Early the next morning.
After breakfast, Cain first took Lili to the East District.
After withdrawing all the money the Dwarf girl had saved, the two of them headed to the Takemikazuchi Familia.
"Good morning, Cain."
Ouka was currently leading the members of the Takemikazuchi Familia in their morning training.
"Morning. This is the reward I promised yesterday."
Cain took a gem from his backpack and casually tossed it to Ouka.
"This is... a Magic stone ?!"
Ouka exclaimed in surprise.
The Magic stones were extremely valuable and were often used as materials for crafting magic items.
Although Ouka was not particularly knowledgeable in this field, he still understood how precious even a single Gem was.
"I only helped you find... find someone. There's no need to give this much money."
"It's fine. Just treat it as a hiring fee."
"When we enter the Dungeon later, I'll need your help with something."
Cain waved his hand casually, replying with a generous attitude.
Behind him, Lili quietly lowered her head.
You really are generous, considering it wasn't your money.
After repeatedly murmuring phrases like "It's fine" and "This is all for leaving the Soma Familia," Lili finally adjusted her state of mind and began looking around.
For some reason, she always felt that the way the members of the Takemikazuchi Familia were looking at her was strange.
In fact, Lili's feeling was not wrong.
Most of the Takemikazuchi Familia members present had participated in the investigation regarding her yesterday.
Cain had managed to capture Lili so quickly, and more than half of the credit belonged to the Takemikazuchi Familia.
Seeing Lili standing together with Cain at this moment naturally made their expressions somewhat subtle.
"Cain, what is her si... situation? What exactly is going on with her?"
Seeing that Lili was not paying attention, Ouka leaned close to Cain and asked in a low voice.
"Don't worry about it. Just treat her as my supporter."
"What about yesterday's matter?"
"Let's keep it secret for half a month. After half a month, it won't matter whether Lili knows or not."
"I understand."
Ouka immediately grasped the situation.
"Is Takemikazuchi-sama here?"
Cain looked toward the house not far away.
Ouka nodded.
"Lord Takemikazuchi is currently studying that Breathing Technique you mentioned. I heard the progress is quite good."
"That's good."
Cain withdrew his gaze.
His main reason for visiting the Takemikazuchi Familia today was to check on the improvement progress of Thunder Breathing.
After confirming there were no issues, he called out to Ouka and asked everyone to prepare.
Half an hour later, everyone gathered in front of the Tower of Babel.
Cain had already purchased the necessary supplies and was fully equipped. He led the group straight into the Dungeon.
Because he had inherited JOJO Cain's power, Cain's physical condition had improved once again.
The monsters on the first twelve floors of the Dungeon were no different from unarmed children in front of him.
Cutting straight through them, the group quickly arrived at the passage connecting the twelfth floor to the thirteenth floor.
After walking down the slope that extended from the twelfth floor, a narrow stone pathway stretching deep into the darkness appeared before Cain and the others.
"The characteristic of the thirteenth floor is this long passage that connects to the Cave Rooms. If we want a safer environment for combat, we need to hurry to the first Cave Room."
Knowing that this was Cain's first time entering the thirteenth floor, Ouka briefly explained the situation.
Of course, even if Ouka had not mentioned it, Cain already knew this information.
He was not the kind of person who became arrogant simply because he gained a bit of strength and then recklessly rushed deeper into the Dungeon.
Before coming here, Cain had already familiarized himself with the monster information of the Middle Floors, as well as the map of the thirteenth to the seventeenth floor.
The group advanced toward the first Cave Room.
"There are monsters."
"Hellhounds. Four of them."
As soon as the words fell, several overlapping sounds of footsteps echoed from the passage ahead.
Four four-legged monsters appeared within everyone's sight.
Their bodies were pitch black, their size comparable to small calves.
They possessed savage wolf-like faces, their eyes glowed faintly red, and their mouths revealed rows of sharp, snarling teeth.
"A big group right from the start."
Ouka's expression became serious.
Holding an axe in one hand and a shield in the other, he stepped forward and stood at the very front.
"I'll hold back two with the others. Cain, you handle..."
"No need to make it that complicated."
Cain walked past Ouka.
Thunder Breathing, First Form. Thunderclap and Flash.
Cain took a deep breath and stepped forward.
In the next instant, his figure disappeared from where he had been standing.
Seeing this, the four Hellhounds immediately let out long, savage howls and charged forward with astonishing speed.
As both sides closed the distance at the same time, the fifty meter gap vanished in an instant.
Just as they were about to collide, the Hellhounds' movements suddenly slowed down in Cain's eyes.
With the assistance of his new skill, Hymn of Courage, Cain felt as if he had entered a state similar to bullet time, allowing him to easily perceive the flaws in the Hellhounds' movements.
A cold flash of steel cut through the air.
Cain passed between the Hellhounds and severed the head of one of them.
At the same time, a cracking sound rang out.
Cain's left leg twisted into an unnatural angle, and his body instantly spun backward.
Hiss! Hiss!
Within the span of a single breath, two more Hellhounds were sliced in half.
"Not bad."
Cain shook his leg, and his twisted left leg snapped back into its original position with a sharp crack.
This was one of the techniques Cain had developed using Hamon, inspired by the principle behind the Spring Punch.
By temporarily dislocating the joint of his left or right leg and applying controlled force, he could instantly reverse his direction.
In close combat, turning before the enemy meant seizing the initiative.
If the opponent's strength was insufficient, they would be cut in half with a single strike, just like the second and third Hellhounds.
Roar!
The fourth Hellhound, which had narrowly escaped death, finally stopped its charge and turned to face Cain.
It raised its hind legs, lowered its front body, and large sparks continuously crackled from its fangs.
"In this era, even magical girl transformations don't have invincibility frames. Yet you think you can charge up an attack right in front of me."
Cain drew a throwing knife with a backhand motion, and surging Hamon energy wrapped around the blade through his palm.
Silver Hamon Dash.
Like a streak of light piercing the air, the throwing knife appeared in front of the Hellhound in the next instant and penetrated straight through its body.
Bang!
The flames that had just begun forming immediately dispersed, and the final Hellhound collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
"Average."
Cain adjusted his pants.
That had been close. He had almost ripped his pants apart when he dislocated his leg joint earlier.
...
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