The cavern walls boomed with heavy stomps and cracking stone. Yet, even amidst the chaos, the rock surrounding the massive chamber refused to collapse.
So what was causing all this commotion, you ask?
Who else...
Oh—look at that.
They're fighting an earth dragon now.
WAIT—THEY'RE FIGHTING WHAT—
The massive, stone-coated lizard stood squarely in the path of Haruto's team.
It was likely the last mistake this monster would ever make.
The wingless dragon let out a roar worthy of a cinematic dinosaur, releasing a pressure wave that inflicted a fear-based debuff on all nearby lifeforms.
Including the trio themselves.
Even so, they were positioned just far enough away to remain mostly unaffected.
A trace of hesitation crossed Haruto's face—but it vanished the moment he activated his signature move.
Zetsugan.
A technique he had picked up within the first hour of his new life.
Fueled by his skill Malware, it converted his blood into a gluttonous, directive substance, coding itself around his hands to form brutal, razor-sharp claws. The same technique that had taken down the third wolf earlier—only now, refined, improved, and fully mastered.
And Haruto wasn't the only one with tricks up his sleeve.
Hana shifted into her humanoid form and called out to Haruki. At her signal, Haruki landed excitedly in her hand before instantly transforming into a sleek, beautiful rapier.
Both of them rushed forward with confident smirks.
And rightfully so.
The earth dragon barely had time to react.
Hana appeared atop its head in an instant. Wielding the rapier with precision, she dropped like a falling stalactite and drove the blade straight into its eye.
The dragon roared in agony, thrashing wildly as it tried to shake her off.
But Hana wasn't done.
Utilizing the unique properties of her evolved body, she liquefied mid-motion and coiled around the dragon's neck, constricting tightly and forcing its attention elsewhere.
Forcing it to focus on Haruto.
The dragon scanned the chamber—
But he was gone.
Despite its monstrous form, the creature clearly possessed a degree of intelligence. Realizing Haruto's strategy, it plunged straight into the ground.
It had figured him out.
Or so it thought.
The moment the dragon opened its mouth—
Haruto burst through the earth beneath it, driving his Zetsugan claws straight into the soft inner tissue of its armored jaws.
By the time it understood what had happened—
It was already too late.
No room to dodge.
No room to counter.
A perfect execution.
Instinctively, the dragon snapped its jaws shut.
Feeling Haruto trapped between them, the creature resorted to its final trump card.
With all its remaining energy, it began charging a fire breath inside its own closed mouth—a suicidal gambit meant to incinerate both attacker and itself.
Hana, still atop its head, desperately stabbed at its skull, hoping to force its jaws open.
But the dragon's cranium was far too thick—even Haruki couldn't pierce it.
Inside the dragon's mouth, Haruto glanced toward its throat and saw volatile combustion energy rapidly condensing.
That's when it clicked.
It's trying to go out with a bang.
Literally.
He adjusted his grip, charged Zetsugan once more, and struck upward.
The first blow missed its mark.
So he struck again.
This time, his claws punched clean through, detonating the dragon's remaining eye from the inside.
The pain pushed the creature past its limit.
Its jaws cracked open as the fire breath destabilized even faster.
Haruto ripped his arm free and launched himself clear just as the breath erupted.
A massive pillar of fire tore through the cavern, barely missing him as the dragon flailed wildly, reducing everything in its path to rubble.
That was Hana's opening.
With a confident grin, she expanded into a massive liquid form, coiling around the dragon's jaws like a colossal serpent and forcing them shut.
The fire breath stopped—
But pressure continued to build.
Seconds later, the dragon's head began to swell.
Then—
BOOM.
The explosion obliterated the dragon's body entirely.
Including Hana—who was caught point-blank at the center of the blast.
Haruto looked up just in time to see a familiar slime form falling toward him.
He opened his arms without hesitation.
And caught her.
But midair, Hana shifted back into her humanoid form.
They lost balance and tumbled to the ground.
Hana hit the floor first.
Haruto landed right on top of her.
Their faces were inches apart.
Hana stared up at him—cool, composed, and annoyingly handsome.
Her slime cheeks flushed a deep red.
"...It's not fair," she muttered under her breath, peeking at his face in embarrassment.
Haruto wasn't doing much better.
Still, he took a deep breath, stood up, and offered her a hand.
With a proud grin, he added, "Guess it's safe to say you got that kill. But hey—thirty to fourteen. I'm still in the lead by a mile."
Haruki, now in her orb form, zipped over to them. "That's not fair! That thing was way stronger than anything we've fought so far! It should be worth more points!"
Haruto shrugged. "Nope. We agreed beforehand. One kill equals one point. Besides, if we're counting difficulty, I'd have to include that sea beast I took down earlier. And that thing was just as difficult."
Hana sat up, still buzzing with adrenaline, listening to them argue like always.
She let out a quiet, tired sigh.
As they continued bickering, Haruki suddenly found herself recalling everything they had been through over the past sixteen hours...
---
Since the moment they emerged from their spawn point, Haruto had taught them everything he knew.
Under his guidance, Hana gradually awakened several of her own skills—Magic Instincts and Bio-Fluctuation Manipulation, the latter being something Haruto himself only learned later on. For her, it came naturally. After all, her body was just… slime.
As a result, her magic sensitivity sharpened drastically, and her shapeshifting evolved into something far more advanced.
And every time they defeated an enemy—
They used Malware to consume them.
The process was instantaneous.
The result?
Both of them grew absurdly strong.
Yep.
You heard that right.
Malware didn't just strengthen Haruto. It enhanced his allies as well. In this case, Hana benefited fully—though Haruki probably didn't count as a "living object" or something. Who knows how that works.
During this time, they learned more and more.
Haruki could now take the form of anything her wielder desired. While she could transform independently, that was limited by her own imagination. When Hana wielded her, however, the restrictions vanished. She could turn Haruki into practically anything—including ridiculously overpowered weapons straight out of video games.
She was a gamer, after all.
Her growth was insane.
But the truly terrifying part?
Wasn't her.
It was him.
Haruto's growth was monstrous.
It hadn't even been a full day, yet he had already adapted to—and fully mastered—his unique technique.
Zetsugan was the perfect fusion of gluttonous Malware and precise Bio-Fluctuation Manipulation. He could control his blood freely, shaping it into deadly weapons. His favorites were the scissor-like claws and the blood gauntlet—both inspired by one of his favorite light novel characters.
Hana didn't get it at first, but somehow, the mismatched weapons made him look even cooler.
At the beginning, Haruto lagged behind. He could barely manage a few wolves and some strange crystal-growing beetles, while the girls racked up seven kills—including the wolf alpha and a giant spider.
But that was only because he was still adapting.
Now, he could sense and accurately identify fluctuations in his surroundings—far better than even Hana's racial abilities.
All this time…
They were all growing stronger.
Haruto's explosive growth pushed Hana to keep up.
But… we all know what she was really chasing. (>w0)
And to top it all off, his hair had grown nearly five times longer, somehow making him look even cooler in her eyes.
At present, they stood five floors above their spawn location.
And judging by everything so far…
This really was a dungeon.
---
Hana watched the two siblings banter as usual, arguing over completely meaningless things.
It was annoying.
But also… lively.
She shifted into a cat-like form and hopped onto Haruto's head. "Are you two done yet?"
Haruto, petting her like an actual cat, replied casually, "It's your little sister, y'know. Why don't we just leave her here?"
Haruki immediately slammed into his forehead. "SHUT UP! YOU MEANIE!"
She slipped into his shirt and started wriggling around like a small, angry rat.
"O-Okay—okay—I was joking! Haru, stop—!" Haruto begged, laughing uncontrollably as the tickling sensation overwhelmed him.
Hana couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, you get what you deserve, big bro~"
Haruki suddenly popped out and floated in front of his face.
She went completely silent.
Haruto blinked.
Then it clicked.
He gently scooped her into his hand and grinned teasingly. "C'mon, dude… don't cry. You're acting like a toddler."
"I was already thinking about it! You didn't have to pour salt on the wound, you jerk!" she snapped, trying to break free.
"Okay, okay—sorry. Wait… thinking about what?"
"Not important."
"You idiot…" He gently placed her atop his head beside Hana as they prepared to move onward. "Don't think about dumb stuff. You're not going anywhere."
"It's a shame though…" Hana muttered regretfully. "We could've eaten that earth dragon."
"Nah, don't worry." Haruto reassured her as they approached a narrow tunnel leading upward. "Things will only get harder from here. We'll definitely see more of them."
They stepped into the next layer.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Haruto's eyes suddenly flashed.
Without hesitation, he hurled a Zetsugan-shaped blood shuriken at a nearby rock pillar.
The blood detonated—
And the pillar disintegrated as if it had never existed.
Something fell to the ground with a dull thud.
They rushed over.
A girl?
No—
Green skin.
Pointed ears.
…A goblin.
Haruto instantly manifested his claws, ready to strike.
But then—
"Please… don't hurt me!"
A cracked, trembling voice.
That single plea stopped him cold.
Hana immediately leapt forward, shifting into her humanoid form. She gently placed a hand on the girl's head. "Hey… it's okay. We won't hurt you. I promise."
Her soft voice calmed the sobbing girl.
But her body—
Bruised.
Wounded.
Poorly wrapped bandages, hastily applied.
She'd clearly been beaten badly.
Haruto crouched beside her. "We're not going to hurt you. Just tell us what happened. Why are you here?"
The girl hesitated, then slowly removed her wooden mask.
Her face was delicate… and badly bruised.
Tear tracks marked her cheeks.
She had been crying for a long time.
The moment she opened her eyes, she froze—
Then dropped to her knees, bowing desperately.
"Please! Apostle of the Great Ancestor! I beg of you—save my master! They attacked us… killed everyone except me and my master. They took him away, but I escaped! His last words were for me to enter the Chaos Maw Labyrinth and beg the great lord for help!"
The trio stared at her in stunned silence.
So the dungeon was called the Chaos Maw, huh?
…Yeah.
That checks out.
---
"What happened? Who attacked you? A giant monster? A dragon, perhaps?" Hana asked gently.
The goblin girl didn't dare look up as she answered.
"The Crimson Battalion… They've been terrorizing the forest for over a month now. First, they attacked an ogre village as a display of power. Then they started taking over every settlement they laid their eyes on. This time… it was my village. All my brethren…"
Her voice cracked.
"They don't show even the smallest trace of emotion. No mercy. No hesitation. Just… killing machines." Her hands trembled as she clenched them tighter. "We even begged the Demon Lord for help, but they ignored us. Please… great lord, help me! Help me save my master! He's the only family I have left in this world!"
Haruto fell silent.
For a moment, he wasn't sure what he was supposed to feel.
"Just… stand up," Hana said softly, helping the girl to her feet. "We'll help you, okay? But you still look too shaken. First, calm down. Then tell us everything. Slowly."
Haruto lightly tapped Hana's shoulder and gestured for her to step aside.
She understood immediately, giving the girl some space to breathe.
As Hana walked over, Haruto leaned closer and whispered, "Y'know… this feels a lot like a video game. Is she some kind of NPC giving us a quest or something?"
Hana glanced back at the trembling goblin girl before replying seriously, "I don't know. But she's scared. She's in real danger. Even if this is a game, that doesn't change anything."
She looked straight at him.
"We're not the players behind the screen. We're the ones inside it. So game or reality… we take this seriously. Right?"
Haruto nodded.
They sealed it with a small fist bump.
The goblin girl finally wiped away her tears, her breathing steadier now.
