Part 1
The group moved cautiously through the oppressive darkness of the seventh floor.
After the incident with Yuna, they had reorganized their formation: Thalindra led at the front with her gauntlets at the ready, the elves held the center, and Haruto guarded the rear.
Yuna's abilities were ineffective against the specters, and Melodia couldn't maintain both illumination and powerful spellcasting without exhausting herself too quickly.
The pressure weighed on all of them, yet none could afford to show weakness.
Haruto kept glancing at Simo, perched calmly on Yuna's shoulder, as if constantly watching their surroundings.
He was grateful for the creature's help — but questions swirled endlessly in his mind.
"What are you really, Simo?" he thought, still seeking answers. "You're not a monster… but it's not exactly normal for a bird to use magic, right? Is that common in this world? And if it is, why didn't anyone seem surprised?"
Unsettled by his doubts, Haruto decided to consult his panel.
—Olivia, are you there? Or are you asleep again? —he murmured quietly, using their mental link to avoid alerting the group.
—Affirmative! Fully operational, Master. What's troubling you? —Olivia answered in her usual practical tone.
—Do you have any data on Simo? Anything that explains what he is?
—Negative! All I can confirm is that he's a white-feathered crow. Not listed in any database, and I can assure you he's not a monster.
—That's strange. Even Kizuna hasn't said anything about him.
—Additional info! Simo has no detectable mana. Only a visible health bar — and it's very low, if I may say so.
Haruto frowned, processing the data.
—Interesting… It's not that I don't trust him, but after everything that's happened, I want to be prepared.
—Acknowledged! Understood, Master. You don't want to be deceived again — like in the past. Noted.
With a quiet sigh, Haruto set aside his questions about Simo for now.
He didn't have the answers yet, but survival came first — and protecting the others.
Still, something in his gut told him the mysterious crow was hiding secrets that would eventually come to light.
The group pressed forward, tension hanging over them like a shadow.
The distant whispers of the specters still echoed around them, but the creatures no longer approached.
It was as if something was keeping them away… though no one could tell what.
"Is it Melodia's light?" Haruto glanced at the elf, her wand casting a soft glow ahead of them.
"Or maybe… Simo?"
The idea that the small crow could intimidate such beings seemed far-fetched — but he couldn't rule it out either.
—There it is. The descent to the next level — said Thalindra, breaking the silence as she pointed forward with a firm motion.
The entrance to the seventh floor loomed ahead in the dimness, a jagged crack in the stone that seemed to swallow what little light reached it.
She stopped, crossing her arms as she turned to face the group.
—From here on, I've got nothing. I never made it past this room. The seventh floor is a complete mystery to me.
The others nodded, exchanging looks of silent understanding and resolve before following her down into the unknown.
The weight of uncertainty hung in the air — but there was no room for fear.
It was time to face the seventh level.
A freezing gust hit their faces as they emerged from the tunnel.
What awaited them was unexpected: it looked as though they had returned to the surface.
An unrelenting snowstorm swept across the chamber.
Frost clung to the walls, and deep snow covered the floor, making every step a struggle.
—Fantastic. Now I'm definitely catching a cold — Haruto muttered, pulling his cloak tighter.
No one responded… apparently, his humor wasn't landing.
—What? You didn't think that was chillingly funny? —he added, raising his eyebrows in hope of a chuckle.
Melodia sighed, brushing snow off her cape.
—Haruto, that joke was so bad I'd almost rather face the roaches again.
Thalindra chuckled softly, though it wasn't clear whether it was at the joke — or at watching Haruto fail.
Kizuna, her body half-covered in ice, floated up to Haruto and gently touched his arm with her one free hand.
—You're terrible at jokes, Kizu. Leave that to me. You just stick to your weird references —Haruto said, his voice trembling from the cold.
He sighed and rubbed his hands together for warmth.
—Why don't you go rest inside with Olivia and leave my comedy alone? You two clearly weren't ready for this floor.
—W-Wh-whatever you say… I'm out, Kizu… —Kizuna tried to retort, but her shivering voice betrayed her state before she floated one last time and vanished into Haruto.
A powerful roar echoed ahead, forcing the group to stop and focus.
Something was emerging from the blizzard.
A massive figure pushed through the storm, its white fur nearly invisible against the swirling snow — as if the storm itself was hiding it.
The chamber, wide and frigid, seemed to shrink in the presence of the creature.
Its intimidating aura was palpable even from a distance.
—Is that a... Yeti? —Haruto asked, narrowing his eyes in an attempt to get a better look.
—Alert! Kyros, "Guardian of the Snow." Level 21. Primary abilities: Blizzard,Freezing Hit, and Ice Shoot, —announced Olivia.
—Careful, it's a level 21 monster —Haruto said, stepping back slightly as he sized it up.
Thalindra moved forward, her eyes sharp as she examined the beast.
—This isn't just any monster. That's the dungeon's sub-boss —she said, a flicker of excitement in her voice.
—It's coming. Get ready —Yuna added, serious, summoning her bow and shifting into a defensive stance.
Thalindra activated her fire runes, her gauntlets igniting into flames that lit up the surrounding snow.
Haruto, katana drawn, stepped up beside her.
With a graceful motion, Melodia summoned her support attire and lifted her violin.
