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

Replacing the water dragon's wailing, she ended the rest of her chant:

"My thirsty blade (name) is Hippolyta!"

The Big Jump.

With a leap, he landed directly above the dragon's body.

She aimed at the colossal body that concealed the enemy's "core," raising her broadsword overhead as she descended.

Then, Aisha unleashed a strike infused with the "power" of herself and Haruhime.

"【Hel Caios】!!"

The broadsword slashed fiercely into the dragon's body, and the "magic" radiance was released from this point.

The crimson slash wave, which struck directly into the dragon's body, sliced ​​through the dragon's flesh, devoured it haphazardly, swept across the river of dragon blood, and shattered the large blue-purple crystal buried deep within.

"───────────────────────────────!?"

The body of "Amphispina," shattered by the "magic stone," lost its outline, and then, as if in a frenzy, the Azure Flame Flowers bloomed and blossomed.

It was a massive dust storm, like a volcanic eruption, combined with the explosion of burning flames.

As a terrifying explosion resounded, the vast void was instantly engulfed by intense, azure light.

The fox-girl watched this scene from the sea of ​​fire until the very last moment, a slight smile on her face, before slowly collapsing.

"Lady Aisha!?"

Lily bent over to avoid being blown away by the hot air from the explosion, shielding her face with her thin arms, and screamed as the light completely disappeared.

Amidst the falling dust, the shattered dragon scales (dropped items), the blue-purple crystals, and the countless fireballs tracing parabolic arcs, she caught a glimpse of Aisha falling into the lake.

That was a deadly attack at extremely close range, and the person involved could not escape it. Just as Lily and the others turned pale and were speechless... a moment later, a figure broke through the water's surface, and long, wet hair and graceful limbs appeared before everyone's eyes.

“…………”

His exposed brown skin was covered in burns, leaving him completely scarred.

But even after being caught in that explosion, the light in her eyes did not dim. Protected by the "light particles" that enveloped her entire body, she slowly walked on the shallows.

The burning flames of the Shao Yi Cang Yan, tightly wrapped around one of his arms, were still burning small flames. The large broadsword, which was stuck to the palm of his hand, was being dragged along as it cut through the water.

Lily and the others, who had been stunned, suddenly came to their senses and wanted to rush to Aisha's side, but she stopped them and walked towards the sea of ​​fire spreading on the shore.

"Haruhime..."

She used her left hand to take out the "fire extinguishing agent" carefully made by the "omnipotent one" and poured it over her head, extinguishing the flames that were tightly wrapped around one of her arms.

Aisha let the fire extinguishing props create a cloud of smoke, used the remaining extinguishing agent to put out the fire in front of her, and walked into the flames.

If viewed from above, it would surely look like a tire track left in a raging inferno.

Aisha walked to the fox-girl who was lying on the ground covered with a protective suit and picked up her slender body.

"...Aisha, sister..."

"You've become quite the expert...you silly fox."

Aisha squinted at the girl in her arms who had just opened her eyes slightly, and gave her a smile.

Chunji, her face beaming with joy, returned a slight smile before weakly resting her head on Aisha's shoulder.

Seeing the Amazons carrying her back, Lily and Cassandra greeted them with tears of joy. The Black Giant's protective suit, continuously heated by the flames, had burned Aisha's arms, but she didn't mind the pain.

"You've done us a huge favor, Haruhime..."

Just as the older sister rejoiced at her younger sister's growth, she whispered softly into the closed fox ears.

"Life! Cherry blossoms!"

As for Chigusa, she crossed the glacier and rushed to the epicenter of the "Amphispina" explosion, jumping into the water where a large amount of dust was floating.

She used the origin of the "pressure magic" as a clue to go and save people.

Soon, she and Sakura, both battered and bruised, returned to the shore.

"Hey, please! Even though it was amazing, even though that move was really powerful, are you sure you're okay!?"

"Grab me, big guy!"

Daphne rushed to Cassandra and the others, while Welf offered help to Sakura and the others.

Inside the vast, still-sparkling void, the adventurers met on the ice floes in the center of the lake, where the fire had not yet reached.

"Everyone is still alive..."

"With Lily and the rest of us, we defeated the floor master!"

Cassandra and Lily used the remaining items to immediately heal their teammate and cheered for their friend's narrow escape.

Her shoulders, arms, and legs were deeply wounded, and the "compression magic" had caused fractures throughout her body. She was the most severely injured, her eyes closed and unconscious, but she was still breathing. Haruhime was also in the same situation; although she was experiencing mental exhaustion, she was still barely conscious. As for Aisha, although she used fire extinguishers and elixirs (restorative medicine), she was ultimately standing on her own, demonstrating the resilience of a Lv.4.

"It's too early to be happy, but... you did a great job."

Aisha narrowly defeated the floor host, prompting her to express her sincere appreciation to everyone.

As if to prove the adventurers' great achievements, a portion of the dropped item "Dragon Liver of Amphispina" drifted to the vicinity of Iceland. Seeing Lily's sharp eyes pick up the dragon liver floating on the water and put it away, Welf and the others couldn't help but smile.

Just as the adventurers were about to shout their victory in the center of the great cavern—but then, "thump!"

"!!"

Before they could even bask in the afterglow of victory, the dungeon roared.

"What happened?!"

"The building is shaking...!?"

Ignoring Welf and Chigusa's astonished expressions, the building emitted a deafening roar and began to collapse.

A massive explosion powerful enough to collapse the labyrinthine area, tree root domes falling from the ceiling, and the landing attack of "Amphispina," along with the scorching flames spewing everywhere—the Great Void could no longer withstand the side effects of repeated fierce battles and finally began to crumble.

"Hey, this is bad!?"

