"...We've arrived."
Selma-san murmured as the First Unit reached our destination.
Today we had come to the Great Southern Labyrinth to conquer the ninety-third floor.
Following the route we'd established in advance, it had taken us several hours to reach the door to the boss area.
This morning we'd received cheers from the Silver Moon Rabbit of the Night Sky members just like when heading to the ninety-second floor—but that already felt like a distant memory. Time seemed to have passed far more slowly than usual.
And that was only natural.
The ninety-third floor wasn't as bad as the ninety-first, but it still had an extremely high number of magical beasts. To avoid unnecessary battles, we'd stayed constantly vigilant the entire time.
Thanks to that, physical fatigue wasn't too severe—but mental exhaustion had definitely built up.
"Good work, everyone. We can't afford to dawdle too long, but for now let's prepare and recover our focus. We'll rotate watch duty, right Selma?"
"Yes. That's fine."
Rain-san suggested a brief rest, and Selma-san agreed.
"Then I'll take first watch. Rear guard—rest properly. You too, Orun?"
"Yeah, I'm good."
Will immediately volunteered to keep watch.
He then named me—but I understood his intention and didn't refuse. I moved a short distance from the boss area door to keep an eye on the surroundings.
"Finally at the climax of the ninety-third floor conquest, huh. Let's stay sharp until the end, Orun."
While maintaining vigilance, Will spoke to me.
"Yeah... Like we discussed in the briefing—this enemy's nature is completely different from anything we've faced before. If the opening plan works, it'll make things even harder for you in combat. But in the end, we'll be relying on you—so no pressure."
"Haha! I know. No matter the situation, I'll give it everything I've got. Just make sure you don't screw up your part, Orun."
"Right. I'll set the stage so you can do your absolute best."
"Looking forward to it. I'm counting on you again, ace."
After that, we took a short break before final preparations: everyone donned cold-weather gear.
Thick clothing could hinder combat, so finding the right balance was tricky—but this level of protection wouldn't interfere.
"Ugh... so hot... It's so humid..."
Lucre grumbled while wrapped in her cold-weather cloak.
The ninety-third floor was warm enough to evoke a tropical region, with extremely high humidity.
Wearing cold-weather gear in such an environment naturally made it stiflingly hot.
My own coat had changed from three-quarter sleeves to full-length, and the thicker fabric trapped heat even more.
Even without moving, sweat threatened to break out.
Still—if we wanted this strategy to succeed, heavier clothing was necessary. So for this battle, this was our attire.
"Just bear with it a little, Lucre. Don't lose focus."
"Yeah, I'm fine! I know it's tough for you too, Rain-san—but I'm counting on you!"
"Ehe. Leave it to big sis!"
Rain-san puffed out her chest confidently in response to Lucre.
There was no sign of strain in her.
In this battle, Rain-san would likely serve as the linchpin.
Seeing her usual big-sister confidence was reassuring.
This should be fine.
"...Everyone ready?"
Selma-san turned to us all, checking our preparedness.
We nodded in unison.
"Then let's go. Time to slay the boss!"
"「「「Ooooh!!!!」」」"
◇
The moment I touched the door separating the labyrinth interior from the boss area, it slowly began to open.
Watching the scene, I let out a large "...Fuu."
Then I circulated ki throughout my body.
"—[Seal Release: Culmination]"
I released everything that bound me.
As the door opened and the boss area's interior came into view, I immediately assessed the situation.
It was unchanged from when the *Golden Dawn* had come here about a year ago.
Grass grew thick across the ground, with widely spaced low shrubs scattered around.
And at the center of the boss area lay our target.
A magical beast so massive its body resembled an enormous log—coiled, glaring at us with a triangular head and a long, flickering red tongue like flames—the "White Serpent."
"The White Serpent is at the center of the boss area! As planned—teleport everyone!"
Confirming the situation faster than anyone, I quickly constructed the spell formula in my clear mind.
While confirming that the four others had drawn white dagger-shaped magical tools, I did the same and activated the magic.
"[Space Leap]!"
My spell instantly teleported the four of them. They reappeared along the outer wall of the boss area, spaced evenly to surround the White Serpent.
『Good—everyone, stab the daggers into the ground!』
Selma-san's voice echoed in our heads via [Mental Link].
