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

I can hear the sobs in my heart, cries that say I can't go on anymore. — I turn a deaf ear.

Every part of Bell Crane's body, every element that constitutes this human being, was vehemently opposing Bell's decision. —Ignoring it completely.

He heard his soul crying out, "Stand up!" —Completely agree.

"Aa ...

That was the roar of a wild beast.

An adventurer is reduced to a beast, chewing on the scraps of life in order to stand up.

As the flash of light streaked across his vision, the remaining rationality of humanity reminded him of a story.

The object of her admiration was "Belial the Guardian".

He was the knight of sorrow and unyielding spirit, loved by the lake fairy. He was also the fairy guardian who ended his life in her arms.

Bell asked the hero revered by the elves for the power to protect his beloved.

...There wasn't a single ray of light gathering. He probably needs to charge up again. Currently, he cannot summon "Hero's Strike."

However, the passion for seeking heroes remains buried deep within.

Bell gently combed through her sleeping hair and left a smile.

A male beast is about to rise and fight.

○

"Zagnat" is moving.

It abandoned its attack on the entrance through the passage through which Ryu and the others escaped and instead circled around to the exit.

The "Zagnat" possesses an excellent "perceptual network." This is an "immune" ability bestowed upon it by the Mother Dungeon, designed to rapidly eliminate foreign pathogens.

As long as they are on their current floor, "Zagnat" can quickly locate any surviving adventurers. The "Feast of Tragedy" that unfolded on the 27th floor in an instant was also caused by this ability.

On this 37th floor, "Zagnat" also located Bell and his companions. The reason it ambushed them in the "Beast Hall" was because its enormous size prevented it from passing through certain passages, thus eliminating the possibility of its prey escaping.

At this moment, "Zagnat"—"he" sensed that Bell and the others were still alive.

He wanted to make his prey think he had left, and then smash the two guys when they came out of the exit. He devised this plan based on his hunter's instincts.

He reached the vast cavern located on the regular route with a speed that should not be expected for a large-scale operation.

There are four entrances and exits here, and he hides near the entrance where his prey escapes.

The vital signs are still present, and from this position, you can use a "stake-down" technique to hit your opponent through the wall and force your prey out.

He exhaled scalding breath, trying to peer into the passage with his crimson eyes.

"--【Flame and Lightning】."

Immediately afterwards, a torrent of flame burst forth from the depths of darkness.

"!!"

He quickly dodged the approaching fiery jaws.

He squeezed the reverse joint of his left leg and jumped away at high speed. The flames and lightning that spewed from the passage burned all the way to about the center of the cave, leaving a rut.

Following that path, slowly...

Trailing a trail of flying sparks, his white hair swaying, the adventurer appeared.

Adventurers stopped at a distance that Zagnat could close in an instant, and confronted him.

He shouted and prepared to pounce.

"──────"

Just as he was about to pounce, he suddenly stopped.

The prey raised its head, a smile on its face.

With a dark, illusory smile.

A fleeting smile appeared on his face, despite his body being so badly injured that almost no part of it was intact.

The image of a dying man followed closely behind that of the boy.

Death embraced the boy, bestowing "blessing" upon his back.

In other words, it's the agreed-upon "ending".

Whether we win or lose, it's all irrelevant to what's happening now.

There's no need for me to do it myself; this human can do it too—

"--Roar!!"

So what.

Even if it is a life waiting to die, he will do everything in his power to kill it.

It wasn't the Grim Reaper's scythe that took the life of this prey, but its own destructive "claws."

He wanted to use everything he had to fight against this human.

This is the reason for "him" to exist now that he has been liberated from the labyrinth (raison d'être).

"...I will defeat you."

The boy was not willing to commit suicide without achieving anything.

"I want to go back to the surface with Miss Ryu..."

I must win, I must go back, or she will die.

Therefore, I absolutely must win, and I absolutely cannot lose.

