Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

A "sound" erupted.

A devastating "sound of ravaging" that completely disregarded reason and compassion shook Chun's eardrums.

"────"

Stunned, Chun turned her head and saw blood splattered everywhere in one of the areas where the troops were stationed.

Three high-level adventurers fell to the ground.

A dark elf, seemingly using the thick smoke as armor, stood beside the three fallen figures.

"—You traitors who defy the will of the goddess, I will mercifully listen to your repentance. The price will be your own blood."

Hegney's tone changed drastically.

The previous sense of cowardice was gone, replaced by a cold gaze.

Chun immediately realized that she absolutely could not allow Hegni's "magic" to be successfully activated.

"【Dark Sperm Demon Sword】...! This is the magic Hegni uses to 'change personality'!!"

This is the ritual and key to transforming a dark elf who is afraid to face others into a "warrior".

The Black Sperm Sword is a rare magic that affects the user's mind, unlike ordinary attack magic or enchantment magic. Its effect is exactly as described: it can completely change a person's temperament and behavior. When Bell was attacked by Hegni during the "Goddess Festival," his suspicion that Hegni had twins was due to this "magic."

Incidentally, this spell does not increase any stats.

It only affects personality, so it is a rather simple and unpretentious type in the glamorous "magic".

"It's switched to Black Sword (another) Hegny...!"

However, the magic that influences the mind has an effect that goes beyond self-suggestion—a kind of "self-transformation."

In other words, the effect is equivalent to "realizing the ideal self".

It can be said that this was triggered by an intense self-loathing, which led to the summoning of the strongest self (Hegni) through "magic".

"I'm tired of your terrified faces. Draw your swords, as a sign of my pity, so that at least you can be warriors until the very end."

Cold sweat trickled down Chun's cheeks.

When Orario was in its "Dark Period," Hegni used this "magic" to kill thousands of members of the Dark Faction in a single battle, so Tsubaki was very familiar with the effects of this "magic."

Hegni absorbed the remaining light from the shattered magic circle, his slightly narrowed eyes emitting an eerie pale purple glow. Then he spoke, declaring:

"Die, you rabble! You pests who hinder the goddess's pursuit of love, you don't deserve to live!"

The next second, the dark elf's body sank slightly.

It displays a high-speed run that seems to teleport.

Before they could even make out a black shadow flash by, a squad was cut down.

"Ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee!?"

It was just "swinging a sword".

Hegni's cursed sword has the effect of expanding the "slash range", and a single slash can take down multiple adventurers.

The waltz, composed of despair and slashing, has thus begun.

Hegni's every move was devoid of hesitation or pity. The cowardice (limiter) that had hindered his all-out battle had been completely eradicated by magic, transforming him into the embodiment of slashing prowess. His nemesis (Herdin) had even described him as "the most skilled melee fighter among his fellow elves." At this moment, he was like a demonic sword, once unsheathed, destined to bring countless deaths, unleashing a storm of blood and carnage.

The adventurers fell one after another, and the blacksmiths, along with the "Demon Sword," were also destroyed.

Faced with such a strike, all things are treated equally, without distinction of gender, race, or age. Like a god, all beings are treated equally, yet like a tyrant, the decree of annihilation is issued to everyone.

"My job is not to treat others cruelly and inhumanely, so you can only blame yourselves for being willing to be weak."

Hegni's title, "Dark Elf Sword," is simply a direct use of his magic name.

This is the greatest praise bestowed upon him by the fanatical and fervent gods in celebration of his sudden transformation from a "Dark Knight (laughs)" into a true "Dark Warrior".

He felled ten, then another ten, gradually increasing his speed, relentlessly slaughtering the adventurers. Seeing the dark elf transform into a ruthless, merciless "War King," standing a step away, Chun's voice trembled as she spoke:

"...Little Lizi, help me perform a level ascension."

"Huh?"

"Hurry up! Do it right now!"

Okay, okay!

Tsubaki used the way her former junior (Welf) addressed the little girl on the other side of the crystal.

After sensing Lily's flustered state, a powerful magical force rose from far behind Tsubaki, followed by a golden pillar of light resembling a hammer appearing above her head.

『【The Magic Hammer】!』

Tsubaki received a level upgrade from the sorcerer (Haruhime), and her ability value increased from Lv.5 to Lv.6.

But Chun's cold sweat did not stop.

Because all the adventurers around her had fallen, forming an arena made of pools of blood.

"You're the one who's qualified to fight me to the death, [One-Eyed Master]."

"That's right, I will break your strange and broken demonic sword."

Hegni stared directly at Tsubaki with eyes as sharp as a blade.

But he was no longer an elf, but a god-like being.

After chuckling and making light of things, Tsubaki immediately adopted a serious expression and picked up her beloved sword, "Red Rain."

The dark elf's cloak swayed incessantly with the sound as the strong wind blew.

The War King and the Blacksmith faced off alone in the nearly routed central army.

"What is set in stone is unchangeable—this sword will be your tombstone."

The two figures vanished in an instant, unleashing an incredibly fierce slash.

*

"Tsubaki!"

Facing the sounds of swords clashing from behind, Welf shouted loudly.

The sword dance was so fast that even Lv.2 Welf couldn't see it clearly. The black sword and the longsword clashed head-on and collided again until the sparks formed a trail, finally letting him know that a slash had occurred there.