As instructed, we plunged the white daggers into the ground immediately after teleporting.
From the handles of the five daggers embedded at five points in the boss area, thick white smoke of cold air billowed out forcefully. In moments the entire boss area was shrouded in the white mist.
Immediately after, through Selma-san's support magic our body temperatures rose further. Then—Selma-san, Rain-san, and Lucre activated spells, whipping up wind that turned the boss area's steamy heat into a winter landscape in an instant.
The White Serpent was a snake-type magical beast.
Magical beasts often shared traits with surface animals.
So we'd created an extremely cold space—the natural enemy of reptiles.
This strategy was inspired by our recent joint battle with Shion. We hadn't used it when the *Golden Dawn* defeated the boss here.
There were uncertainties—whether extreme cold would affect a floor boss like the White Serpent, and the downside that our own movements would slow in the freezing environment—but we'd judged the potential benefit worth the risk.
Only a few seconds had passed since we'd entered the boss area.
The White Serpent still showed no major movement.
By the time the wind died down, the scenery had completely transformed—the boss area now resembled a winter wonderland.
Now then—how effective would this strategy prove?
"Chaotic Edge!"
The first to move once the white mist cleared was Will.
He swung his double-bladed sword, sending a slash mixed with various magical energies toward the White Serpent.
The serpent's reaction was noticeably slower than what I remembered.
『No change to the scales, but reactions are dulled. Could be individual variation, but we can continue the battle as planned.』
I immediately shared the new information with everyone via telepathy.
『Understood. Continue combat. Rain, Lucre—begin attacks! Will and Orun—aggro control as much as possible!』
『『Roger!』』
『Got it! Orun—let's smash this snake!』
『Yeah!』
Following Selma-san's instructions, Rain-san and Lucre unleashed magic centered on water- and ice-based spells at the White Serpent.
I transformed Schwarzhaize via [Magic Sword Fusion: Alteration] into a magic sword and closed the distance in a flash.
Before the White Serpent could react, I unleashed my maximum slash—combining [Instantaneous Ability Surge Impact] and [Gravity Manipulation].
I'd gone all-out from the opening strike, hoping to end it quickly—but it wasn't that easy.
The White Serpent's scales were the polar opposite of the black dragon's.
While the black dragon's had been hard and rigid, the White Serpent's were extremely soft and flexible.
My slash felt as if its force had been absorbed and dispersed.
Despite the softness, its surface remained incredibly tough—my maximum strike dealt almost no damage.
And because it had fully received the attack, my movement halted momentarily in place.
The White Serpent wasn't naive enough to miss such an opening.
Magic surged from the ground—sharp, pointed trunks erupted and rushed toward me at terrifying speed.
"Kuh!"
I immediately regained my footing and kicked off a mana platform to leap away from the advancing trunks.
A massive, branchless tree now stood between me and the White Serpent—riddled with countless holes.
From those holes, a barrage of razor-sharp small branches fired toward me.
"[Form V: Mont Fünf]!"
I'd already seen this attack before, so I was prepared.
I curled my body and used myself as a shield to endure the onslaught.
"Look over here, snake bastard!"
While the White Serpent's attention was fixed on me, Will had closed in right in front of it and brought his double-bladed sword down on its head.
The serpent—slowed by the freezing environment—couldn't fully evade. The strike landed cleanly.
Even with its shock-absorbing surface, a direct hit to the head couldn't dissipate everything.
Will's slash—powered by my [Instantaneous Ability Surge Impact]—slammed the White Serpent's head into the ground.
But as expected of a floor boss—it retaliated even while its head was pinned.
Its tail whipped toward Will with pinpoint accuracy.
In midair with no footing, Will couldn't dodge.
If it connected, he'd take heavy damage.
But deflecting attacks was child's play for Will.
Even in midair with no leverage, it made no difference.
Slowed by the cold and my [Gravity Manipulation], the tail's strike was parried effortlessly by Will.
I proposed via telepathy that he use [Reflective Wall] to disengage. When he agreed, I activated the spell.
The gray barrier touched us—Will and I gained distance from the White Serpent.
As if waiting for exactly that moment, Rain-san and Lucre's magic assaulted the serpent once more.