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

Amidst the billowing dust, the Lizardman Elite were shaken to see their companion "Magic Stone" suffer a gruesome fate, his chest cleanly cleaved in two.

"Kaguya... I'll borrow your technique."

Ryu used "Iai," a "katana technique" that his now-deceased Far Eastern comrade-in-arms was once proud of.

Ryu's right leg is injured, making it difficult for her to walk. Therefore, she abandons movement and focuses on fighting the enemy. This is Ryu's only remaining tactic.

Seeing the elf sheath his sword again, the panicked lizardmen could only roar and charge forward.

Liu squinted and drew her sword again, slicing through the "magic stone" before the enemy's stone sword could even touch her skin.

No matter how many attacks were launched, the result was the same. Every individual who stepped into the attack range of the katana was cut in two. Even if one wanted to attack simultaneously, the narrow passage could only accommodate two attackers at a time. With Ryu's skill, he could simply turn the blade around and swing it again, creating a small mountain of dust from two monsters.

Using the full power of his body except for his right leg, the silver flash trajectory can be described as a "slashing" barrier.

"If I were here, I'd probably laugh at how 'terribly bad' I am..."

Although it was a katana technique learned from a comrade-in-arms, it can't compare to the original master no matter how you look at it.

However, this posed a significant threat to the monsters in the "deep layers." The sight of being instantly killed the moment they tried to break through would likely make them think their opponent used "magic." Ryu's deadly strikes made them shrink back, hesitant to attack.

The longer they hesitate, the better. The longer they can stall, the more time Bell will have to deal with his own battle. The boy probably doesn't need Ryu's cover to defeat the monster now.

This "tactic" is only effective when dealing with monsters from deeper, more intelligent areas.

But then—sizzle!

"!!"

An ominous sound rang out, making Liu's heart pound like a rapidly beating alarm bell.

Right beside her, a deep crack appeared in the wall. The moment Ryuichi saw it, he immediately heeded the warning and jumped away.

Immediately afterwards, a strong, thick arm grew from the wall, sweeping across the space where Liu had just been.

"...! 'Brutal Warrior'!"

The sight of a massive monster emerging from the wall contorted Ryu's expression.

It has two curved horns and sharp teeth and claws, and is a warrior-type monster that can stand shoulder to shoulder with "Lizardman Elite" or "Cunning Wolf".

At this critical moment, a "savage warrior" born from the labyrinth pursues Ryu, who has been caught off guard and is unable to maintain her iaido stance.

"Haaah!"

“Wu!?”

The monster opened its mouth and shot out its long tongue.

Because of his limited mobility, Ryū was unable to completely dodge the tongue attack and dropped his katana.

Then came the monster's loud roar.

Led by the "savage warriors," a horde of lizardmen charged toward Ryu.

Just as the phosphorescent light illuminated the horde of monsters, about to engulf the elf's shadow...

"Ughh ...

"vomit!?"

The boy's quick run prevented the disaster.

Bell finished his fight in front of the stairs and came to the rescue, unleashing a flying kick with all his might.

The force of the kick, strong enough to break a sternum, caused the "Barbarian Warrior" to fall backward, pinning the "Lizardman Elite" who followed behind him to the ground.

Bell continued his attack. He drew his "White Illusion" and struck at the fallen monsters.

Ryu, who was initially taken aback, hurriedly picked up the Japanese sword he had dropped and pounced on the enemy like a wild beast.

"Chirp!?"

"Gah!? Ugh!? Chirp—!?"

"..., ..., ...!?"

The monsters, adorned with blood, screamed in agony.

Ignoring the incessant screams, the two repeatedly raised their sharp blades and stabbed downwards at the monster's body.

Bell and Ryūren stabbed the monsters multiple times, determined not to let them stand up again. Their movements were anything but refined or skillful; they were savage, even bloody and grotesque.

They let the splattered blood stick to their cheeks as they frantically stabbed the monster with wide eyes.

Faced with a life-or-death battle, they had no energy left to care about their image.

After the last monster's arm twitched violently and then lay still... only the disordered breathing of two people could be heard in the passage.

The sky-blue eyes and the deep red (rubellite) pupils reflected each other's exhausted appearance.

Liu slowly began to speak:

"Let's take a break first..."

○

"Zagnat?"

Sitting on the floor by the wall, I repeated the name.

This is a small cave with only one entrance and exit.

Its distorted shape is far from being square; describing it as a cave or hollow cave would be more accurate.

After Ms. Ryu and I destroyed all the surrounding walls, we successfully took our second break.

"Yes, I heard that's the name of the monster. ... But by the time I found out, it was all over."

While we were on guard against our surroundings, we talked about the monster we had encountered before.

It's that "monster" with murderous "claws" that has been chasing us all this way.

"Just after I lost my companions and completed my revenge... when Seele took me in, a man in black who looked like a mage appeared before me."

Miss Liu's words made my heart skip a beat.

Magician, Man in Black... it must be Fels.

Did that person have contact with Miss Liu many years ago?

