— RRROOOAAARRR!!!
— AAAAAAHHH!!!
Monsters and adventurers screamed with equal ferocity as they rushed toward the moment of collision.
The wave of monsters closed in with every passing second, extremely dangerous demonic beings born directly from the Depths of this world.
Even a single one of them was more than enough to cause a massacre, to wipe a small village off the map.
Now imagine how those small, fragile people must have felt as they watched a tide of hundreds of these bloodthirsty creatures charging straight at them.
It was frightening.
No... terrifying was the more accurate word. The kind of terror that awakened the body's most primal instincts of fight-or-flight.
But fleeing was not an option.
And when you possess superhuman strength, grip a sword in your hands, wear kilos of metal as armor, and have one of the greatest adventurers in the world at your back… then there is still room for courage.
Boom
The monster wave slammed into the shield wall. The impact and sheer weight were so immense that everyone was forced several centimeters backward, boots carving dark trails across the stone floor.
But the shield-bearers would not yield so easily.
— HOLD!!!
— HOOOOOLD!!!
— PUSH!!!
— PUUUUUSH!!!!
— AAH!!!
— AAAAAAAAHHH!!!
They screamed, sometimes alone, sometimes together, as if unconsciously trying to convince themselves that everything was going to be fine.
With shoulders braced against their shields and hands gripping the inner straps, they drove power into their legs, straining to push back or at least hold the line.
But the monsters were bigger and stronger. They weren't going to make it.
A Dire Wolf forced its way to the front of the horde. Its massive body towered over the others, muscles rippling beneath its dark fur.
It slammed into the shield wall with savage intent, claws scraping against metal as it lowered its head and shoved its elongated snout between two shields.
— GGRRRRRR… RRAAAGH!!!
Hot breath blasted through the gap. Rows of yellowed fangs snapped wildly, jaws clamping shut again and again, trying to seize anything on the other side.
SNAP! SNAP!
— HOLD THE LINE!!!
— DON'T LET IT THROUGH!!!
The wolf barked sharply, violent and feral.
— WRAAAFF!!! RROOOUUUGH!!!
Its head forced its way even deeper, saliva splattering across steel as its jaws snapped violently against the shield edges.
KRIIIIISHHH
Fangs scraped uselessly against layered metal plates, sparks flashing as teeth met armor. The Dire Wolf snarled in frustration, barking wildly as it tried to bite through an impenetrable wall.
— RRAAFF!!! GRRROOUUGH!!!
— HOLD!!!
Then-
FSSSSHHH!
A sharp hiss sliced through the air from directly behind the shield wall.
A spear lunged forward through the narrow gap between the shields in a single, precise thrust.
THKRRSH!!!
The steel tip drove cleanly into the Dire Wolf's skull.
The monster's snarl was cut short.
Its body stiffened, jaws locking in place before all strength vanished from its limbs. The massive form sagged, then was dragged backward as another monster immediately took its place.
— ONE DOWN! KEEP GOING!
— KILL THEM!
The same scene repeated itself all along the front line.
Monsters hurled themselves at the shield wall, roaring and clawing, only to be stopped dead by layered steel and immovable formations, just long enough for the spears behind to strike.
THRSH!
SKRRK
CHK!
Lances shot forward in relentless rhythm, piercing throats, skulls, and chests. Each opening between shields became a death door. The front rank never broke because of these guys.
But them, those farther back tried another approach.
Using the corpses of their fallen "NAKAMA," monsters climbed over mangled bodies, scrambling upward and jumping over the shields-
Only to be met by the second line.
FSSSH!
THUD!
CRACK!
The rear lanciers struck with brutality, skewering anything that rose too high, dragging bodies down, killing them before momentum could build.
It was intense.
But if someone looked closely behind all those bodies, weapons, and screams... slowly, the entire formation would begin to retreat, one step at a time.
— Back! Step back!
— Easy! Slow down!
If they didn't, the corpses would pile too high. An excessive number of bodies on the front line would create a ramp for the enemy and obstruct their area of attack.
The strategy was simple.
