Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)
Chapter 216 - 216: Mana pressure

The journey to the dungeon had gone smoother than expected. No monsters along the road, no sudden storms, just the quiet crunch of boots through snow and the howling wind brushing against their cloaks.

They arrived ahead of schedule.

Now, the three of them stood atop a small rise, a snow-covered hill overlooking the valley below. The field stretched out in stillness, blanketed in white… except for one part.

The dungeon gate.

It swirled in the center of the frozen basin, dark and unnatural, as if the world itself had been ripped open and left gaping.

Even from over five hundred meters away, its presence could be felt.

Its pressure.

The weight of that dangerous dungeon.

The mana…

Larpard froze.

"Ugh…" he groaned suddenly, clutching his chest as his knees buckled, claws digging through his coat as he hunched forward. His small frame trembled, and sweat began to bead across his pale forehead.

Behind, his tail puffed out instinctively, fur bristling. His ears flattened tight against his head, quivering like a terrified kitten's.

"Larp!" Ereskia reached out quickly, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Hey! Are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine, sis," he whispered, but his fingers clutched at her coat with the desperation of someone drowning. He wouldn't meet her eyes.

"Larp," Lucian stepped beside them, calm but attentive. "We can rest a little if you need to," he offered gently. "We're not in a rush."

But Larpard shook his head, a tremor in his voice as he pushed Lucian's hand away.

"No. I'm fine." His eyes narrowed with determination. "Tsk… this is nothing."

He clicked his tongue and forced himself upright.

One breath.

Then another.

And another.

Three deep breaths, in and out, white fog spilling from his mouth with each exhale.

At last, his legs stopped shaking. His grip loosened slightly, and with a steadying step forward, he stared straight down at the gate.

Like he was facing off with an enemy.

The others followed his gaze.

Down below, the swirling vortex of the gate twisted and churned in place. It crackled with black lightning, arcs of dark energy lashing out like a storm barely held in check.

The swirl itself wasn't like most dungeon entrances.

It wasn't glowing blue, or silver, or even red.

Instead, it was black. A deep, oily black, like ink spreading through water.

Worse still, thick fog seeped out from the base of the gate, curling across the frozen ground in tendrils. It moved unnaturally, writhing like something alive.

Even the snow that fell nearby wasn't white anymore.

It came down gray. And by the time it touched the ground near the vortex…

It became black, stained.

Ereskia's hand hovered near her blade, shaking a little.

Lucian's eyes narrowed.

Yes, dungeons were separate dimensions, cut off from the natural world except by the gates that connected them. But sometimes… the mana inside could still seep through. A slow, invisible leak.

And the stronger the dungeon, the more intense that leak became. Sometimes, it could even greatly alter the environment and life forms on the other side.

That was what happening.

And that was what Larpard was feeling now. The oppressive weight pressing down on his chest, the cold sweat, the tremble in his limbs, it was all because of that.

He'd never set foot in an S-rank dungeon before.

And this one… this wasn't just any S-rank. It was the Gates of the Night. One of the most infamous dungeons in all of Faunae.

Still, despite the crushing pressure, despite the fear written across his face moments ago, Larpard stood.

His breathing slowed, his hands steadied. The fire in his eyes began to burn again.

But while he had found his footing, Ereskia's worry only deepened. Her brother's reaction had shaken her more than she expected.

"Larp…" she said softly, her voice lined with concern. "Are you sure about this?"

He turned to her, his face serious but calm.

"I already told you, sis. We've come this far. We're standing right here, at the edge of everything. I'm not walking away now. Not without our father."

Ereskia let out a slow, heavy breath. She stared at him for a long moment.

She knew him too well.

That look in his eyes, that set, unwavering look... Once Larpard made up his mind, there was no pulling him back. He was stubborn, extremely so, like their father that way.

"Haiz… alright," she said quietly, giving in. "Just… be careful. Also, you need to control your breathing, okay? Take deeper breaths. It will helps with the mana pressure. And once you're inside… it'll only get worse. The mana will be denser there, so get ready…"

"Yup. I know. Thanks you," Larpard replied, giving her a small smile.

And then, Lucian, who had been silent through their exchange, finally stepped forward.

"Your sister is right," he said. "Let us know if you feel like you can't take it anymore, okay?"

"Okay." Larpard nodded.

"Good." Lucian said, before touching his dimensional starge ring.

The ring glowed.

And from that ring, Lucian summoned two marble-sized pills. They rested in his palm, faintly glowing.

"Anyways, eat this, both of you," he said.

Ereskia's eyes lit up in recognition.

"Oh! These are good stuff!" she said with genuine surprise, and reached in to take the one pill.

Larpard took one too, turned the pill over in his hand, examining its faint shimmer.

The pill was red and glowed brightly, radiating heat like a piece of smoldering coal. The warmth seeped through even the thick layer of Larpard's glove, but it didn't burn or cause any pain.

"Guildmaster, what… are these?" he asked, glancing up at Lucian.

Lucian looked at him before replying.

"Dragon Heart Pills," he said quietly. "Made from the heart of that young dragon your sister slew a while ago."

Ereskia's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Wait—that dragon? The fire dragon?"

Lucian nodded.

"There was only enough to craft two though. They're extremely rare and hard to make, but extremely potent."