<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Bloodedge]

"Yeah, looks like you did," Yugi replied initially. This woman's physical effort spoke for itself; he could tell mostly while looking at her legs. Besides that, she referred to the man he'd been mentally calling 'Dickhead' as a human bug. With that being the case, she was at least kindred. Regardless, Yugi had a formation plan to share per Maki's request. Upon hearing it, Maki seemed quite satisfied. She assigned him the duty of navigation, however, causing Yugi to pause and think for a moment. Those legs, a lean build, a naginata ─ he knew what her flaw was. "Ah! Good choice, I think. Can't keep up with your own body? That'll work perfectly. I recently found a problem of my own; my eyes are quicker than the rest of me," he admitted. Maki chose to follow the plan he established, but it seemed their assigned tank wasn't a fan. He looked at Maki as though questioning her deference to a newbie E-rank's plan. "Yes, we're following the Bronze Saint's idea. If you want to survive this, the only other option for you is to join team 3 as their second... no... third Tank, looks like. We can go sustainless here. Anyway... directions. Maki, if you put your main focus on cutting through spiderwebs, supporting damage-dealers on each side can take down the spiders by the time they come over. That leaves your main focus as the ants that are swarming while we clear an area around the second centipede," Yugi instructed, much to the Tank's displeasure. "We should be going straight for the centipede!" that man argued. "If the big one hits us while we're busy with little guys, we're toast!" he continued. Yugi hated that sort of mentality. "Shut the fuck up, idiot! We're fucked from Dickhead's plan already! If nobody's on mob-clearance, those 'little guys' are a bigger problem than the fucking boss. They're already winning the numbers game, so let's fucking go! And for fuck's sake none of you look me in the eye while we're charging."

At the same time, Kenta was taking more of a brutish approach. Ever the glory-seeking lummocks, he powered through spiderwebs, breaking them with his body and force of movement alone. He really was making a beeline for the nearest centipede. He didn't kill a single ant nor a single spider, merely knocking aside the occasional ant and leaving those behind him to deal with anything outside of his periphery. The male behind Miko didn't think his approach was reasonable at all, but his primary focus was slipping out of line briefly to unsheathe his blade, keeping insects from crowding their group too quickly by at least maiming a few. Being only B-rank himself however, he could only manage so much. The others would have to handle the rest.

[Apollymi]

Maki's physique in general spoke for itself. She also wasn't the type to rest on just having it either. She had a few too many weaknesses to let her strengths dwindle. Yugi's understanding of the situation that made Maki only be 'B-ranked'. A smirk came to her face as the lad admitted that his eyes moved faster than his body. "It's okay, you can eventually balance it out. Though hand-eye coordination training is brutal," Maki stated honestly. "Until then though, We can cover each other's weaknesses," she provided the missing link in the conversation. Still, there was always something as she prepared to go, their Tanker apparently wasn't thinking with his whole brain today. She had to assume he was one of the ones already taken in by the speeches, but a lower ranking Tanker couldn't really get by without properly understanding the damage dealers he had on hand. "It's really like some of you have rocks for brains," she said aloud. "Actually think about it past your own frustration, not all things can be measured by mana and ranks alone. Come along or don't, but I'm not doubling back to save you if you make a dumb decision," Maki asserted. She knew where she was going and she pointed her blade that way and began moving. "Let's move!" she demanded. Whether the Tanker remained or it was just a multiple damage dealer front, she didn't care, she'd make do and begin moving forwards. Her naginat swinging precisely to clean up the webs, taking out any spiders that were too close and cleaving ants on the big sweeps as well.

Meanwhile, Miko's group was suffering for its incompetent leadership. She watched and listened as the A-rank Tanker pushed through spider webs and knocked away ants while he brazenly pushed forward. Miko noted as they moved in line that the man who had her back was at least maiming things that got to near. After slipping out of line to unsheathe his weapon he was right on top of it. As far as she could tell the ones at the end of the line were also doing something. "Insects communicate with pheromones and vibrations. Magical insects have to be using similar logic. Every broken spider web and every step through an ant trail is leading them back to this line. We're going to be flanked. I can hear them coming," Miko stated to her immediate partner. Of course, in so doing she also had that sword of hers occasionally popping up into her hand. She was finishing up the jobs of killing the maimed creatures with quick vibrations, through that catalyst which also managed to leave just a little bit more space for movement around herself and the man behind her. She'd also gotten quick enough about it, that she was sure such things were mostly unseen. "I don't know if the one's in the back are going to be able to take the influx," she mentioned unhappily. There were so many ways to do this, she could think of at least two that weren't going to leave them caught between a giant centipede and a hoard of spiders and ants.

