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

The factional alliance suffered a crushing defeat, and calls for its elimination have not yet ceased.

"[Nadeli Familia]...Eliminated...!!"

Ibrahim's voice gradually grew weak and feeble, and finally, after a slight pause, he said in a stiff tone:

"[Hephaestus Familia]... Eliminated..."

And—

Seeing Allen swing her silver spear without any emotional fluctuation and shatter the "flower" on her chest, the God of Forging closed his left eye as if trying to suppress his regret.

The most powerful faction in the alliance thus withdrew from the scene.

This plunged the league's morale and the mood of city spectators into an abyss.

The faction alliance is now down to just four factions.

The faction alliance, which originally consisted of as many as 46 clans, has now lost 42 clans.

Allen's offensive completely swept through the eastern part of the ruins, even reaching the bottom of the eastern side.

"Beelzebub, big brother Bel... Goddess Hestia...!"

This is an orphanage on Maze Street (Daedalus Road).

The human boy, Lai, called out in a choked voice.

"Big Brother Bell! Go, go... Waaaaaah...!!"

"Xiao Lu...don't cry...!"

The half-elf Xiaolu burst into tears halfway through her attempt to cheer them on, and the orc Fina joined in, wailing as well. Seeing her heartbroken children, their mother (Maria) was too saddened to speak, and could only embrace the three of them tightly.

The children's reactions were the most direct.

They are more frank and consistent than adults, demonstrating through their actions that factional alliances have no chance of winning.

—It's over.

Regarding the league's victory—

Everyone had given up hope.

Everyone was convinced that the Freya Familia would achieve an overwhelming victory.

The result was exactly as expected.

As expected, it turned out this way—the adventurers who remained in the city thought dejectedly.

Ultimately, they could not escape this fate—the gods murmured sadly.

Whether on the battlefield or in the city, people were dominated by the idea of ​​resignation.

Among them, there was one person who held a belief that was "aside from accepting fate"—

(—Sigh, just as Lily had predicted.)

This person is Lily.

The commander, who understands the current battle situation better than anyone else, has maintained his rationality to this day.

(Yes, I expected it to turn out this way from the very beginning... Considering the disparity in combat strength between the two sides, it would be unreasonable if this hadn't happened... Therefore... it's not time to panic yet...!!)

The battle line collapsed, the troops were almost completely wiped out, and the battle was coming to an end.

Given the current situation, the commander would inevitably be labeled as "incompetent" and subjected to much criticism; however, Lily calmed herself down with the few drops of cold sweat running down her cheeks.

Despite being heartbroken and almost completely panicked when he witnessed Bell being brutally assaulted.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she wanted to burst into tears right there and then.

However, as Lily heard the comical screams of the gods, such as "Ouch!!" or "Waaah!?", she couldn't help but bulge the veins on her forehead. In addition, Hestia's roar of "Huff huff!!" as she ran at full speed made Lily lose her temper and slap herself in anger.

The taste of blood from accidentally biting her lip temporarily numbed Lily's emotions like an anesthetic.

"Ugh... U ...

The key point is—

Even through the crystal, you can still hear the "boy" fighting—

*

"Aa ...

Faced with the sound of muscle fibers being torn, Bell convinced himself that it was just an auditory hallucination and braced his hands on the floor.

Flesh and blood were scattered everywhere, damaged bones groaned, and wounded hearts cried out in anguish.

No, there's absolutely no chance of winning. I need to run; I really can't take it anymore.

Bell used the Goddess's Blade to strengthen his will and forcefully suppressed the cries that came from both his body and heart.

(I've had enough... Please stop... Just kidding.)

Bell couldn't remember the last time he'd said something so discouraging.

Since the day he met the heretics (Vene and others) and was defeated by his formidable rival (Asterios), the word "weakness" has been absent from his dictionary.

It's the same whether you fall into the "deep layer" or are trapped in the "closed world" of the goddess of beauty.

No matter how desperate he was, even if the thought of resignation kept flashing through his mind, even if it was just deceiving himself, he would force himself to cheer up with the thought, "How can I give up so easily?" He always resisted desperately like a willful child, but in the end he always made it through, and he would never utter a discouraging word.

Ever since the day he met "The Heretic," Bell Craney felt that a part of himself had broken.

His thoughts, his heart, and even his soul have become "abnormal".

However, Bell gradually came to realize that this "abnormality" was a condition for becoming a "hero," and even a qualification.

But the martial artist before him brought Bell Craney back to "normal".

With his superhuman strength, he delivered a single heavy blow and forced Bell back into his original form, turning him back into the "cowardly novice" he was back then, traumatized by the Minotaur.

That's a monster.

That's a ferocious beast.

That is absolutely true, the "strongest".

That power, stronger than anyone else's, could even turn a "hero candidate" into a timid and terrified toddler.

