Phantom of Grimm — that's the name of Diego, Nacht, and Kisa's team. First, the three went to speak with Isolde.
Isolde: A team.Kisa: Mhm.Nacht: I mean, why not.Diego: Mhm.Isolde: I'm surprised. You barely know each other, especially you, Nacht…Nacht: Hm.Diego: We'll be able to take more jobs.Isolde: Sigh… Are you sure? I don't feel like dealing with drama.Diego: We are.Kisa: Yes.Nacht: Mhm.
Isolde sighed again, then smiled.Isolde: Fine… then I have a job for you. If you complete it, I've got a gift for you.Kisa: A gift.Nacht: Hm?Diego: Okay… and the job?Isolde: There's a dungeon near the city of Aschwold. It's known to be dangerous. Both ordinary monsters and Vinka live there. How about it? If you make it down to the second floor, I'll give you a reward.Diego: A reward…
Isolde sat down, then turned back to them.Isolde: One more thing — a Vinka dragon lives in that dungeon. Be careful.Nacht: A dragon, huh.Diego: What's the difference between a normal dragon and a Vinka dragon?Isolde: Good question, Diego. Simple: most Vinka have strange features, and that black smoke. A normal dragon is the dragon we all know from stories. A Vinka dragon might have things like an eye on its chest or a warped body that barely looks draconic. They're truly monstrous. Also, all Vinka bear Gargamel's Mark — a dark, grinning sigil somewhere on the body, head, wherever. It's their power source. Hit that spot and they go down faster — but they're still very strong.Diego: I understand.
Isolde handed them a map.Isolde: Be back within two days. The later you are, the smaller the reward. Off you go, Phantom of Grimm.
They set out.
(Hours later)
Nacht: This should be it.Kisa: Wow… it's huge.Diego: Ugh.Kisa: It's really big. We'll probably meet a lot of Märchen in there.Nacht: Then let's head in.
They entered.
Kisa: Huh…Nacht: What the—Diego: What is it?Kisa: Hmm?
The main path was blocked.Nacht: Perfect.Diego: Hm.Kisa: Look, there's a side opening… but it's narrow.Nacht: Better than nothing.
They squeezed in — Kisa first, then Nacht, then Diego. The cramped tunnel forced them to move carefully. After a short crawl the ground suddenly dropped away.
Weee!Diego: Aaaaaaaargh!Nacht: …Hah…Kisa: Oh no!
(Crash!)
Nacht: That was a nasty landing.Diego: Wait—where's Kisa?Kisa: Mmmm!Nacht: Huh!?Diego: Ugh.
Kisa's head had jammed into the dirt from the fall.Nacht: Oh no—hold on! We'll get you out.
They pulled her free.
Nacht: …Huh?Diego: What?
Something skittered above.Nacht: There's a bug on your head.Diego: More like a monster bug.Kisa: Huh?
Sssss!She looked up.Kisa: Aaaaaaaaaah! Help!Nacht: Back off!
He swatted it away, but Kisa slumped, dazed.Nacht: She's just out for a moment.Diego: Oh.
They stood; Diego carried her on his back.
Nacht: Strange… what floor are we on?Diego: You've got the map, right?Nacht: …Yeah. Let me see.
They examined it.Diego: Am I the only one who thinks this map looks… off?Nacht: Drawn with felt pens?
Tick… tick…
The mood soured.Diego: Don't tell me…Nacht: That we got a doodle from the Guildmaster?
Bruh.Diego: Wait, there's a note at the bottom.Nacht: You're right.
It read: "Oops, got you. Not a real map — just something I drew two days ago because I was bored. Good luck!"
Kisa woke up right then.Kisa: Huh…Diego: Oh, you're awake.Kisa: Sorry. I can walk now.
She hopped down. Nacht suddenly stiffened.Nacht: Something's wrong. If we're deeper than floor four, it shouldn't be this quiet.
Splop.Nacht: Water drips… but we're too deep for a ceiling leak…
He looked up.Nacht: Guys… we've got a big problem.Diego: What is it?Kisa: Hm?Nacht: Look above.
They followed his finger — a gigantic shape slept against the ceiling.
Diego: What is that…Kisa: The dragon?Nacht: No… dragons don't sleep hanging from the ceiling. That's a spider. Be quiet and don't—
Kisa: Aaaaaaaaaah! A spider!Diego: An insect!
Uwa—uwa—uwaaa!Nacht: …Great.
