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

No, the formidable opponent at that time was on the verge of death, and his strength should have been even greater—

With that thought in mind, Bell dismissed the extraneous thoughts that flashed through his mind for a moment.

In the face of this deadly battle, pointless noise can directly lead to death.

The slightest miscalculation could turn into a scythe that cuts off the heads of both sides.

"~ ...

Even when wounded by Bell's barrage of blades, "Zagnat" never slowed its attacks.

The body was screaming in agony. The overheated body was on the verge of tearing apart.

The left hand emitted a scream that could be equivalent to a death wail.

After enduring a relentless barrage of "Broken Claw" attacks, the inside of his scarf was severely damaged and left a bloody mess. Aside from pain, his left hand had long since lost all sensation. The blood flowed out, churning and crackling incessantly. However, once he could no longer deflect the "Broken Claw" attacks, it would mean Bear's defeat.

The muscles in my neck and shoulders, ripped open, felt like they were on fire.

The wound inside his body reopened, and with a gurgling sound, blood gushed from his mouth.

Even so, he still kept his eyes shining and stepped forward.

If Bell falls here, "Zagnat" will surely kill Lily and the others. All adventurers in this "Water City" will be wiped out.

No, he wouldn't allow it; he'd protect them even if it meant his death.

In other words...

(I'm going to defeat you!!)

Even though he was summoned under the treacherous schemes of "evil forces" and was born out of necessity, Bell still cannot ignore the monster that has taken countless lives.

I will never let you kill any more people. I will never let anyone else die.

Bell puts on the mask of a "hypocrite".

To protect what you want to safeguard, you must take action and defeat the entity before you.

"!!"

The enemy launched a fierce attack. Crystals shattered and scattered, shimmering with light. One's body could only defend.

Claw attack, dodge, fang bite, counterattack.

A flash of light ignited a counterattack, hitting its mark. Too shallow, it wasn't over yet. Another slash, and the enemy's armor shell was torn away. Pressing the attack.

Bell Craney can still fight. Right? Go get her! Protect her. What was your original purpose in coming to this floor?

In an instant equivalent to eternity, Bell truly diminished life and accelerated the process.

Hurry, hurry, even faster.

To end this "nightmare"—

"—Aa ...

As Bell bled profusely, he roared.

With only a tattered piece of cloth and a single lifeline in one hand, he charged into the storm of death.

Bell and Ryu's "symbols of despair" confront each other head-on.

—I can understand a little better now what kind of pain she's hiding in her heart.

That alone was enough to ignite a heart once eroded by despair.

The boy's throat continued to vibrate; whether it was tragedy or calamity, he would burn it all to ashes with his roaring fury.

"Mr. Crannie..."

Even someone as emotionally oblivious as Ryu knew who the boy was yelling for.

Even in this situation, a certain warmth still filled the depths of my chest.

"...You, have already..."

"Has she become so strong?" This murmur faded into the sounds of the battlefield.

Ryu felt humiliated by falling to the ground.

However, the feelings that ignited in her heart also embraced negative emotions.

The boy had said he liked "Heroic Tales," and at this moment, Ryu felt that same emotion for the first time.

For the first time, the elf realized how noble it was to stand up against "despair".

"...!?"

The vandal was bewildered by this feeling, which was the first time he had ever experienced such a sensation.

No matter how much it is destroyed, it will revive; no matter how much it is slashed, it will still rush over. Trying to break through it only results in a heat wave of white flames resisting it, which puzzles it greatly.

It was only a few days old and could not comprehend the fact that it had been intimidated.

Not long after...

Perhaps seeing the ever-flowing storm of slashes as a threat, or perhaps unable to withstand the youth's spirit, "Zagnat" retreated for the first time.

In this endurance contest that risked both sides' lives, the monster was the first to give in.

This stems from the monster's instincts, or perhaps it's a reasonable conclusion.

The boy was barely alive. There was no need to take the risk with prey that wasn't quite dead yet.

The monster broke free from the opponent's close-quarters combat and created distance.

