The horde of monsters approaching from down the hallway was clearly "enhanced" compared to when Rea and I encountered them a few days ago.

Does this mean they evolved, just like the monsters outside?

There were familiar monsters, and also unknown monsters we hadn't encountered yet.

"So we have to annihilate all of that."

"What's wrong Marin, are you scared?"

"I'll return those exact words right back to you!"

Lightly provoked, Marin charged into the horde herself.

"I'll accompany you even on the road to hell, Marin!"

Of course, Hiyami san followed her.

Meanwhile, I call out to Rea.

"I'll give you the smartphone, stick to the plan."

"O-okay. Good luck!"

A little behind Marin and Hiyami san, I start running too.

I did what needed to be done before the battle.

Figuring I wouldn't have much leeway to allocate stats, I used up all my remaining Stat P.

[Kuragane Erika]

[Level: 41]

[HP: 60/60]

[MP: 60/60]

[Strength: 30]

[Magic Power: 20]

[Stamina: 20]

[Agility: 32]

[Remaining Stat P: 0]

[Remaining Skill P: 3]

Since I can leave magic to Gii now, I raised my Strength and Agility mainly to fight in the vanguard.

I also allocated Stamina to a nice round number of 20, securing a certain amount of HP.

With this, I should be able to defeat even further evolved monsters.

As long as I can handle the violence of numbers, that is.

The battle was already starting ahead.

Leading the horde was a large Skeleton with six arms.

Each hand held a slender sword, giving it an appearance that practically screamed 'I excel at close combat'.

Behind it lined up hideous monstrosities that made me want to look away, such as Skeleton Warriors carrying greatswords that seemed to be its pre-evolution form, bloated Ghouls, and even giant severed heads floating in the air, Floating Heads.

"I'll nip them in the bud first! Dealing with large numbers like this is my specialty, after all!"

"I'm counting on you, Ruka."

Hiyami san, equipped with the massive gauntlet—Gyges on her right arm, steps forward.

Then, right before colliding with the vanguard of the horde, she jumped up and punched the ground.

"Turbulent Heartbeat!"

The ground vibrated violently, breaking the posture of the approaching horde of monsters.

For enemies at the level of zombies and Zombie Leaders, that alone crushed their bodies, incapacitating them while they spewed blood from all over.

However, the opponents are higher-tier species of Skeleton Warriors.

From what I can see, Hiyami san's attack has a wide range but low power.

Against powerful enemies, the best she can do is shake the ground beneath their feet to stop their movements.

But she must know that too.

Continuing, as she pulled her elbow back as if drawing a bow, Gyges began to vibrate at high speed.

"My passion isn't just this much! Love's Hellfire Heeeeat Breaaaaak!"

When she thrust her fist forward, the vibration of Gyges transmitted to the air, distorting the scenery like a mirage.

And the temperature in the area rose at once—bursting into flames with a roar.

I don't understand the logic, but is it something like creating fire through air friction?

The monsters let out disgusting death cries, "Gugyaaaaah!", in unison as they were burned to ash.

However, the leading multi-armed Skeleton is still alive.

It steadily moved forward, albeit flinching from the flames, and finally reached Hiyami san.

She caught the swinging blade with her gauntlet.

Sparks scattered with a metallic sound, and the arm that blocked it was pushed back.

"Quite tough, isn't it."

"Leave that guy to me!"

Marin wedged herself between the two.

Raising her sword at an indiscernible speed, she shatters the Skeleton's arm.

But it still has five arms left.

Perhaps identifying Marin as the top priority for elimination, the opponent slashed with its five swords all at once.

With a speed no less than Marin's swordplay—perhaps feeling "technique" in those slashes, she showed a slightly frustrated expression.

As a national-class swordswoman, she probably wanted to block it with her own strength, without using skills.

But she quickly changed her expression,

"Naive—Full Moon."

With a fifteen-hit combo that far exceeded the opponent's five, she caught all the attacks and shredded the enemy's body.

The monster staggered backward.

But it still didn't fall.

As expected of a higher-tier monster, its physical sturdiness is on another level.

"Now, let 'em have it, Ruka!"

"Here I go. Flash of, Lava Blaaaaze!"

Hiyami san shouts enthusiastically.

Then Gyges opened up and down with a clank, and a gun barrel appeared from the center.

