"Bell is truly strong..."
"Didn't that Minotaur practically reach Level 3 already?"
"Was he that powerful from the beginning? And why is he apprenticing under Bete anyway?"
"It would make sense if it were Ais or Ryuu, but Bete? They have nothing in common, and their personalities clash terribly."
"In the end, Bell won, and that is what matters... Perhaps I should have handed him the weapon from the start instead of feigning indifference. But no—I feel that would have changed something essential. As long as it ended well, it's fine."
"That boy, thanks to old Zeus's upbringing, is the type of hero who rises no matter how shattered his spirit becomes. He is difficult for me to deal with because I can never truly break his resolve..."
"Regardless, if I leave him to Ais and Bete, I won't have to interact with him much. It doesn't matter."
"We are nearing the 59th floor. The battle against the Corrupted Spirit is close. Was our previous encounter merely a failed prototype? I wonder how powerful the original truly is."
"If Revis brings her along, she might finally grant me the death I crave."
●○●○●
The air, thick with stagnant humidity and a foul, bestial stench, formed a heavy shroud over the area.
If one listened closely, the echoes of murky water and the heavy breathing of monsters resonated through the gloom, sounding like predators licking their maws in anticipation of a kill. Long, twisted, yellowish-green bodies resembling giant serpents dominated the view. Elongated necks extended from thick, scaled torsos, ending in mouths that bloomed like vibrant but lethally poisonous flowers. The number of caterpillar-like monsters crawling nearby was ten times greater than could be counted.
The floor was carpeted in pulsating green flesh that emitted a nauseating scent of rot. This alien environment triggered an instinctive revulsion, blending the stench of death with the odor of decay.
From the reddish-purple petals blooming amidst the yellowish flesh walls, a viscous, honey-like liquid flowed. The scene mimicked carnivorous plants that lure prey with floral scents only to devour them. Organs resembling warts or suckers sat at the tips of countless tentacles, moving as if possessed by a private will. These tentacles, glistening with slime, swayed slowly in search of prey.
Every time the wet sound of tearing flesh echoed, the slime-stained tentacles thrashed violently, and the petals flashed mysteriously. Then, the damp sound of something being dragged across the ground returned.
It was a grotesque sight, far removed from any Dungeon floor known to adventurers—a true nightmare. In the center of this aberration stood a beautiful woman with a slender, well-defined figure.
She had striking short red hair and symmetrical features currently set in a look of annoyance. Her deep green eyes resembled a dense forest. She was tall, with a narrow waist and a firm chest that traced distinct feminine curves.
She wore revealing combat attire made of a thin fabric that clung to her skin. She lacked any leather armor, suggesting a reliance on pure agility. Yet, the garment could not hide her polished physique; instead, the thin cloth lent her an air of unintended seduction. Revis knit her brows in clear irritation.
Amidst the shrieks of dying monsters, Revis's slender, pale fingers picked up dark purple fragments mixed with ash and placed them in her mouth.
At that moment, the larval monsters surrounding her moved in unison. With strange cries, they vanished like a receding tsunami. Once the swarms were gone, a black shadow appeared at the edge of her vision.
"What are you doing?"
"Ein──can't you tell? I'm eating."
The figure was diminutive, clad in a dark cloak that completely obscured its body. It spoke with an eerie voice that sounded like several overlapping tones, while two red dots glowed mysteriously from beneath the hood.
Revis scowled at the voice, which made it impossible to discern the speaker's gender, and snorted before answering.
The ground where they stood was covered in mounds of ash. Amidst the debris lay glowing purple shards. Revis did not collect these Magic Stones—the cores of the monsters she slaughtered—for wealth, but solely for sustenance to increase her power as a "Creature."
"The Loki Familia has already headed toward the deep floors."
The figure called Ein spoke with a tone of dissatisfaction toward Revis, who continued her work silently and without enjoyment. The sharpened edge of the voice betrayed a clear underlying rage.
"Swift as always... Well, I have received the cursed weapon and the specialized magic items for the Sword Saint from the King of Death's follower. There is no need to delay any longer."
Revis, a "Monster" possessing the traits of an enhanced species who grew indefinitely by devouring Magic Stones, did nothing but prepare for battle. She spoke coldly, indifferent to the anger in Ein'S voice.
"Do you intend to sacrifice that many clones at once?!"
"What is the point of breeding them otherwise? I kept the special jewels of six individuals, so there is no issue."
"And you—don't tell me you can't fight the Sword Saint. She is the greatest obstacle. She might even kill the Magic Dragon, which is your trump card."
"──Damn it, I know that!!"
Ein raised his voice in frustration at Revis's biting words. Revis turned her back on Ein and began walking toward the depths of the hall.
She moved away from the green wall that continued to spit out man-eating flower monsters one by one, stopping before a gap in the fleshy wall. The area resembled a Floor Boss room. Massive fleshy lumps and a staggering amount of Magic Stones filled the chamber. In the center stood what looked like an altar, supported by pillars of reddish-purple flesh.
In the heart of those pillars, which throbbed like a human heart, a greatsword was embedded. The blade was stained with a profound blackness that suggested an ominous power, and it was strangely twisted.
What dripped from it was not blood—but viscous black droplets. These drops fell continuously as if they were a living entity with a will of its own. Revis drew the greatsword with a cold gaze.