Give ground.
Let the monsters advance.
Then-
— HEAVY ARTILLERY!!!
The shout cut through the chaos like a blade.
From the heart of the formation, several figures raised their staffs and hands. Their voices rose in unison, chanting spells they had been preparing for this exact moment.
— Ignis!
— Thunder Boruto!
— Kamehameha!
BOOOOOM!!! BA-DOOOOM!!!
KRAAASH!!! ZZZRRRAAAKKK!!!
KRA-THOOOM!!! FWOOOOSH!
WHOOOOM! BRRRAAAAM!!!
CRAAACK!!! DOOOOM!
A rain of elemental magic crashed down upon the horde.
Fireballs detonated in wide arcs, lightning ripped through clusters of monsters, and slicing winds tore bodies apart. Dozens died in seconds, screams swallowed by explosions and roaring flames.
Magic was rare in Orario.
But there were always a few: those with just enough talent to awaken at least one of it. And since most adventurers were little more than violent, greedy survivors…
Their spells were generally simple magical attacks aimed at mass destruction, with chants of short to medium duration.
Nothing very sophisticated, and to be honest, it's rather inefficient considering the wasted potential... but it gets the job done.
— ADVANCE!!!
— PUSH FORWARD!!!
The order came immediately.
The front line surged ahead as one, reclaiming the lost ground while the enemy staggered. Boots crushed scorched remains, shields slammed forward and spears followed just behind.
The battlefield ahead was a ruin, shattered bodies, blackened corpses, and small smoking craters where monsters had once stood.
The formation pressed on.
But the clash at the front was only part of the battle.
All along the flanks and beneath their very feet, a new the fight was starting.
...
The stone gave way.
CRRRK… CRRRAACK!
Cracks spread along the corridor, across the floor, the walls, even the ceiling. The Dungeon itself seemed to writhe from within, spewing creatures directly into the heart of the formation.
A Killer Ant was the first to emerge.
Its massive body tore free from the rock, half of it still trapped as it forced its way out. A giant ant, its red chitinous carapace gleaming under the torchlight, each segment thick and layered like natural armor.
It was as large as a full-grown big size dog, legs digging into the stone as it struggled forward.
Its mandibles snapped open and shut with a sharp, metallic click, jaws powerful enough to crush an iron plate as if it were thin foil.
It didn't even have time to scream.
CRASH!
A hammer came down with brutal force, smashing its head against the floor. Chitin shattered, dark fluids splattering across the stone.
— HA! Eat this! — the adventurer laughed, lifting his weapon.
The grin vanished the very next second.
— AAAAAH!!!
Another Killer Ant burst out from the ground right beneath him, its mandibles clamping around his leg.
CRACK
The sound was wet, bone giving way under overwhelming pressure. Blood sprayed across the stone as the man collapsed to his knees, the hammer slipping from his grasp while his scream tore through the corridor.
The creature lifted its head to bite again.
SHLK!
A blade struck cleanly through the joint of the ant's neck, severing it in a single precise cut. The body collapsed, legs twitching for a few seconds before going still.
— Thanks! — the man gasped, voice breaking as he collapsed, clutching what was left of his shattered leg.
Pain ripped through him in blinding waves, every breath a struggle.
— You're done. Move! — the other barked.
He grabbed the wounded man under the arm, hauling him upright despite the scream that followed, then shoved him toward the center of the formation.
— WOUNDED! GET HIM BACK! — he shouted without slowing down.
He was already running again, blade raised, as another shape began to force its way out of the wall ahead.
The same scene unfolded all along the corridor.
Dungeon Lizards dropped from the ceiling, only to be cut down the moment their claws touched the floor. Blades struck joints and necks before the creatures could even orient themselves.
Cave Spiders forced their way out of the walls, webs starting to form, but steel met them instantly, tearing them apart before they could spread.
War Shadows seeped from narrow fissures, their forms barely taking shape before coordinated strikes dispersed them, forcing them back or erasing them outright.
Every crack in the stone was watched.