Aiming it at the enemy horde—

"Shoot!"

A "mass of heat" resembling the sun was fired along with a recoil.

Immediately after, it hit the Skeleton's stomach.

It exploded violently, burning the monsters to ash and blowing them away.

"A-amazing..."

"What kind of power is that."

Rea and the others watching from behind were dumbfounded.

I was quite surprised too.

To think she could unleash such a flashy attack with barely any level difference between us.

"That bone guy's name earlier seems to be Skeleton Sword Master. Hmph, what a long name."

"Stop laughing and get back. You can't fire that consecutively, right?"

"I'll do that, I'll step forward again when it's usable. Until then, I'll observe the sisters' backs."

From the way she said it—the cooldown time must be set quite long.

Otherwise, being able to spam such a big move would be cheating.

However, even though she burned the horde so flashily, that was still less than 1% of them.

From the filling smoke, the second wave reveals itself.

"Guu... that guy's gross."

I agree with Gii.

The new arrival looked like a Ghoul Mother with countless limbs sprouted from it, running around like a centipede using them.

The split in its abdomen that births monsters is still there too.

Moreover, it's giving birth not only to zombies but also to their higher-tier forms, Zombie Leaders and Zombie Wolves.

If we leave it alone, the hallway will become overflowing with monsters in the blink of an eye.

I also step forward, lining up with Marin.

"You're late."

"You and Hiyami san were getting along so well I couldn't cut in."

"Don't joke around."

"It's the truth, right? Anyway, I'll take this one, so you watch this time, Marin."

"Very well, I yield it to you."

I throw the Dreamers grasped in both hands at the monster charging at me.

"Blood Pirouette!"

The spinning blades shred the countless sprouted limbs vigorously, Zushaaaa!.

It's more fun to deal with a fat guy like this, covered in meat, than an opponent that's not very hard to cut, like a bone.

Originally, the cooldown for Blood Pirouette is 30 seconds.

However, I was already able to activate a second shot.

"One more time, Blood Pirouette!"

And the next time too, the cooldown is waived right after activation.

Shredded by four short swords, the monster suffered while letting out a thick voice, "Guooooooh!".

Behind me, Rea, holding my smartphone, operated the screen with a nervous expression.

[Blood Pirouette Lv. 5]

[Remaining Skill P: 1]

In short, every time I use the skill, she raises the skill level to reset the cooldown.

It's a little trick that can only be used temporarily, but it's convenient when dealing with huge enemies like this.

"One last time, Blood Pirouetteee!"

And the decisive sixth blade—the opponent's body was now akin to minced meat.

[Monster 'Ghoul Carrier' killed. Congratulations, you have leveled up to 42!]

As expected of a higher-tier monster, the experience points are quite juicy.

Since even my level went up, Rea and the others must be getting stronger all at once.

"Resetting the cooldown time—so there's a fighting style like that too."

Being admired by Marin gave me a slight sense of superiority.

But stepping over the remains of the fallen Ghoul Carrier, a new opponent appears again.

A bone monster carrying a greatsword and wearing armor.

We fought an enemy called a Skeleton Warrior, but its sword is clearly bulkier and its armor more luxurious than that guy's.

Did this one evolve too?

"But you're out of ammo, right? Step back."

"I just have to reload. Rea, learn the next skill too!"

"Yeah, just like the plan!"

The Skeleton raised its sword with both hands.

Naturally it hits the ceiling, but even though it's made of stone, the blade sinks in easily, like tofu cut with a kitchen knife.

Is it planning to ignore it and just swing it down?

[Full Moon Lv. 1]

[Remaining Skill P: 1]

The skill learning is complete.

I take the initiative before the opponent launches a powerful attack.

As I stepped forward, Marin also advanced at the same time.

Like I'd let you steal my prey.

Driven by such rivalry, we both pushed forward and unleashed our ultimate techniques on the monster before our eyes.

"Full Moon!"

"Full Moon!"

I instantly slash the opponent with the Dreamers in both hands, a combined 16-hit combo.

Marin's attack launched simultaneously was a 15-hit combo.

The enemy received over 30 slashes in that instant, and before it could swing a single sword, it was shredded to pieces and died.

The monster's name was Skeleton General.

So it was an evolved form of the Skeleton Warrior after all—but my level didn't go up.

