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

"Waaaaah...!"

Within the vast, scorching cavern ablaze with flickering blue flames, Aisha let the sweat pour down her face as she slashed at "Amphispina." The floor master, unable to conceal its waning strength, could only twist its neck to dodge the attack, but the blow from the great broadsword that shattered the dragon's scales caused it to struggle in agony.

Another wave of attacks could overturn the balance of power. Aisha was now certain of this.

(Haruhime's [Mega Hammer] lasts for a maximum of fifteen minutes. The interval required to activate "magic" again is a little over ten minutes... If we can hold out for another ten minutes, even more people will be able to "level up"!)

Aisha, who had cared for Haruhime since their days as a prostitute and had also partnered with her in battle, was very familiar with the characteristics of Haruhime's "magic." This was achieved by exploiting the difference between the effect's duration and cooldown time, allowing one more person to be virtually ranked up within approximately five minutes. Although this would increase Haruhime's burden, she could only be asked to endure it.

Aisha glanced at the lake shore behind her.

Despite the considerable distance between them, Haruhime received Aisha's gaze and nodded as if she understood her intentions.

—Indeed, you're becoming more and more radiant.

Seeing the girl's resolute expression, Aisha smiled.

The girl who lamented the state of the world is gone.

(Most importantly, we have—)

Just then, Sakura and the others shouted:

"It went underwater!"

The Amphispina plunged into the water, creating huge waves.

This powerful underwater attack would normally terrify adventurers, but now...

"life!"

"Yes, it's moving westward! Southward... no, eastward! Lady Lily, please stay away!"

This move was completely sealed by the [Yata no Kuroku].

"Amphispina" accurately smashed through the ice and appeared, but Lily and the others took refuge immediately and escaped safely without serious injury. On the contrary, the minions (monsters) were caught in the fierce impact.

Immediately afterward, a figure sped away the moment the floor owner peeked out.

It is through his ability to locate enemies that he displays a skill that is almost like a prophet.

What was drawn was a long sword called "Spring Sleet".

While the longer blade (attack range) may reduce the flexibility of its use, it is an unparalleled weapon when dealing with large enemies, making it the best tool for unleashing "ultimate moves".

The martial god's disciple, enveloped in "level-up" light particles, twisted his waist to its limit as he jumped and drew his sword.

"[Exquisite!]!"

The combined mental and physical strike that erupted from the scabbard severed the dragon scales and finally deeply wounded the right side of the neck.

"Roar!?"

"Amphispina" let out a shrill scream as a torrent of blood gushed from the middle of its neck.

This move undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow. Welf and the others cheered at the sight.

(That's right, as long as [Shadowless] is present, even tricky attacks from the water can be defended!)

The all-around adventurer, who can serve as both a vanguard and a target hunter, truly demonstrates her value at this moment.

A super-powerful "magic sword" capable of launching artillery fire instantly, even capable of creating a foothold.

In addition, there is a "skill" that allows the user to detect enemy movements.

The clever combination of the two allowed them, a small team of less than ten people, to fight on the water against the "Amphispina" with equal skill.

In this battle, fate and Haruhime are equally important "keys".

(The other monsters weren't that strong either; they could be defeated easily!)

The devastation caused by the "Flame Stone (bomb)" led to the collapse of the labyrinth area, preventing the minions (monsters) from flooding into the large void and giving Aisha and her companions an advantage. Normally, in addition to dealing with the "Labyrinth King," they would have to assign additional personnel to handle the monsters, but this time they didn't have to worry about that.

Aisha's greatsword sliced ​​away the "giant water serpent's" body, and the remaining monsters could be counted on one hand.

"Hey, it seems like... we might be able to win?"

"Yeah, I never thought that as long as you have that kind of incredibly powerful 'magic sword,' you can even fight your way through the Great Void."

Daphne landed on Aisha's side and asked her back to her; Aisha nodded.

The injured "Amphispina" had clearly expended a lot of energy. The best evidence of this was that the intense bursts of fireballs that had been unleashed at the beginning of the battle were starting to wane.

The Water Dragon Tower Master could have interrupted the battle with Aisha and the others, hiding at the bottom of the lake to recover his strength. That would have been the most unbearable tactic for Aisha and the others in their current state.

But what if the prey escapes during this time?

After all, if necessary, Aisha and her companions could easily climb up and down the cliff face to reach either the 24th or 26th floor. They disregarded the floor masters who appeared at their usual time, and equally disregarded normal operating principles, prioritizing the "elimination" of adventurers. At least, that's how Aisha perceived it. Without removing this threat, the enemy probably wouldn't dare to rest so leisurely.

Lily and her friends kept moving along the shore to avoid monster attacks, providing cover for Welf and the others who were fighting on the icy river. If necessary, Lily could also use the short sword-shaped "magic sword" she carried to deal with enemies.

Welf and his group also moved on the glacier "island," intermittently attacking the floor master.

