The dim, damp Dungeon, the air filled with the stench of decay and danger.
"Ryu, duck!"
Higanbana shot out like lightning, whizzing past Ryu's head, precisely pinning down the ambusher, a Dungeon lizard, that had just poked its head out from the wall.
The scream of the Dungeon lizard, which had been clinging to the wall with its suckers, attempting a sneak attack, abruptly stopped, leaving only a puddle of blood.
Rod's gaze was sharp, his Sharingan flickering with an eerie red light.
Ryu's sky-colored pupils widened, and she subtly tightened her wooden sword, her competitive spirit ignited by her student.
"Ugh, I'm a higher-level adventurer, yet he's perceiving monsters before me… doesn't that make me seem useless?… I absolutely can't let that happen!"
"Lyla, don't you think Rod right now is like a replica of Ryu…?"
Selty leaned close to Lyla, quietly gossiping about her own kin and the handsome newcomer.
"His movements, posture, techniques, they're practically identical. Rather than learning, it's more like…"
"Imitation."
That one knife throw just now was almost identical to her boomerang throwing motion.
Lyla clasped her hands behind her head, a slight smirk on her lips.
I never thought that my clumsy combat skills, known to be weak as a Pallum, would have a day where they are learned and imitated by someone…
To actually become joyful and excited over such a thing, it seems I'm still not mature enough.
Lyla narrowed her eyes, recalling the one human and one elf who had fought in a mirror-like coordinated battle earlier, and let out a chuckle.
"Should I say it's a blessing from the heavens? Thankfully, his personality is completely different from Ryu, that stubborn fellow, otherwise everyone would really have a headache."
Selty thought of the scene of Kaguya having to argue with two stubborn elves at the same time and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Heh heh, Rod is indeed much more mature than we imagined."
Selty looked with a gentle gaze at Ryu, who was competing with Rod, a smile on her face that even her mask couldn't hide.
"However, I also didn't expect that the two people I originally thought would be the hardest to get along with would become so harmonious and in sync. After all, Ryu's personality is considered stubborn even among elves."
Compared to Ryu, who still held a pure innocence towards the world, Rod acted completely unlike a naive newcomer.
Although he would also be confused, he could quickly figure out what he truly needed to do and then execute it with unwavering determination.
Especially his striking calmness during battle, which always made them feel that Rod was an experienced adventurer.
Croak—
A Frog Shooter suddenly leaped out from the shadows, spitting out a blade-like long tongue at Rod.
"Oh no, Rod doesn't have time to retrieve his weapon!"
Ryu swung her sword, killing a Killer Ant, and immediately wanted to assist, but the next second, seeing Rod's familiar movements, she was once again dumbfounded.
"That, that is…"
Rod deftly dodged the long tongue with a side-step, then crouched low, rapidly lunging towards the monster's abdomen. From below, he unleashed a fierce kick, directly blowing up the Frog Shooter!
That flexible and agile fighting style, like a wild beast, made all the girls involuntarily look at Nize, the beast-person with light gray hair.
Nize scratched her hair, perked up her ears, and sincerely praised him.
"It's truly impressive that Rod can perform those movements with a human body."
The beast-person, who always meticulously cared for everyone, felt no jealousy or wariness; instead, she was genuinely happy for Rod.
"I wonder if he can imitate me when I transform into a beast under the moonlight? I'm quite confident in my combat power at that time!"
A glimmer of anticipation appeared in Nize's eyes.
In that state, her combat ability would greatly increase, even surpassing Kaguya and Ryu!
Coupled with her command ability, second only to Alise and Lyla, it could be said that she had almost no flaws.
If a third captain were to be chosen, then all members of the Familia would definitely nominate her name.
Now, a person without flaws like her, perhaps another one would be added to the Familia!
Although Rod was not an official member, to the girls who had already accepted him, there was no difference.
A War Shadow seized the moment Rod was rigid, breaking through the rock wall and rushing straight at him!
Arms with impressive reach extended from various angles, three black blades curved like bird claws swung like wind, their sharp talons gleaming coldly.
The monster named War Shadow, with its pure combat ability, was unmatched among the monsters on the 6th floor.
In the Dungeon's first to twelfth floors, defined as the "Upper Floors," the War Shadow could be said to be the most difficult monster for novice adventurers to deal with!
"Heh."
Rod chuckled calmly, unhurriedly, and stomped his foot, sending a Killer Ant shell on the ground flying into the air.
Gripping the inner protrusion, he imitated the dwarf Asta's movements, seizing the moment the War Shadow exerted force, and swung it with a powerful jolt.
The War Shadow was jolted backward, inevitably falling into a rigid state.
"Rod, catch!"
Rod extended his right hand without looking back, gripping the handle of Higanbana. His entire aura changed, perfectly replicating Ryu's sword skill, and executed a 袈裟斬 .
The blade light was like lightning, and the War Shadow's body was instantly split in two, turning into flying ash and disappearing.
Rod calmly flicked his right hand, shaking off the blood from the blade, then skillfully picked out the magic stone and drop item, tossing them into his backpack.
Ryu landed next to Rod, emphasizing with a pretty face.
"We're even. Also… ahem, that was a good fight just now."
Rod had now mastered how to get along with this stubborn elf.
"Yes, yes, thanks to Ryu-sensei's help, I've been able to improve so quickly."
"You…!"
Ryu's previously stern little face instantly crumbled, and she glared at Rod with a blush, feigning anger.
"I, I told you, don't call me that!"
"Why are you like Alise, not listening to a word I say?!"
Ryu wanted to hit Rod's head hard with her wooden sword, but then she thought of something and put it down with difficulty, finally just letting out a soft hmph.
"Alright, alright, we know you two have good feelings for each other, stop flirting in front of us."
Lyla squeezed over, picking up the pile of drop items that had exploded on the ground.
"Flirting, flirting?!"
Ryu wanted to loudly refute, but in the end, she only let out a whimpering cry, stomping her foot and ignoring everyone.
Lyla sighed in her heart.
It seems this 笨蛋 elf is serious this time…
Really, is this man a legendary succubus or something?
"Rod, you've passed this training on floors 5-7. Your ability to absorb our techniques and then evolve truly makes me envious, jealous, and hateful."