[Bloodedge]

Between Yugi and the woman calling herself Maki, the primary bases for dealing effective damage had been covered. They could make up for each other's weaknesses, or at least... he could make up for hers and likely have his own partially erased in the process. The simple demand that no one look him in the eye was given, and with that, Maki had them charging forward. Interestingly enough, that Tanker decided to follow along... albeit reluctantly. "Tch! Stupid kids thinkin' they're hot shit. Go on, get yourselves murdered up front. I'll be the only one left standing!" the man announced. Meanwhile, Yugi was following closely enough behind Maki to be heard quickly, far enough to leave her a fair bit of swinging room. He activated his Sharingan, keeping an eye on Maki and the encroachers at the same time. "Egg sac, ten o'clock. Three ants close at one within a few seconds," he alerted. Alas, his warning would be of less purpose than it should have been... as the second team's Tanker seemed ready to splinter off and try taking that trio of ants by himself. Would he? Time would tell. . .

Meanwhile, the topknot-sporting male listened to the other E-rank Hunter's advice... but Kenta did not ─ not really. "I have a way to deal with them, but I'd have to save it. It can't be used too often," the B-rank stated. Kenta was still content to march forward, but there was an even bigger problem than the incoming flank. One could easily note the line moving slower and slower, as Kenta was affected by the webs bit by bit. He wasn't even being attacked by them; it was simply his own fault for thinking he could charge through. Even so, he seemed undeterred. No, the centipede was in sight; that was all Kenta cared about. "Almost there! Mage, shift forward and use fire!" he announced, to which the only official Mage-type in their group responded: "How?! I don't have fire spells! I'm an Ice Mage!" Indeed, Kenta had done no actual research on the people he brought along. He'd chosen an obvious Assassin, an obvious Mage dressed in red, and other such things based on visuals alone. Hearing the Mage claim a lack of fire, he was distraught. "Well why didn't you say so?! We need fire! Does anybody here have it?!"

[Apollymi]

Yugi and Maki were well on their way. Whether Maki knew it or not, she'd found a certain kind of kindred spirit in Yugi, the type who also wasn't going for the attitude of that Tanker. Regardless, the black haired lad left her enough space to move but was close enough to give instructions. She could handle everything else from there. An egg sac at a specific interval was being jumped towards and dealt multiple slashes. "Ryokai!~" It'd break apart before anything odd happened, and any live young would be born with a curse attached. And would be bleeding from there softest orifices in a singular moment. "Talking about hot shot kids, should have stayed in formation..." Maki said. She'd been very honest, she'd fully truthful when mentioning that she wasn't going back for that man if did something stupid, so she hoped for his sake he could hold off those ants he'd decided to draw the attention of.

Meanwhile, Miko was learning more about her supposed group. The man she'd taken a liking to... explained loosely how his ability worked. She figured by his words it took a lot out of him, so if he was holding it to the big time, she could understand. "Hai, I can work with that..." she mused. "We're slowing down... the pinch is coming," Miko mused softly. Everything about this situation was already looking bad, but it would only become worse when Kenta finally started speaking again. The words shared between those people, were so shocking that Miko actually paused holding the bridge of her nose as a point of tension was created by sheer stupidity. "Oh, that's why he does it..." she said softly. "Wait, you do ice? Like AoE, projectile or channeling?" Miko asked, whether anyone could do fire or not, ice could be useful. She looked at her top-knot swordsman and sighed, they were in for it, too close to the centipede to turn back, a slowed TAnker and no fire. But... insects didn't like the cold either, they might be able to manage if they went about it like they were debuffing the creatures instead of just attacking.