"[Swift Wind]...You absolutely must not reveal any information about your encounter with the Destroyer (Zagnot) in the dungeon."

Under the gloomy sky where the rain never stopped, there were only the two of them in the back alley.

Miss Liu said that Fels used a nickname to refer to her, never letting anyone see her true identity, and issued a "warning".

"That thing must never be summoned again. As long as you uphold this agreement... we will not interfere with your actions at all. Considering your achievements under the righteous faction (Asteria Familia), we will not hold you accountable."

"We" refers to the guild's higher-ups... or more specifically, the god Uranus?

Therefore, due to the decree issued by the god Uranus, the guild only fulfilled its obligations to register [Gale] on the blacklist, but did not take any action to pursue him.

Ms. Liu said that after she silently nodded in response to the "warning," Fels seemed to melt into the darkness and gradually disappeared.

"Assuming that magician is a private soldier of the guild, it means the guild was aware of the existence of that 'monster.' I think it's very likely that it was within the authority of Uranus, the god who offered 'prayer' to the dungeon..."

Miss Ryu seems to have also realized Fels' true identity.

As I looked at her profile, which was leaning against the wall and showed signs of exhaustion, I fell into deep thought.

The "monster" that even Fels and the others feared and worried about... the "calamity" that reappeared before Miss Ryu.

"Zagnat..."

I murmured the name as I touched my bloodied and mangled left arm.

Recalling the existence that was more terrifying than any monster to date, I could no longer hide the growing "question" in my heart.

"...Miss Ryu, may I ask what that person named Jaluo said...?"

I've always cared about it.

I haven't been able to forget what that male animal trainer said since I heard it.

"Back then!"

"They're afraid of dying!"

"We only managed to drive that 'monster' away after sacrificing our comrades!!"

That's exactly what the animal trainer said.

What happened on the day that everyone in the Astrea Familia died, except for Ms. Ryu?

How did Miss Ryu survive? What happened to the "Zagnat" she initially encountered? Was it defeated? Since it was said to have been "driven away," does that mean it might still be alive?

A series of questions swirled in my mind—what happened to you back then?

I couldn't help but ask that.

“…………”

Miss Ryu declined to answer.

Her tightly pursed lips met only silence.

Only the fists, clenched so tightly they trembled silently.

"...Mr. Crannie, the enemy is here."

Several cries rang out from a distance at the entrance of the passage.

Watching Miss Ryu's departing figure, I silently followed, unable to ask the same question again.

○

He wandered around.

He exhaled a breath containing warmth, causing fragments of his shed body shell to fall to the ground.

Absorbing the dim phosphorescence emanating from the wall, the "claw" carried in the left hand emitted an eerie blue-purple glow.

The labyrinth, shrouded in darkness, was completely silent.

The other monsters held their breath as if in fear of "him," refusing to appear before him. Only the sound of footsteps echoed through the darkness.

The monster known as "Zagnat" by gods and adventurers roams the 37th floor.

—He was deeply injured.

He also possesses a holistic wisdom that can be described as thinking.

Based on this ability, he quietly observed his own body.

The injured right leg, damaged by the blade, can still be used for jumping, but its mobility is far from optimal. High-speed movement, capable of chilling the adventurer to the bone, is no longer possible.

The right arm, blasted away by the intense flames, was completely destroyed. The devastating force that caused the right arm to vanish even extended to the right half of the body, shattering half of the "magic reflection" armor shell that had an "armor" effect. Half of the tail was also missing.

His body was riddled with sores.

seriously injured.

Sooner or later, they will be unable to move.

So what?

In any case, I will eventually "self-destruct".

He understood this perfectly well without anyone having to teach him.

The Zagnat has a very short lifespan.

In terms of its unique characteristics that other monsters do not have, first of all, it does not have "magic stones".

Perhaps his entire body can be viewed as a massive "magic stone." This is the source of his extraordinary "strength" and "agility." His potential abilities change with the layers he enters; the deeper the layer, the stronger his individual abilities become, reaching a point where he could slaughter the entire Astrea Familia and easily overwhelm even a first-tier adventurer party. Therefore, in combat, even if "Zagnat" loses his head or has his chest pierced, he can continue to move until his entire body is completely pulverized before finally meeting his end.

As the price for this "enhancement," it will naturally break down over time.

Like an ice sculpture that shatters instantly and vanishes into thin air.

The previous Destroyer, perhaps it was him, perhaps it was her. That Child of Calamity, after slaughtering the [Asteria Familia], also vanished into dust deep within the dungeon. They were a race with limited lifespans, destined to die young, monsters burned out like shooting stars—therefore, the Beastmaster (Jarra)'s attempt to subdue the Destroyer was impossible, no matter how things unfolded—

Neither "magic stones" nor "dropped items" are left behind. No trace is left behind either. Born for "Mother," destroying dangerous elements, passing away without leaving a trace in anyone's memory.

Therefore, "killing" is the entire meaning of his existence.

Zagnat did not feel that his existence was empty, nor did he feel sorry for himself. As a newborn, he did not possess such thoughts and emotions.