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

That stone pillar had a six-meter-long blade.

That stone pillar was a genuine, gigantic longsword.

"Is this it?"

That is the "Black Greatsword," which only two adventurers in the world have ever seen with their own eyes.

The sword's appearance was smoother and more eerie than any obsidian artifact, exuding a destructive presence. As far as natural weapons were concerned, Oota had to admit it was one of the finest weapons wielded by monsters. Udeos raised the "black greatsword" high.

Shoulders, elbows, and wrists—

As the core joints of the floor master shone like stars, Ota's instincts as an adventurer—his intuition as a [fierce warrior (king)]—sounded an alarm for the first time, but he did not dodge.

He steadied himself and raised his greatsword.

Knowing that this was the enemy's "ultimate move," they still insisted on facing it head-on.

The Bone King mercilessly swung his sword at the foolish man before him.

An explosion occurred instantly at the scene.

"Hmm────!?"

The floor master released a large amount of "magic power" that he had poured into his core joints, along with his own arm strength.

Through the devastating blow combining the two, Otto was forced back for the first time.

The feet, sank into the floor, ground the ground, leaving two shocking marks inside the cave.

Under the immense power of the black greatsword, Ota's shoulder guards and breastplate were shattered, and he suffered severe lacerations and burns from the intense magical light. The greatsword in his hand—a top-tier weapon forged by the [Gubern Familia]—cracked with a loud thud.

When Ota looked up, the scene before him was one of utter chaos.

The numerous stone pillars that had previously appeared on the ground vanished completely, leaving the area within the effective range of the slashing attack a rubble-scarred plain. As for the soldiers (earthlings) caught in the blast, their fate is well-known. The Skeleton King, having drawn his ultimate sword, displayed the imposing presence of an absolute powerhouse as he reigned supreme on the battlefield.

Although the "complete defense" was not broken, Ota's body could not withstand it and failed to block the power of the sword.

Those deep, bone-revealing wounds expressed disappointment at Otto's powerlessness.

"...Looks like I'm still too inexperienced."

O'Neal mocked himself in this way.

Faced with this burning pain that he hadn't experienced in a long time, Ota unusually showed his emotions on his face.

—I have already witnessed the enemy's deadly moves.

—I've already experienced that "feeling".

—In that case, it is absolutely impossible for the "strongest" warrior (Ota) to be defeated.

Accurate analysis transforms into auditory hallucinations, whispering vulgar reputations in the mind through the voices of gods and all living beings.

"...How am I 'the strongest'? How can a man like this be 'the strongest'?"

The martial artist frowned.

His brows were furrowed in quiet contemplation.

The Bone King looked down at the wounded man and launched stone stakes from the ground in pursuit.

Watching the stone pillars fall like rain, the man neither dodged nor avoided them, letting his side, shoulder, and cheek bleed from the stabs.

O's body was dominated by a "heat" that was a mixture of pain, self-mockery, and anger.

Those sharp, rust-colored eyes were fixed on the floor owner.

Ota gazes upon the "scenes of the past" through the enormous presence before him.

He looked down with arrogance at those "truly strongest beings" whom he regarded as his targets.

How could I be so fragile?

How could I have fallen so low?

How could such a fragile physical body reach that level?

Ota cursed his own weakness, lowered his left hand that was holding the greatsword, and clenched his right fist with all his might.

And—

In order to transcend what lies before him, in order to transcend the memories of the past, Ota opened its mouth—

"【The mercy of the silver moon, the golden plains, grant me the command to be a fierce fighting boar】."

It produces a clear and melodious chanting sound.

The spell, woven from the stone pillars that resembled dark tombstones, astonished Udayus.

"[Bearing the divine will of the goddess, gallop forward!]"

To stop the chanting, it swiftly shot out a stone stake.

Facing the stone pillar aimed at his brow, Ota easily caught it with his right hand and crushed it in one swift motion.

After completing the short verse recitation—

He whispered his only "magic".

"【Hildisvíni】"

*

Someone once said...

The life of a "fierce warrior (king)" is extremely arduous and glamorous.

It's absolutely ridiculous.

O'Her life cannot be described simply as glamorous.

Instead, they suffered a series of defeats, ending up humiliated and disgraced, having tasted bloodshed and shame.

It possesses talent.

They also held onto their beliefs.

He certainly possesses the qualities of a "hero".

However, there are "monsters" around him who are even more powerful than him.

Like the guilds, the two strongest factions have been by the side of the Labyrinth City since its inception—

[Zeus's Families]

[Hera's Kinship]

The history and "baptism" accumulated over thousands of years by the two major clans were thus bestowed upon Otto.

"Huh—!?"

The initial defeat was a "single blow".

Its head was grabbed and slammed hard against the ground.

The man who grabbed Ota, who had already reached level 3, and smashed the floor with a single blow, instantly rendering him unconscious, was a low-ranking member of the Zeus Familia. After apologizing for insulting the goddess of beauty, the man left as if nothing had happened.