[Bloodedge]

Maki was doing well with instructions, proving herself to be more than just another Hunter taken in by the ranking system. Yugi had taken a liking to her already based on that alone. There was no hesitation in her removal of that egg sac once it was mentioned, and better still, she was already showing some techniques he could copy. The System screen appeared before him to mention a learned Skill: Fatal Edge. '70 mana, but it auto-finds crit spots? Sick!' he thought. At the same time, their Tanker was clashing with the first of three ants. It didn't look like a very good idea. In fact, he would soon be assaulted from either side by the remaining two. Yugi glanced at the man resisting with some sort of armor Skill, thinking he'd done little more than buy himself time. "Goddamnit. I wonder if it'd feel good to wear boxers as silky as your brain, dumbass!" he shouted. No matter; he was still maintaining position at Maki's rear... even though another of their attackers was content to split and try helping the Tanker. "Tch! This is why I hate carrying. Oi, what's with the special effect on that naginata?" he asked, taking a back-to-back position with Maki as the spider horde approached from multiple directions.

Kenta's group would soon be divided as well, albeit from a death that came a bit sooner than others. They had gotten close enough to the first centipede to begin an offense... but also close enough to receive one. While Miko spoke of the pinch coming, the centipede was already targeting Kenta with its mouth, spraying a venom that crashed against magically-reinforced iron. Kenta himself was safe, but the Hunter immediately behind him was struck by the offshoot and rendered immobile. "Damnit! Man down! Healer!" Kenta shouted. The group's Healer would be occupied for some time with that issue, while their Mage formed a small barricade of ice around himself, Miko and the swordsman. "I have three spells! Icicle Lance, this shield, and Freezing Mist. I don't have a good enough catalyst for a lot of range or area!" he shouted. "Oi! Stop chatting up E-ranks and focus! We're taking this centipede down!" Kenta yelled. The Mage's attention was split, but the swordsman would help him focus while slashing at another ant's legs to ground it. "I'd suggest listening to the person who sounds like they're making an actual plan. This isn't a fucking game; my house was already run over by these things!"

[Apollymi]

Maki's approach was very straightforward but also precise. She couldn't bother wasting extra movements nor doing anything odd. At the same time, Maki was now watching as the Tanker who had run off was snatching a damage dealer to go along with him. Yugi wondered if silk boxers felt as nice as how smooth his brain was and Maki chuckled. "Probably, but for someone complaining about hotshot kids these fucking adults sure aren't staying in fucking formation!" Maki complained. She hated people who weren't strong enough to act on their own but also didn't take orders. they risked lives unnecessarily because they didn't fully comprehend their own limits. As she found herself back to back with Yugi he questioned her weapon's ability she smirked. "Noticed that... most people don't," she commented. "It has a bite, the bite... basically slows or stops mana flow and works as a bleeding effect. Makes wounds bleed longer that sort of thing," she explained. She didn't see it in action because obviously the magical part wasn't her strong suit but she knew it worked. A wide sweep would have her keeping the area clear in front of her for the length of her weapon, but, it'd only work to mark a few extra enemies and give them a bit of time.

There was a soon to be death and an extra bit of recklessness. Miko knew there wasn't much she could after watching that venom offshoot. Anti-venom wasn't in her current kit, though she could speed along the healing process she definitely wasn't going to make it to that, so an order of operations was established. That ice mage was a bit more useful than she thought, creating a barrier around herself, themselves and the top-knot man as she heard out what kind of magics he had to work with. "Sou ka, mages who need catalysts get shafted... gotcha. But it's cool, I..." she paused why, because Kenta was yelling about the guy chatting her up. Miko's eyes shifted, it would be way easier to save more of them. Oh well, she'd work through it, especially with the top-knot guy killing a nearby monster and bringing the ice mage back to a more immediate reality check. "Remind me I like you later..." Miko said to that man. "Anyway, the Freezing Mist should give us a bit more room to work with... bugs don't like cold either. It'll slow them down enough for us to stay on top of the ones trying to sneak up behind us. And make it easier," Miko added. With that, she produced her first staff, it was basically just junk now, but it gave a bonus for water and ice type magic. So... "Cast it while I hold on to it. I'll boost the radius," Miko explained quickly. She also snapped a couple of times. One for the healer how might get snuck while trying to save an empty life, and one for this new mage too. To the top-knot, she said one more thing. "I don't think that other fighter is going to make it. Healer might be in danger too..." she added softly, so this guy might end up their own real damage option for the time being.