Monsters emerged and were destroyed before they could fully enter the fight.
If this were not a moment balanced on life and death, it might have looked almost absurd. Like a brutal game of whack-a-mole.
But everyone knew the truth.
The moment even a few monsters broke free at once, the moment the rhythm faltered, the deaths would start.
For now, the formation remained the same, with dozens of individual adventurers killing faster than the dungeon could generate new enemies.
And somewhere within that tightly wound tension, someone, just one among many, was struggling to keep up, fighting not to fall behind.
He saw it before it fully emerged.
A Cave Spider, still half-trapped inside the wall, its legs twitching as cracks spread around its body.
'Now. Before it gets out.'
That was what they had taught him just moments ago.
Strike the joint. One clean hit and it's over. No need to prolong the fight.
He stepped forward and raised his sword, a common one-handed blade. But to a trained eye, the difference was clear.
Compared to the weapons carried by the other adventurers nearby, this one was far superior.
The sword struck the spider's head.
CLANG
The impact jolted his arms, metal rebounding off the spider's black, chitinous shell.
'What?!'
The Cave Spider went still.
Then its mouth opened.
Mandibles spread apart, revealing a pink, slick interior lined with layered fangs and thin, hooked teeth. Viscous saliva dripped from within, stretching in thin strands as the creature released a sharp, piercing screech that echoed through the corridor.
— GRIIIAARR!!!
The sound made his skin crawl.
His breath caught as his feet moved on their own to step away from the monster. His grip tightened around the hilt, hands trembling as his heart hammered in his chest.
'Who did I hit the wrong place? I clearly aimed for the neck.'
With a violent jerk, the spider tore itself free from the wall. Stone shattered as it hit the floor, legs spreading wide as its body lowered, weight shifting forward in a predatory stance.
It crept closer.
— STAY BACK!!!
He swung his sword.
The blade cut through the air in short, frantic arcs.
FSSSH!
FSSH!
His arms weren't steady. There was barely any strength behind the swings, just erratic movements born from fear rather than intent. His grip was too tight, wrists stiff, shoulders locked.
Behind the worn leather helmet, his eyes had squeezed shut for a heartbeat, as if not seeing the monster might somehow make it hesitate.
So you can see how amateurish he is.
The Cave Spider reacted, stepping back to dodge.
Well, not exactly "taking a step backwards", the most appropriate way to put it would be that its body shifted, pressing away without lifting its legs from the ground.
— D-Don't come any closer…
The spider rose.
— GRIH!
A sharp, unnatural screech tore from its open mandibles as its front legs lifted off the ground, spreading wide while its body reared up, casting a long, warped shadow across the wall.
The spider's front legs lashed out.
— Ah!
He flailed his sword between them.
CLANG!
SKRRRK!
Metal scraped against chitin as neither side landed a clean hit. The spider pulled back just as the blade passed, and he stumbled half a step away.
A standoff.
One of them swinging blindly, the other testing distance, both afraid to gat hurt.
But not for much time.
The Cave Spider suddenly reared up, shifting its weight onto its rear legs.
Its body bent in a way that made no sense, abdomen curling sharply beneath itself, the chitinous carapace folding like it were skin.
Something shot out from the tip of its abdomen.
Tchu
Seeing that white thing coming towards him quickly, the adventurer didn't think straight and instead of dodging, he let his instincts take over and drew his sword to defend himself.
— Ngh!
The web slammed into the blade and stuck.
The spider yanked.
Woink
The sword was ripped straight out of his hands, tearing free from his grip and flying toward the monster as he staggered forward, fingers snapping shut around empty air.
— My sword!
The Cave Spider began to advance.
— S-Stay away… stay away from me!
He backed off step by step, boots scraping against the stone, breath coming out in short, panicked bursts. His heel caught on his own foot.
— Ah!
He went down hard, falling sideways before hitting the ground on his back.
The spider stopped.
All eight eyes gleamed as it sensed the opening.
Its front legs lifted again, body rising, only this time it didn't hesitate.
It leapt.
— AAAAAAH!!!
