Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

The opponent carefully studied and analyzed all the intelligence gathered from the disastrous first attack and the recent surprise attack by the "elf forces," transforming it into the basis for this strategic operation.

Sanatos gazed at the profile of the dwarf hero reflected in the water on the pedestal, and as an enemy, he couldn't help but feel amazed and admiring.

"San, Sanatos!? We can't stop the enemy's advance...! Not only the monsters, but even our soldiers, who fought side by side, are falling one after another! If this continues...!?"

"Children going to the front lines, the 'keys' have all been handed over to you, haven't they? As long as the enemy doesn't take the 'keys' away, everything will be fine. After all, there are 'doors' made of the hardest metal, orogen, blocking the way, and the enemy can only disperse a limited number of troops."

Sanatos had already confiscated all the "keys" from the soldiers stationed throughout the labyrinth and kept them in this hall.

With their base under attack, Thanatos and his companions now most concerned about the enemy stealing their "key," just as they had been robbed by Rivera using the power of the "elf forces."

If more "keys" were taken, the artificial maze would be at the enemy's mercy. That's why he took precautions. Although Baka can operate it remotely, it still restricts the soldiers' freedom of movement, so it can be said to be a last resort.

Currently, only Thanatos and Reeves are permitted to possess the "key." Since encountering the Loki Familia carries the risk of instant death, even high-ranking officers are not exempt.

Sanatos braced himself on the pedestal with both hands and swung his right leg back and forth.

Seeing that the deity was acting as if nothing was wrong, the male cadre who came to report was very confused.

"What really interests me is their focused 'speed'—"

Sanatos glanced once more at the adventurers reflected on the pedestal.

This speed of advance is presumably based on capturing Sanatos and other organization leaders—but it seems that the [Hero] has already deduced the "location" of the "Fairy Clone".

Sanatos narrowed his eyes quickly.

Do you know the opponent's intrusion paths and the number of attackers?

"I know. Besides the northwest, three forces have invaded the 'gate' on the first floor, and a group of monsters are also attacking from the 18th floor."

"Those toys from Ikelos, right...? That 'Hero' actually teaming up with a monster is what surprised me the most, but... attacking from both the top and bottom levels of the artificial labyrinth... are they planning to ambush us?"

Sanatos ran his slender fingers over his androgynous features, deep in thought.

(There are currently four enemy forces... The "keys" that our side lost include the two taken in the last battle, and then the two from the heretical <monster> forces that the Dragon Girl and the others used... The numbers match, but...)

Looking back at the number of Loki's Familia and the Heretics' squads that invaded the artificial labyrinth during the previous battle for Labyrinth Street, there was no doubt about the enemy's numbers. However, Thanatos had a lingering doubt.

There was also a "key" that Thanatos and his associates couldn't track down and whose whereabouts were unknown—

"The god Thanatos!? A new enemy force has appeared from the twelfth floor!?"

"—So they've come after all."

Ignoring his subordinates' screams, Sanatos wore a blank smile and turned to say:

"Who are the enemy members?"

Before he could even ask, as Sanatos looked at the reflection in the pedestal, the male messenger, his face ashen, shouted:

"It is [Nine Demon Princesses]"And [Fiora]!

"[The wind blows]"】!

As soon as Ais stepped into the maze, she unleashed her maximum power with [Wind Spirit Dash].

"You'd better stick with Ais no matter what!"

""yes!""

The voices of Riveria and her bandmates could be heard from behind.

As if propelled by the sound, Ais rushed through the stone passage.

Facing the enormous doorway in her path, she stretched out her right hand, which was tightly gripping the "key," and let it open.

The "key" that Ais possesses was given to him by Hermes after they negotiated terms with Kos.

In other words, it is the "Daedalus Orb" that Freya, who sent the goddess Ishtar back to heaven, hid in her hand.

Despite the faction including the now-deceased enemy executive Valetta Grede, Thanatos and his associates were never able to track down the whereabouts of the final "key".

This fifth unit caught the Dark Faction off guard, who mistakenly believed there were only four raiding units.

