Hi! Lugal kug-ga here! I am a long time reader but a first time writer.

Imma say this now, I own nothing of the originals portrayed in this fic, I'm merely making an iteration.

And should you see some similarities with other fanfic Authors, it might be because I've…. copied it. Or took some parts of their works and incorporated it in mine. So, credits to them.

Enough of the boring A/N and onwards to the story.

I've committed to finishing this work, should it stop updating for a year, I've probably self deleted. So, sit back, enjoy, and review!

After doing nothing but stare into the flames for twenty minutes, his clothes were almost completely dry, so he put them back on and set off. Shirou was not sure which level he fell into, but surely he was still in the Dungeon. It wouldn't be strange to see phantasmal ... .or magic beasts lurking around. Shirou was being very, very, very careful as he proceeded into a huge passage ahead.

The passage that Shirou entered felt more like a cave. Rather than a low-rise square passage, the passage had rocks and walls protruding in different places and winds around complicatedly. It was similar to the last room on the 20th floor. However, the size couldn't even be compared.

Even if the complicated passage was full of obstacles, it was still around twenty meters in diameter. Even the more narrow places were around ten meters in diameter, so it was considerably big. It was not an easy path to tread, however, there were a lot of hiding spots. Shirou advanced stealthily from cover to cover.

After traveling what seemed like a great distance, Shirou finally reached the first fork in the road. It was a huge crossroads. Shirou was hidden behind a boulder, wondering which path he should take.

Just as he was considering,he sensed something with his now discovered magical sense, a smell of some kind, yet he couldn't pinpoint what exactly. Then he saw something moving from the corner of his eyes, materializing a bow and arrow, he hid his body behind the boulder. He poked his head out to observe the situation, Shirou saw a white furball hopping along the path straight ahead. It had long ears, and its outer appearance looked just like a rabbit.

However, it was about as big as a mid-sized dog and its hind legs were well-developed. And the most important point was that the "rabbit" had crimson lines that ran down its entire body like blood vessels. The lines pulsated like a thumping heart, making it look extremely creepy, but he couldn't help but feel as if it were familiar..

That was clearly a dangerous magic beast. So he decided it's best to avoid it by going either left or right, and hitting it with an arrow. Judging from the rabbit's position, he should be able to avoid detection if he went to the right passage. Shirou held his breath and waited for the best opportunity. Then, the rabbit turned its back against Shirou and started to sniff at the ground. This is it! Shirou took this chance and attempted to shoot.

In that split second, the rabbit seemed to have reacted to some noise, as it quickly straightened its back and stood up. Prickling its ears vigilantly, it peered over.

(Crap! Did it discover me? I should be fine, right?)

He quickly ducked back behind the rock and tried to calm down, holding his bow and arrow. While feeling that his heartbeat would be picked up by those keen ears, Shirou broke out in a cold sweat from head to toe.

However, the rabbit became vigilant for a different reason, as another scent entered his senses.

"Awrooooo!!"

Along with the roar of the magic beast, a wolf-like magic beast with white fur sprung out from the shadow of a boulder and pounced at the rabbit. That white wolf had two tails and was about the size of a large dog. Just like the rabbit, the wolf had the same pulsating crimson lines all over its body. After that wolf jumped out from nowhere, another two Twin-Tailed Wolves sprang out from the back of other boulders.

Shirou peeked his head out from the shadow of the boulder to observe the situation. No matter how you look at it, it was the scene of wolves preying on a rabbit. Under the cover of the confusion, Shirou rose to his feet. However…

"Kyu!"

At the same time the cute cry was raised, the rabbit leapt into the air and turned around, using its thick hind-leg to perform a roundhouse kick on one of the Twin-Tailed Wolves.

Bam!

The kick generated a sound that wouldn't be thought possible from a kick. The Rabbit got a clean kick to the Twin-Tailed Wolf's skull, as a result…

Crack!

Along with a noise that was not at all loud and clear, the head of the Twin-Tailed Wolf twisted in a strange angle.

Shirou stared dumbfounded at that display. During this time, the rabbit used the centrifugal force from the roundhouse kick to increase its rotation speed in the air until it was upside-down. The rabbit stomped the air and fell towards the ground like a meteor, sending a powerful vertical spinning kick.

