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

The rapid hand-to-hand combat forced upon a knee on the verge of breaking posed no threat to the exceptionally agile Zagnat. In the final moments, the limits of the body defied Bell's calculations.

Having recovered from his injuries, "Zagnat" glared at the boy with angry red eyes.

It planned to show off its skills and fight off the injured white rabbit that tried to pounce into its arms.

The monster raised its left hand above its head, its six blue and purple claws poised in a fighting stance.

This finishing move, "Claw Breaker," launched from a diagonal angle above, will definitely pierce through Bell's body.

The "claws" that pierce through the chest and protrude from the back will surely adorn the world with blood red.

Like Bell's revolving lantern of imagination.

Just like five years ago, when the scene of taking away the fairy's best friend.

"—Aa ...

The damage from the mountain of knives combined with the impact of the flashing flames made Ryuzaki unsteady on her feet, but she let out a fierce roar.

To overcome the tragedy branded in his eyes, he transformed into the wind and soared through the air.

With a powerful kick to the ground, she shot through the sky like a flash of light, closing in on the enemy.

The close-range attack from the side caught Zagnat's left arm raised high above his head.

「!?」

The two small katanas, "Twin Leaves," were drawn and used to dismember the "Broken Claw," which contained the power to kill.

With his wrists and finger joints—the fang-like "claws"—severed at the root, Zagnat faced the reality of having his strongest weapon taken away, and time stood still.

(If I had done that back then—)

In the stillness of time, past scenes resurface in my mind.

The girl was pierced, and the tragic figure behind her blocked the "claw" attack to protect Ryu.

If Ryu had stood up then...

If Ryu were to fight alongside them as things stand now...

(Alicie will never lose!)

Regret and grief consumed me, and the inner screams tore at my heart.

Although the "past" will never return...

Even so, Ryu stared intently at the moment she had saved, letting out a heartfelt cry filled with mixed emotions.

At the same time, they passed by the stunned vandals.

"--Ooh o ...

In an instant, Bell launched a fierce attack.

With Ryu's cover, he took his final step into the arms of "Zagnat".

The distance between them disappeared, and the clenched right fist slammed into the left half of the monster, which was frozen in place.

"Flame Lightning──────────────!"

Immediately following was the sound of cannon fire.

It is a quick-attack magic delivered into the body through the fist.

Only one shot was allowed.

But it was a powerful shot.

The final "magic" that Bell could unleash with all his strength circulated within the "Zagnat," whose "durability" was significantly lower, ruthlessly destroying the body from the inside.

「!?」

The remaining armor shell on the left side of his body was shattered and thrown away by the fire and lightning.

The impact from the inside caused even the "Obsidian Soldier's Body Stone," which had reinforced the right half of his body, to shatter into fine powder and scatter in all directions along with a large number of sparks.

This monster cannot be defeated by low-power single-target quick-attack spells (fire and lightning).

Special monsters that do not have "magic stones" to break will not collapse.

However, its enormous body, now stripped of its "armor," is practically naked.

"—[To move swiftly, faster than anything else]."

The fairy song echoed all around.

That was a beautiful melody of the wind.

To the right of "Zagnat", the fairy who had snatched "Broken Claw" and fallen to the ground had already firmly planted her feet on the ground.

She stretched out her right hand straight toward the frozen "Zagnat," unleashing a torrent of "magic" as she shouted:

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

That was the final incantation announcing the completion of the spell.

Just as the impact of the close-range artillery fire blew Bell away, and the monster's crimson eyes held a look of shock...

Ryu unleashed that attack.

"[The Wind of Light]!"

"Magic" activated.

It was a large sphere of light enveloped in green wind.

There are a total of forty-seven.

The artillery magic, infused with the full spiritual power of the fairies, has begun.

"────!!"

The turbid flow of light bullets rapidly approached.

The bombardment storm left no escape.

In response to this attack, "Zagnat" actually reacted.

"What!?"

Bell's eyes widened.

With a cracking sound, the monster's full-force jump completely destroyed its right knee.

Its tail, covered in scales, was engulfed by a blinding light, and its right leg below the calf was blown off, but it managed to escape into the air.

The massive storm of light, having lost its target, struck the wall of the cavern before the speechless Bell's eyes.

The finishing move was dodged.

