Chapter 70: Shirou Confronts the Dungeon's Calamity! A Battle That Shocks the Adventurers!
The war game between Hestia and Apollo soon caused a stir in the Guild.
While the Hestia Familia kept a low profile, the Apollo Familia, seemingly aiming to pressure them, deliberately and flamboyantly publicized the war game.
At first, the people and gods of Orario were surprised — it was rare to hear about a war game between Familias. But once they heard it would be in the form of a duel between Bell and Hyakinthos, they immediately lost interest.
After all, no one believed that a mere Level 1 rookie adventurer could be a match for a seasoned Level 3 captain of a Familia.
Of course, even if the outcome seemed predetermined, a war game was still an event Orario hadn't seen in a long time — making it an interesting spectacle.
People began paying attention to the upcoming war game, with some even reserving seats to watch in advance.
Whether adventurers or common citizens, this matter became the hottest topic in town.
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"Hey hey hey, no one told me something like this was going to happen!"
In a remote, little-known tavern—
Loki, with a complex expression, sipped from her cup, then slowly spoke to the goddess Freya sitting across from her: "That kid Emiya actually signed such a contract with Apollo without saying a word, and he even wants us to witness it? Did his brain get kicked by one of Apollo Familia's horses to make such a suicidal decision?!"
"Who knows."
Compared to Loki's dissatisfaction and concern, Freya appeared rather calm, as if she didn't think this was a death sentence at all.
But in truth, anyone who saw the contract Shirou signed with Apollo would think he had gone mad.
Not only was he putting a Level 1 adventurer from his Familia against Apollo Familia's Level 3, but he was also betting against Apollo, who possessed the [Extreme Fortune] ability.
Both conditions were as close to zero success rate as possible — Shirou agreeing to such terms was practically suicide.
"Seriously, that kid's probably gotten a bit full of himself after beating Soma, huh?" Loki pursed her lips. "Had I known, I would've talked him out of it."
"You probably wouldn't have been able to convince him." For the first time, Freya responded, "A person with eyes like his won't be swayed by the words of others."
"…Tch, the goddess of beauty sure has some remarkable divine insight. So you've had your eye on that Emiya kid for quite a while, haven't you?"
"Hehe."
Facing Loki's accusation, Freya merely smiled and said nothing.
"By the way, where's that Emiya kid gone off to these past few days?"
Loki knew the matter couldn't be changed anymore. Three days had passed since Shirou signed the contract with Apollo — everyone in Orario now knew about the war game. There was no changing the outcome.
And during those days, Shirou and the entire Hestia Familia had been eerily silent, as if they'd vanished from existence.
Many in Orario even speculated that the Hestia Familia had fled the city in secret.
But Loki knew how stubborn Shirou was — she was certain he wouldn't run away before battle. He must be preparing something in secret.
However, with their disappearance, no one in Orario could figure out where they were, nor what they were doing.
Even Orario's two most powerful gods, Loki and Freya, could find no trace of the Familia.
While the rest of the world was in turmoil over the upcoming war game, no one realized that the entire Hestia Familia was currently gathered inside the Dungeon.
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"Hey hey, Shirou — are you crazy?!"
Hestia stared at Shirou in disbelief after hearing his entire plan. "You want me to use divine power inside the Dungeon? You're not joking!?"
Roughly a day prior, Hestia had still been waiting anxiously at their base for the war game to begin.
Though nervous, she had an inexplicable trust in Shirou — she believed if anyone could make a miracle happen, it would be him.
But never had she expected that, in less than a day, Shirou would return from the Dungeon and ask her to accompany him back into it.
She didn't understand what he needed from her — until he explained that he planned to summon the Dungeon's Variant monster in order to obtain materials to forge Chains of Heaven.
Only then did she fall into complete shock.
After all, gods using divine power in the Lower World was strictly forbidden.
To use divine power within the Dungeon — that was the most taboo of all taboos. No one knew what kind of consequences it would provoke.
"I'm sorry, but this is the only way I can think of."
Shirou apologized sincerely.
He, too, had hesitated upon thinking of this method — the risks of a god using divine power in the Dungeon were unpredictable. Hestia had already helped him so much; he couldn't ask her to put herself in danger for his sake.
So he had tried to think of other ways to forge the Chains of Heaven or to overcome Apollo's [Extreme Fortune].
But no matter how hard he thought, nothing viable came to mind.
Helpless, he turned to Hestia and explained his plan, giving her full control over the decision.
If she refused, he would never force her — and would abandon this method, even if it was the only one.
"..."
Seeing Shirou so troubled yet utterly helpless, Hestia finally understood how difficult his situation was.
She hesitated, then smiled bitterly. "Geez… you're struggling this much? You didn't have to be so upset, you know."
"Hestia?"
"I'm your goddess, aren't I? No matter what you want to do, I will absolutely support you! No matter what, I'm always on your side, Shirou!"
Her words touched Shirou deeply.
Precisely because of that, he didn't want her to take risks. Even if this was the only viable plan, he was about to give it up.
But now Hestia was the one unwilling to back down. She declared firmly, "Don't worry about me, Shirou. This is a rare chance for your goddess to actually contribute! Until now, you've always been the one helping me and our Familia — now it's my turn to help you!"
