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

"The road stretches on and on... all that can be heard is the sound of water..."

The passageway, extending in a straight line alongside the clear stream, is a vast and desolate path.

Compared to the "Maze Park" on the 18th floor or the "Water City" starting from the 25th floor, this scenery is far more dull and uninteresting.

However, the clear stream radiating azure light in the "deep layer" seemed more precious and mysterious than anything else to Bell and his companions, who had been wandering in darkness for a long time.

This is also one aspect of the underground city.

The dungeon bares its fangs mercilessly at adventurers, but at the same time, it unfolds a dreamlike landscape.

Like the only mercy shown by the dungeon in the boundless darkness. That's what Bell thought.

"..."

"..."

The vast road stretches endlessly.

Naturally, the conversation between Bell and Ryu also disappeared.

It was a long and arduous road, with no idea where it would lead or what awaited them. The excessive blood loss caused Bell to stumble occasionally. Could they really get through the "deep" level like this? Anxiety constantly lingered in his mind.

However, Bell and his companions did not give up hope and continued to move forward on the desolate road.

Then...

"It's a dead end..."

At the end of the road is a small spring.

The depiction of a distorted, circular space tells the two that they have reached their destination. The clear, cool spring water in the center is the opposite of the gushing spring; the water is drawn into the bottom of the pool, just like circulating within an underground city.

There were no caves or stepped structures extending upwards or downwards in the vicinity.

Just as the two were worrying about whether they should turn back and looking around, Ryu discovered something.

"The rocks there...have a different structure than those elsewhere."

It was less a rock and more a pure white mineral resembling quartz.

Bell nervously drew the Hestia's Blade and plunged the blade into the rock that Ryu had pointed out.

The stone first cracked, then shattered. Behind it appeared a cave and steps leading upwards.

Bell and Ryu exchanged a glance, nodded, and went into the cave. The ore behind them slowly began to repair itself.

The cave, barely wide enough for two people to pass side by side, was shrouded in complete darkness. Ryu took out an empty bottle that had been filled with clear river water beforehand, and used the azure spring water, which still glowed faintly even when filled with water, as a lantern to climb the steps one by one.

Then, just as I stepped onto more than a hundred steps...

Bell, in one fell swoop, destroyed the ceiling, which, like the entrance, was blocked by ore.

"here it is……"

After climbing the stairs, the two arrived at the cave on the 37th floor.

This is a dead end with only one entrance, a rocky area where the stones are all larger than Bell. The ore that has continued from the Clear Stream Road is hidden and mixed in with the rocks.

The aura of a monster wafted from the depths of the labyrinth.

Bell and his companions knew they were back in "harsh reality." After adjusting their mindset, they set off from the rocky cavern while remaining vigilant.

On the single road with no detours, unexpectedly, no monsters were encountered.

After walking for a while, the two came to a large passageway.

Then, a huge wall came into their view.

"...Miss Ryu, could it be...?"

"Yes...it's a large round wall."

Bell looked up at the towering wall and said in a low voice, to which Ryu nodded in agreement.

This seamless giant wall is undoubtedly one of the five large circular walls in the "White Palace," located 100 meters ahead of Bell and his companions as they entered the main passage from the side passage.

Not only that...

"This passage... it can't be wrong, it's the proper route."

"!"

"The large circular wall in front of us is gray; in other words, that is the 'fourth circular wall'."

As if piecing together a jigsaw puzzle of memories, Ryu made this assertion after observing her surroundings multiple times.

While the Astrea Familia still existed, Ryu had visited the "Deep Layers" several times. Even if she couldn't master all the areas of the vast floor, her body at least remembered the proper routes after having to travel back and forth to the surface multiple times.

In other words, the clear stream passage "Azure Path" located directly below the arena inside the third circular wall was originally the space in front of us that stretched all the way to the fourth circular wall.

This was a great stroke of luck for Bell and his team, who had long been tormented by "harsh reality".

"Then, if we just climb over that wall...!"

"Yes, then there's only the fifth circular wall left. And once you pass through the fifth circular wall, there's no maze-like terrain until you reach the passageway on the 36th floor."

Outside the fifth circular wall lies a vast, desolate space. Although it's quite a distance to the passageway at the southernmost end of the floor, once you reach it, you won't get lost. The labyrinthine structure is limited to the "White Palace" surrounded by the large circular walls.

For the first time since being plunged into the "deepest" hell, a glimmer of hope appeared on Bell's face. Ryu, though she restrained her expression, felt the same way.

Like the lighthouse illuminating the wrecked ships swallowed by storms and waves.

This ray of light was enough for them to rely on at this moment.

"Let's go! Before the monster shows up!"

