Mature Content Warning: Somewhat graphic violence

Author's Note: bit short, but at least there is action!

Chapter 13: Disappointed...

The air was alive with joy and enthusiasm. Several hundred people lazed about the entrance area to the Abados Illusion Dungeon. Such a thing was a common sight around well-known local dungeons. At the entrance to the dungeon stood twenty high-level Crystallim in full battle gear, and their four ADF masters.

“So, this place is still popular?” asked Pirouette curiously. She was currently the only Crystallim that Scott had manifested. The others remained ready to be drawn to battle. The ADF would arrest anyone who summoned more than one Crystallim at a once while outside the dungeon.

“You have been here before?” asked Alexis.

The Dark Elf nodded to her politely. “Yes, a long time ago.”

“You’re lucky to have an experienced Crystallim Scott.” said Alexis. She smiled gently and looked between them with no sign of malice or insincerity.

“Yeah, Pirouette is great.” said Scott.

Alexis’ gentle smile shifted into a petulant frown. “Yes, I’m sure she is...”

Scott overlooked the sudden shift in his girlfriend’s mood. It would be impossible to know if she was just being contrary or if her innate genetics were reacting to his usage of another woman’s name in her presence.

Ginger lashed her tail once then curled it around her master’s thigh. “You’re great too, master.”

Alexis gave her alpha a soft kiss on the ear. “Thanks Ginger.”

The foursome made their way to the entrance to the dungeon. As with anything that the government had their hand in, there was a line. While they waited, Scott looked over the status of his team. He flipped on the quick status and reviewed their levels and vital force.

<<< Team Status >>>

Scott Matthews - Hunter [C-Rank Rookie] Level 2 (V.Force: 58)

Pirouette - Dark Elf [A-Rank] Level 10( V.Force: 575)

Flora - Alraune -[C-Rank] Level 9(V.Force: 516 )

Shaia - Caseg - [C-Rank] Level 7 (V.Force: 283)

>>

Scott nodded in approval. Shaia showed the greatest approval overall since she had been refined to C-Rank. She had worked hard and quickly regained her levels by fighting her stronger sisters. She had the lowest level, but she was definitely stronger than before and had even gained an additional star rating due to her intense training before the refinement!

His personal status was ridiculously low compared to them now, though he was still stronger than most level two hunters by a wide margin. The fact that all Crystallim increased their stats with each level was the main difference, one of several reasons why the girls would be designated to do most of the fighting. He could handle a low-level Nightmare, but once they reached level three or four he would be at his limit with most of them. Only augmentations and developing his harem would bolster his stats enough to survive in the wild.

Pirouette gave him the best overall bonus. Whenever he gained a level he received one point of intellect and one point of vital force due to their bond.

Scott thought about it for a moment. He had been using his vital force augment to bolster his vital force a little. It worked well enough, and he had still gained level two while draining experience into it so that he could try to increase his status just a little more. He decided to take a look at his status one last time before entering the dungeon.

<<< Status >>>

Name: Scott Matthews | Class: Hunter | Rank: C

Age: 20 | Level: 2

EXP: 1178 | EXP to Next Level: 122

Augmentation Points: 0

City: America

V.Force: 58[58]

Attack: 4 [29] | Defense: 4 [18]

Strength: 10 | Agility: 10[11] | Vitality: 10[11]

Intellect: 8 | Resonance: 10

>>

It was quite depressing when he looked at it. Compared to the girls, his status was miniscule. His equipment was decent for his level, but even Shaia had left him behind by a good margin now. It was pointless to compare himself to them, but he had no choice. The Nightmares would be weaker than his trained team for the most part, but if he went down it was the end of the road for everyone.

Scott thought about it for a moment. He would absolutely have to save up the money to acquire better gear and vitality upgrades. His equipment would be more important than the equipment of his team for the moment. They would be able to train and grow stronger with ease. Technology and skill development were what he needed.

They reached the front of the line after around an hour. The ADF soldiers took reviewed their information for a moment then looked to Alexis. The guard leader said, “You’re authorized to visit level one. If you choose to go deeper, you do so at your own risk.”

“Understood.” Alexis shared a smile with the man and he nodded. It was impossible to tell under his tinted face mask, but he could not take his eyes off of her. It was a common affliction with human men, and she would have politely brushed it off had she known of the intensity of his gaze.

The foursome moved forward and the two hunters held hands. Their Crystallim team members would enter with them regardless, but the only way for two humans to enter the same locations in an illusion dungeon would be to have strong physical contact while entering.

“Ready?” asked Alexis.

