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

A head of blood-red hair flashed into my mind.

That's the person who threatened to sever ties with me today—no, he's a weirdo.

Ais also silently ignited her fighting spirit within her.

"—Listen to me, everyone."

Ten minutes before the operation began.

The person who calmed the commotion with a single sentence and captured the attention of all the adventurers was Finn.

"The attack is about to begin. As previously announced, each unit will proceed along the designated routes to attack the artificial maze, heading separately to the tenth floor. The objective is to defeat the six 'Fairy Clone' units."

Accompanied by the elven royal mage and the dwarven warrior, the dwarves' voices sounded calm and collected.

The "eye crystal" that shimmered in his hand also carried these words deep into the earth.

Everyone in the maze-like streets or underground city was listening intently to what he had to say.

"Let me state upfront that this battle is not about wealth or fame. We will go to the battlefield in secret, to fight to the death with no reward. Those who fall along the way will only have their heroic deeds engraved on tombstones without anyone knowing—like the martyrs of the Dionysian Clan."

The name of this "family" was conveyed through the "eye crystal".

Whether on the surface or underground, many people lowered their heads upon hearing this, trying to hide the bitterness in their hearts.

This also includes healers such as Amid from the Dean Clan, as well as members of the Loki Clan's Second Army, such as Kos and Navi.

Even Annaquite, who is usually very strict with herself, had the same reaction.

Raul, who happened to be standing next to her and saw this, wanted to offer some words of comfort, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to say anything and just swallowed his thoughts back.

A wound that has been slow to heal.

Endless regret.

Fear and unease at the thought of following the same path as them.

The budding emotions, which could not be concealed by bluffing, left the adventurers speechless.

However──

"—But the lives lost so far will not have been sacrificed in vain, nor will the lives about to be lost. I will never let anyone's death be meaningless!"

After hearing that sentence shouted out loud.

I could feel the will contained in those words.

Raul, Anachiti, and the members of the Loki Familia all suddenly looked up.

"If anyone survives by the sacrifice of others, they must take up arms and fight to the very end! We are warriors forced to face even greater hardships at the cost of the lives of others!! We must prove the meaning of the lives of those who perished with our own lives!!"

Annaquite and the others finally understood that this was not only a message to all the soldiers, but also an encouragement to themselves.

At the same time, using the "mission" to persuade the survivors who saved their lives by abandoning the Dionysian Clan is tantamount to "an answer to the dead."

"There is no such thing as atonement here!! Nor is there a judgment!! What adventurer would expect such an outcome! Everyone has only one wish! That is—'to beat those absurd, wicked gods to a pulp!'"

"!!"

"The names and achievements of those who have risen to the stars will live forever in our hearts. Let us go and win a resounding victory!!"

Annaquite clenched her fists tightly.

A surge of passionate emotion welled up in Raul's heart.

This speech instilled high morale in the Loki Familia members, bestowed holy blessings upon the healers of the Dean Clan, granted the blacksmiths of the Hephaestus Familia a fiery flame, and gave the warriors of the Ganesha Familia unwavering resolve.

Tiona and Tione express their longing for their deceased companion through their fists.

Bert transforms the girls' blood and tears into "scars," revealing their ferocious "fangs."

Ais imprinted her vow in her golden eyes.

Even the first-level adventurers could feel the surging rage.

"Now, history is about to repeat itself! But we must rely on our own two hands to fight against a threat that could destroy the world! Just like the heroes of yesteryear who protected humanity!"

Its name is "The Sacred Tale of the Labyrinth".

It contains the true historical stories that took place in this labyrinthine city. It is also a story about heroes who stood up to protect the land, their people, their honor, and their loved ones, even sacrificing their own lives.

All the "great achievements" accomplished along the way are included in it.

"That's right, this is a story that will not be told by future generations! This war has nothing to do with wealth or fame! Let us become 'unsung heroes' and save the world!!"

"!!"

The hero hereby declares.

Next, another "myth" will be woven.

Inheriting the will of heroes throughout history—recreating the "heroic myth".

"After a thousand years, adventurers will once again become the cornerstone of peace in the lower realm!"

Furthermore, the speech concluded with the title "Story".

"Let's write a brand new sacred tale here!!"

"Ugh ugh ...

The sound reached the heavens.

The sound shook the earth.

Bert howled, Tiona and Tione barked, and the battle cries of the adventurers echoed through the heavens. The gods, watching from afar, all imprinted the figures of the Familia in their eyes.

The deafening roar pierced the ground, even reaching those hidden underground.

—Bring it on!

It was as if one could hear the labyrinth, now transformed into a "demon city," laughing loudly, its melody carried up by the fairies.

—I'm going to beat you all to a pulp right now.

The adventurers roared, exuding a spirit of fervor and passion.

"!!"

Just then, accompanied by a flash of silver light, came the sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath.

Ais raised her longsword to the sky, and everyone present followed suit, raising their weapons high as well.

The elven maiden who closed her eyes to offer a prayer was also moved by the roaring torrent.

"Operation commence! All troops, assault! The target is—the Demon Castle Knossos!!"

The war that would never be celebrated by future generations, a war that gambled the fate of the world, officially began.

The adventurers shouted in unison and launched an assault on the terrifying dark labyrinth.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 12 Chapter 5 Final War

Contrary to the roars and noisy footsteps of the adventurers, the battle began in complete silence. The adventurers jumped into the "passage" that the Ganesha Familia had tirelessly carved out in the central area of ​​"Daedalus Road"—a "vertical pit" that led directly to the ninth level of the man-made labyrinth.