[Bloodedge]

The way things were looking for team two, it seemed Yugi and Maki would soon be left alone. There was now only one supporting member of the team left with them... and one massive issue Yugi had with something the woman said. The way she spoke about adults implied a lack of 'adulthood' on her part. "... Wait, are you saying you're not in your fucking twenties?!" he exclaimed in shock. The tomboy types were quite strange after all. Either way, he would soon learn the specifics of her weapon's ability. It seemed... very useful. If he got himself cut with it using the title obtained from Tae's route, he could accomplish a great deal more in this field. For now, there was a certain lack of formation that needed to be addressed with skill. As the swarm encroached upon them, he bumped himself against Maki's back ─ notably touching rears without even meaning to. "... Huh. Thing to talk about later. Anyway, ever done spin to win? From your front, around us clockwise... front left leg, mandible, thorax, middle right legs, front left again, then... underbelly. Those are all weak points," Yugi said as those crimson eyes scanned the surrounding area rapidly.

Meanwhile, Kenta was being disregarded by more and more of his team as time passed. Miko was easily taking charge by being the more reasonable voice to those two males. The Mage had reason to use his Freezing Mist spell, provided an E-rank could actually manage to extend his range somehow. Well, he was also giving thought to the False Ranker moniker of those two newbies. She also summoned a staff, presumably the way higher-ranking Mages did. "Are you really an E-rank?" he wondered. Nevertheless, he'd be channeling that spell from a wand of his own. A two meter radius around that trio would be forming by his power alone, featuring a much smaller radius of safety around the Mage's exact location. "Get close if you don't like the cold!" he advised. The swordsman was already standing at his other side, ready to deal with anything getting too close. "Cold would be the least of our problems. Healer, your job is looking more pointless by the second," the swordsman said. He knew a lost cause when he saw one, and that poisoned man was one of them.

[Apollymi]

Maki and Yugi were back to back, watching a plan that could have worked well, fall apart because someone always wanted to try and outdo someone else. Ego always got people killed, Maki knew this, but what she found more interesting was the fact that the lad with her, was surprised by her griping. Well, at least surprised that she wasn't actually an adult. "Fuck no. I'm tall and all but I am 17 and a second year in high school," she explained of herself. She didn't care if he knew her age properly or anything she was simply happy to have someone along who wasn't a total dumbass. Just the same he had more observations to make including points of critical weakness. "Yeah, I have. Starting up~" she claimed. With a list of instructions a sweeping spin was started in a clockwise motion. Her spin began and she hit every important point mentioned as her naginata did most of the work and extended her reach by a great deal. The muscles of her arms and back were working and her legs began the twist which would have both of them spinning for more directions and more clearance. Even if they lost the other three members of their team, she was pretty confident they could take care of this area together.

While one pair was figuring out a good one, two punch, Miko was currently making herself a smaller team within the existing one. Her niche was a little different but she'd rather not play around with giant bugs with people's lives on the line. She wasn't quite callous enough to let someone who wasn't obviously being a jerk die just because they heard and believed the wrong thing. "That is what my ID says, yes. But, what I really am is someone trying to make it out of my second dungeon situation alive, so... I'm doing my best," Miko offered pleasantly enough. Still that Freezing Mist really was quite dense for someone who could use a spell like that. She was warned against being too far out and Miko smirked. "Cold doesn't bother me," she claimed as that staff was held hear to him. While he charged his spell her own water ball was forming and absorbing, it was crystalizing as she quietly hummed. As she did, that bubble would pop spreading the two meter radius of that frost outwards to about 20 meters around them instead. An extra pulse happened at the end of it and it sent a short blast which would slow the encroaching spiders and ants by a significant amount. "Okay, part one down. They are still coming but it's a lot slower now," she said banishing that water based staff and happy it could still see a bit of use. That radius had also spread towards the centipede, rapidly dropping it's temperature as well. The situation was reasonably better to handle now.