(So ​​strong...so scary...I have no chance of winning at all...!!)

How many times had he been knocked away? How long had he been tortured? Bell didn't know the answer, didn't want to know the answer, and didn't want to think about who had caused this pool of blood to form around him.

When the whole world claims to be "Bell Crane of the Freya Familia," the series of "baptisms" he received in the "Battlefield" pale in comparison to the "baptism" before him.

This hell, composed of pain and torment, is unlike anything I've ever seen before.

Even if one climbed to a peak high enough to make one's legs weak, one could not touch the lightning that streaks across the sky. Even if one could touch it, one would only end up being roasted alive. The martial artist looking down at this moment was clearly the embodiment of thunder, destined to devour Bell, who currently only knew how to control meager flames and lightning, on the spot.

[Rabbit Foot] Bell Crane could never beat [The Mighty] Otto.

(...Even so...!!)

Bell's hands were spasming uncontrollably.

Like a newborn fawn just learning to stand, its legs trembled and wouldn't obey its commands.

Despite spitting blood and seeing flashes of light in his vision, he managed to get up from the ground.

Through the broadcast of the "Divine Mirror," under the astonished gazes of Eina, Ais, Tiona, Finn, Lai, Fina, Xiaolu, the adventurers and people in the city, and the gods such as Hermes—Bell pressed his five fingers against the shattered stone slab, gripped the dagger in his hand, and slowly stood up.

"That's right, stand up."

Only Ota remained unfazed.

He did not offer any praise.

He simply said "yes".

Boarman warriors only recognize those who fight tirelessly.

"If I... don't defeat you... will I be able to reach... the goddess Freya...?"

"That's right."

Bell, whose consciousness was already blurred, asked a question with his hazy thoughts.

"If this continues... will I never see Miss Seele again...?"

"That's right."

Bell, struggling to keep his body from bleeding profusely and riddled with holes, resembling a corpse, asked a question.

"If this continues... I won't be able to save that person...?"

"I won't allow you to do that."

That's easy.

There was only one thing Bell absolutely had to accomplish.

"Then... I'll defeat you..."

Even amidst endless "baptisms," Bell chose to suppress the self that had realized its own "end," eliminate the fear in its heart, overcome the obstacle called despair, and find the reason why it must fight to the end.

Because the complete bastard (Bell Crane) suddenly remembered who he had hurt so deeply since that day.

"I will...defeat you...!!"

Bell's eyes regained their light, and he announced it with unwavering conviction.

Although his brain had long since stopped functioning.

My vision went out of focus multiple times with the flickering white light, and my consciousness was interrupted countless times.

However, his soul was ignited with an unwavering fighting spirit and determination.

Since you've already realized your own "end point" a second ago, all you need to do is become stronger than you were a second ago.

Bell decides to overcome this "strongest baptism" and go to "her" side.

"That's right. Come on then."

The martial artist did not smile as a result.

The goddess's strongest follower merely assumed a fighting stance.

"Burn yourself into flame."

Faced with the white rabbit baring its fangs, spitting blood, and roaring, the fierce boar chose to confront it head-on.

*

"Lord Bell...!"

The crystal that Lily held tightly in her hand reflected the image of the boy being knocked away, his blood splattered everywhere.

Even though he was consumed by fear, Bell still stood up.

Even though he had died once at the hands of despair, he still stood up to fight against the "strongest".

Given this, how could Lily not try to resist the "strongest army"?

As the boy's "supporter," if I don't support him to the very end, then why should I stay here any longer?

(So ​​Lily can't give up easily! Even if everyone else has given up hope, Lily alone must persevere to the end!!)

So Lily stood in a position overlooking the battlefield, busily turning her chestnut eyes to quickly update the almost hopeless battle situation.

(Just one! Just one!! Only one is enough!! If we can defeat a single Level 1 adventurer, we can turn the tide!!)

With this victory, the downward trend will surely be halted, and a "wave" will be generated to reverse the tide of the battle.

Lily was well aware of how difficult the goal of "defeating one" was, and without anyone reminding her, she fully understood how far-fetched and delusional the plan was—it was simply laughable empty talk.

(The "framework" is complete! The "preparations" are in place! The "first-class adventurer (target)" has been chosen!! Only the final step is needed, and once that final step is arranged, everything will be perfect!!)

Lily is still figuring things out.

Her brain was working so hard it was practically burning, and even with her eyes bloodshot from racking her brains, she continued to come up with plans.

Lily is alone in the cemetery, and this is the battle the commander must face alone.

Welf and the others had been defeated, and Bell was covered in wounds. Lily's instincts and emotions had long since become chaotic due to the current situation, and she was crying and screaming. Only her rationality, wearing a cold mask, was able to barely hold on.

Lily persisted in her thinking.