Bang!

The second wolf's head was pulverized without even getting the chance to give its final cry. Another two Twin-Tailed Wolves appeared at this time, jumping out the moment the rabbit landed. Shirou had no doubt that the rabbit would be defeated this time. But the rabbit did a handstand while rotating its legs at high speed like it was breakdancing. Both the Twin-Tailed Wolves that pounced at it were repelled towards the walls, because of the tornado-like spinning kicks. Along with the sound of splattered tomato, blood splashed on the walls and the wolves slowly slipped onto the ground, unmoving.

The last wolf tousled its tail as it growled. As a result, those tails started to discharge electricity. That was clearly the Twin-Tailed Wolf's Unique Magic.

"Awrooooo!!"

Along with the howl, the electric shock scattered all over the place with a pitter-patter. However, as the lightning strike approached at high-speed, the rabbit avoided it splendidly with zigzag movements. When the lightning finally dissipated, the rabbit closed the distance in a single breath and drove a high kick into the Twin-Tailed Wolf's jaw. The kick sent the Twin-Tailed Wolf somersaulting, landing on the ground with a bang. The scruff of its neck had obviously snapped.

The bunny was like:

"Kyu!"

Letting out a victory cry? It pricked up its ears and raised its forelimbs just like that.

"……You must be kidding me……"

Shirou, who was still staring with wide eyes, could only give a dry smile. This was really bad, the Skeleton Soldiers that gave the students a hard time looked nothing more than toys compared to this bunny. If it was just the attack power, this rabbit might even be stronger than the Behemoth.

Shirou knew it would be certain death if he got hit without using reinforcement and a broken bone at least if he's reinforced already, despite having obtained Aesirs powers, his body is still that of his own.. This fretting caused him to unconsciously step back. That was a wrong move.

Tap!

That noise echoed throughout the entire cave. Shirou had kicked a pebble near his feet as he took a step back. While abhorring himself for making such a clumsy mistake, Shirou's forehead broke out into cold sweat. The Kicking Rabbit turned its head slowly like a robot that hadn't been oiled in order to confirm the origin of the noise —— Shirou , holding a bow and arrow came into the Kicking Rabbit's line of sight.

It squinted its ruby-like eyes as soon as it caught sight of him, Shirou's eyes widened and he hurriedly aimed. Reinforcing the arrow and the bow to its maximum capacity.

He ignored his senses blaring, telling him to run away with everything he had started to sound in the depths of his soul. Instead he aimed, and released.

the Kicking Rabbit that only had its head turned rotated its entire body towards Shirou, avoiding the reinforced arrow despite its speed which burrowed in the cavern walls. Then its legs started to gather power.

(It's coming!)

Shirou instinctively knew what would happen next. The Kicking Rabbit released the power stored in its legs all at once, leaving afterimages in its wake as it dashed at him at a ludicrous speed.

By the time he noticed, Shirou had already leapt towards the side with all his might.

Soon after, the place where Shirou was at just a second ago was struck by the cannonball-like Kicking Rabbit. The ground exploded and left a huge crater as if it had been gouged out. Shirou was rolling on the ground with a rumble, then he stopped in a crouched position, He then moved back while looking at the caved in ground with caution.

The Kicking Rabbit casually stood up, and once more, assaulted Shirou with the same explosive attack. Shirou quickly projected several arrows which he reinforced and shot towards the rabbit. but the stream of arrows was effortlessly dodged by the Kicking Rabbit. The ground in front of Shirou exploded, he lifted his left arm holding his bow by reflex. The attack that should have crushed his face was blocked by his bow which broke despite the reinforcement, but the collision sent him tumbling on the ground again. By the time he stopped rolling, he felt an immense pain coursing through his left arm.

"tch!!"

When he looked at his left forearm, it was bruised and analyzing it seemed his bones were also cracked. His face, scrunching up due to the pain, he materialized bakuya, he desperately searched for the Kicking Rabbit. After the fierce attack earlier, the Kicking Rabbit still maintained an easygoing manner as it slowly walked over. Shirou felt that the Kicking Rabbit carried a mocking expression in its eyes, as if looking down on him. Looks like he had been completely toyed with.