The spider's eyes opened. It dropped.
Bam!
Kisa: Oops.Diego: Oh-oh.Nacht: We should've called ourselves the Idiots.Kisa: What do we do?Diego: Fight?Nacht: No. I have a plan.Kisa: Ooh, exciting.Diego: And that is…Nacht: Run.
Weeeee!Kisa: Eeeeeh!Diego: Whoa!
Sqaaaaaaa!Kisa: Actually, running sounds good!Diego: Mhm!
They sprinted.Diego: Nacht, you coward!Nacht: Shut it. Do you know how strong a brood-mother spider is?
They burst into a shaft leading upward.Nacht: Up there—Kisa, you first!
He boosted her, then climbed.Nacht: What are you waiting for, newbie?Diego: Coming—Kisa: Diego, look out!
Splach!A leg pierced Diego's chest.
Diego: Urk.Nacht: Ugh.Kisa: Huh!
He spat blood.Kisa: I have to help him!Nacht: It's dangerous—Kisa: I don't care!
She summoned her Märchen — Grimm: Hansel and Gretel — and pulled on her spirit gloves.Kisa: He's a friend! I'm a strong girl, and I help my friends!
She leaped.Kisa: Ghost Punch!
Patch! The blow staggered the spider.Ichabod: You'll need to fight too.Nacht: …You're right.
He drew his blade and sprang.Nacht: Dark Sword — I summon the night… Dusk Cleave!
A bat-shaped arc tore into the spider.Sgaaa!
Kisa: Not enough!
She slammed her fists into the ground, called a stone-spirit, and shaped it into a long polearm.Kisa: Leave Diego alone!
Crash!
The spider screeched and spat venom.Kisa: Ugh—Nacht: Look out!
He grabbed her and vaulted aside.Nacht: That was close.Kisa: Thanks.
Diego: Ghhh… Rotkäppchen…
Grimm: Little Red Riding Hood opened.Red Riding Hood: Hehehe… very well…
Diego transformed into a werewolf and ripped the spider legs holding him.
Splach!
Nacht: Now—Night's Breath… Shadow Slash!
Slash! The spider crashed dead.
Diego: Hah… hah…Nacht: Don't move—you've been poisoned.Kisa: Diego!
Diego reverted and lay on the ground. Kisa knelt beside the wound—Kisa: Huh…
It was already closing.Kisa: Impossible… it's sealing.Nacht: Incredible. Wolf powers?Diego: I think so.Kisa: Thank goodness.
Nacht: All right. We keep going. We're on the clock.
They delved deeper.
Knrrrr.Kisa: I'm hungry.Diego: Me too.Nacht: Seriously? It's been like half an hour.Kisa: Still hungry.Diego: Got anything to eat?Nacht: I packed a few things.
He tossed Kisa an apple.Kisa: Ah—an apple.Nacht: You too, newbie — catch.
Diego caught… leafy greens.Diego: Seriously… kale?Nacht: Better than nothing.Kisa: Mmm.Diego: What a jerk.
They moved on — rattling sounded ahead.
Diego: Hm…Nacht: Careful.
Skeletons shambled out.Nacht: Normal dungeon fare. Get used to it. We'll clear them.
Slach! Slach!
Crack!
Nacht: Hm?
Patch!
Diego: Huh?Kisa: Huh?Nacht: A flesh-walker. Heads up!
A massive, bloated mass of meat reeled forward, guts spilling.
Diego: Vinka?Nacht: No. A flesh monster — a heap that feeds on dead tissue. More like an undead. To destroy it we either burn it or drown it.Diego: We don't have either.Nacht: Exactly.
It lunged.
Kisa: Then we fight.Nacht: No choice.
They transformed.Diego: Roooaar!
Slach!
Diego: Wolf Claws!
But the thing regenerated every cut.Nacht: Damn. If only we had fire.Diego: Nacht… I have an idea.Nacht: Which is?Diego: I'll eat it.Nacht: What? You'll eat an undead?Kisa: Wait. Don't werewolves devour almost anything?Nacht: Yes, but—are you sure?Diego: No choice.Nacht: Fine, newbie. We'll distract it.
Kisa: Ghost Trinity Punch!
Bam! Bam!Nacht: Dark Blade… Night's Dance!
Splach!Roooooar!
Kisa: Now, Diego!Diego: Got it!
He tackled it and bit deep into its neck.
Splach!
Roaaar—roaar!
Diego: I'm finishing this!
