chisa-katana pushing down on the back of her sword while still sheathed. "W-What is…?"

"Don't mind it. You will rush forward and I will shout what you shall do. Do not hesitate nor question me: simply execute. Take one breath of air before you rush it. If you try to exhale or inhale again until the fight is over, you will die. Do you understand?"

"Y-Yes!"

"Then prepare."

He lifted his sheathed sword off her katana and Mikoto got into her position. The sword in her hand felt light. Too light, even. She had to look downwards to check if her sword was even there.

To her surprise, despite the lack of weight she felt, it was still within her hand.

She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath…

"Go!"

And rushed forward towards the gigantic Orc.

The Monster roared and raised it's club. Unlike the Orc before it, this one's weapon was even larger and bigger. A single hit would be fatal for someone of her Level.

But she continued on, even as the club descended upon her.

It came closer and closer, Mikoto feeling her heart beating so fast it would no doubt jump out of her chest any moment now.

"...Forward roll!"

Finally the words reached her mind and without thinking about it, she executed it. As soon as she completed her roll she heard the quake of the weapon hitting the ground close by.

Had she been hit?

Looking back for a split second she noticed that no, she had not been hit. She was located safely below the weapon.

It then became clear to her: though the weapon was indeed large, with a downwards strike only the tip of the club would make contact. The surface it could strike was small.

The one true danger of a weapon of that gigantic size were sweeping attacks to the sides.

"Go!"

Snapping back to reality she jumped to her feet and ran forward, ever closer to the Monster.

"Turn left!"

It made little sense to her why she would need to make distance between her and the weapon as staying closer was in her mind smarter, but...she followed Fuzen and began to run left.

"Halt and jump right!"

Again, she followed the instruction and put her left foot forward to stop her momentum, then immediately roll-jumped to the right. In the moment of her jump she noticed the large club passing her by less than a meter.

The Orc had taken a step back and dragged his club across the ground in an upwards sweep. Had she remained on the left side she would have gotten hit, no doubts about that.

And yet, as she jumped back to her feet from her roll…

'His whole side...is exposed.'

She had never seen such an open enemy ever since she started Dungeon diving. The Orc's whole left side and back were exposed to her.

"Slash the knee!"

A moment later the Monster roared in pain as Mikoto dragged her sword across it's knee, bringing the monstrosity down to one foot. It got angry, brining it's right hand forward as it tried to grab Mikoto.

It's movement was fast despite it's size.

Mikoto's mind blanked out for a moment.

"Back pirouette!" Her body moved faster than she even imagined. "Upwards slash!" As did her hands.

Her movement had safely gotten her out of the hand's reach and her attack chopped the Orc's index and middle finger clean off.

'I'm...doing it…'

"Run behind it!"

Not wasting time she did as she was told. "Stab and drag!" Stabbing her sword into the Monster's lower back and dragging it as she ran, an incredible amount of blood spilling out from the wound she inflicted upon it, the Orc screaming in pain.

The question did arise in her mind: how was she able to cut through such a Monster with her sword? It should not have been sharp enough for a strong Monster like this.

But...she was cutting it.

That was all that mattered, in the end.

She reached the other side of the Orc. "Jump up!" And jumped on it's upper thigh, the Monster's right leg in the perfect angle to act as a platform thanks to it's injury on the left knee she had inflicted mere moments ago. "Cut it!" The instruction was slightly more vague, but Mikoto understood what Fuzen meant.

He said cut and not stab, so he wanted her to target the neck and not the chest where it's Magic Stone was.

So she did.

She jumped and with all her might, slashed at his neck.

Blood quickly gushed out of the wound, but...she could not do it.

She lacked the strength to fully cut it's head off.

Once again, she was lacking.

The Monster let go of the club in it's left hand and quickly moved to try and grab Mikoto, no doubt to squash her to death. The anger was palpable in it's stare: he hated her with all it's being.

As the hand got ever closer to her, Mikoto felt fear wash over her. No further instructions came from the boy she admired.

Did he gave up on her?

Or perhaps...the action she was last told to perform was all that was required?

The girl gritted her teeth.

