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

Finally, as if she had understood the true meaning of the gods, she tore a smile from the corner of her mouth.

"You perverted freak, how could you target a brat like that?"

"No, no. I didn't have such improper thoughts."

Valeta began instructing her subordinates to change the plan; Thanatos, with his back to her, followed the little girl's retreating figure with his eyes, his lips tracing the shape of a crescent moon.

"Helping lost children is also the work of the gods."

*

Ais made her way through the dungeon.

She didn't know why she had come here. But she had come to this dark and cold underground labyrinth, as if this was the only place she had left to go.

She ran and ran and ran for a long time.

They escaped from Riveria and rushed into the dungeon.

She swung her sword, swung her sword, swung her sword, and slashed again and again.

He became so self-destructive that he kept swinging his sword, slaughtering the monsters.

Ais ran relentlessly, her eyes red and swollen. Whenever a monster blocked her path, she raised her sword, the "Elju Sword," to slash at it, releasing her intense emotions. Fortunately, the labyrinth was deserted. This way, no one would see her tearful face, nor would anyone hear the childlike whimpers escaping her throat. Ais wielded her sword instead of shedding tears, letting her raging emotions control her.

"Haa, hoo, ha...!"

In the end, before she could calm down, her body couldn't take it anymore.

She even forgot to breathe properly; her lungs were screaming. Every part of her body, from her hands to her feet, was burning hot. After defeating the last monster in front of her, Ais, ignoring her disordered breathing, plunged her sword into the ground.

Ais used her sword instead of a cane and leaned against it for a while.

Then she forcefully pulled her forehead away from the handle and raised her face.

"This is... the 12th floor?"

White mist drifted around. The entire floor was shrouded in a dim light, like morning mist, and countless withered trees, transformed into natural weapons, grew everywhere. Ais, from the familiar terrain and the size of the room she was in, knew where she was.

She wandered around aimlessly until she finally arrived at the final area of ​​the upper level of the underground city.

This is the deepest cave in the area.

"……I……!"

This is where I (you) find refuge.

Ais seemed to hear another little girl (Ais) who had settled in her heart speak to her, and hugged herself tightly.

—I want to become stronger. Stronger than anyone else. I don't want anything else.

—How terrifying. So lonely. So cold. I've always been so alone. I really have nothing left. This makes me so sad.

Two opposing voices were arguing back and forth. Both Ais were Ais. She remained still, feeling her eyes begin to burn again.

In the silent cave where the monster's presence had vanished, just as Ais was desperately fighting off the emotions surging within her...

"—Are you in pain, lost child?"

"!"

A solemn yet alluring voice stirred Ais's ears.

Ais was startled and turned her head to see a figure emerging from the other end of the white smoke.

He was a person dressed in black.

Her long, dark purple hair, flowing from beneath the pulled-down hood, was almost feminine, and her figure was slender. Her overly refined features exuded a bewitching allure. Most importantly, this was the first time Ais had ever seen a character radiating such a decadent aura.

...god?

Ais's overly perfect appearance and inhuman demeanor gave her a clue, but she still couldn't help but have questions.

The other party was undoubtedly a deity, but the atmosphere was somewhat unusual. Was it missing some aspect of what it meant to be a deity? She was secretly puzzled.

The little girl was unaware that the other party was suppressing his "divine power" in order to invade the dungeon; the divine being—Sanatos—gave her an eerie smile.

Several figures resembling protectors appeared behind God.

Ais was startled when she saw the people in long robes.

(Could it be... a dark faction?)

Ais became more wary of the divine object before her.

The fact that the gods were staying in the dungeon already indicated a very strange situation.

Although Ais didn't know what the other party's purpose was, she still wanted to raise her sword to fight, and just then...

"Do you hate monsters, girl?"

"!"

These words caused a look of astonishment to appear in Ais's eyes.

"And you cannot forgive your own weakness... a world that allows you to exist as a weak being leaves you bewildered..."

"...!"

Ais wavered.

The words spoken to Ais's face with a seductive smile tore out her heart.

"You feel bound and constrained, your heart is in turmoil, and you harbor an impulse that cuts to your very soul. You are a vengeful apostle seeking power... a born swordsman thirsting for might. Your heart has never been soothed... You do not know how to suppress the dark fire of calamity hidden within."

The other person fluently and accurately described Ais's thoughts.

Ais flinched. The goddess's beautiful voice possessed a magical tone that drew people from the lower realms, and a captivating power that made them want to cover their ears but couldn't.

"You are misunderstood by everyone...you are alone."

These words made Ais lose her composure.

"You hate it, don't you? You're sad, aren't you? You're uneasy, aren't you?"

