The S-Rank Dungeon Spawned
Tut tut tut tut...
A cellphone alarm rang.
Yuu reached out, blindly searching for his phone.
When he finally found it under his pillow, he quickly glanced at the screen, trying to stop the alarm. However, as he squinted at his phone with half-open eyes, he noticed a text notification pop up—it was a reminder alarm he had set.
Harajuku Cosplay Convention
Sunday, March 23
Yuu's eyes widened.
"Oh shit, I'm late!"
he exclaimed.
He then sprang up from his bed like a coiled spring snapping into motion.
"I can't wait for the cosplay event!"
he said excitedly.
"I can finally try out this costume!"
he continued, rushing to his desk and grabbing a parcel he had placed there days ago.
As he tore it open, the contents inside seemed to shine like a divine gift from the heavens—at least, that's how he saw it.
"Alright! Time for my transformation!"
he declared with excitement.
With a dramatic pose, Yuu covered his face with his right hand, then clenched it into a fist and swung it to the right. Stepping forward with his left foot, he struck a fighting stance. He then transitioned into another pose, crossing both arms in an X position before slowly lowering them. Finally, he struck his finishing pose—his left hand clenched into a fist at his side while his right arm was raised above his head.
"Mecha!! VICTORY!!"
he shouted triumphantly.
Behind him, an explosion erupted—one strikingly similar to those in Kamen Rider.
Suddenly, his entire body began to glow.
A robotic voice echoed in the background:
"MECHA!!"
As Yuu extended his arms in a T-pose, mechanical sounds filled the air.
Piece by piece, like a puzzle assembling itself, robotic parts formed over his arms.
"MECHA!!" the announcer's voice rang out again.
His arms were now fully equipped with sleek robotic enhancements.
Next, the transformation focused on his lower body, as puzzle-like pieces materialized and locked into place.
"MECHA!!" the voice announced once more.
His legs were now fully armored.
The transformation then shifted to his chest, with mechanical pieces snapping into place one by one.
"MECHA!!"
Finally, as the transformation reached his face, a helmet formed, piece by piece, sealing into place.
"MECHA!!"
Now fully equipped in his futuristic robotic suit, Yuu struck another dynamic pose, raising both arms above his head in a V-shape.
A glowing "M" symbol appeared on his chest, followed by a "V" logo, completing his transformation.
The robotic announcer's voice boomed one final time:
"MECHA VICTORY!!!"
—At least, that's how he imagined it.
In reality, Yuu was awkwardly jumping around, struggling to fit into his spandex cosplay suit. The futuristic robotic design looked cool, but he was having a hard time pulling the tight fabric over his body.
He twisted and turned, desperately trying to reach the zipper on his back.
"Whew! I can't breathe—this costume is way too tight!"
He sighed, still fumbling with the outfit.
"I really wish transformations were as easy as they are in anime..."
Soon, he finally managed to put on his costume completely. He was cosplaying as MechaVictory, a futuristic hero from a sci-fi anime.
As he looked at himself in the mirror, he nodded in approval.
"Not bad," Yuu said.
He examined the details closely.
"Some of the details are really on point. I'd say I look pretty cool," he continued.
His cosplay perfectly captured the character he was portraying—
A full-body, tight-fitting suit with a distinctive robotic design, featuring segmented armor-like plates, a large chest plate, and a full-face helmet with a prominent visor. The most striking detail was the logo on his chest—a crimson M layered over a golden V, symbolizing MechaVictory's heroic identity.
Then, a memory from the past slipped into his mind.
Back then, he struggled to commute to Shibuya because he was wearing a knight-like armor.
He quickly shook off the thought.
"This is different now. I'm wearing a popular anime character," Yuu said.
"Also, that armor was quite heavy, but this costume is light. Hehehe," he chuckled.
"Okay, let's head to Harajuku," Yuu said as he stepped out of his house.
An hour later, at the Harajuku Cosplay Convention…
Yuu stood at the entrance, which had an archway decorated with balloons. The entire area was filled with colorful decorations.