This was not her end.

She would survive.

Squeezing the handle of her sword even tighter, Mikoto put everything she had into her sword.

Her muscles.

Her dreams.

Her comrades.

Her whole being.

'Cut...through already!'

A yell escaped her lips, her eyes shut tight, the sound of someone snapping their fingers reached her ears and Mikoto felt herself getting dragged by her sword as something pushed it forward. By the time she opened her eyes again the Orc's head was already cut clean off and she was halfway through her falling motion.

She landed with a rough grunt and felt the pain in her rear.

She felt pain.

Which meant she was alive.

She was alive after facing a strengthened species.

More so, she had won.

'I...won…' She thought as she looked at the Orc's headless and lifeless body. "I...won…"

"The hell are you smiling about?" The question from behind her came alongside a sheathed sword hitting her lightly on the head. "You are not the one who killed it, you know?"

"Fuzen-dono?"

"Well, taking the difference in strength and the hardness of the Monster in question...This much was acceptable."

She had little idea what he was saying, but one thing was for sure.

The threat before them had been taken care of.

"Uhh, bro…" Until the voice of the Supporter, Seiji, reached her and Fuzen. "A bit of help over here?"

Focused on her fight and nothing else, Mikoto failed to notice the peril they were now in: Monsters began to approach them from all sides. Orcs, yes, but also even stronger enemies like Silverbacks of which she could spot two.

In total she could count around thirteen or fifteen, all of them no doubt drawn to them thanks to the dying roar of the strengthened Orc she had just defeated.

'What do we do?!'

"Mikoto Yamato." The boy in front of her voiced, reaching for the handle of his sword. "Stand up."

With a nod of her head she did just that, realizing through the process just how tired she was. Not so much physically, but rather mentally. The fight she had engaged in just moments prior had taken everything out of her.

"Keep your eyes open and observe." Fuzen stated and drew his katana, Mikoto's eyes lingering on the pristine blade.

It was a brand new sword, no doubt forged just recently, with a beautiful Choji-style hamon across the blade, a type of irregular zig-zag blade pattern.

If she had to describe it, the hamon gave off the feeling of 'beauty in chaos'.

However, although the sword had the normal look of silver steel, the blade had a certain crimson tinge to it which reflected in the light. It was faint, but...it was always present.

Lastly and most confusing were the specks that could be seen on the katana. To her eyes it looked like dark crimson specks of rust, but...inside of the steel instead of on it? That could not be possible…

"Lightning Sword Style: Thunder and Hail."

The boy disappeared from before her and Mikoto felt a breeze pass her by as well as incredibly powerful stomps reaching her ears. She turned her head to the side and already saw the first Monster cut in half, then the roar of the third one to fall cut and dead reached her.

'Too fast! I cannot see anything!'

It wasn't like this when he guided her and her Familia through the Dungeon. He had not displayed any such Skills back then.

In her moment of shock her eyes trailed downwards and she noticed it:

Foot-sized craters in the ground, about half a finger's length deep.

'He...caused this…?' She asked herself as she trailed the line of footprints. How much power would a person need to put in their legs for the very ground to cave in?

She could not say.

One by one the Monsters around them cried in pain as they were cut down, Mikoto only able to trail the Monsters as they fell down but not the one who cut them.

She could tell he moved in a circular pattern across the perimeter cutting down anything in his path, but nothing else.

Then the last of the Monster fell down and the boy appeared before her again with the same breeze that he left before the attack, swiping his sword to the side and getting the blood off the blade.

"I am Level 2, however such a feat is not possible only thanks to that. Much, much more contributes to my ability to do what you have just seen me do."

"…"

"You are weak." He said bluntly as he sheathed his sword. "You lack many things. At best, you are average. At best."

She felt slightly infuriated at the words but could not bring herself to say anything in return.

It was the truth after all, and she knew it.

"And still...why should that matter? When was it that being amazing was required for people to reach heights unprecedented?"

"W-What…?"

Her eyes moved up to stare at the expressionless boy before her.

At the same time, Fuzen himself was pondering on what he was doing, and what he would be doing.

