A monstrous banquet, a monster party. The sudden outbreak of hordes of monsters. The labyrinth's deadly traps and dungeon gimmicks that plunge adventurers into despair.
For Toki, experiencing this for the first time in his life, his thoughts froze for a moment, and then,
"Oooooooooooooooooooooooooh!!"
The monsters attacked from all directions at once.
"Ugh…!?"
When he looked toward the attackers, they had already withdrawn from the Dungeon and were nowhere to be seen.
"This is impossible, impossible, impossible!!"
"Don't break formation! You'll get crushed if you scatter!"
Luckily, Fadgar's sharp command stopped Lulune, who was about to panic and break apart from the group. They barely managed to hold the formation together.
"What do we do, Asfi!?"
Lulune shouted, nearly screaming as she looked to the captain for instructions while fending off the attacking monsters.
"We hold this formation and fight them off!"
Currently, they had formed a tight circle, with the rear guard led by Toki at the center, preventing the monsters from breaking through.
"Meryl, begin your incantation!"
"B-but!"
"Whether you cast or not won't change anything if we're this close together!"
"O-okay!"
Under Asfi's orders, Meryl began a short incantation. Nelly was running around the formation, swapping out broken weapons with fresh ones.
(I'm the only one not doing anything…)
Angrily gripping his harpe with trembling hands, Toki clenched his resolve.
"Nelly, please give me a High-Potion, a superior healing item. I want to fight too, "
"No, you stay here and rest."
Just as he tried to speak to Nelly, Asfi stopped him.
"W-why!? There are so many of them, wouldn't it be better to have more people fighting!?"
"That's true." Asfi answered calmly, her voice carrying clearly to everyone despite not being loud.
"But this is my pride."
"W-what do you mean!?"
"Since we entered this food storage pantry, I, and all of us, have been saved by you."
The memories of their time in the Dungeon came rushing back to the members of the Hermes Familia.
From the first wave of dead soldiers, to monsters, Olivas Act, and the giant carnivorous flowers, in battle and in spirit, they had all been saved time and again by Toki.
"That's only natural! We're comrades!"
"Yes, we are all members of the same Familia. But before that, I am your senior. We can't keep relying on our juniors forever."
At the captain Asfi's words, every member of Hermes Familia's eyes hardened. They gripped their weapons tightly, raised their voices in incantations, and pushed back the monsters' increasingly fierce attacks.
"B-but!"
"No buts!"
Fadgar barked at Toki, who was about to argue.
"Shut up and watch quietly! We're not weaklings who just get protected by you!"
"That's right, we're adventurers!"
"We won't always end up saved by our juniors!"
Fadgar, Seinn, Lulune, Nelly, Meryl, all the Hermes Familia shouted together.
"Everyone, get your spirits back! Show your pride as seniors to your junior, Toki!"
"Got it!!"
Their backs were exactly what young Toki had admired, the backs of true adventurers.
"…Adventurers really are cool."
"What are you saying?"
Lefiya, who had been with Toki all along, retorted.
"Toki, you're an adventurer now, right?"
Toki didn't immediately understand her words.
Yes, he had become an adventurer. But what did that really mean? What did it take to be a true adventurer?
"Hey, Lefiya."
"What?"
"How do I become a real adventurer?"
"Hmm… well…"
Lefiya, who probably understood the question better than anyone, spoke what she had learned to her junior Toki.
"Adventuring… no, it's about challenging yourself."
"Challenging?"
"Yes. Facing powerful enemies and the unknown. That's what you taught me."
The word challenge brought back a vivid scene, the moment Toki Ortyx was reborn.
That's right. Challenge. This time, with honor and fairness, he would reach out for that person.
He would stop just admiring them from afar. No more just looking up. From now on, he'd turn this admiration in his heart into a fighting spirit, and this dream into a goal!
"Thanks, Lefiya."
"Okay, then I'm coming with you."
"Yeah, I'm counting on you, and the others."