Some people climbed down the ladder that had been set up, while others jumped down.

The adventurers arrived at a vast space filled with columns.

Like entering a human body, this place, surrounded by uneven green flesh, is the "crater" that Thanatos blasted when he committed suicide and was sent back to Heaven. It is also the place where Loki and the others were rescued from the hands of Death.

Thanatos blasted through this "vertical tunnel" connecting "Daedalus Road," which is the shortest route from the surface to the ninth level, and then to the target location of the "second wave of attack"—the tenth level where the "celestial clone" is located.

Finn surveyed his surroundings, glanced at the tattered banner of the [Sanatos Familia], then quickly put his emotions aside and ran off.

"The nearby 'green meat' has stopped moving! And no monsters have been found!"

Upon hearing Shakti's words, the adventurers seemed encouraged and rushed into the passage one after another.

The first place they arrived at was the "Lord of the Lost".

This place, once a stronghold for Thanatos and the remnants of the Dark Faction, is now a meaningless location. The enemy's true headquarters has moved to the tenth floor directly below.

"First unit, advance north! Second and third units, proceed to the northeast and southeast respectively! All units begin their attack on the tenth-level great cavern where the 'Immortal Avatar' resides!"

Upon arriving at the fork in the road leading to the "Hall of the Lost," Finn immediately issued orders.

Three forces invaded the ninth level through the "vertical pit" on the surface: Finn's first force, Riveria and Ais's second force, and Grace's third force.

More than 150 adventurers, supporters, and healers followed the instructions of their respective units, advancing along the path carved out by the Ganesha Familia.

"Grace, Rivera! The other two units are yours to handle! Don't mess this up!"

"You're the one who should be worried about your safety, Finn!"

"Once we get back, we'll have a good drink with Loki's prized wine!"

Although the three bickering individuals came from different races, they were close comrades-in-arms who had often faced life and death together. As they were about to part ways, they smiled gently at each other.

"Finn! Grace! Don't lose!"

After Ais, who was walking with Riveria, finished speaking, the other adventurers began to tease and shout at each other, wishing each other good luck.

The various units ignored the "green meat" that the adventurers passed by and proceeded in their respective directions.

All that remained along the way were the echoes of boots running through the tunnel and the clanging of metal boots.

The elite troops moved through the passageways where the ceilings and walls were covered with bizarre chunks of flesh.

Finn, reverting to his commander's expression, led Shakti and the others from the First Division on a rapid march, simultaneously pulling a crystal from his robes and shouting:

"All units proceed directly to the tenth floor according to their assigned routes! Launch attacks in six directions!"

"There are six 'Fairy Spirit Clones' existing on the tenth floor! The objective is to kill them all! All units should be on high alert and attack via the agreed-upon shortest route!"

All members of the Fifth Division, including Lefia, listened to the commander's instructions transmitted through the magical artifact "Eye Crystal" and charged into the artificial maze.

This is the entrance from the 9th floor of the underground city to the man-made maze.

The group responsible for carving out this route—using the "Daedalus Orb" to open the hardest metal "door" and invade the man-made labyrinth—was not the Ganesha Familia, but rather the Manny Familia and the Mordi Familia, recruited as part of a guild's mandatory mission. The other two routes on the 9th floor were also secretly forged by other Familias.

The entrances and exits connecting the man-made maze and the underground city exist between the ninth and twelfth floors.

Regarding the "doors" to the tenth and eleventh floors, although they did exist according to the "Daedalus Handbook"—the "Man-Made Labyrinth Blueprints"—they were dismantled long ago, as if this situation had been foreseen. For the reasons mentioned above, the shortest route to the tenth floor of the man-made labyrinth only exists on the ninth floor of the dungeon and in the crater created by the "Celestial Repatriation."

"Hey, don't give up now."

"How could that be! After all, the commander went to great lengths to 'boost morale'!"

After Bert finished his tirade, who was leading the Fifth Division forward, Annaquite didn't even glance at him and angrily yelled back.

"I'm standing here to win!"

Anaquiti, the lieutenant entrusted by Commander Finn with the safekeeping of the "Eye Crystal," gazed intently ahead, dispelling the werewolves' unnecessary worries. The band members, naturally, were also greatly encouraged by her high spirits.

On the other side of the wide-open doorway was a spacious road.

This is the place where Anachiti and the others had to harden their hearts and abandon the Dionysus Familia to retreat.

At the same time, it was also the place where the elven girl left behind an arm, allowing the enemy to devour it mercilessly.

"..."

The adventurers traveling together all looked at Lefia.

However, Lefia ignored the gazes cast upon her by the Loki Familia out of concern, and simply stopped walking for the moment.

It was probably devoured by the "green flesh," and the "arm" left behind has disappeared.

To replace

"This is……"

"A short sword and... a short staff?"

The weapon, now without its user, lay lying on the ground.

These are the sword and staff that Philvis Chariah held in her hands when she launched her attack on the "Masked Man" in a fit of rage.

It is also a weapon left behind after the "magic swordsman" had his neck cruelly broken.

"...!"

Lefia picked up the short sword and staff and gently pressed them against her forehead.

She closed her eyes tightly, as if all the emotions she had sealed away in her heart since she had pulled herself together were surging forth.

At this moment, not only the other members of the group, but even Annaquite didn't know how to comfort her.