'I decided that I will face that bastard again. Not as Kenshi, nor as the Successor of the Lightning Sword Style. I will face him as Fuzen. Just...Fuzen.'

Yet despite the change in battle tactics he would use, victory was not assured.

In all likelihood he would die.

Would he take time to train for another year or two, he didn't doubt that he could become strong enough to at least have a fair chance at beating the Were-Jaguar.

But...he could not allow himself to waste so much time.

He had a goal to reach, too.

He had the Heavens to grasp.

And the Were-Jaguar stood in his way.

The bastard had shaken him. Made him falter. Made him question himself.

Unless he had that man's lifeless body at his feet, he could not move on.

So he would go and seek him again.

He would fight him again.

And most probably, he would die.

'I'm scared shitless. That man's scary. I'll probably die, won't I? I don't...wanna die. But...I'll do it. I'll face him. But before that…'

"Mikoto Yamato."

"Yes…?"

"This is my offer to you."

He was still the Successor of his martial school.

On his shoulders rested six hundred years worth of history.

And even if he died, the Lightning Sword Style was not allowed to perish with him. He refused to be the last one.

"I am Fuzen Katsumi, Successor of the Lightning Sword Style. And in my capacity and with my authority, I deem you...worthy." He extended a hand towards her and his eyes met hers. "If you so desire, the Lightning Sword Style will open it's doors for you."

"...Wait what?!"

Was this the right decision?

He did not know. He really did not know.

Was she truly what he had searched for with his Quest?

He could not say, for he had no idea what criteria he should choose by.

Was she even actually worthy of the mantle of Disciple of the Lightning Sword Style?

That...remained to be seen.

In a shockingly unexpected manner that surprised even Seiji who had known him the most, Fuzen allowed a sarcastic smile to creep up on his face.

"Would you like to experience hell tenfold over and make my power yours?"

At this point he had no idea anymore what he was doing or if it was the right thing to do.

But maybe, just once in his life, following his gut would be good, too.

XXX

And that's about it.

And now, an announcement:

XXX

In the original version of Kenshi (before I deleted the fic like a moron), I remember a certain user leaving a review where said user said they can imagine Mikoto becoming part of the LSS.

This was left on the very Chapter where Mikoto first made an appearance.

I do not remember the name of that user anymore, nor do I know if you are still reading this fic (probably not), but if you still are:

Congrats, my man / sis.

You managed to figure out one of my plots a whole f-ing year before the thing happened.

Mad respect to you homie, hope you are still reading this fic and if you are, know that this Chapter is dedicated to you.

XXX

As for the AN itself, hmm…

Not a lot to say really.

Yes, if you thought that Fuzen actually helped Mikoto cut off the Orc's head, you are right. And it is indeed related to the finger snapping she heard, but I will talk more on this in later Chapters.

As for the girl herself...

I think Mikoto has the guts and grit to pull through what Fuzen went through, so that is why I choose her over deciding on one of the OC's I created to be part of the expedition.

Of course, that is not to say this decision won't come to bite me in the ass.

If Mikoto manages to become even just one fourth as strong as Fuzen by the time the canon begins, you can imagine how that will influence things.

Hell, if she manages to master enough of the LSS by then she could just save Haruhime on her own without the help of Bell.

The LSS is super-duper strong, you know?

Not to mention that unlike Fuzen, she does not have her Ki points damaged (Fuzen has the wound on his throat which will never fully heal, just for reminder), so her Ki control would be far better and far less painful to pull off.

Probably.

Depends on how much I decide to make her suffer.

No gain without pain, after all.

You might also think that she just accepts here and now and everything is good, but do remember Fuzen and Mikoto are part of different Familia. His decision is not going to be as easy to pull off as you might imagine.

Not to mention he also has to make Takemikazuchi agree to this. He can probably manage to persuade Loki, but my man Take won't be so easy.

So yeah, I just dug half a grave for myself with this decision.

Yay…

Haaa…

Well, guess that's enough rambling.

Hope you enjoyed the read and see you next time. (some reviews would be nice until then, too O_O -_- ^^)

Kay bye.