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

Bell is regularly testing the [Hero's Wish (Argonauts)]. The maximum charging time is four minutes, and it's impossible to charge two things at the same time. It only works on attack-related actions. Moreover, charging can be used with magic, one's own fists, or even "weapons" including daggers.

In previous battles, Bell had already experimented with charging up his own "weapons," such as the greatsword or the Goddess Blade (Hestia's Blade). He learned that simply making contact with his hand would amplify the "weapon's power."

Therefore, he infused the power of the [Hero's Wish (Skill)] into the "Flame Stone" he held in his hand.

Monster drops that can ignite explosive flames can also perform charged attacks.

To save an elf, he was willing to take a desperate gamble.

"Aa ...

The blood-stained rabbit, clutching an oversized "bomb," barked loudly and forcefully broke through the monsters' high wall.

From the south of the "arena" to the west, and all the way to the present, he has been "accumulating power in parallel" during this journey of about five minutes.

The bell rang out loudly—two hundred and forty seconds had passed.

Maximum charge.

The red bead, formed by the convergence of white light particles, seemed to emit a low growl from within, radiating a dark glow.

then……

"Miss Ryu!!"

We passed through.

By risking their lives and bleeding, they ran the entire course at the cost of injury and bloodshed, and passed through the monsters' high walls.

He rushed into the center of the circular space.

They rushed into the spot where the fairy lay, illuminated by phosphorescence.

The left hand, wrapped in a scarf, reached out.

The boy's hand, resisting the cruel "reality," reached out to Ryu.

"────"

Time seemed to stand still for Ryu, as fragments of memories swirled in her mind.

The "justice" that I once argued with my comrades about.

The definition of justice is confused with "ideal".

When she came to her senses, she realized that, in the true sense, Ryu could no longer pursue her "single ideal".

What if someone actually achieves their "ideal"?

Memories of the past.

The questions of the past.

"Don't you know?"

At that time, she said...

An irreplaceable confidant, that's certainly true:

Those kinds of people—we all call them "heroes."

Ryu placed her hand on top of the boy's outstretched hand.

"!!"

She was pulled into an embrace.

They were pulled into the boy's arms and entered the center of an endless prison where monsters roared and gathered.

The monsters advanced from all directions, leaving them nowhere to escape. Their sharp teeth and claws were right in front of Ryu and his companions.

Just as the flow of time was stretched to its limit, the bell in the boy's hand rang, signifying the critical point.

The next instant, a throwing motion.

The red bead flew overhead and reached the center of the "arena".

Without hesitation, all the monsters looked up at the pebble that resembled a precious pearl.

—Based on the nature of the [Hero's Wish], the "weapon" will instantly lose its charging effect as soon as it leaves Bell's hand, causing the accumulated light particles to dissipate and disappear without a trace.

However, he possessed the "fuse" to put that moment behind him.

"【Flame and Lightning】".

"Quick attack magic" is fired.

The fiery lightning, which could not allow any light particles to dissipate, shot upwards towards the red bead.

In an instant—the artillery fire hit.

Ryu saw it.

I saw the expanding flames of the explosion.

It wasn't the scarlet fireworks that repeatedly raged in this "arena," but rather a beautiful, pure white flash.

It is the "pure white aurora" that can blow away everything.

The monsters looking up overhead, Ryu's wide-open eyes, and even the entire "arena" were all bathed in unprecedented brilliance.

It was like the bright radiance of a white sun exploding outwards.

'──────────────────────────────────! ? '

A white flare engulfed everything.

The monster's shrill screams were drowned out, and the rock formations of the "Arena" could not withstand the pressure and collapsed.

Just moments before the intense light and radiance arrived, Ryu's body was pulled tightly and pressed down onto the floor, and her vision turned whiteout.

A deafening roar and a swirling heat wave surged forth, the intense impact assaulting the body.

Just as her consciousness was being painted into a blank, almost at the same moment, a feeling of levitation enveloped Ryu's body.

Volume 14, Chapter 13: Traversing Thousands of Darkness

That was also the case back then.

That day also began with an unprecedented explosion.

The same was true of that fateful day that heralded the beginning of the calamity.

The tremors lingered, and the sound of collapsing rubble echoed from afar.

As Liu listened to the sound, she propped herself up.

“Hmm…!”

The cavern was a scene of utter devastation. Large holes had been dug into the walls, and several deep depressions had been carved into the floor. The rampant claw marks extinguished the phosphorescence, and the labyrinth was shrouded in darkness, like nightfall.

"Is everyone alright?!"

"That was close!"

