Capítulo 106: 106
Chapter 7, Apocalypse Alice
The teacher in charge of Girl Killing Curriculum Class 5, Honjou Tsukasa. Honjou Tsukasa wanted all of her students to call her Tsukasa-chan, but no one in class is willing to entertain her by saying something so embarrassing out loud.
At first it seemed like she got along with her students, yet in Volume 2 it was shown that she only saw her students as paychecks and ways to increase her standing. Even when Gunjou became a Labyrinth with a difficulty rating of 42, she didn't hesitate to order her death, or to send her students into such a time limited Labyrinth, behavior that was unheard of.
Not only was she the teacher of this Class 5, she was actually the female interviewer that the main character Shinnosuke Arisu had met when he took the test to enter"Metropolitan Kichijouji High". She seems to be around twenty-two and normally wore a deep blue suit and high heels.
A Headphone Fuzz which resembles an earring was located in her left ear. It seems like she's one who likes to stimulate her right brain.
An emotion-type.
What kind of magic she used was not revealed yet in the Light Novel, but she should be considerably strong since she is a teacher at a school that trains young magician to enter dangerous Labyrinths with time limits. Further she was in charge of the class where Hero Team gathers, and Honjou Tsukasa should be stronger then that Sakuma-sensei, another teacher of the school.
Shin: How did this happen?
Aqua: Shin, you know her?
Shin: Yeah. She's the teacher in charge of Class 5. The class where Hero Team go to in the Girl Killing Curriculum of"Metropolitan Kichijouji High".
Shin then told Aqua everything that he knew of Honjou Tsukasa as they sat around her mangled corpse, and it was only then did he realize how strange that was. To talk around a dead body calmly was beyond the Shin of the past, so he was surprised at himself.
Just like battle experience allowed Shin to enter fights without hesitation, the deaths of enemies and allies alike reshaped him into the person who he was today. An individual who can look death in the eyes and throw a left hook equipped with a Na Ring to its face. Shin didn't know if this was a good change or not for him, yet in the God's Dimension, the Mission Worlds, and especially in a Labyrinth formed by the Diseased Girl, Shin could only think of it as a good thing at the moment.
Aqua: Was this teacher strong? If so, it's a shame since we could have needed her.
Shin: She should have been strong as she was a teacher of a class in the Girl Killing Curriculum, and the one in charge of Hero Team, but who knows. Still, I'm surprised that she was killed.
Aqua: Why?
Shin: Well, she was supposedly a powerful, or at least a halfway decent magician, right? I would understand if the Elite and all the other monsters from before could kill her, but with her experience she should have known then that that was impossible to win alone. I've considered that the rule for ESCAPE in this Labyrinth might be applied to everyone, so she shouldn't have been able to leave the Labyrinth, yet it still doesn't make sense. If I was her, I would wait for reinforcements if I couldn't handle that Elite alone. If she was devoured by the Labyrinth, then others should have been absorbed too, which she should have realized. I would risk wasting time here and looking for comrades/meat shields for a higher chance at getting past that elite.
Aqua considered Shin's words about Honjou Tsukasa's strength and experience. Shin didn't know why, but he watched as Aqua flipped over the top half of the teacher's body and examined the back. Shin was confused, yet Aqua now wore a look of understanding. Aqua knew something that Shin didn't and began to explain.
Aqua: As you said, this Honjou Tsukasa was probably a powerful magician, Shin. This teacher probably did engage the Elite alone, thinking she could win and got stabbed from behind. I can tell from the wound of the back that it was the fatal blow. It definitely wasn't from the Elite.
Shin: What makes you so certain?
Aqua: There's a single sword wound that pierced her heart from the back. The wound is too small for it to have been from the elite.
Shin: I didn't notice what killed her (Probably because her entire lower body was gone in a bloody mess). Was it one of the smaller monsters that took her by surprise from behind then?
Aqua: No, the wound is too clean like there wasn't even a last minute struggle before she died. It was probably... Wait! Shin, did you really never notice them?
Shin: Them?
Aqua: That we have been surrounded by assassins for quite some time? Look there.
Shin: What!?
Shin hearing this immediately looked over to where Aqua had pointed, toward one of the cave entrance high up in the chamber. A figure was just there looking down on them, but it was already gone the second it was spotted. All Shin saw was a black blur swiftly move back inside the cave.
Shin: What was that?
Aqua: So you really never noticed then? You're lucky Shin. Those are what I call Undead Assassins. They are extremely weak in a fight even compared to the other spawned monsters of the Labyrinth, but they can hide effectively well and know how to kill with one strike. They always target the head or heart for the certain kill. They are actually very deadly if you let your guard down, which is what I expect that Honjou Tsukasa did as she was fighting that elite, yet they are also extremely cowardly, unlike most of the mindless monsters of the Labyrinth. They won't attack unless they see an 80-100% chance to kill with one strike.