Lefiya was momentarily surprised at Toki's words, then blushed. Turning away from him, her gaze fixed firmly on the monsters.
"Protect me!"
Clutching her staff and thrusting it forward, she prepared to cast magic. Seeing her readiness, Asfi gave instructions to the others.
"I entrust everything to the Thousand Fairies! Everyone, protect her with your lives!"
"Understood!"
Without stopping their attacks, the strong replies gave Lefiya the courage to shout further.
"Hold them for two minutes, no, one and a half minutes!"
Focusing all her mental power, she honed her magic. As her power rose, the monsters' attacks grew fiercer.
"Feral Wolf Vanargand! Support the Sword Princess!"
"Don't give orders, damn it!"
Bete hesitated at Asfi's command but, seeing Lefiya and the others, ran toward Ais.
"By the name of Wishe, I beseech you!"
A surge of level 4 magic power burst forth. The glowing golden magic circle expanded to more than twice the size of their formation, its radiant light blinding those nearby.
"Ancient ones of the forest, proud brethren, heed my call and come to the plains!"
Joy swelled in her heart. Being asked sincerely by the one she loved stirred her pure maiden's spirit.
"Bond us together, pledge the joyous feast. Spin the circle, dance the dance!"
The magic grew so powerful that even the greatest mage, Riveria Ljos Alf, was left speechless. The mages around her were stunned.
Tione had once told her that fighting for the one you love boosts your power by fifty percent. She hadn't understood then, but now she did. Love makes people stronger!
"Complete the fairy ring!"
He was watching her. Just that was enough to fill her with strength. She gave her best performance.
"Please, lend me your power."
Lodger and the dwarf Eriri blasted the monsters from all directions, Lili swung her twin swords wildly, Lulune and Asfi cut down the monsters overhead, and Meryl burned the monsters with her incantations. The Hermes Familia was not faltering, instead, they were slowly pushing the monsters back.
"Elf Ring!"
The golden magic circle shifted to a jade green. The summoned spell began its chant for Riveria's all-directional annihilation magic.
Then,
"Big ones!? And in that number!? This is bad!"
From deep inside the passage appeared a massive cluster of carnivorous flowers. Their speed overwhelmed the others, and since Meryl and the mages had just cast spells, they wouldn't have time to recast now.
"Fall back!"
"H-hey!?"
Filvis shoved past the shield-bearing Lulune and the others, stepping in front of the monsters. Lefiya's incantation was almost finished, and Filvis wouldn't let them get her at the last moment. She cast her second magic.
"Become my shield, Holy Grail of Purification!"
"Dio Grail!!"
It was a massive holy shield, radiating a brilliant white light. Right before their eyes, it sparked with dazzling flashes, intercepting the entire horde of monsters in a single, overwhelming defense.
…
Eyes was struggling. Caught between Revis and the monsters' pincer attack, his sword had been knocked away, leaving him to fight using only the power of the wind. But against Revis, who wielded a greatsword, that wasn't enough.
Then, at that moment,
"[──The flame will soon be released]"
Through the monsters' roars, Ais heard Lefiya's chant.
His eyes widened, reminded of the pure, resonant power in Riveria's incantations. He glanced briefly toward the direction where Lefiya must be casting, and his eyes opened even wider, this time in surprise.
What was that?
Beyond the huge shield glowing white, he saw an equally brilliant magical light, radiating power he had never seen before, not even as a first-class adventurer.
"What… what is that!?"
Revis noticed it too, pausing mid-attack with a shocked gasp.
"Disappear!!"
Then, Bete charged forward.
"Give it to me, Ais!"
"!"
Eyes understood immediately from Bete's sudden demand.
"Wind!"
The wind from Ais was drawn into Bete's metal boots, the embedded yellow gem shining brightly. An incredible gust swirled around Bete's legs.
[The creeping flames of war, inevitable destruction. The horn of battle sounds loud and clear, and brutal conflict consumes all]
After handing over the wind, Ais retreated at full speed toward the sword that had been knocked away. Meanwhile, Bete faced Revis head-on.
