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

Bell shouted, as if to refute the voice of a fragile heart.

All I need to do is keep trying my best to escape.

After crossing the southern bridge, simply use "magic" to break it.

There are plenty of ways to evade pursuit. No matter how impossible it may seem, we must make it happen. Whether it's absurd, a daydream, or just childish whining, it doesn't matter. Because if we don't, Bell and his friends will lose their lives.

"Not yet, it's not over yet!"

As Bell roared, he released Ryu's hand and slashed at the "Savage Warrior" blocking his way. He burrowed through his opponent's strong arm and severed one of its legs, then used his left hand to push away the screaming, unsteady behemoth, before expertly dismembering the "Obsidian Soldier" behind him.

Seeing the boy's relentless struggle, Ryu's expression twisted with bitterness.

Unlike those deep red eyes that single-mindedly pursued the "future," her azure eyes were trying to confront "reality." Her gaze did not escape this cruel world; she was about to make a cold-blooded choice.

Unbeknownst to the boy, the creaking and groaning of the "Libra" scales echoed.

"Haa, haa...! The bridge to the south...!!"

Having expended physical and mental energy, and left themselves covered in injuries, Bell and his companions finally reached the southern end of the "Arena".

Just as Bell pinned his hopes on the bridge that stretched southward...

"Roar! Ro ...

"...!? They came from outside the 'Arena'!?"

Perhaps drawn by the overlapping roars, a horde of monsters appeared at the entrance to the "Arena" leading to the proper route.

"How could this be...!?"

An unexpected pincer attack from both the front and back.

Enemies ahead are about to cross the bridge and rush this way, while endless enemies are chasing from behind. Even if we manage to reach the stone bridge, we'll clearly be caught in a pincer attack by two massive waves. Even if we start charging up and unleashing a quick-attack spell (fire and lightning) at the monsters ahead, we won't be able to wipe them out in one go.

Before they could cross the entire bridge, or even break it, they would be swallowed up by the two groups of people in front and behind them.

Being ambushed on a bridge with nowhere to escape means certain death.

Bell's face burned with anxiety.

“…………”

Therefore, Bell was unaware of it.

Unaware that it was right behind her, Ryu's gaze suddenly drifted away.

Unaware that the "Libra" had already slowly tipped over.

"—Mr. Crannie! Get on the bridge!"

“Eh!?”

"You annihilate the enemies in front! I'll deal with the enemies behind using 'magic'!"

When Bell heard Ryu suddenly shout out instructions in a different tone, he thought he had misheard.

Since they are caught in a pincer movement, it is indeed necessary for the two of them to deal with the enemies in front and behind them. However, in the current situation, Ryu, who is responsible for dealing with the enemies in the rear, is in a position similar to a "rear guard." If they are to face an infinite number of enemies, it would be more likely to survive if Bell, who is still relatively agile, were to take on the task.

In a moment of desperation, Bell wanted to retort, but...

"【──The forest and sky that have now faded into the distance. The endless night sky inlaid with countless stars】──"

Ryu had already begun chanting, silencing his rebuttal.

Ryu, who had stopped to concentrate on her high-speed chanting, could not change her course. This would result in a fatal loss of time.

At that moment, Bell's only remaining option was to deal with the enemy ahead.

"Hmm...!? I'll be right back!"

Bell looked at the horde of monsters surging towards him like a flood, then glanced at Ryu who had turned his back to him, and then headed towards the bridge to the south.

He left Ryu at the bridgehead, where he clashed with the horde of monsters that charged towards him.

"Aa ...

Bell used all his skills to drive away the monster.

Following Ryu's instructions, he repeatedly unleashed deadly blows against the "magic stones," interspersed with kicking techniques that sent the monsters flying off the stone bridge. He also unhesitatingly activated "magic," focusing solely on his fierce battle with the enemy.

"[Respond to my foolish voice, and grant me the protection of the star once more. I give light and mercy to those who have forsaken you.]"

A rapid chanting sound came from behind.

You can hear the song, as swift as the wind, and the melody that disregards "power".

"【—Come, wandering wind, drifting traveler (peer). Soar through the sky, race across the wilderness, and move with a speed that surpasses all things】."

The impact reverberated in all directions, and a deafening roar followed.

Perhaps she used the breath exhaled by "Peruda" as a spark to ignite the last "Flame Stone," and the approaching flood of monsters gradually receded. Or perhaps she hid in the smoke of the explosion, escaping the monsters' pursuit. In any case, she must have been displaying her superb skills.

As expected of Ryu. As expected of [Swift Wind].

