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

Excluding localized conflicts, there are currently eight main battlefields in the man-made maze.

These are the six cave chambers where various units fought against the "fairy spirit clones".

The large cavern where Lefia and others confront Philwis.

And──

"Oooooooooooooooo!!"

"!"

The cave where Rives and Ais engage in a deadly battle.

A grotesque figure clad in filthy flesh armor is locked in fierce combat with a swordsman shrouded in a dark storm.

The extraordinary strength of his arm wrecked the cave that had become a battlefield, leaving it in ruins, and the silver sword, swirling with black energy, continuously generated shockwaves. Blood-red hair flew in the wind, and several strands of golden hair, severed by the impacts that grazed past him, danced in the air.

Sparks from the clash of weapons were accompanied by a deafening roar, and the two sides used the force of the impact to quickly create distance between themselves.

Ais used the strong wind, which was no longer a gentle breeze, to adjust her posture and land gracefully.

In contrast, Rives left a row of claw marks on the floor, relying solely on her leg strength to maintain her balance.

As soon as they separated, the two stared at each other without daring to be careless.

"Damn adventurers... they actually have such powerful combat strength hidden away."

Rives spat angrily.

During this period, loose rocks kept falling from the sky.

The reason was the impact of the continuous battles on the upper levels. The adventurers roared deafeningly, repeatedly emphasizing that the fairies did not have an overwhelming advantage in the battle. Their heroic shouts shook the entire labyrinth and even reached the twelfth floor where Ais and her companions were.

"It seems that no matter what era it becomes, Orario will always be Orario."

After speaking, Rives suddenly looked up.

Their gaze fell on the crater from which the two had fallen earlier.

The large hole blasted out by Ais's dark wind is being repaired and slowly filled with green flesh.

Rives, who had been staring at the deep pit, turned her gaze back to Ais and whispered:

"However... it's time for it to 'end'."

Ais frowned in confusion upon hearing this.

She was puzzled by this seemingly profound statement.

"You're really lucky to have fallen into this place, Arya."

The strange man, whose body was radiating steam due to regeneration, maintained his emotionless tone as he spoke.

*

"Looks like it held up..."

Loki whispered this quietly.

The adventurers' shouts rang out. The fierce battle cry from the "Eye Crystal" caused the crystal itself to tremble slightly, truly emphasizing how high their morale was.

The situation on all battlefields remains serious and we must not be complacent.

However, considering the overall situation, it is not an exaggeration to call it a reversal of the downward trend.

Loki understood that Finn and the others' plan had worked perfectly, successfully turning the tide of the battle.

"The situation has reversed, Dionysus."

She looked up, her sharp gaze piercing through the god she was confronting.

Loki and the others committed all of Orario's fighting force to this final battle.

Not only the renowned high-ranking faction, but even the port city requested support.

Even with six "celestial clones", as long as everyone's strength is gathered, they will surely be able to turn defeat into victory.

This is what adventurers are all about.

This is Orario.

This is the "promised land" where "heroes" are born.

Loki passionately recounts how humanity, when facing imminent death, always triumphs over the final stronghold of the underworld, which is destined for destruction.

“…………”

Dionysus lowered his head.

He stopped laughing wildly and silently endured Loki's words.

In the torchlight, his long shadow stretched across the floor, swaying with the firelight.

"Dionysus, your conspiracy—"

So far.

Just as Loki was about to say those words—

"Pfft, hee hee hee hee..."

The male god suddenly let out an impulse he could no longer suppress.

"Pfft hee hee hee hee hee hee...! Haha ...

Unrestrained.

Arrogant and unrestrained.

Dionysus burst into laughter.

*

At this moment, Finn fell into a state of "contemplation".

(What will happen next?)

Thanks to the support of the Freya Familia and the self-recommendation of his fellow countrymen, he was able to spare some energy, which had been entirely focused on command.

Although there were still many things to deal with, it was a world of difference compared to the previous burden. He had entrusted command of the First Force to Shakty, and the task of fighting on the front lines would be left to Allen.

(Thanks to the reinforcements led by Ota and others, the battle situation has been successfully reversed. Putting aside the monsters, at this rate, at least six "Fairy Spirit Clones" can be sealed off.)

Countless adventurers have already gathered in the man-made labyrinth.

This part could also be called "reserve force." Faced with fierce resistance from the enemy, the remaining fighting force, led by the Hestia Familia, was also deployed, and the reserve forces, including Raul and his group, successfully rescued the imprisoned hostages. The reason for sending reinforcements, including Rie and her group, to Bert's location was because the battle situation was clearly in their favor.

