"You've got to be kidding me—your BOSS battle matchmaking system is seriously broken, isn't it?"
Back at home, Flo couldn't hold back any longer and confronted Sui Sui.
[What's broken about it? This system's been working flawlessly for years! Maybe look inward for the problem, meow.]
Flo: "Look inward?! What could possibly be my fault?!"
[This BOSS battle matches opponents based on your recent combat activity to assess your skill level and assign a suitable challenge.]
Flo: "?!"
Oh no.
Flo suddenly got it.
Lately, she'd been sparring with Ilika, playing chase with the elf sister, and grinding missions nonstop to earn points.
Of course the system thought she was top-tier—and assigned Sister Shirona as her very first BOSS!
Flo: "That's so unfair! QAQ"
If only she'd played it safe—fought weaklings, gone full "chicken claw" mode—she wouldn't be facing a nightmare opponent now!
But how was she supposed to fight Shirona?!
In a real fight, Shirona could probably pin her down with a single tentacle, trigger the "defeat CG," and drag her off to her room for… private punishment. (Annoyed)
Yet if she refused to fight, the system would dock her 1,000 points—wiping out all her hard-earned progress in an instant. (Tragic)
[Alright, alright—I'm done teasing you, A-Fu. The whole "matchmaking" thing? I made it up. No matter what you do, your first BOSS is always Shirona.]
Flo: "…Huh?"
The white-haired, heterochromatic tentacle girl's face was etched with utter despair.
Flo: "So… you never actually wanted me to win from the start, huh…"
[Not at all! What I mean is—Shirona won't go all out.]
Flo: "Not all out? Then… how much will she use?"
[You'll find out soon enough. Don't worry—the difficulty really isn't that high.]
Now that she thought about it, the system had rated this BOSS battle asA-rank.
Given Shirona's absurd stats, it should've been S-rank at minimum.
That could only mean one thing: she'd be fighting a nerfed version of her sister.
But… how much nerfed? Without knowing, Flo felt uneasy.
"What should I do…" Flo sat on her bed, deep in thought.
"Master seems troubled~ Let me help lighten your burden~"
The pink-haired loli wrapped her arms around Flo from behind, her soft chest gently pressing against Flo's back.
"Master, what's bothering you?"
"Not much… just someone I really want to defeat, but I have no idea how."
"Someone you want to defeat?! Who is it?!"
Nikolim's expression instantly turned serious.
"Nini… will you help me beat her?"
"Of course!" Nikolim puffed out her tiny chest proudly.
"Your enemy is my enemy! Tell me who it is—I'll teach her a lesson!"
"Nini…" Flo felt a sudden surge of warmth.
This slime companion was too loyal!
"Then I'm counting on you! Help me defeat Sister Shirona!"
"…Master, could you say that again?"
"Help me defeat Sister Shirona! She's the one I want to beat!"
Nikolim: (O_O)
The pink-haired loli froze for a split second—then instantly morphed back into slime form and scurried into the corner, curling up into a trembling ball.
"Master! I haven't done anything wrong to you! Why are you trying to get me killed?! Waaah QAQ"
Flo: "…I knew it. (ㅍ_ㅍ)"
She sighed, watching her slime pet panic instantly.
After all, Nikolim had just been utterly wrecked by Shirona last time—of course she was terrified.
But even with Nikolim's help, fighting Shirona would only stretch a one-slap defeat into a two-slap one.
Just as Flo felt utterly stuck, her eyes drifted to the blue-and-white striped panties lying on the bed.
A sudden idea struck her!
Flo: "Sui Sui—can I call in outside help?"
[Of course you can, meow!]
Flo: "Perfect! (˵¯͒〰¯͒˵)"
♡♡♡
"You actually dared come back… I admire your courage, Flo-lo. But this time, I might just lock you up again on a whim."
Ilika's voice was as cold as falling snow when Flo showed up unannounced.
"Actually… I came to return your panties."
Flo handed over the neatly folded pair.
"…Did you use them?" Ilika asked flatly.
"Yep! Used them. Now I'm giving them back."
"…It doesn't really matter if you return them or not…" Ilika muttered under her breath, turning her head away.
"Huh? What was that? ε(･ω･)" Flo raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing!" Ilika snatched the panties and turned sharply.
"If you've got nothing else, get out. I'm in a good mood today—so I won't kill you. Now scram."
"There's actually one more thing I need to ask of you, Ilika." Flo revealed her true purpose.
"…Huh?" Ilika frowned.
Flo explained everything—her BOSS battle, her need to defeat Shirona, and her desperate request for help.
When Ilika finished listening, she gave Flo a look dripping with disdain.
"So let me get this straight—you're too weak to handle that evil woman, so you came crawling to me, your enemy, for backup?"
"Are you brain-dead or just pretending? We're rivals, dumbass!"
"Who in their right mind asks their sworn enemy for help in battle? Even a knee would know I'd never agree."
"You're an idiot. A moron. A dumb little Flo. Stupid from head to tentacle tip."
"You're so hopeless—white and dumb, silly and dense, foolish and feeble."
Ilika unloaded a barrage of verbal critical hits.
"Alright… sorry to bother you, Ilika. I'll go ask someone else." Flo turned away, crestfallen.
"Wait." Ilika called out.
When Flo turned back, Ilika had already changed into her battle-ready JK uniform, slung her katana over her shoulder, and tied her long silver-white hair into a sharp, high ponytail with a hair tie from her pocket.
She looked effortlessly cool.
"Lead the way." Ilika commanded.
Flo: "Uh… I thought you said you wouldn't help me?"
Ilika: "Who said I'm helping you? I just… also happen to hate that evil woman and feel like teaching her a lesson."
"And besides—before I kill you myself, I won't allow anyone else to defeat you."
"So don't flatter yourself. It's *definitely* not for you…"
Flo: "…I get it, I get it. ๑乛◡乛๑"
Either way, she'd successfully recruited Ilika into her team.
Now… it was time to find Sister Shirona.
♡♡♡
That night…
Shirona lounged on the living room's plush leather sofa, watching TV while lazily licking an ice cream cone.
"Little Flo~?"
Flo suddenly appeared in the living room.
"Did you come to keep Sister company?~" Shirona purred with a seductive smile. "Want to sit on my lap?"
But Flo didn't answer.
"The days of you punishing me on a whim… are over, Sister."
With that, Flo extended her hand.
"Hand over the Golden Tentacle."
The moment those words left her lips, the air around them seemed to warp—reality itself shifted!
[Ding-dong!]
[BOSS Battle Activated!]
[Good luck! We're rooting for your triumphant return!]
Shirona's smile remained—but her presence suddenly radiated an overwhelming pressure so intense that Flo nearly dropped to her knees.
Even Nikolim, clinging to Flo's body, trembled in fear.
Clearly, Shirona understood exactly what Flo meant.
"If little Flo wants it… come and take it yourself~"
"You know the rules, don't you, my dear?"
Resting in Shirona's open palm was a tiny, golden tentacle—glowing with a brilliant, warm yellow light.