THWACK—!!!!!!
"Haah... haah..."
BOOM—!!!!!!!!
'My head is spinning...'
CRASH—!!!!!!!!!!
"Get a grip..."
Akumo was currently fending off a swarm of [Skull Sheep] that were descending upon them, all while shielding the unconscious Ryu and Bell.
"I have to hold out..."
SLASH—!!!
"Need to keep my body cool...!!"
CLATTER!
The persistent vertigo rising through his body threatened to shatter his sense of balance, yet Akumo moved with lethal precision. He hurled the dagger he had received from Ryu, impaling a [Skull Sheep] that attempted to strike from his blind spot.
"Haah..."
'Damn it...'
However, it wasn't the monsters that truly bothered Akumo.
-'Look at you, throwing your life away just to protect those runts.'
"Shut your damn mouth..."
-'Have you forgotten the days when you betrayed and were betrayed without a second thought?'
"I said shut up..."
-'No matter what power you claim, even the darkest strength in the world—'
SLAP—!!!
Akumo struck his own cheek, forcefully steadying his mind.
"It's not time yet..."
"Mikoto!!!!!!"
ROAR—!!!!!
"Haruhime!!!!!"
The situation was beyond dire.
"First Mikoto, and now Haruhime..."
GRIT—!!
Ouka could no longer suppress his burgeoning rage.
Mikoto was presumed dead after taking a direct hit, and Haruhime had been engulfed by the monster's devastating breath.
"Even if I have to trade my life for it... you're going down!!!!"
THUD—!!!!
Ouka wasn't the only one consumed by fury.
"I will have your head if it's the last thing I do!!!!!!!!!!"
DASH—!!!!
Aisha, who had sworn to protect Haruhime until the very end, had lost all semblance of reason after seeing the girl swallowed by the flames.
"Hey! Wait!!!!!!"
""Uwaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!""
Welf tried to hold them back as Aisha, who should have been the most composed, and Ouka, the party's vanguard, charged recklessly forward.
"I told you to wait!!"
-KWOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
"Damn it! Everyone, cover them...!!"
Words no longer reached them. Welf, Chigusa, and Daphne were forced to provide cover fire to prevent a total collapse.
"Die!!"
CLANG—!!!!!
"Kh...!!"
'Damn it...!'
Aisha's frenzied blade failed to reach the [Amphisbaena]. She was caught in the monster's charge, struck with overwhelming force, and sent tumbling across the floor.
"Uooooo!!!!!!"
CLANG—!! CLANG—!!
Without Haruhime's support, Ouka's axe couldn't even scratch the beast's hide. Daphne, seeing the opening, called out to Welf to create a foothold.
"The platform!"
"On i—"
-KYAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!
But the [Amphisbaena] had already read their patterns. Its [Mist] billowed out, neutralizing the effectiveness of the magic swords.
Sssss—
""""!!""""
As the red mist cleared, the monster was gone.
"It's underwater..."
""""....""""
With Mikoto gone, they had no way to detect the [Amphisbaena] beneath the surface. Silence filled the cavern as they braced for an attack they couldn't see.
BOOM—!!!!
"Gwaaargh!!!"
"Big guy!"
"Ouka!"
A massive waterspout sent Ouka flying, heavily wounded. Sensing that no one was left to stop it, the [Amphisbaena] let out a triumphant howl that shook the very air.
-KWOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
"...Uwaaaaah!!!!!!"
DASH—!!!!
Despite his injuries, Ouka gripped his axe once more and lunged toward the [Amphisbaena].
"Wait—"
"Blacksmith!!!!!"
DASH—!!
Welf tried to stop him, but then he saw it—the absolute clarity in Ouka's gaze.
"Shoot!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"!!"
"Just do it!!!!!!!!!!!!"
SHUUUU—!!!!
"Hurry up and fire!!!!!!!!"
Ouka's eyes were filled with unwavering conviction.
'Could it be...!'
"Shut up! Don't give me orders!"
GRAB—!!!!
That gaze was fixed firmly on the empty surface of the lake, but Welf realized Ouka was seeing something else—the purple mana he knew all too well.
"[Hiyo]!!!!!!"
CRACKLE—!!!!!
'I'm counting on you!'
Welf bet everything on that look and swung [Hiyo] with all his might.
SHATTER—!!
The storm of ice, fueled by the magic sword's remaining life force, wasn't aimed at the [Amphisbaena]. It struck the ceiling high above.
DASH—!!!!!
"Come on!!!"
He trusted his friend.
'[I dare not speak Thy name—O God of War who shatters all.]'
WHIRRR—!!!!!
'[Dignified guidance of the heavens.]'
Mikoto, too, trusted her friends.
