Chapter 358: The Fourth Stage Dungeon Begins
One week later, in the evening, inside the Hotel suite.
"Honestly, Chika and the others already cleared the fourth stage Dungeon today. Why hasn't our Dungeon started yet..."
Listening to Yuuki Asuna's slightly impatient words, Asagiri took off the NERvGear he had been wearing and spoke softly.
"Fujiwara and the others already cleared it? What are the characteristics of the fourth stage Dungeon?"
"The intel has already been sent over."
Iwanaga Kotoko spoke softly while browsing through the fourth stage Dungeon intelligence compiled by Miwa Ashikaga.
"Among the Players of our Ashikaga Budo Association, a few squads headed to the Cursed world where Blackwatch is located. The enemies in that Dungeon were also Cursed type. Two other teams went to a fantasy world that seemed like the Middle Ages, with magic and dragons, and another world similar to ours, but where so-called Demons can be seen everywhere, as well as something called Demon Hunters."
"Demon Hunters?"
As soon as Asagiri heard that description, he immediately became interested.
"Are there any other clues about that world?"
"Firearms seem to be completely banned in that world. They aren't even allowed to appear. Even the official forces aren't equipped with firearms."
"A world where firearms are completely banned, yet Demons exist... Chainsaw Man, huh."
Asagiri nodded.
Whether it was the worldview of Chainsaw Man or Devil May Cry, both were worthy of the difficulty of a fourth stage Dungeon.
As for the world with magic and dragons, based on the description of Kato Megumi's Nightingale series weapons, it was very likely the world of that game, The Elder Scrolls.
"However, a common characteristic has appeared in the fourth stage Dungeon."
Iwanaga Kotoko spoke while quickly browsing the data on her phone.
"Just like the Demi-human Dungeon we ran that time, the Dungeon is no longer limited to a specific area. Instead, it gives Players a goal to complete, then lets them explore within the world. Furthermore, according to Kaguya Shinomiya and the others' analysis, there is no longer just one hidden route, but multiple hidden routes. This means the probability of conflict between Players competing for rewards from the same hidden main storyline has decreased significantly."
"That's very subtle."
Hearing the characteristics of the fourth stage Dungeon compiled by Iwanaga Kotoko, Asagiri thought for a moment before speaking.
"It's not surprising that those dangerous worlds would have multiple hidden main storylines that grant extra rewards, but can a Dungeon taking place in our world really meet the criteria for multiple hidden main storylines? Unless it counts all the Dead Realms within the Kyoto City area..."
Just as Asagiri said this, he suddenly thought of something.
"The Dead Realms that descend into our world are Dungeons that Players from our world entered and ultimately suffered a full team wipe in. To us, those are just Dungeons, but to Players living in the corresponding worlds, they are the real thing. Dead Realms."
Iwanaga Kotoko immediately understood what Asagiri meant.
"You mean... the Game system making Dead Realms descend into our world is not only a test for us, but also a way to relieve pressure on other worlds?"
"Combining the facts that this Game doesn't encourage PVP, and even when Players do engage in PVP, it tries to ensure to the greatest extent that the total number of Players doesn't decrease due to infighting, it seems that no matter which world people come from, once they become Players, they are needed by the system."
Asagiri's tone was calm.
"The system is just raising gu to a certain extent, filtering out the most outstanding Players while doing its best not to reduce the total number."
Just as Asagiri finished speaking, before Yuuki Asuna and the others could reply, all five of their phones simultaneously emitted a notification sound.
[The Dungeon has officially begun.]
[Location of This Dungeon: The Cursed City in the Night.]
[Time Limit for This Dungeon: Twelve Hours.]
[Task Objective for This "Player": Eliminate the maximum number of "Targets" within the time limit.]
[Hint: This city is connected by blood vessels. The end of the blood vessels is the "Heart".]
[As you are a "World" level Player, you can obtain a special hint regarding the hidden mission of this Dungeon.]
[Special Hint: Among the otherworld Players entering this Dungeon, there are "Uncontrollables". They may ignore their goals as "Players" and behave in ways completely contrary to normal Players.]
After reading the text that appeared in the Eye Icon APP, Asagiri looked up at the four girls in front of him and asked,
"What special hint did you receive?"
"Uncontrollables."
"Me too."
"So all five of us received the same special hint..."
Iwanaga Kotoko frowned slightly and muttered,
"According to the system's usual practice, it should give us high level Players privileges whenever possible. Now that this situation of overlapping information has occurred, it is highly likely that in the system's judgment, only our squad has the strength to eliminate the Uncontrollables."
