Honoka Kusunoki/Synopsis

## Plot

### The Rankers

After responding to Riho's request, Honoka goes to the Grizel Cafe where she meets Daigo, Yurina, Ami and the other Rankers who responded. Ami explains the situation and their plan for getting stronger to defeat Lamia and the other invading Grimzelia monsters. During the meeting, Honoka explains that she is very sickly and stays home playing games most of the time, hence why she is ranked so highly in Grimzelia.

Some time later, Honoka agrees to hunt down a monster with Daigo and Yurina, but their meeting is met with awkwardness due to Honoka's obsessive cleaning habits. Honoka explains her sickly nature, which makes Daigo and Yurina reluctant to accept to her help, but Honoka expresses her desire to fight alongside Yurina. The three then follow a girl that they believe is possessed by the monster they've been tracking. Their assumption proves correct and Yurina swiftly defeats the monster. Honoka is impressed by Yurina's strength, but Yurina confesses that even her Villager's Corona Blade had no effect against Lamia. This prompts Honoka to suggest that she and Daigo power up each individual Villager's Sword, which will make the Corona Blade stronger.

Honoka suddenly collapses and is forced to rest on a park bench, after which Daigo and Yurina inform her that they cannot except her help due to her weak constitution. This saddens Honoka as she recalls all the other physical activities her father had denied her, but she accepts their decision. Suddenly, Yurina is attacked by the Moth Lady monster and succumbs to its poison scales and blood drain. Daigo attempts to flee with Honoka, but she stops him and convinces him to friend summon her. Honoka is equipped with her Failnaught weapon and defeats Moth Lady in one blow, proving her worth to Daigo and Yurina.

Some time later, after Daigo expresses his frustration that the other Rankers haven't been participating in the training sessions, Honoka, Daigo and Yurina go to Marimo's house. After becoming acquainted with Marimo and Rin Mei and their eccentric personalities, Honoka and the others agree to help Marimo finish her manga manuscripts. However, one of Marimo's assistants is revealed to be possessed by a sludge monster, which attacks. Honoka becomes crippled from disgust over the sludge monster, but still transforms into her Failnaught gear as Marimo explains that that is all they need to succeed. Honoka faints from the stench of the monster and, unknowingly, is kissed by Rin Mei with her "Learn Kiss" skill so she can use Honoka's "Akkis Fort" skill to beat the monster.

Later, at the Grizel Cafe, Honoka and the others discuss Haruka's situation as she has still not been able to obtain a powerful weapon on Grimzelia. Though Honoka and the other Rankers are doubtful of Haruka's capabilities due to her presumed lack of experience, Haruka is able to obtain a powerful weapon (thanks to Daigo), and tests it out in a battle with Mechanical Death Bee from which she prevails. Thus, Honoka and the others are convinced of her capabilities.

After several more training sessions, Honoka and others receive word from Riho that Ami has located Ea and thus the invasion of Lamia's base can begin.

### Rescuing Ea

On the day of the invasion, Honoka rides the train with everyone else and they prepare for the upcoming battle.After some initial difficulty with Daigo's phone reception, Honoka and the others enter Lamia's base. However, they are quickly caught offguard by Nightshade and fall through a trap door, which separates them.

Separated from the others, Honoka traverses the building alone and finds a large room with a pool full of acid. There, she encounters the monster girl Hellfrogger who plans to feed her to her giant frog. Although Honoka is repulsed by the frog, she battles Hellfrogger, but finds that her weapon's attack slides right off the frog. Honoka is attacked by Hellfrogger who inflicts her with the "Infected" status and then dunks her in the pool of acid. Recalling some facts she had learned about frogs, Honoka manages to escape, but she is then savagely attacked by the giant frog. Severely weakened, Honoka is helpless as Hell Frogger feeds her to frog and she is swallowed. Inside the frog's stomach, Honoka nearly succumbs to its digestive acids. However, having previously slipped salt into Hellfrogger's water tank, Honoka is able to escape as Hellfrogger inadvertently sprays salt water on herself and the frog, making them succumb to osmotic pressure. Afterwards, Honoka is healed remotely by Rikoha who sees that she is low on health, but Honoka still suffers the Infection status as it was not incorporated into Grimzelia. Honoka then faints after recalling her disgusting experience fighting Hellfrogger.

Honoka is later found by Rin Mei and Karasu who wake her up and the three continue to explore the building. The three soon discover Medusa's room, which is full of girls who have been turned to stone, including Marimo, and they begin to battle Medusa. Honoka attempts to destroy Medusa's pet Catoplepas, but she is caught by Medusa's snakes and is turned to stone. Later in the fight, Honoka's petrified body is shattered by Medusa out of anger when Rin Mei destroys all but one of her snakes. Honoka's body is later reassembled when Lamia consumes her and Marimo's remains and reconstitutes them in her stomach.

### The Final Battle

Honoka is eventually revived by Ea who uses a special item to heal her and everyone else who was turned to stone. However, Lamia and several other monster girls have arrived and make clear their intention to mate with Daigo to start a new generation of monsters. Although Honoka and others do all they can to fight off the monsters, Daigo is ultimately caught and, to everyone's surprise, devoured by Lamia.

Lamia transforms and begins to inject eggs into Honoka and the other Rankers. Although Honoka is weakened, she joins the Rankers in invading Lamia's body so they can rescue Daigo. After traversing Lamia's stomach, Honoka and the others find themselves transported into a large void inside of Lamia where everyone she has devoured are encased in crystal. They find Daigo who is being held by a seemingly immobile crystal princess. Honoka and the others manage to rescue Daigo, but the crystal princess comes to life and encases them in crystal, leaving them trapped inside Lamia who absorbs their powers.

Honoka and the others are freed when Yurina finally defeats Lamia. Afterwards, the monsters return to the world of Grimzelia, leaving Honoka and the others free to continue their normal lives.

## References

2. ↑ Chapter 25
3. ↑ Chapter 26
4. ↑ Chapter 28
5. ↑ Chapter 29
6. ↑ Chapter 30
7. ↑ Chapter 31
8. ↑ Chapter 32
9. ↑ Chapter 38
10. ↑ Chapter 39
11. ↑ Chapter 40
12. ↑ Chapter 44
13. ↑ Chapter 45
14. ↑ Chapter 50