Shin: Why have I never encountered them before? I can't say that I have had my guard up the entire time.
Aqua: Really? You have been on edge since the moment you were in this Labyrinth, right? They probably sensed that and so they did not attack you. You might not have realized it but strong individuals like us give off an aura of strength if we don't actively try to hide it like with a technique like Zetsu from Nen. Also, in your fight with the Elite you were in Unlocked Mode, so your combat instincts and alertness were at their best. They probably never had a chance to kill you, so they just followed you secretly from behind, waiting for their chance to kill you in the darkness of the Labyrinth.
Shin: That's scary! I'm surprised that you noticed such shadowy monsters, Aqua.
Aqua: It's a difference of capabilities and experience, Shin. I possess the Werewolf Genetic Mutation and Wolverine's Mutation as well. They both give me heightened senses. Also, before your otaku revolution in God's Dimension, I've been on movies where I had to face enemies who could conceal or appear out of nowhere to attack me. Halloween, The Grudge, and even Predator. To live through those movies you either picked up the method to find your enemies, or you die with a knife sticking out of your back.
Hearing this, Shin realized that he had a large gap in his combat experience. All of his enemies to date did nothing to hide their killing intent from their targets.
He had yet to face an enemy who specialized in stealth combat and could potentially kill him before he even knew what happened. To slit his throat from behind before he could turn around to defend himself. An enemy who could follow him from the shadows, watching and waiting for the perfect moment to end his life once and for all.
Shin: That might be a weakness of mine. I didn't even sense Saki when she sneaked up on me and almost killed me with that Sci-fi gun of hers. It was only just right before that I felt something was off and that was almost too late.
Aqua: It couldn't be helped, but don't despair too much. You're the instinctive type, Shin. The type that learns as you go through experiencing new things. The type that betters themselves with each new victory and conquest through life and death struggles. All the monsters, even the Undead Assassins will become stronger the deeper in the Labyrinth we descend. Their stealth and assassination techniques will become more lethal, so if you survive this mission you'll become an expert on counter assassin techniques... or you'll die trying.
Shin: Great. Something to look forward to then.
Aqua: It really is, but that's enough talk for now. We need to get going, Shin. We have no idea how many levels there really are in the Labyrinth and we've already used up more than hour to get to this point. Let's descend down to the next level.
Shin agreed with that and he also checked his Headphone Fuzz. According to the countdown installed by God they had [Four Hours - Forty-seven minutes - Twenty seconds] until the Labyrinth transforms into an Eternal Labyrinth. Aqua, who didn't know of this function within the Headphone Fuzz, was surprised and tried it out herself. After seeing that she too had the countdown she was pleased.
Aqua: Good. Knowing exactly how much time we have left will help us out immensely. If we also knew the layout of the whole Labyrinth then we would be set. Still, this is good enough for now. Shin how's your arm?
Shin: It's good. I'm surprised by how fast it healed up. I won't have to worry about it. I'm good to fight anytime!
Aqua: That's great. Then let's go Shin!
Shin: Right behind you, but what about the others? Some of them may be on this level like us.
Aqua: Don't worry. I actually did spend some time looking for anyone else with my enhanced five senses. Nothing came up. I was only able to find trace of you, and even if they had died on this level I would have at least found evidence that said so, but even if I'm wrong and they are hiding somewhere we don't have time to look for them. We have to defeat the Diseased Girl in less than five hours from now even if we are by ourselves. We can only hope for the best for the others.
Shin: ...Alright then. Let's go, Aqua!
Shin and Aqua then immediately began descending the stairwell down to the next level of the cave of the Empress' Grave Labyrinth.
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Aqua: Shin! To your right!
Shin: I see him!
Shin blocked the fifth sneak attack from an Undead Assassin since he and Aqua first entered the second level of the Empress' Grave Labyrinth. The blade of the assassin that snuck up on him appeared rusted, yet there was no doubt in his mind that the blade was actually incredibly sharp. Sharp enough to cut through to possibly stab through Shin's body with high Muscle Density, yet like Aqua said the Undead Assassins were physically weak.
With just one hand Shin used his Gravity Blade to block the sharp knife of the Undead Assassin, pushing it back, and with his other hand now completely healed Shin fired round after round into the enemy's head with the Auto 9 at close range. The now dead enemy had fallen to the ground and withered away like all other defeated monsters of the Labyrinth. Shin sighed in relief, yet Aqua yelled at him.
Aqua: Shin, don't stand there and keep going! We can't afford to stop or we'll be surrounded again by monsters. I don't want to worry about those sneak attacks in that kind of madness!
