That being said,
although she spoke with the tone of an experienced veteran,
as a First Class Adventurer, her intuition honed on the brink of life and death in the Dungeon made Tsubaki feel that this group might not be as simple as they appeared.
Especially that blind girl, Inaba Tsukiyo.
Earlier, at the guild, her ability to pinpoint locations by sound was surprising even to a First Class Adventurer like Tsubaki.
That kind of hearing is not something an ordinary blind person can develop.
And there's another...
Tsubaki's gaze fell on the black-haired girl named Kirukiru Amou.
This one is even more remarkable.
She took a tour of her Familia's weaponry and didn't even take a single decent weapon with her. Entering the Dungeon, her only equipment was a set of light leather armor.
Bare-handed and empty-handed.
This appearance made Tsubaki think of the combat prostitutes from the Ishtar Familia who specialize in hand-to-hand combat.
Those combat prostitutes often don't like to use weapons either.
After all, many of them practice martial arts.
Could it be that this kid is going down that path too?
If so, she's going to have a tough time initially.
After all, no matter how hard a human's fist is, hitting a monster's bones will still hurt.
...
'Alright, this is the true labyrinth area.'
Before they knew it, the wide spiral ramp had disappeared, replaced by a complex network of rocky tunnels.
The light also dimmed.
Only the occasional low-purity phosphorescent moss embedded in the walls emitted a faint blue glow.
Tsubaki stopped, turned around, and pointed to the dark tunnel entrances around them.
'Once you truly enter the dangerous areas of the Dungeon, these complex tunnels will greatly disperse the Adventurers.'
'Don't expect to see large groups of teams like you did upstairs.'
'And although this is only the first floor, it is a true battlefield.'
'The first five floors, known as the upper levels, are mainly inhabited by low-level monsters like Goblins and Viscous Mosses.'
'Although they are weak individually and can be easily killed with a stick, they are numerous and like to ambush.'
'Further down, around the sixth floor, you'll encounter a monster called a War Shadow. That thing is fast, has sharp claws, and is a newcomer killer in every sense.'
'As for after the seventh floor...'
Tsubaki paused, her gaze sweeping over the group of seemingly delicate girls behind her.
'But for your current stage, just getting used to the pace of the first five floors is enough.'
'Today's goal is to let you see some blood, and also...'
'Squeak—!'
Before Tsubaki could finish saying 'and also get familiar with your weapons,'
from the corner ahead,
several small, dark figures suddenly darted out.
Green skin, pointed ears, wielding rusty short swords and clubs, and making annoying shrieks.
—Goblins.
There were six of them.
'Here they come.'
Tsubaki raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, then stepped aside, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall.
'Although they're the lowest level of monsters, they're good enough for a warm-up.'
'Go ahead, let me see your...'
However,
before Tsubaki could finish,
Kirukiru Amou immediately charged straight into the group of Goblins.
'Hey! Don't be so...'
Tsubaki furrowed her brow, about to warn against being reckless.
But,
the next second,
her voice caught in her throat.
Several Goblins clearly didn't expect a human woman to dare charge at them bare-handed, and in their moment of surprise, they wildly swung their short swords.
'Clang!'
A sharp metallic sound rang out.
The rusty short sword struck Kirukiru Amou's raised arm as if it had hit a steel plate, sending sparks flying.
It didn't even break the skin.
'?'
Tsubaki's pupils constricted.
After all, even with a guard, this kind of head-on impact would have broken the bones of an average Adventurer.
And,
what shocked her even more was what happened next.
Kirukiru Amou showed no expression.
Her right hand straightened, fingers together,
like a blade.
Then, with a forward thrust.
"Puchi—"
It was just a straight stab.
Blood splattered.
The Goblin, which had been baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, suddenly froze.
Kirukiru Amou's fair hand, like a red-hot blade slicing through butter, pierced directly through the Goblin's chest, which, although unarmored, was protected by tough flesh and ribs.
The entire palm sank in through the front and emerged from the back.
"Zhi..."
The Goblin let out a short, mournful cry and twitched twice.
Then.
"Peng."
It directly dissolved into a puff of black ash, vanishing into the air.
Leaving behind only a Demon Stone the size of a fingernail.
The essence of refined steel, limbs transformed into blades.
This was the 'Incarnation Blade'.
"..."
This strike.
Even Tsubaki, who had already guessed that Kirukiru Amou's method would be similar to the battle prostitutes of the [Ishtar Familia] who specialized in body arts, couldn't help but have her eyelids twitch.
What the heck was that?
One must know.
Although Goblins are weak, they still possess the physical body of a monster.
They have a ribcage protecting their chest!
Even an Adventurer wielding a sharp blade would find it difficult to pierce them so cleanly.
Let alone doing it with their bare hands?!
Furthermore.
When she pulled her hand out, aside from some bloodstains, it seemed there wasn't even a scratch.
Was that a hand made of flesh?
...
However.
The battle didn't end there.
The other Goblins didn't retreat because of their companion's death; instead, they were stimulated by the smell of blood and rushed forward more frantically, screaming.
"Since Amaha has already made a move, we can't fall behind either."
Rin stepped forward.
"Too slow."
Seeing another Goblin attempting to charge over.
Rin placed her hand on the priceless [Famous Sword - black crow] at her waist.
But she didn't draw the sword.
It seemed she felt that a monster of this level wasn't worthy of dirtying her new blade.
So.
She slightly shifted her body and exerted force from her waist.
[Masked State]—Strength and Endurance greatly increased.
"Peng!"
A simple, unadorned kick.
Her long leg, clad in black stockings, lashed out like a steel whip.
"Bang!"
The Goblin was struck head-on, its entire body instantly folded in half, flying backward three times faster than it approached, smashing hard against the rock wall, and exploding into a cloud of black smoke.
On the other side.
"How crude. It's better not to get this filth on one's clothes."
After seeing Rin's action, Kikakujuo Mary curled her lip, unwilling to be outdone.
She took a step forward and gave a slight flick of her wrist.
The rapier in her hand, [Rose Thorn], traced a beautiful sword flourish.
Before another Goblin could pounce.
"Shua!"
A silver light flashed.
The tip of the sword instantly and precisely stabbed into the Goblin's throat.
After sinking in, she instantly pulled it out.
The Goblin clutched its throat and before it could even stagger a few steps, it directly turned into flying ash.
-------------------------------
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