[Deeper and Deeper inside]

Suddenly, the magic circle that was in the middle of the chamber began to glow, getting the attention of the others and snapping Haru out of his deep thought. A powerful aura could be felt emitting from it, putting slight downward pressure on them, as if to represent the heavy burden they might have to carry and bear with them as the so-called heroes who are about to enter this new area of the dungeon.

Haru: This can't be good for sure.

Touka: What part of you thought this was a good sign!

Haru: I don't know!

And from the glowing circle, several cracks formed in the air. Shattering like glass to reveal a starry night sky. The same way as the portal Drodia conjured up to send Haru off to fight Decarabia, albeit this one being much larger and with more rounded edges to the portal as opposed to the jagged ones on Drodia's.

Haru took the plunge and reached into the portal, finding that it felt wet, cold, and slimy as the area surrounding his hand rippled like a puddle of water. He took a deep breath before peering in with his head, with Touka and Airi holding on to his back just in case he were to actually get sucked in.

In there he saw a lush forest bathed in sunlight that poked through the leaves, with an abandoned moss-covered wooden cabin in the middle of said, probably been there for a while, a couple years give or take, just with those looks alone. The horror movie vibes returning as he pulled his head out of the portal.

Haru: Someone definitely lived there, I saw a cabin if you wanted to know.

Touka: I see. Should we step through then?

Haru: I don't see why not. Just...prepare for combat like usual.

Touka: Got it. All together or-

Haru: Shotgun!

He then jumps in ahead of them as they soon follow on Touka's lead, all creating the same sort of rippling effect as they jumped through to the other side of the portal, where the real dungeon will now begin as the text had implied, the chamber they were in before only being the entrance towards this dungeon dimension.

Haru was now in the very landscape that he saw, the lush forest being as cold as the slime-like portal he looked in from but now lit up by the bluish-hue of the moonlight as it turned nighttime rather quickly, weirding him out a little. He then turned back, expecting the rest of them to be there, but in reality only Elleth was there with a sort of forced smile on her face.

Haru: What the...Where'd they go?

Elleth: How should I know! Though I did let them jump in before me, maybe that had something to do with it?

Haru: Alright...let's find them tomorrow morning I guess. Seeing as it's already night and all, follow me.

Intense red lightning surged around him, lighting up his surroundings in a red light that contrasted with the moon's own as he walked towards the cabin he saw earlier, with Elleth following just behind him, her hands inside her blazer's pockets with an unsure look on her face as the sound of crunching leaves flooded her ears.

When they finally got there, Haru tried opening the wooden door to no avail, having a bit of trouble as the hinges seemed to have rusted, needing to use a bit of force, specifically the kind that ramming into it with his right shoulder would boast just to finally get it open.

But given how old the cabin looked, it wasn't too surprising that ended up happening. The two then went in, finding a fairly clean room complete with what you would expect. Though the room only seemed to be for one person. With it only having one chair, one desk, one closet, and one single bed. With an already lit up lantern placed on the middle of the desk, giving most of the room inside the cabin its illumination.

Haru: So...who's taking the bed?

Elleth: You can, I don't really mind sleeping on the floor. I'm somewhat used to that, being a dragon and all...

Haru: If you insist then, don't complain if you find it hard to sleep there in your human form. You said that.

Elleth: I won't. I'm not that bad, Haru.

Haru: Whatever you say...

The two then went in, Elleth closing the door behind her, making a slight creaking sound courtesy of its rusted hinges as Haru took off his gauntlets, placing them neatly on the slightly dusty desk before then taking off his coat. Draping it on the backrest of the chair right in front of it as his gaze was taken up by the copper lantern's light.

It calmed him down from the fairly well-hidden panic he had when he saw that it was only him and Elleth. The trance he was put in by the flame's soft and warm light made the background noise unnoticeable. That noise being the sound of two particular pieces of clothing falling down onto the wooden floor before being followed up by a couple of footsteps that seemed to come towards him.

Haru then felt something...soft and squishy on the upper half of his back, the feeling breaking him out of the trance the lantern put him in as a slight blush appeared on his face. Unsure if it was what he was thinking it could be or not, scared of arriving at a misunderstanding and having an awkward conversation that might follow after that.

Elleth: Been a while since it was just the two of us...So what do you say? I-if you don't mind that is...

Haru: You're a dragon right? Not a Succubus?

He jokingly asked. Irking Elleth a little as much as she'd like to deny it while taking a step back as Haru turned around to look at her. Spotting her blazer and skirt on the ground next to her leg armor, looking like they've been hastily taken off with the way they were somewhat scattered on the wooden floor before actually taking a look at the girl in front of him.