'[Grant this small body Thy vast divine power. I seek the light of purification, the blade that dispels evil.]'
DASH—!!!
"Come on!!!!"
-.....!!
SHUUUU—!!!!!
As the light of mana intensified, Ouka ignored the [Amphisbaena] and aimed for the ceiling above, sprinting up the massive tree roots. The monster finally sensed the surging magic from beneath it.
'[Swing the blade of peace, the spiritual sword of conquest!]!'
RUMBLE—!!!!!!!!!
'[By my life, bring it forth here and now. Descend from the heavens and pierce the earth————]'
"Come on!!!!! Mikoto!!!!!!!"
'[Shinmu Touzei]!!!!!'
The desperate, all-out strike descended upon the beast.
CRACK—!!!!!!!!!!!
-!!!!!!!!
CRUNCH—!! CRACKLE—!!
"Ugh...!!"
'I won't stop...!!!'
GLARE—!
'I'll give my life if I have to!!!!!!!!!!!!'
Even as monster fangs sank into her flesh, the adventurer known as Mikoto never wavered. She poured her very soul into the magic, prepared to fall if it meant taking the enemy with her.
"Mikoto! She's alive!"
Chigusa's joy was short-lived as she felt another presence.
FLARE—!!!
".....!!"
The mana of her lifelong friend, who should have been consumed by the inferno, was vibrating through the air. Within the fading embers, the silhouette of the fox-eared girl was unmistakably clear.
'My body... feels like it's burning up...'
CLUTCH—!!
'No, I don't care if I burn to ashes!'
Despite the protection of the Goliath Robe, the heat was agonizing. But for Haruhime, pain was no longer a deterrent.
'If I can deliver this chant even from the depths of the embers!'
The sound of a bell chimed, and a chant flowed from Haruhime's lips once more.
TING—!
"[That power to that vessel.]"
SHUUUU—!!!!!!
"[Countless treasures to countless wishes.]"
TING—!
The sound of the bell and the girl's resolute chant reached one woman with absolute clarity.
"Haruhime....!"
GRIP—!!!!
Aisha tightened her hold on her falchion and chose to believe.
"[Come, Conqueror of Valor]!"
They weren't the only ones preparing a final blow.
CREAK—!!!!!
"Mikoto!!!!!"
GRIND—! GRIND—!!
"Don't let go!!!!!!!!!"
Ouka had reached the highest point near the ceiling. Despite the terrifying sound of his bones creaking under the crushing gravity of [Futsu-no-Mitama], he prepared his technique.
"Uooooo!!!!!!!!!!"
SWISH—!!!
He dove.
"[Hoshoku]!!!!!!!!!!!!"
CRASH—!!!!!!!!!!
The massive gravitational energy from Mikoto's [Futsu-no-Mitama], combined with Ouka's own prowess and the full potential of the weapon Welf had forged, was more than enough.
SLICE—!!!!
It was enough to sever the head of the [Amphisbaena].
-KYAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!
The remaining blue head shrieked in agony and shock at the overwhelming strike. That was the signal.
"[──Grow, O Mallet.]!!"
DASH—!!!
"Leave it to me! Haruhime!!"
Aisha and Haruhime read each other's intent perfectly, as if they had practiced this a thousand times.
"[Uchide no Kozuchi]!!!!!!"
SHUUUU—!!!!!!!!
A brilliant light enveloped Aisha, the very embodiment of hope.
BOOM—!!!!!!!!
"[My hungry blade is Hippolyta]!"
-KWOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROAR—!!!!!
'This fire... isn't even hot anymore!!!!!!!'
The monster's flames could no longer shake Aisha's resolve.
"[Hell Kaios]!!!!!!!!"
A massive crimson blade of energy tore through the fire, bisecting the great dragon in a single stroke.
"We did it!"
"We defeated a Monster Rex on our own!!!"
Lilly smiled brightly, overjoyed by the victory they had achieved together.
"The drop item from the [Amphisbaena].... we even got the Dragon's Liver!!!!!"
Though it seemed she had other reasons to be happy as well.
"She's so pragmatic even in a situation like this..."
"Well, that's just like Lilliluka~"
Welf broke into a cold sweat at Lilly's typical behavior, while Daphne laughed, finding a strange sense of relief in it.
"....No."
'It's not over yet...!'
"Cassandra...? What's wrong?"
"Everyone!!!!!"
But Cassandra realized the prophecy hadn't concluded. Just as she cried out to them—
RUMBLE—!!!!!!!!!!!!
"""""!!?"""""
The floor began to tremble violently, sounding as if the entire cavern was about to collapse.
"What is this!?"
"Hey, it's dangerous...!!"
Uwaaaah—!!!!
""""!!""""
"Those guys.... Turk!"
