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

Grace unleashed a brute-force attack reminiscent of the dwarves' origins, each strike producing a deafening roar that could be mistaken for magical cannon fire, as she began to destroy the super-hard metal wall.

The seemingly indestructible labyrinth wall shattered into pieces, rattling and groaning. Grace tore through the metal wall like a dwarf digging a mine—finally shattering the iron barrier.

Before Grace and the others' eyes, a hole had been created leading to the adjacent passage.

"What are you still doing? Get inside!"

Just as the torrent of flames was about to rush through, Navi and the others escaped unharmed.

The group members squeezed through the narrow opening into the adjacent passage, their faces showing a dreamlike expression.

"Mr. Grace, your hand..."

"It's nothing, just sprinkle some medicinal herbs on it."

"Yes, that's right..."

Grace glanced at the blood-stained fist with some bone protruding, then, in front of the groaning Navi, tossed aside the large shield whose surface had been completely melted, and said nonchalantly, "Alright, let's hurry up before more traps come." He urged the group members to move on.

"...I'm starting to think that as long as I stick close to Mr. Grace, I can save my life."

"Perhaps that's true! But no! We have to lend a hand! Our goal is to become a Level 1 Adventurer!!"

"Your voice is cracking, Navi..."

The group members were making a ruckus behind her, but Grace frowned.

(Although I managed to solve it with brute force, I can't always rely on this method... It seems I still need to find an exit to escape, otherwise this won't work.)

Grace ran through the vast, endless maze while rummaging through the pouch under her cloak.

He sprinkled the limited amount of high potion on his bloodied fist.

"To meet up with Finn and the others and escape from here... This is a headache. It's been a long time since I've had to do something this daring."

"What's wrong, [Wolf]!? Are you really going to leave your companion to die?!"

Dix's loud laughter drifted over.

Inside the tunnel, the group members were still killing each other with hordes of monsters.

“Tsk…”

Bert peered into the side passage and clicked his tongue.

To get to Dix's side, they would have to break through that riot zone. But even if they managed to get through, the members would still fight each other until they were exhausted.

The members attacked anyone they saw, leaving themselves with more and more wounds. A comrade's sword pierced a girl's arm, eliciting a beast-like roar. Even so, they continued their frenzied slaughter.

"What's wrong with everyone!?"

Lakta, the rabbit-woman who was spared the curse of the madness (Fobertor Daedalus) by Bert's side, was anxious.

The group members didn't have much time left. Bert clicked his tongue again and glared resentfully at the man who had pulled his hoodie down low.

(What a fierce killing intent! Huh? It seems he knows my "curse" is one of those that can be broken by killing the sorcerer.)

With the enemy and ourselves about thirty meters apart, Dix squinted through his hood and goggles, sensing the dangerous killing intent emanating from the side road in the distance.

Dix was well aware that the other party was also wary of his "curse."

Dix's LV is 5, so in a typical close-quarters fight, Bert would definitely have the upper hand.

But even the highest-level LV6 in the city, whose strength is above his, can break his curse.

(If he ignores his companions and targets me alone, I'll drop the "door" and run away. If he tries to save his companions, I can use that opportunity to cast a "curse" on the werewolf. Even at level 6, my curse will still work.)

Dix's bewitching curse must be broken before it can be used to curse other enemies.

Even with this problem, reapplying the "curse" from this distance is still faster than the opponent.

Regardless, the opponent is doomed. Hunting down the [Fierce Wolf] here is a piece of cake.

The cunning man in goggles chuckled from his throat.

"Hiding away and refusing to come out?! What LV6? That's hilarious!!"

Just as Dix was yelling and shouting at the top of his lungs—the gray fur guy made a move.

Bert, his expression hardened, appeared in the passageway where the chaotic battle raged.

"Got it."

Dix smiled and pointed his finger straight at his opponent.

"Brother Bert!?"

Lakta cried out, fearing that his companions would turn on each other.

"Roar! Ro ...

Seeing the new prey appear nearby, the crazed monsters and adventurers pounced on it.

And Bert...

"Don't cause me any more trouble."

He said dismissively, as if he was utterly fed up.

The next instant, he grabbed the face of the orc girl who was lunging at him and slammed her to the floor.

"————"

Dix and Lakta stopped moving at the same time.

The paving stones caved in and shattered with a crash. The group members' limbs went limp and lost all strength.

