Pre Chappie note- I noticed that some of you had concerns about the weapons being able to change form, even though canon stated that Hajime couldn't do so until he met Oscar. Those who voiced said concern should note that Void's Record, who inspired this particular piece of debauchery, also made this error. My answer to it, though, actually not so surprising. Hajime is an otaku. Otaku one thing apart from anime, manga, games and light novels- tokusatsu. Those who don't know about tokusatsu would do well to remember Power Rangers and their weapons. I remember Dino Charge had a sword combine with the morpher to form a 'cannon'. If you aren't convinced, go watch Kamen Rider Wizard to get my drift. Replace laser blasts with bullets though. That's for the Blitzes. Imagine something something similar for the other weapons

Chapter 5

Since then, the trio have increased their abilities, deepened their relationship and become a force to be reckoned with.

The Skills they have gained from monsters since the 'Fall' are as follows:-

Mana Manipulation; Iron Stomach; Lightning Field+ Lightning Shot; Underwater Breathing; Air Dance+ Aerodynamic+ Lightspeed Step+ Steel Legs+ Sword Hand; Gale Claw; Night Vision; Farsight; Sense Presence; Detect Magic; Hide Presence; Poison Resistance; Paralysis Resistance; Petrification Resistance; Language Comprehension; Curse+ Petrifying Gaze+ Poison Fog+ Paralyzing Powder; Compound Magic.

In addition, they trained to hell with all their abilities and their jobs while in combat, which resulted in all three of them being comparable to missile heads, if they were in Japan. In Tortus, they were undeniably strong, even more so than the Hero already. Most of their stats were above 4000 at this point, with Hajime's and Shizuku's agility, Kaori's Magic and Magic Defense going beyond 5000

Also, they discovered that eating a monster that was stronger than them would give a sharp increase in abilities, while eating monsters that they've already eaten or that are weaker than them would be a more plateaued increase, but a nonetheless equally disgusting taste in the mouth.

The 37th floor from the 'Fall' was the exception to disgusting food. That floor was a forest with centipede-like insects that were larger than any train on Earth. Shizuku went berserk then, and Hajime managed to see a six-armed three-headed demon Stand[1] behind her. The carnage left in her wake reduced her to a catatonic state, which was only broken by the fruit thrown by the Treant-like monsters on the same floor. The hunting frenzy was replicated on the Trio, since that fruit was too delicious for them in their state. Those centipedes had made it their worst floor though.

Now, at 50 floors deep, they knew that they had to clear the Pits of Hell, or the True Labyrinth, as they had come to call it (Hajime had said it was too deep to have been anywhere near the top floor of the labyrinth above). They had cleared most of it, but had come across a curious gate. It was relatively new, and was flanked on either side by the statue of a cyclops.

The three had been otaku for far too long to just think it was the way to the exit- no, the ominous presence from the door was enough to dispel that notion. Still , they were curious, so they broke the cyclops guardians down, extracted the core and used them as keys to unlock the door. Of course, they avoided as much battle as possible by not springing the trap.

The Trio took their usual stance- Hajime in the centre and leading, Kaori taking the beta position on his immediate right flank and Shizuku taking his left flank. They were shocked to find a cube floating on one of its edges. Within the cube's visible face was the head and naked torso of a young-as-13-looking blonde girl. The cube's edges were ornate, as was the side facing them.

Curious, they approached, though Kaori felt her initial dread increase. The girl opened her eyes and looked around. When her eyes caught them, a hoarse, yet beautiful voice called out to them.

"Who… are… you?"

"""Sorry, we interrupted your training!""" The Trio weren't interested in her, as she was obviously a danger sealed here.

"Wait, please listen to me!" On hearing their immediate refusal to talk to her and preparations to leave, she panicked and pleaded.

"Yanno, I think any person put in an elaborate as fuck seal down here is a danger to public safety. Maybe someone else will help you without a reason, not-" Hajime had said, but was interrupted.

"I'm not a danger, not to anyone. I was betrayed!"

That put paid to any other thoughts in their heads- the action they would never consider doing to each other. Betrayal was one of the top reasons they would even consider anything others asked of them.

"Betrayed? What do you mean betrayed?"

Hajime acted as spokesperson, as they unconsciously had accepted him as leader of the Trio. It would be the beginning of something greater than they thought though. It was the start of the legend of the Demon King of Tortus, and his Ducal Right Hand Man, the only one not present here. This meeting just augmented that destiny and the Trio here were the beginning of that something.

And there you have it- a very good cliffhanger to end the chapter on. PLEASE REVIEW!

[1]- A JOJO REFERENCE, for those who are new to anime, is one of the most common references you would find being learnt by any experienced weeb who has or hasn't watched/read a curious series called JoJo's Bizarre Adventures. I haven't watched or read it, but I hear it's amazing. My first reference was actually from Naruto- the Shinobi run.

Anyhoo, I got places to be and exams to write, so expect no chapters next week. I AM a college student, after all.