[Current Stack: 60 Common, 5 Uncommon, 3 Rare, 1 Boss Chest, 2 Milestones.] [Multiplier: 148%] [Vault Pressure: 89%. Warning: Host mobility reduced by 40% due to Stat-Density.]
Floors 8 and 9 were a blur of rusted catwalks and minor mutant skirmishes. Yuto didn't even bother swinging his fists anymore; his body had become so dense with hoarded code that low-level monsters broke their own claws just swiping at his jacket.
By the time they reached the heavy blast doors of Floor 10, Yuto was sweating profusely, his right hand wrapped in Old Man Jin's thick bandages to hide the blinding red glare of his Stigma.
Floor 10 was a radioactive nightmare. The ruined industrial sector was bathed in a sickly green glow, with toxic sludge dripping from the pipes above. But the real danger wasn't the radiation.
It was the pile of bodies in front of the Boss Room.
At least two dozen Ouroboros Guild Enforcers lay groaning on the metal grating, their high-tech armor sliced cleanly in half. Sitting on top of a destroyed cyber-tank, casually eating a glowing mana-apple, was a girl.
"Finally, someone who isn't wearing a stupid snake uniform," the girl called out, her voice loud and echoing with brash confidence.
She hopped down from the tank, landing with a heavy, metallic thud. She wore crimson samurai armor over the chest and shoulders, paired with scandalously short combat shorts and armored thigh-highs. Two blood-red horns curled from her forehead, marking her as Oni-Tribe. Resting on her shoulder was a massive, glowing crimson nodachi that was almost as tall as she was.
"I'm Kurenai," she grinned, flashing sharp, predatory canines. "And the Floor 10 Boss is mine. I need its core to buy back my tribe's sector from the Guild. So, you two can either turn around, or you can join the scrap pile."
Ayase stepped forward smoothly, her hand resting on the hilt of her katana. "We have no quarrel with the Oni-Tribe. But we must ascend. Step aside, demon."
Kurenai's eyes lit up with wild, battle-hungry joy. "Oh, a Yakuza pureblood! I love breaking you stiff, formal types!"
Before Ayase could draw her blade, Yuto stepped between them. His movements were slow, almost sluggish, weighed down by the agonizing gravity of his Vault.
"Save your stamina, Ayase," Yuto rasped, his eyes fixed on Kurenai. "We need you at full strength for the Boss."
Kurenai laughed, pointing her massive sword at Yuto. "You? The guy who looks like he's about to pass out from a fever? You don't even have a weapon, pretty boy. What are you going to do, bleed on me?"
"I'm going to stand here," Yuto said calmly, though his internal organs felt like they were in a vice grip. "If you can move me from this spot, we'll turn back. If you can't, you help us kill the boss."
Kurenai's grin turned feral. "Ten seconds. That's all I need to snap you in half."