“Really… Hill, you don’t have to force yourself. If you’re really annoyed with your brother, just say so. This time, it really was my fault. I scared you.”
“No, no, Hill doesn’t mind at all.”
Siloque pulled his little sister up to her feet.
“Uwah!”
She suddenly hugged Siloque tightly.
“What’s wrong? Are you still scared after all? It’s okay, they’re already—what are you doing? Mmm!”
Hill buried her face near Siloque’s neck, rubbing and taking greedy sniffs.
Her hot breath made Siloque itch.
“No scent of blood… Brother isn’t injured.”
“You can tell just by looking, can’t you!”
She still had the energy for this, so she really wasn’t scared.
My little sister’s mind is so strong. That was a BOSS over 20 levels higher.
If it were an ordinary person… like Luer, they’d have run off scared ages ago.
But she could activate and hide at the BOSS’s feet without flinching.
Or maybe… she simply didn’t realize how powerful the BOSS was?
After all, it’s her first time in a dungeon.
“Anyway.”
Since Hill came closer, Siloque simply embraced her out of pure gratitude.
“It’s thanks to you holding the BOSS in place here that I had time to ambush those two. You protected me, Hill.”
“Ah? Oh, oh…”
“Ugh—!”
Someone squeezed his butt hard.
“Hill, stop using this chance to touch my butt!”
“No, Hill wanted to put her hand on brother’s waist, but it slipped.”
Hill didn’t sound apologetic at all; if anything, there was a mischievous smile.
Are you sure that was an accident?
***
The corridor on the third floor.
The wall facing the Grand Hall had a big hole—this was made by the BOSS, the Abyssfire Dragon Remnant, forcefully flying out.
Hill and Siloque stood by the opening, feeling the cool air as they looked down at the Grand Hall.
“So, brother used that N11 Potion to attract monsters to them and got them chased?”
“Right. You’ve seen how powerful that potion is. It’s easy to trigger monster aggro, even the BOSS locked onto them. Honestly, the effect was more than I expected.”
“Hill knows! This is called PULL, right? Gather a bunch of monsters… hmm, no, that’s not quite right. Luring monsters to kill enemies should be called MPK.”
I thought Hill might have some sympathy watching these people being chased by monsters, but she completely treats them as NPCs, with no pity on her face.
…Well, I don’t have the right to judge her either.
The Grand Hall was in chaos.
Abyssfire Dragon Remnant, Oakwood Golem, Skeleton Soldier, and other monsters they hadn’t met before were all chasing a single target.
Aduofa and Yadimo were at least Lv20, and were doing a decent job running for their lives, serving as the locomotive with a horde of monsters in tow.
From this distance, their expressions weren’t clear, but from their postures, it looked like a comedy anime, with their legs almost a blur from panic.
Thanks to the sheer number of monsters, they tripped over each other occasionally.
The Abyssfire Dragon Remnant would even release its breath on monsters blocking its way, creating a sea of green flames, giving Aduofa and Yadimo moments to catch their breath.
“Watching them get wiped out by monsters is fun for Hill, but we can’t get out either. If we don’t defeat the BOSS, we can’t leave this Large Prison.”
“That’s why I’m waiting for a chance.”
“A chance? Brother, do you have another idea for tormenting people?”
“Tormenting? I’m not a sadist. Hill, from here on, my back—no, my life is in your hands.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“I told you before. Pure Black Annihilation Ray.”
Siloque planted his feet apart, straightened his back, bent his left arm inward at a 90° angle to his right elbow, and extended his right arm forward, fingers splayed.
Through the gap between his fingers, he aimed at the Abyssfire Dragon Remnant in the Grand Hall.
“Is that the skill that changes brother’s hair color in one go? But… can it really kill a BOSS? That move puts a huge burden on your body…”
“I can only bet everything on it. Believe in the skill that once pierced through floors. The downside is long recovery and charging time. After using it, I might be weak, or even faint… At that point, I’ll need you to protect me.”
Should I call it good or bad luck?
The Abyssfire Dragon Remnant could release breath attacks at a distance, or use claws and tail swipes up close.
But its large body made it a perfect target, unlike smaller, agile humanoid monsters.
And with its focus entirely on Aduofa and Yadimo, its back was wide open.
We could use a high-damage ranged skill.
The only problem is—I can only fire once.
If I miss the weak point in the Abyssfire Dragon Remnant’s ribcage—the core—and can’t finish it in one blow, Hill and I will be in danger.
Aduofa and Yadimo can’t last much longer.
Once they’re torn apart, the BOSS and mobs will turn their sights on us.
So, timing is critical.
Siloque watched the two in the Grand Hall, exhausted and barely holding on.
Hill also sensed Siloque’s seriousness, quietly touching her shield without any playful words.
Yadimo, running away, had his left leg smashed by an Oakwood Golem and collapsed in a pool of blood.
Aduofa sped up even more.
“GRROOOAAARRR—!!”
The Abyssfire Dragon Remnant stomped on Yadimo’s body, crushing it.
