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

"...These six locations...no, which area of ​​Orario does this 'circle' correspond to?"

"It's the city center of Orario—or more precisely, the center surrounded by that 'big hole' in the underground city. It's about a circle larger than the central plaza."

Finn answered Grace's question.

Anachiti placed an Orario map, the same size as the design of the artificial maze, over it, which, as Finn had said, perfectly overlapped with the city center.

At this point, it is self-evident without any further explanation.

Regardless of whether it is the enemy's target.

Or it could be a plan that the "urban destroyers" intend to carry out.

"Is the enemy planning to use an astonishing 'great magic'—an ancient technique used to annihilate a powerful evil dragon—to destroy the entire Orario?"

Raul's words, spoken with a livid face, echoed throughout the entire office.

The enemy's "Fairy Spirit Clone" is incredibly powerful.

If their purpose is not merely to cause chaos, but rather to transform them all into "hearths" possessing immense "magic," thereby inciting large-scale acts of destruction—

"...I saw 'seven' large containers in the man-made maze."

During her first attack on the artificial labyrinth, Ais encountered several large containers in the plaza of Rives—equipment used to cultivate "jewel fetuses".

Ais recalled the scene, her voice trembling as she voiced her concerns. Grace then added:

"Aside from the bull-type 'Fairy Spirit Clone' that Laozi, Tiona, and others defeated together... the number is indeed the same."

Based on the clues at hand, we can deduce that the number of "fairy spirit clones" is "six".

This exactly matches the number of large containers that Ais witnessed.

"So what's going on? Is the enemy not planning to 'defend to the death,' but rather 'counting down' the time for a 'bomb' to detonate...!?"

Tiony's explanation of the current situation is quite insightful.

As the room fell silent, Loki, who had remained completely still, finally spoke:

"I have already confirmed with Uranus. If the 'Filthy Fairy' has already devoured several ancient great fairies, are those clones even capable of activating 'spells'—"

As Loki began to explain, Rivera used the "blood-stained pen" to draw more red lines on the map.

Add several simplified patterns to a large ring that connects six circles.

This forms a giant magic circle with six "hearths" as its starting point and six concentric rings.

"The answer is that it's 80-90% likely to start."

This is the great secret technique "Six Rings of Immortal Essence".

The ultimate annihilation spell that once destroyed the evil dragon—its power is probably second only to "divine power," making it arguably the most powerful "destructive miracle" in the lower realm.

"Another name for this technique is 'Heavenly Gate'. The method of activation is to have the fairy spirits stay in a large-scale altar, and use the fairy spirits as a medium to summon the 'Heavenly Pillar', which is second only to the power of the heavens—'divine power'. It can be said to be a finishing move that requires the use of several powerful fairy spirits to activate... no, it should be called a 'foul technique'."

Raul wasn't the only one speechless for a moment; Tiona and the others had the same reaction.

A power second only to "divine power".

For the Nether, which was then ravaged by monsters, this was the only "exception" that was specially permitted.

The scale mentioned was too large for the minds of everyone present to process immediately.

Bert raised a rather sharp question regarding Loki's explanation.

How powerful is it?

"It can uproot Orario and the surrounding land."

Everyone except Finn was stunned by the answer.

This is why Tiona and the others couldn't find any documents about the evil dragon.

It's not that the ancients didn't leave any records.

Instead, after the spell was activated, all observers disappeared into the bright light.

"The enemy not only wants to destroy the city... but also plans to make Orario 'disappear'."

Finn spoke those words slowly.

Of all those present, only Bert had the voice of a certain hateful man flash through his mind.

It was the "White-Haired Demon"—the freak Olivas Actor—whom he had confronted in the 24th-floor grain storehouse.

Destroy the labyrinthine city.

This statement is not exaggerated, threatening, or joking in any way.

After the six immortal spirits resonate and amplify their power, they will be able to destroy everything located above the grand spell.

When the "Tower of Babel" and Orario, which "cover" the dungeon, are removed, the "Great Hole" that breeds monsters will be fully revealed and reappear in the world.

This is the plan to destroy the city devised by the "Urban Destroyers" and the underground forces.

There was no sign of the sunset outside the window; darkness had completely enveloped the entire city.