"Ais, it's okay for you to keep your distance from us! Just run around wherever you want!"

"Um!"

The unit consisted only of members of the Loki Familia, mostly elves led by Riveria, all of whom were Lv. 3 or higher and had high speed. This highly mobile unit had only Ais running ahead, opening as many "doors" as she saw, and cutting into the deepest part of the labyrinth at an astonishing speed.

"Don't miss even the slightest anomaly! Report anything that reacts to Ais's 'wind'—that's our primary objective!"

In this operation, Ais was assigned the mission of "detector <radar>".

This means that she, who has the blood of the immortal essence flowing through her body, can unleash "magic" on a wide scale, running around the maze to capture the reactions emitted by the "filthy immortal essence".

(Finn predicted that the "fairy clones" would be located between the eighth and tenth floors...! In other words, the "middle floor" of the man-made maze!)

Finn estimates that the "Fairy Clone" is likely hiding on a floor equivalent to the "middle level" within the artificial maze currently built on the 18th floor of the underground city.

This hypothesis is based on intelligence obtained during previous invasions by Riveria and other "elf forces." When the troops reached the twelfth floor, they discovered that the enemy soldiers and monsters were most concentrated on the eighth to tenth floors.

If Finn and the heretics are the main team conquering the dungeon and hunting down the main characters (such as Thanatos), then Ais and the others are the intelligence team searching for the location of the "Fairy Doppelganger" bomb.

Ais and her group launched a surprise attack some time after Finn and his main team had finished their assault, infiltrating the labyrinth through the entrance to the 12th floor of the dungeon, which they had already discovered.

—Listen up, Ais.

Finding the "immortal clone" is naturally the top priority, but it's okay if we can't find it in the worst-case scenario.

—Your task is…

Ais remembered the orders Finn had given her before the battle.

In addition to fulfilling her duties as a "detector," Ais also has to play another important "role."

"I'm going to—lure that person out!"

Illustration 54233

"Arya?"

Rives, who was preparing to set off to annihilate the invaders, frowned.

"Yes, yes! The forces of [Sword Princess] and [Nine Demon Princesses] are from the twelfth floor...!"

The henchman sent by the dark faction, both fearful and anxious, rattled off the message in rapid succession.

"The god Thanatos has also instructed you to deal with them as your top priority...!"

"...Oh, I see."

Rives seemed to understand halfway through the conversation, and said with resentment and anger.

She correctly saw through the enemy's purpose: to force Ais to reveal the "fairy spirit's" true form.

Revis knew that Ais's maximum wind damage was sufficient to function as a "detector." She had personally witnessed Ais summon an incredibly high-powered "strong wind" within this artificial maze, effectively revealing her location to her scattered companions. Even after crossing just a few floors, the fairies would inevitably react to Ais's wind. And once the fairies started causing trouble, they would be difficult to control, potentially leaking crucial information about their location to the enemy.

From the perspective of the artificial maze faction, they absolutely cannot abandon Ais and the others.

Apart from Revis, no one can handle the swordswoman Ais who is shrouded in "strong wind".

"Drawing my 'attention' to Arya is also part of the operation, right...?"

Revis, who was originally heading to the upper level of the artificial labyrinth to quell the adventurers' riot, now turns and heads in another direction.

It must be a treacherous scheme by that little race.

Revis recalled the appearance of the man she had fought many times, clicked her tongue, and hurried to the twelfth floor where Ais was.

Illustration 54240

"The dark faction and the monsters will be busy dealing with Ais and the others."

Finn explained as the troops rushed along.

"In fact, that's precisely why I entrusted the troops to Rivera's command. Whether from the perspective of keeping Ais in check or from the point of view of how she once disrupted this labyrinth, she is the only one who can command the special forces."

"In that case, Miss Ais and the others..."

"In essence, it becomes 'bait.' As long as the monster goes to intercept Ais and the others, the risk of the other units being defeated one by one will be significantly reduced."

Finn explained his battle plan to Amid, who was running alongside him, in detail.

Under Tione's command, Tiona and the others quickly swept away the monsters that appeared from countless side paths, while Finn continued to keep his mind racing.