"It really was a 'trap'... They actually wanted to bury us alive with a bomb, how utterly ridiculous!!"

The voices of Alexie, Laila, Kaguya, and the members of the Astrea Familia could be heard from all around. Some of them were injured as they kicked away the rubble and stood up, but all were unharmed.

That day, in order to expose their nemesis, the Rudra Familia, the Astrea Familia went to the "lower levels," only to be lured into a "trap" by the enemy. This trap involved a wide-range, random bombardment using a large number of "fire stones."

However, the sharp-eyed Lyra, a little woman who sensed the "trap," warned everyone to be careful, allowing them to escape at the last minute.

"Why are you still alive... you wretched women of the Astrea Familia! How many 'Flame Stones' do you think we've thrown here!?"

Deep within the thick smoke of the heatwave that whipped up massive sparks, the demonic howls of Jala Harma of the Rudra clan echoed.

The young animal trainer, who had not yet lost an arm or an ear, was filled with anger and hatred upon seeing the figure of his hateful enemy, but fear was also about to take hold.

To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, over a hundred firestones (bombs) were scattered throughout the dungeon. Judging from the scale of the explosions, this could be considered a trap set by the Rudra Familia with their last remaining strength.

Seeing that even so, they still couldn't defeat the Righteous Familia, the members of the Rudra Familia, including Jala, were visibly terrified.

"You've got some skills, Jāra. But your schemes end here."

"...!?"

"We will end the dark factions and the age of 'evil' here."

Alisha's words flowed as fluently and forcefully as if she were reading out the crimes of the men and others. Behind her, Ryu and the others, waiting for their turn, pierced through the retreating Jarrow and the other executives with sharp eyes.

Just as the Rudra Familia was being driven to the brink of defeat, the Astrea Familia was about to deliver a righteous punishment—but at that very moment…

The dungeon cried out.

"────"

It was neither the cracking sound of a tortoise giving birth to a monster, nor an earthquake (a precursor) occurring due to an abnormal state.

It was like sliding a knife blade across a taut silver string, an extraordinary, inorganic high range.

The dungeon "Wailing" undoubtedly caused all adventurers, without exception, to instinctively flash red lights.

Faced with an unprecedented situation, not only Ryu, but also Alyssa and the others, as well as Jarrow and others, were frozen in place when that thing arrived.

—With a crackling sound.

Deep within the collapsed, massive wall, a wide, long, and deep crack stretched out.

A disgusting purple liquid gushed out from the longitudinal cracks.

Something was emitting steam containing high temperatures, and at the same time, it was stirring inside, almost as if it were tearing open its own womb.

Just as Ryu's eyes caught the crimson light flashing within the crack, the next instant...

A fierce diagonal line flashed past, severing the members of the [Asteria Familia].

"--Huh?"

Unbeknownst to anyone, a life ended without the person even realizing it.

The blue-purple "Broken Claw" appeared coldly and ruthlessly, splitting the girl's body into three pieces.

All that could be heard was a low murmur from someone's lips and the sound of bloody flesh being cut open.

The head and torso, which had flown into the air, seemed to remember something only later, spurting blood from the severed wounds, before crashing to the ground along with the limp lower body.

The screams (bells) that heralded the start of the tragedy suddenly rang out.

"No, Noin!? -- Guz?"

The second person.

The orc (Niz) who called out the name of the girl of death exploded in the upper body. It was the work of "Broken Claw," which emitted a blue-purple glow.

The third person.

Astaire, a vanguard (dwarf), had her shield, which she had raised in desperation, crushed. The enormous body that leaped into the air crushed her to death.

In just a few seconds, three people died in succession.

"────"

Snap.

The warm liquid clung to Ryu's cheeks and slender ears.

The noble blood that should have flowed within his friend's body slid down as if pleading for help from Ryu.

In an instant, she realized that this was reality.

In that instant, Ryu realized that they would never come back.

Ryu's blank mind was ignited with a crimson rage that rivaled even the bloodshed of his friends.

"—Aa ...

Witnessing her companion's death caused Ryu to lose control of her emotions and rush towards the "monster".

"No! Leon!?"

Even Alisha's voice couldn't form a chain to bind her body, and Ryu, enraged, slashed at the enemy.

Ominous "claws" splattered with the blood of its companions, crimson eyes glowing in the darkness, a body that can be described as "a dinosaur fossil wearing armor," slender yet enormous.

The name of that calamity is "Zagnat".

Faced with the "Extermination Apostles" sent by the labyrinth (dungeon) to eliminate the aliens, Ryu let out a meaningless roar and swung his wooden sword at his opponent.