A crossover anime/manga story, set in everyday Tokyo, but within a loop of a game.

Page 141

"Nothing, just..."

Kato Megumi glanced at Asagiri standing there and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Although the doctor's original intention was to lead us into a trap, in the end... it was the doctor who killed the Blackwatch commander."

Asagiri sighed softly, looking quite helpless.

"There's nothing we can do. It has a path to heaven but won't take it; it has no way to hell but will throw itself into it."

Upon hearing this, Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but retort.

"They didn't come here on their own, did they? It's you, a monster as terrifying as hell, who came knocking on our door."

87

Chapter 87: A Trap for Blackwatch.

"Um... excuse me for interrupting you."

Seeing that the four members of the team were all relaxed and chatting casually, Rikka Sakuragawa couldn't help but speak up.

"Should we leave here first? If it takes too long to complete the level, won't it lower our completion rating?"

"Oh right, I forgot you were still here."

Supported by Asuna Yuuki and Kotoko Iwanaga, Asagiri walked to the wall of the hall and slowly sat down. Then, looking at Rikka Sakuragawa, she smiled and spoke.

"As agreed beforehand, we will exchange the information we have about this instance with you, and then you can leave."

Upon hearing this, Rikka Sakuragawa remained silent for a few seconds before finally unable to resist asking softly.

"Aren't you planning to leave yet?"

"Do not."

When asked by Sakuragawa Rikka, Asagiri did not hide anything but answered directly.

"You've probably guessed it by now. This Giant Mountain Mental Hospital is actually a bizarre experimental site created by a mysterious organization called Blackwatch for the development of biological weapons. And now, the gatekeeper here, the commander with those strange powers, is dead. Blackwatch is a highly disciplined organization. Although there's no evidence, based on my understanding of this organization, they must have some kind of means to monitor Giant Mountain Mental Hospital. It might be technology, or it might be some kind of strange power. It doesn't matter. What matters is..."

"I understand."

Before Asagiri could finish speaking, Sakuragawa Rikka nodded, glanced at Iwanaga Kotoko, Kato Megumi, and Yuuki Asuna beside her, and then said calmly.

“If your companions have no objections, I’m also interested in joining you.”

Upon hearing this, Asagiri smiled slightly and said softly.

"It's so easy to talk to smart people."

"Be with each other."

Rikka Sakuragawa is a very intelligent person. She can guess what the other person means without Asagiri having to explain things too clearly.

It was obvious that this wasn't the first time the other party had encountered members of Blackwatch. Judging from the words of the commander at the beginning, this boy, whom his companions called "Leader," had not only encountered Blackwatch before, but had even received special attention from this mysterious organization, and had been given the code name "Shadow."

Since the other party has encountered members of Blackwatch and is still alive and well, it can be basically concluded that the other party has killed members of Blackwatch before. Furthermore, in the post-game results screen, the option to kill members of Blackwatch is found to be a special action that provides a bonus to the completion level, which is equivalent to a hidden main quest.

Combined with what Asagiri just said, the reason why the four-person team is still here after killing the final boss of this dungeon is now obvious.

The four were waiting for Blackwatch to notice the anomaly at the Giant Mountain Mental Hospital. Then, when the enemy sent a squad to arrive, they would kill all the Blackwatch members. Although this would delay their progress, they would gain extra points for completing the level, making it a win-win situation.

Asagiri tells Sakuragawa Rikka about this, meaning she's asking if she wants to cooperate and participate in the operation with the four members of the team.

The premise is that she passed the test just now. Even though she thought Asagiri was on the verge of death, she did not show hostility towards the four members of the team. She even wanted to use her unique talent to save Asagiri. Otherwise, Asagiri would not have invited her to fight against Black Watch.

"Cooperation is no problem..."

After the battle just now, Kotoko Iwanaga had developed a basic level of trust in Rikka Sakuragawa. Although she still instinctively disliked her, at least Rikka Sakuragawa was not her enemy.

"But what exactly is the effect of your ability? I don't want to pry into your secrets, but since we're going to fight Blackwatch together later, it would be best if we could have a better understanding of each other's abilities so that we can better plan our tactics."

"Is that so...Okay then."

Rikka Sakuragawa raised her hand and tucked a strand of short hair behind her ear. Her slightly pale skin and light purple eyeshadow gave her a unique air of frail beauty.