Against a dark backdrop, Finn announces to Ais and the others:

"An emergency order is being issued now; the situation is urgent and cannot be delayed."

*

That day—

Some citizens heard a sound.

"……"singing"?"

That was a chorus of singing coming from the depths of the earth.

The six "songs" merged into one, transforming into a melody that was both calming and chilling.

Night falls.

The "prelude to destruction" played quietly under the moonlight.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 12, Chapter 4: Nameless Heroes

The birds sang joyfully.

The sounds rose and fell.

I've lost count of how many times the sunrise has entered the room through the window.

Even as the morning light illuminated the entire room, Lefia remained unmoved.

She is still in darkness.

At this moment, Lefia couldn't distinguish front from back, left from right, or even up from down. There wasn't a ray of light here, leaving her completely lost. Although the wounds in her heart had scabbed over, they quickly reopened, spurting blood. Her heart was being torn apart a thousand times by a blade called despair.

The heart that keeps getting hurt and crying out asks her a question.

Is it really okay to continue like this?

Is it really a good idea to just stand aside and face the end?

This question has been echoing in the darkness.

With a dead heart, Lefia remained slumped on the ground, her empty eyes fixed on the floor, letting the morning sun illuminate her profile.

"Lefia, I'm coming in."

A voice came from outside the door.

The visitor was Loki.

The main god, who was striding forward, stopped in front of Lefia, who had transformed into a doll.

"Lefia...I have something to tell you."

Loki knelt down on one knee, looking Lefia in the eye.

Words flowed calmly from his mouth.

"I understand how you feel, and I may have to say some harsh things to you, but... we hope you can pull yourself together."

Loki spoke to the elf who was unresponsive, with lifeless eyes, and looked like a cripple.

She concealed her guilt as the chief deity in her words, displaying the demeanor befitting a god.

Because what she brought was not the "water" that could nourish a parched soul.

Instead, it's about igniting a "fire" in a barren heart.

"Regarding... the 'masked man' who slaughtered the Dionysian Familia in front of you."

The girl, who still resembles a doll, shuddered.

And he clenched his limp and powerless hands into fists.

*

"Is Loki alright...?"

Tiona murmured to herself.

Ais and the others are currently standing in front of Lefia's bedroom.

Half an hour had passed since Loki went inside alone.

"To conquer that demonic realm, we absolutely need Lefia's power."

This is a sentence Loki said to Ais and the others before.

Some thought it was too cruel, but everyone understood that the Supreme God's words were not without reason. Finn and the others needed Lefia—the [Thousand Spirits] needed to return to the front lines.

Ais, Tiona, Tione, and Lefia's roommate Elfie, who were standing in front of the door, could only wait patiently. They were quite frustrated by their powerlessness, and, as the name suggests, all they could do was pray to God.

"!"

Just then—

A "sound" came from the room.

And it's a genuine "scream".

It sounded like water being forced into a broken water pipe, forcing out sounds from a throat that no longer knew how to use.

While Ais and the others were at a loss, screams rang out several more times.

No one could understand what those incoherent screams were trying to express.

However, Ais felt that it also resembled a "roar".

At the same time, it can be confirmed that it was a "response" given by the gods.

After a while, the surroundings returned to tranquility.

Ais and the others held their breath, staring at the door before them—

“──!!”

"Lefia!"

With a screeching sound of hinges turning, Loki was the first to step out, followed closely by Lefia.

After seeing the disheveled girl walking out of the room with her head down, looking completely different from before, Tiona and the others gathered around her.

"Lefia! Lefia!"

"Calm down, Elfie."

"Lefia... are you alright now?"

Faced with Elfie wiping away tears and calling her name repeatedly, Tione trying to calm Elfie down, and Tiona speaking with concern, Lefia, still keeping her head down, replied:

"...Um...I'm sorry to have worried everyone."

The response was quite clear, but perhaps due to several days of being distraught, Rafia's voice was very hoarse, a far cry from her usual familiar tone. Through her hair, one could see that her eyes were red and swollen, and her face was pale, making her look very haggard.

However, one can sense a sense of "determination" in it.

A will that could revive a heartbroken girl.

A belief that could be described as tragic or heroic.

Tiona and the others unconsciously shut their mouths and silently made way for the girl.