Scott grinned at her. “Absolutely.”

She grinned back at him and then they both looked to their Crystallim partners. They signaled their readiness as well.

“Right, in we go.” said Alexis. She was the group leader so she was the one who had to enter in the lead.

A few short seconds after they walked into the dungeon the world went crazy. Light flared up all around them. Once it died down they found themselves in a large room that connected to several different corridors.

“Well, here we are. You remember about these sorts of dungeons, right?” asked Alexis.

Scott nodded. “The corridors and rooms will change of their own accord because whenever someone enters the area the failed Crystallim reacts to their mental state.”

“Yes, but more than that... We will be random shifted around the dungeon at times.”

“Right... ” said Scott. It was even possible to completely miss another group walking nearby because the dungeon appears to be entirely different to them.

Pirouette looked around. “I hear footsteps.”

Ginger sniffed the air. “I smell... dogs...”

“Dogs? Are you sure it’s a dog?” asked Alexis? Why would there be dogs in here? Maybe it was some sort of canine Crystallim?

Scott realized what was happening. “Get ready ladies.”

Alexis hopped back and raised her hand. Two rings flashed brightly, her unmanifested Crystallim were ready for action. Scott leveled his arm and waited. Pirouette did not need to be told what to do. She had already drawn her sword and stood ready.

It did not take long before a series of loud snuffling sounds was heard. Barks and short yips followed soon after. Finally, an excited howl echoed through the air.

Three Nightmares raced out of the left most corridor and made their way quickly toward the hunting party. Creatures with yellow eyes and gleaming white fangs, they raced forward with clawed hands out, and their silvery-furred tails behind them.

“Pirouette!” called Scott.

“Ginger!” exclaimed Alexis.

The two Crystallim immediately ran forward to intercept the oncoming trio. The lead Kobold, for that was what they were, roared out a challenge.

Ginger screamed out in terror and clutched her ears, but Pirouette was made of sterner stuff. She resisted the fear effect of the Kobold’s howl completely. Her sword flashed out and struck at the charging Nightmares with skill and precision. The lead Kobold unleashed a series of powerful swiping claw attacks that forced the Dark Elf on the defensive.

However, even with her two pack mates to help her, the leader of the pack was not able to completely overwhelm her agile opponent.

Crimson blood arced out as a powerful horizontal strike slashed through the abdomen of the Kobold on the far right. The Nightmare was badly wounded, but not out of the fight. Pirouette was forced back before she could capitalize on the damage she had inflicted.

The pack leader’s body flared with a brilliant scarlet colored light then then tore into the Dark Elf with great ferocity. She ripped, she tore, she clawed and gouged. Even with the sudden boost to her overall power, the Kobold only managed to land a few hits on her agile opponent, but those hits were devastating.

Pirouette lost half of her vital force in only a few short seconds. If not for Ginger’s sudden intervention, the Dark Elf would have been in a great deal of trouble.

The Cat Girl leapt in with a flying double drop kick that sent the pack leader flying. She followed up her sudden arrival with a spinning claw strike that tore into the Kobold on the left with great strength. Six large and bloody gouges were ripped into her body. The wolf-like girl screamed in agony and clutched at her wounds.

A sword flashed forward to impale her in the chest. The Nightmare cried out in pain once more then dropped to the floor. Soon her Nightmare form dissipated and a small brown core hit the ground with a pop.

The Cat Girl leaped over to finish off the Kobold who had been on the right. It was easy enough to finish that battle due to the horrible wounds that the girl had received from Pirouette’s blade.

The pack leader managed to right herself in time to see her second pack mate’s Nightmare form dissipate. She flashed brilliant crimson once more then howled loudly enough that even the humans on the other side of the room could feel the incredible pressure of her power to inflict fear.

Pirouette and Ginger staggered back a step. They were paralyzed by fright due to the terrifying effect of that vitality attack.

Scott and Alexis moved at the same time. They both immediately used their MISS units to bring out healing supplies. They seemed to be in almost perfect sync as they rubbed a pungent cream on the core of the afflicted Crystallim.

Pirouette recovered first. The fear effect had been removed by her master’s application of a proper restorative. A battle stimulant that would make a Crystallim become more aggressive. It could inflict a berserker state in normal times, but it was mostly used to cure fear effects and depression.

The Kobold drew in a breath and started to howl once more. However, the Dark Elf did not give her the chance. She thrusted her free hand forward and cried out, “Shadow Bolt!”