The white undershirt she wore underneath said blazer was now undone, showing off her lacy black underwear which matched up with her similarly black stockings. The underwear's top holding back the weapons of mass destruction that were strapped to her chest while her face showed a nervous yet determined look with just a hint of embarrassment.

Haru: You know, the old you would have a heart attack if she saw you right now.

This got a couple of giggles out of her, he was right. She did assume something more lewd would happen when he brought her to his room in the inn he was staying in back then. To think she and him would in this sort of situation right now, actually about to do what her past self had stupidly assumed that time, though now she herself was the one to initiate this.

Elleth: You're probably right, but I-

Her sentence was cut off by Haru going up to her and giving her a kiss, a deep one at that. She was, of course, caught off-guard by this and the fact that he was surprisingly good at this despite what she knows about him. Though then again, there was the possibility of him having done this with either of those two childhood friends of his.

But those thoughts went away quickly as she melted in the pleasure. Her legs started to buckle as Haru threw in his tongue with the kiss. All the while his gaze shifted onto the bed nearby, starting to slowly guide her towards it while continuing on with what he was currently doing right now.

Elleth felt her leg brush up against the bed's wooden frame, the look on her eyes saying that she already knew what he was up to. As Haru did what she expected, pushing her onto the bed. Making a muffled thud on the white bedsheets. Her undershirt opened up even more thanks to the fall as he leaned over, grabbing her wrists and raising them above her head, effectively pinning her in place. Not like she was going to run off but still.

Elleth: Mind telling me how you knew to do that earlier? That kiss I mean.

Haru: Nope.

Elleth: Fair enough I gue-Ahhhhnn

A soft and sweet moan escaped from her mouth as Haru began to kiss and nibble on the dragon girl's defenseless neck, paving the way for more of these noises to come flooding through. All while one of his hands glided over to one of her thighs, caressing and squishing the soft skin that was currently being covered by her stockings. Leaving one of Elleth's arms unpinned, with her using that one to pull him deeper into her neck.

By the time he was done, he was quite tired, yet he intentionally chose to keep by her neck as he took some heavy breaths. The feeling of them further stimulating her as she tried and failed to stifle her moans. A small laugh came from Haru as she affectionately called him an idiot in response to his laughter.

She then felt a hand going under her butt, causing her to look over. Seeing that Haru was currently taking off the bottoms of her underwear, casting them aside joining her skirt and blazer on the floor. His next action causing even more sweet moans to come out from her. Desperately, she covered her mouth with her now free hands, still kind of embarrassed about it despite reaching this point already.

On the complete opposite side of the dungeon however, in an open grassy field being lit up by daylight, the three missing girls were busy fighting off various creatures. Particularly stone golems, giant spiders and insects, more goblins, and undead skeletal knights.

Touka: Out of the way!

Celica and Airi gave a knowing look as they jumped into the air, compressing mana into their legs to jump higher as the large gauntlet Touka wore on her transplanted arm gave off a blue glow from in between its armor plates, reeling it back and forming a fist before smashing the ground with it.

The action caused a massive shockwave to be generated, a powerful one that completely shattered the ground surrounding while also causing an earthquake around the general area that the three were fighting these monsters in. Throwing them into the air as Airi and Celica swooped in to finish most of them off.

Effectively leaving them with only half of the monsters to deal with left, though Touka felt like something heavy was perched on her back after using her skill that way, the blue glow that her gauntlet gave off faded away as she fell onto one of her knees out of breath, deactivating {Boost} at the same time.

Celica: Don't keel over now, we've still got these guys to deal with.

Touka: I know, just let me rest for a bit. We've been fighting them for two hours now.

Celica: Fine, but the moment you recover. You better join the fight again.

Touka: Got it.

Touka's shadow then expands, her eyes widening a bit in confusion as the expanded shadow evolves into a clear purple dome made of darkness. A protective bubble made for her as Celica ran off to aid Airi, tearing through more of the monsters that surrounded them using her gigantic claws and completely destroying one that was about to get Airi from behind.

Celica: Stay on your toes, I keep telling you this even during our training.

Airi: Sorry, it's a bit hard to do that with all of these things in front of me.

She says while firing a blood magic spell, which launched several sharp blood spikes fanning out from one of her palms and stabbing into several of those monsters. Extremely similar to Haru's own Hundred Impale just with a much wider range thanks to the way it came out.

