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

"—You slowpoke, stop dawdling! We absolutely have to kill that 'Fairy Spirit' right now! If you're not of any use, then stay here!!"

As expected, Bert was the first to swear.

His words were both harsh and forceful.

And as usual, he kicked the "weakling" in the back.

Although Anachiti looked at Bert with a reproachful gaze, for Rafia, Bert's words, which were consistent with his usual style, were a kind of redemption.

"Sorry! I'll be leaving right away!"

Lefia looked up and ran forward.

He then put the short sword and staff into his bag.

Bert, who was leading the group, snorted coldly, while Annaqidi suppressed her laughter and led the adventurers to continue their attack.

"【Nine Demon Princesses】! That's the 'door' I mentioned before!"

"Okay, leave it to me."

Riveria led the second force to the northeast side of the ninth floor.

Ilta, a female warrior from the Ganesha Familia who was traveling with them, spoke up to remind them.

In the distance, a mass of red tentacles, crisscrossed like a spider web, can be seen.

That was the only "door" that the Ganesha Familia couldn't break through when they were digging for "green flesh." According to the "Knossos blueprints," there was a staircase leading to the lower level.

"【O harbinger of the end, oh, the snow-covered landscape. As dusk approaches, let the winds howl!】"

As Rivera stopped and set up the top-tier magical weapon, the Great Elf, several red tentacles peeled off the "door."

As if drawn by a powerful "magic," the tentacles transformed into long spears and attacked the elven royal family.

"snort!"

With a single flip, Ais severed all the large number of tentacles that were rapidly approaching.

At that moment, another tentacle shot out, and the next second, three silver lights flashed by.

That was a lightning-fast, high-speed slash delivered through the indestructible sword, the Sword of Despair.

Like a knight guarding the queen behind him, he set up a sword barrier to block all attacks.

As Ilta and the other faction members marveled at the superb swordsmanship, Riveria, now in attack mode, had already completed her incantation.

"[Ecstasy: Fimbulb Winter]!"

Three blizzard-like bursts of snow shot out.

When all the tentacles were struck by the ice rays that could freeze everything in their path, they first stopped moving temporarily, and then exploded as if letting out a scream.

The tentacles were instantly frozen, turning into countless ice crystals that shattered and scattered.

A wide staircase leading to the lower level came into view.

Ais seemed to transform into a gust of wind, immediately taking the lead and rushing off, while the other adventurers roared and charged toward the dark staircase one after another.

Then—

“──!!”

Entering the man-made maze... no, entering the tenth floor of the "Demon City".

Ais had just stepped onto the stage leading to the final battle at the target location when her initial reaction was to widen her eyes.

The tenth floor was indeed covered in "green flesh," but unlike the other floors which resembled rotting lesions, this one looked like a "perfectly normal road."

It's as if a thin green carpet has been laid over the original stone path, creating an incredibly smooth surface. Not only the floor, but the landscape is seamless, as if sculpted by a master stone sculptor, extending all the way to the walls and ceiling. Ironically, this extraordinary beauty proves it's not man-made.

Its color is also different from the previous dark green that was almost poisonous; instead, it is emerald green.

This spacious passageway, faintly glowing green, resembles a fairyland on earth.

It could even be described as a "sacred altar".

"...It's practically like...an underground city."

The scenery here is completely different from before.

It is comparable to the dungeons that amaze adventurers with their "unknown" scenery.

Ais murmured to herself. The Loki crew members and the Ganesha Familia adventurers who followed were equally stunned by this bizarre sight.

"...?"

Ais noticed something while observing her surroundings.

Several thin lines of light were scattered around his feet and on the floor covered with a thin layer of green flesh.

"This is... a band of light?"

Similar to the "circuit" commonly found on magic stone items.

Interspersed among the straight lines were curves, forming patterns like a design. The adventurers hesitated to take their next step, tilting their heads to observe their surroundings.

"--No, this is a 'magic circle'."

Rivera, who arrived shortly afterward, asserted this, dispelling any doubts Ais and the others might have had.

"A magic circle...?"

"This is probably the 'spell' Loki was talking about... the 'Great Ring' connecting the six fairies."

Ais and the others were taken aback when they heard this.

