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

Hestia saw it as she finished her work and embarked on her journey home.

"Red dots of light" rising from the ground.

At first, only a few specks of light drifted out from between the stone slabs, under the buildings, and in the river, but as time went on, a large number of light spots began to emerge.

The town, situated beneath a deep blue night sky, was gradually enveloped in a vivid and terrifying red mist.

"And this is... a 'song'?"

If you listen carefully, you can also hear a "singing" sound in the air.

The melody is as gentle as a lullaby carried by the wind from afar, and as solemn as a requiem that can purify all things in the world. However, the timbre contains a chilling aura that represents "destruction".

The "songs" that once echoed only underground can now be clearly heard even by people on the surface.

"Could it be... chanting?"

As if in response to Hestia's whisper, the others around them began to stir.

Pedestrians on the street and customers in restaurants and bars were thrown into chaos by this obvious "abnormality".

Both the adventurers and the gods were prepared for "that moment" that was unfolding behind the scenes.

However, the former was stunned by the sheer scale of the event; the latter only then realized the seriousness of the situation.

The singing of "Six Stocks" was mixed in with specks of red light.

This discordant note served as a wake-up call for everyone.

The ground began to shake.

And over time, it transforms into the "shaking" of the earth.

Only then did the people finally hear the footsteps of "destruction" hidden beneath the surface of peace, and the city was immediately plunged into panic.

"I have a feeling... this situation... is really bad, isn't it?"

As if she had become the spokesperson for the gods, Hestia broke out in a cold sweat.

"Uranus, the situation is out of control! We can no longer hide it from the city's residents!"

The Guild Headquarters, the central unit of the city, was in complete chaos, with Loiman's excited voice echoing from the underground altar.

The guild leader, who had been secretly orchestrating the "second wave" of the artificial dungeon in cooperation with various [Familia], was now ashen-faced. The gag order, which had been placed on even lower-ranking staff to avoid unnecessary chaos, was about to be broken in the worst possible way.

Compared to Leuman, who was sweating profusely and stumbling in with his enormous body, Uranus, sitting on his throne, remained silent in response.

“…………”

The old god held the last "eye crystal" in his hand.

But it hasn't uttered a single triumphant roar, nor has it made a sound so far—

*

"No... Dionysus's plan is too perfect."

Demeter sighed.

Looking out from the mountain villa, the city appears to have transformed into an "otherworld."

When viewed from a distance, it is even clearer.

A red wave rises from the earth, originating in Orario.

The massive city walls were also enveloped within it, and the numerous points of light surging into the night sky looked like a "cage" from afar.

The entire city has become a kind of "magic circle".

The enormous fairy ring set up underground will probably emerge on the surface after a period of time.

The countdown to the end has begun.

If this final battle ends in defeat, not only will the labyrinth city be destroyed, but it will also become the prelude to the destruction of the lower realm.

Demeter looked on with a worried expression as she watched Orario face the impending catastrophe.

With tears streaming down her face, she cried as if confessing a crime:

"It's all my fault for being too naive... It's all my fault for betraying the children... which has led to the destruction of this city... no, the entire lower realm."

A warm night breeze blew in from the city, which glowed red.

Strong winds raged on the villa's balcony.

Realizing that there was no point in continuing to hide in the surrounding area, the members of the Hermes Familia also looked out at the city from their balconies, and they were all stunned by the blood-red scene.

With Demeter and the adventurers watching closely, the god's plan to destroy the city is about to come to fruition.

"wrong."

But—

Hermes refuted this view.

"It's not the final moment yet."

*

The man-made maze shook violently from the impact.

The reason is the ongoing "super bombardment battle" between adventurers and the "altar pillars".

The aftershocks caused by the large-scale procedure are nowhere near comparable to the violent shaking at the site.

The green flesh in the maze continued to stir, and the "magic circle" spreading across the passage floor emitted light.

A "shadow" appeared silently in the middle.

"--While the [Hero] and Reid are locked in a deadly battle, I'm leisurely carrying out a 'classified mission'... How disappointing."

After removing the "Double-Sided Invisibility Cloak," a magical item with the same effect as that of a certain magical item maker, which can turn a person into a "transparent state," Fels appeared out of thin air like a ghost.

Finn entrusted him with the task of infiltrating the man-made maze alone before the war began.