"This is so cool," Yuu said.
While he was distracted, a group of kids gathered around him, looking at him in amazement.
"Wow! He really looks like MechaVictory!"
"No, he is MechaVictory!"
"Are you guys stupid? It's just a cosplay," another kid said.
"I think he's the real deal," one of the kids insisted, then poked Yuu's butt.
"Hey! Hey!" the kid called out, trying to get Yuu's attention.
Yuu finally noticed the crowd of kids surrounding him.
He panicked—he wasn't good at socializing.
"Eeeeh... What's happening? Why are these kids surrounding me?" he thought.
"Hey, mister! Are you MechaVictory?" the kid asked.
"Is he talking to me?" Yuu thought, completely flustered.
"What should I do? What should I do?!"
"See? He can't even speak! That's because he's just a cosplayer! You guys are so dumb!" the other kid mocked.
Suddenly, the first kid started crying loudly.
"Waaah… Waaah… I knew it! He is MechaVictory!"
"Wait… what's happening?! Why is he crying?!" Yuu panicked internally.
"Should I pose or something?"
Trying to console the kid, Yuu struck a pose.
"Mech…cha!! Vi…ctory!!!" he shouted awkwardly, his voice cracking.
He raised both hands above his head in a V-shape pose.
A heavy silence fell over the crowd as the kids stared at him, completely speechless.
Then, the silence was broken by laughter from the kid who had been mocking him earlier.
"Hahahaha! I told you! He's just a silly cosplayer!" the kid laughed.
The child who believed Yuu was the real MechaVictory burst into tears.
"Waaah… Waaah!" the kid cried before running away.
"Damn it… I want to cry from embarrassment too," Yuu thought.
Yuu roamed around the convention, surrounded by cosplayers dressed as characters from different series—One Piece, Naruto, Dragon Ball, Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist, One Punch Man, Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer—and even DC and Marvel heroes.
"Waaa! Was that Gear 5 Luffy? That was so cool!" Yuu exclaimed behind his mask, his mouth wide open in awe.
Then, he spotted two familiar figures.
"Wait… was that Nami-swan~~~ and Robin-chan~~~?!"
Yuu began geeking out, his movements mimicking Sanji's whenever he saw Nami and Robin.
Next, he came face-to-face with a Killer Bee cosplayer. The cosplayer struck a cool rapper pose.
"Yo!"
Yuu responded with his own awkward attempt at a rapper pose before moving on.
Then, he encountered a Saitama cosplayer.
"Wow, he's even bald! Wait… is he actually cosplaying Saitama?"
Something felt off.
It was just a random bald guy—Johnny.
Yuu quickly walked past him.
As he continued exploring, he stumbled upon an area filled with plushies.
The entire section seemed to shine like he had just entered heaven.
"It's my paradise…" Yuu whispered in awe.
His eyes sparkled as he scanned the plushies.
"Oh! Pokémon plushies! I really want one!"
Then, something else caught his eye.
"Ah—Poro plush!"
But there were too many plushies to choose from, and Yuu found himself overwhelmed.
He kept walking around, admiring the collection, when suddenly, at one stall, a new shipment of plushies arrived.
As the seller opened the box to display them, Yuu's eyes locked onto one plushie in particular—a limited-edition chibi wolf furry Kuromaki plushie.
It was from the same limited-release series as Kyumiki-chan, the fox girl plushie he had at home.
His eyes widened.
"Wait—I want that!" Yuu shouted.
Without thinking, he dashed toward the stall, his entire world slowing down in dramatic slow motion.
His hand reached out.
"Kuromaki-kun!!!"
But just before he could grab it—
A bespectacled office worker swiftly snatched it up and paid for it in an instant.
Yuu stood frozen, his world shattered.
Even with his helmet on, his blank expression of pure shock somehow leaked through.
A total defeat in the battle for acquiring a limited-edition plushie.
As Yuu struggled to accept his defeat, he began following the office worker who had bought the Kuromaki plushie.
His arms hung limply at his sides as he trailed behind, resembling a mindless zombie—except instead of craving brains, he was salivating over the plushie. His eyes remained locked on it, trying to catch glimpses of how it looked while being carried around.
"I'm so jealous… it looks so cute and cool at the same time," Yuu muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, the office worker walked casually, hugging the plushie tightly against his chest.
"My patience has finally paid off," he thought.
"I knew it! They were going to have a limited-edition sale at this cosplay event!"
"And thank god I made it in time. Kuromaki-kun, you are the best furry of all time."
However, he soon noticed something unsettling.
"Wait… I think someone is following me?"
His grip on the plushie tightened.
"No way… is he after my Kuromaki-kun?"
He hugged it even tighter, determined to protect it at all costs.
But the presence behind him didn't waver.
"Why is he still following me?!"
Unable to take it any longer, he spun around to confront his pursuer.
"Hey! What's wrong with you?!"
As he turned, he came face-to-face with a masked figure lurking at him like a crazed madman.
"GYAAAH!!" he screamed in terror.
But his reaction startled Yuu as well.
"GYAAAA!!!" Yuu screamed back.
In his panic, the office worker accidentally threw his Kuromaki plushie into the air.
Both of them instantly realized what had just happened.
Their eyes widened—though Yuu's weren't visible through his mask, his shock was still painfully obvious.
"NOOOO!!! KUROMAKI-KUN!!!" The office worker screamed.
Yuu also reached out dramatically.
"NOOO!!! KUROMAKI-KUN!!!" he thought.
They both frantically scrambled to catch the plushie, their movements full of dramatic desperation.
Then, in a sudden flash of light, Yuu instinctively reacted—his body moved on its own.
In the blink of an eye, he leapt forward and snatched the plushie mid-air, landing smoothly in front of the office worker.
For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze.
The office worker stood there, blinking in confusion.
"What just happened? Did I… see him in mid-air for a moment?"
He reached out as Yuu returned the plushie to him.
Yuu then began bowing repeatedly, almost 100 times per second.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" he apologized frantically.
The office worker quickly raised his hands to stop him.
"Actually, it's fine. You don't have to apologize," he said.
Yuu hesitated before speaking. "I didn't mean to follow you… I was just kinda jealous of your plushie."
The office worker's eyes lit up. "Wait… you know Kuromaki-kun?"
"Of course! He's the best furry—aside from Kyumiki-chan!" Yuu declared.
The office worker froze.
"Aside from Kyumiki-chan?" he thought.
"So… he's basically saying Kuromaki is on par with Kyumiki-chan?"
"Making a side character like Kuromaki equal to the main lead character, Kyumiki?"
"That means… he knows how to truly value furry characters?"
"HE'S JUST LIKE ME!"
Without hesitation, the office worker enthusiastically extended his hand.
"Let's be friends! I'm Takahashi Kenta!"
Yuu instinctively shook his hand.
"Sure! I'm Hoshino Yuu!"
Then, he suddenly realized what he had just done.
"EHHHHH?!?!"
Kenta also gasped.
"EHHHHH?!?!"
At a pop-up coffee shop inside the convention venue,
Yuu had already removed his helmet and now sat face-to-face with Kenta. The atmosphere between them was awkward, but Kenta, in contrast, seemed overly enthusiastic, looking at Yuu like an excited puppy. His eyes sparkled with curiosity, as if he had a million questions running through his mind.
"What kind of situation am I in right now?" Yuu thought.
"How did I suddenly befriend someone?"
Not knowing what else to do, Yuu simply took a sip of his iced chocolate drink, trying to keep himself occupied.
Then, Kenta finally mustered the courage to speak.
"So, you're saying… you have the Kyumiki-chan limited edition plushie?" Kenta asked eagerly.
"Uh… yeah, I have it at home," Yuu replied. "Then, when I saw the Kuromaki plushie at the stall, I wanted to buy it too—so I could collect them both."
Then, Kenta's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Actually, I've been collecting plushies as a hobby for a long time!" he said, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "But it's not just about collecting for me. There's something special about plushies, especially furry characters! They have this unique charm—something about their soft textures, cute designs, and expressive faces makes them feel alive, like they have their own personalities."
Kenta leaned in, his passion evident as he continued.
"Furry characters, in particular, are amazing! They combine the best of both worlds—animal traits and human-like emotions. They're not just cute; they're cool, expressive, and full of personality! Some of them have incredible backstories in games or anime, and that makes them even more lovable. When I collect plushies of my favorite furry characters, it feels like I'm bringing a piece of their world into mine."
His excitement only grew as he spoke.
Yuu, who had been listening to Kenta's endless yapping, was now starting to feel uncomfortable. He began tapping his foot like a restless drummer, a subconscious reaction to his growing impatience.
"Damn it… how long is he going to keep blabbering about this nonsense?" Yuu thought, barely holding back a sigh.
"Plus, hugging a plushie after a long day is the best feeling ever! It's comforting, like having a little friend who's always there for you. And let's not forget the craftsmanship! Limited-edition plushies are often made with such high quality—the embroidery, the details in the fur, the little accessories—every part of them feels special. That's why I always keep an eye out for new releases and rare finds!"
Then, as Yuu reached his limit, he finally snapped.
"Enough already! I get your point! And I'm really sorry for following you around. I just wanted to buy the Kuromaki-kun plushie so badly that I unconsciously ended up following you, that's all. There's nothing special about it," Yuu said, completely fed up with Kenta's endless blabbering.
"Did I say something wrong? I probably messed up... Did I go too far? I was just too excited to meet someone who also likes plushies like me. Oh shit, I really messed up..." Kenta thought.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bo—"
Before Kenta could finish apologizing, the ground suddenly trembled.
The ground erupted in a violent tremor, a seismic jolt that sent shockwaves rippling through the convention.
"Aaaah! What's happening?!" a sharp, high-pitched shriek echoed.
"Run! Everyone, run!"
"Waaah! Mommy, where are you?!"
"Look out! The stall is falling!"
"Help! Someone, help!"
"Get out of here!"
The convention, once filled with enthusiastic cosplayers and anime fans, had now turned into a chaotic sea of panicked people as disaster struck.
Suddenly, a rift tore through space, cracking reality itself. Sparks of static energy shot out from the growing fissure, and as the crack expanded, powerful winds swirled around it like a black hole, pulling in anything nearby. Then, with a final explosive burst of energy and a surge of static, a massive portal-like hole formed. Around it, an eerie structure resembling an archway materialized, solidifying into what appeared to be a portal gate.
Then, a sudden notification appeared before everyone nearby.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
DUNGEON HAS SPAWNED
[LABYRINTH OF THE UNDERWORLD]
[RAID DIFFICULTY] ★★★★☆
[S-RANK DUNGEON]
OBJECTIVE: Conquer the dungeon within 3 days.
Failure will result in a Monster Break.
---
As the glowing notification hovered in front of them, the already chaotic convention descended further into madness, the panicked shouts and frantic footsteps momentarily giving way to an eerie silence, broken only by murmurs of disbelief.
People turned toward the ominous dungeon gate, its swirling vortex crackling with static energy.
"Are you serious?! Why is this happening?!"
"What the hell is going on?!"
"There's no way this is real, right?" one man muttered, raising his phone to record.
Then, someone gasped in horror.
"A dungeon…? An S-RANK dungeon just spawned?!"
Panic spread like wildfire. The excited energy of the cosplay convention was now replaced by sheer terror. People shoved past one another, desperately trying to flee the scene.
Among them, a police officer who had been casually patrolling the area now found himself tangled in a nightmare. His hands trembled as he fumbled for his radio.
"Come on… come on! Someone pick up!" he muttered, his voice cracking with fear.
Finally, a response crackled through the radio.
"This is HQ. What's the situation?"
The officer swallowed hard before shouting, "I'm reporting a dungeon sighting! I repeat, a dungeon has spawned! Call the Guild Association immediately! T-this is an S-RANK DUNGEON!"
His voice only added to the hysteria. People screamed. The rush to escape became more frantic.
The once vibrant convention had transformed into absolute chaos.
At the Guild Association
The chairman and her secretary were already on the move.
As they entered the elevator, the chairman spoke.
"Are you sure about that report?" he asked.
"Yes, Chairman. We've received a confirmed report of a dungeon sighting," she replied. "Based on witness accounts, it's certain that this is the S-Rank Dungeon we were expecting to spawn."
She pressed the button for the first floor.
"Where did it spawn?" the chairman asked.
"The S-Rank Dungeon has spawned in Harajuku, Chairman," she said.
"Harajuku? That's impossible. Where exactly?" he asked, his expression tensing.
"Right in the middle of the cosplay convention, Chairman. The area is packed with civilians," she reported.
The chairman clenched his jaw.
"Damn it! A convention? There must be thousands of people there. We need to move immediately!" he ordered.
Ding
The elevator doors slid open, revealing the guild association's main hall, which was packed with players preparing for the raid.
Most of the players were part of the excavation team, wearing mining equipment while the association staff registered them at designated stations. Many were visibly nervous, knowing they were about to enter an S-Rank Dungeon, but others remained calm, reassured by the presence of elite S-Rank Players
As the chairman walked through the crowd, heading toward a platform where he was about to give a speech, he spotted familiar figures among them—the leaders of OrthusAzure.
At the forefront stood Arashi Aqua, the S-Rank #1 Player and Guild Leader of OrthusAzure. His white hair and ocean-blue eyes gave him a composed and collected demeanor. He was clad in a mage-like cloak over a blue military-style uniform, the signature attire of their guild.
Beside him stood his right-hand man, Ikari Ginoo, the S-Rank #6 Player. A towering, muscular figure with a notoriously hot temper, he was fully equipped with heavy armor and wielded a massive battle axe.
Also present were the twin sisters of OrthusAzure, both A-Rank Players:
Rin, a blue-haired, boyish, and hot-tempered swordswoman known for her exceptional dueling skills. She wore light armor, a mini skirt, and light boots. Unlike her twin sister, she had a noticeably smaller chest.
Ran, her pink-haired twin, was timid, soft-spoken, and more feminine in demeanor. She had a larger chest than Rin and was the team's healer, providing vital support despite her shy nature.
On the other side, another elite team stood gathered—GriffinRed, led by the S-Rank #2 Player, Kagami Reiji.
Reiji was impatient, cocky, arrogant, and flamboyant, exuding a fiery confidence that matched his bright red hair. He wore light heavy armor and carried a longsword strapped to his back.
Accompanying him were three other members of GriffinRed:
Fujiwara Yurina (S-Rank #9) – Reiji's secretary and one of the few people capable of keeping him in check. Like Reiji, she had red hair and a strong, commanding presence. She wore light armor and wielded dual blades, resembling daggers.
Kurosawa Obito (S-Rank #12) – A man with thick glasses and the aura of a nerdy office worker. However, today, he wore light samurai-style clothing and wielded a katana, showing his battle-ready side.
Kana (A-Rank) – The fourth member of the team. She wore light but revealing armor, wielding a short axe and a circular shield. She had a gentle aura, but her appearance contradicted it—she possessed a muscular yet sexy, tanned physique that exuded both strength and allure.
On the other side, standing alone, was S-Rank #4, Sato Ren, the leader of BlackHydra. He had a drowsy and uninterested appearance, with black hair and bangs that almost covered his eyes. Dressed in a ninja-like outfit with light armor, he carried a short katana strapped to his back.
Another group stood nearby, led by S-Rank #5, Kanzaki Leon, the leader of GoldPegasus. Charismatic, elegant, and undeniably attractive, Leon struck a model-like pose, his long, straight pink hair flowing gracefully. He wore light armor and carried a rapier-style fencing sword at his side.
Accompanying him were three A-Rank members:
Marco – A handsome young man with short blonde hair, also striking a model-like pose. He was a ranger, equipped with a longbow slung over his back and a sleek ranger's outfit.
Vincent – Another good-looking member with silky black hair, who also posed like a model. He wore light armor and wielded a lance-style spear.
Mina – Unlike her teammates, she looked completely done with their antics, especially their leader's excessive posing. Despite her striking beauty and elegance, she had a boyish vibe. Her outfit resembled wizard robes, but instead of a staff, she wielded a scythe, setting her apart from the typical spellcasters.
Up ahead, near the platform, stood another team—S-Rank #7, Kagemura Yuki, leader of PurpleCerberus. He wore an uncanny, fake smile, his wavy violet hair giving him an eerie charm. Draped in a mage-like cloak, underneath, he simply wore a violet suit with no visible weapon.
Beside him were two A-Rank members, both completely shrouded in hooded cloaks, concealing their faces entirely. Another member, A-Rank Takeda Ryo, had been assigned to the team at the chairman's request. Unlike the others, Ryo wore light heavy armor, his signature gauntlets gleaming under the guild's lights.
As the chairman passed by, most of the leaders simply nodded, maintaining their serious expressions. However, Yuki was the only one to speak up.
"Oh, Chairman, I didn't expect you to show up. I was already planning to take command of the entire raid since the dungeon has already spawned," Yuki said with a sly smile.
The chairman smirked. "I'm really thrilled you thought of that—you're such a reliable man, aren't you? But I don't think that will be necessary."
As he walked past Yuki, he paused briefly upon seeing Ryo.
With a smile, he said, "I'm glad to see you, young man. I'm looking forward to what you can do."
Yuki's smirk faded instantly, his expression turning sour as he clenched his fists in irritation.
The chairman's expression hardened as he took a step forward, his presence commanding the attention of every Player in the hall. His voice rang out, strong and unwavering, echoing through the vast chamber.
"Players, I stand before you today at a moment of critical importance. Your presence here, your readiness to answer the call, speaks to your dedication, strength, and courage. For that, I thank you."
He took a measured breath, his gaze sweeping over the gathered warriors and excavation teams.
"As many of you are aware, a dungeon has spawned. Thanks to the system—the very system we feared two years ago—it has now become essential to humanity's survival against these dungeons and the monsters within them. With it, we have been able to prepare for the calamities that threaten our world. And today, we face another—an S-Rank Dungeon."
A murmur rippled through the crowd at the mention of the dungeon's rank. The weight of his words settled on their shoulders, but he pressed on.
"In the history of Japan, this marks only the second time an S-Rank Dungeon has appeared. And as you all remember, the first was one of our nation's darkest times. We were unprepared. We lost countless brave Players. But from that tragedy, from those who survived, emerged the strongest warriors of our generation—our current S-Rank Players."
He gestured toward the elite fighters standing among them—those who had endured the horrors of the past and emerged as Japan's greatest defenders.
"This time, we are not unprepared. We have you—the best Players Japan has to offer. With our top S-Rank Players leading the charge, and with your combined strength, victory is within our grasp."
He let those words sink in before continuing, his voice steady and resolute.
"We ask you to fight alongside one another, to support one another, and to trust in the strength of our unity. Every one of you is an essential part of this raid. No matter your rank, your role, or your duty—you matter."
He then turned to the excavation team, his expression firm yet appreciative.
"To our excavation team, your participation is of paramount importance. This mission is not just about conquering the dungeon—it is about securing the future. We have learned from the past that S-Rank Dungeons are rich in invaluable magic ores, minerals, treasures, and materials that can significantly enhance our fighting capabilities. Your work will fortify our defenses and ensure our continued strength."
His eyes swept over the crowd one last time, his voice carrying a weight of finality.
"I know I have taken up your time, but time is of the essence. We are heading to Harajuku. We will conquer this dungeon, secure its resources, and ensure that a Monster Break does not occur. We will protect our people."
He then raised his hand and brought it down in a commanding motion.
"Now, let's move—to Harajuku!"
The hall erupted in a chorus of voices, some cheering, others bracing themselves for the battle ahead. The mission had begun.