The team cautiously approached the entrance to Level Four. A foul stench filled the air, causing Haruki to pause and grimace. All around them were the remains of enormous, mangled dogs, their bodies littered across the floor like discarded puppets. Their blood painted the walls, and the oppressive atmosphere was suffocating.
But before anyone could process the carnage, a low growl echoed through the chamber, reverberating in their bones. Emerging from the shadows was a towering three-headed dog, each head snapping and snarling with primal fury. Its massive paws crushed the corpses beneath it as it stepped forward, its blood-red eyes glowing ominously.
"Stay back, Aiko!" Haruki shouted, his voice tense as he extended his arm to conjure a shimmering blue barrier. The creature lunged, claws like jagged swords slashing at the shield. Haruki gritted his teeth. "I'll handle this!"
Without waiting for a response, Haruki vaulted into the air, attempting to replicate the graceful, devastating movements of Angel's Assault. He spun mid-air, his blade glowing with energy as he dove toward the center head. But the creature was faster—one head snapped at him while another swiped with its paw. Haruki narrowly dodged, but the third head struck him, sending him spiraling into the ground with a sickening thud.
"Don't be reckless!" Aiko yelled, rushing to his side.
Dante emerged from the shadows, twin blades in hand. "I've got your back!" he growled. He darted forward, feinting left before slashing at the creature's hind legs. But the three-headed beast was sharp. It sensed Dante's presence and spun around, its massive tail sweeping him off his feet. Dante landed hard, gasping for air.
"Aiko! Use your ice magic!" he barked as he pulled himself up.
Aiko nodded, her hands weaving intricate symbols as her breath turned frosty. "Freeze!" she yelled, shards of ice forming in mid-air. They rained down on the beast like spears, impaling its hide. She followed with an earth spell, raising jagged pillars to trap its legs, and then a torrent of water that surged around its body to pin it in place. Finally, a flurry of sharp ice balls bombarded it.
But the creature roared, its barrier flaring to life and shattering Aiko's assault. The ice melted, the water evaporated, and the beast lunged straight at her.
"Aiko!" Haruki shouted, diving in front of her. His barrier expanded just in time to deflect the claws, but the force threw both of them backward.
"This isn't going to be an easy fight," Haruki muttered, wiping blood from his mouth. He leaped into the air, gripping his sword tightly. "Lunar Blade Style: Critical Hit!" With a roar, he drove his glowing blade into one of the creature's heads. Blood gushed out like a geyser as the beast howled in pain, thrashing violently.
"One down!" Haruki yelled triumphantly.
But the victory was short-lived. The creature retaliated, slamming its paw into Haruki and pinning him to the floor. Dante raced forward, sliding under its massive legs, and yanked Haruki free just in time.
"I'm not done yet!" Dante snarled, leaping into the air. He activated Angel's Assault, his blades gleaming like starlight as he aimed for the remaining heads. The monstrous beast, however, countered with a deafening roar, its claws meeting Dante mid-air and launching him into the upper wall. Dante crashed through the barrier, tumbling back down to Level Three.
The three-headed beast turned, focusing its full fury on Haruki and Aiko. It reared up, leaping into the air with claws outstretched.
"Aiko!" Haruki screamed.
Aiko planted her feet firmly, her hands crackling with energy. "Not this time!" she shouted. Summoning every ounce of her strength, she unleashed a colossal lightning strike that shattered the beast's barrier in an explosion of sparks.
"This is it!" Aiko yelled. Channeling her remaining energy, she crafted a massive fireball, hurling it at the beast. Mid-flight, the fireball transformed into a flaming sword, which she grasped and swung with all her might. The blade carved into one of the beast's heads, flames erupting and spreading to the others.
The creature let out a final, agonized howl before collapsing to the ground in a heap.
Aiko dropped to her knees, panting. "I did it… but I'm almost out of Zetsu," she muttered, clutching her side.
Haruki and Dante regrouped, battered but alive. "Two more floors," Haruki said grimly, helping Aiko to her feet.
"That one was hard," Dante admitted, his voice hoarse.
With no time to rest, the team steeled themselves and began their climb to the fifth floor. The
chapter ends.