"No waaay!!"
Sumire threw both hands up and collapsed flat onto the ground.
Sara, Airi, and Claude were all lying on the floor as well.
Everyone was in tatters.
"My my, how pathetic~" (Eri)
Eri rested her chin on the spear she had planted like a staff, looking at us.
Meanwhile, she was completely unscathed.
I still wasn't used to the pure white wings on her back.
I somehow remained standing… but after fighting one hundred rounds and not seeing even a single path to victory, my spirit was starting to break.
"It's over! The goddess really is angry! She never intended to let you clear the 500th Floor Trial of the Gods!!"
A short distance away, the Dungeon Master Anemoi was throwing a fit.
(She's never calm, is she…) (Eugene)
But I understood why she was panicking.
I lowered the Black Katana I was holding and faced Eri in a natural stance.
"So, is Eugene coming alone next?" (Eri)
Eri still hadn't even bothered to raise her spear.
Even if I launched a surprise attack with Twin Heavenly Resonance Style, Eri would dodge it like she already knew it was coming.
Her ability to predict moves was said to be close to clairvoyance.
Or so the Demon God told me.
"I need a little time to think." (Eugene)
I said that and approached the Dungeon Master, who was scratching her head like crazy.
"Anemoi." (Eugene)
I called her name close to her ear.
"…! Eugene!?" (Anemoi)
The white-haired girl spun around with a start.
"I want to ask something. Eri's strength…it far exceeds the intended difficulty of the 500th Floor Trial of the Gods, right?" (Eugene)
"Y-Yes it does! Even I couldn't win against that! The other angels in charge of overseeing the Zenith Tower aren't even close to that battle power, so that woman is clearly abnormal!" (Anemoi)
Anemoi stomped her feet in frustration.
—— "Well, it can't be helped. The First Squad of the Valkyries is the Wood Goddess's royal guard. The strength of an angel depends on the role granted to them by their goddess. Comparing the angels who guide explorers in the Zenith Tower to the captain of Freya's personal elite guard isn't even fair."
I heard the Demon God's muttering.
(A trial far beyond the intended difficulty of Floor 500… Meaning the trial given by the Wood Goddess isn't just about the Zenith Tower.) (Eugene)
It's most likely meant for the monster waiting ahead from three years ago.
A trial meant to prepare us to fight the Red Dragon.
(But still… Eri's strength is…) (Eugene)
Cherubim Eri was elegantly fluttering her white wings as she chatted with my Throne mother.
Even though she didn't seem to be paying attention, she had absolutely no openings.
At this rate, we'd keep losing even if we challenged her for ten years straight.
Which meant we needed some sort of change.
(Anemoi, help me.) (Eugene)
I spoke to her through thought transmission, so Eri wouldn't overhear.
After three years together in the tower, we learned to communicate this way.
Though only at close range.
(Help you? That's impossible! I'm the Dungeon Master!!) (Anemoi)
(It doesn't have to be obvious. Even setting off some dungeon traps to match my movements is fine. I want to catch Eri off-guard. Please.) (Eugene)
(B-But… I can't afford to cause any more trouble…) (Anemoi)
(Well, that's true…) (Eugene)
Her blunder from three years ago was huge.
(…I think it's fine.) (Eugene)
The one who cut into our thought transmission conversation was the Demon God.
(Demon God-sama, why?) (Eugene)
(Because the Wood Goddess is definitely watching this trial from the Divine Realm. Leaving an explorer alone after he's failed a hundred consecutive attempts would be the greater disrespect. That Goddess prefers results over rules. The Dungeon Master-chan helping you will probably earn you points.) (Loki)
(I…I understand… Eugene, I'll help.) (Anemoi)
(Alright! I'm going. I'll fight a few times and lose, then I'll leave the timing to you.) (Eugene)
I put some distance between myself and the Dungeon Master, then took a stance.
"Eri, here I come." (Eugene)
"Hmm~ looks like you're plotting something." (Eri)
Eri grinned as she raised her spear.
I didn't answer. I unleashed Twin Heavenly Resonance Style's Secret Art, [Kirin].
She countered and blew me away easily.
After that, I challenged her several more times and was beaten into the ground each time.
And then, on the 107th attempt…
…The ground suddenly shook violently.
(It's here!) (Eugene)
I didn't look toward Anemoi.
But any change occurring in the Zenith Tower had to be her doing.
And this wouldn't end with just an earthquake.
Eri's predictions weren't actual clairvoyance.
She predicted the future using only past and present information.
An unforeseen intervention from the Dungeon Master couldn't be predicted.
I dashed forward using Sky Walk, closing the distance to Eri in an instant.