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

Looking up at the receding figure, Ma Li cried.

She reached out a hand to the boy, letting his wish dissolve into the water.

"—Don't lose."

Bell responded with a fist, crashing through the brightly lit water.

*

Ryu saw that.

I saw the splashing water, the water bursting open suddenly, and my feet firmly planted on the crystal land.

I saw a boy standing on the ground.

I saw deep red eyes that held the brilliance of will.

"Thank you, Marie."

"The blood of the mermaid".

That's the blood of a mysterious monster that's said to heal wounds (dropped item).

In mint condition.

Despite bearing the weight of the girl's sacrifice, the boy's wounds began to heal.

In Ryu's eyes, it was like a beacon of retaliation.

The boy retrieved his right arm, his brows furrowed, and he gripped the black dagger tightly in his hand.

"──────"

Behind "Zagnat" who suddenly stopped moving.

Right in front of Ryu's wide-eyed gaze.

Beside Marie, who was peeking out of the water.

Bell bravely took the lead.

"drink!!"

Running at breakneck speed.

Bell transformed his dying body into a projectile and attacked "Zagnat".

"!!"

In an instant, the monster's body suddenly turned around in front of Ryu.

Seeing a revenger that has been utterly destroyed yet still manages to return to the battlefield, the monster no longer sees it as mere "prey" but rather as a prime target for annihilation.

Faced with the boy charging at terrifying speed, the monster unleashed its strongest "Cracking Claw," determined to crush its opponent this time.

“──!!”

As the deadly attack approached at incredible speed, Bell chose not to dodge, but to advance in a straight line.

He suddenly untied the scarf around his neck, wrapped it around his left hand, and thrust it forward.

「!?」

At that moment, the vandal's eyes were filled with astonishment.

In place of the lost gauntlets, the jet-black scarf wrapped around the hands emitted astonishing sparks, causing the "broken claws" to slip off.

The "destructive weapon" bestowed upon him by the dungeon was neutralized by the "hardest armor" also created by the dungeon.

The monster was completely stunned for a moment, and Bell seized the opportunity, as if to retaliate against the previous situation.

With lightning speed, he darted into the enemy's arms and aimed at his chest, the Hestia Blade he held in his backhand flashing past.

「!?」

Then even Bell was greatly surprised.

He cleaved open the enemy's chest, but didn't feel the "core" being shattered.

--No "Magic Stone"!?

Adventurers and monsters, feeling a chill run down their spines, gracefully brushed past each other.

The human legs and the monster's claws immediately reversed.

Their gazes collided.

Both sides' attempts to deliver a fatal blow ended in failure.

therefore.

What is about to begin is a "death struggle" that will put both sides at risk of their lives.

"────────────────────────────────!!"

"call!!"

Hearing the murderous roar of "Zagnat," Bell equipped himself with the Hestia Blade and the Black Giant's Scarf (Goliath Scarf), and with a powerful growl, charged towards the enemy from the front.

—The enemy can use the force of their feet in reverse joint motion to move at high speed and jump continuously.

—If I were to play along with its disruptive tactics, I'd be dead in no time.

Therefore, Bale chose close-quarters combat, which involved exchanging punches.

He poured all his strength into his first attack, transforming into a pure white arrow of light in an attempt to seize the initiative.

“──!?”

Despite being struck by a spear-like thrust from the enemy, with a piece of skin sliced ​​off his shoulder and neck, Bell continued his assault.

Blood, skin, and bits of flesh flew everywhere.

Liu was speechless, and Marie covered her mouth with both hands; Bell used his burning passion as a propellant to launch a special attack.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”

The black blade was aimed at the reverse joint of the enemy's right leg.

Bell unleashed a lightning-fast slash, severely injuring the knee.

「!?」

"Zagnat" bent his right leg slightly downwards.

This still doesn't affect maintaining the posture or continuing the fight. However, it's impossible to perform high-speed jumps like a whirlwind.

Bell's shot hit the knee, the reverse joint that had been building up the power of his jump.

The monster standing opposite him stared intently at the severely injured boy.

Blood gushed from the left side of the man's body, and the "adventurer's" eyes seemed to tell it:

The battle is only just beginning.

