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

"I understand how you feel, but please be patient."

Seeing Ryu pick up the bag beside him, Bell couldn't help but cover his nose.

The dark red substance at the bottom of the bag was the entrails of monsters, primarily the "Heart of the Savage Warrior." These "dropped items" could have been used as ingredients for a potent revival drug, but even through the tightly sealed bag, the unprocessed contents still emitted a foul stench. Although this was done to prevent the monsters' sense of smell from detecting it, it was still unbearable. Bell's eyes welled with tears, and Ryu's face, like that of a Far Eastern Noh mask, lost its expression.

That being said, at this point Bell also felt that this was the best plan.

He had personally experienced the powerful "camouflage" effect of the fur robe. It could even eliminate body odor.

Furthermore, as long as you are careful not to make any noise when moving, you should be able to fool the monster's senses.

"Now that we've arrived at the 'Arena,' our location is clear."

Then, Ryu took out a map.

"The only 'Arena' on the 37th floor is located in the 'Warrior's Hall' between the second and third circular walls, and it is the easternmost area within it."

While keeping watch against the monster's attack, Ryu unfolded a map in front of Bell, who was kneeling on one knee. Large squares representing "arena" were marked on it with blood-stained pens.

"The 'Arena' is a large space with four entrances in total, located in the east, west, south, and north. The southern exit connects to the main route."

"If that's the case, all we need to do is cross to the south... Ah, but without knowing our bearings, we won't know which way is south..."

"The 'Arena,' located in the center of the cave, has many oddly shaped pillars standing on its northwest side. I just calculated its orientation by looking at the shape. We are currently at the entrance on the north side... so the opposite side is to the south."

Ryu wrote down the proper route not far from the "Arena," and wrote down Bell and the others' current location at the spatial entrance opposite. Relying on her memory of the "Arena" landscape and the knowledge dormant in her mind, she explained the current situation and the route to take in an organized manner.

This greatly impressed Bell.

The elf, facing a situation where it wouldn't be surprising if she felt frustrated, managed to make a series of correct judgments with her quick wit, which captivated Bell's attention.

"Miss Ryu...you're really amazing."

The whispered words suddenly escaped from his lips.

"Mr. Craney...?"

"Even in this situation, you were able to think calmly and make the right choices... I've always been helped by you. If it weren't for Ms. Ryu, I would never have been able to escape the 'Deep Layer'..."

Ryu listened silently, and Bell's words made her feel a pang of guilt for a moment.

Bell was too preoccupied with regretting his own immaturity to notice that expression.

"...Mr. Crani, you must transform knowledge into 'wisdom'."

"To transform knowledge into wisdom...?"

"Yes. As long as you connect knowledge with action and know how to apply it, you will become more capable of helping others and a stronger adventurer."

After a while, Ryu spoke.

Her words were like overlapping the image of Bell reflected in her azure eyes with her former self (Ryu).

It sounds like a teaching deeply ingrained in Ryu's heart.

Seeing Bell nod deeply, Ryu smiled for a fleeting moment.

"Do you remember what the regular routes looked like, and how to draw maps?"

"...I remember, the main route is a large passageway. As long as you don't turn into side paths, you can reach the tunnel...The map-making method uses ten to twenty steps as the conversion unit to record along the way..."

"very good."

Bell reviewed the knowledge that Liu had taught him.

Although drawing maps was just something he had to cram for at the last minute, Liu would teach him during every short break.

Ryu narrowed her eyes in satisfaction and handed him the bag wrapped around her waist.

"There are three 'Flame Stones' left. You can keep one."

"Huh, but..."

"No one can say for sure what will happen in the future."

Ryu has always managed the equipment as a defender, supporting Bale until now, but he chose to share the responsibility at this time.

The intention is to halve the risk in times of crisis, so that no matter what situation arises, the other person can cope.

Bell was surprised by this advice, but he still accepted the bag. Because Ryu hadn't said anything wrong.

In addition to the "Flame Stone" that emitted a faint red glow, there was also a map in the bag showing the proper route through the "Arena" and southwards.

"..."

Bell was unable to translate the jarring feeling that was eroding his heart into words.

Liu ignored his reaction and stood up, saying:

"let's go."

○

The "Arena" is spanned by four bridges.

The bridges extending from the southeast, northwest, and other cardinal directions connect to the "arena" in the center of the cave, forming a cross shape.

The bridge, constructed of whitish-white stones, is about six meters wide and, of course, has no railings. One wrong step and you'll fall fifty meters to the ground below.

He fell into a hail of countless rock spears, destined to kill him instantly.

“!…”

Bell and Ryu walked across the bridge, close together, their heads covered with "skeletal sheep's skin robes," holding their breath.

They certainly weren't so carefree as to think the real action would begin once they reached the monsters' "arena." If the monsters discovered their intrusion, Bell and his companions would be "finished." Limitless resources would be unleashed upon the two adventurers, and they couldn't help but be tense. The forest of sharp, rocky thorns covering the cave's lower levels watched them as they cautiously advanced.

If you look closely down, you'll see countless lurking shadows among the spikes.

It's the "Peruda." They slither along the spikes like lizards. It seems that trying to use ropes to descend to the ground and bypass the "arena" is useless. Instead, a hellish experience of being poisoned and tattooed with flames awaits.

Bell swallowed hard when he accidentally discovered some armor and bones pierced by spikes under the bridge.

Unlike the "arena" standing in the center of the cave, the stone bridge is very quiet.

This silence, however, is a "poison" that threatens Bell and his companions' lives.

