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

"...Lady Daphne!"

However, at the critical moment, Daphne lost her life.

It turned out that Daphne had foreseen the impending crisis with her superior insight and, with the help of "Level Up" and the high "Agility" brought by her magic (La Muller), she caught up from the center-back position in one go.

When the enemy shattered the ice with a swift, empty attack, she landed on another "island" and put down the life she was carrying.

"I know this is asking the impossible, but you'll have to get used to it quickly. I can't help you too many times."

“Okay, okay!”

Daphne, sweating profusely, immediately returned to the front lines.

Ming stood up, feeling fear in his heart at this battle against the floor master, where defeat could be swiftly achieved with the slightest lapse in concentration.

She signaled to herself to be even more vigilant, while looking at the dragon in front of her.

"The Dragon Clan Floor Master—I thought I could tell how strong he was without even getting a close look, but I never imagined he was such a powerful enemy!"

The white dragon, shrouded in red mist, could intimidate its enemies with its sheer majesty.

Ming and the others were almost intimidated by the dragon's domineering gaze, but they still pounced on it again. This time, they attacked simultaneously from three directions: front, left, and right.

With Aisha providing cover and diverting the enemy's attention, Sakura finally managed to successfully attack her opponent, however...

“Wu!?”

The great battle axe "Royal Steel," made from the high-grade mineral "white corundum," burst forth with intense sparks.

The strong and sturdy dragon scales of "Amphispina" hindered the attack.

For adventurers who face "dragons" as their adversaries, piercing through the dragon scales, which boast the highest level of hardness among monster drops, has always been the greatest challenge. Their fierce attacks and impenetrable defenses have made dragons the strongest monsters in people's eyes.

Seeing that the attack was ineffective, the two dragon heads swung wildly like a storm. Sakura and the others, whose armor was covered in wounds, could not withstand the attack and fled out of range.

Immediately afterwards, a layer of azure heat enveloped the dragon's mouth.

"The breath attack is coming!"

Daphne, wielding a short sword-shaped "magic sword," leaped onto a "small island" and shouted from the center-back position.

Chigusa, running in the opposite direction, used arrows to distract the enemy, but Haku did not stop.

"~ ...

A new wave of Burning Flames was brought into the battlefield.

The enormous "island," at least ten meters in diameter, melted away in an instant, causing the lake to burst into a sea of ​​azure fire. The azure flames released from the burnt bodily fluids of the "dragon liver" required no "magic power," and the breath formed by pure firepower was so powerful that even Welf's antimagic fire magic could not withstand it.

The burst of flames caused a large amount of water vapor to rise, making the entire floor unbearably hot and stuffy.

The space has been transformed into a steam bath that shouldn't exist on a waterfront floor—no, it's a "cold furnace of flames."

"It's so hard to breathe..."

My throat feels like it's burning!

This situation occurs whenever the "Water City" engages in battle with "Amphispina".

Aisha was already used to it, but Welf and the others were not yet used to it.

Being exposed to steam on floors that are not actually volcanic will cause discomfort to advanced adventurers and reduce their concentration. By the time they realize it, their stamina will have already been significantly depleted.

The azure flames, greedily burning the air at close range, caused life and cherry blossoms to groan.

(The enemy's red mist... it not only defends against "magic," but also obscures vision and hinders attacks. Combined with this steam, it's absolutely terrible.)

As for Daphne, who had distanced herself from the vanguard group, she was carefully observing "Amphispina".

When engaging in close combat, the red mist surrounding the enemy can also serve as an obstruction of vision. The reason why Sakura's first attack failed was likely due not only to the defensive power of the dragon scales, but also to the fact that the timing was not right.

(Although there is a foothold, it is not as stable as the land...)

The glacier, shattered into countless "islands," became unstable "floating islands" under the torrents supplied by the "Giant Waterfall" on the north side of the Great Hollow. Attack distances were frequently staggered, and movement was not allowed at will.

(To be honest, even though he's the person who posted this thread, his neck is incredibly flexible!)

If it were a giant (Goliath), one could avoid fatal injuries simply by focusing on the front, and also sneak into the opponent's arms.

However, this two-headed dragon is different.

It can detect their movements and launch an attack with speeds that are not expected for a super-large scale.

It also comes with a powerful blazing cannon that can scorch everything, and a protective barrier mist to resist "magic".

"I really want to run away... but I can't escape."

Due to the nature of her duties, which she had been forced to undertake since the time of the Apollo Familia, Daphne analyzed the enemy's intelligence and couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"Guaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?"

"Tsk! Is it too shallow?"

The vanguard is back on the field.

Aisha pierced through the enemy's sharp fangs and, with admirable composure, slashed at "Amphispina," but her strike, aimed at the gaps in the dragon scales, only caused a little bleeding.

Upon seeing that the Amazon had injured him, the floor owner's dragon eyes revealed anger.

First, the two heads roared at each other, and then the dragon suddenly plunged into the water.

"Oops!?"

Daphne's expression immediately changed.

The floor owner, who had disappeared into the depths of the water, made her extremely anxious.

The white dragon, having dived to near the bottom of the lake, stared at the swaying water with its four dragon eyes, and then surfaced in one breath.