A large chunk of her vital force was burned away, but a jet black ball of crackling energy raced outward with great speed. The movement speed of the attack was so great that the Kobold had neither the chance to howl, nor the chance to dodge.

The dog girl screamed in agony as shadow elemental energy raced through her body. She fell to her knees and starting to whimper and cry in terror.

Ginger finished recovering from her own fear status due to Alexis’ intervention. The moment the pack leader hit the ground, the Cat Girl raced forward. The last thing the Kobold saw as a Nightmare was the terrifying claws and angry expression of her beautiful destroyer.

“Good job!” called out Scott. That had been a tough fight. Three Kobolds at once would have probably taken down Shaia or Flora.

Pirouette smiled at her master then flicked her sword to the side to remove the blood that now slowly along the blade. It had been a while since she had seen a real battle. There was something quite invigorating about combat, now that she remembered the taste and feel of it.

“You did great too, Ginger.” called Alexis.

The Cat Girl flashed her master a winning smile then scooped up the core lying on the floor. Pirouette gathered up the other two.

The girls returned to their masters and presented the spoils of battle. Scott and Alexis glanced at each other and then nodded.

“You can go first.” said Scott. She was the only reason he had been allowed access here, yet.

Alexis smiled at him then gave him a cute wink. “Thanks honey.”

Scott laughed a little then shook his head. She was such a silly girl. It was hard not to laugh and enjoy being around her.

The female hunter took the cores one by one and did her best to elicit a spark of possibility from them. Sadly, neither of the cores seemed interested in her in the slightest. “Well, that’s disappointing.”

Scott placed a hand to her shoulder then smiled. “Yeah, but who says I will do any better? I’m honestly surprised that Shaia accepted me so readily.”

Alexis pouted at Scott in a petulant manner. Why did he have to bring up Shaia? Wasn’t she good enough to talk to by herself? The moment of jealousy passed and she sighed. “Here, let’s see if they like you.”

“Sure!” He reached out and accepted the cores one by one. Unfortunately, he ended up with the same result. He could not coax the Crystallim to acknowledge his presence. If he could have gotten even a little bit of a spark he would have been nearly guaranteed to be able to bond with them. However, they did not glow or shine at all in his hand. They would not recognize him at all.

“Seems they don’t like either of us...” said Scott.

“Yeah, seems so. Let’s split them up and find them good homes later.” said Alexis.

“I hope we can. Kobolds would probably feel best when they are bonded to someone who has other canine crystallim.” said Scott.

“Yeah, they would.” said Alexis.

The two pack members were divided between them according to which Crystallim had finished off the Nightmare. The pack leader, however, presented a difficulty.

Alexis suggested that they generate random numbers to see who would get her. Scott agreed without any hesitation. It was a fairly common method of determining such things.

They both started to send each other a message, but asked the system to randomize a number string from one to ten thousand and chose the hunter options setting so that the end result would be legitimatized. The bigger number sent would be the winner.

Scott sent his message just before Alexis sent hers. His random number was two thousand six hundred eighteen. Her random number was four thousand sixty-four.

“Well, crap.” said Scott. He handed her the pack leader’s core.

Alexis grinned at him. “Yay!”

He pushed at her a little and she laughed happily. “Don’t be so aggressive just because I’m better than you.”

“I thought you might like it if I was more aggressive.” said Scott.

The girl’s expression shifted to one of mild embarrassment and she giggled softly. “Maybe... but let’s discuss that later.”

“Right.”

Scott reached over and took Pirouette by the hand. “You took a little beating out there. You don’t look bad, but do you need healing.”

Alexis stared at Scott’s hand as it clasped the Dark Elf’s hand. She frowned a little then looked away. She took several deep breaths while her contracted boyfriend saw to the health and well-being of his crystallim. She had to master her jealous. It was getting worse of later, and she hated the feelings that boiled up when it reared its ugly head.

“I’m fine, Scott.” said Pirouette. She glided closer to him then kissed him on the lips.

Alexis’s eyes widened briefly then narrowed to angry jealous slits. “Dammit...”

Scott turned toward the girl and she sighed. Alexis shook her head. “Sorry, I’m working on it... I really am.”

“I know, Alexis. I’m not judging you.” said Scott. He understood that her emotions were a little strange due to her heritage. She did not want to act the way that she did at times, but was hard to fight her nature.

After healing the injured girls, the hunting party moved on. In the dungeon there would be many battles, and chances to help many girls trapped inside their living Nightmare prisons. Liberation was a brutal and violent process, much akin to lancing an infected wound. Still, in the end the girl’s would have a chance at living a real life and answer to the dictates of their true heart.