Solo Dungeon Streamer-I Am Overpowered

Chapter 154: Heart of the Island

The map etched into the pedestal flickered faintly, the glowing glyphs shifting to form a clear path through the dense forest. The endpoint—the so-called heart of the island—seemed to pulse with life, a beacon calling us deeper into the unknown. The air was charged, heavy with anticipation, and even the usual banter among my Shikigami was replaced by an uneasy silence.

Raijuu paced near the pedestal, his ears twitching as he scanned the surrounding trees. Kijin leaned back against a moss-covered boulder, her hands glowing faintly as she idly maintained a fragment of her barrier. Tenko stood nearby, her camera aimed at the map, its lens glinting in the dim light.

"This feels like a trap," Kijin said, breaking the silence. "A big glowing 'Welcome Here, Idiots' sign just waiting for us to step into it."

Raijuu barked softly, his sharp eyes locking onto the distant trail ahead. He didn't seem to disagree.

The chat, of course, had their own colorful theories:

: Plot twist: the map is a decoy, and the real treasure was the friends we made along the way.

: Kijin's got the right idea—this place is screaming 'death trap.'

: Raijuu's thinking, "I should've joined a more competent explorer."

"It's not a trap," I said, though the words felt hollow even to me. "The crystal's been guiding us this far. It hasn't steered us wrong."

Kijin raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, guiding us into bugs, stone monsters, and magical death vortexes. Great track record."

Tenko spoke up, her calm voice cutting through the tension. "The island's network of glyphs is ancient, but it's consistent. If the crystal and the map are in sync, they're leading us somewhere specific."

"Somewhere worse," Kijin muttered.

: Tenko's out here being the voice of reason while Tsukasa fumbles with his glowing rock.

: Kijin's sarcasm is the glue holding this team together.

: Imagine being the only human in the group and still being the least useful.

The trail leading away from the pedestal was narrow and overgrown, the dense forest pressing in from all sides. The canopy above blocked out most of the light, leaving us in a perpetual twilight that felt both eerie and oppressive. Raijuu led the way, his movements slow and deliberate, while Kijin stayed close behind, her hands glowing faintly in preparation for another ambush. Tenko kept her camera focused on the crystal, her attention split between documenting our progress and scanning for potential threats.

The chat's energy shifted as the mist began to thicken around us, their comments ranging from playful to unnerved:

: The vibe here is "forest where the last horror movie scene happens." Good luck, I guess.

: Raijuu's the MVP, but Kijin's got the best commentary. Tsukasa… yeah.

: Bet you 1,000 yen Tsukasa touches something he shouldn't in the next 10 minutes.

We trudged onward in silence, the forest growing darker and colder with each step. The faint sound of running water reached our ears as the trail began to slope downward, leading us into a deep ravine. The air here was damp and heavy, carrying the faint scent of moss and decay. The crystal pulsed faintly, its glow cutting through the thickening mist.

Raijuu stopped abruptly, his ears swiveling toward an unseen threat. A low growl rumbled in his throat, and his body tensed as he sniffed the air. Kijin was on edge instantly, her barrier materializing with a soft hum.

"What's out there?" she asked, her voice sharp.

Raijuu growled again, his eyes fixed on a cluster of trees shrouded in mist. A moment later, the underbrush rustled, and a swarm of glowing creatures burst into view. They resembled oversized insects, their translucent wings emitting a faint, high-pitched whine.

"More lumivores?" I asked, gripping the crystal tightly.

"No," Tenko said, her tone measured. "These are different. Bigger, faster, and more coordinated."

: The bugs are evolving. Next step: unionizing against Kijin.

: Kijin's barrier vs. glowing bugs—place your bets.

: Raijuu's already thinking, "Not this crap again."

The swarm moved with unnerving precision, converging on Kijin's barrier in a coordinated assault. Sparks flew as their glowing bodies struck the shield, their iridescent light reflecting off its surface. Raijuu lunged at the creatures, his claws slicing through their ranks with brutal efficiency. Despite his efforts, their numbers didn't seem to dwindle.

"They're not attacking randomly," Tenko observed, her camera zooming in on the swarm. "They're targeting the barrier—and the crystal."

"Fantastic," Kijin said, reinforcing her barrier as cracks began to form. "Your shiny rock's a bug magnet. Fix it, Tsukasa!"

The crystal's glow flared as the swarm intensified their assault. Focusing its energy, I directed a pulse of light toward the creatures. They reacted instantly, their bodies trembling as the light disrupted their movements. Several disintegrated into glowing motes, but the swarm quickly adapted, their attacks growing more frenzied.

"It's not enough," I said, releasing another pulse. "They're adapting too quickly."

: Plot twist: the bugs are smarter than the team. Raijuu excluded, obviously.

: Just give the crystal to Raijuu. He's clearly the leader here.

: Imagine being an EX-rank explorer and losing to bugs.

Raijuu darted through the swarm, his claws raking through their glowing bodies with savage precision. Despite his efforts, the creatures kept coming, their glowing forms almost overwhelming the barrier. Kijin gritted her teeth, sweat beading on her brow as she held the shield steady.

"Tsukasa, any time now!" she shouted.

The crystal's energy surged in my hand, its light growing almost blinding. Channeling its power, I focused a concentrated beam of light on the swarm. The creatures shrieked—a high-pitched, grating sound—as the energy overwhelmed them. One by one, they disintegrated, their glowing bodies dissolving into the mist.

When the last of the lumivores vanished, the forest fell silent once more. The crystal's glow dimmed, its energy stabilizing as the tension eased.

Kijin dropped her barrier, collapsing onto a nearby rock. "Next time," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "I'm bringing a giant bug zapper."

Raijuu padded over, his fur singed but otherwise unharmed. He nudged my hand with his nose, his growl low and reassuring.

: Raijuu carried again. Tsukasa just held the flashlight.

: Kijin deserves an award for Most Patient Shikigami. Tsukasa deserves a time-out.

: Bugs: 0. Kijin and Raijuu: 100. Tsukasa: participation trophy.

"Let's move," I said, pocketing the crystal. "The heart of the island is waiting."

The chat, still buzzing with their usual mix of humor and critique, accompanied us as we resumed our journey. The path ahead grew steeper, the shadows deeper, and the mist thicker. Whatever secrets the heart of the island held, it was clear we weren't done earning them.