"────Roarooooo ...

"Ughh ...

Two necks emerged from the water, and finally the enormous dragon body assaulted the adventurers.

Neither counterattack nor defense was possible. Sakura and the others hurriedly moved away from the rapidly rising shadow, and were then swept into the tsunami.

This was an attack launched by the "Water Dragon," whose full potential is unleashed in the water. Accelerated underwater, this attack was far more powerful and had a wider range than usual. The impact traveled all the way to Daphne and Chigusa, frightening the girls away.

"Cough, cough... Ugh!?"

Welf and the others were soaked through by the "undine cloths" they were wearing. They knelt on one knee on the island, looking up at the floor master who was looking down at them.

『The guild's estimated level is set to 6, taking into account the water terrain』.

The meaning of Aisha's words, which Welf and the others had said before, is now fully understood.

The underwater world, separated only by a block of ice, is the enemy's greatest weapon.

Of course, once dragged into that underwater world, they would be slaughtered in an instant.

"Wow, that's incredibly strong... stronger than any monster we've ever fought!"

"But they absolutely have to be defeated! Aren't they!"

"That's right, let's go!"

Welf and Sakura glared back at the dragon, shouldered their weapons, and rushed out to prepare for another close-quarters battle.

"Wait, wait, wait...! Please wait a moment...!?"

As for the other side.

Lily, standing on the lake shore behind, could do nothing.

Ever since giving Haruhime the instruction to "level up," she has become a "lost child."

(What is Lily supposed to do in this situation...!?)

The battle against the floor master is incomparable to ordinary battles.

The amount of information is overwhelming. If this were a passageway in a labyrinthine area, Lily's command would be sufficient, but this is a vast void. It possesses an unprecedented expanse of space, along with a challenging, expansive "waterfront" terrain. A colossal dragon recklessly diving into the water to attack—this is going too far.

Not only that, there were countless Icelands and raging flames, and finally a dome of tree roots covering the top and all around; she really wanted to ask if this was a fairy tale world.

This is beyond the capabilities of "trainee" commander Lily.

(What should Lily do...!)

The vast wilderness within my mind unfolds an infinite array of options.

It is impossible to make the right choices and trade-offs immediately.

In the distance on the shore, the azzurra trees were engulfed by azure flames, burning fragilely and scattering petals. Haruhime, kneeling with her hands on her chest, desperately trying to regain her strength, mirrored her own current state of distress.

As she stared at the mysterious light spreading out from the corner of her vision, letting sweat stream down her face...

"Lily Luca—! Don't hesitate!"

"!!"

The voice of her mentor (Daphne), who had taught her basic command skills, came from over.

"For the defenders... and more specifically, for the commander, what's most important is insight and judgment! Then comes composure! Right now, the person the team needs to stay calm the most is you!"

"Lily, Lily understands! But!"

Daphne, who was standing in front of the glacier, interrupted Lily and shouted:

The best commanders are not those who 'handle' a situation, but those who 'drive' it forward!

"!!"

"If you can do this, you'll be a master!"

After saying that, Daphne ran forward.

"We're short-handed! I want to go to the front too!"

So the command is entirely in your hands.

Upon hearing this implied "trust," Lily paused for a moment—then raised her chestnut-colored eyes.

The confusion has vanished from my mind, replaced by a burning fighting spirit in my heart.

The heavy pressure from a sense of responsibility disappeared.

What rose in its place was the flame of a vow to not disappoint expectations, to not let anyone die, and to fight side by side.

Encouraged by Daphne's suggestion, the little brain began to work at full speed.

(A frozen waterfall pool, and then a huge tree overhead...!)

First, she observed the terrain.

(There are four more "Demon Swords" in total, including the one currently in use. The stats of the teammates who can use them are...!)

Then she checked the chips she was holding.

While it's hard to say whether it's "fortunate" or not, the large-scale destruction that occurred in the labyrinth area has prevented any monsters from appearing on the shore. Although they are still within the range of the Burning Flame, Welf and the others are currently helping to deal with the floor master, giving her time to think.

Finally, Lily's "operation" was decided.

"My lord, please begin the chant!"

Hearing the loud voice of the dwarfs, the adventurers turned around.

"The formation also needs to be changed. Please move to center position in place of Lady Daphne! Front guards, do your utmost to hold off the enemy! Lady Chigusa, continue to provide cover!"

She quickly issued a series of instructions and began to implement the well-structured strategy.

The commander's resolute and decisive tone was enough to guide the soldiers' commands.

At the same time, it is also similar to a ray of light shining in the darkness.

Lily's strong and powerful voice convinced the entire team to trust her without any doubt.

Ming nodded, Welf smiled, and Aisha licked her lips.

"【Calling upon the name of the Supreme One, I am filled with trepidation and awe—】"

Ming retreated to the central position where Chigusa was located and entered the chanting procedure as instructed.

As for Daphne, whose original ability stats were already superior to life, she filled the gaps in every aspect, and "cleverly" teamed up with Welf and others with her panoramic view of the battlefield.

"It's so much easier for us with you helping out!"

"Thank you for the compliment!"