Celica: I'll back you up then if you can't. The faster we get this done the better the chance we might find those two.

Airi: That or those two find us first, either way is fine with me.

The two kept on fighting, with Touka watching from the dome as they blasted through more and more of them. A clear end to this fight was right in their hands as their attacks got more and more powerful, putting everything they had at the moment to pull this off.

The ground being gouged and covered in nothing but blood, hellfire, and darkness as they were nearing their limits for now, Airi returned back to her human form after deactivating {Demonbane} as Celica's claws reverted back into normal cloth gloves.

Though, there were still two monsters left standing, the two being grotesque mutated and cyborg-esque orcs. Their bodies were as mechanical as they were left organic. Various wires and veins bulging out all the same just like their eyes as the two let out a beastial almost kaiju-like roar. Causing some ringing in Airi and Celica's ears.

Airi: Maybe we should've taken those two down first...

Celica: And let the little ones attack us while we're focused on those two, not a chance. Besides, you always save the best for last in these.

Airi: I'm not sure that should be applied here of all things...

Celica: Sounds a bit rude but suck it up for now. It's just these two left anyway. A certain someone should finally be joining us here...

Touka: At least I followed what you said. My arm still kinda hurts a little.

Celica: That better not be an excuse to hold us back.

Touka: What's with you toda-

Celica: I'm a little jealous that's all. He's still my fiancé, it's just that I'm willing to share.

Touka: Well...that's better than my sister back then. You're a lot less jealous than her, that's for sure.

Airi: Hey! Are we fighting each other or these two dumbasses!

She was about to say more to the pair behind her but a metallic clang cut her off, it seemed like the very sister Touka was talking about was currently busy defending the two of them from the orcs. Holding her own quite well while they had their conversation all this time.

Touka: It wasn't even fighting...

Celica: Let's just help her out alright.

The two of them finally get over there and help Airi out, each charging up one of their fists with either blue energy or darkness and countering a blow from one of the orcs that would've been fatal to the demon girl had they not come in at the very last moment as much as Airi would've preferred if they had come earlier.

Their combined effort completely obliterated one of said orc's arms as the other one came in trying to get a swing at them with its own intact arms. All three dodged with Celica immediately restraining it with several bands of intense darkness wrapping around its four limbs while Touka went off and took care of the other one, going full force even if she had just recovered from earlier.

At the same time as Celica's restraining, Airi took the time to charge up an attack of her own. Hellfire began to swirl and surge around her arms, getting hotter and hotter as the fire reached her two fists that were clenched quite tightly, to the point where it kind of hurt her a little.

She cocked both of her fists back, her stance widening in the process as her gaze locked on to the orc in front of her. One that was clearly locked in a futile battle against the restraints Celica had wrapped around it, relentlessly trying to get out to no avail.

And with a single breath, Airi thrusted both of her flame-covered fists forward. Releasing a torrent of raging hellfire towards the orc, turning herself into what was basically a human flamethrower as she kept intensifying the flames she produced while the orc screamed and shrieked as it was being trapped and burning alive.

The strange metal that covered parts of its body both internally and externally began to melt off, furthering the pain it already felt as its skin slowly fell off along with the molten metal. The bone that lies underneath begins to turn into ash as one of its eyeballs bursts, blinding it in one eye while several booms could be heard in the background, likely from Touka's shockwaves.

Airi kept going, giving a hearty warcry as she did until she had almost nothing left, the flames fading away and revealing the orc to have been turned to ash, its skeleton left very much burnt as globs of metal bubbled on the remains and on the ground. As a faint orange aura, one that blended in with the similarly orange light of the afternoon sun, faded away from a tired Airi with smoke coming out from her arms and mouth.

Her eyes were just about to close shut but the crack of a whip forced her awake. The sound came from a band of darkness that Celica used to hold back the remaining orc from getting to her little sister, who was on one of her knees and equally as tired as her. With the elf girl continuing to fight the orc in her stead, going all out with her claws and ripping it to shreds in a sense, kind of showing off in some places.

The orc fell in pieces as Celica gracefully landed, her claws covered in a mixture of orc blood and darkness as she let out several heavy breaths. Her claws going back into their standby mode as she nearly collapsed on the ground had Touka not come in at the last minute.

Celica: If it took this much out of us...then I worry about the monster at the bottom of this...

Touka: Don't collapse now, we still have to find those two...Elleth especially considering our state right now.

Airi: Let's rest up first. My body feels like it's burning up right now...Guessing it's got something to do with my attack earlier. At least for a little while...

