The next morning.
After breakfast, Lynn took Lili to the East District first.
After withdrawing all the money, the Palum Girl had saved, the two of them went to the Take-Mikazuchi Familia.
"Good morning, Lynn."
Ouka was currently leading the members of the Take-Mikazuchi Familia in morning exercises.
"Morning. This is the reward we agreed on yesterday."
Lynn took a gemstone from his backpack and casually tossed it to Ouka.
"This is... a Sprite's Gem?!"
Ouka let out an exclamation.
Gems and minerals possessed by Sprites are very valuable and can be used to craft magic items.
Although Ouka was not an expert in this field, he understood how precious a Sprite's Gem was.
"I just helped you find... find someone. There's no need to give so much money."
"It's fine. Just consider it a hiring fee.
"When we go to the Dungeon in a bit, I'll need you guys to help with some things."
Lynn waved his hand and replied generously.
Behind him, Lili silently lowered her head.
You're certainly fine; after all, it's not your money.
After repeatedly chanting "it's okay" and "this is all to leave the Sumo Familia" in her mind, Lili finally adjusted her mindset and looked around.
For some reason, she felt that the people of the Take-Mikazuchi Familia were looking at her with strange eyes.
In fact, Lili's feeling was not wrong.
Most of the Take-Mikazuchi Familia members present had participated in the investigation against her yesterday.
More than half the credit for Lynn being able to catch Lili and extort her so quickly belonged to the Take-Mikazuchi Familia.
At this moment, seeing Lili and Lynn acting together, their expressions were naturally a bit subtle.
"Lynn, what's her... situation?"
Seeing that Lili's gaze wasn't on them, Ouka leaned in toward Lynn and asked in a low voice.
"Don't worry about it; just treat her as my Supporter."
"And about yesterday's matter?"
"Keep it a secret for half a month. After half a month, it won't matter whether Lili knows or not."
"I understand."
Ouka now had an idea of what was going on.
"Is God Take-mikazuchi here?"
Lynn looked toward the house not far away.
Ouka nodded. "Lord Take-Mikazuchi is working on that Breathing Technique of yours. It's said that the progress is quite good."
"That's good then."
Lynn withdrew his gaze.
He had come to the Take-Mikazuchi Familia today mainly to ask about the progress of the Thunder Breathing modification.
Confirming there were no issues, he called out to Ouka and told them to get ready.
Half an hour later, the group gathered at The Babel.
Having purchased his supplies, a fully armed Lynn led the way into the Dungeon.
Because he shared JoJo Lynns power, Lynn's physical attributes had improved further.
The monsters on the first twelve floors of the Dungeon were no different from unarmed children in front of him.
Pushing forward all the way, the group soon arrived at the passage leading from the twelfth floor to the thirteenth floor.
After walking down, the slope extending from the twelfth floor, what appeared before Lynn and the others was a single rocky path stretching into the depths.
"The characteristic of the thirteenth floor is that the passage connecting the cavern rooms is very long. To have a safe fighting environment, we need to speed up and reach the first cavern room."
Knowing this was Lynn's first time on the thirteenth floor, Ouka briefly introduced the situation of the floor.
Of course, Lynn already knew these things even if Ouka didn't say them.
He wasn't the type of person to get arrogant just because he had some strength and rush headlong into the depths of the Dungeon.
He had already researched the monster intelligence for the middle floors and the maps from the thirteenth to the seventeenth floors before setting out.
The group moved toward the first cavern room, and before long, Mikoto, who was walking at the front, stopped in her tracks.
"Monsters."
Relying on the effect of her skill, Yatagarasu, Mikoto quickly confirmed the enemy's situation.
"Hellhounds, four in total."
As soon as she spoke, several overlapping pitter-patter sounds came from the passage ahead.
Four four-legged monsters with pitch-black skin and bodies comparable to the size of a small calf appeared in everyone's sight.
They had ferocious faces similar to wolves, their eyes emitted a faint red glow, and they bared their teeth with low growls.
"We're starting off with a big wave."
Ouka's expression was solemn as he stood at the front of the group with an axe in one hand and a shield in the other.
"The others and I will pin down two. Lynn, you and Mikoto go solve..."
"No need for so much trouble."
Lynn walked past Ouka.
Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!
Lynn took a deep breath and stepped forward, his figure vanishing from the spot in an instant.
Seeing this, the four Hellhounds let out a loud howl and launched a charge with equally astonishing momentum.
As both sides closed in simultaneously, the distance of over fifty meters vanished in a flash.
And just as the two sides were about to collide, the Hellhounds' movements began to slow down in Lynn's eyes.
With the help of his new skill, Hymn of Courage, Lynn easily captured the openings of these Hellhounds as if he had entered bullet time.
A cold light sliced through the air. Lynn passed through the middle of the Hellhounds, severing the head of one of them.
At the same time, a clicking sound rang out.
Lynn's left leg twisted in a strange posture, and his figure instantly spun around toward the back.
Slash—! Slash—!
In just a single breath's time, two more Hellhounds were sliced in half by him.
"Not bad."
Lynn shook his leg, and the twisted left leg returned to its original state with a series of clicking sounds.
This was one of the moves JoJo Lynn had developed using Ripple by referencing the principle of the Spring Punch.
By dislocating the joint of the left or right leg and then assisting with skillful force, one could achieve an instantaneous turn.
In close-quarters combat where combatants pass each other, turning around a step ahead of the enemy meant seizing the initiative.
If the enemy wasn't strong enough, they would be cut in half like the second and third Hellhounds.
Roar—!
The fourth Hellhound, which had luckily survived, finally halted its charge and turned to face Lynn.
It raised its upper body and lowered its lower body, large sparks constantly leaking from its fangs.
"These days, even magical girls don't have invincibility frames during their transformations, yet you dare to charge up right in front of me."
Lynn pulled out a throwing knife with a reverse grip, and surging Ripple energy flowed from his palm to wrap around the blade.
Silver Overdrive!
Like a streak of light piercing the air, the throwing knife appeared before the Hellhound in the next second, piercing through it.
Boom—!
The flames that had just begun to form dissipated, and the last Hellhound collapsed to the ground, its breath gone.
"Average."
Lynn pulled up his pants.
That was close; when he dislocated his leg joint just now, he almost dislocated his pants along with it.
...