To eliminate all variables, Finn used every means at his disposal.

This completely cut off the enemy's means of counterattacking.

(That's why the whole thing went so smoothly.)

A clear "premonition" flashed through Finn's mind.

Based on his intuition about "Enior," things wouldn't end so easily. No, he couldn't let the war end so readily.

While the adventurers' morale soared at the glimmer of hope, Finn alone remained unmoved by this false euphoria. Even though the scales of victory had tipped in his favor, he refused to see it as a harbinger of ultimate triumph.

(This feels very similar to the "first wave of attack" a few days ago, where the enemy turned the tables just when we were about to conquer the man-made maze.)

To be precise, the game was sabotaged.

Finn was sitting in his seat playing chess with his opponent when the game was suddenly wiped out by a sword strike from the god.

The situation now is exactly the same as it was back then.

(I can't repeat the same mistake. Since we're going to use the experience from the previous battle as a reference, "Ernio" will never stand in the same ring as us.)

The activation and prevention of Grand Mystic Arts.

The former represents the defeat of Finn and his team, while the latter represents their victory.

Is the structure of this war really that simple?

But the "suspense" that lingered in Finn's mind was only this. He listened to the news of the various units' valiant battles in different locations through the "Eye Crystal," and verified different "options" for each "situation," while also thinking about his insights into "Ernio" from the previous battle.

(Ernio doesn't pursue tactical or strategic victories, which is "the style of a god." Even if he loses a game or match, he only pursues the "result" he wants. As long as he gets the "result," he doesn't hesitate about the process. This guy doesn't care about principles, chivalry, or aesthetics at all, and he doesn't even have the slightest respect for his enemies. He's been waiting for the moment to strike and destroy the game.)

This is Finn's pessimistic view.

No, that's incorrect.

Because his thumb was hurting.

Finn's instincts, which he used to sense danger, were causing him unprecedented pain, constantly issuing "warnings."

They shouted that they absolutely could not misjudge the situation again this time and were determined to make "the gods" capsize in the gutter.

(Ernio is a rational, cunning, cruel, and merciless god. That much is undeniable. But at the same time—he, like Loki and other gods, also seeks out some "fun"!)

Searching for the offending god.

A challenge to the gods.

The misleading guidance of the goddess.

Ernie will carry out the plan as planned, but he also enjoys the thrill and suspense of investigating the case.

(And he considers the screams of the defeated enemy the ultimate pleasure! That's right, he seeks the "madness" that comes from plunging us from hope into despair!)

This is Finn's assessment after analyzing the mastermind behind the scenes.

Faced with that crescent-shaped, mocking mouth emerging from the darkness, Finn pushed his thinking speed to its limit.

(The traces left by "Ernio" during its layout must have meaning! It's definitely hinting at something!)

He began to reflect on the events that had occurred so far.

The female-shaped monster that appeared on the 50th safe floor is most likely the work of the "Filthy Fairy".

The Monster Festival and the Man-Eating Flower—though part of the enemy's plan, were thwarted by the "game" that the goddess was playing at the time.

The battle between the "treasure pearl fetus" and the strange man on the 18th floor—looking back on what happened, it can be confirmed that it was entirely an accident.

The food depot on the 24th floor—the enemy announces their objective for the first time.

And the deadly battle that took place on the 59th floor of the unreached area—

(—59th floor.)

at this time.

Because of this word.

A spark ignited in Finn's mind.

(Why is the "celestial spirit clone" that we witnessed for the first time located there?)

So he began to ask and answer his own questions.

(Declaring one's threat? Revealing one's plans? A divine "reward" for those who overcome the trials?)

The resulting contradictions.

(If we had never known of the existence of the "Fairy Clone" and had never "experienced" its incredibly powerful "main body," we would definitely have been a step slower in responding, and would have been able to unleash a powerful spell to completely destroy Orario.)

The ensuing doubts.

(Wait, it was because I encountered the threat posed by the "Fairy Spirit Clone" that I had the idea that I had to annihilate the "Fairy Spirit"—)

The final conclusion.

(In other words, my thoughts were led astray.)

The field of vision then becomes wider.

A flash of light streaked across the sky, turning my mind into a blank white.

Finn suddenly looked up.

This battle forced them to simultaneously defeat the "Fairy Spirit Clone" scattered in six locations.

The "inevitable situation" that forces Orario to gather its strongest forces.

In other words, all of the combat forces in the labyrinth city are currently located within the artificial labyrinth.

"Could it be—!?"