Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for just $7 to get early access to all upcoming chapters!
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations
─────
Chapter 35: Impulse
Five days had passed since the expedition departed Babel. The Vanguard had finally reached the 50th Floor.
This was Moytura—a massive, desolate expanse characterized by petrified, ash-gray trees and sprawling ravines. It also served as a vital Safety Point.
"As discussed beforehand, we will launch an assault on the 51st Floor utilizing a highly condensed strike team. The remaining forces will stay behind and defend the camp alongside the Hephaestus Familia," Finn announced, finalizing their strategy after the tents were pitched.
Any floor past the 50th required a minimum baseline of elite power to survive. Bringing a massive army would only result in catastrophic casualties and logistical nightmares. Therefore, the deepest abyss could only be challenged by a hand-picked roster of the absolute strongest.
"The assault party will consist of Riveria, Gareth, Ais, Tione, Tiona, Bete, myself... and Sawada Tsunayoshi."
Finn declared the primary attackers for the true deep-floor descent.
"The supporters will be Raul, Narvi, Alicia, Cruz, and Lefiya."
Though designated as supporters, everyone aside from Lefiya was a seasoned Level 4 veteran. And while Lefiya was Level 3, her latent magical potential was staggering enough that Riveria, the strongest mage in the city, had personally chosen the elf as her successor. They were more than capable of holding their own.
"Those remaining at camp are to utilize magic swords and long-range spells if the new species of monster appears. Maintain strict watches and do not allow them to close the distance. Aki, I'm leaving the camp defense in your hands."
"Understood."
Aki, an elite Catperson, nodded curtly. Even Safety Points were not absolute sanctuaries; monsters from adjacent floors frequently wandered in, necessitating a formidable defense force.
A new species of monster? Tsuna tilted his head, unfamiliar with the term.
"Ah, my apologies. During our previous expedition, we encountered a bizarre caterpillar-type monster that spits a highly corrosive acid. It may appear from here on out, so remain vigilant."
"Got it."
Realizing he hadn't briefed Tsuna, Finn quickly explained the threat.
"Tsubaki will accompany the strike team as our exclusive weapon maintainer."
"Aye. Leave it to me."
Tsubaki grinned, having waited for this exact moment. As a Level 5 High Smith, she was the only blacksmith capable of surviving the apocalyptic conditions of the 51st Floor and beyond.
"Alright, let's hand out the goods."
Standing up from her cross-legged position, Tsubaki shot a glance at her subordinates. The Hephaestus smiths immediately unrolled several large bundles of cloth on the ground, revealing an array of pristine, master-crafted weapons.
"The custom orders you requested. Imbued with the Durandal attribute."
Finn, Gareth, Bete, Tiona, and Tione eagerly stepped forward, inspecting their respective armaments.
"Series Roland. Forged exactly to your insane specifications."
Finn retrieved a gleaming long spear. Gareth hoisted a massive battle-axe. Bete secured a pair of twin swords. Tiona claimed a colossal greatsword, and Tione hefted a lethal halberd. Knowing the grueling attrition rate of the 59th Floor, the executives had commissioned Orario's greatest smith to forge these weapons. Possessing the same unbreakable Durandal attribute as Ais's Desperate, the weapons would never shatter, though their sharpness would gradually dull with excessive use.
"A bit late to ask, but what about you, Tsuna-kichi? I don't have anything quite as grand as Finn's gear lying around, but I can lend you one of my personal weapons."
With the briefing concluded and the Vanguard dispersing, Tsubaki approached Tsuna.
"I'm fine. I don't really know how to use weapons, and carrying one would just slow me down."
"Is that so? Then..."
Reaching into her bag, Tsubaki produced two beautifully crafted short swords and held them out to him.
"Take these Magic Swords."
"Magic Swords?"
"Weapons imbued with pre-cast magic. You swing them, and they unleash a spell. These short swords are easy to carry and won't hinder your speed. You don't need any martial training to use them. If you never draw them, fine. But we're heading into uncharted territory. Having a trump card won't hurt."
"I'll take them, then."
Though he had never fought with a sword, Tsuna understood the tactical advantage of having a ranged, instantaneous attack on hand. He accepted the blades gratefully.
"Just remember, Magic Swords have a fatal flaw. They degrade with every use, and once they reach their limit, they shatter completely."
"So they have a limited number of charges?"