Then, Sanatos faced the little girl whose expression had drastically changed...

A pair of deep, abyss-like purple eyes peeked out from under the hood, and quickly narrowed.

"Shall I free you from all suffering?"

"!!"

His golden eyes began to sway.

"Girl, you are so beautiful. I love you dearly for your fighting spirit, which is captivated by death, and I hope to save you."

"...!?"

"I will grant you strength. I will teach you how to become strong and give you a safe haven where you can achieve your desires. There you will not have any doubts; it is the world of swords and flames you have longed for."

The gods said they would tell Ais how to escape her depressed state, give her an endless stage for struggle, and rescue her from this suffering.

These words, spoken in a sweet tone, stirred Ais's heartstrings. The raging black flames were overjoyed, eager to escape the restrictive environment of the Loki Familia and move forward.

The flames spoke to her, urging her to find release from the pain of loneliness and to pursue only power.

"Submit yourself to the fire in your eyes. Then the world will surely change and offer you its blessings."

God's prayers deceive the child's heart.

It is both divine salvation and a signpost to destruction. It is a cursed ritual designed to create killers who spread "death" for their own selfish purposes.

As he gazed at the fledgling "Death Swordsman" revealed in his eyes, Death (Sanatos) widened his eyes and reached out his hand.

"Come to me. I will give you everything you desire."

Ais looked at the goddess's beautiful hand.

Look at the symbol of salvation that can be obtained from all suffering.

Watching the Asura Path, where one can single-mindedly pursue only power.

She looked at the entrance to the world she had always longed to reach.

(I……)

The world around us was softly distorted; the hand of the gods had altered its appearance.

It became a place Ais absolutely had to reach, a high pile of monster corpses, and a powerful target further ahead of them.

I have always been alone. Since I can't change it, I don't want to feel anything anymore. I don't want to be bothered by any mundane matters; I want to become a hungry ghost that craves power relentlessly. Ais is propelled forward by a heart burned by black flames and a back so hot it's almost scalding.

Finally, the little girl's hand twitched slightly, about to release her grip on the sword hilt.

Engulfed by the black flames, she wanted to succumb to her impulses—and that was the moment.

A glimpse of an elven royal's eyes flashed through Ais's mind.

(──)

That was at the moment of their final farewell, her face contorted in the same agony as Ais's.

The time she spent with her until now, and the memories of those who had protected Ais, lingered deep within Ais's heart.

The sword shone brightly, as if calling out for something, illuminating Ais's eyes.

She didn't understand why she had such a thought.

I don't understand why I can't let go of the sword.

But no matter what, Ais simply cannot deny the past years that have led her to this day.

There is no denying that, like a gentle breeze soaring high in the sky, the black flames replaced the exciting yet tender days that Riviera and the others shared.

"...I want power."

Ais's lips began to tremble, shattering the pause in time.

Golden Eyes looked up at Sanatos's eyes, repelling the black flames and regaining their sword-like brilliance.

"But going with you... is wrong!"

With her strong willpower, she resisted God's temptation.

Even if I'm the only one left, I shouldn't betray them!

Ais transformed her feelings into a scream, staring at the god before her.

Standing before me now is a dark symbol dressed in black.

As if a phantom had vanished into thin air, the god of "evil" sneered at her with an ugly grin and reached out his hand.

Under the gaze of those eyes, now free from the dust of entanglement and bathed in renewed light, Sanatos's smile vanished, and he fell silent.

Not long after, he shrugged.

"—What a pity~"

The solemn demeanor of the gods instantly changed, revealing a frivolous atmosphere.

It was devoid of any majesty or seductive charm; instead, a frivolous god appeared.

As Ais was doubting her eyes, Thanatos chuckled frivolously.

"I originally thought I could win over the rumored 'Doll Princess' sister... After she grows up, she can become my beloved death companion and send many lives back to heaven for me."

"...!?"

"Oh dear, what a failure. You're much stronger than I thought."

As she faced Thanatos, who had revealed his true nature, a chill ran down Ais's neck.

Although his demeanor has changed, his decadent nature remains completely unchanged.

The person in front of her, whose attitude was frivolous yet whose every word exuded a fierce aura, filled her with fear.

Ais was certain that this was the "evil god" that Loki or Finn had mentioned.

"Who are you?!"

"Since you refused my hand, I can't introduce myself. I really want to, but the Dark Faction is too verbose."

Sanatos pulled the brim of his hood over his eyes, curled his lips, and returned Ais's smile.

"Well then... I've made a deal with Valeta: if persuasion fails, we'll have to get rid of you, but..."

Upon hearing the word "solution," Ais quickly assumed a fighting stance.