Touka: I'd agree but it's getting dark. We should really get going before anything else. I don't wanna be stuck here out in the open in the dead of night.

Celica: She's right, we need to get going while there's still some sunlight left.

Airi: But where exactly should we head, got any ideas?

Touka: Over there. If all goes well we should be able to meet up with them.

She stood up, turning behind her and pointing towards a tall gray tower in the distance. One that seemed to be endless as it kept going, disappearing into the clouds with little bits that could be seen as the white cotton candy-looking mist moved past it, the tower becoming thinner and thinner as it went higher into the sky.

The five minutes passed and now they started to head off. Their respective weapons drawn and skills active as they kept the tower within their line of sight. Which was fairly easy to do since they were mostly in an open grass field, the sounds of the plant rustling and crunching backdropping as they stepped through.

The three of them were around halfway through the journey when it turned into a fairly cold night. Airi was now in the front leading them as her arms were now coated in hellfire, lighting up the way much like how she did so in the earlier parts of this dungeon before they were separated while also keeping them warm.

Airi: It's already this dark, huh...

Touka: Scared?

Airi: Who wouldn't be, I'll just power through it. We're getting close anyway.

Celica suddenly encased all three of them inside a dome of darkness, even covering the ground beneath their feet as several roots attacked from above and the sides. A tree-like monster appeared out of the ground in front of them, its teeth looking eerily humanoid as several fruits could be seen growing from its body.

Airi: I may have jinxed us right now.

Touka: Not sure if that really counts. So who's going to- and she's off on her own.

She referred to Celica, the one who created the protective dome in the first place. Who was now fighting off the giant tree beast, the monster healing as quickly as she cut it with her claws. An angry grunt coming from her as she continued on regardless, now coating her body with darkness. The same sort of technique she used in her fight with the Crystalline Dragon.

Airi: How'd she even get out there so fast?

Touka: You saw her when all of us were training together while Haru was in the hospital right? Pretty sure that should explain a lot...

Airi: This'll be a long night then...

Touka: We can make it a lot shorter if we help her out y'know.

Touka activated {Boost} and jumped out, permeating through the dome. She returned the favor from earlier as she held back a root that would have otherwise impaled Celica through before completely shattering it with a single shockwave, much to the elf girl's dismay.

Celica: What happened to the need to rest?

Touka: That's all out the window with this thing in front of us.

And with a single sigh from her, she allows the two sisters to help her out. Another fight breaks out as they fight the beast throughout the night. The rush kept them all awake as they brought out their strongest attacks first in an attempt to make this quick so they could go to sleep.

Back on the other side however, which was now in daytime. A certain dragon girl slowly began to wake up to the calm aftermath of, for lack of a better word to accurately describe it, the lustful night she had with the very boy fast asleep right next to her. Stretching her arms upward as the bare upper half of her body felt the nice cool air, the bottom being covered up by a gray-colored wool blanket.

Elleth: Jeez, how did I even manage to convince myself to do that last night...And to think he'd...

She looked down and stared at her arms for a bit. They had marks on them as if they had been in handcuffs or tied up by rope. Remembering how exactly she got them and getting embarrassed in the process. Just how did he know to do that sort of thing she questioned.

Elleth: I wonder if I should ask him about that...On second thought, now that I said it out loud that might be a bad idea. I might get more than I bargained for if I do ask.

Though she did ponder on that very thought for the next couple of minutes while brushing her now formerly messy hair with her hand, going back and forth between wanting to ask him about it or not and between satisfying her own curiosity or remaining oblivious. In the end however, she would settle on not asking.

Elleth: This...Is something else entirely. Can't believe I let this slip, must've been the heat of the moment that time...

She said while patting her stomach region. Recalling a certain kind of warmth she felt in there at the climax of that night while muttering to herself. Something about getting him to take responsibility for what might come afterward because of that night.

Elleth's gaze then shifted towards Haru, who was lying on his stomach and hugging one of the pillows tightly as he slept. On his bare back were some scratch marks and on his shoulders near his neck were some bite marks. Both of which were from her as much as she'd want to deny it. Mentally noting to apologize to him for those when he woke up.

The dragon girl then laid back down on the bed next to him, lying on her side and facing toward him as she covered herself back up again with the blanket. She played around with his hair while he slept as she continued to mutter to herself. Not really minding the many life-threatening fights they've had as much as that sounds wrong, since before then she's just been flying around, eating and sleeping. It was nice but a bit boring.