The "Great Ring" is a network of pipes connecting various spirits, creating a circulation of magical energy.

This is the "foundation" of the grand technique used to destroy the labyrinthine city.

"Then let's destroy this 'magic circle'!"

"No, cutting off the flow of 'magic' is just a waste of effort. After all, what's scattered on the ground is only the surface."

Riveria shook her head to stop Ilta from making a move.

"Not only the floor, but the structure that the fairy spirit used to cover the entire maze is a super-large 'magic circle'."

Rivera used the base of her wand to shave off a small piece of green flesh, and the wound healed instantly as if nothing had happened. It looked as if it contained abundant "magic power"—using the "nutrients" obtained from the Dionysian Familia.

"The structure of the tenth floor is clearly different from the other places. The 'magic element' that floods the space is too intense... Just stepping into the area makes you feel a little dizzy."

It almost makes people fall into a state of "magical dizziness".

Rivera uttered these words with a furrowed brow.

Upon closer inspection, the other mages also looked quite grim.

"...It could be said to be a 'magic pot' capable of destroying Orario."

When Ais and the others heard the words of the elven royal family, they were so frightened that their minds went blank and they stopped what they were doing.

I am temporarily unable to speak.

This is a "powder keg" capable of completely destroying Orario located directly above.

Or a terrifying "minefield".

After understanding the hidden meaning in Riveria's words, the adventurers swallowed nervously.

"...It's 'singing'."

At this time──

Ais, who was the first to break the silence, heard it.

From deep within the passage.

A fresh and refined "song" came from the room, as if sung by a young girl.

"It's the chanting of a 'fairy spirit'...!"

At the same time—

The "heretics" force, who arrived at the tenth level of the artificial maze from the ninth level entrance of the underground city, also heard this "song".

"I can sense this very ominous feeling even from a kid who can't use 'magic'!"

"That sound...it sounds terrifying and disgusting..."

The monsters present all seemed very shaken, and Reed and Winnie, who were among them, felt a chill run down their spines.

The incantation that has continued uninterrupted to this day—a spell with a total number of characters far exceeding that of an extremely long incantation—is enough to prove that the other party is preparing to unleash an unprecedented "magic".

This is the "filthy song" that is both bizarre and beautiful, simultaneously ugly and flawless, containing a demonic quality that leads humanity to destruction.

The heretics, who were neither human nor monster, also considered this terrifying "song" to be "abnormal".

"If we let this incantation finish, we've lost! We need to get to the source of the song as quickly as possible!"

Following Reed's bark, the other heretics also shouted.

The monsters ran quickly toward the source of the song of destruction.

"--Huh?"

At this time──

Winnie twitched her dragon ears and quickly raised her head.

At the same time, the endless road began to glow.

Whether it's the walls, the floor, or the ceiling.

Looking around, you can see countless "magic circles" of all sizes.

And the "magic" that is gathered within it, ready to erupt.

"────"

The other "heretics" also realized something was wrong, but it was too late.

Countless magic circles were activated simultaneously.

"Withdraw────────!!"

The moment the lizardman shouted his warning, explosive fireworks burst forth.

"Ughh ...

Adventurers in the fourth unit led by Tiona and Tione began to scream in agony.

The reason was the sudden appearance of "flames".

"The walls are spewing fire!?"

"Everyone!"

This attack caught the Fourth Division completely off guard.

The instant following the bright light and sharp sound, numerous magic circles appeared on the green flesh wall, unleashing fire "magic".

"A sneak attack!? Where is the enemy!? How did we come to this—"

The "magic circles" on the ground are different from the "large rings" that connect the "fairy spirit clones".

Tiony was greatly puzzled by the series of "magic" spells she had been unleashed.

No suspicious mages were found in the vicinity.

It was as if the road itself was casting a "magic spell"—

"—Tione, ahead."

As everyone instantly descended into chaos—

Tiony, startled by her sister's startling reminder, turned her gaze forward and was so frightened that she couldn't speak.

Red, blue, gold—

As far as the eye can see, there are magic circles of different colors.

The entire road is filled with "turrets" called magic.

Some sparked, some emitted cold air, and some crackled with electricity; all of them were aimed at the location of Tione and the others.

Even a large group of mages could not cast so many spells at the same time.