The next defeat was "A Flash".

Ota was struck by a hand slash that was too sharp to be seen with the naked eye, and was sent flying into the abandoned house.

Before losing consciousness, he realized he had only been touched. The girl, younger than him, was a member of the Hera Familia. This unprecedented "avatar of talent" seemed genuinely disappointed, glancing at Ota before turning and leaving.

This is the reason why the Freya Familia launched the most intense "baptism" in history on the battlefield (Fólkvangr).

No, compared to the "baptism" of "those guys," the battles in the wilderness that shaped the adventurer Otto were not a "baptism" at all, but rather "child's play."

"The truly strongest"—the two giants who stand in the way of the Freya Familia. The followers, loyal to Freya, rise up to clear their god's name and bring her glory. But the obstacles accumulated over millennia easily destroy their noble mission. The gods (Zeus) and (Hera) do not ridicule them; they simply show no interest in them.

Legend has it that before Freya settled in the labyrinth city of Orario in ancient times, she fought against the goddess Hera and was defeated.

And at that time, they lost many of their families.

This fact shocked Otto.

It also inexplicably caused him heartache.

Someone actually dared to humiliate Freya, who should have been the ruler of the world.

"According to the goddess (Hera), it was the god (Zeus) who asked her to invite me to participate in the battle to save the world. In the end, they were the ones who won, but the goddess (Hera) was inexplicably furious, which made her hold a grudge against me. To put it bluntly, I was dragged into the 'marital quarrel (farce)' that the two gods often staged in the heavens."

Freya, enjoying wine in her dormitory, suddenly felt like reminiscing about the past.

"So I gave up looking for a partner (Odr). After all, we had agreed that if I lost, I would cooperate obediently, so I had to keep my promise. Although I was provoked by the adventurers of the labyrinth city (Oario), and I trusted my familia (children) too much, I underestimated that monster that could defeat everyone by itself, which ultimately led to this situation."

Freya should be like a free-spirited breeze.

One should not be bound by anything.

This prompted Ota, who was standing still, to ask a question.

The question is—"Are you willing to continue like this?"

"There is no more pathetic being in the world than the goddess of vengeance, so—I've decided that after dragging that goddess (woman) down from her zenith, I'll throw wine in her face and say, 'How dare you steal my kin (things) back then.'"

Freya gently swirled the wine in her hand, a cold smile playing on her lips, a hint of passion (or perhaps a sinister glint) in her narrowed eyes. Seeing this, Otto clenched his fists, vowing to fulfill the goddess's wish and wash away the stain she had been forced to accept—in conclusion, Freya's "revenge" was not achieved because she had already calmed down, but that was a matter for the future.

Freya, who promised to keep her promise, is forced to accept her fate of being trapped in the labyrinth city of Orario.

So Otto and the other members of her clan decided to sacrifice themselves to make the "birthplace of heroes" her throne.

But—they kept losing.

No matter how hard you struggle, you can't achieve it, and you can't even see the end.

Just how high is the "peak" they want to conquer?

But this is only natural. If someone tries to climb a steep peak, it's like reaching out to touch lightning that stretches to the heavens. If they actually do, they'll only be charred by the lightning.

Despite facing this "despair" peak that defeats the will of ordinary people, Ota has never given up.

He nourished himself with his indomitable fighting spirit and his self-loathing for weakness, constantly pursuing strength.

"—Interesting."

Looking at Ota, who was lying on the muddy ground in the pouring rain, but whose eyes were bright and alert.

The strongest adventurer in the city... no, the strongest male god's (Zeus's) servant, a Lv.8 hero (male), says so.

"—In ten years, I will take you as my husband."

Despite falling in the maze engulfed in flames, Ota's fighting spirit remained undiminished.

The most terrifying goddess (goddess) servant in the world, the Lv.9 Empress (woman), laughed out loud.

This group of people spared Ota's life.

They always eliminate all dissidents for the sake of God, but they never deliver a fatal blow to Otto. Instead, it's as if they want him to overcome humiliation and "live strong."

It never hated them.

Not to mention developing hatred towards Freya.

His murderous intent was instead directed at himself.

How could I be so fragile?

How could I have fallen so low?

What is it that such a fragile body is trying to grasp?

O will transform his murderous intent and hatred into a desire for unwavering will and immense power, driving him to continue striving for the pinnacle.

This is how the term "warrior" was created, worthy of being called a hero.

The opportunities that enabled him to rank up to Lv.5 or higher were all related to the Zeus Familia or the Hera Familia.

The first time was fifteen years ago, and the second time was seven years ago.

Otto understood that it was not a fair fight. After being defeated by the fearsome "One-Eyed Dragon," these members of the clan scorned their own incompetence and hated their own powerlessness. So they encouraged Otto and the other "vessels of the next generation," who were overwhelmed and at a loss, and entrusted everything to them.

"Young heroes, try to surpass us."

The strongest and only Lv.7 in the city.

"Reaching for the sky".

【The Mighty One (King)】Ota.