"The effects of my talent are actually quite simple. The enhancement I just used, the creation of the black mist clone, my own resurrection, and the healing I just wanted to use all require consuming my own life force."

"A skill that consumes life force?"

Upon hearing this, Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but ask in confusion.

"This is the first time I've heard of skills that consume life force. What exactly does life force refer to?"

Just as Sakuragawa Rikka was pondering what language to use to explain, she heard Asagiri suddenly speak.

"Consuming life force means consuming one's physical attributes. Moreover, life force is different from physical strength and mental strength; it cannot be gradually replenished with rest. In layman's terms, every time she uses her unique talent, she pays the price of weakening her physical attributes."

"As expected, you guessed it."

Sakuragawa Rikka was somewhat surprised when Asagiri revealed the effects of her unique talent, but only slightly. After all, given the intelligence and judgment Asagiri displayed, it was reasonable for her to be able to discern the changes in Asagiri's state before and after the battle and thus determine the price she would have to pay for using her unique talent.

“That’s right, just like he said. What I consume when I use my exclusive talent is my physical fitness. And physical fitness is not like physical strength and mental strength, which can be replenished. For example, when I entered this dungeon, my physical fitness rating was excellent, but now... it has dropped to the ordinary level.”

At this point, Rikka Sakuragawa paused for a few seconds, a complex look in her eyes, before speaking softly.

“Methods like running and exercising to improve physical fitness are far from enough to replenish the energy I expend using my unique talent ability, and I don’t have the time for that either. So the fastest way for me to improve my physical fitness is through the reward settlement after clearing the level. If I use my ability too many times, causing my physical fitness to be weakened too much, I will become so weak that I lose the ability to fight, or even become so weak that I can’t stand up and become a complete cripple.”

Upon hearing Rikka Sakuragawa's words, Megumi Kato frowned slightly and murmured to herself.

"This ability is almost like..."

"Evil magic, right?"

Sakura Rikka's lips curved into an elegant smile. Her beautiful face was adorned with a smile, yet it inexplicably gave off a sense of loneliness and sorrow. Her eyelids were lowered, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly.

"I want to get rid of the monster within me and become a normal human again... but I have to use the power that this monster brings in order to achieve my goal. It's ironic, isn't it?"

"It's quite ironic."

Asagiri first nodded in agreement, then spoke frankly.

"But we don't have time to listen to your sentimental musings. You should first tell us how many more times you can use your ability given your current physical condition. If I feel that you have no value and can only be a hindrance, then we shouldn't cooperate."

"Please rest assured, in order to obtain the highest level of dungeon completion rating, I will do my best to improve my physical fitness level, and..."

Sakuragawa Rikka took two steps forward, bent down slightly, looked directly into Asagiri's eyes as she sat against the wall, and spoke softly.

"Although I have always been a lone wolf, my greatest ability is actually used to assist others. I can attach the black mist that forms clones to a person, creating a peculiar connection. In this connection state, I cannot move, but all the damage the other person suffers during the connection will be transferred to me."

"what?"

Upon hearing about Rikka Sakuragawa's ability, Asuna Yuuki, Megumi Kato, and Kotoko Iwanaga all found it hard to believe.

As high-level players, they naturally recognize the power of this ability.

This is simply the best support skill!

"I see. Then you are indeed qualified to cooperate with us."

Seeing Asagiri stand up, still swaying slightly, Sakuragawa Rikka frowned slightly.

"In your current state, do you really still have the ability to fight?"

"Gone."

The morning mist made no attempt to conceal itself and honestly shook its head.

"I have difficulty walking now, let alone fighting. My mental energy is overdrawn, my physical strength is exhausted, my head is splitting, I feel weak all over, and I am in unbearable pain."

"then you……"

"That's why I have to go to the second basement level."

Asagiri put her arm around Yuuki Asuna's shoulder, looked at the other's gentle eyes filled with worry and concern, smiled and nodded to indicate that there was nothing to worry about, and then looked at Sakuragawa Rikkamichi.

"Let's split up before Blackwatch arrives. Violet and I will go to the second basement level, while you, Phantom, and Necro will go to the first floor to scout out the environment. As long as we don't leave the gates of the Giant Mountain Asylum, we shouldn't be considered to have cleared the level. We'll meet up again later and, once we're familiar with the terrain, we'll work together to devise a plan to eliminate Blackwatch."