—Hymn of Elemental! This should reduce the effects of the cold —you'll be able to move without trouble —she said with a calm smile as ethereal notes began to swirl through the air.
The Guardian launched a massive blow toward the group, but Thalindra intercepted it with her flaming gauntlets.
A shockwave echoed through the chamber, momentarily scattering the storm winds.
—That all you've got, big guy? I've taken harder hits at the tavern! —she shouted with a defiant grin, not budging an inch.
With the Guardian held in place, Yuna fired a precise arrow at it.
But Kyros reacted swiftly, swatting it midair with a single punch — the arrow snapped clean in two.
—Guess this won't be easy... —the elf muttered, frowning.
In the heat of the clash, as Thalindra exchanged blow after blow with the creature, Kyros suddenly changed tactics.
With unexpected agility for his size, he spun and delivered a crushing side kick that slammed into Thalindra's ribs, sending her flying into the wall.
The impact echoed across the room, and the ground trembled beneath them.
—Thalindra! —Melodia cried out in alarm, halting her melody for a brief moment.
—Relax. That won't stop her —Haruto said through clenched teeth as he rushed forward, katana at the ready.
—Wind Slash! —he shouted, unleashing a slicing arc of wind toward Kyros.
But the Guardian raised an icy shield just in time. The blade of wind struck it head-on — and instantly froze upon impact.
The monster crouched, scooping up chunks of snow with its massive hands.
Haruto and Yuna watched closely, tension rising in their eyes.
—That… does not look good —Haruto muttered nervously.
Suddenly, Kyros began hurling snowballs at them — only these weren't ordinary snowballs.
Each one exploded on impact in a burst of ice, leaving behind frozen patches and waves of frost.
—Freezing bombs! Watch out! —Melodia warned, resuming her melody to support the team as Kyros launched one icy projectile after another, shrinking their space to move.
Thalindra rose slowly, brushing snow and dirt from her armor with a confident smirk.
—You caught me off guard... but let me tell you something.
There won't be a second chance.
Yuna leapt gracefully, breaking away from the group and forcing the beast to split its focus.
Kyros turned toward her, but Thalindra seized the opportunity. With her left fist ablaze, the dwarf charged forward.
—Fire Fist! —she shouted, launching herself like a runaway train made of pure fire.
The impact was devastating.
Kyros flew across the chamber, crashing into the wall with a thunderous boom and falling to his knees, visibly stunned.
—Poison Spore! —Haruto called out, hurling small venomous orbs that drifted toward the monster.
Kyros raised his ice shield to block them, but on the first hit, the poison began spreading rapidly.
Unable to contain the damage, the Guardian dropped the shield — it hit the ground and dissolved into a cloud of frost.
—This is the end of the road —Yuna said, her bow fully drawn.
—Hunter Shoot!
A wind-infused arrow shot forth at incredible speed, slicing through the air and slamming into Kyros's chest with a heavy thud.
That final strike sealed the battle.
The Guardian let out one last roar before collapsing, his massive body disintegrating into a cloud of icy particles that slowly vanished into the fading blizzard.
Haruto's panel lit up in front of him, displaying new stats in a glowing shade of blue:
Level Up: (+2)
Current Level: 23
Drops Acquired:
• Medium Mana Gems x5
• Gold Pieces x10
• Fur Coat
• Anti-Freeze Potion x3
• Hydro Bandana (boosts water skill damage)
• Cryonite x10
New Skills Unlocked:
Blizzard and Ice Shoot (added to Water Element)
Haruto blinked, impressed by the loot.
—Not bad. That fight was totally worth it.
Yuna, releasing a breath of relief, walked over to Thalindra.
—You okay?
—Of course —the dwarf replied with a confident smile, brushing snow from her gauntlets—. Just caught me off guard. Nothing more.
Melodia, never one to miss her theatrical cues, approached and gave Thalindra a light tap on the shoulder.
—Naturally! Our tank is unstoppable. Without you, this would've been much tougher.
Yuna stood silently for a moment, watching them.
A warm sense of pride swelled in her chest.
Seeing the group operate like a true team brought her peace.
Thalindra was a valuable ally — and their bond as a party was growing stronger with every step.
As the others checked their gear, Yuna remained still for a moment, her gaze lost in the soft glow reflecting off the dungeon walls.
—Mother... I hope I'm living up to your expectations —she whispered, barely audible.
The memory of her mother flooded her mind — the way her father spoke of her:
A wise leader, a strong and capable woman who had guided her tribe with strength and compassion.
Yuna wanted to be like her.
She wanted her companions to trust her — the way her mother had inspired trust in so many.
Haruto, finishing his inventory check, noticed her distant expression.
With his usual carefree but attentive demeanor, he walked over, a slight smile on his face.
—Shall we move on, leader?
His voice snapped Yuna back to the present. She looked up, and in her eyes, a renewed determination burned bright.
—Yes. Let's keep going.
There's still a long way to go, and we're not stopping now.
With that resolve, the group regrouped and pressed forward.
They left behind the fallen sub-boss, Kyros. The blizzard had faded, though the snow still slowed their steps.
Only two floors remained before facing the dungeon's final boss.
A mix of emotions stirred within each of them — but one thing was certain… The journey was only getting more exciting.