"This is the gate to a dungeon? It's kind of big."
"No joke."
Three days later, a Saturday now, Team Exodia ventured to where the portal is, which is slightly north of the school.
We're currently in our AST outfits. We made drafts and submitted outfit requests to the school so that we have a better edge in missions. Apparently, they make weapons too, not that I need one.
"Please, clear away."
An officer said, looking at us.
It's not very convincing that we're here on a mission due to how our supervisor looks. She looks like she's my niece or something.
What did Ms Frister say again? Something about showing him the email I received on my phone.
"Look at this."
I showed him the email that she told me to show him. His eyes widened and glared at us. The officer sighed and took the tape off, moving aside.
"Come in."
He said, rather reluctantly.
I guess they always do this to make sure no unauthorized personnel enters.
The gate was silently whispering in our ears. It sounded like wind brushing my ears.
The gate was red, probably according to its main element, Fire.
"Okay, so, you should probably tell your team your plan, Shoya."
Ms Frister said.
P-plan?! Was I supposed to come up with one?
I looked over at the girls as they were waiting for me to say something.
I'll have to use the information available to me to make a plan on the spot.
"What's your plan, Shoya?"
Emika asked.
"Okay, so, my plan is--"
The dungeon's element is Fire. The boss is a Crimson Panther, a mana beast, meaning that the small fry monsters will be beasts too.
"Actually, before I tell you, Ms Frister, I'd like to know to what extent can you assist us?"
I asked her.
"Smart kid. I can help you, as long as I don't kill the boss. I can't help you too much with the infantry either."
She said.
Minimal help, huh?
"So, I've decided. At the back, supporting us with spells will be Emika. Your main affinity is Light and you can cast some Water spells but you can't Quick Cast lots, am I right?"
Emika nodded.
"I know a few Quick Casts but I don't think they'll help too much."
"Any Water spell is fine."
I told her.
"Okay, to protect Emika, we'll have Kaguya and Ms Frister."
The blonde-haired girl looked over at me and smiled, before giving her approval by nodding.
"I don't like the role too much but it makes sense since I use Flame Magic."
Kaguya said.
"Word of advice, Flame Magic is advantageous to Fire Magic due to its destructive capabilities."
Ms Frister told us, most likely to get Kaguya in good spirits.
"That's good to know."
I said.
I'm just wondering why she didn't say this yesterday.
"The support vanguard will be Kuroha and I'll be the main vanguard."
"Why are you the main vanguard?"
It wasn't Kuroha who asked but Kaguya.
"I could always switch to your position if you want, I'm proficient with daggers, katanas, bows, and scythes."
"Fine, fine."
She gave up.
"I don't know anything about Crimson Panthers, so, when we get to the boss room, we'll need to adapt."
I said.
Everyone agreed.
"Let's enter the gate, then."
Kuro said.
"Yeah."
One by one, we entered the gate.
---
The other side of the gate was like another world. As soon as I entered the gate, all I could hear was the subtle crackling of fire.
The inside of the dungeon was like the inside of a volcano. It was hot and there was lava in the ground under us, but we couldn't feel it.
"This is the inside of a dungeon..."
Emika admired it.
"We should get moving before we get fried."
Luckily, there are a lot of shadows due to the light of the lava and fire. This means the effects of my Shadow Magic will be strengthened.
I summoned Erebus, turning him into twin daggers. The one dagger was slightly longer, like a shortsword.
While on guard, we slowly moved further into the dungeon.
---
So, far, it's been hot and there hasn't been any bea--.
As I thought that, red snakes jumped out at us. Yes, red snakes.
I reacted instantly and cut a few of them. The rest were dealt by Kuro in her cat form.
"That... kind of scared me."
I muttered to myself.
"Coward."
Ms Frister said, walking forward.
"I will have you know that I killed those snakes!"
"Would you shut up?"
She asked me.
I didn't retort due to the sudden shock of her reply.
I... actually felt hurt.
"Something's coming."
Emika uttered, beginning to say incantations.
"Great, your loud voice attracted them."
My voice wasn't loud... I barely shouted.
From around the corner, skeletal dogs appeared. Their main body was made of flames. There were lots of them.
"Those are Blaze Hounds. They're D+ ranked by themselves. For there to be this many..."
"It means the boss must be a large Crimson Panther, right?"
Kaguya asked Emika.
The girl nodded.
"Wait, doesn't that mean if we defeat these Blaze Hounds, then we'll have a clear path to the boss room?"
Kuro concluded.
"Perhaps,"
I said.
For me, the Blaze Hounds aren't that powerful. It's probably the same for Kuro too, but if this was any other group, I think they'd struggle.
"Let's start!"
I dashed toward the Blaze Hounds as they growled at me. Some began leaping too.
Emika cast Water Bullet and hit one of the Blaze Hounds, putting its fire out. I sliced another one before jumping back.
Kuro hit one of the hounds, snubbing its flames.
"!"
"I thought Water Magic was effective on Fire?"
The bones, which fell from the hounds after their fire went out, floated in the air and a flame lit itself, creating a Blaze Hound once more.
"What the fuck?"
Can they even die?
The Blaze Hounds we knocked down remade themselves.
They began inching closer, pushing us back.
"What can we do?"
Perhaps the body has some sort of core or something? No, actually, we would've seen it when the flame disappeared.
"I know you're trying to think, but let me give you a piece of advice, a Blaze Hound is of the undead category."
Ms Frister told me.
Undead?
What is she...
Oh!