Shin: Okay!
Shin then sprinted after Aqua and rejoined her as she was fighting a group of fifty-four monsters by herself while he was preoccupied with the Undead Assassin. Shin felt bad for leaving Aqua to face them alone, yet she had the ability to hold her own and then some. Combat went by a lot smoother and quickly once Shin rejoined the battle.
Skeleton Warriors, Skeleton Spearman, and Zombie Warriors stood in their way, yet together it didn't take thirty seconds to clear the path. Shin's sword hacked and slashed through the bodies of all the monsters that attempted to come close and kill him, and the rest standing and waiting their turn to get closer were blasted with bullet holes through their heads thanks to his Auto 9. Shin didn't know when it happened, but it had become habit to dual wield with a gun a sword in combat. In the end, seeing the mountain of withering corpses around himself, Shin didn't even consider changing his way of fighting.
- SIDE QUEST REWARD, HUNDRED LABYRINTH MONSTER KILL - 10 POINTS ACQUIRED!
Covering Shin's back was Aqua. Aqua's adamantium claws ripped through the monsters of the Labyrinth like paper, killing them on the spot. Aqua's hands were in constant motion and too fast even for the trained eye to follow as she walked through hordes of Skeleton Warriors and Zombie Warriors, leaving behind nothing but withering away shredded body parts flying through the air. If that wasn't amazing enough, even simple kicks by Aqua blew away the brave Zombie Warriors trying to overpower her. Aqua's high Muscle Density and adamantium skeleton allowed her to overpower the enemy monsters in strength and was only below the Elite monsters in that category.
- SIDE QUEST REWARD, HUNDRED LABYRINTH MONSTER KILL - 10 POINTS ACQUIRED!
Aqau: Shin! That's enough of dealing with the trash. Let's go!
Aqua then lead them as they made their way through the Labyrinth. Following right behind Aqua, Shin recalled how the second level of the Labyrinth was far more difficult than the last, yet at the same time how it felt much safer than before.
The second level of the Labyrinth was a cave like the last.
In appearance it was exactly the same except for the minerals that shined green before now radiated yellow light, but the contents though were much different. The monster that were hidden underground waiting for them doubled in number and their individual combat potential increased as well. Even more surprising was that there were monsters patrolling the tunnels and if they spotted Shin, Aqua, or anyone else they could call for reinforcements from the monsters hidden underground.
They still weren't difficult to defeat, but it took slightly more time to take care of them. That was a major problem by itself since time is something they didn't have much of. Thankfully, Aqua was downright clairvoyant as she was able to feel when they were about to cross through a trap of the Labyrinth. Shin didn't know if Aqua could do that because of her increased five senses through enhancements, or her experience in the navy, but he didn't question her even once as she had yet to make one mistake.
Shin: (It's great that we are avoiding most of the patrols and hidden traps thanks to Aqua's efforts, but what's really slowing us down are those guys.)
If that was all Shin and Aqua had to deal with, traps and a few patrols, then the combination of the two elite fighter of Team Japan would have been enough to overcome it all, but what was really slowing them down were the Undead Assassins. The Undead Assassins on the second level were much bolder and were more agile than their counterparts on the first level.
They were not as cowardly as before and attacked Shin and Aqua at the slightest opportunity. Even if they failed they would stick around to fight it out with them or feint retreating and looking for another opening as they stealthy followed after the two. This considerably slowed the Shin and Aqua down and allowed the other monsters that they'd tried avoiding catch up.
Shin: [Four Hours - Nineteen minutes - Thirty Seconds]! We've wasted half an hour and we've made little progress. Also, we have no idea where we are going!
Aqua: Then let's pick up the pace! If just choosing the path which is most dangerous isn't good enough than let's speed up and use process of elimination and just check everywhere!
Shin: You're too reckless, Aqua! We only have so much time to-
Aqua: Shut up! Just say you can keep up with me if you have no better ideas!
Shin: Ah... GB? You've been quite so far this mission. Do you have anything to say?
GB: ...Listen to your girlfriend.
Shin: Okay then. I will follow you to the ends of the earth, Aqua!
Aqua: Shut up and run!
Shin and Aqua gave up steadily making their way through the caves of the Labyrinth and chose to run at their fastest speeds. With each step that they took, crushing the earth underneath their feet and propelling themselves forward, they made more and more progress through the Labyrinth. They passed by mass grave sites where dozens of monsters waited beneath the earth to stop and kill those who tried to pass by, but by the time they emerged to the surface, Shin and Aqua were already leaving them behind. Any monster that didn't have the capacity to follow after the two were all too quickly left behind.