Everything fits perfectly.

The battle situation is favorable to our side.

This number of people (squad) can be used to defeat the floor master (Amphispina) of the lower level.

(We can win.)

Aisha was so certain of it.

I'm actually convinced now.

This is an underground city. It's an endless labyrinth.

She forgot that nothing is absolute here.

"──────"

The dragon's four eyes were bloodshot.

The damage gradually accumulated, the blood slowly drained away, and most importantly, the group of insignificant, yet daring, inferior adventurers who dared to threaten him, the "dragon."

Everything enraged Amphispina, causing it to burn its massive body.

Everything around us has touched a nerve with the water dragon.

"Aa ...

"Woohoo ...

Both heads roared simultaneously and sank violently into the water.

The giant fins of the fish splashed violently as it paddled, and Welf and Sakura prepared to take the hit.

"Here we go again!"

"Thank you for your help, my lord!"

"yes!"

[Yata no Kuroku] activated. The perceptual network of ability values ​​will not miss the huge reaction of diving beneath one's feet.

She was chasing after the monster, about to give instructions to her companions—when, in the next moment…

Ming froze completely.

"────"

At the same time, Aisha's time also stopped.

Her long-cultivated adventurer's instincts served as a wake-up call.

Aisha, who always lured the floor master to advantageous positions whenever she fought, had no idea that such a thing existed.

No, even the seasoned adventurers who have fought against "Amphispina" to this day have not been able to grasp this point.

It's unknown what actions the water dragon will take when cornered in the "Great Hollow" where the waterfall flows.

It is unknown what "abnormal situation" will cause it to annihilate the enemy.

(It swims towards the waterfall)

The network of perception of fate has grasped the movement trajectory of the water dragon.

It ignored the adventurers and sped straight north towards the great waterfall.

Its terrifying momentum was the same as when it swam from the 27th floor to this 25th floor.

The next instant, it crashed into the glacier, creating a huge wave as it rushed into the "Giant Waterfall".

Welf, Lily, Haruhime, Sakura, Chigusa, Daphne, and Cassandra all saw the white figure swimming upstream in the majestic waterfall.

Only Aisha and her life revealed the enemy's intentions.

But it was too late.

On the "Giant Waterfall," the "Amphispina," a dragon leaping over the dragon gate, soars into the sky from the top of the waterfall.

"──────────────────"

The sound disappears.

Even the thunderous roar of the waterfall is no exception.

The adventurers, whose ears had become deaf, saw a figure leaping far overhead in the stagnant world.

Despite being a water dragon without wings, the monster flew into the sky.

The still river of time is shattered, and the great waterfall plays a terrifying chorus.

Before long—"Amphispina" plummeted straight down.

"—Woohoo!?"

After Welf yelled at the top of his lungs, the floor owner crashed hard into the middle of the lake.

The impact was so loud it felt as if the whole world had cracked open, and the tree root dome was shattered to pieces.

The massive chunk of material, incomparable to the tree that had just fallen, caused a violent tremor throughout the entire floor... no, throughout the entire "Water City".

In an instant, giant waves surged, and all the "islands" on the glacier that could be called "islands" capsized one by one.

Aisha and the others narrowly escaped the center of the crash, but were blown away and sank into the water.

Lily and the others on the shore were slammed against the wall along with the huge wave.

Even the shimmering flames on the shore or on the water were swallowed up by the raging waves, turning into seaweed fragments beneath the towering billows.

It was just like wine overflowing from a container, flowing into the emerald blue turbidity of the 26th layer and spreading everywhere.

This excessively strong impact caused deep cracks to appear in the entire cavity.

"Ugh, ah────"

The closest thing to the floor owner's "fall attack" is life.

She was clearly being targeted by "Amphispina". The shockwave and ice from the attack knocked her away, through the water, and she gradually sank into the blue water world.

The wound on her head created red smoke in the water. She was bleeding profusely.

My awareness of fate is hazy and indistinct.

And like adding insult to injury, the scene that rushed into her view forced her to accept the bad news.

Several enormous fish were rapidly approaching her.

-- "Ambush by the Strange Fish!"

Unlike the aqua serpent, these fish monsters cannot go ashore. They rush towards their prey with incredible speed, as if they have been waiting for it to fall into the water for a long time.

They bared their sharp fangs and crushed her right shoulder.

(Ugh—Ughh ...

And another one, and yet another.

My left arm, right leg, and shoulder were the three places where they were biting me tightly.

Her appearance, surrounded by hideous monsters and reduced to prey for their fangs, even resembled that of someone being violated by monsters. Blood oozed from her tender limbs, and the "water crystal protective cloth" she wore seemed to scream as it gradually tore apart.

The silent screams turned into countless bubbles, and his body, along with the monsters, plunged into the water.

What finally caught her eye...

It was a gigantic figure directly above, the belly of a dragon preparing to rise to the surface.