It was unclear whether it was the roar of the underground city or a mournful cry. A terrifying shattering sound filled the air as large chunks of crystal rained down from the ceiling. Just as Sakura and the others were using their weapons to deflect the ferocious storm that was crashing into the waterfall and creating waves, their expressions growing increasingly anxious…

"Eee ...

Someone who wasn't part of the team let out a scream.

Turning around, they saw the four adventurers on the crystal bridge leading to the labyrinthine area inside the cliff on the northwest side, overlooking the "Giant Azure Waterfall".

One is a werewolf, the one who incited everyone in the inn town (Rivera) to attack [Wind].

He was the one who blew up the 25th floor.

"This isn't what we agreed on! That's not what we said in the first place, Jāra!? You didn't tell me it would turn out like this!"

"Those idiots...!"

They had likely escaped the collapse of floors that extended into the labyrinthine area, eventually arriving at this large void. The way Tucker and the others were behaving incoherently, screaming and yelling despite having brought this horrific situation upon themselves, was enough to infuriate Aisha.

Panic ensued as they fled in terror, jumping off the Crystal Bridge.

The place where they landed was above Aisha, still covered by the "root" dome high in the void. Even though the blazing flames had spread there, they still ran through it, led by Tucker, without a second thought. One of the men, carrying a backpack, was engulfed in flames, his whole body ablaze, and let out a death scream.

"I don't want to die, I don't want to die!? I don't want to die here────!?"

The thug was drenched in sweat or tears, entangled in the fire and thick smoke, but perhaps driven by his will to survive, he finally reached the precipice on the west side of the cavern and began to climb.

Ironically, this scene actually helped the adventurers find a way to survive.

"Following the roots of the big tree...! Can we still reach the passageway if we go now!?"

Logically speaking, climbing up and down the impossibly high crystal cliffs would be impossible even for advanced adventurers. However, the presence of "root" domes throughout the area has reduced the difficulty of seeking refuge at higher levels. Once you can climb the cliff and reach the cliffside path, you can escape through the passageway at the south end of the building.

That was the only remaining landmark in this collapsed, gaping void.

"I can't be so picky anymore...! Staying here any longer will result in me being buried alive by the crystals!"

Even with an optimistic estimate, the success rate of climbing while carrying an injured person is probably only 50%.

In addition, within the burning dome, only a few passageways remain on the west side.

As the fire spread rapidly, Aisha shouted for a retreat.

"Get ready to run! Climb up the western cliff!"

"Please wait a moment!! Lord Bell is still on the lower floors!"

But Lily disagreed.

Her tiny finger pointed to the cliff on the southeast side, the same precipice that led to the 26th floor as the "Giant Waterfall." She argued that there was another option: to climb down the vertical cliff and invade the labyrinthine area.

"I also object. If we're going to escape, we should wait until Bell is rescued!"

"I understand how you feel! I understand! ...But...!"

"If this continues, even Haruhime's life will be in danger...!"

Welf shared the same opinion as Lily. Sakura and Chigusa answered with groans.

Supporting the dying Chigusa, she saw her childhood playmate lying helplessly with her eyes closed like a dead person, and she struggled to hold back her tears.

"You...! Idiots, look at the situation before you say such things!"

From a standpoint of opinion, Aisha, who had the most influence in the team, angrily rebuked Lily and the others, but her expression was also bitter and distorted.

Like Sakura and the others, she was unwilling to abandon Bell; on the contrary, she wanted to rescue the man she admired by any means necessary. However, the team had just fought a life-or-death battle with the floor master, and given their current state, Lily and the others' choices would be disastrous. Mikoto and Haruhime were no longer able to fight, and they had already exhausted a large amount of weaponry and supplies. It had to be said that, given the current situation, it was impossible to search for their missing comrades.

Most importantly, she also had to consider the fox-girl she was holding in her arms.

Aisha placed her adopted sister and the boy on the scales, and was about to tip them in her favor—but the weak hand reaching out from her arms held her back.

"Aisha, sister... please... don't worry about me, go save that man...!"

"...!"

"Please, please save Lord Bell...!"

Hearing Chunji's plea, which she forced out while still in a daze, Aisha bit her lip.

"How can we abandon Lord Bell!"

"But if we stay on this floor...!"

Lily, Welf, and Haruhime insisted on staying.

Aisha, Sakura, and Chigusa chose to retreat.

The team members had differing opinions.

(Everyone lost their composure...! Lily Luca too, and [Lijie] too!)

In this extreme situation, Daphne stands between the two.

Her heart was pounding, she was sweating profusely, and she tried her best to remain objective.

Only she, with her relatively shallow relationship with Bell and others, is capable of taking on this position.

(Staying here is suicide! It's pointless and futile! We must escape immediately!)

Daphne's judgment was, of course, to retreat; there was no question about it.

In an abnormal situation where the entire floor could collapse, the option of "staying" is simply not worth considering.

(The collapse will definitely only affect the 25th floor; the 27th floor below won't collapse! Bell Craney might also have a way to survive...!)

She used this insincere argument as an excuse to prioritize the safety of the squad.

This is the duty of the commander, and the responsibility that the person now forced to make choices (Daphne Lalos) must fulfill.

(The opinion is three against three. If I vote "withdraw" now, the majority opinion will definitely lean towards this side!)

Daphne knew that in urgent situations, the weight of a majority vote could influence everyone's decision.

She was about to order an end to Lily and the others' worries about their companions.

With a bittersweet resolve, Daphne prepared to speak.

"[A cage of despair]...[turned into a coffin]...[causing you to suffer]..."

At this time.

Daphne's time seemed to freeze upon hearing the fragmented words spoken beside her.

"A blazing tree, collapsing buildings... the [cage of despair] has now become a [coffin]... Is this place and this situation what [causes you suffering]?"