Chapter 215: Six Minutes from the End! Behind Enemy Lines!
Starting from Orario, a scarlet ripple surged from the earth, echoing the crimson sun at the zenith.
The super-large extermination secret art unfolding underground was gradually rising, and the countdown to the end was relentlessly approaching zero.
Within the city, the winds of destruction began to blow.
Amidst this restless turmoil, adventurers, blacksmiths, and healers had gathered in just half a day.
The clamor subsided, and everyone's gaze focused on the diminutive figure at the forefront.
The flickering eye crystal by Finn's side transmitted his voice to everyone's ears.
"Six hours until the end; don't expect me to motivate you anymore. Follow the main force and head to your deaths!"
"Operation start! All units, charge!"
A heroic spirit ignited in the adventurers' chests, and they roared, following closely behind the path opened by the First-Class Adventurers!
Contrary to the intense sound of marching, the beginning of the battle was unusually quiet.
At the four corners of Daedalus Street, adventurers, using temporary entrances violently excavated by the Ganesha Familia, descended into the artificial labyrinth of crisscrossing tunnels.
The tunnels, once filled with an inorganic atmosphere, now seemed like the inside of a living body, with walls covered in writhing green flesh and bulging with hideous abscesses.
Perhaps the artificial labyrinth concentrated all its power on the tenth-floor altar, as the green flesh on the upper floors had extremely low activity.
They were driven by the song of the Filth Spirit, slowly crawling along the tunnel walls.
"The nearby green flesh has mostly stopped moving, and no new monsters have appeared. It's probably being used as nourishment for the altar."
After a brief report, the various units proceeded unimpeded, quickly reaching the fourth floor—
The wide corridor where Arthur and the others had seen ancient murals.
"First Unit to the North! Second and Third Units to the Northeast and Southeast!"
"Do not stop until you encounter enemy resistance!"
Facing the several branching paths from the wide corridor, Finn immediately issued new orders.
The remaining Fourth and Fifth Units, led by Tsubaki and others, directly broke into nodes closer to the altar by following the large pit left from the previous battle.
As soon as the vanguard, invading through the vertical shaft, landed, the green flesh sensed the presence of living beings.
They twisted and proliferated countless slender tentacles, dense as a spiderweb, descending in a heavy shroud!
The sound of combat boots echoed in the tunnel, and the spears of death shattered one after another amidst the clash of blades, as the adventurers pressed on relentlessly into the deeper parts!
The wounded artificial labyrinth trembled violently, and the dimly lit green tunnel suddenly burst with light.
Walls, ceiling, floor—magic circles of varying sizes filled their vision, and the malevolent magical power surged to its peak!
The next moment, countless magic circles activated simultaneously!
Explosive flames! Freezing air! Lightning! A torrent of magic instantly engulfed everyone's vision!
Under this violent outpouring, comparable to a volley from a group of Magic Conduction users, the adventurers let out desperate screams!
"Take out the Spirit Cloths to defend! No one is allowed to stop! Proceed to the tenth floor via the shortest route! Prioritize annihilating the Filth Spirit!"
At this moment, Finn's voice once again came from the eye crystal, and the various Familia, on their forced march, all frowned, with Tsubaki even roaring directly.
"The Spirit Cloths aren't enough at all! How are we supposed to rush to the tenth floor in this hellish place?!"
"Look at the color of the magic circles! Immediately use the Spirit Cloths of the corresponding attribute for defense!"
Finn's urgent voice boomed from the eye crystal, spurring the battered adventurers to grit their teeth!
"That little person bastard, he's really asking the impossible!"
"We can't be left behind by the Loki Familia! We'll drag the Filth Spirit down with us even if we die!"
"I've already written my will! Everyone get out of my way! I'll clear the path!"
A vortex of fierce light expanded endlessly above their heads, and barrages crisscrossed through the narrow space, ceaselessly!
This inescapable threat caused one adventurer after another to fall from the ranks!
The journey was not even halfway complete, and five units were already in a state of semi-destruction!
...
On the eleventh floor of the artificial labyrinth, the breath of a pale dragon violently pierced like an inverse waterfall, exploding with a roar!
Since the main altar of the Ring Poem was located on the tenth floor, the tunnels below were all abandoned and decaying, filled with a foul stench.
On the stone path, green flesh spread like a thin fungal mat, forming a smooth, greasy surface.
Countless glowing lines flowed beneath the green flesh, forming patterns and symbols, continuously transmitting energy.
The Xenos sped behind Arthur, sniffing the light green poisonous mist in the air, discussing animatedly.
"This place is exactly like the Dungeon!"
"Humans… are truly amazing…"
"You idiots! Is this really the time for awe?!"
Lyd turned to scold his companions, then loudly questioned Arthur at the very front.
"The poisonous mist is getting thicker and thicker. Are the humans trapped here really still alive?"
Arthur did not respond; from the gentle singing echoing in the tunnel, he carefully distinguished the faint cry for help that Chifeng had once brought back.
Before long, fragmented strange noises entered his ears.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he rushed without hesitation towards the wall at the end of the tunnel, raising his sword to the sky!
The sword arc sliced the decaying stone slabs and green flesh into fragments, revealing a hidden secret room behind them.
Dozens of men and women lay on the ground; they were all prostrate, unable to muster even a shred of strength to lift their heads and struggle.
Arthur quickly stepped forward, a brilliant golden aura overflowing from his palm, instantly illuminating the entire secret room.
He picked up one of them; although their breath was faint, a spark of life still remained in their mummy-like, withered body.
Without waiting for the Xenos to ask, he first took out his eye crystal and called out to Fels, who had been waiting for a long time.
"The hostages on the eleventh floor are safe and sound. I'll arrange for the Xenos to escort them out immediately. How are the other units doing?"
"They are still holding on. You still have time."
After replying, Fels looked up at the Goddess of Fertility, who stood in the Tower of Babel hall, intending to commit suicide, and spoke sincerely.
"As you hear, we are striving to save your Familia. Could I please ask you to stop your impending action?"
Demeter's face was filled with bewilderment, her honey-colored long hair swaying with her movements.
"Why? I assisted Dionysus in making a grave mistake, and even at this critical moment for the Lower World's life and death, I am still deluded…"
"Because someone heard your children's cries for help."
Fels's calm but strong tone overrode the goddess's excuse.
"But it wasn't for themselves, but a cry for help for their Goddess."
"The dying Familia whispered your divine name, filled with guilt for holding their Goddess back."
"And the most benevolent Goddess chose to compromise, offering herself in exchange for a glimmer of hope for her children."
Fels slowly stepped forward, taking the dagger from Demeter's hand, while Arthur's and the Xenos' voices still echoed in the eye crystal.
After bringing all the hostages from the eleventh floor out, they were returning from the ninth floor of the Dungeon, heading to the second place of confinement.
Hearing this, Demeter's eyes filled with tears, her knees weakened, and she fell to the ground.
Memories stained with blood made her sob uncontrollably, and the pale goddess hugged her shoulders, unable to speak another word.
"Please compose yourself and follow the Guild staff to your position on the top floor of Tower of Babel. The other Gods are waiting for the right moment."
Demeter looked up blankly: "Waiting for the right moment?"
Fels gazed into the distance where red mist was rising, a hint of helpless relief in his voice.
"It's Uranus's arrangement, Goddess Demeter…"
He paused, then said word by word.
"Please go quickly, to participate in another 'Gods' Council'."