Hina Rika shook her head, still chuckling. “Well, let me set you straight. We don’t have super speed like you think, but we’re faster than humans because we don’t get tired. We’re stronger than normal humans too, but that’s mostly because of the weight of our dead bodies. We don’t regenerate or heal like you might think. We’re already dead, and so are our cells. That’s why we have our auras to protect us from being dismembered."

“Mind reading?” she continued. “Nah, we don’t do that either. No telekinesis or anything like that. We don’t have magic unless we actively practice and study it. We’re just… well, dead, so we don’t have the same abilities as vampires from other places."

Joseph scratched his head, slightly confused. “So… no mind reading, no healing, no super strength?”

Hina Rika smiled as she explained further. “Exactly. And get this—female vampires here can’t reproduce, and male vampires can’t impregnate anyone either. We’re just a dead species, and we live on with the aura that keeps us ‘alive.’"

Joseph’s eyes widened at Hina Rika’s explanation. “Wow! That’s a lot and it’s fascinating,” he said in astonishment. He had never imagined vampires could be so... complex.

Hina Rika shrugged lightly. “Yeah, it’s a bit strange, but it works for us.” She paused for a moment, her expression serious. “But our auras help us achieve feats similar to those of traditional vampires, if that’s what makes you happy. We don’t sleep or eat either because our taste buds are dead, and none of our organs function anymore. FYI, stabbing us through the heart doesn’t kill us. It’s either behead us or disintegrate our bodies.”

Joseph’s grin widened. “Like a zombie, huh?” he joked. “Or a Frankenstein monster—maybe a Frankenstein vampire type! Haha!”

Hina Rika’s face soured. “Yeah! If you put it that way, but we’re not zombies. Zombies are pathetic.”

Joseph chuckled, his curiosity still piqued. “Then how does one become a vampire? If you don’t drink blood or have fangs to turn others, how does it work?”

Hina Rika took a deep breath, ready to explain. “Well, it’s kind of tricky but simple if the person consents before death, and the ritual can happen before or after they die. It involves a vampire being buried with the person who wants to become a vampire. It usually takes hours or maybe up to three days to fully transform someone, depending on the procedure and how long they’ve been dead before the transformation starts.”

Joseph blinked, trying to digest the idea. “All that… to become a vampire? And all thanks to Dracula, the father of all vampires, huh?”

“Exactly,” Hina Rika said. “And before you ask, Dracula is different across the four lands. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some vampires come back as zombie-like creatures with decayed flesh, others as pale, cold figures, and some retain their original appearance and warmth during the transformation. It all depends on the situation, how long they've been dead, and the circumstances of the ritual.”

She paused and then added, “If you want to understand the full scope of the differences between vampires, you really should travel more, Joseph. There are so many varieties across the four lands. Each species is so different, you wouldn’t believe it unless you saw it for yourself.”

Joseph nodded thoughtfully, taking in her words. "Wow, I had no idea vampires were so... diverse. Thanks for clearing that up, Hina."

She gave him a wry smile. "No problem, Joseph. Just don’t get your myths mixed up with reality, okay?" With that, they continued forward through the shifting labyrinth, the echo of their footsteps mingling with the distant sounds of the dungeon’s unseen dangers.

Joseph’s eyes were full of questions. “So, what about the zombies here? I'd like to know more about zombie vampires, too,” he asked, eager for more information.

However, Hina Rika suddenly held up a hand, signaling for silence. The group froze, sensing her shift in demeanor.

Her voice was low and serious. “We’re here.”

The tension in the air thickened as the group looked around. The once seemingly endless labyrinth now gave way to a deadly, hidden corridor. The walls were covered in obscure markings, strange symbols that glowed faintly. The floor itself was cracked, as though it had been set up for something much darker than simple navigation.

Hina Rika’s eyes scanned the surroundings carefully, her expression grim. “This place is full of deadly traps. If we’re not careful, a single misstep could trigger everything. And worse, it could alert the other dungeon monsters.”

Joseph swallowed, his playful demeanor vanishing as he shared a brief glance with the other hunters. The air was thick with tension as they took careful, deliberate steps forward, knowing the slightest mistake could lead to disaster.

Hina Rika whispered to the group, “Stay sharp. I’ll take the lead. Follow my movements closely.”

As they ventured further into the deadly corridor, Joseph couldn’t help but feel the weight of the dungeon's oppressive atmosphere closing in around them. Every step was a potential death sentence. The walls seemed to press in on them as they moved cautiously forward, every sound amplified in the silence.

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“Don’t touch anything,” Hina Rika muttered under her breath, as she carefully stepped over a stone that seemed too perfect to be natural.

Joseph nodded, staying close behind, his senses on high alert. Each second felt like an eternity, as the dungeon’s darkness seemed to come alive around them, ready to spring its traps at any moment.

The dungeon’s eerie labyrinth shifted once more, its walls contorting in a manner that confused the group, transforming the environment into something completely unrecognizable. The air grew heavy with an oppressive sense of danger, and the ground trembled beneath their feet. The group stopped in their tracks, unsure of what was happening, but instinctively ready for anything.

Then, as if responding to the very shift in the dungeon, a giant, ball-shaped head appeared in front of them. It was massive, its head unnervingly smooth and featureless except for a pair of glowing eyes. The creature rolled toward them, its sheer size and movement enough to stop the group in their tracks, watching in awe and fear.