Blood and flesh splattered like blooming flowers.
Only Aduofa remained.
The Abyssfire Dragon Remnant soared into the air, hovering, gathering power for its strongest breath.
Now was the time!
“Pure Black—”
A swirling black sphere appeared in Siloque’s right palm.
The moment it formed, he felt an overwhelming urge to release it.
Compared to last time, its expansion was much faster.
In the blink of an eye, the sphere grew to the size of Siloque’s body, warping and distorting the surrounding view.
“Brother! Focus! Hill won’t let any monster touch your butt!”
You really did grope my butt on purpose earlier!
Siloque didn’t argue, his eyes locked on the Abyssfire Dragon Remnant.
Its head didn’t turn, staring down at Aduofa, who had fallen in terror.
“—Annihilation Ray!”
Ah… so good.
The moment it fired, his mind went blank.
From the third floor of the Castle, a thick black line streaked through the air, striking the Abyssfire Dragon Remnant.
A torrent of dark energy poured onto its body.
“GUAAAHHH—!!”
The black beam twisted the air, and monsters caught in the blast were shattered instantly.
“This is brother’s skill…”
Watching the destructive force at close range, shot from her brother’s slender frame, Hill felt an unspeakable tremor.
Her palms sweated as if playing an intense game.
The Abyssfire Dragon Remnant struggled to turn its head toward Siloque, flames in its eyes flickering with shock and rage.
“Dammit!”
As expected of Lv35, it’s not so easy to kill.
Unlike the first time, Siloque consciously braced his feet, resisting the recoil, though his body still drifted backward.
“Brother!”
Thud—!
A hard sensation pressed against his back.
Hill braced behind Siloque, suppressing the recoil, and barely stopped his retreat after about 10 centimeters.
“GRROOOAAARRR—!!”
The Abyssfire Dragon Remnant roared, shaking the monster horde at its feet.
Enduring the Pure Black Annihilation Ray, it arched its body, gathering green-white energy in its mouth.
A breath attack, long-range, was coming.
I have to finish it fast!
In a simple contest of strength, my magic output can’t match the BOSS!
Pure Black Annihilation Ray operated beyond Siloque’s own control, draining every drop of magic from his body.
His hair tie snapped under the force, and his dark hair fell loose, the roots turning white as the color spread from black to pure white.
The taste of iron filled his mouth, and something wet dripped from his nose.
The longer the skill lasted, the colder Siloque’s arms felt, like he might turn to ice.
He focused all his will, forcing the black beam toward the Abyssfire Dragon Remnant.
It’s fine.
Take it all!
If killing the BOSS lets Hill escape and make it home for dinner, then take all the magic and strength I have!
The massive black beam seemed to grow even larger, driving against the Abyssfire Dragon Remnant bit by bit.
“GRROOOAAARRR—”
Its dragon head was bent under the growing pressure, its long spine twisting, cutting off its breath attack.
Whoosh—
A small piece of the green energy sphere arced toward Siloque.
Some of it leaked through!
But I can’t stop the Pure Black Annihilation Ray now.
If I did, everything would be lost.
“AT Field, deploy!”
Hill, still bracing behind Siloque, raised her Tower Shield in her right hand.
Golden energy covered the shield, and Gifted Ability: Superhard Material activated.
The orb veered toward her.
Is it going to pull in my attack too?
Can Hill at Lv10 handle it?
Even if it’s just a fragment, it’s still an attack from a Lv35 monster.
A flash of worry crossed Siloque’s mind.
The energy sphere curved and struck Hill’s shield, swallowing it like a slime.
“Cold—why is this dragon’s fire so freezing?”
Hill, having taken the attack, tossed away the burning shield, rubbing her arms and shaking off the embers.
Thanks, Hill.
At least my skill didn’t break.
Now then…
“Disappear—!!!”
Siloque squeezed out the last of his strength, losing all sensation in his body.
Four out of five senses shut down.
The black beam consumed the Abyssfire Dragon Remnant.
The blue-white flames in its eyes showed fear.
And then that fear was realized.
The white-green fire on its body was swallowed by pure black, erased.
First the skull, then the spine, chest, claws, and finally the tip of the tail—its bones were obliterated, the aftermath blasting a charred hole in the ground.
As Siloque’s energy was drained, the black light faded.
Along with it, his consciousness dimmed.
His body felt light, uncontrollable, falling forward.
He vaguely saw the sun collapsing, cracks like eggshells spreading through the blue sky.
” ~~~!”
His vision flickered, and he saw Hill’s anxious face shouting something.
She hooked his body, pulling him back, stopping him from falling three stories to the ground.
Light and darkness traded places in his vision.
The last thing he saw before blacking out was from below.
He glimpsed Hill’s chin—she was still so cute, even from this death angle.
And behind her, four Skeleton Soldiers had appeared at some point.
?
Why did she look so tall?
Why was he seeing things from this angle?
His body was swaying.
Could it be…
A princess carry!
As Siloque realized his sister was running while carrying him, his consciousness faded into darkness.