Maybe because I defeated it half and half with Marin.

"Did you copy my technique just now?"

 "Mine had one more strike."

"I'm talking about the name."

"It's not like I named it myself. Can you tell that to the guy who thought of it?"

Between this and the name "Dreamer", why is it so harsh on me?

I showed it off trying to look a little cool, but this is just embarrassing.

"So cool..."

Rea is deeply moved, so I guess it evens out... no, I feel even more embarrassed now.

But this is no time to be floating on cloud nine.

Because there are still monsters waiting behind.

"Erika, look out!"

"Marin, it's coming from the front!"

Rea and Hiyami san yell.

My body was moving before that.

The same goes for Marin.

Immediately after, black spheres passed right before our eyes.

"The three of you in the back get down too, a lot of them are coming flying this time!"

I said while taking cover.

Rea and the others crouched down instantly.

Black spheres passed over their heads at high speed and exploded in the back with a bang!.

"The impact traveled all the way here. They're firing some nasty stuff."

It certainly has the power to lightly blow off a head.

And the Skeleton Mages that appeared before our eyes can fire them consecutively—

"This time it looks like a large horde of the same monsters has appeared."

They're appearing in such large numbers it's like they're being mass-produced, this is unbearable.

Up until now, the magic was just fired sporadically.

But if their timing aligns, it'll probably become something they call a barrage or whatever.

But if we take down even one, it'll create a hole.

I'm worried because they aren't using that magic that turns the ground into a swamp—are they perhaps waiting for me to step forward?

Even so, I have no choice but to do it to protect the three in the back.

Marin and Hiyami san seemed to share the same thought, as they were trying to close the distance with the Skeleton Mages.

However, a figure ran past us as we did.

"Rea!?"

"I learned the skill, so I'll give it a try!"

Countless black spheres are fired.

It was too late to stop her.

I can only hope Rea pulls it off well.

She thrust her shield forward as if to protect herself, and shouted loudly.

"Reflection Shield!"

The shield emitted light, and a transparent wall filled the hallway.

When the black spheres collided with that wall, they bounced back with a high-pitched ping and attacked the Skeleton Mages instead.

Those spheres exploded the moment they hit their bodies.

[Monster 'Skeleton Mage' killed. Congratulations, you have leveled up to 43!]

The hallway was covered in countless black explosions in the blink of an eye.

"I did it, it went wel—"

From beyond the dark curtain of smoke, a black sphere flies aimed at Rea's head.

I threw a knife and shot it down.

"Hyaaah!? Th-Thanks, Erika..."

Rea fell on her backside in surprise.

"Are you hurt?"

When I held out my hand, she smiled bitterly and took it.

"I'm fine. Ahaha, I got in the way, didn't I."

"You didn't get in the way. We were able to wipe them out in one fell swoop thanks to you."

"Erika is right. We merely cleaned up."

When the flames cleared, there were corpses of numerous monsters there.

It seems monsters other than the Skeleton Mages were also caught up and died.

The one that flew at the end must have been the desperate struggle of one that barely survived.

However, immediately after, a new monster appeared, floating above the scattered white bones on the floor.

It looked like a grim reaper holding a scythe.

Is it another evolved form of the Skeleton type?

Behind it, a massive amount of monsters were still waiting, the army protecting the master of the floor showing no bottom.

"This is going to be a long battle. Marin, won't you smile for me? I feel like I could do my best with just that."

"If you have time to spout nonsense, fight!"

"So cold. But even that coldness inspires me!"

Hiyami san used a skill whose cooldown had finished, stopping the movements of enemies over a wide area.

During that time, Marin finished off the enemies Hiyami san failed to kill one by one.

"Rea, calm down and wait for the cooldown to finish. Above all, don't rush forward."

"I know. I'll properly assess where my power can be useful!"

Reminding Rea, I also resume cleaning up the monsters.

As Marin and I were finishing off the large monsters, we heard the voices of the two from behind firing themselves up.

"Level 23—since Oogi senpai, who's around the same, can do it, it seems it's about time we stepped forward too."

"Gishishishi, I can finally repay Erika!"

Our fighting force is gathering, but even so, it's not enough to push back the inexhaustible sheer volume of monsters.

Will our stamina run out first, or will "Homesick's" reserves run out first?

The offense and defense in the red hallway had only just begun.