At that moment, the surrounding walls trembled. Flesh rose from the ground, and countless tentacles erupted. The agitated green flesh surged toward Revis.
She surrendered without resistance as the tentacles coiled around her limbs. There was no pain from the pressure. The tentacles began to harden gradually until they covered her entire body like armor.
It was a suit of green flesh armor blessed by the Corrupted Spirit. Clad in it, Revis looked like a beast emerged from the abyss. As soon as the binding tentacles released her, a section of the wall split open to reveal a new passage. Revis stepped forward.
"I will kill the Sword Saint on the 59th floor."
●○●○●
On the 50th floor of the deep Dungeon, at a ridge far from the temporary tents of the base camp, Bete stood at the edge of a massive, solid rock, staring silently into the Great Fall.
"What do you want, Ais?"
His amber eyes were fixed on the vast cavity stretching below. At the end of his gaze, hordes of monsters undoubtedly swarmed. One could not fathom the number of creatures lurking within the holes riddling the walls.
Ais, having approached from behind, stood beside Bete. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
She was a beautiful girl. Her flowing golden hair shimmered in the reflected light, and her skin was a translucent white. She wore light, predominantly white armor with a skirt-like garment. Two swords hung at her waist; both were clearly first-class weapons.
A warrior capable of standing beside Al. This was Bete's true assessment of Ais. While there were those currently stronger than her, like Finn and Gareth, her obsession with strength was closer to AL's than theirs—or even Bete's own.
"What are you looking at?"
"It's obvious. The nest of the filthy monsters we're raiding tomorrow."
"Bete, why did you take Al's brother as your apprentice?"
This was the question she had asked days ago, before the battle between Bell and the Minotaur, and had received no answer. The image of that boy, who had surpassed the limits of adventure, remained etched in Ais's mind.
"──There's no grand reason. He had no talent, but I thought he might grow. That's all."
"No talent?"
That couldn't be right. His victory against a Minotaur that far outclassed him, and those limit-breaking stats—such things were unattainable without talent rivaling his brother Al.
"It's a matter of personality and technique, though his compatibility with the Blessing seems good. That boy is different from you and me; he wasn't meant to be a warrior... or so I thought."
"But that boy exceeded my expectations. He shattered his shell."
His amber eyes held a fierce resolve—he could not afford to lose to his own student.
●○●○●
The sound of air being sliced echoed as a massive silver sword swung. The blade moved with incredible force, kicking up sand from the ground. A girl in dancer-like combat gear that revealed her tanned skin swung a greatsword as long as she was tall.
Her swordsmanship relied more on overflowing power than technical finesse. Yet, her strikes were so heavy and fast they could shatter an opponent's weapon along with their body.
"Mmm, without the Dual Greatswords, I don't really feel like myself~"
Excitement was evident on Tiona's face as she swung her new weapon, "Blade Roland." It possessed the "Unbreakable" attribute, specifically prepared to face the larval monsters whose acidic fluids could melt even adamantite.
Tiona swung the sword in every direction with a speed that left afterimages, seemingly unfazed by the weight of a weapon taller than herself. Her tanned body glowed with heat, and steam seemed to rise from her skin.
"──Go to sleep soon. The raid is tomorrow."
"Oh, Al!"
The tall young man who approached the exhausted Tiona spoke with a tone of mild surprise. He was handsome, with delicate features, snow-white hair, and sharp eyes that he narrowed as if sleepy.
Seeing him, Tiona beamed and ran toward him. Though she was older than Al, she acted like a younger sister doting on an older brother.
"But I can't stay still! I feel like my body is all tense and wired up."
Tiona was friendly with everyone, but she made a special effort to be close to Al. Unlike other Amazons, Al felt no predatory threat from her, so he didn't treat her coldly. He let out a soft sigh and replied to the girl who had clung to his back.
"──You mean, Bell?"
"Yes!!"
Tiona nodded vigorously, a happy smile plastered on her face.
"He was exactly like you, Al, when you fought that baby dragon even though you knew it was way stronger than you!"
While Al wore an indescribable expression, as if he had swallowed something bitter, Tiona smiled with flushed cheeks, looking up at the ceiling of the great cavern.
"Tell me, do you still have no desire to be a hero, Al?"
Suddenly, her usual playfulness vanished, replaced by a quiet, still expression no one else in the Familia had ever seen. It was a look tinged with melancholy, revealing a hidden sorrow deep in her heart.
"Yes. I have no desire to be a hero, and I don't think I'm capable of being a clown like Argonaut."
"I see..."
The moment passed quickly. She soon regained her usual smile. Al said nothing, silently staring ahead. Then Tiona grinned broadly and stood beside him.
"──Someday. Someday, surely."
"Just like you made me live a life that feels like the hero stories I dreamed of... I'll make you laugh, Al. I promise."
──────────────────────────────────────────────────
Notes:
Al's marketing title is: Argonaut Alter.
The clown who cannot be a hero and thus produces comedy → ARGONAUT.
The clown who cannot produce a tragedy and can only be a hero → Al.
Tiona (despite the negative stigma of being an Amazon) is someone Al deems worthy of spending time with, even without needing to stir up his sorrows.
Since Al is the type who enjoys frustrating others based on their backgrounds, Riviera—whose past he doesn't know well—is in a safe position where she is difficult to target.
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