"Exactly. And knowing your strength, I doubt you'd ever rely on them, but don't let them become a crutch. Plenty of fools have died because they trusted a Magic Sword over their own instincts. Furthermore, I've never been to the 59th Floor either, but I can guarantee these swords lack the firepower to kill whatever is waiting down there. Use them to create openings, not to deal the finishing blow."
"Understood."
Tsuna mentally filed away Tsubaki's strict warnings regarding the fragile nature of the weapons.
"If only Wel-kichi had forged them, I could have given you something infinitely more powerful..." Tsubaki sighed regretfully.
"You mentioned him before we left. What kind of person is he?"
"Wel-kichi? He's a smith with the talent to forge Magic Swords leagues beyond my own capabilities, but the stubborn fool outright refuses to make them."
"Eh? Why?"
"I know the reason, but he despises people talking about it behind his back. I can't say any more than that."
"Fair enough."
"Anyway, if you find yourself needing a proper blade down there, just holler."
"Thanks."
.....
With the Magic Swords secured at his waist, Tsuna decided to take a short walk to clear his head before the final descent.
"Hm?"
Wandering through the petrified ash-trees, Tsuna spotted Raul crouching on the ground, clutching his head in both hands and trembling violently.
"W-We're dead...! We're actually going to die this time...!?"
"Whoa!? Are you okay!?" Tsuna jogged over, genuinely concerned by the seasoned adventurer's absolute panic.
"Don't mind him. Raul always gets like this right before we hit the Deep Floors. He acts like the world is ending, but he always manages to come back alive," Aki sighed, walking up beside them.
"You can only say that because you've never been down there, Aki!! I keep telling you, everything past the 52nd Floor is a completely different dimension of hell!!"
"Oh, please. Tsuna is diving into the Deep Floors for the first time, and he's completely calm! You're his senior! Act like it!"
"Ugh... Y-You're right..."
Thoroughly scolded by the Catperson, Raul finally stopped wailing and stood up, though his legs still looked a bit shaky. Having spent the last five days fighting alongside them, Tsuna had grown rather fond of the Loki Familia's dynamic.
"Seriously though, how are you so calm, Tsuna? Aren't you terrified?" Raul asked, wiping cold sweat from his brow.
"It's not that I'm not scared, but... honestly? Compared to Reborn, the monsters in the Dungeon are kind of cute..."
""Reborn?""
Having spent his life surviving the daily assassination attempts and torturous "tutoring" of the world's greatest hitman, the Dungeon felt more like a brisk workout than a death trap to Tsuna. Aki and Raul exchanged bewildered glances at the unfamiliar name.
"He's... my teacher, I guess."
"Your teacher... Does that mean this Reborn person is the one who made you this strong?"
"Pretty much."
"If I become his disciple... do you think I could get that strong too!?" Raul's eyes practically sparkled with newfound hope.
"Don't even joke about that!! You will regret it for the rest of your life!!"
"E-Eh!? I-Is it that bad...?"
Raul had meant it as a lighthearted comment, but Tsuna's visceral, panic-stricken denial made him flinch.
"His training is completely merciless... If you take his lessons, you will experience the brink of death. Literally..."
"W-Whoa!? Are you okay!?"
He's more terrified of his teacher than the Deep Floors!?
Seeing the absolute, unadulterated trauma etched into Tsuna's pale face, Aki felt a genuine chill run down her spine. The idea that an entity existed capable of inflicting such paralyzing fear into a boy who effortlessly slaughtered Floor Bosses was utterly horrifying.
.....
Leaving the bewildered duo behind, Tsuna continued his walk.
Ais...?
In a secluded clearing surrounded by towering ash-trees, Tsuna found the Sword Princess. She was repeatedly executing flawless, high-speed practice swings with her beloved sword, Desperate. Sensing his approach, Ais halted her swing and turned around.
"Tsuna...?"
"Ah. Sorry. Did I interrupt you?"
"No. I was just doing some light swings."
Shaking her head, Ais gracefully sheathed the gleaming silver blade.
"Hey, Tsuna."
"Yeah?"
"Bell... he was amazing, wasn't he?"
"Yeah, he was..."
Tsuna recalled the ferocious, bloody struggle from five days ago. Even as someone who fundamentally detested violence, Bell's desperate battle against the Minotaur had deeply moved him.
"Tsuna."
"What is it?"
"Could you... spar with me for a little bit?"
"Eh!? Right now!?"