Her expression became more serious.
"Or rather, if the Uncontrollables achieve a certain goal, it would cause irreversible, terrible consequences for the world we live in. That is why this is our highest priority hidden mission..."
Just as Iwanaga Kotoko was saying this, she saw Yamauchi Sakura staring blankly out the window. Sakura raised a finger and pointed in that direction.
"Look, what happened outside..."
Asagiri and the others looked in the direction Yamauchi Sakura was pointing.
They saw that outside the window, the scenery had somehow transformed into a dim, pitch black darkness.
Only a moon emitting scarlet light hung in the sky, and the reddish glow shone through the window onto the floor of the room, exuding an incredibly eerie atmosphere.
"It has begun."
The moment Asagiri stood up from the sofa, he had already changed into his combat gear.
"Let's go."
After leaving the room, Iwanaga Kotoko took out her phone, glanced at it, and spoke softly.
"The phone has no signal."
Asagiri glanced at the elevator display, which had turned completely black and displayed no numbers no matter how he pressed it, then spoke indifferently.
"The elevator has also stopped running. Same old rule, let's take the stairwell."
"Eh? The stairwell? But..."
Before Yamauchi Sakura could finish speaking, Yuuki Asuna put her longsword into her inventory and spoke first.
"I'll carry you, Sakura."
Yamauchi Sakura's physical fitness was at the frail level, and she could not handle strenuous exercise.
Even walking from the thirty sixth floor of the Hotel down to the first floor through the stairwell would be extremely hard for her, let alone now that they were inside a Dungeon where every second counted and danger could appear at any moment.
However, whether out of personal feelings or rational judgment as a Player, Yuuki Asuna felt it was better for her to carry Sakura.
After all, Asagiri was the strongest combatant in the squad and also held the role of main tank. It was more reasonable for him to walk at the front and clear the way.
Yamauchi Sakura did not act coy either. She smiled gracefully.
"Then I'll trouble you, Asuna."
After entering the stairwell, Kato Megumi, who was following behind Asagiri, asked softly,
"Does anyone have any thoughts about this Dungeon?"
"The most noteworthy thing is, as expected, those so-called Uncontrollables."
Asagiri, who had already taken out the Rope Dart of Deathly Grievance and was walking at the very front, replied indifferently while remaining vigilant and clearing the path.
"The system does not have the ability to directly interfere with Players. We discovered this long ago. But now it seems that its scope of authority is even smaller than we imagined."
He continued,
"It can decide who becomes a Player, but it cannot decide who does not become a Player. Even those who were not selected by it can become Players as long as they obtain a phone and seize the registration rights. The so-called Uncontrollables are products born from this limitation of its ability."
"But if we think about it that way, there are two suspicious points."
Iwanaga Kotoko thought seriously, then slowly spoke.
"First, even anti-human lunatics like Sato were once selected by the system. It was only because he lost to us and failed to complete the newbie Dungeon that he lost the qualification to become a Player. So what kind of person would be judged by the system as an Uncontrollable that must be eliminated?"
"Second, when normal people enter the Game, even if they don't consider the truth behind the Game, they should still do their best to complete the Dungeon's clearance goals and obtain the highest possible clearance evaluation, if only for the sake of gaining power. So why would the Uncontrollables behave in a way that goes against this?"
Hearing this, Kato Megumi offered her own opinion.
"Is it possible that they first became Players, and then, for some reason, became Uncontrollables? We have encountered those kinds of Cursed entities before, ones that can parasitize Players and completely control their thoughts and actions."
Just as Kato Megumi said this, Asagiri, who was walking at the front, suddenly stopped and raised his right hand, signaling them to stop as well.
What entered their sight was a strange object placed at the corner of the stairwell.
It was a coffin made of black metal.
On its surface were bright red veins that pulsed slightly, like blood vessels.
"This thing..."
"Is it a Cursed object?"
"No, quite the opposite..."
Iwanaga Kotoko stood on the stairs, observing the black metal coffin with furrowed brows.
"Although this thing looks very strange, it doesn't emit any Cursed aura. If I closed my eyes right now, I wouldn't even detect its existence. What on earth is this..."
"This thing... is alive..."
Yamauchi Sakura, who was being carried by Yuuki Asuna, stared at the black metal coffin, disbelief appearing in her eyes.
"I can activate Life Link on it, which means it is a living organism. But this is clearly a coffin. Why would it be judged as a living organism..."
"This thing..."
Asagiri leaned closer, reached out, and gently touched the surface of the coffin where the blood vessels were pulsing.
Then he spoke slowly.
"Is human."
.....
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