Undoubtedly, this is a very effective tactic.

(—It stepped back.)

However, the boy saw an opportunity to win.

In his hazy, blood-stained state, the boy burned with a fierce, fervent fighting spirit, pulling that sliver of hope toward himself.

If it were that formidable rival, they would never back down.

If it were that "admired person," they would definitely fight to the very end.

Looking at the "monster" before him, who was neither a warrior nor an adventurer, he glared at it.

In order to seize this "moment", the boy launched an ultra-close-quarters battle.

The enemy, who was originally faster than Bell, was forced to retreat, and at this moment, he "first became passive".

Facing the enemy who was leaning back, Bell stretched out his left hand, which was wrapped in a scarf.

"【Flame Lightning】!!"

Seventeen shots in quick succession.

Bell transformed his mental energy into seventeen bullets, unleashing a rapid-fire cannon loaded with full "magic" and using every ounce of his power.

An incredibly fierce barrage of firepower unfolded before the astonished monster's eyes.

"!"

However, it is only natural for "Zagnat" to make its body glow.

"Magic Reflection".

It raised its invincible shield and easily deflected the boy's "magic".

"!!"

--They've taken the bait!

Bell let out a triumphant shout and charged into the vortex of fire and lightning that reflected off the entire missile.

「!?」

The elf doubted his own eyes, the mermaid screamed, and even the monster was terrified.

The artillery barrage of seventeen shots gradually drew closer.

The fiery red light instantly engulfed Bell's body.

Burned by his own flames and pierced in the side, Bell still let out a triumphant shout and charged forward.

Just one shot.

Bell caught the single, precisely aimed bolt of Flame Lightning with his black dagger, unleashing its power.

Then, use this to build up strength.

"Zagnat" saw it.

The flames and lightning that should have exploded on the dagger did not dissipate, but were suppressed by the white light and gathered in one place.

This is "dual charge".

It was a plan laid out in anticipation of the "magic" being reflected back, thus paving the way for the "ultimate kill".

The massive fireballs that were reflected were merely a decoy. The barrage of raging fire and lightning seized the moment to erase himself from the enemy's sight, and Bell unleashed his full power in close combat.

Zagnat stood frozen in the narrow crevice for a moment, and understood everything.

The enemy used the ability to shoot even at a monster's body, which could cause fatal damage, to lure the user into activating "magic reflection".

It is an assault operation launched in response to the brief moment of stun caused by the use of armored shells.

(────────)

Faced with the berserk divine blade clad in flaming armor, time in "Zagnat" paused.

So fast, this is bad—but it's not too late.

As long as we use all our strength, whether it's to counterattack, defend, or dodge, it's all possible.

However, the monster's instincts produced a discordant noise.

Was that "magic" or a slash?

Can it be deflected with the invincible "shield"? Or can it be shattered with the ultimate "claw-breaking" attack?

The apostles who were to be wiped out hesitated.

Its next action was to "dodge".

It made the remaining left foot's joint creak, and even though it wasn't perfect, it still made a fully effective jump.

"──"

In conclusion...

The calamity-inducing monster lost its "psychological warfare" against the adventurer.

That moment wasted on making a judgment.

It was a flaw that should not have been exposed in front of the fastest white rabbit, a flaw that was too late to regret.

"Phew!!"

Bell untied the scarf from his left hand in one go.

Then he flicked it.

Unlike long-range, straight-line shooting (fire and lightning), it is a mid-range "indirect attack".

The black ribbon, curving like a whip, flew through space and caught the monster's long tail.

「!?」

A sudden jolt, a taut scarf straightened, and a boy's legs firmly planted on the crystal floor.

The Zagnat came to an unnatural stop in mid-air.

The enemy's incredibly powerful inertial reaction force attacked Bell's left hand, which was gripping the scarf.

Sizzle! The muscles made a cracking sound.

*Snap!* The arm made a sound like a bone dislocating.

His wide eyes were bloodshot.

Even so, Bell still managed to pull his left arm toward himself with all his might.

"Ooo ...