"Kyuu Kyuu Kyuuu~", Tamamo suddenly said, which attracted Vita's gaze to her, despite the ongoing attack by the Jaegers on Hamel. She just stared at Tamamo.
"What did you just say, Tama?", Vita uttered, appearing quite confused.
"Kyuu.", Tamamo tried to respond. The cute fox looked back at Vita. Suddenly, Tamamo jumped upward, and did a flick of her tail. Following that, something stirred. Visibly.
Vita saw a blue screen appear before her eyes. The very same blue screen that accompanies Naoto's Gamer System. Vita's eyes turned wide in shock seeing something foreign appear before her. She began to read the message on the screen, and just became even more confused.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has invited Vita Clotilde to join a Party. Would you like to join?]
After reading the message on the blue screen before her, she just stared. Was this Naoto's doing? All she saw was a [Yes] or a [No] option to select from. There were no other choices.
It did not take long for this to get noticed by the others of Ouroboros. Campanella was the first one to look toward Vita.
"What in Aidios's name is this thing?", Vita exclaimed in shock, which drew their attention.
"Hmm?", Campanella responded. It was clear to him that Vita was currently looking at something. But from Campanella's eyes, he did not see a single thing. He just saw Vita and Tamamo. Vita's shock remained as she looked at him.
"You can't see this?", Vita tried to ask, pointing toward the blue screen in front of her. Yet before they could respond, Tamamo's tail began to spin around happily once more.
"Kyuuu!", Tamamo happily replied. Hearing this, Campanella chuckled.
"Haha, whatever it is, it looks like it is giving quite a stir to His Highness's Familiar.", Campanella said, gaining interest. Unexpectedly they saw Tamamo jump around. After doing one more jump, they expected Tamamo to fall off the tree to land on one further down. But their gazes turned serious.
Tamamo did not fall down. She appeared to be standing on empty air.
"The hell? Is this pup floating?", McBurn questioned, seeing the silver fox standing before them.
"Interesting. It looks like some other factor is playing into this. As to what, I do not know.", The Faceless said, musing at this sight.
"Kyuu.", Tamamo said, only to look at Vita again. Hearing this, Vita looked at Tamamo, still trying to gain her composure from the shock she received.
"Did I hear that right, Tama? You want me to join...this 'Party'?", Vita asked.
"Kyuu.", Tamamo said again. Vita didn't even do anything. She saw Tamamo jump again, and slapped her tail. Not toward Vita. No. Tamamo saw the blue screen too. She didn't even let Vita decide.
Tamamo's tail pressed [Yes] right then and there.
"H-Hey! You could have at least given me a moment to consider...", Vita retorted, seeing Tamamo do this. Yet, once [Yes] was selected, Vita heard a foreign voice. It spoke directly into her mind, which caught her off-guard.
[Ding! Party Member Vita Clotilde has joined the Party. Current Slot: 3/6.]
All of a sudden, the strange blue panel disappeared. Tamamo jumped back onto Vita's shoulder. A buzzing noise soon followed after. It wasn't that foreign voice who spoke to her. No, this new voice sounded very familiar. Her eyes raised upward.
[Oh, good. It looks like the connection was successfully established.] The voice spoke, speaking directly into Vita's mind.
"N-Naoto? Is that you?", Vita spoke in disbelief. Hearing her say that, everyone's gaze became serious.
"Oh? Is His Highness back already?", Campanella wondered. He didn't see Naoto around them. Unfortunately, the voice who spoke didn't hear Campanella say this, as he was not part of the Party.
[It's me, Vita. It is nice to speak with you again like this, even if it isn't in person. Consider this a similar ability to Master's. A form of telepathy, if you will.] I spoke. Considering this is through the Gamer System, I figured it's best to speak like this, rather than through thought bubbles. Just like how Vita heard my voice speak directly into her mind, it is speaking directly into mine. A connection has been formed.
"Telepathy, huh? I guess I will have to further inquire about this from Grandmother, given the time. Likewise, it is good to hear your voice again, Naoto. You spoke through your Familiar last time. I did not think you would have another form of communication.", Vita said, smiling.
[I know, right? I can only keep this short, unfortunately. You saw that Party Invitation, didn't you? Saving all the logistics aside, the place you see before you will soon become a Dungeon. Tama has already accepted the Quest. Consider this training for her, alright? You all are to follow her lead. Take care.] I spoke. Vita became frantic hearing that.
"This place is going to turn into a Dungeon? What do you mean by that---!?", Vita tried to say. Sadly for her, she felt the connection cut off before she could even finish her words. She was left alone. Campanella looked at her with interest in his eyes.
"Were you in contact with His Highness just now, Vita?", Campanella asked. Vita nodded her head.
"I was, but just for a moment. Something about training Tama here.", Vita answered, wondering what Naoto meant. She looked at Tamamo, who was perched on her shoulder. Tamamo rubbed her face against Vita's cheek, causing her to wince one of her eyes.