"But… gods aren't allowed to use divine power in GEnkai," Lili said hesitantly from the side.
Because of the seriousness of the matter, all Hestia Familia members had gathered — even Bell, who had been battling monsters on the 20th floor in an attempt to level up.
"Using divine power is certainly forbidden, but divine aura — divine might — is a different story," Shirou said.
"Divine might?" Lili and Bell looked confused.
Shirou explained: "I looked into it. A god's divine power is made of real force and intangible pressure. Normally, using divine power means using both. But if you only release the pressure — the divine might — then technically, you haven't used power.
And divine might alone is still part of a god's essence. There's a high chance it'll trigger the Dungeon's rejection and provoke a retaliatory response."
"I see…"
Lili and Bell nodded silently.
"So what are you planning to do afterward?" Hestia asked. "If I release divine might and the Dungeon retaliates, how will you handle it?"
"The plan is simple," Shirou took a deep breath. "Just let me destroy whatever monster the Dungeon creates. No matter what kind of enemy it is — I'll eliminate it. And to keep my identity hidden, I'll wear a cloak. Even if other adventurers show up, they won't recognize me."
Hearing this, the Hestia Familia members all nodded.
Especially Lili and Bell — having seen Shirou defeat the Monster Rex of the Labyrinth alone, they had absolute confidence in his ability to take down any Dungeon-born monster.
So they immediately sprang into action.
To prevent interference from adventurers, they selected an uninhabited area — a deserted space on the 17th floor — and let Hestia unleash her divine might there.
"Let's begin."
After Shirou gave the word, a radiant aura spread from Hestia's body.
Though it contained no tangible power, the oppressive pressure was overwhelming — even Bell and Lili instinctively bowed under its force.
Shirou, though less affected, still staggered two steps back.
He realized once more the vast gulf between mortals and gods — even a seemingly harmless goddess like Hestia was a being far beyond mortal comprehension.
"I've released my divine might… but nothing's happening?" Hestia said in confusion.
Neither Bell, Lili, nor Shirou sensed any reaction from the Dungeon.
"Did I guess wrong?" Shirou frowned and looked around warily.
Just then — a faint tremor passed beneath their feet. The ground swayed, subtly and almost imperceptibly.
"An earthquake? But it's so weak…"
Bell spoke instinctively.
Shirou initially thought the same — but then he realized the truth.
"It's not here! The Dungeon's retaliation… appeared on the 18th floor!"
"The 18th? But that's a safe zone!?"
Even Hestia was stunned.
Never had she imagined that her divine might would provoke the Dungeon — but not on site. Instead, a monster had spawned in the safety of the 18th floor!
There was no time to think — they had to get there immediately and clean up the mess.
With urgency gripping them, Shirou activated his full speed and rushed toward the 18th floor.
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Compared to the 17th, the entire 18th floor was trembling — the earth shivered, trees swayed violently.
Then, in the next moment, a massive black shadow suddenly dropped from above — slamming onto a clearing far from Rivira town at the floor's center.
"…What the hell is that?"
The adventurers resting in Rivira — enjoying a rare moment of peace — were stunned by the sudden change.
The crystals that normally illuminated the entire floor were now dim and blood-red.
At the same time, the black shadow revealed its form — a towering 20-meter-tall half-orc.
Its posture and appearance unmistakably resembled a known figure: a Monster Rex.
"Why is there Goliath here?!"
"That's impossible — this is a safe floor!"
"No way!!"
The adventurers didn't have time to think. The moment they realized a monster was attacking, they grabbed their weapons.
But they lacked the courage to fight.
After all, it was a Monster Rex. Rivira's adventurers were mostly Level 2, with the strongest barely at Level 3. Against regular monsters, they might hold their own — but against a Monster Rex? They had no chance.
So the town's leader, an adventurer named Boss, made a quick decision.
"Retreat! Evacuate immediately! Leave this floor!"
Hearing Boss's command, the adventurers all made the same choice.
Even if the Monster Rex destroyed the town they'd built with such effort, their lives were far more important.
But just as they were about to flee, they saw a cloaked figure rush down from the 17th floor — charging directly at the Monster Rex without hesitation!
"Hey, are you insane?!"
Boss stared at the cloaked figure in shock. How could anyone possibly face that monster alone?
Just as he shouted, the Monster Rex also noticed the approaching human.
It swung its mountain-like fist down, intending to crush the fragile human to pulp.
The adventurers assumed the cloaked man was suicidal.
But what happened next defied all expectations.
The man met the monster's fist head-on.
BOOM!
A thunderous sound shook the entire floor — and then, something unbelievable happened.
Twin plain swords appeared in the man's hands. He raised them and clashed directly with the Monster Rex.
Not only did he block the attack — but as he exerted his full strength, the Monster Rex actually staggered backward two steps!
Step. Step.
After the tremendous impact, the monster barely managed to steady itself and avoid collapse.
The Monster Rex, born from the 18th floor, had just been overpowered by a single human — almost knocked down in one blow!
The adventurers watching were left completely speechless — their eyes wide in shock.