[Bloodedge]

Even as they fought against the Dungeon Break actively, Yugi found the time to be astounded by Maki's age. She was on the taller side, and had the body of someone who'd been working at it for nearly two full decades ─ in addition to having a curvy form expected of a woman well over twenty. He had a burning desire to have a long conversation with the girl, but that was a matter for later... perhaps. For now, they had magic beasts to massacre. Maki made her moves, and Yugi watched intently. He didn't slack on keeping up with the other surrounding creatures, but a heavy focus on Maki's movements allowed that Skill 'Fatal Edge' to reach its second level already. "Wow," he muttered. Around the same time, that Tanker was finally suffering the onslaught of ants and spiders. He wouldn't fall just yet, but he would be getting that poor Fighter-class bifurcated by an ant's mandible. Yugi didn't seem concerned at all; he figured most of the group would be picked off the moment they proved their own idiocy. "Now let's see..." Naturally, the attacks against them hadn't stopped yet... but it was time for Yugi to make use of what he'd learned. He decided to step out ahead of Maki, wielding a pristine chokuto that was previously nowhere to be seen. "I wanna try a thing. Mind if I cut in?" he asked, eyes still scanning the battlefield rapidly. "If this works, step into my starting location... and aim your blade up at a 40 degree angle."

E-rank was what Miko's Hunter ID said. The Mage was simply confused, while the swordsman heard those words in a very specific way. Of course her identification listed her as E-rank, but that didn't exempt her from being a False Ranker of the association's system, or something of the sort. Well, that was none of his business currently... but the girl managing to extend that Frozen Mist by ten times when a B-rank Mage could only manage a couple of meters... wasn't presenting an image of weakness. She did so while claiming to be unbothered by the cold, which the swordsman had an immediate complaint about. "Are you having fun right now? There's a difference between cold and freezing; don't do something stupid while doing something smart," he griped. Even so, he was occasionally stepping out of the safe area to actually kill a few creatures in the vicinity, as opposed to just maiming them as he had been before. Teamwork was finally paying dividends for the first team... but not for Kenta. No, it seemed Kenta had made the decision to guard the guaranteed Healer more directly, and thus require healing from a bit of poison leaking through his reinforcement. He wasn't moving as quickly as he should have. How strange; this wouldn't have happened to him in a normal Dungeon. In fact, he'd say the boss should have been reached already ─ yet he was still facing the centipede here. Oh well; neither of the other centipedes had been felled yet either. "Oi! If you're gonna do all that, how about we stick to the fucking plan? Do you people want to win this thing, or do you want to keep sweeping trash?! Aim more at the centipede!"

[Apollymi]

Maki was making easy work of the cleanup of the smaller monsters. And the lad who was with her was easily keeping up with her movements. She decided in these moments that he was definitely something more than whatever his rank was. As such she'd keep up her work, but she still saw the end of that poor fighter and the coming fall of that Tanker. "Last man standing," Maki said while sucking air between her teeth. Her spinning sweeps came to an end as Yugi made his way in front of her. And asked about cutting in. As they had more to do she wouldn't mind a minor break, "Hai," Maki said as she took up the position previously held by the other lad at his rear. She didn't know exactly what she was waiting on, but that naginata would be lifted over her head at the angle he requested. She'd see what he had to offer with this placement switch, figuring that by the end of this area it might be down to the two of them.

Beyond that point, Miko's group seemed to be finally making a bit of headway. That radius was expanded and Miko found herself a bit caught up in multiple things. She'd replied to a statement a bit haphazardly and had her new favorite griping at her about being both smart and stupid at the same time. "Gomen, Nii-san♪~" Miko chirped. The girl didn't claim perfection nor did she think of herself as anything other than her usually simple self. Of course, she saw that he was now moving around with a bit more efficacy, killing blows were being landed on slowed creatures as he cleared out the area. She watched him, finding, highlighted spots on creatures which seemed to denote points of weakness. "Sou ka," Miko said her eyes turning to the centipede as Kenta began complaining. Miko was able to keep track of him the entire time. He'd not been attacking that creature and was instead guarding the Healer even though it'd been him to charge forward without much thought in the first place. "That was a plan? I thought thta tanked when there wasn't any fire," Miko asserted. Still in looking at the centipede she could see a few specific spots on it that seemed to work as weaknesses. "Nii-san, head, fourth segment and tenth segment are pretty weak," she stated. She then looked at her mage and wondered something. "How good is your aim?" Miko asked carefully. If that icicle spell was even a little strong they could weaken the creature by a great deal. Even if the mage could only shoot a couple of icicles if they went into the right parts, it really might be helpful to slaying the beast.