Watching the Lv.6 peak duel, which was now just a blur, Welf first gasped, then slowly clenched his fists.

(Even if they're fighting one-on-one, I have to find a way to help! I've already heard about the "magic" of the [Black Spirit Demon Sword] from Riko! My magic (Invisible Will-o'-the-Wisp) should be able to break it...!)

Through Lily's relay, all the information Finn had about the Freya Familia was shared, including Hegni's "magic".

To maintain his status as the "Strongest War King (another Hegni)" using personality-altering magic (the Black Sperm Sword), he must constantly expend mental energy to fill his body with magical power. The evidence is the eerie light emanating from his eyes and the purplish-blue glow that rises from his entire body like steam.

Since Hegni possesses "magic," he can trigger Welf's antimagic fire.

Personality-altering magic like this (Dark Sperm Sword), which requires maintaining its active state like enchantment magic, is an excellent target for Welf.

"Burn away completely, external practices!"

Welf held the "magic sword" in reverse in his left hand and stretched his right hand forward.

He infused his mental energy to expand the range to its limit.

In this way, even if Hegni's movements are so fast that Welf cannot see them clearly, his range of movement can still be covered.

So Welf aimed at the entire ring where Hegney and Tsubaki were fighting and shouted out a very short incantation in one breath.

"【The Invisible Ghost────】"

However──

A thud.

The sound was like tapping a wheel with a wooden stick.

It's like a nimble cat leaping across the ground and running forward.

Just before the anti-magic spell was about to be activated, the sound of "Instant Step" came from the side.

The next moment—

A chunk of flesh was shaved off Welf's right shoulder.

"──────────────"

As a swift line flashed across the field of vision, part of the shoulder simply vanished.

The moment Welf realized "I've been attacked" in the extremely compressed flow of time, blood gushed from the cut, and he screamed in agony.

"—Ughh ...

Ignoring Welf's bloodshot eyes and profuse sweat, his crippled right arm, like a broken doll, was still barely attached to his body.

"This third-rate scoundrel, stop trying to pull any funny tricks."

A voice came from the right.

Welf turned his head and saw that the other person was standing there.

"Who are you……!"

【Goddess Chariot】Alan Fourmore.

He easily interrupted the adventurer who was using magic, and stood there casually holding a silver spear.

A jade-green cape extended down from the silver shoulder armor worn on his left shoulder. Allen's only armor consisted of this shoulder armor and leg armor covering his calves. Because he was "the fastest in the city," his equipment was never designed to withstand attacks.

Welf, who was in pain and covered in sweat, had no idea.

When Goddess Chariot wears a one-shoulder cape, it means he will be giving it his all in this battle.

"I was planning to kill you instantly, just like before."

"...!?"

"So you actually moved your body the moment you were attacked. Looks like you learned your lesson from when I crushed you?"

This statement is absolutely correct.

Ever since Welf was attacked by Eren at the "Goddess Festival," his body reacted instinctively upon hearing the chilling sound of "Flash Step." That split-second survival instinct saved him from being instantly killed.

"But there's no point in you doing this; it's just a waste of time. Just disappear already."

"Ugh—you're talking nonsense!!"

That gaze seemed to be fixed on the "stairs" that would affect his progress. When Welf realized that he wasn't even considered an opponent, he was so angry that he started cursing on the spot.

Just as Welf was trying to forget the burning pain by roaring, Allen was already right in front of him.

It began with a series of high-speed thrusts wielded by a silver spear.

"Ugh! Ugh! Ughhhhhh...!?"

Welf's roar was merely a bluff; his right arm, miraculously still attached, left him only able to maintain a sideways posture, using the demonic sword "Primordial Moon" in his left hand as a shield against the attacks. However, he looked no different from a ridiculous child who hadn't managed to properly hide behind a tree trunk. He used the longsword-shaped demonic sword to shield his body, desperately enduring the continuous thrusts that felt like a mountain of swords.

The kimono, skin, and body were gradually shaved off.

Blood, grip strength, and the will to fight back slowly disappeared.

His left hand, gripping the demonic sword, and his shoulder, bracing against the blade, groaned in pain from the impact that breached his defenses. Welf was wounded beyond recognition; his skin was torn open, his bones cracked and shattered, leaving him utterly battered. The relentless, overwhelming attacks quickly cornered Welf.

(...it couldn't be broken.)

Allen, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel confused.

Despite the fact that "Welf's Demon Sword" twists with each thrust, it has yet to break. While ordinary "demon swords" are typically consumables, its creator's "unyielding" nature proves this sword is indeed superior.

Thus, the Chariot (Allen)'s sharp gaze shifted from looking at the "stairs" to seeing the "obstacles" that were clearly hindering his progress.

"What's the deal with this 'demon sword' of yours?"

"...This is what I made...! It's just a mere 'demon sword'...!"

When faced with Allen's question, Welf did not appear smug.

Rather, it expresses his pride as a blacksmith, and that the masterpiece he forged in the labyrinth (dungeon) was merely "the process of reaching the pinnacle."

"Since you can't even break an ordinary 'demon sword,' it means you're not so great after all...!!"

Welf continued to bluff.

Even though he was beaten black and blue and bleeding profusely, he still forced a smile on his face.