The monster came to a halt, glowing in an array of different colors, each hue shifting and pulsing as it began to smile. The smile was unnerving—cryptic, sinister, and completely out of place for a creature of its kind. It felt wrong, like a mocking gesture, as if it were toying with them.

The monster’s tentacles shot out next, snapping toward them with terrifying speed. It whirled its tentacles around, displaying their full length and flexibility as they lashed out, forcing the group to scatter. The sight of the tentacles alone was enough to intimidate them into hesitation, but they quickly regained their composure.

"Koro-sensei! Why the hell are you here teacher?" Joseph blurted out in astonishment, his eyes wide. His exclamation stunned the group, who stared at him in confusion. Even Hina Rika shot him a questioning look.

The monster’s tentacles had begun glowing in a sharp yellow hue, and Joseph’s words only seemed to make the situation even more bizarre. One of the hunters, panicking, shouted, "What the hell? Is that monster your teacher, Joseph?!"

Hina Rika, eyes narrowed and alert, asked with skepticism, "You know the monster?"

Joseph looked torn between disbelief and amusement. "Not exactly, but it’s something I’ve been wanting to say for a while, and I guess now’s as good a time as any." He glanced at the creature, now fully aware of its terrifying capabilities. The creature's smile seemed to stretch wider, mocking their attempts to comprehend it.

Without warning, Joseph expertly performed a backflip, dodging the initial wave of tentacles that came crashing down at him. His movements were fluid, precise, as he maneuvered with skill. The others followed suit, evading the tentacles with varying levels of success. The atmosphere grew even more dangerous as each slice the group landed on the tentacles was met with rapid regeneration; the monster's appendages doubled in size and number with each strike, making it clear that conventional attacks wouldn't be enough.

As Joseph dodged another barrage of tentacles, he suddenly found himself off balance. The creature was faster than he anticipated. In a split second, one of its tentacles shot toward him, piercing through his legs with lightning speed. The attack was so swift that Joseph barely had time to react. He felt a sharp pain as the tentacle’s sharp edge sliced through his legs, severing them completely. Blood sprayed from the wound as he fell to the ground, cursing under his breath.

"Oh dang it! Well, I guess that was it... I totally forgot I had legs," he muttered to himself, his usual grin replaced by a look of disbelief as he slumped to the floor.

The monster’s tentacles surged forward, aiming to finish him off. But as the deadly appendages neared, Joseph attempted to activate his XPT, only to remember with frustration that he was completely out of energy. He could barely focus, his body weakened from the loss of his legs and the lack of power.

But before the monster could strike again, Hina Rika leaped into action. With a fierce battle cry, she darted toward the creature, her sword glowing with a powerful aura. She sliced through the tentacles with deadly precision, each strike severing them cleanly. In one swift, fluid motion, she launched herself onto the monster’s massive body, running along it with remarkable agility. Her sword, charged with immense energy, hummed with power as she aimed for the monster’s forehead, its only apparent weak spot.

With one final strike, she pierced the creature’s head. The monster’s body convulsed violently as it collapsed to the ground, defeated. Its tentacles, now severed, went limp, and the group was freed from its grasp.

Joseph, still struggling to regenerate his legs, watched as the creature’s lifeless form crumpled. His expression was a mix of awe and frustration—he knew they were far from done, but it was hard to ignore the fact that he had just been defeated by a tentacle monster.

As the group began to assess the aftermath, it became clear that the battle had taken its toll. Some of their comrades had fallen during the fight, their bodies now laying motionless on the dungeon floor. The remaining hunters stood solemnly, looking to Hina Rika for guidance.

She didn’t hesitate. "We need to move on," she said with a cold, determined voice. "The challenges ahead are no small task. We can’t afford to waste time mourning. We have a mission, and it’s not over yet."

She approached Joseph, who was still in the process of regenerating his missing legs. “Could you still walk?” she asked, her voice softer now, though still laced with concern.

Joseph, gritting his teeth as his legs slowly began to reform, replied, “Not really. I’ll need a few extra minutes to fully recover.”

Hina Rika, ever pragmatic, signaled to two nearby hunters. "Help him walk for now. We’ll continue on with the mission as planned."

The two hunters nodded and moved to assist Joseph, each taking one of his shoulders to help support him as they made their way forward. Meanwhile, Hina Rika kept her gaze fixed ahead, her sword still at the ready. The dungeon’s perils were far from over, but with Joseph recovering and their resolve strengthened by their victory, they knew they had to keep moving forward—no matter the cost.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the labyrinth, Yoshi and his group were navigating through their own treacherous layers and levels of the dungeon. They found themselves battling colossal monsters in a frigid, arctic landscape within the dungeon’s depths. Each trial tested their strength, endurance, and resolve, but despite the overwhelming odds, they overcame every challenge they faced with determination and unity.

***

The tension in the air was palpable as Hina Rika and her group entered the heart of the monster’s lair. It was unlike anything they had encountered thus far—the walls gleamed with treasures beyond imagination. Glittering diamonds, towering piles of gold and silver, runes inscribed with arcane symbols, and relics of ancient power decorated every surface. It was a place where every item held a story, and the weight of knowledge lingered in the very air they breathed. Seated on a throne made of shimmering obsidian, the monster watched them enter, a look of pride and confidence in his eyes. He exuded power, yet there was an unsettling calm about him that suggested his control over the situation.