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

"……,……ah……"

"You bastard...you son of a bitch...!?"

Amidst the horrific scars left on the scorched earth, half-dead Raul groaned as Bert dug his fingers into the ground.

Circular craters (meteorite craters) formed everywhere, and the adventurers lay beside the large holes created by the impact, their bodies emitting smoke and black particles of light. Under the gaze of the enormous female figure, one by one, they moved their bodies, trembling as they struggled to their feet.

The first-level adventurers' quick reactions and emergency defensive actions allowed them to survive the widespread bombardment of meteors. With her charred right arm crushed, Tsubaki smiled weakly and asked, "Are you still alive?" Tione, struggling to her feet from the supporters she had been protecting, replied only, "Almost dead..."

With tears in her eyes, the female member (Navi) sprinkled the elixir that had saved her life on the fallen Tiona, who then slightly opened her eyes.

"Miss Ais...!?"

"Haa, haa, ha...!?"

Ais, who had just reflexively activated her Wind Armor (Wind Spirit Swiftness), could only gasp for breath, unable to answer Lefia's tearful eyes. Having just been hit directly by a meteor, the protective aura was easily shattered, soiling the two girls' blonde hair and thick golden strands.

Looking down at the scene below, the female figure narrowed her dull, lifeless golden eyes, opened her supple arms, and caused the two buds on the monster's lower body to bloom.

"...She used 'magic'..."

"Absorbed...?"

The black light particles or the red particles resembling sparks floating in the building were all drawn to the huge, brightly colored flower bowls that were in full bloom.

Tiony and Tiona stared blankly at the scene before them, watching as the female figure began to recharge its depleted "magic power." Seeing the magical wellspring, drastically reduced by the massive bombardment, being gradually replenished, Ais and the others' expressions twisted in horror. Even Riveria's shattered and scattered barrier magic—emerald-colored magical essence—was cruelly devoured by the female figure.

Once the accumulation ends again, "she" will once again unleash that large-scale, wide-range annihilation magic.

The dreamlike scene that once attracted beautiful light particles to the existence of fairies now appears to Ais and the others as nothing more than the scythe of death raised and swung down.

"Laaaaaah————……"

Not only that, the woman raised her slender chin and began to sing a melody.

The childlike, innocent, and high-pitched singing soon attracted countless beastly figures from behind.

"Monster..."

The yellow-green and mottled skin brought despair to Lefia's eyes.

Just as the 60th floor called out from the far back of the female form, leading to the large hole below, the female form summoned a large number of larval and man-eating flower monsters.

The "fairy spirit" dressed in colorful robes, along with her monster army, is about to exhaust the adventurers.

"...Is it over?"

Chun pressed down on her crushed arm, her right eye revealing a resigned thought.

Bert knelt down, as did Tiona and Tione. Although they refrained from uttering words of despair, their fighting spirit had waned to a mere flicker of despair. Lefia's eyes were wet with tears, her lips tightly pressed together, while Raul and the other supporters stared at the ground, unable to lift their heads.

Ais still held the Sword of Despair in her hand. She couldn't stand up yet, but she desperately raised the corners of her eyes and glared fiercely at the restless monsters.

The adventurers' weapons lay scattered on the gray earth.

Sword, spear, axe, staff, shield.

The desolate scenery reminded a young girl of memories from her dream.

These weapons were still intact, retaining their original form, but as if responding to their master's will, they emitted only a dull luster. When the monsters groaned and gathered under the Queen's command, these weapons merely gazed up at the absorbed, star-like particles of light.

Unable to wield their blades to fiercely kill enemies, they could only remain silent.

"..."

Among them.

Finn roughly wiped his dirty face with his right arm and stood up.

The little people with their golden hair swayed as they slowly walked forward.

He walked past Raul and the others who had looked up, the bewildered Lefia, Bert and the others who had turned around, Tsubaki whose right eye was fixed on her, and the stunned Ais, and continued to move forward.

Finn picked up the spear that had fallen to the ground and confronted the ominous fairy and other beings in the distance.

He stopped and turned his back to Tiona and the others.

The spear in his hand pierced the ground.

"I will defeat that monster."

Then he spoke.

He raised his emerald eyes and stared intently at the smiling "fairy".

Tiona and the others gasped.

He turned his head to the side, looking at the astonished adventurers.

"I want to ask you about your 'courage,' what have your eyes seen?"

What Tiona and the others saw were repulsive fairy monsters.

It is an existence that commands countless monsters to obey its commands and surpasses human intelligence.

"Is it fear? Despair? Destruction? I only see the enemy that must be defeated, and the chance for victory."

Everyone's shoulders jerked.

He borne the astonished gazes with his small back and continued:

"From the beginning, I didn't need a way out; I could just use this gun to pave the way."

