32 Trying to Live

Mina looked around, instantly pulling her head back as a bright wisp of light flashed in front of her. She looked where it landed, the area frosted over.

"Hell. Fubuki, wanna take point? Inferna won't be safe from ice magic without some form of defense."

Fubuki stepped forward, slowing as Melody draped Suriza around her neck and lifted Chisana into her hands. Her eyes wary, Fubuki started to head forward. To her surprise, Mina was at her side. She gaze a kind nod, her tail wagging.

"Mina, do you believe I can protect you easily?"

"Without a doubt."

Mina flashed forward, waving her blade towards a ball of flame. It erupted, causing her to grit her teeth.

"Fubuki fall back. Fire magic... shouldn't have expected less."

Her eyes scanned the area, finally falling on strange wisps that bolted about the room. Without hesitating, she launched herself between them. Her blade struck each wisp in quick succession, causing them to burst.

TINK TINK TINK

Mina looked down, scooping the cores into her inventory.

"Not a waste of time after all. Melody! How do these creatures have cores?"

Melody called from the entrance, her voice quieter than expected.

"The dungeon was made to give them cores! They're not like normal beasts and monsters, but the cores are perfectly normal."

Mina began tossing her blade around, popping up within range of the creatures. Countless wisps vanished into nothing as she continued to clear the path.

"Damn. Fubuki, Asahi! Use magic! I need to pull back!"

Mina dashed back as Fubuki and Asahi came forward. The two of them covered her retreat, bolts of lightning and streaks of ice flying into the wisps.

Mina looked down, her eyes wincing as she stared down at the burn mark on her leg. A flame had reached her in her moments of attacking. Calmly reaching for it, Mina was glad to see that touching it offered no extra pain.

"Asahi, need to test something. Melody, can you take her place?"

Melody gave the small critters to Inferna, then took her place beside Fubuki. To Mina's surprise, large torrents of wind wrapped around the ornate spear Melody was wielding. She sent large bursts towards the densest wisps, then small wind slices at single ones.

Mina was impressed, but her focus went to Asahi. The bird drew near, her eyes concerned as she saw the burn mark.

"Try to heal it. Honestly don't know if you can restore Spirit. It's a culmination of energy after all."

Asahi held out her wings, small shocks jumping towards Mina.

[Burn status has been removed.]

Mina smiled, the mark vanishing. Her Spirit wasn't restored, but she could freely move her leg around.

"Perfect! Thanks Asahi!"

Before she could even tweet a reply, Mina fully threw her blade. It fell between a large group where she appeared and swept them into dust.

'Magic can hurt me. I can even grab these things, though it feels like gel. I need a way to protect myself.'

Using her blade, Mina swept a shard of ice from in front of her torso. She felt the pain, but her Spirit wasn't as badly damaged. Partly from her [Water Guard], but her Sword Body was more resilient to magic. Since her Astral Body was immune to basic physical attacks, it was the only sound solution.

Mina returned to attacking, finally realizing the wisps were all defeated. She turned around, her eyes locking on her friends. They seemed stunned, though not a hint of fear was visible.

"Ack..."

Mina fell to her knees, a sudden influx reaching her.

[Floor 1, Room 1 of Smith's Dungeon cleared. Net experience until Floor Clear?]

Mina nodded, she felt it was the better choice with her sleeping friends.

[Physical loot will be distributed based on Room Leaderboard.

1. Mina Riese

2. Fubuki

3. Asahi

4. Melody Siegfried

5. Inferna, Chisana, Suriza]

Mina saw a box fall in front of her, another falling front of Melody. The others didn't seem to get anything physical.

"Hmm. A boost to magic resistance."

Fubuki seemed excited as she hopped around.

"I got a bone reinforcement. Something to help my defenses?"

Asahi flapped her wings. They seemed a little thicker now.

"Just a reflex boost. I can feel more around me than before."

Inferna was looking around, her eyes sharper.

"I'll open mine first, if that is alright Master."

Mina nodded, then winced as a burst of white light came from the box.

'Common drop?'

Melody lifted a necklace from the box, instantly setting it around her neck.

"I'll to meant to protect me from fatal injury once, then heal my body to near perfect state. Erm... human only."

Melody seemed sad as she said this, but Mina shook her head and gave her a smile.

"You got it through your own contributions. You did well, especially taking out larger groups. That wind magic was impressive."

Mina reached for her own chest, lifting the lid slowly. A gleaming amethyst light burst out of it, nearly knocking her on her butt.

"Epic? Lucky."

[You've obtained Spirit Bracers (Upgradeable)

Passive- Can deflect magic attacks that come into contact with the bracers. Large attacks can't be deflected, but damage will be reduced.]

A pair of silver bracers gleamed on Mina's forearms. They appeared ornamental, but a glowing aura seemed to pulse out of it.

'Kat... did you break the loot system in here? Guess it's in apology for the RNG that broke me at first.'

Mina knocked them together, a soft clash ringing as she approached her group.

"Let's go!"

-

"Hmm. Girl thinks she's clever. You're not so smart, playing it off as if your friend never came forward. Too bad... you'll be mine."

A dark gleam in his eye, the old man was prepared to take what he wished.

"Lord Vex, she will be arriving soon. They have prepared her for what is to come, although I believe her forces are to attempt to retrieve her."

A wicked grin, Vex opened his arms as a beautiful woman stepped through the doorway. Her tanned skin clashed with the soft white robe she wore, but her beauty couldn't be reduced.

"Good to see you again, Lady Dyna."

--

Thank you,

JScott and croix!