[CENSORED]
Splach! Splach!
Diego: Hah… done.Nacht: …Gross.Kisa: …Uh…Diego: I had no choice.Nacht: Are you sure you're okay?Kisa: You're wobbling.Diego: I—b— (gag!)
He threw up.Nacht: Ghhh.Kisa: Guess it didn't taste good.
A moment later they pushed on.
Nacht: We're nearly at floor two.
They descended to a wide chamber — a massive Vinka dragon slept between floor one and two.
Diego: Ugh… the dragon.Nacht: Now I see why Isolde only asked for floor two. Word is this is the deadliest dungeon.Diego: How many floors are there?Nacht: No one knows. No one's made it past floor two. That explains the skeletons everywhere.
Diego: Do we slay it?Nacht: Not sure that's wise… but we must reach floor two if Isolde's to approve our team. I have an idea.Diego: Let's hear it.Kisa: Hm?Nacht: It's asleep. We might be able to take it out while it sleeps—Kisa: That feels unfair. No one wants to die in their sleep.Nacht: On the contrary — it wouldn't suffer. Anyway, follow my lead. Kisa.Kisa: Yes?
Nacht: I want you to approach.Kisa: Okay?
Nacht: With your spirit gloves, can you form an "egg" shell around yourself?Kisa: Oh… yes. Why?Nacht: Dragons are fiercely protective of their young. Pretend to be an egg.Kisa: Huh… interesting. I'll try it.Nacht: (Knew she'd say yes.)
Kisa rolled forward disguised as an egg. The dragon stirred.
Dragon: Hmm…
It peered at the "egg."Diego: Hm.Nacht: Hope this works.
The dragon drew close. That was the moment to strike.Diego: Now!Nacht: Ghhh—
But the spirit shell cracked too soon, and Kisa tumbled free.
Kisa: Guess I spent more magiya than I thought…
The dragon loomed over her. She trembled, eyes squeezed shut — and the dragon gently nuzzled and licked her face.
Kisa: Huh.Nacht: Wait… it still thinks she's a hatchling.
The dragon huffed at the boys.Kisa: It's okay — they're my friends.
They poised to attack; Kisa jumped between them.
Nacht: Ugh!Diego: Damn!Dragon: Grrr!
Kisa: Stop it! You there, dragon—The dragon pointed at itself, confused.Kisa: Don't attack people unless they're truly wicked. And you two!Nacht: Huh?Diego: Hm?Kisa: It's not fair to kill a mother guarding her young. The job is to reach the second floor, not to slay the dragon.Nacht: …She's right.
Kisa: Please, dragon — don't hurt people if you can help it. And… could you help us reach floor two?
Dragon: Grr?
The dragon gave them a lift, and the lesser monsters kept their distance.
Nacht: This is surreal.Diego: I've never ridden a dragon.Kisa: Hehe.
They dismounted at floor two.Kisa: Thank you so much.
The dragon nuzzled her again.Kisa: How about a name… you're a mother… Leviet — how about that?
Nacht glanced around uneasily.Nacht: (Strange… thought I felt something…)
They returned toward the guild. It was late, so they rested in the city.
Splach!Leviet: Rooooar!Patch!Hehehe…
Jack the Ripper — age unknown, Beast of the Witches of the Forbidden Library. Ability: Poison.Jack the Ripper: Just what I brought… hehe… dragon meat!
Schmatz!Grimm Reaper: Mmm… hehe… I'd love to feast again soon.
(The next day)
Isolde: All right, all right — you did it.Nacht: About that map.Isolde: Oops… hehe. I gave you a, well, "practice" map. Hehe. So — the dragon?
They told her everything.Isolde: I see. Either way, you reached the second floor. Easy work for a team — I think you noticed. But it was enough for me to see how you operate. So then — your rewards. Two gifts from me.Kisa: Two?Nacht: Hm?Diego: Oh, I'm excited!
Isolde opened a chest. Inside lay squad robes: black, with a grinning ghost sigil, ashen skin and dark eyes.Isolde: Well? Hehe.Kisa: Wow!Diego: Oh…Nacht: Hm. Not what I expected.
Isolde: There's more. Follow me.
They did.
Diego: Ugh!Kisa: Wooow!Nacht: Ugh…
A huge black wagon stood outside — big as a room, livable, perfect for long missions.
Kisa: Wow!
Kisa hugged Isolde.Isolde: Hehe.Kisa: Thank you, Master. I love it!