Just as Bell's expression contorted and a terrifying tremor shook the space, Ryu—

"I know better than anyone how fast you are."

He kept ten of the forty-seven large orbs of light with him.

She had expected this.

Even with the best timing and all-out effort, the calamity monster still managed to dodge the barrage.

Even though she had sacrificed her best friend's life and still failed to kill the previous destroyer, Ryu, with her calm and insightful gaze, was convinced that the enemy would successfully evade her this time.

"Zagnat," which landed on the cave wall, stared at the ten rays of light, just like Bell on the ground.

ten.

This number holds special significance for Ryu.

It was precisely the number of irreplaceable comrades she lost.

Several exceptionally large orbs of light floated and nestled behind Ryu during the activation of the [Wind of Light].

"—Let's go."

Accompanied by this slogan, Liu hurried forward.

「!?」

Instead of launching the large ball of light "magic" that was set to "standby mode", Ryu led ten rays of light towards "Zagnat".

It's impossible to hit from medium or long range.

Just like when Bell unleashed the power of "Holy Flame Heroic Slash" on the 27th floor, the monster briefly fled into the air, and only by using the scarf could it achieve a fatal effect. To shatter the destroyer, this attack must be performed at extremely close range to be effective.

After numerous battles with the [Calamity], Ryu made the decision to "attack at point-blank range".

With his thigh torn by the falling stake and unable to accelerate properly, Ryu leaped up and shouted:

"Noin, Niz!"

The moment he called out the name of his fallen comrade, as if in response, the two large orbs of light floating behind him exploded on the soles of Ryu's shoes as he kicked the ground.

"Varied……!?"

A flash of light and a sound slid across the eardrum, and an explosive acceleration occurred.

This is the immense "propulsion" given to her by the ball of light swirling around the strong winds.

Leaving behind Bell's trembling and "Zagnat's" astonishment, Ryu transforms into a gust of wind soaring high into the sky.

Like a ball of light launched by a kick, she sped straight towards the monster.

「!?」

Seeing that the fairy was flying so fast that there was no time to be surprised, "Zagnat" desperately thrust his right arm, which had lost its forearm, straight at her.

The spikes shot out from the elbow joints.

"Astay, Leyana!"

In response to this action, Ryu shouted out the names of his two other companions and fired large balls of light.

She used two of her remaining eight shots, firing one from the side and striking her left arm, which was positioned to the side of her body—thus forcibly changing her trajectory by turning her to the side.

「!?」

She almost changed direction ninety degrees to dodge the sudden downpour of sharp stakes.

Immediately afterwards, another ball of light exploded on the sole of her right shoe, sending her flying forward once more.

Ryu depicted a trajectory resembling lightning.

Faced with the lightning bolt that instantly closed the distance and closed rapidly, "Zagnat" only used his left foot to kick the wall, trying to escape.

"call!!"

They pursued it relentlessly.

Ignoring the terrifying wind pressure and inertia it caused, Ryu used her willpower to subdue the pain of her body being squeezed, and landed on the wall that the monster had just clung to, soaring into the air once more.

Hearing the menacing roar, Zagnat's eyes trembled with a sense of unease.

The opponent recklessly used magic to achieve a formidable "aerial maneuver".

The move that shocked the monster is akin to stealing its signature "high-speed jump."

Such a reckless act of directly diverting magical power as propellant naturally resulted in the perpetrator's downfall. The boot that was struck by the light orb turned into rags, revealing the raw, red sole of the foot. The left arm bone, fractured from the blast of the light orb used to change direction, was also broken.

However, Ryu's body was not damaged.

She mobilized all of her manifested [Magic Defense (Development Ability)] to withstand the ferocious power, ensuring she wouldn't turn into bones before piercing through that monster.

That is the "fairy flight"—using its own "magic" to attack itself, burning its own skin until it smokes, yet still bravely forging ahead.

Please give me strength.

Ryu imagined the ball of light, wreathed in strong winds, as the figure of his companion, and roared furiously.

Determined to fight that enemy alongside her companions from the Astrea Familia.

"Roar!?"

The saboteurs correctly grasped Ryu's "purpose" and let out a piercing roar containing the most alarming warning bells.

It released all the spikes without hesitation.

Try to use this to stop the fairy from catching up with you when you've lost your mobility.