[Bloodedge]

Beyond her other skills and abilities, Maki proved herself to be quite the open individual. Taking the instructions of an E-rank was one thing, but taking that same E-rank's request to take on the B-rank horde for even a second? That was a different matter entirely. She took the time to announce 'last man standing' in regards to the Tanker both were willing to abandon. As Yugi had a few moments before the swarm was in the right position, he looked over. "That's not true. There's still..." He paused there. One other member was on their team, but that man had managed to be ensnared around the legs by spiderwebs and set upon by an ant. "Oh damn. Last man standing," he corrected himself. Either way, Yugi had something more important to focus on. Ants and spiders were in position, so he started moving in a startlingly similar way to Maki's earlier onslaught. There were some heavy alterations as he wielded a sword instead of a naginata. Even so, those changes still allowed him to make contact with the encroaching creatures and inflict fatal damage in... most cases. When he finished that distorted mirror of Maki's sequence, one spider remained functional. Yugi thought it was time to test his countering ability. He adjusted the movements seen in Maki to lodge his blade into the ground when that remaining spider aimed its thorax his way. Using the sword as leverage, he swung himself around to kick the spider, turning its body toward their remaining teammate's assailant. Once the ant was ensnared, Yugi stood atop the spider's thorax, dislodged his sword and stabbed it through the thorax he stood upon. "But wrong target. Ready?"

Meanwhile, Kenta was at the receiving end of Miko's response. Part of his plan had been ruined by a Mage looking the part of a fire specialist, yes ─ but that wasn't going to stop his overarching plan. "Steps change, plans don't! No fire? Hit it with what we've got!" Kenta demanded. At the same time however, Miko was pointing out weak points on the centipede, which the swordsman found... increasingly odd. "... Explain," he said, blade cleaving through the residual webs of a fallen spider. As for their Mage, his aim was brought into question. He was still channeling Frozen Mist, but could presume she meant for him to target that giant centipede. "Uhh, not incredible? I'm nearsighted! I don't have much range anyway. G-gomen!" he announced.

[Apollymi]

Maki wasn't an open individual, she considered herself fair. If someone had a skill set that was better than hers at something she'd allow them freely within that spot. The lad currently calling the shots had better ideas that brute forcing their way through a horde, and as such she'd take his advice. What she didn't expect though, was for him to show a prowess with physical techniques, which were similar enough to her own style of movement to make her brows furrow. 'Is he learning or does he always fight like that?' she couldn't help but wonder as her eyes followed him as fast as she could move them. Odd though it was, it seemed he had a pretty good time of handling the horde even managing to save their fence-sitting teammate that lone fighter who'd not joined the other two in their death march against the ants. "Still pretty impressive regardless. I'm ready, what's next?" Maki wondered seemingly unfazed by death be it creatures or humans dying around her.

Meanwhile, Miko's group had some success with keeping themselves on the back end safe from the incoming horde. Kenta on the other hand was claiming that while steps had changed the overall plan hadn't changed at all. "Okay but that still wouldn't have done us any good if we were being picked off by ants and spiders you weren't drawing the aggro of," Miko said as a logical extension. Still, there was a big creature to kill and another snap would be added of her fingers aimed at the top-knot swordsmen as she figured telling him about the weaknesses would help him in being the main source of damage. But he wanted an explanation. "Well, heads are almost always weak points. Hitting around that forth segment will likely keep it from spewing poison, at least temporarily, as that's the point that expands before it does it. And the 10th one might cut its mobility a bit. My partner has been teaching me to observe. It might not be foolproof but it's something to work with," Miko asserted. The System marked those places and Miko herself knew a bit based on the sounds the creature made, the rest was a bit of on the fly thinking but she assumed the Fatal Edge skill was something like critical damage marker she could fill in the rest with common sense terms. As for her last idea, the Icicle the mage claimed he had wasn't one which could be shot off with incredible accuracy. He was near-sighted and as such his aim wasn't particularly good. "No need to apologize. No one's great at everything... We can move a bit closer and you can aim for wide spaces without any people around them in that case. The ice will continue to slow it, even if you can't hit a precise target. Just don't maim anyone in the process and we should be golden," Miko thought throught hat part. With a fair bit of ease. "I'll keep the bugs off us in the meantime," she decided flipping that staff of hers upside down and splashing out frozen bursts of water on any stragglers approaching while the more damage oriented party members did their thing too. She was also careful enough to avoid any of the others moving around, having a very good understanding of the other people in the group based on sound alone, and making sure to keep an eye on the top-knot guy. Miko to her credit was also keeping Yugi's words in mind, wondering when she was going to be 'sacrificed', in fairness she was undermining him but she also didn't want to die, nor did she want anyone else to if it wasn't necessary.