"……good!"

Just as Bell said, there was no sign of any monsters around. Now was the perfect opportunity.

The two walked in a straight line toward the great circular wall, their heads bowed in darkness above the unseen sky.

(What incredible luck! How could I be so "lucky"...? No, that's not right! It's because I persevered and kept moving forward that I was able to seize the opportunity!)

The two of them wouldn't be foolish enough to be overly impatient and make a sound.

They were more cautious than before, but boldly moved forward.

Ryu, who was a step behind Bell, was also paying attention to the situation around him while increasing the force of his kicks on the ground.

(The labyrinthine area between the fourth and fifth circular walls is commonly known as the "Beast Hall"...! If you can get through here...!)

The area between the second and third circular walls, where the "Arena" is located, is the "Warrior's Hall".

Bell and his group are currently located in the "Soldiers' Hall".

Except for a few areas, the main routes on the 37th floor consist of wide passageways, some tens of meters wide. As long as you follow the main routes, you will never get lost unless you encounter an "abnormal situation".

Bell used the knowledge he had learned from Eina's lectures, gritting his teeth to squeeze out his strength.

(I can go back... I must go back! Back to the surface! Back to everyone! With Ryu-san...!)

He continued to move forward toward the future that appeared in his mind.

The two seemed to disappear into the surrounding dim space, gradually moving away from the lurking monster's aura.

Bell was never complacent.

Liu was not careless either.

However, they should have discovered it.

Those who are so eager to seize this unexpected good fortune should think carefully.

Think about why you won't encounter monsters.

When they entered this "Soldiers' Hall" from the clear stream "Blue Path", why did none of the monsters approach Bell and the others?

They should consider why the monster is holding its breath as if it's afraid of "something".

"The fourth circular wall...! Now...!"

Bell and his companions reached the base of the giant wall and crawled through a square-shaped cave.

Enveloped in complete darkness, the two ran towards the faintly visible phosphorescent light ahead.

Then they stepped inside.

Step into the front of the fourth circular wall.

This is the only remaining maze area before entering the "lower level" passageway.

Enter the final battlefield known as the "Beast Hall".

"──────"

Bell sensed it.

After passing through the large circular wall.

The moment you step across that "boundary".

I felt a cracking sound as pieces of rock fell from above.

I felt the calm gaze piercing my head.

I could feel the gaze of that [Calamity], stained crimson and filled with murderous intent.

"──────"

That "monster" is right there.

High above Bell and his companions.

It pierced its "claws" into the towering round wall and clung to the surface.

Waiting for the only target to arrive directly below you.

They waited for their prey (Bell and his companions) to cross the fourth circular wall and arrive at the "Beast Hall".

The alien figure pulled its "claws" from the wall and fell silently down.

The adventurer didn't even want to waste time checking with his naked eye, so he stomped his feet hard on the ground.

Faced with the rapidly approaching destructive "claws," Bell grabbed Ryu's hand and used all his strength to jump away.

"--Roarooooo ...

Explosion.

The power and impact of the meteor shattered the ground where Bell and his companions had been standing just moments before.

As the rock shattered and countless stone fragments flew out, a fierce sandstorm swept in all directions, and Bell and his companions couldn't even adjust their landing posture, tumbling violently all the way.

When the power finally subsided, Bell suddenly looked up and was speechless.

"Roar..."

A faintly glowing blue-purple shell.

A unique body resembling a dinosaur fossil.

That was the "Calamity Monster" that was wandering around looking for its escaped prey, waiting here for them to come to its door.

"Zag...Nat...!"

For the first time, Bell called out the name of the nightmare he could never forget.

As if echoing Bell's voice, the monster turned its shrouded, dark left half toward them. It pulled a "broken claw" that glowed with a blue-purple light from the smoking ground.

Its body, which still exudes an overwhelming presence even when injured, is nothing less than an insurmountable symbol of death for Bell and his companions.

"Ah, ahhh..."

Faced with the monster's imposing presence, the wounds that had been eroding Ryu's heart resurfaced.

Seeing her struggling against fear beside him, Bell's face contorted.

Of all times, they had to choose this moment...!

Overwhelmed by emotions, Bell was in turmoil, and his left arm echoed with hellish memories. As the scarf-bound limbs burned and throbbed with pain, Bell drew the Blade of Hestia.

He did not get angry or lament about the unreasonable situation, but instead adopted a "fighting" posture in order to survive.

Seeing its prey's unwavering fighting spirit, "Zagnat" seemed to squint, its pupils flashing briefly in the darkness.

As it stomped its paws across the maze floor, making a squeaking sound, it slowly turned its body towards Bell and the others.