They were able to carve out a path to survival using tactics that Bale could never have imagined and that had never failed in battle.

As long as you believe in Ryu, you can overcome any crisis. Even escaping the "deep layer" is not a problem.

Just trust her.

"[Conquering the enemy with the brilliance of a galaxy—]"

That was the final incantation announcing the completion of the "magic".

Although many monsters still remain on the bridge and the road has not been cleared, it will be too late to bring Ryu back now.

Bell gritted his teeth as he tried to turn back to the middle of the bridge.

He wanted to turn back, but when he looked back...

"──────"

At that moment, his gaze met those sky-blue eyes, and his thoughts came to a standstill.

Time stopped when he saw Ryu facing him.

Liu wasn't displaying any superb martial arts skills at all.

Ryu only did the bare minimum of offense and defense, leaving him covered in injuries.

At this moment, she had her back to the monster she was supposed to block.

At this moment, for some unknown reason, she pointed the muzzle of her "magic" cannon at the bridgehead.

The broken-winged fairy, weary in body and mind, smiles at Bell.

—What are you doing?!

Before Bell could even utter those words...

Ryu has woven "magic" with a gentle tone unlike any she has ever heard before.

"【The Wind of Light】".

The Wind-Riding Light Sphere appeared behind Ryu and shot forward.

A beam of light, flying ahead as if scooped up from below, struck Bell's armor, which was standing frozen in place.

Before I could even groan at the force of the impact, I felt a gentle breeze embracing my body.

The wind that swirled around the orb of light lifted Bell's feet off the bridge and into the air.

As the monsters looked up at him, he flew backward along a parabola and was blown to the other side of the bridge.

That is, outside the "arena".

"────"

Then, star magic rained down on the bridge.

The remaining orbs of light exploded in succession, destroying the stone bridge as they billowed smoke. The monsters that had been on the collapsed bridge fell one by one into the abyss below.

Bell, flying through the air, saw it all.

He opened his eyes wide and stretched out his right hand, but couldn't reach the other person.

Reaching towards the spirits left on the cliffs of despair, their bridge of hope severed.

"—Miss Ryu!?"

The moment his back slammed violently into the ground, the paused time was shattered.

Blown to the entrance of the "arena" passage, Bell called her name. He pressed his body against the wall, coughing repeatedly as he called out that name.

In the distance, Ryu is still smiling.

Why?! Why did you do that?!

Just as her passion and grief were raging wildly within her, unable to be expressed in words, she spoke.

"That's good..."

The movement of the lips speaks for the unspoken words.

Bell unfortunately realized this.

Ryu made a "choice".

Unlike Bell, who tried to break through this seemingly insurmountable obstacle without any solutions, she calmly faced reality.

In a situation where no matter how hard they struggled, they could not avoid mutual destruction, so they gave up their own lives.

To keep Bell alive.

"No, I don't want to!?"

He yelled and screamed like a child at Liu, who ruthlessly pushed him away.

He responded with a roar to the hands that had protected him like a mother or a sister.

But no matter how much he yelled, the bridge to Ryu's side was gone. The distance was too great; no matter how much he ran, he couldn't jump to the other side where she was.

The dark river that separates the two is a testament to despair and an irreversible separation for Bell.

"Go (live on)..."

Finally, he heard that voice.

Do you want me to leave, or do you want me to live?

The sky-blue eyes that longed for Bell's survival watched him until the very end.

Before long, with a monstrous shadow looming behind her, her figure disappeared into the thick smoke that filled the sky.

"—Ughh ...

With a heart-wrenching cry, Bell turned and ran away from the "arena".

○

"That's good..."

As the boy's shouts faded into the distance, Liu narrowed his eyes.

As expected, the dungeon forced Liu and the others to make a "choice".

They were forced to confront a "situation" and a wrong path where they would lose everything if they didn't pay the price.

Therefore, Ryu made a decision.

He made the choice to sacrifice himself to save Bell.

They, in turn, took advantage of Bell's trust.

She took advantage of the boy's complete lack of doubt in following her instructions and his blind trust in her innocent nature.

Liu had long since realized this and had no lingering attachments.

However, she couldn't help feeling guilty. Only the fact that she had deceived the boy made her uneasy.

(I gave him the map and the props... I taught him everything I could... Now even if I'm gone... no, as long as this burden of mine is gone, he can escape the "deep layer"...)

Ryu understands that her actions will cause the boy unbearable pain.

Even so, she still hoped that the boy could live.

I would rather he live than bear the burden of my own "sin".