[Bloodedge]

Though one life was spared for the moment, another was sacrificed. One thing Yugi could hear during his onslaught was the gurgled screaming of that Tanker, who could now be seen having his throat chewed through by one ant while others piled atop his body. No matter. Yugi only cared to save the one who didn't make a moronic decision today. In doing so, showing his combat ability got that Fighter silently on the side of him and Maki... but there were a few things left to do. He cleaved through the thorax of the spider beneath him with little difficulty, gaining a bit of edge from the Fatal Edge Skill. Looking to the remaining Fighter, he gave one piece of advice before moving on. You've got a spear. Keep range, avoid webs entirely, and aim quick strikes at bodies. Go for maiming before killing," he said. As for Maki, who was ready for the next step... Yugi pointed his blade at the second centipede: their target. Those crimson eyes with asymmetrical tomoe, however, were looking straight at Maki. "Next, I want you to put everything you've got into launching me at that big bitch over there. While I'm up, you vault right behind me. I think you and I could manage a little 'sky dance' to build some extra momentum. Watch out for poison though."

Miko and Kenta weren't going to agree. Well, Kenta didn't want to get on that one's bad side too much; she was too interesting a lass. A little E-rank brought over to his side instead of remaining full of animosity would be a good thing, he thought. "I've done my fair share of real Dungeons, little lady! You think it's better to tire yourself out dealing with small fry? Be my guest and die like the last team!" he said, choosing to take the 'hardass' approach. The swordsman had more actual animosity to offer, strangely enough. After his demand for an explanation, Miko gave the purpose for those weak points. He scoffed. "Not what I meant. At all," the man said. He was still moving around, in and out of the freezing radius while keeping his body active for proper blood flow. "Forget the little guys. I'll take care of them as long as this zone is up. Focus on getting that centipede down so Sato can shut up." It seemed he had some established priorities, if nothing else. That Mage was advised to move closer, which he'd sadly need Kenta for, given the centipede's attack pattern. "I... think I can do that. Sato-san, can you push forward?" he requested timidly, taking a position close behind Sato. As for Sato himself, the idea of an E-rank being listened to over himself wasn't very appealing at all. Why couldn't this group just follow orders when he gave them initially? Maybe... after he made a bit more progress toward the first centipede, he'd make sure they all learned a lesson ─ two for the brunette.

[Apollymi]

One life was spared while Yugi showed off his ability. His fighting prowess was definitely something worth respecting. What was more, the lad even had advice for the other fighter. "That's pretty solid," Maki muttered finding that advice to be good considering he'd need to mostly take care of himself with that spear of his. It seemed that after all of that the spear wasn't even going to call into question the lad's rank, which was likely a good thing, considering the A-rank Tanker was definitely taking his last breath, not not following simple directions. But what about saying something to Maki. Yugi looked directly at her and Maki saw uneven tomoe in red eyes, something she recognized but she also immediately looked away. "Woops," she muttered aloud. 'Why the fuck does he actually have a Sharingan?!' that might have been one of the coolest things she'd seen in a while. And perhaps she'd have geeked out about it a bit more in a different situation. Ah, but a certain amount of that couldn't be stopped especially not when there was a plan ahead. Hearing what he wanted to do the girl cracked a smile on her face. "That's the most awesome shit I've heard in ages. Let's go!~" she said, respecting the flex of that kind of activity and happily appreciating the fact that the lad in question was willing to put his safety in her hands. It was worth a bit more confidence than he could know, and way more than she'd realize. But before anything else, she took an odd stance rooting herself into the ground and allowing her naginata to be the point he could launch off of, when he hopped into place, she'd lift with all her might and send him flying into the target centipede. As soon as he's launched she'd spin that naginata around and use it as a pole to launch herself right after him pulling that with him. While he flew he'd likely see a notice,

〔SYSTEM NOTICE — BOND ROUTE UNLOCKED〕

Bond Route: Zen'in Maki
Status Update Detected.

Intimacy has reached 25%.

Route Activated: “Steel & Shadow”

Objective: Deepen connection with Zen'in Maki.

