n

n

n

"Shiro! That was amazing!

" Lyrica ran over as Shiro smiled.

nI still lack an ignore defence attack. Without one, I doubt I'll be able to challenge those of a higher level too well. Shiro shook her head.

nIf she had the stats, she wouldn't have needed to attack the teacher in so many ways to distract her from the main attack above her. And even then, she would have been able to shrug it off.

n

"Eh? But ignore defence skills are rare, and even then, you need to be a high level to get a natural skill.

" Lyrica replied. Defence ignore skills were on high demand as a single one may be the key to turning a battle around.

nShiro too knew this, but what she was counting on was her Nanomancer class. Each of the firearms come with a passive ignore defence as they dealt heavy damage. The main damage dealer being the sniper rifle.

nWhen charged with mana, the sniper could even help her deal a few million damage to a monster's HP.

nCall Madison. We're going to have her fill her side of the bet from before. We're heading into a Dungeon. Shiro smiled.

n

"Right now?

" Lyrica asked surprised.

nThe Faction recruitment will start in less than a months time. Do you want to still be in the first class while taking the recruitment? Shiro asked with a raised eyebrow.

n

"Well no but, like… your arm.

" Lyrica said pointing at Shiro's arm.

n

nAiya. Do I have to explain every time? Don't worry about it too much. At the very least, I'll be assisting you from behind while you take vanguard. Shiro shrugged.

nThe worry Lyrica showed for her was nice, but it was a little too excessive.

n

"I see… I know I'm asking a lot but since you're my first friend, I don't want you to be hurt so much.

" Lyrica said as Shiro paused.

nShe remembered that Lyrica was still just a 15-year-old girl. She wasn't a seasoned veteran like her, nor was she used to putting up a tough front. Lyrica was just showing simple care towards her wellbeing.

nLyrica. Why are you so cute? Shiro grinned patting her head. Seeing Lyrica like this just made Shiro want to pamper her like a child. If she was taller and had busts, maybe burying Lyrica in her b.r.e.a.s.ts while spinning around a little would be fun.

n

"Ha? W-what brought that thought up!

" Lyrica blushed.

nAi, so cute. I just want to pamper you! Shiro wanted to have a voice already as she'll be able to ignore the annoying typing and just talk to Lyrica.

n

"Who's pampering who? I'm older than you!

" Lyrica called out.

nShiro only lazily waved her left hand as they went to the lunch hall.

nThe most up-to-date novels are published on lightnovelworld.com

nAfter waiting for a little while, Madison arrived with her 2 friends.

n

"What do you want?

" She asked, clearly not happy.

nWe're challenging a Dungeon. And you should know the rest. Shiro smiled.

n

"Which dungeon?

" Madison sat down. They had to adhere to the rules of the bet they make, otherwise, they'll have to deal with the reinforcers that make sure the contract is followed.

nI'm thinking of challenging Shadow Temple level 15-20.

n

"…

"

n

"…

"

nBoth Lyrica and Madison looked at Shiro like she was an asylum escapist.

nLyrica tapped Shiro's forehead as she frowned.

n

n

"Shiro, I know you hurt your arm but did you hurt your brain as well?

" Lyrica asked as Shiro felt like coughing up blood.

nMadison, on the other hand, was too shocked to even speak.

nNo I'm not crazy. This is actually done after taking account of your fighting style. Shiro shrugged.

nYours as well Madison.

n

"Huh? Wait what mine?

" Madison replied shocked.

nYes. While Lyrica is a more attack orientated fighter, you are more of a defence counter type attacker. Are you trying to advance into a Shield Swordswoman?

n

"How- Nevermind. Yeah, I want to be a Shield Swordswoman.

" Madison replied. It wasn't too hard to figure out the direction a person wanted to proceed onto by looking at combat records.

nSo for Shiro to understand, it wasn't too surprising.

nWe don't necessarily need your two friends there. Shiro pointed at the two. It would work out if Madison helped them clear the Dungeon, but her two 'friends' weren't needed.

n

n

"What do you mean?