"What!?"
"Stay still, you monstrous woman!!"
Bete fiercely blocked Revis from pursuing Ais.
[Come forth, crimson flames, merciless inferno. You are the embodiment of blazing fire]
Revis clicked his tongue and sent a man-eating flower after Eyes to slow him down, but the flower's instincts overpowered its orders in the overwhelming magical presence.
"Impossible!"
Seizing Revis' stunned moment, Bete struck him with a powerful, wind-empowered blow.
Even though Bete had received the wind from Ais, he knew he couldn't defeat the enhanced Revis. Still, he was giving it his all to hold Revis back.
"Move, werewolf!!"
Revis, desperate, increased his sword's speed, aiming to take Bete down.
"[Sweep everything away and bring this great war to an end]"
From his defensive position, Bete heard Lefiya's chant once more, and in his mind, he saw Toki, facing a formidable enemy.
Despite being just a rookie, Toki had fearlessly confronted powerful foes and contributed greatly to their victory.
Bete's handsome face twisted in a fierce roar.
"I won't lose to youuuuuuuuuuuu!!"
He pushed back with all his might. Revis, frustrated, swung his greatsword angrily. Bete smashed the ground beneath him, lifting his wind-empowered leg.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!"
The two collided with a shattering impact. The searing pain shot from Bete's foot up through his body and mind, contorting his face.
"[Burn away, sword of Surtr, My name is Alf!]"
At that moment, Lefiya's incantation was complete. The giant hollow space was fully enveloped by a jade-green magic circle's radiant light.
"[Rea Laevateinn]!!"
A summoned inferno blazed through the hollow, trying to avoid Bete and the others, singing strands of hair and clothing as it rose to the ceiling. The monsters caught in its path were utterly consumed; not even their magical cores or ashes remained.
"I'm definitely hitting you later for this."
Grumbling, Bete forced his battered leg to move, roaring again.
"RUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!"
"What!?"
Revis was thrown back, his greatsword flying as his body arched backward. Then, a golden flash streaked across.
"[Awaken, Tempest]!!"
A sweeping slash, an upward cut, and,
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!"
A downward strike.
Revis' greatsword was shattered by the first slash; the second threw him off balance, and though he blocked the last with both arms, he was still blown back and slammed into the main pillar.
"Hah, hah…"
Panting, Ais turned his feet toward Revis.
Thanks to Lefiya's magic, the Dungeon resembled a hellscape. Sparks and heat filled the air, the giant flowers that once covered the structure were completely burned away, revealing the raw rock beneath, glowing with heat. Somehow, Eyes thought he could see through the breached ceiling into the passageway of the 23rd floor.
"…You don't stand a chance now."
Revis muttered this to Ais, but behind him came an ominous creaking sound.
"This main pillar is the heart of the pantry storage. Do you know what happens if it breaks?"
"!"
Before Ais could react, Revis tapped the quartz pillar lightly but with enough force.
Cracks spread like a spiderweb.
Come to think of it, before Revis crashed into the pillar, Olivas had already been slammed against it by Bete. This strike finished the job.
The pillar collapsed with a crashing sound. The pantry's ceiling began to crumble in tandem.
Hearing this, the adventurers from the Hermes Familia, who had been fending off the monsters and sitting down, along with Lefiya and Filvis, hurriedly got to their feet.
"Throw your gear this way!"
Toki shouted, shadowing everyone's equipment and Nelly's backpack.
"Help the injured! We need to evacuate immediately!"
Ignoring the back-and-forth between Bete and the one supporting him, they rushed toward the exit.
Ais and Revis were exchanging some words in passing.
"Hey, Sword Princess!"
"Eyes, hurry!"
"Eyes-san, quickly!"
After locking eyes once more with Revis, Eyes turned to join the others.
After a while, the adventurers who had fought that fierce battle all managed to survive without losing a single member.
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