Chapter 26. Is This... the Power of Networking?
"Rumble—!!!"
Accompanied by the thunderous roar of a waterfall, two figures fell miserably into the massive pool of the Dungeon's 25th floor.
The immense water pressure instantly swallowed their consciousness. Cold, darkness, and a feeling of suffocation that seemed ready to burst their lungs took over.
"Gurgle..."
Shirou Emiya lost consciousness the moment he hit the water. The previous [Broken Phantasm] had drained the last shred of his mental energy, and combined with the internal injuries from tanking a Level 5 attack, he was now like a piece of scrap metal sinking to the bottom.
"E-Emiya-sama!"
Liliruca Arde paddled her limbs desperately, moving like a tiny mermaid with sudden, explosive combat power (despite being a Pallum). She gripped Shirou's collar tightly, utilizing the buoyancy of her new equipment, the [Light Spirit Backpack], to struggle toward the shore.
"Can't die... absolutely cannot die here!"
This was the 25th floor, the "Great Blue Falls." It was part of the "Water Capital," a labyrinthine paradise that also served as a cafeteria for aquatic monsters.
"Hiss—!"
Before they could reach the shore, a chilling sound of breaking water came from beneath the surface. Several blue dorsal fins sliced through the water—a signal that Killer Fish and Raiga (Water Lizards) were approaching. They had caught the scent of blood and were as excited as a shopaholic discovering a "Black Friday" discount.
"Dammit! Get away!"
Lili dragged Shirou with one hand and clumsily raised her hand-crossbow with the other, firing blindly into the water.
Swoosh!
The bolt entered the water, kicking up a small plume of blood, but instead of scaring the monsters away, it only incited their ferocity.
"It's over..."
Lili watched the ripples multiplying around them, a sense of despair flooding her heart. Emiya-sama was unconscious, her own strength was depleted, and they were surrounded by
Level 2 monsters. This was a complete dead end. Was this the end for a side character without protagonist armor?
Just as a massive Raiga opened its blood-red maw, preparing to taste this "drowned meal."
"La... La... La..."
An ethereal, melodious song that didn't seem to belong to this world suddenly echoed through the grotto.
The song had no lyrics, only a pure melody. It pierced through the roar of the waterfall and the surface of the water, resounding directly in the minds of every living creature.
A miracle occurred.
The originally violent monsters suddenly stiffened the moment they heard the song. The red light in their eyes faded, replaced by confusion and serenity. It was as if a "Sage Mode" switch had been flipped on a rampaging beast.
"Gurgle..." The Raiga closed its mouth, even humanistically blowing a bubble before wagging its tail and diving into the deep water. The other monsters scattered as well, as if the previous killing intent was merely a collective hallucination.
"Th-this is..."
Lili was stunned. Taking advantage of the opening, she exerted her last bit of strength and finally dragged Shirou onto a dry rock on the shore.
"Cough! Cough, cough, cough!"
Lili panted heavily, looking warily toward the source of the song.
In the mist kicked up by the waterfall, sitting on a jagged rock protruding from the water, was a beautiful creature.
She had long, sea-blue hair and skin so fair it was almost transparent. Her lower body consisted not of legs, but a long fish tail covered in blue scales.
A Mermaid. A monster from legend said to lure sailors to their deaths with their song.
"M-monster..." Lili gripped her dagger tightly, her body trembling. Out of the tiger's den (Dix) and into the wolf's lair (the Mermaid)? And the aura this mermaid exuded... she definitely wasn't a decorative "pretty face" who only sang, but a true high-ranking monster!
However, the mermaid showed no intention of attacking. She stopped singing and observed the two on the shore with large, sapphire-blue eyes full of curiosity.
Then, she performed an action that shattered Lili's worldview.
She jumped down from the rock, sliding nimbly across the shallows using her tail, and arrived in front of Lili. Then, she pointed at the unconscious Shirou, pointed at herself, and tilted her head.
"Is that... the benefactor... who saved Wiene?"
A crisp, pleasant voice spoke in somewhat broken human tongue.
"Eh?!" Lili's jaw practically hit the floor. "Y-you can talk?!"
Again?! First the dragon girl Wiene, now a mermaid?
What was wrong with this Dungeon? Had the current version update fast-forwarded straight to "Full Monster Girl Mode"?!