Tomorrow was the climax of the expedition. They were about to step into the most hostile, lethal environment known to mankind. Wasting precious stamina on a spar right now was the last thing on Tsuna's mind.
"I know we need to save our strength. But... ever since I saw that fight, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. My blood is still boiling. Honestly, swinging my sword at empty air isn't enough to suppress it anymore."
"Alright... I understand."
Knowing that raw combat instincts couldn't simply be reasoned away, Tsuna sighed and accepted her challenge. Tsuna ignited his flame, entering Hyper Dying Will Mode, while Ais drew Desperate with a sharp ring of steel.
"Here I go."
Closing the distance in a single, explosive step, Ais unleashed a torrential barrage of god-speed thrusts and slashes. Tsuna didn't move an inch from his starting position. Using the absolute minimum amount of movement required, he perfectly slipped and weaved through her lethal hurricane of steel.
He got stronger again...!?
He was evading her fastest combinations without taking a single step backward. Previously, Tsuna had been forced to use the Vongola Gear to block her heaviest strikes. Now, he was dodging her blade entirely without even using his hands. Over the past five days, Tsuna had continuously engaged the strongest monsters the Dungeon had to offer, fighting more than anyone else in the expedition. That relentless baptism of high-speed, lethal combat had drastically accelerated his growth once again.
Just how high does his potential reach...!?
It had barely been a week since they met, yet his evolution was explosive, completely shattering any perceived limits. Ais was utterly astounded.
Suddenly, Ais ceased her assault and leaped backward, vanishing into the dense canopy of the ash-trees. Moving with total silence, she utilized the thick branches as high-speed footholds, circling her prey from above.
As the faint rustling of bark echoed through the clearing, Tsuna remained perfectly still, his eyes closed, tracking her invisible presence.
This is...
A massive shower of severed branches plummeted from the canopy, raining down on Tsuna's position. Ais was actively slicing the trees as she moved, utilizing the falling debris to obscure his vision and disrupt his concentration.
(Behind me!!)
Sensing a lethal spike of bloodlust, Tsuna whipped around. Ais was in freefall, riding a massive, severed log downward. Her sword was sheathed, her hand resting on the hilt, perfectly coiled to unleash a devastating high-speed draw-slash. The moment Tsuna turned, she kicked off the log, altering her trajectory to strike from his absolute blind spot.
In a flash of silver light, Ais drew Desperate. Propelled by the momentum of her descent, the god-speed blade cleaved straight toward Tsuna's neck.
!?
Without even looking back, Tsuna executed a flawless backflip, cleanly evading the lethal arc of silver. As he landed, he stepped effortlessly into her guard, placing the rigid edge of his right hand softly against the side of her neck.
"Checkmate."
He didn't even use his flames...!?
Ais's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. He had completely neutralized her ultimate, high-speed ambush without relying on his flame propulsion to escape.
"Are you satisfied now?"
"One more time..."
"Ais. I know it's frustrating, but we can't do this anymore. Any more than this, and it'll actively hinder you tomorrow."
"Just one more time... I swear this is the last one..."
(I had a feeling it would come to this... How am I supposed to talk her down now?)
Knowing the battle-crazed swordswoman wouldn't easily back down, Tsuna racked his brain for a peaceful solution.
"Then I shall be your opponent instead."
"R-Riveria...!?"
A chilling voice cut through the clearing. Ais froze instantly. Standing at the edge of the ash-trees was Riveria, her arms crossed tight against her chest. One look at the High Elf's expression, and all the blood instantly drained from Ais's face.
"It warms my heart to see you overflowing with so much energy the night before our descent."
Riveria was smiling, but the absolute, murderous fury radiating from her aura was palpable. Ais stood completely paralyzed, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly like a fish out of water. Having suffered Riveria's wrath during her childhood, Ais knew perfectly well that defying the High Elf was a fate worse than death.
"Now then. Shall we begin?"
"Gah...!?"
Moving with a speed that defied her class as a mage, Riveria closed the distance in a blur and drove her fist directly into Ais's head.
Without a single word of protest, Ais crashed face-first into the dirt, a comical puff of smoke rising from her skull as her consciousness was knocked clean out of her.
O-One hit...
Having no idea the elegant High Elf possessed such terrifying, merciless physical violence, Tsuna swore to himself then and there that he would never, under any circumstances, make Riveria angry.
─────
Support this fanfict by leaving Positive Review, Comments, and Power Stones.
For Advance Chapters:
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations