SSS Dungeon Awakening

As Mike jumped, the world seemed to slow down around him.

At least, that's how it felt.

But he made it—

and the portal teleported Mike to Stage 4 of World 1.

Mike found himself in a cold room.

He looked around: stone walls, torches mounted,

and there was Kya.

Tyla was still on his back.

Mike took a deep breath.

"Phew… made it."

Then—blood sprayed.

The wound on Mike's stomach

was bleeding heavily.

HP: 63

(Blood Loss)

Mike collapsed—

and with him, Tyla.

He watched as Tyla hit the ground hard.

"S-sorry… Tyla,"

he muttered.

He couldn't go on.

The wound was taking a serious toll.

He was so tired,

and Tyla had been asleep for so long…

Who knew if she'd even wake up?

Then he noticed Kya sitting beside him.

"Hey Mike… rest, okay?"

Kya snuggled up close to him and closed her eyes.

Mike didn't question it—

and fell asleep.

A little later, Mike was awakened.

It was—

Tyla's voice.

"Mike! Mike! Mike!"

Mike opened his eyes.

"Y-yeah?"

He looked down.

Kya's face was resting on his shoulder.

She was sleeping deeply.

But—Mike's wound was gone.

She had healed him.

Tyla looked like she was about to explode with questions.

She took a deep breath.

"Okay first—Mike: what happened?

Second—who is she??

And third—"

she shouted,

"WHERE THE HELL ARE WE?!"

Tyla's voice echoed through the room.

Mike exhaled slowly.

"Okay, so…

You collapsed,

I carried you through two entire stages,

fought two bosses alone—

and as for who that is…"

He looked over at Kya.

"Her name is Kya.

She's a healer.

She was attacked by a lunatic—

I rescued her in the volcano world."

Tyla shuddered at the word "volcano."

"Ugh, I hate heat.

Thank god I skipped two stages!"

She punched Mike on the shoulder—

the one that wasn't carrying anyone.

Mike added,

"As for where we are…

I honestly have no idea."

Then Mike saw it—

a long, long path…

A tunnel.

There was a sign.

"Hey Tyla, can you read that sign?"

Tyla walked toward the sign standing just before the tunnel.

She coughed.

"Alright, it says here:"

Stage 4: Running Tunnel

Be faster than him… or else!

And on the sign was an image—

a massive boulder.

Tyla and Mike instantly knew what this meant.

Mike was reminded of a movie…

With an explorer…

What was his name again?

Mike stood up carefully.

Kya's head drooped to the side slightly—

then she slowly woke up.

"H-hm?"

Kya and Tyla talked briefly,

finally getting to know each other.

But they didn't have much time,

because Mike wanted to move ahead.

"Alright, guys," Mike said,

"let's get started."

Mike stepped over the line.

Tyla and Kya followed him.

Then—

a huge boulder fell down in front of the tunnel.

Mike shouted, "Ohhh shit!"

But Kya and Tyla had already run ahead.

Mike was further behind—

and right behind him the giant boulder began rolling, picking up speed.

Mike was in a panic.

If he slowed down even a little,

he'd be crushed.

He screamed:

"Ahhh I don't want to end up as a pancake!

Getting killed by a rock is just as funny as being killed by stairs!!"

He ran faster.

At the end of the tunnel was a cliff.

Mike jumped without thinking.

In midair, he saw the giant boulder falling too.

Below was water.

Mike shifted to the side in the air and swam toward the portal.

He was teleported—

and the boulder hit the water just a second later.

The portal vanished,

and the boulder was left behind.

Mike woke up

with his face buried in the snow.

Tyla and Kya helped him up.

"We need something warmer or we'll freeze," they said.

Mike sighed.

So this was Stage 5.

All you could see was snow—

nothing else was visible except the two girls.

The group needed warmer clothing fast—

or it would be the end of them.