" Madison asked.

nWe're going to clear the Dungeon with you three filling in the numbers. However, to make the run faster, we're gonna have you play the part of the main tank, Lyrica as the offence and me as the offensive support.

n

"What about us?

" Madison's friends asked.

nI don't have a role for you. You can be meat shields if you want. Shiro shrugged.

nThe two were offended but stopped remembering that she's a level 25 ice mage.

nSo as I was typing, Madison you'll help tank the assassin's while Lyrica will kill them. I'll be reducing their reaction speed so it should be easier for you two. She was initially going to do the Dungeon with just her and Lyrica, but knowing that she'll not always be around Lyrica, it would be good if she was able to get some experience working in a party.

nWhat better way than to work up in member count. From three members and eventually extending into a full party.

nAs for you two, join if you want. Just don't drag us down.

n

"We're not going to drag you down. Just you wait for us to surpass her contributions.

" They frowned and pointed at Lyrica.

n

nShiro only shrugged as she stood up.

nIn that case, we're going to the Shadow Temple straight away. Get your gear if you don't have it. Shiro typed out as she stood up.

n

"What about potions? Don't we need to stock up?

" Madison asked.

n

"I can answer this!

" Lyrica cut in not wanting to be left out.

n

"Shiro said that low-quality potions in this city have bad effects later on in the line. The best thing to do is let your wounds heal naturally over time.

" Lyrica replied as Shiro nodded.

nAs Lyrica said, the best thing is to let yourself heal overtime.

n

"Lyrica may be able to regenerate since she's an Elf, and you hardly take damage. However, for us, we can't regenerate. Healing potions or a healer is our best option.

" Madison replied. Since Lyrica isn't holding them back, her initial anger with her decreased.

nIf that's the case then you should try to drink as little as possible. Only drink when necessary. Shiro replied seeing Madison being so cooperative.

nWe'll meet up at the Dungeon in 30 minutes. Shiro typed out as Madison agreed and left with her friends.

n

n

"I thought we're supposed to be enemies with her?

" Lyrica asked tilting her head slightly.

nWe were, but that doesn't mean we should antagonise each other at every moment. Unless they actively go against me continuously or do something unforgivable. I won't seek out their destruction.

n

"Hehh~ Shiro's kinda like a saint then.

" Lyrica said.

nOh please, I'm no saint. I will kill them in the cruellest way possible if they truly anger me.

n'Just ask those scientists.' Shiro thought as she remembers the sight of the head scientists after she was done with him. The hero killed the other scientists, but she had the honour of torturing him.

nOpening him up, keeping him alive, a little 'Red Carpet' of his organs, using the nanobots to eat him from the inside out and making sure he felt everything.

n

"What are you smiling about?

" Lyrica asked seeing Shiro smile so happily.

nI just thought of a really good memory.

n

"Heh~ Is that so. Are you able to tell me?

" Lyrica asked curiously.

n

nMaybe next time.

n###

nWhen it was time to enter the Dungeon, Shiro arrived along with Lyrica.

nHave you prepared everything?

n

"Yeah, I just hope you won't take this too far. The Dungeon is roughly 3 to 7 levels higher than us after all.

" Madison said.

nDon't worry, the main goal of this Dungeon run is to level up. Shiro typed out as Madison nodded.

nShiro LVL 25 – Ice Mage

nLyrica LVL 12 – Elven Swordswoman

nMadison LVL 15 – Swordswoman

nThe most up-to-date novels are published on lightnovelworld.com

nJuly LVL 13 – Mage

nKarol LVL 14 – Swordswoman

nSeeing everyone in the party, Shiro keyed them into the Shadow Temple and entered without any problems.

nWhen their vision cleared, they saw that they were in a dark forest. The tree's had no leaves, the ground was bare and the skies were clouded. There was a long distance till the actual temple as this was the first test.

nThey had to survive the assassin's onslaughts while they walked towards the temple.

nI won't talk this time so either you or Madison take charge. Shiro said Lyrica as her goal for this expedition was to see how Lyrica developed. Either as a strong teammate or a reliable leader.

n

"Then I volunteer to be leader.