Once discovered, they would be dead. They were extremely careful, not only with their footsteps but even with their breathing, slowly approaching as they crossed the stone bridge. Although they had poked countless small holes in their fur coats with needles to see ahead, the narrow field of vision strained Bell and his companions. Coupled with the difficulty of moving, they almost had the illusion that this journey would never end.

Bell's trembling breaths fell on Ryu's ear several times.

Ryu's warm breath brushed against Bell's neck countless times.

Suddenly, small pebbles fell off the bridge with a clattering sound. They were fragments that had naturally broken off.

Bell and his companions stopped as if frozen in place, holding their breath.

Beneath the stone bridge, the "Perudas" did not exude any sense of danger.

no problem.

Once detected, a deafening roar will immediately shatter the silence, delivering a death sentence to them.

So it's alright.

It's alright.

My life and Ryu's life are not over yet.

Bell struggled to persuade his stiff, statue-like legs to start moving forward again.

"That is... the 'Arena'."

After crossing the seemingly endless bridge and road, Bell gasped as he saw the white stone structure looming before him.

It was a massive, imposing, and awe-inspiring structure. Its precisely circular outline was roughly the same diameter as a skyscraper (the Tower of Babel).

"……let's go."

"……OK."

Urged on by Ryu, Bell completed the remaining part of the bridge.

Bell and his companions stepped into the outer area of ​​the "arena" that connected to the stone bridge.

Standing there, Bell was finally able to see the structure of the "arena," which could not be seen from the outside.

First, the inner side is bowl-shaped, just like a circular arena.

The vast, six-tiered rock plate is stepped, with a circular space at the bottom. If we consider a circular arena, the former is the "stand," and the latter is the "arena" where the gladiators fight. The circular space is located on the same level as the rock spear floor outside the "arena."

"────!"

Once you understand the structure of the "Arena"...

Bell saw the "scenery" below his field of vision and then understood the true origin of the name "Arena".

"Roar! Ro ...

"──────────────────!"

The "Arena" was crammed with nauseating monsters.

However, Bell was not so horrified by seeing the nightmarish monster furnace.

The monsters are killing each other.

They roared incessantly in fury, mercilessly biting their own kind and tearing their flesh.

"...I've heard that the monsters in this realm fight each other every day, except for the moment an intruder steps into it."

Bell simply ignored Ryu's barely concealed trembling murmurs.

Needless to say, the "arena" at the very bottom is also filled with countless monsters fiercely battling on the rocky strata that are equivalent to "stands".

Nearby, groups of "Lizardman Elite" and "Earthlings" were clashing on the fifth rock stratum. The Lizard Warriors were defeated by the Bone Warriors.

Behind them, the "savage warrior" that had smashed the "cunning wolf's" head roared. The individual, splattered with blood, had its fur standing on end and its horns thicker and stronger, clearly a "reinforced" species. But even this large one was attacked from behind by the large herd of "skeleton sheep," letting out a dying scream before being torn to pieces.

Then, whenever a monster turns into a corpse, cracks will appear all over the "arena".

From the rocky floor and the walls adjacent to the "arena," monsters of various races are born in turn. The cycle of monsters dying and being reborn can be described as an endless "replenishment."

Everything unfolding below our field of vision speaks to the uniqueness of this field.

The danger and heresy of the so-called "Arena".

"...!"

Bell covered his mouth with his hand.

He struggled desperately against the overwhelming unease he could no longer suppress.

The eternal cycle of birth and death.

This was the moment when Bell felt the "mystery" of the dungeon most strongly to date.

No, perhaps it's a renewed realization.

They came to realize a terrifying "extraordinary power" that was beyond imagination and beyond human intelligence.

"Let's go... we don't have time to stand here and daydream."

"……OK."

The moment that surging, scorching heat and ferocious killing intent swept towards them, the two of them knew they would never survive; this sight was enough to convince them of that. Bell nodded weakly, responding to Ryu's murmur.

He forced his gaze away from the scenery below and began to move forward.

Bell and his group are currently located at the northern end of the "Arena," at the connection point to the stone bridge on the north side. This is the highest level, equivalent to the sixth layer of the outer rock formations.

Next, they needed to head towards the southern end of the "arena" on the other side. If they could simply proceed in a straight line, things would be easy, but crossing the circular space where numerous monsters were still fiercely battling was suicidal. Therefore, they had to proceed along the six-story-high rock formation towards the southern bridge.

To Bell's right, on the northwest side of the "arena," as his colleague Ryu had mentioned, stood several oddly shaped pillars—huge, protruding rocks. There weren't six layers of rock equivalent to the outer perimeter; at most, only three. But even with "concealment" camouflage, reaching such a low position would likely still alert the monsters. And if the residual force of the fight blew off their fur robes, that would be disastrous.

Therefore, you should take the sixth rock layer on the left as you proceed from north to east.

(We were so close to the monsters…! It felt like they were roaring right in front of us!)

The stinging tension remained unabated. No, in fact, the sheer proximity of the monsters made it feel like a matter of life and death. Whenever a monster moved back and forth on the adjacent fifth layer of rock, Bell and his companions were forced to halt all movement.

However, whether it can be called fortunate or not, the "arena" also reeks of a strong stench.

Because of the endless infighting among their own kind (monsters), corpses littered the ground and were left unattended. Even without the "Magic Stone," the monsters' loot drops—the scraps of flesh—still created a strong, pungent stench that permeated the vast space. The body odor of adventurers like Bell would never be detected; instead, they would have to do everything they could to avoid vomiting.

Could part of this stench come from forgotten adventurers?

—If I and Ryu are discovered, will we also become part of the bloodstains that stain the walls?