"I am... Marie." The mermaid patted her chest and gave a defenseless, innocent smile. "Fels said... a red-haired good person... fell down."
So there was an "insider" coordination!
Lili breathed a sigh of relief, her taut nerves finally relaxing. It seemed that while that skeleton (Fels) looked like a villainous boss, he was quite reliable at getting things done.
"Please! Save Emiya-sama!" Lili pleaded like she was clutching a life raft. "He's badly hurt! His bones are broken, and he's been poisoned..."
"Injured?" Marie leaned closer to Shirou, her nostrils twitching. "Mhm... very heavy scent of blood."
She furrowed her lovely brows as if thinking. A moment later, as if she had reached a decision, she extended her slender wrist to Shirou's lips.
"Here," Marie said.
"Eh?" Lili was puzzled.
"My blood... is medicine." Marie used a sharp nail to slice her wrist, and blue-red blood flowed out. "Drink it... and you'll get better."
This was likely a variation of the "flesh of a monk" or "mermaid meat" setting. In Dungeon legends, the blood and flesh of a mermaid did indeed have life-saving properties, which was why they were the most coveted targets for poachers.
Lili didn't hesitate, quickly propping Shirou up to let him drink the precious blood.
Gulp.
As the blood went down his throat, a miraculous scene unfolded. The wounds on Shirou's body, some deep enough to see bone, actually began to heal at a rate visible to the naked eye. His deathly pale complexion gradually regained its color, and his faint breathing became strong.
This was the life force of a Xenos—essentially a walking "Full Recovery Potion."
"Ngh..."
A few minutes later, Shirou Emiya slowly opened his eyes. His vision shifted from blurry to clear. The first thing he saw was Lili's tear-streaked face, and... an exquisite human (fish) face leaning in very close, full of curiosity.
"He's awake!" Marie clapped happily, her tail flapping pata-pata against the ground.
"You are..." Shirou pushed himself up. Aside from feeling weak, most of the pain had vanished. He looked at the mermaid in front of him; his [Mind's Eye] told him there wasn't a hint of malice in her.
"I am Marie!" the mermaid introduced herself with a grin. "Wiene's friend! You are... Shirou?"
"You know me?" Shirou paused, then gave a bitter smile.
"It seems I've become famous in your circle."
"Mhm! Everyone knows!" Marie nodded vigorously. "You are... the 'Fool' who embraced a monster."
"A fool, huh..." Shirou rubbed his nose. "That's quite an appropriate title."
"Emiya-sama! Thank goodness! You're finally awake!" Lili threw herself into his arms, weeping again. "Lili thought... thought she'd never see you again..."
"Sorry for worrying you." Shirou comforted Lili, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The 25th floor. The Water Capital. Although they were temporarily safe, this was still the Deep Zone.
"Miss Marie." Shirou looked at the mermaid. "Do you know a safe place where we can rest? We need to recover our mana."
"I do!" Marie pointed behind the waterfall. "There... is our secret base. Fels is there too."
"Fels is there as well?" Shirou's gaze sharpened. It seemed this wasn't just a chance encounter, but an arranged "meeting."
"Lead the way." Shirou stood up. Though his body was still a bit shaky, his eyes had regained their resolve. "As it happens, I have some accounts I want to settle with that skeleton gentleman (referring to the matter of being dropped down here)."
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Meanwhile. Dungeon 24th Floor, at the edge of the blasted tree-hole.
Several mysterious figures dressed in black robes appeared. They looked at the massive crater and the lingering traces of terrifying magical energy, falling into silence.
"Is this... the power of 'Infinite'?" one of them whispered, a hint of a shiver in their voice. "Is this kind of destructive power... really possible for a Level 2?"
"That idiot Dix, actually provoking a monster like this." Another snorted coldly.
"However, this proves the boy's value. If we can capture him and turn him into a 'key,' or use him as bait for the Xenos..."
"Don't be careless," the lead robed figure—a tall, masked woman (a high-ranking member of Evilus)—said coldly. "The boy isn't dead. He fell into the 25th floor. And... according to intelligence, the Xenos side seems to have contacted him already."
"Pass down the orders." A cruel light flashed in the woman's eyes. "Activate the backup entrance to 'Knossos.' Seal off all passages from the 25th floor to the 18th floor.
This time, it's not for capture.
It is—for the hunt.
Since he cannot be used by me, let him drown in the Water Capital along with those monsters."
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