The monsters of the Labyrinth did their best to pursue Shin and Aqua, but with running speeds that made them appear to be flying through the tunnels, it was impossible for the normal spawned monsters of the Labyrinth to catch them. The two of them were moving upwards of 60 miles per hour thanks to their high stats and their respective energy strengthened legs, and they were still increasing in speed.
Shin gave it everything as he ran, yet he could only follow after Aqua's back. It upsets Shin to know that Aqua really wasn't giving it her all so that he could keep up with her, but her presence here was definitely reassuring.
Shin: (Also, this is the first time I've really seen her fight and she is definitely something. I thought I knew she was a badass heroine way back in H.O.T.D and BTOOOM. I was too inexperienced to notice. I didn't even have half the slightest idea of how powerful Aqua really was.)
What Shin found easier about the second level than the first was due to Aqua's presence.
Fighting alone is a completely different thing, but only someone who has experienced what it really means to work together with others can tell the difference. To date, Shin had fought alongside his comrades a few times, but he was always the main combatant.
The greatest example were the battles in BTOOOM where only Shin and Aqua had powerful enhancements. At that time Shin had to look after others and worry about their safely unlike when one fights alone, yet fighting with someone who can keep up with you is different, and even Aqua felt the difference.
Time and effort to defeat an opponent decreases and getting hurt is much less likely to happen. Also, people of similar fighting levels understand what the other person wants to do and can back them up without speaking a single word. When Shin and Aqua fought dozens of monsters at a time they rarely needed to scream at each other to get the other to do something.
Shin also got to see Aqua's fighting style when she was serious, and, to say the least, he would call her a straight forward wrecking ball. Shin's enhancements leaned towards regeneration and long lasting combat while using skills as well, whereas Aqua's enhancements were more power based. Aqua's adamantium skeleton, Werewolf mutation strength, and her Enhancer type of Nen, allowed her to overpower her enemies in ways that Shin couldn't. Not only that, Aqua's stats were much higher than Shin's own.
Aqua: Shin! There's another Elite up ahead!
Shin: Dammit! Are they no longer just guarding the stairs to the next level? Fine! I'll distract and you go in for the kill!
The new Elite in front of the two was a defense oriented elite with a large shied and hammer, yet they weren't bothered. This was not the first random elite that the two had met, so they had already come to an understanding on how to beat them, but more importantly how to do so as fast as possible. Neither one of them wanted a drawn out battle or to get hurt in the process.
Shin: A sturdy, but slow type. Great! Far Bullet!
From Shin's hands the green energy of Ki gathered, condensed and altered itself to Shin's will into one of his five types ranged Ki Energy attacks. From his hand a weightless and transparent green bullet of Ki Energy was formed and swiftly shoot out, flying towards the Elite.
Far Bullet.
The offensive Ki emission attack meant to harm magic and spirit type opponents. The Far Bullet attack was slow and far from the speed of a real bullet, yet lucky for Shin so was the Elite. The Elite raised its shield to block the bullet of Ki. That was a mistake.
- *ZAP*!
The elite monster who was comprised entirely of magic was inflicted by the Far bullet's effects just by making contact with the weightless bullet of Ki Energy. Shin learned in earlier battles that on normal monster the Far Bullet would cut through them without resistance, but on the elites no physical damage was done. Instead a different reaction occurred on contact with the Far Bullet. Instead of receiving damage they would go into a sort of seizure for 5-10 seconds leaving them defenseless during that time... And that was plenty of time for either Shin or his redhead 34D partner to deal with any foe.
Aqua: Die!
Aqua jumped at the elite's shield and with her adamantium claws she tore it apart instantly and the moved on to claw out the monsters chest till there was nothing left but a gaping hole.
The Elite's moments weren't 100% frozen after being hit with Far Bullet, but Aqua's hands never stopped moving, tearing apart the armor and bones of the Elite monster. With an unparalleled hand speed and the force of an Enhancer Nen User, Aqua amassed massive damage with her claws burning orange with Aura. The Elite died on standing up with a large hole in its chest and withered away.
- SIDE QUEST REWARD, LABYRINTH ELITE MONSTER KILL - 50 POINTS ACQUIRED!
Shin: Really, fighting together with you makes battles go much smoother, so much so I don't need Unlocked Mode, but is this going to keep continuing? If the regular monsters team up with these random elites we encounter we're just going to keep wasting time.
Aqua: I know that, but it can't be helped we have to power through everything. Without someone like Hikari to guide us these random encounter are just going to keep-
- *BANG*!!!
It was at that moment that both Shin and Aqua heard the sounds of gunfire. The moment that the sound registered the two set off into a sprint towards the origins of the gunfire. The reason was that despite not knowing all of the types of magic there could be, the sound of gunfire would most likely come from a Player of Team Japan, not a student of"Metropolitan Kichijouji High".
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