"If the monster comes to our side, we'll retreat at full speed. If we can buy some time, Ais's 'Wind' will be able to find the location of the 'Fairy Clone'."

Finn intended to force either Thanatos or Rives to choose between them.

Which side they choose to face depends on their opponents. Finn believes they will choose the former to deal with Ais, but it's hard to say if their opponents calmly and erratically make mistakes.

Therefore, he made sure each unit was properly prepared. These preparations would prevent the entire unit from being wiped out even if it fled.

He no longer makes trade-offs, but pursues the most perfect possibility, rather than just the best.

Finn didn't know whether this change in thinking was "growth" or "regression".

But compared to taking a safe path with sacrifices from the start, pursuing ideals by treading a steep and treacherous path will be more difficult, painful, and meaningful.

When you fail, it's just that "perfect" has been reduced to "best".

When success is achieved, the "noblest ideal" will blossom and bear fruit.

Given this, the [Hero] is willing to choose the harsh path.

Finn developed this way of thinking after experiencing many things.

If the god Loki were here, he would surely say:

This is indeed the "growth" of the kin <Finn>.

"In any case, we must now race against time."

The vastness of the "artificial labyrinth Knossos" rivals that of the dungeons up to the first half of the middle level.

Faced with this vast area, Finn chose not a protracted war or a protracted war, but a "short decisive battle".

"Run! Advance! Run as many steps as you can, every second faster! Our advance will whittle down the enemy's remaining lives!"

""yes!!""

Finn had Amed and the other healers stand by and loudly encouraged the entire army.

"We've found the entrance to the dungeon!"

"Take over immediately! Stop stalling and find out the location!"

"Okay, okay!"

The blow that shattered the rock created a path between the stone passage and the original underground labyrinth, the dungeon.

The adventurers arrived outside the opened "door," where Bert shouted at everyone. The rabbit-woman Lakta frantically spread out a map of the dungeon. She located their position based on distinctive terrain features, saying, "We are currently on the third floor of the dungeon, in the northeast area!"

The third level of the man-made maze.

Led by Bert, the orc force surged down the floors with astonishing speed, reaching this "outside" landscape. While not the path to the "Fairy's" location or the lower levels, the entrance connecting to the dungeon would serve as a useful escape route. To allow for more operational options, Bert meticulously issued orders.

The dungeon with open pathways has a simple maze structure, and the building elements are light blue.

Given the current location of the artificial maze, it's highly likely to be the third level of the upper area.

The entrance and exit are located in a small cave.Just then, a few novice adventurers were hunting monsters at the edge of the floor. They were startled to see the Loki Familia burst through the wall, and stood frozen in place, speechless, along with the goblins. The extremely confused Lv. 1 party was then yelled at by a Lv. 6 werewolf, "What are you looking at? Get out of here!" "I-I'm sorry—!?" they were rudely and forcefully driven out of the cave, fleeing side-by-side with the monsters.

"I'm going to the next place! The rest of you are on your own! If you can't keep up, I'll leave you behind!"

"I understand!!—Morel! Go back to the surface and contact the reserve forces of Ganesha and Hermes! Establish a supply route from this area!"

"receive!"

The cat-man knew exactly what to do, even though the werewolf's instructions sounded like nothing more than malicious words, and simply roared back.

In place of Bert, the vanguard who had consistently stood at the forefront of the troops with his fierce breakthrough ability, the deputy, Anachiti, who held the actual command of the troops, quickly issued instructions one after another. She set up "pillars" to prevent the "door" from closing and also asked the members of the Loki Familia Level 2 to convey the orders to the reserve forces.

Before her companions could disappear into the distance of the underground city, she went to catch up with Bert, who was leading the way on another route.

"—Please pay the price with my sacrifice! God Thanatos—!"

As for the follow-up personnel who were some distance away from Bert and the other advance troops...

In front of Raul's troops, the Death Apostle triggered a chain of self-destructing flames.

"Ugh...!?"

"Ugh, ugh ......!?"

Their thorough pre-planned self-destruction strategy ensured that they did not suffer any direct harm.