Hana returned and sat beside her.
"So… ready to talk?" she asked softly, gently running her hand through the girl's messy hair like a caring mother.
Haruto watched the scene quietly.
It struck him then—Hana was just as good at comforting others as he was.
That realization made him smile.
The girl still avoided eye contact. She picked up the large katana lying nearby and hugged it tightly to her chest as she began to explain.
Around three months ago…
Her village had been approached by a monster.
From her description, it was easy to identify—an insectoid creature.
It offered them two choices.
Submission.
Or—
Death.
It spoke of an empress soon to rise as the ruler of the forest. A singular leader who would establish the Lunar Empire, creating a so-called paradise for monsters.
They demanded an alliance.
But her master—an ogre, and a wise one—saw something deeply wrong in their ideals. As the village leader, his rejection reflected the will of his people.
The envoys left without conflict.
Or so they thought.
Until—
One day, the forest itself trembled.
A massive stampede tore through the land like a living landslide.
Thousands of them.
An army of six-legged insects swarming through the forest, conquering everything in their path.
Then—
A powerful fluctuation surged across the land.
Astrons.
So Astrons are basically mana, Haruto noted mentally.
The presence that followed was unmistakable.
Charybdis.
The Great Ancestor.
The only child of the Mother of Monsters.
Sealed away thousands of years ago by one of the first heroes—at the cost of her own life.
"Wait," Haruto interrupted slowly, dread creeping into his voice. "So… this labyrinth… is where that thing is sealed?"
The girl nodded.
"Yes. That's why I came here. To beg the lord for help… to save my master."
Hana frowned. "So the insects took your master hostage. But how were you planning to negotiate with Charybdis? You don't exactly have anything to offer. And if he had to be sealed, he doesn't sound like the type to help out of kindness."
The girl paled.
It was clear she had never thought that far.
Then Haruto spoke up again. "You mentioned his presence. Does that mean he broke free from the seal?"
She hesitated before answering.
"I… I first believed you were the lord's apostle. But since you are not… it's reasonable to assume his material body reached the end of its lifespan and perished—reborn elsewhere."
She swallowed.
"We cannot be certain. But that would explain the sudden release of magical energy… and the state of the labyrinth."
Haruto rubbed his temple. "Okay—hold on. That's a lot. First of all… what exactly is an apostle?"
The girl answered hesitantly, "My master once told me… an apostle is a vessel created by powerful spiritual beings. A body meant to carry their will—and a fragment of their power—until the day they resurrect themselves through it."
She paused.
"But the common belief is different. They say an apostle is a bridge between god and follower. A child of god. A guardian created to protect the god's beloved creations.
"…That's a bit much," Haruto muttered with a nervous smile.
Hana glanced at him, a quiet thought crossing her mind.
Does that mean… one day, he might—
The idea alone made her chest tighten.
"I don't need to worry, right?" Haruto asked, sensing her unease.
The girl shook her head.
"No. From what I've seen… you are not an apostle. If one had been born, the entire labyrinth—and the forest itself—would have been consumed to form a vessel capable of housing Lord Charybdis's weakened core."
"Well," Haruto sighed in relief, "guess being weak isn't so bad after all."
"Weak?" Hana scoffed immediately. "You've killed thirty monsters already. By yourself."
"…Yeah. Fair." He gave a small laugh. Comparing himself to this world's standards was pointless.
Still—
He needed to get stronger.
Hana turned back
to the goblin girl.
"What's your name? I'm Hana. This is Haruto. And that—" she pointed to Haruki, resting atop Haruto's head in cube form, "—is Haruki."
The girl looked at them one by one, then lowered her gaze.
"I… do not have a name. I'm sorry."
"You don't?" Haruto blinked. "That's… unusual."
Hana suddenly asked, "Is that common here? In this forest?"
The girl shook her head.
That was all Haruto needed.
He stepped forward, eyes lighting up slightly.
"Then… do you want one?"
...