Shirou, holding Bakuya in front reinforcing it and his body to the limit, waited for it to attack. Before long, the Kicking Rabbit stopped in front of Shirou. It looked at him as if it's looking at something beneath it, as if he was nothing more than a worm crawling on the ground. After which, as if showing off, it lifted one of its leg over the head. Shirou didn't move, but his gaze focusing as he waited for an opportunity.

(Not yet, Not yet…… not yet……?)

His nerves taught, readying for the one chance for a counter. And finally, the deadly kick was swung down with a swirl of tempest. Shirou's eyes squinted but never took his eyes off. Then his right foot stepped forward, he swung.

……

However, no matter how much time had passed, both attacks never arrived. Shirou's blade was right before its thigh, and the Kicking Rabbit's foot was right before his eyes, both stopping just a few inches away.

(Wha—what is this?)

He noticed something strange, he was Shivering, not from the cold, but from something, something powerful. Then he looked at his opponent, the Kicking Rabbit also seemed to be shivering in fear.

(W-What? Why am I shivering? Why is it shivering…… am I…. scared…?…)

With cold sweat sliding down his forehead, he saw that the Kicking Rabbit was petrified.

It was because of the new magic beast that appeared when they started attacking. Which slammed into his senses, rendering him from continuing his attack.

It was an enormous magic beast. The beast was about two meters tall, its sturdy frame covered in white fur. Just like all the other magic beasts, it also had pulsating crimson lines winding around its body. As an analogy, that beast was practically a bear, however, its long and thick arms that extended all the way down to its feet, had three sharp claws that were each about thirty centimeters long.

That Talon Bear had gotten close before he knew it, glancing hostilely at the Kicking Rabbit and Shirou. The surroundings were wrapped in silence.

Shirou's nerves taught more than ever, and even the Kicking Rabbit was also frozen stiff. No, it was more like it couldn't move an inch. Just like how Shirou was frozen with fear earlier. It was frozen by the Talon Bear's glare.

"Grrr……"

Starting to get annoyed by the situation, the Talon Bear let out a growl.

"——?!"

As if the Kicking Rabbit was roused from a dream, it quivered momentarily before it turned on its heel and ran away at top speed. Until a moment ago, it was using its hind legs to pulverize the enemies, but now it was used to flee. However, it was a failed attempt.

Using speed that didn't match its size, the Talon Bear closed in on the Kicking Rabbit while brandishing those sharp claws. As expected of the clever Kicking Rabbit, it was able to dodge the attack by twisting its body. Hajime also confirmed with his eyes, the Talon Bear's claw swept past and missed its target, it seemed like the Kicking Rabbit was not even scratched.

However he saw it…… The Kicking Rabbit's body was cleaved in half when it finally landed, blood gushed out like a fountain, and two halves of its body fell in opposite directions.

Shirou's eyes widened in disbelief. The powerful Kicking Rabbit didn't even get a chance to counterattack, and was killed so easily. The reason why the Kicking Rabbit tucked its tail and ran, he finally understood. That Talon Bear was so powerful that rules might as well not exist, even if that Kicking Rabbit possessed skills on the level of martial experts, it still wouldn't be that monster's opponent.

The Talon Bear walked towards the Kicking Rabbit's remains leisurely, using its sharp claws to skewer the corpse, it wolfed down with a gorging noise, furthermore, even while chewing on the Kicking Rabbit, the Talon Bear sharp eyes was pinned on Shirou. That should he atmost move an inch it would kill him. So he tried to think of a solution that would help him. Should he only had the magic system of this world he would have only been a sitting duck.

Combing through several blueprints he picked the one with a high chance of success. Loading it to one of his circuits, and another for the bow which is used to fire these types of armaments at the same time reinforcing his whole body which would make him be able to use his left hand one more time.

After he put the traced blueprints in standby, he began to imagine several outcomes and picking one which would give him a higher chance of winning.

The Talon Bear swallowed the whole Kicking Rabbit after just three mouthfuls. It growled as it turned towards Shirou, The beast's eyes said it all, "You are next."