Current Progress: 25%

Warning:
This route carries moderate volatility.
Zen'in Maki does not tolerate weakness or half-measures.
Failure to maintain favor may result in:

• Permanent loss of her respect
• Targeted sparring challenges (no holding back)
• “Steel Rejection” debuff

Reward Teaser:

• Exclusive Title: [Steel Shadow]
• Access to restricted close-combat insights
• Personal favor from Zen'in Maki (value: lethal)

Accept Invitation?
[ACCEPT] / [DENY]

*Refusal may permanently lock this route.*

*The System advises compliance.*

In the meantime, Miko had at least a couple of these individuals on her side. It wasn't about that for her currently, she was instead trying to get them meeting back up with some real damage dealers as quickly as possible. Ah, but now Miko was being lectured. Sato Kenta decided to share information with her, he'd been through his fair share of dungeons and advised against wasting time on smaller creatures. Perhaps he could be considered right, in the microscope of closed in spaces, but... in the open they were surrounded and could be picked off by numerous creatures not just the centipedes. In fact, Miko would say he was more dangerous to everyone present than any of the creatures, but instead of saying anything she looked at him. 'He doesn't know, but that kind of speech would only work, if I didn't know he'd bragged to Makima about how strong his team was before leading them to their deaths...' Miko thought her face mostly blanked. Those big eyes studying his face. His words weren't the flex he thought they were, mostly because she'd heard him bragging about his team before this Dungeon broke. Admittedly someone like him couldn't be a hard ass with her, such things were reserved for those actually capable of leadership. No, instead her attention turned to the swordsman who was a much better person than the Tanker. "If you meant something else, I'll have to explain later," Miko offered gently. She couldn't clarify things for him, but that didn't matter. No, she was content to keep up the work she said she would. If he had the back end for them, she'd help the Mage with the bad eyes a bit. Snapping a couple more barriers onto herself and him for safety purposes because given how timid he was she didn't trust the Tanker to do as he claimed. And as they got into position, Miko readied herself to back up the Mage she would be found behind them, "Remember to breathe, holding your breath won't help your aim. Let go with the exhale," Miko offered her own understanding of such things from her time spent in open fields. She also kept her ears open and her eyes on the people in front of her, she trusted the top-knot swordsman to have her back.

[Bloodedge]

It seemed Yugi had forgotten a matter he, himself, had previously brought up. He looked to Maki, and she looked to him... only to avert her gaze with an uttered 'whoops' after what seemed to be recognition. "Oh, right. Yeah... don't worry about that. I said that for the dumbasses who'd waste time asking questions. I can answer yours later," he said. Irrespective of that, Maki seemed rather excited for the plan of attack he suggested. With that sort of enthusiasm present, there was no point in waiting around. "You're goddamn right it is! When we're both up, I'll send you in for the first strike. We'll down it in two!" he claimed. Without further ado, he sprinted in Maki's direction and leaped onto the upper end of her naginata's pole. When she launched, his legs extended for a bit of extra boost ─ not that he seemed to need much of that. "Woo!" he shouted on the way up. Maki was soon to be upon him, but first came a notification from the System... about a new route. 'A merit-based route spawn, huh? Right up my alley,' he thought. Just then, Maki was right next to him in the air. The centipede had already become privy to their presence, but Yugi had a way of dealing with its likeliest attack. He quickly ensured the 'Doctor's Pet' title was equipped before extending a hand toward Maki. When the centipede turned its head toward them and aimed to spray its venom, he'd be rotating to take that blast to the back. Though he grimaced upon being struck, Maki would remain safe as he continued to twist, intending to launch Maki at the centipede's head while it recovered from its own attack. He didn't seem worried about that poisoning at all. "Shell's hard. Hit it right in the middle; I'll follow!"

The Mage of Team 1 had a plan to follow. All he had to do was stick behind Kenta until they were close enough for an attack. Of course, Kenta seemed to be following along nicely, pushing through the swarm and making decent headway despite how many attacks were battering his shield. The Mage was trying to keep Miko's advice in mind, keeping his eye on the centipede's body and finding it marginally easier to focus by the step. The more strikes Kenta took though, the more his active defense seemed to be slipping... just enough to allow an ant or two to slip by after charging. Yes, that would be the approach Kenta took. If he let a single ant get by enough to target that brunette, he could play the hero, and even teach that finnicky Mage a lesson by abandoning him to save the girl. Ah, and the swordsman wasn't going to be much good either, now that he was occupied defending the rear.