"Kyuu~", Tamamo happily said. Hearing this, Vita could only sigh.
"Apparently, this place is going to turn into a Dungeon. But I am not exactly sure what that means.", Vita said, shrugging her shoulders.
"A Dungeon?", McBurn said, yawning again. "If it's a place for training, then I'm game. I still have yet to be satisfied."
As if responding to McBurn, Vita heard that strange voice speak into her mind again, causing even more confusion.
[Ding! Party Member Tamamo - Level 25 has been designated as Party Leader.]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto - Level 25 has left the Party.]
[Ding! Current Party Limit 2/6.]
"Kyuuu!", Tamamo happily said, seeing this happen before her. She jumped from Vita's shoulder a second time, and did another slap of her tail. This time, a new Gamer Notification showed up. This one did not target Vita. Everyone beside her saw a disturbance in the air around them. The same blue screen popped up one after another, arriving in front of them!
"What the...", McBurn asked, seeing this blue screen before him. His once lazy look was replaced with confusion. It wasn't just him. The same blue screen now hovered over McBurn, Arianrhod, Campanella, and...The Faceless.
"Hahaha! Now this is a rather interesting ability, isn't it? His Highness is getting more and more interesting with each passing moment~", Campanella said, smirking with a grin. "So, what do we do?"
"Kyuu kyuu.", Tamamo said, shifting her eyes back at Vita, wanting her to speak on Tamamo's behalf.
"Umm, you just press [Yes]. After that, this Dungeon will become available. Or so what Tama here says.", Vita said, still confused.
"I don't see a reason not to.", McBurn said, shrugging his shoulders.
"An ability to alter the surroundings...I would not mind spending some time getting to know this Naoto person myself.", The Faceless said, revealing a smirk. Hearing that, Vita's eyes suddenly turned cold.
"If you dare even lift a single finger against Naoto I will send you straight to Gehenna myself.", Vita coldly said, and even pointed her azure staff at The Faceless. He even felt some pressure release from her body. She was serious.
"Fine, fine. I'm already preoccupied with the Grandmaster's project, so I cannot divert much energy for something else at the moment, unfortunately.", The Faceless responded.
As for Arianrhod, she did not mind this bickering one bit. She was more attracted to the blue screen before her.
"Like this?", Arianrhod said, and proceeded to touch the blue screen before her. Seeing the blue screen disappear before her, the rest concluded to do the same thing.
[Ding! Arianrhod the Steel Maiden has joined the Party. Current Slot: 3/6.]
[Ding! Campanella the Fool has joined the Party. Current Slot: 4/6.]
[Ding! McBurn the Blazing Demon has joined the Party. Current Slot: 5/6.]
[Ding! The Faceless has joined the Party. Current Slot: 6/6.]
[Ding! Party Member Vita Clotilde is currently in the Party.]
[Ding! Party Leader Tamamo is currently in the Party.]
[Ding! The Party is now full.]
It was then they were all attracted to a single blue screen that applied to the entire Party.
[Ding! The requirement has been met. An unknown source of power has been detected. Instance Dungeon - Hamel - Level 50 is now being formed. All Party Members will have their Level adjusted to 50...]
"Kyuu kyuu~", Tamamo happily said, seeing this play out before her.
"Is this what it means by "Dungeon"?", Campanella couldn't help but ask.
"Kyuu.", Tamamo answered, acting like she's providing the answer to Campanella. Even Vita raised her eyes hearing Tamamo say that. She began to explain what she just heard.
"Umm, to put it simply, Naoto has the ability to turn his surroundings into numbers. Like an orbal computer. Or so what Tama says.", Vita said, explaining the situation to everyone. "And it can provide various kinds of effects. All for the sake of promoting personal growth. This, by extension, could be considered, "Training".", Vita continued to explain.
"The ability to turn his surroundings into the equivalent of an orbal computer. Fascinating...", The Faceless said, revealing a playful smirk, acting like he wanted to dissect this ongoing scene from the inside-out.
"That's great and all. But I couldn't give two shits about that. At the end of the day, this is becoming a new hunting ground for us, correct?", McBurn asked, appearing slightly more interested now.
"Kyuu.", Tamamo said, answering McBurn.
"Yes. What happens from here, it will not change the real world. But it does impose...restrictions? What restrictions?", Vita asked, wondering herself.
"Kyuu kyuu~", Tamamo said, and did another motion of her tail by jumping in the air.
"What do you mean it would simply be best to show us?", Vita said, wanting to ask what Tamamo meant by that. Sadly, she couldn't figure out before she saw another change before them, courtesy of the Gamer System.
[Ding! The adjustments have finished. Entry to Instance Dungeon - Hamel: Level 50 is now permitted. Would you like to enter?]
Seeing this new information, everyone turned serious. Not only toward the screen, but they paid attention to something else. Perhaps it was Arianrhod's turn to be the one who was most serious this time.
"...Did this ability of His Highness just limit our strength?", Arianrhod said, asking the question of the day.