The scream that tore from his throat was thin and shrill, like a woman. His eyes squeezed shut as something heavy slammed into him, the impact knocking the air from his lungs.
The weight pressed down on his chest.
He couldn't move.
'So this is it.'
In that frozen moment, he felt no pain, only regret.
'Sorry grandpa, sorry. I couldn't become a hero after all.'
Seconds passed.
Then another.
But the pain never came.
His breath shook as confusion crept in, fear slowly giving way to something else. Curiosity.
Carefully and hesitantly, he opened his eyes.
The spider was still on top of him.
Motionless.
Pinned in place by a hand gripping a dagger, the blade buried deep into its carapace.
— …What?
CRACK
The sound of glass breaking echoed inches from his face.
The Cave Spider shattered.
Its body broke apart into clouds of dark dust, dispersing into the air as if it had never been there at all. What remained was a fractured crystal orb, lodged on the dagger's blade, splintering further before crumbling into fine shards.
And just like that.
The monster that had almost killed him was gone.
The adventurer remained seated on the ground for several long moments, her body stiff, her mind blank.
He didn't knew what to do, whether to laugh, cry or scream.
Her hands trembled slightly against the cold stone, her heart still pounding as if the fight hadn't truly ended. Air rushed in and out of her lungs unevenly.
— I… survived?
Being an adventurer wasn't anything like he had imagined.
Lost in those thoughts, the adventurer failed to notice the shadow rising behind her.
It stretched silently along the Dungeon wall, growing taller until it took on a distorted humanoid shape. At the center of its head, a single glowing core pulsed with cold light.
The rookie killer.
The most dangerous monster of the Upper Labyrinth, second only to the spiritual monsters immune to physical attacks.
War Shadow
CRASH
The sound of shattering glass echoed once more.
— AAAAAH!
He screamed instantly, his nerves stretched to their limit, his body reacting before his mind could catch up.
He scrambled backward across the floor, palms slipping against the stone as he desperately tried to get away.
The only thing his eyes managed to catch was the tip of a spear raised in the air, piercing straight through the monster's core.
— Bell-chan, be more careful next time... — a calm voice said.
— Never let your guard down inside the Dungeon.
Bell blinked several times, struggling to process what she was seeing.
She followed the voice with her eyes.
There stood a small, blonde figure clad in the familiar armor of the Loki Familia. The captain looked at her with a surprisingly gentle expression as he extended a hand to help her up.
— C-Captain Finn…? — she asked, disbelief thick in her voice.
As if to confirm what she was seeing, the figure reached up and removed the helmet.
White hair spilled free, framing crimson eyes filled with calm composure. Flawless skin like that of a noble lady, far too beautiful for the brutality of the Dungeon, paired with a face innocent enough to resemble an angel.
Bell Cranel.
Or rather… the female version of her in this world.
Bell swallowed hard.
Taking the offered hand, she stood up slowly. Once on her feet, she lowered her gaze, her face burning with shame, more toward herself than anyone else, as memories of the fight resurfaced.
She was a shit.
Finn noticed.
— Don't blame yourself for what happened. Feeling fear at the beginning is normal. No one is born strong.
'Well... gods do, but fuck them.' He thought.
He gave a faint smile before continuing:
— If you truly feel ashamed of your current state, then pick up your sword again and go help the others. But… if that's too much for you, come with me to the rear. I'll protect you.
Bell lifted her head sharply.
Her hands clenched against her chest, as if trying to contain something threatening to overflow.
— No! I want to help too. I want to fight.
The words came out like a plea, torn straight from the depths of her heart.
Finn looked at her for a moment.
Then he simply nodded.
He turned his back and began to walk away, but before fully leaving, he spoke one last time:
— Next time, don't hesitate to call for help. You won't live to fight tomorrow if you die today.
Bell remained there, standing still, watching him disappear into the people running to fight.
In her chest, something unfamiliar grew.
Fear was still there.
So was shame.
But above all else… a deep and genuine admiration for the small Pallum who advanced forward without hesitation.
'Can I be like that to?'