As everyone scrambled to understand the situation, Turk and his group were seen fleeing, making the cause of the disaster clear.
"Those idiots!"
'The explosions were their doing too...!!'
Unaware or indifferent to Aisha's fury, Turk and his men scrambled up the tree roots toward the passage leading to the 24th floor.
"This isn't what we agreed on, Jura!"
RUMBLE—!!!
"I didn't hear anything about this happening!"
Aisha immediately assessed the situation and prepared to lead her comrades toward the same exit.
'I see.... because we took down the Monster Rex...!'
"There's the passage to the 24th floor!"
SWISH—!
"We can escape now! If we stay here, we'll be buried alive!!"
But Lilly stopped Aisha, preventing her from heading toward the 24th floor.
"Wait! Master Bell is still below..."
"What are you talking about!! Look at the situation!"
"But look over there!"
"What...."
Aisha looked in disbelief as Lilly pointed toward a different tunnel.
"It's the connecting path to the 26th floor. The vibrations just cleared the blocked entrance!"
"Wait! You want to go in there now!?"
"It might close again!"
Ouka and Chigusa argued against Lilly's suggestion, citing the extreme risk, but Welf stepped up to support her.
"I'm with her."
STEP—STEP—!
"We escape after we save Bell."
"You fools! We have Haruhime and the wounded to think about!"
Aisha dismissed the idea as madness and tried to move toward the 24th floor, but—
"Aisha-sama...."
"Haruhime...!?"
"I'm fine, please... save Master Bell...."
"Not you too...!!"
As their opinions clashed, a voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.
"To the 26th floor! Head East!!!!!!"
"""!!!""""
"Cassandra, what are you saying!?"
Daphne was stunned. She reached out to grab Cassandra and drag her toward the 24th floor, but—
"The rising sun was pointing to a direction—it means the East!"
"Stop it!"
"!!"
Cassandra spoke with desperate sincerity, but Daphne couldn't bring herself to trust what she considered mere dreams.
"Enough already!"
"....."
"Don't start with that nonsense now of all times!!"
SWISH—!
"I believe we must go to the 24th floor! Any other choice is insane given the risks!"
Daphne's logic swayed the group. Aisha and Ouka prepared to carry the wounded and run for the 24th floor. Yet, Cassandra's eyes remained fixed on Daphne, unwavering.
GRAB—!!
"I'm not running away anymore!!"
Cassandra, gripping Daphne's hand, was no longer the pessimistic girl they knew.
'I won't hide myself anymore just because no one believes me...!!'
"To save everyone! Trust me!!"
GRIP—!!
"Even if this is the only time you ever listen to me...."
"How can I trust a dream—"
"It's not a dream!!!!"
"!!"
The girl who had been paralyzed by her visions was gone. She no longer used her dreams as an excuse for her beliefs or actions.
"It's my choice!!! To save everyone!"
GLARE—!
"Trust me! Daphne!!!"
'I am the one moving because I want to save everyone!'
Her voice didn't tremble. Gone was the timid girl Daphne had always known. For the first time since they met, Cassandra stood tall, asserting her own will.
"Cassandra...."
GRIT—!!!
"I still don't believe in your dreams...."
'But...!'
"Everyone, head East!!!!!"
""""!!""""
Daphne closed her eyes tight, agonizing over the decision. But finally, she took Cassandra's hand and began running toward the 26th floor passage.
"Hey, what are you saying!"
"I told you it's dangerous down there!"
DASH—!!
"We're going too!"
"Right!"
"W-Wait!"
Aisha and Ouka were stunned by the sudden turn of events. Before they could decide how to react, Welf and Lilly were already following them toward the 26th floor.
"Let's follow them."
"Mikoto...!"
"I... want to save Bell-dono as well...."
".....Understood!"
Seeing the determination in Mikoto's eyes, Ouka chose to trust his friend. He and Chigusa supported Mikoto and followed the group toward the 26th floor.
"Damn it! You lot, remember this!!"
Ultimately, Aisha followed Haruhime's wish and headed for the 26th floor as well.
""""Gwaaaaargh!!!!!!!!""""
As if to validate their choice, screams echoed from another direction.
"That's...!"
"It's Turk and his men who went to the 24th floor!?"
"Don't look back! Go!!!"
DASH—!!!!
"Get inside!!"
Seeing Turk's group crushed by the collapse, the party accelerated toward the 26th floor.
CLING—!
"Thank you for believing in me!!!"
"H-Hey...!! Don't cling to me!"
Through the girl who believed in her own actions and the girl who believed in her friend, their destiny had successfully shifted from despair to hope.
"Haha! Good! Let's keep going until we reach Bell!!!"
The great adventure, where everyone acted as a hero in the absence of one, had achieved a brilliant victory.