"Grrr..."
Akumo, Bell, and Ryu held their breath, slipping past the monsters in the room undetected.
'If we get poisoned in this state, it's game over...'
"Shh."
Nod.
"""...."""
Communicating with only the barest of gestures and whispers, they exited the room, taking extreme care to avoid the Peluda clinging to the walls.
Step, step—
"Phew... we're out..."
"Was that a Peluda just now?"
"Yeah. They use venomous needles to inject toxins instantly. They're lethal."
"Peluda..."
Bell grew even more wary of the Peluda, knowing that poison was a primary cause of death for many adventurers. He wanted to know if there were other threats he should be bracing for.
"Are there other monsters we need to watch out for?"
"Spartoi. Among the monsters on this floor, they possess the highest proficiency in close-quarters combat."
"Spartoi... I'll remember that."
As their vigilance toward the floor intensified, another monster manifested before them.
Sssss—
"That is...?"
"An Ooze."
What appeared was a stationary monster commonly referred to as a slime—an Ooze.
Unlike Bell, who tensed at the mention of more potential toxins, Akumo and Ryu looked visibly relieved.
"Their attacks consist of poison and acid within their membranes."
"It varies by color for each individual, but..."
Ssh—
"The blue ones are drinkable."
"...Excuse me?"
Drinking a monster.
Before Bell could even process the absurdity, Akumo and Ryu had already captured the creature alive and were boiling it in a pot.
Glug—
"I only need a few sips."
"Is it because you don't want to eat it...?"
Bell watched the viscous, slime-like Ooze being poured into a water bottle. The sight reminded him of the spoiled potions from before. He looked at Akumo, but the veteran had already turned his head away.
"Drink it."
"Ryu-san...!!"
"I will be drinking it as well this time, so hurry."
"..."
'To survive...!'
Gulp!
With no way out, Bell downed the thick liquid in the bottle in one go.
'This tastes like hell...!!!!!'
Swallow!
'The slime is sticking to my throat...!!'
"Kuaaa...!!!!"
Bell shuddered in horror at the atrocious taste and texture.
Gulp!
"Haa.... To think I'd have to eat this again....."
Watching Bell, Akumo felt a surge of tension as a terrible memory resurfaced—a memory of drinking this during an expedition long ago with Finn, Riveria, and Gareth. He forced it down to sharpen his hazy mind.
Swallow!
"Give me a second...."
"...Brother?"
After a single gulp, Akumo slowly walked to a corner and covered his mouth with his hand.
"Shit...."
He was forced to swallow it down while muttering a curse he had sworn never to use in front of Bell.
"Haa... haa...."
"Ryu-san, you should drink too...."
Bell handed the water bottle to Ryu, curious to see what her reaction would be.
"You'd best brace yourself."
"Wow.... I really can't get used to this...."
Despite seeing Akumo and Bell suffering from the horrific experience, Ryu took the bottle.
"..."
Snap!
""Eh?""
She immediately capped it and put it in her bag.
"You're not drinking it!?"
"Hey!?"
At their protests, Ryu lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper.
"There are no... water sources on this floor."
"Hydration is precious...!"
""....""
'I feel like I've been cheated...'
'I'm angry, but I'll endure it...'
Akumo wore a hollow expression, feeling outplayed by Ryu. Bell wanted to complain more out of a sense of injustice, but he set it aside to ask the question he had intended.
"But, Brother..."
"What is it...?"
"Are there any other parties like us that investigate the Deep Floors?"
"Hmm.... There are a few."
"Really!?"
Bell was shocked by Akumo's answer, and Ryu also leaned in, curious about information regarding those who could breach the Deep Floors with a small number of people.
"Well, me in peak condition and Ottar could manage it alone."
"".....?""
"And Finn, Riveria, and Gareth could probably do it as a trio."
"".....""
"What's wrong?"
Akumo spoke casually, but Bell and Ryu could only stare at him in silence. The names he had listed were all monsters of at least Level 6.
"That's totally..."
"Not..."
""Helpful at all!!!!!!""
They couldn't help but snap at the absurdity of his comparison.
"Hyaaa...."
A thoroughly scolded Akumo led the way with a weary face.
Step, step—
".....!!"
"Akumo-san? Is it a monster!"
"No.... look at that!"
In the distance, Akumo had spotted a massive wall.
"That's....!"
"Let's go!"
Bell and Ryu followed Akumo to the wall, finding themselves face-to-face with a gargantuan, pure-white structure.
"Is this.... the Great Wall?"
"No doubt about it. It is the 3rd Great Wall."
Ryu placed her hand on the white surface, her conviction firm.
"The five Great Walls each have subtle color differences. Only the 3rd Great Wall, located in the center, is pure white. The path curves toward this side, albeit slightly."
Bell's face brightened at Ryu's explanation, and even Akumo cracked a smile.
"If we know which area this is, we can determine our direction."
At that same time, Bors led his group into the room where the Juggernaut and Akumo had clashed.
"There's no one here....!?"
'There aren't even any corpses...!'
Bors was thrown into a panic. Not only were the Juggernaut and Akumo gone, but even the bodies of his subordinates—whom he had seen die with his own eyes—had vanished.
"What on earth happened here...."
"It's a complete ruin..."
"Just what kind of battle took place..."
Ouka, Aisha, and Daphne were horrified by the scars of battle left behind.
"It's completely melted...."
'This must be the aftermath of [Gram].'
Welf looked at the melted stone pillars and walls, certain that Akumo was responsible. Seeing the fragments of [Gram] and [Balmung] on the floor, Welf felt another shock and prayed for Akumo's safety.
"Welf-sama!"
"Lilly-dori?"
Lily's voice called out to Welf.
"This is..."
"This hole...!! It's a Lambton's hole...."
Welf found a familiar, large tunnel similar to the one they had seen on the 25th floor.
"Could it be.... Bell-sama went inside here...!!"
"Damn it....!!"
Convinced the Lambton had created it, Welf and Lily's faces hardened at the thought of Bell being in even deeper floors.
"Even if he's on a lower floor, we have to move forwa—"
—Kieeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!
""""!""""
A monster suddenly burst from the water.
"A Voltimeria!"
The Voltimeria, a fish-like monster with a long body and obsidian-colored scales like armor, immediately spat something out. Bors and his companions recognized it instantly.
—Khak!!!!
Clatter!
"This is....!!
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