Shirou Unconsciously stepped back. Then with a howl of the wind, Shirou instinctively dodged a powerful attack that struck to his left, while materializing his bow and his trump card behind him.

"Guh!"

He jumped to the side, having the Bear still in his sight, but the Bear's red eyes also bore on him. What attacked him earlier was the Talon Bear's Unique Magic. The wind blades that were wrapped around the three claws could extend up to thirty centimeters and cut the target ahead of it. Considering that, he would have lost an arm if he didn't dodge. The Talon Bear might be toying with him, which Shirou was thankful for, or he'll be already dead. It wouldn't be weird even if his body was split in half like the Kicking Rabbit earlier.

After the Talon Bear finished watching Shirou, it drew closer to him unhurriedly. It didn't have a patronizing expression like the Kicking Rabbit, it seemed like it couldn't view Shirou as anything else but food.

The Talon Bear that gradually pressed in before his eyes extended its front paw towards Shirou, unaware of the weapon being charged by him. Maybe it was not planning to use its claws to slice him up, but rather swallow him whole. Then, it's time.

"...【Trace on】!"

His left hand holding his bow which was long as he was, he quickly notched the charged sword into it. It elongated as he quickly altered it making it more streamline.

The bear's eyes widened as if it sensed that it's something dangerous, so it tried to quickly use its skill once more.

"Guruaa!!!"

But it was already too late.

Shirou smiled triumphantly, then he invoked the words of power.

" My core is twisted in madness." Then aiming at its body, he released.

But then he slipped. His aim deviated lower than he expected. But fortunately he didn't miss. The weapon twisted space around itself as it shot forwards. Then, at the same time the arrow was released, his left arm exploded with cuts and lacerations, a backlash of using too much reinforcement on it. Yet, he ignored the pain as he said it's true name.

"【Caladbolg】!"

….

A circular hole that was about 2 m high, 2 m wide, and unknown deep appeared on the wall behind it. Just before the Talon Bear's sharp claws reached him, Shirou released caladbolg from his bow, the spiral sword even if weakened due to his hasty tracing Still took the bears lower half. The wound looked as if it had been ripped off. Landing with a thud it's clawed paw landing a few inches away from him.

with the Talon bear now lay dead in front of him, he fell off his bum.

"Ha, haha, I've won…" plopping down, with the threat to his life now dead, his nerves which were once tense became relaxed. But then he remembered, the bear was not the only magic beast in here.

Then He looked at the hole.

'Maybe I could hide there for now?' he thought.

He stood up unsteadily, careful not to put pressure on his left. Approaching the hole, he looked inside. It really was deep, but he sensed something peculiar at the end of the man-made cave. Then looking at the Talon bear, it could be used as a plug and a deterrent. With the other beasts afraid of it, it has to be the overlord of this place.

Limping, he walked over to the Talon bear. Then with his right arm, grabbed the fur of its head.

"..ngnn! Hah–hah! …It's.. really, heavy." He grunted at the weight, even with reinforcement. Slowly, he dragged the bear's body, entering the cave, he positioned the bear's body in a way that it was facing outside, while its obliterated lower half was inside the cave.

It was so the smell of its blood wouldn't get scattered, and attract other magic beasts. Scrunching his nose at the smell. Using reinforcement to alter the surrounding walls, closing it, making sure no gaps were between the walls and the bear. If he was outside he would see the bear, as if it was stuck in the wall with an enraged expression. He let out a chuckle imagining it.

Having had now the time to calm down and take a break, he sat in a projected chair. Materializing a cloth he tied it around his left armpit, stopping the blood loss any further. Looking at his injury, he saw that it was already healing. Albeit it would take a day or two for it to completely heal.

Standing up he dismissed the chair, and projected a futon. Laying down, he closed his eyes, trying to rest his exhausted body and mind.

'I guess I'm too tired. I won't be Going to that world tonight.' At that, the world of dreams took him.

O~kay. that's it for Today.

a Cliffhanger! ...or is it?

see you tomorrow...or the next. slightly busy with Uni, so yeah. if nothing comes up tomorrow, I'll upload a chapter or two.

Oh! and please tell me your thoughts on the story. Which I might be able to somehow improve my writing and the story.