"Let's settle this once and for all."

The boy raised his dagger, his deep red eyes gleaming brightly.

"──Hoo!!"

The monster's crimson eyes burned with intense heat, and on this day, it let out its first furious roar.

The two kicked the crystal floor, shattering it and blurring their figures, as a conflict erupted.

Just as the boy described, a fierce close-quarters battle ensued.

"Mr. Craney!?"

With her fractured right leg twisted and broken, Liu barely managed to prop herself up and let out a scream at the reckless boy's "adventure".

Ryu knew better than anyone how terrifying "Zagnat" was.

Although this was the only way, continuously fighting within that monster's killing circle was not a normal course of action. Sure enough, the boy's body visibly bore more and more wounds.

Blood and flesh splattered everywhere, and the shirt, now devoid of armor, was gradually torn to shreds.

Watching the boy being tortured every second, Ma Li's face turned pale, and she couldn't even speak.

however……

"...!?"

The "Claw of Destruction" failed to pierce through Bell.

He used the scarf wrapped around his left hand as a gauntlet, allowing the "Zagnat's broken claws" to slide over and deflect the force.

The monster seemed to be saying, "Stop joking," as it repeatedly raised its strongest "Broken Claw" to grab at them.

But it couldn't be broken or torn. Even with a few scratches, the Black Giant's (Goliath's) armor—the "shield" made by Welf and entrusted to him by Kassandra—remained intact.

In that case, Bell can continue fighting.

With the "shield" prepared by his companions, he can stand up and face the most powerful and vicious "calamity".

If we can withstand this "absolutely undefendable" fatal attack.

Bell can seize the few chances of victory and defeat despair.

"Shhh!!"

The Blade of Hestia is also crying out.

The jet-black dagger altered the trajectory of "Broken Claw." Sparks flew everywhere, and the blade screamed. But the God's Blade did not shatter, and it was able to clash with its opponent in hand-to-hand combat.

Like the rampaging destroyer (Zagnat), the boy wielding the strongest spear and shield continues to put on a "death battle" scene.

(—As expected.)

During the battle, Bell, bathed in blood gushing from his wounds, narrowed one eye.

(The opponent is faster.)

Strength is superior to the opponent, and so is speed. Compared to the monster (Zagnat), Bell's abilities (in everything) are far inferior.

Even when competing against any expert stronger than himself, his only advantage over them—in agility—was no match for this monster.

However, faced with this disheartening analysis, Bell did not lose heart, but instead shouted that he would never give up.

How can one fight against a monster that surpasses oneself in every way? -- The answer is obvious.

It refers to the "skills and tactics" honed over a long period of time.

These are the weapons and armor obtained by adventurers.

It is this will that lights up in one's heart.

Adventurers have always used these qualities to transform what is called a "trial of despair" into a "miraculous feat".

(Such a physique (size) possesses such an unreasonable potential ability (strength)...)

"The Dark Goliath" and "Zagnat".

If someone asks which one is stronger, Bell will honestly answer that he doesn't know.

Comparing the two is simply meaningless.

First of all, their directions are different.

Compared to the giants (Goliath) who have superior ability to suppress armies, the monsters (Zagnat) can be described as killers who exhaust their ability to kill people.

In terms of breakthrough, "Broken Claw" is probably stronger than the giant's (Goliath's) big fist (hammer) or cannon fire (roar).

However, on the other hand, its "durability" value is far inferior to that of the floor owner.

Monsters that overemphasize "strength" and "speed" to achieve peak annihilation capabilities can best unleash their potential not in large spaces (caves), but in enclosed spaces such as passageways and mazes.

Therefore, it is only used to eliminate adventurers (viruses) who damage the dungeon, called "Extermination Apostles".

—Faster than that formidable rival?

The attack speed was incredibly fast, and the impact was so powerful that it caused numbness in the hands and feet.

In a corner of his burning mind, a fragment of rationality compared the enemy before him with that dark, ferocious bull.

The destructive power itself may be superior to that of the "Zagnat" with its "Broken Claw".

In terms of sheer arm strength, Asterios might have a slight edge.