" Madison said as Lyrica nodded.

n

"Sure. But we'll change roles depending on the situation.

" Lyrica replied.

n

"No problems with me. What about you girls?

" Madison asked her friends.

n

n

"No problem.

"

n

"I don't mind.

"

n

"Ok, in that case then, I want to get our formation down. Me and Lyrica are in front with July and Shiro behind us. Karol, you cover our backs in case an assassin targets the mages.

" Madison said.

nKarol nodded and walked behind the group.

n

"Now let's go.

" Madison said.

nShiro could have made a blizzard around them and dulled the assassin's movements. But seen as though Madison didn't even ask her what her basic abilities were, Shiro decided to hold back on it or now.

nThat being said, her blizzard was a double-sided blade that would have affected her entire party as well.

n*Clang clang!

nLyrica blocked two daggers with her blade as the party perked up.

n

n

"Let's rush through. The assassins don't enter the temple.

" Madison said as the party rushed forwards.

nMadison and Lyrica were the main tankers as they would block the assassins while Shiro and July were the ones to clear them up.

n

"Fire ball.

" July would mutter every time she used the skill.

nFor junior mages, they had to visualise their attack skills. Saying out the name would help them get a better picture.

nThis was due to the fact that the skills they get are more conceptual compared to swordsman skills.

nThey had skills such a Sword Cross, Sword Rush and Killing Cut. While mages had Tier 1 ice magic, Tier 1 Fire magic and so on.

nWhile the mages had wider selections, they needed to visualise the attack or the power decreases.

nShiro only shook her head before flicking her hands and killed an assassin in one go.

nDue to her needing to memorise the myriad of blueprints for her Nanomancer class, she was used to remembering a lot of things. Simple ice magic and the such were an easy task for her.

n

nJuly gazed at her with her competitive spirit ignited.

nFeeling the gaze, Shiro only smiled as a little competitive spirit amongst children were good.

nTrying to rush through the first trial quickly seemed good at first, but with the amount of assassin's increasing, it became harder to progress.

nThe pressure on Lyrica was exceptionally huge as she had to block several assassins at once.

nThis pressure was both good and bad. Good because it was pushing her attack domain closer to maturity. Bad because this was straining her heavily.

nShiro could see the sweat drip from her forehead as she was trying her best to protect the party.

nMadison also knew this as the rush approach wasn't a good option since their speed wasn't high enough.

nThey were fine in other departments but they just needed speed.

nShiro shook her head as the temperature started to drop.

n

nMadison paused seeing a snowflake drop in front of her. Her arms were getting goosebumps as it was getting colder and colder.

nThe snow increased at a visible pace as they soon realised it was Shiro causing all of this.

nRaising up her hand, Shiro increased the snow before clutching her fist.

nThe storm expanded as the blizzard howled in their ears.

nTheir body shivered as frost could be seen forming on their skins.

n

"Hey! Shiro! Stop it! You're going to kill us!

" Madison shouted.

n

"Madison, look outside.

" Lyrica said pointing outside.

nThe storm was raging as they could barely see past it. There were ice statues for which they could recognise to be the assassin's earlier.

nThe only reason why they were freezing up as well was due to the unavoidable side effect of using Shiro's ice and snow magic.

n

nShe was fine, but they weren't. Even when she did try to let the blizzard avoid their location, the temperature was still dropping significantly.

nMadison, let Lyrica be leader. Shiro typed out as Madison nodded. Rushing into the fry was an overestimate on her part.

nShe had just assumed that Shiro will help them clear everything but that wasn't the case. She only helped as much as needed and never more. Just the bare minimum to keep them alive.

n