Elleth: It's probably on me since I refused Drodia's offer back then unlike the others. So when I heard she contacted you, I couldn't believe it.

Haru: Is that so?

Elleth: E-eh!?! H-how long have you been awake for!

Haru: I just did, it was peaceful too until I heard your voice.

Elleth: What's that supposed to mean?!

Haru: Nevermind, so abou-Ahh..

He hissed in pain as he turned over on the bed like a pancake, lying on his back as Elleth scooted closer to him. The claw marks she gave him last night still stung judging by the noise he just made. This caused her to panic a little as he tried to reassure her that he was fine.

Elleth: Sorry about that, I got a bit y'know...

Haru: It's fine I swear. We both got a bit rough last night, don't worry about it too much.

Elleth: G-got it...

Haru: That being said, we really should get going. Those three have waited long enough.

He sat up on the bed, looking off to the nightstand and floor trying to find his underwear. And there he found that it was halfway from being swallowed up by the underside of the bed. A look on his face asked how the hell it even got there as he bent over from the bed to try and grab it, not really caring about the fact he was exposing his bare butt to the heavens as he was grabbing the piece of clothing from the floor, his efforts would be rewarded as he was eventually successful in getting it.

Elleth: You could've gotten off the bed. It would have made it much easier.

Haru: Yeah but it was already closer to the bed, why bother getting out if it's right there?

He says while grabbing his button-up black dress shirt and tie, hanging the tie from one of his arms as he worked his way down the buttons and closing up his shirt. It was only then, after putting on the tie and fixing up the collar to his liking, did he finally get off the bed.

Haru: This is the aftermath the videos don't show. I swear to god if one of my socks is missing...

Luckily he still had a pair of socks, a sigh of relief came from him as he went on to find and put on his pants. Eventually getting his whole outfit together minus the coat. Which he had left on the chair that was with the desk that he put his gauntlets on, so it wouldn't be that hard to go and get it.

Elleth: Haru, could you go and bring my clothes to me? My legs are still...

Haru: Fine, but here...

He grabbed the coat from the chair and chucked it at her before telling her to put it on for now as he picked up and brought her clothes over. She put most of them on quite easily aside from her bottom ones, her legs still hurt a little but she managed regardless. She then tried to stand up, which was a bad idea as she ended up just falling back down on the bed.

Haru walked over to her, getting back his coat and putting it on quite hastily before then picking Elleth herself up in a bridal carry. Taking advantage of the Bone King's full power as he did it with relative ease. Actually finding, in his hands, to be around the same weight as an average textbook. It was a nice balance, not too light to feel like he's just grasping air.

Elleth: H-hey what's this for? I don't really need this sort of thing you know...

Haru: It's kinda my fault your legs are like that, I'm taking responsibility for it. Don't complain.

When he mentioned responsibility, it caused her to blush a little, remembering what she muttered to herself earlier. At the same time, Haru looked behind him as a one last check to make sure they had everything before leaving, they didn't bring much but it was still a good idea just in case. Using a bone tendril he twisted the doorknob and opened the door, walking through it with the dragon girl in his arms.

Elleth: You can put me down, it's fine really. I have a healing ability you know...

Haru: That only heals the physical damages, not the stinging left behind. I've got first hand experience with that ability of yours too.

He takes her out of the carry, helping her stand up and regain balance only for her to trip and land on his chest. A sigh escaped from him as he turned around, having leaned her up against the cabin's walls as he squatted and calmly asked her to let him give her a piggyback ride. She was hesitant but eventually caved in. Holding on tight as he brought out his wings.

Elleth: Are you sure about this? You only learned to fly yesterday.

Haru: Nope, but I don't really have a choice. You can bring yours out too if you're that worried.

And she did, it took a couple of tries but they were able to sync up and begin to lift off the ground. Her grip got tighter and tighter out of concern and fear as they began to fly off in search of the other three. Heading towards the same tower those three were also headed to as it quickly changed from a nice sunny morning to the afternoon and then to night when they passed by the tower itself.

He was about to land when a tree root suddenly wrapped around his legs. Thinking quickly, he grabbed Elleth by her shoulder, telling her to let go of him before hurling her off of him. Barely able to regain her balance in the air as Haru charged up the captured leg with red energy before kicking, the force of it breaking off the root that was attached to him.

One Charge!

With Käseschäler in hand and charged up with its own red energy, he releases it as a downward slash towards whatever was below him that had the guts to grab him by the leg. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to him, something else was rapidly approaching him at the same time, his danger sense not warning him for seemingly no reason as he prepared to go into combat.