Bert didn't stop after defeating his companions; he slaughtered the attacking monsters without hesitation, slamming members of the Loki Familia against walls and floors.

—This guy, could it be…

Seeing the werewolves indiscriminately killing friend and foe alike, not only Dix, but even their own Lakta's facial expression froze.

"Just lie there, you bunch of nobodies."

The way to combat the curse of confusion is to beat them until they can't get up.

Bert forcibly drove his own men, who had gone mad, off the battlefield. From the very beginning, he abandoned any hesitation towards his comrades, expelling them without explanation and rendering them incapable of fighting. Using such forceful methods was as if to say that there was no need to specially lift any "curse."

I see, it is indeed both simple and effective.

However, whether it can be put into practice is another matter entirely.

That werewolf is a scumbag.

Seeing that Bert didn't even care about his own people, Dix wavered for only a few seconds.

In just a few seconds, Bert had annihilated both sides in the passage and closed in on Dix in one fell swoop.

「!?」

The speed of the run exceeded Dix's expectations.

However, there is still time.

Although he was terrified, feeling as if his heart had been grabbed, the goggles-wearing man once again revealed his audacious smile, attempting to unleash a "curse" from the finger that had locked onto his target.

"[Lost in the Endless]"

however.

Dix stopped singing halfway through.

Dix's appearance froze.

(—Hey, wait a minute.)

Faced with this fact, the man's time stopped.

The distance between us and the enemy vanished instantly, and the werewolf's body was already upon us.

If Bert were to unleash the Bewitching Curse at this distance, who would Bert's out-of-control fangs target?

Who will be the first to be attacked?

Whether driven mad or insane, who will become prey for the ravenous wolf?

(————!?)

It's Dix.

It could only be Dix.

There are no people or monsters here, only them one-on-one. The fangs of the hungry wolf will yield to its ferocious impulse and bite into the flesh of the nearest Dix, biting him to death.

Using a "curse" at such close range is pointless.

(This guy...)

Everything was meticulously planned. Dix's attack speed, the power and effectiveness of the Bewitching Curse—all were taken into account before approaching. A rapid, all-out attack decimated the enemy's options.

This is a self-destructive awareness... no, it's a will to kill.

Faced with the amber eyes that flashed with murderous intent, Dix could no longer sneer.

Immediately afterwards, the silver-white metal boots stepped into his arms.

Bert swiftly closed in on the man who was trembling and clinging to him tightly, baring his fangs.

"You dare underestimate me, huh?"

Then, a lightning-fast punch is delivered straight out.

“Gah!?”

The right fist that pierced her body caused Dix's body to bend into a U-shape.

A werewolf unleashed its pent-up resentment and roared:

"Aa ...

"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!?"

The man was subjected to kicks, punches, and elbow strikes.

Dix, who had been brutally beaten, was not allowed to resist and didn't even have time to sing her short verses. Blood gushed from her mouth, her arm bones were broken, and her vision was repeatedly shattered by the intense impact.

With their lives indeed being cut short, the angry wolves launched a counterattack.

Dix had his throat gripped by vicious fangs, and his mind and body were dominated by a single emotion.

This is called fear.

An unprecedented fear of death descended upon the arrogant and brutal hunters.

—I'm doomed, I'm doomed, I'm doomed!!

His eyes were bloodshot, and he instinctively screamed in a state of anxious agony.

The man disregarded everything and mustered his last bit of strength to force himself to jump backward.

"!"

Dix simultaneously used Bert's attack to retreat. This was his first and last successful defense against a Level 6 enemy.

Seeing the man being knocked backward, Bert naturally continued the pursuit.

Dix's back slammed heavily against the floor, lifting her head from the stone pavement, revealing a gleam in her red eyes behind her goggles.

"You damn bastard—!?"

In the blink of an eye, the "door" made of the hardest metal fell from the ceiling.

"!!"

Bert's right arm, which he extended to deliver the fatal blow to Dix, was knocked off by the metal door.

Like a soul about to be beheaded, the extremely thick "door" knocked off his arm.

"Ha...haha! Haha ...

Dix, hiding inside the protective barrier, laughed.

"What a pity, [Wolf]! Just a little bit short!!"

The sudden burst of sweat spoke volumes about his state of mind, but it was also a reflection of the relief he felt at having escaped death.

The "door" that fell from directly above crushed the young man's arm. He must be struggling in agony behind the "door" right now. Perhaps his arm has been broken off and is gone.