Upon hearing Asagiri's words, Sakuragawa Rikka frowned slightly and said softly.

"You're letting those two come with me? Aren't you afraid I'll kill them and take their phones?"

"Pfft..."

Kotoko Iwanaga covered her mouth and laughed upon hearing this, then waved her hand, her expression and tone clearly sarcastic.

"You look so mature, but your thoughts are adorably naive. You killed me and the Phantom? Don't be ridiculous. With your strength, you might not even be able to beat me in close combat. Stop daydreaming!"

88

Chapter 88: The Strength of a Top Player Team.

Ten minutes later, in the fire escape on the second basement level.

"Please, Asuna."

Upon hearing Asagiri's words, Asuna Yuuki turned around and glanced at the other person sitting on the stairs with a relaxed smile on her face. She couldn't help but smile back, revealing a gentle smile.

"The time has finally come when you're willing to rely on me. You can leave everything to me now."

Asuna Yuuki first said this softly, then walked down the stairwell, opened the fire door to the fire escape, took a deep breath, and after a moment of preparation, shouted loudly.

"Doctor! We're back!!!"

After shouting this, Asuna Yuuki gently touched her chest, her delicate and beautiful face slightly flushed, then took a step back and gripped the exorcist's sword tightly in her hand.

Nearly ten seconds later, the fire door to the fire escape was suddenly flung open, and the doctor's distorted and terrifying face quickly peered in, his voice filled with uncontrollable excitement and madness.

“'Shadow'! Dark…”

Before the doctor could finish speaking, several flashing sword lights appeared in its field of vision.

Yuuki Asuna, with practiced ease, used the glint of light from her rapier to sever the doctor's limbs, then swiftly plunged the tip of the sword into the doctor's wide-open mouth, piercing straight through the back of his head. She then used her longsword to lift the doctor's body and turned to walk towards the stairs.

Seeing Yuuki Asuna's skillful movements, Asagiri nodded in satisfaction and smiled.

"Indeed, everyone has their own expertise. This kind of thing should be left to professionals like you."

Asuna Yuuki slightly raised her fair chin, like a little girl who was happy to receive a compliment but didn't want to show it too directly, and said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Of course, I'm a professional... wait, why am I so skilled at cutting limbs?!"

"Oh ho, you actually invented a White Album formula to create a mutant?"

Asagiri stood up from the stairs and looked at the doctor, who could only whimper because his mouth had been pierced by a long sword, but whose expression and eyes were clearly filled with resentment and twisted madness. She took out her "Cursed Rope Dart" and plunged it into the doctor's forehead without hesitation. She twisted the rope dart and gave him instructions in a relaxed and cheerful voice.

"Remember to come find me soon, I'll be waiting for you here."

As she watched the doctor's body turn into a cloud of black smoke and dissipate, Asuna Yuuki immediately asked.

"How is it? How much of your mental strength has recovered?"

"About five percent."

"Huh? Five percent?"

Upon hearing Asagiri's reply, Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but look troubled and sighed.

"You only have about 10% of your mental strength left. To recover to a state where you can fight normally, you'll need at least 60%. Subtracting the 5% you'll recover this time, that means... you still have to kill that guy seven more times..."

"more than."

Asagiri reached out and pinched Yuuki Asuna's cheek, smiling as she spoke.

"I need to replenish my strength with the Ring of Transformation, so I'll probably have to kill that guy a dozen or twenty times. I'll leave it to you."

"Okay, leave it to me."

Asuna Yuuki clenched her fists, nodded firmly, then blushed slightly, tucked her long flaxen hair behind her ear, and whispered shyly.

"But...you have to repay me in some way, right?"

"How will you repay me?"

"I have not decided yet."

Asuna Yuuki gently drew circles on the ground with her foot. After thinking for a moment, she looked up at Asagiri, raised a delicate white finger, and smiled sweetly.

"But the interest is just a KISS, right? This is already a very fair price... Hmm..."

Before Yuuki Asuna could finish speaking, her lips were sealed by Asagiri's. It wasn't until more than ten seconds later that the two separated. At this point, Yuuki Asuna's face was flushed with embarrassment, her breathing became rapid, and her bright eyes were filled with mist as she spoke coyly and angrily.

"Seriously, I meant a light kiss would have been enough, why did you... We're still in a dungeon, control yourself, don't act like a pervert."

Asagiri replied with a sincere expression.