In order to carry out his mission, Fels used various magical tools to conceal all information about himself, including his physical form, and broke through the Green Flesh's detection one after another, infiltrating into the depths of the labyrinth without being attacked by "counter-attack magic".

"But thanks to this, I finally discovered it."

This is just an ordinary corner of the passageway.

However, on the floor, one can see a "convergence point" formed by intersecting lines of magic circles, which converges with the network of walkways.

"This is the last location for the magic cycle that exists on the tenth floor."

There are a total of eight "intersection points".

Based on the structure of the celestial magic formula gleaned from the gods, and comparing it with the labyrinth design blueprints in the "Daedalus Handbook," Fels hurried to find his "target" within the man-made labyrinth.

In short, it is the "heart" that allows "magic" to circulate within the "altar".

"Since the incantation is performed by six 'celestial spirit clones,' it's difficult to break this grand spell that will destroy the city—"

Fels, following the lines of the magic circle, sprinkled down small gold and silver orbs.

The black-clad magician, having calmly completed his preparations, finally gripped a fist-sized magic orb tightly in his gloved hand.

"--But in this way, we can 'harass' the 'altar' that covers the entire labyrinth."

Then he detonated the "bomb".

He shattered the precious pearl in his palm with a single grasp.

The jet-black gloves emitted an electric-like flash, and as the patterns on the surface of the gloves began to glow, Fels spread "magic" throughout the entire artificial labyrinth.

The next instant, eight locations, including the "heart" in front of him, that he had tampered with, exploded simultaneously.

「!?」

The six "celestial clones" responsible for chanting immediately reacted.

He quickly focused his attention on the "strange phenomenon" occurring within the altar.

Fels's act of "destroying" eight hearts simultaneously temporarily obstructed the pipelines within the altar.

In other words, it will severely hinder the circulation of "magic" throughout the altar.

"[Hero], the 'prank' is complete."

"Really!?"

"Although it should not have affected the large cave where the 'Fairy Spirit Avatar' is located, other areas will temporarily lack 'magic power'."

The enemy is working hard to repair the "heart" centered on the "altar pillar".

However, since the circulatory system was damaged at the same time, the "magic" used for repair could not be successfully transmitted, resulting in a very slow progress.

In addition, most of the "magic" has been diverted to the repair system, and the bombing storm that was hitting the various units has slowed down slightly.

But all of the above are just additional benefits.

"I have eliminated any obstacles that would have hindered the 'next step' as planned."

Fels spoke to the "eye crystal" in his hand:

"I've kept you waiting, Uranus—the time is ripe."

*

"what?"

"I mean, it's not the final moment yet, Demeter. It's a little too early to give up hope now."

Hermes came to the side of the grieving Demeter.

Demeter, who had collapsed to the ground crying, looked up and saw Hermes push up the front edge of his hat with his index finger.

"All the 'hidden agents' are in place; now is the time for the city's creator to give the order."

The handsome man narrowed his eyes and raised the corners of his mouth.

"All combat forces are about to be deployed."

*

"finally come."

Uranus gave such a brief response to the magician on the other side of the crystal.

Then he slowly opened his eyes.

"Order the entire army to move out."

A serious voice resounded throughout the venue.

Loiman, who had been looking mournful, quickly performed the rites of a subject to a ruler, saying "Yes, yes!!" before rushing out of the "prayer hall" to spread the divine will of the chief god throughout the entire city.

So──

"Go, Ota."

The "Queen" quietly issued the orders.

"Yes."

The warrior responded briefly, as if he had finally received the order, without asking a single question.

Behind him—

The silver spear in the "Chariot's" hand gleamed.

The four dwarfs made a grinding sound, like the teeth grinding of wild beasts, with their respective weapons.

The weapons of the two elves, "Black and White," gleamed with a cold light.

Everyone present seemed to be in high spirits.

The goddess's clan, worthy of the title "strongest," is filled with fighting spirit.

"It's...it's the Freya Familia..."

Someone whispered this in a trembling voice.

In the midst of chaos in the city, the most powerful army suddenly appeared, exuding an aura of heroism and murderous intent, in the central plaza at the foot of the skyscrapers. The ordinary citizens, who were initially terrified by the red light appearing on the ground, temporarily forgot their fear and unease upon witnessing this scene.

Standing before this group of the strongest warriors was the embodiment of beauty, with her flowing silver hair.

She is the goddess who governs "life and death" and "war and victory".