The boy held aloft his unspoken sentiments, gripping a black dagger and striking a pose.

He, being a monster, could not understand either these words or feelings.

But he understood only that "will".

The boy planned to kill him and defeat him.

He planned to turn everything he had into white flames and burn it all away.

He felt a jolt in his chest.

Those were monstrous creatures of calamity, mechanically committing acts of cruelty and slaughter, and could never possibly harbor emotions.

That is, "joy".

He—"Zagnat"—was grateful for this encounter.

The male beast that inspired his "self" deeply moved him.

"Let's settle this once and for all."

The monster accepted the request with a roar that soared into the sky.

○

Ryuichi snapped out of his daze and found himself standing in the darkness.

That was the darkness she knew.

It was the darkness that had tormented Liu for the past five years, and also the life-or-death boundary that had held her back for so long.

There was no one around; someone was missing. Ryu felt regretful about this.

She didn't understand why, and couldn't remember anything. Only her cold hands made her feel sad.

Suddenly, a ray of light pierced the darkness.

Turning my head, I saw a white light enveloping a spot in front of me.

On the other side of the white light, she saw the back of her irreplaceable companion.

【Astraea Familia】.

Alexie, Kaguya, Lyra, and their other companions stood there with their backs to her.

No matter how she called out, those figures never turned around. Ryu knew that because she was in the darkness, she was far removed from them, who were on the other side of the light.

At that moment, Ryu realized that she could walk forward.

She could step out of the darkness and into the light, to reach the place where her long-awaited companions were.

Liu was overjoyed.

No matter how she called out, no matter how she cried, Alexie and the others never turned back. But if Ryu could go there herself, they would surely accept her gladly.

At first, Ryu will definitely get scolded. She might be subjected to a lot of sarcastic remarks from Kaguya, and then have her ear pulled by Layla. Maru and the others will probably hug and cuddle her until she's unrecognizable. Alisha will definitely raise a finger and lecture her with some twisted logic.

Then, in the end, everyone will put away their anger and smile at her.

Everyone would surround Liu and say to her, "Welcome back" and "Thank you for your hard work."

He would definitely put his arm around her shoulder and pat her head.

My wish has finally come true.

The sins can finally be atoned for.

She can finally leave.

As if seeking redemption, Liu walked toward the light.

One step, one step, and another.

Cross the boundary of darkness, take a few more steps, and you'll reach the other side—

"No, you can't."

At this time.

The figure that had never looked back before turned around.

"────"

Red hair swaying in the wind, green eyes piercing through Ryu.

Ryu's steps toward the light came to a halt.

"You can't come any closer, Leon. Absolutely not, I won't allow you to do that."

His fierce, piercing eyes refused to accept Ryu.

The lips that always proclaim justice deny Ryu's actions.

Her words were earnest, as if she wanted to awaken Ryu to something.

"You can't run away."

Alexie's gaze passed over Ryu and headed toward the depths of darkness.

Immediately afterwards, the terrifying monster's roar struck Ryu's back.

It was that desperate roar that made Ryu tremble, stole the mask from Hayate, and turned her into a pitiful elf.

Amidst those chilling cries, there was a sound of resistance.

Like the fury of raging fire, one can hear the cry of a warrior.

"You'll definitely regret coming here!"

The forceful tone made Liu's hand tremble slightly.

She used to long to step into the light, but now she feels lost.

The parched soul yearning for its companions clashed fiercely with the fervent impulse to pursue the roar of the flames.

"I... I can't do it anymore..."

It took her a moment to realize that Ryu had already blurted out those words.

In order to cut through the confusion and to give up everything, he revealed his true feelings without any pretense.

"I can't do it anymore, Alexie... I can't fight anymore, I can't fight back that 'past'."

The destroyer, the beginning and root of all evil, torments Ryu's "past" symbol.

She knew that a cruel reality awaited her once she returned to the darkness. This terrified her. The prospect of confronting that "past" filled her with immense fear.