<p>Doesn't seem like plot armor to me. Basically one Lv4 and four Lv3 were fighting the Lv5 monster directly with the rest providing support and healing. They spent about an hour surviving while exhausting and injuring the monster. The monster's advantage that made it rated Lv6 by the Guild was mostly eliminated by magic swords and Mikoto's detection skill. Mikoto's gravity magic was able to temporarily stop its movements. Haruhime was able to chant continuously thanks to potions restoring her mind. Once the monster received enough damage, a Lv5 adventurer finished it off with her most powerful attack. </p>

<p>Sounds exactly like plot armor to me. Plot armor is often a necessity of fantasy and other fiction. However, in this case were it becomes so blatantly obvious where everything just happens to line exactly right where the character have the perfect abilities and the rule established by the plotting seem to go on vacation it becomes plot convenience. Plot armor and convenience being obvious has always been a bit of a problem but lately it has become obvious enough to jar readers out of the immersion of the story. </p><p>Most expeditions dealing with Monstrous Rexes bring dozens of members, not six level 2s, two level 1s, and a single level 4. Given the effect on the area the level 1s certainly should have either died to exposure or at the very least passed out. The narrator even mentions that there were hundred upper class adventurers present for the Black Goliath which is the same level as the Amphisbaena, and the advantages can be balance out with the Amphisbaena's home field advantage. The alliance had just nine, two of whom bring nothing to the fight in a practical sense. Yes Haruhime can UnK, but potions and Kokonoe spam is also plot armor at its worst, there is no limit to how much it can be used and abused. And that still only gives four level 3s, who should be limited due to not being used to being level 3. The Ishtar Familia used dozens of level 3s and Phryne. </p><p>Relying on magic swords is the epitome of plot armor, no matter how many are used they always have on more. The UMS is only going to compound that already existing issue, now the author has an excuse to claim that Bell friends can travel with him using those into the deeper dungeon, when by his own rules that is utterly false.  </p><p>None of the special skill of the Hestia Familia have limits allowing the author to use and abuse them as he sees fit. But it comes at a cost to the quality of the story, the struggles don't feel real. </p><p>But the best example of plot armor in all of this is the absolute lack of any consequences whatsoever. Every thing that happens and nothing, not a single thing changes because of what should have been a harrowing and eye opening experience, everyone goes back to being exactly who they already were. And before any one says "but their new skills," let me remind you that character growth is not character development. </p><p>This is the biggest problem with plot armor, it has the potential to destroy the tension of a story and there by ruin the immersion. If there are no stakes there is nothing to make readers care. </p>

<p>As I said in other posts. The Hestia family had to lose at least 2 adventurers by now. Lili and Mikoto and Possible Welf. </p><p>The author made Hestia Familia a nice and small family.(not adventurers family) So there are few. You have no one to kill. </p><p>They will survive to the end. Not even the dragon will kill them. </p><p>And then I'll ask for money back on the books. </p><p>The dangerous dungeon did not kill anyone important. It's just a bad joke. </p><p>Vol. 12 was a disappointment. I sincerely hoped Ryuu would die. I like Ryuu, but he clearly needed an important sacrifice. And he didn't come. </p><p>So garbage. Just for the sake of the fans to live all over the world. Destroying the story. </p><p>You may or may not agree. But this is the truth that the story is not made by the author. The story is made by the publisher and fanervice. From Vol 12 it has become silly. I'm not interested in anyone's past. Why do you show me Lili's past, Mikoto is not really interesting. Now follows the bow of Syr. Do you really need to develop each character? Where the hell is the action? If you still want to tell someone's past. It tells Bell's past. He is the main person. I am not interested in the life of Syr or others </p><p>So far, we do not know how Bell was raised by Zeus. Or how he found Bell. </p><p>I honestly want to see that. not stupid Syr bow or other nonsense. The story of a hero. Well, then he shows his story. I'm not interested in the others. Just props </p>

Um this whole conversation should probably be in it's own thread no? Instead of on the vol 16 discussion... Speaking of vol. 16 has there been any updates or anything since the last time I dropped in like 3 months ago?

<p>It’s usual that a comment about something unrelated to a threat leads to a whole conversation about it, though this already ended so it is going to go back to it’s topic. About Volume 16 there are still not news about it. </p>

<p>Looks like it's not coming out in April though I'll wait for the full list of April releases just to be sure. </p><p>Vol 16 is still Part 4 of the series which started in Vol 12. I expect some events in Vol 16 will tackle the theme of Part 4 which is growth. </p>

<p>Part 4 theme is growth? It was only in vol 12,that author mentioned he wanted to see the characters growth,although with the battles everyone did grow but did author specifically say it is growth? </p>

<p>No, but it's obvious that Part 4 is about growth considering the events in Vol 12-15. The only thing related to growth that I can think of will happen in Vol 16 is if Hestia Familia test out the new skills and power they obtained. Maybe we will see Ryuu joining which is huge growth for the familia. </p>

Why do people want people in the Hestia Familia to die? They are not that big yet. So killing 2 of them off is stupid.

<p>I want to say that I fully agree with the words of Ardamon, I am happy to see that I am not the only one who thought that the author or whoever pursues these LN is more particularly focused on the Fan -service in a dungeon where it is a real danger the more we advance the more the monsters are more and more powerful, the more difficult it is to survive, the author to miss several opportunities to kill some character, but the fan aspect -service to kill this unfortunately we did not have. </p>