He made this assertion with a resolute tone, gazing at Tiona and the others with unwavering eyes.

"I swear in the name of the goddess (Fiana) that I will bring you victory—follow me."

Tiona's chest, Tione's eyes, and Bert's limbs trembled.

The figure standing in front of them made Raul and the others clench their fists, which invigorated Lefia and the others.

The criteria for being a "hero" is that one can inspire thousands of troops and stir up the emotions of all soldiers, no matter when or where.

Then Finn Demna, the "Hero," is indeed more qualified than anyone else to be called a "hero."

"Or is it asking too much of you to imitate Bell Craney?"

Most importantly, he is a genius at motivational speeches.

"——————————————"

A single sentence awakened the image of that decisive battle in the minds of Bert and the others.

A young boy who engages in a life-or-death battle with a fierce bull, an "adventurer" who stakes his entire life on it.

The lingering heat and energy of the fierce battle seared their internal organs.

It is hotter than anything, purer than anything, and more precious than anything.

A page from the tales of heroes.

The image of that figure also appeared in Ais's wide-open eyes.

The image of a young boy, overlapping with that of his great father, emerges.

"How could we possibly lose to a nobody?!"

"……very good."

"We have to take a 'risk' too."

Bert barked angrily, Tiony lifted her bangs, and Tiona smiled; they all stood up.

Ais also glared and stood up, carrying her silver sword.

The twin swords, axe-spear, and greatsword, which were grasped and drawn by their master, seemed to regain their fighting spirit, radiating a sharp luster.

Raul and his companions were astonished to see the first-level adventurers gradually regain their spirits. Bert and his group's expressions were no longer pessimistic, but filled with a burning passion.

(Bell, Craney...!)

Upon hearing this name, a flame ignited within Lefia.

She recalled that relentlessly rushing figure, and the spark she had ignited in her heart ignited. Rafia clenched her fists, stood up, and decided to follow Ais and the others.

Raul and the others, who had been speechless, gritted their teeth and kicked the ground hard.

The power to break through limits governs the adventurers (teams).

"Raul, you guys stay behind and provide support!! Ais and the others are going to launch an attack on the female figures! Lefia, you come over here too!"

"yes!!"

Finn roared at the invigorated adventurers, glaring at the female figure still absorbing magic, and ordered the supporters to pick up the weapons scattered around.

They quickly handed over the wands and other weapons to Lefia and the others, and the team prepared for their first and final assault.

With his back to the flustered Ais and the others, Finn took the second spear with the indestructible attribute and walked to the elf and dwarf lying on the ground.

"Rivia, Grace, are you both already finished?"

He stood beside his fallen comrades, who lay on the ground like corpses, without looking at them.

Finn's eyes were fixed on what was ahead.

"Then you can lie there, I'm going to move forward."

Finn only told the two of his ambitions and will before moving forward.

He left the two behind and went on ahead alone.

"Let's go!!"

Finn turned to look at Ais and the others who were fully prepared and gave them his orders.

Leading the valiant adventurers, they charged towards the roaring monsters.

Then—something moved.

Hearing their rushing footsteps, the dwarf twitched his left hand.

Thick fingers dug into the ground, gripping the dust tightly.

"That... arrogant brat (Parum)...!"

Grace propped herself up, revealing a genuinely annoyed smile.

He raised his face towards the elf who, like himself, had slightly moved his hand.

"Hey, you annoying elf!! Is it time to sleep now!?"

"...Shut up, you savage dwarf!"

Riveria pulled the fallen staff to her side and laughed boldly and fearlessly.

It was like going back to when they first met, bickering and bleeding red blood—both gathering their strength once again.

"Mr. Grace, Miss Rivera...!"

Seeing that the faction leaders never yielded and always maintained a steadfast bond, Raul's eyes were almost filled with tears.

"Bring me an axe!!"

The dwarf shouted sharply, and the supporter practically rammed him, handing him the massive battle axe.

Ignoring his own injuries, Grace transformed into a cannonball and began chasing Finn and the others.

"Protect me!!"

"yes!!"

Then Riveria used her injured body to raise her staff and unleash an emerald-colored magic circle.

A bright and intense light shone, signaling the start of the largest artillery preparation.

Seeing the city's strongest mage abandon all action and concentrate on chanting, Raul and the others obeyed in unison.

"...I've truly seen some good stuff. I'll do my part to help."

Seeing the Loki Familia rise up to fight, Tsubaki narrowed her right eye.

With her crushed right arm hanging limply, she raised her katana in her left hand to join the battle.

The adventurers' final battle has begun.

◆

A vortex of light was drawn into the ominous vessel from across the entire floor.