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

The crimson diagonal lines hurtling through the air all turned toward me.

"Phew!!"

A sharp, low growl.

Facing the lightning bolt that charged forward, I let my gleaming blade flash past.

There was no sound. No screams, no dying cries. Only the swallow, cut in two, fell into the water behind me.

This became the signal for the start of a head-on confrontation.

"────────────!!"

Wings flashed and charged.

Wielding the "White Illusion," I met all attacks head-on. My right hand swung, then immediately switched to a scooping motion. The next bullet hurtled towards me in the blink of an eye; I dodged it by tilting my head. Simultaneously, three special attacks were fired, which I slashed down with a single blow. I exchanged thirty-seven attacks with the high-speed diagonal strikes coming from the front, neutralizing the first wave of the Killer Swallow's attack. Gliding close to the water's surface, I somersaulted into the sky, launching another decisive all-around assault.

Faced with the shooting stars falling from the dome, I accelerated until the blade became blurred and indistinguishable.

"~ ...

The sharp beak of the swift swallow grazed the top of the armor, sparks flying even from the shoulder guards made of super-hard metal. The "Water Crystal Cloth" shirt was torn, spurting blood. Every time I cut off an enemy's wing, I create a new wound.

The sweat that had stopped started pouring out again, and my whole body felt hot. My head felt like it was burning up.

My limbs screamed, "Isn't there any other way?" My inner voice protested. The quick-attack magic (fire and lightning) only targets a point, not an area; it can't annihilate a group. Sacrificing a few swallows would leave my body riddled with holes. Since that's the case, this is still the only way.

The ability of "agility (speed)" is something that leaves everyone dumbfounded and full of praise.

(The enemy is also gambling with their lives.)

This flash of light was a desperate, all-or-nothing strike. It was a fatal blow delivered at top speed. Because they directly converted their lives into an attack, their body impact was so powerful. They flew with reckless speed, solely to pierce their enemy.

So I focused solely on swinging this arm.

This is a test of endurance!

"Aa ...

Driven solely by my adventurer's instincts, I continued to draw bright arcs around me.

The speed at which the dagger was swung to its final stroke increased.

The accuracy of detecting enemy shadows is also increasing.

It was almost like being pushed into a dangerous situation by a feeling of "some deviation," which gradually brought the body and mind into harmony—

(Again, again, again!)

That night in the maze-like street, I experienced the continuous slashes of the person I admired.

As I recalled the Fiora's sharp yet beautiful figure, I played a melody of swordplay, using all my speed to accelerate the game.

At last……

"──Shh!!"

I cut off the last one that was rapidly falling from directly above.

The gleaming slash that accurately cleaved the "magic stone" turned the swallow's body into dust with a "crack," reducing it to ashes.

After delivering the final blow to the enemy, I remained motionless, maintaining the posture of swinging "White Illusion" to its climax. The splashing water, like a gentle drizzle, gradually cooled my burning cheeks.

The intense focus I had been maintaining was released, and the thunderous roar of the "Giant Waterfall" returned to my ears. I quietly relaxed and looked around.

Countless broken pieces of loot (dropped items) called "Flash Swallow Feathers" float on the shallow waters nearby.

"...We made it through..."

I survived the surge in Flash Swallow's numbers (an abnormal situation).

Blood trickled down my cheeks and arms. I felt heavy and tired as I looked down at my right hand, which was holding the "White Illusion."

I never expected our progress to be delayed like this. My physical strength was severely depleted, and we definitely wasted a lot of time.

but……

(I'm starting to understand...)

Being strong and brave does not mean being reckless.

However, the moment when you have to take risks—the day when you have to "take a risk"—will eventually come.

I don't know if that will be a year from now, a day from now, or even a few seconds from now...

But in order to overcome that moment, I must cultivate various abilities.

We must constantly seek the best solution, plan ahead, and be mentally prepared.

Those who are called first-class adventurers must have always done this. They do it so they won't have any regrets.

Having experienced the baptism of the dungeons, I feel that as an adventurer, I have grown once again.

I gripped my newly acquired weapon, a gleaming dagger.

Just then, suddenly—a round of applause.

In stark contrast to the maze that required one to be on edge, the sound of "clapping" rang out.

"what?"

For a moment, I couldn't help but let out a stupid shout.

Monsters wouldn't applaud adventurers. Logically, it must be someone in the same line of work. But there shouldn't be anyone else around this waterfall pool besides me.

As I pondered this, I slowly turned around to look behind me, and there I saw—

"────"

What unfolds in the field of vision is the enormous waterfall leading to the 26th floor.

With its back to this natural landscape, sitting on the crystal rock ground are clear, transparent green scales and a fish tail. Unlike the lower half of the "Giant Waterfall," which is also blue-emerald green, the upper half of the fish, resembling a human, is dyed light blue.

Smooth, supple skin; beautifully shaped, fully exposed breasts; long hair the same color as her lower body; adorable fish fins that replace her ears; and beautiful, emerald-like eyes.

Seeing "her" adorned with swaying seashells and pearl hair ornaments, I gasped and murmured to myself:

"The Mermaid..."

That "mermaid" possessed a beauty that no monster should have, captivating my gaze.

As if praising me for having performed a martial arts scene with Shan Yan, or perhaps simply admiring me, "she" clapped her hands innocently while laughing.

*

"[Brave warriors, mighty heroes, greedy and tyrannical valiant warriors, prove your worth by obtaining the Empress's (King's) Imperial Belt!]"

The song is being woven.

Amidst the ferocious roars of the monsters, a clear and melodious chant rang out. Aisha dodged the claws and teeth of the enemies, continuing her attacks with her broadsword and long-legged sword while chanting incantations.

That is, "parallel chanting".

"—My thirsty blade (name) is Hippolyta!!"

The female warrior (Amazon) fought against multiple monsters while simultaneously attacking, dodging, and chanting, quickly composing incantations to unleash her "magic".

"【Hel Caios】!"

The broadsword cleaved the ground, unleashing a massive slashing wave resembling a shark's dorsal fin, shattering the horde of monsters in its path. The hard metal blue crabs lined up ahead were no match for the floating demon mosquitoes, and even the large water serpents in the water were sliced ​​in two.

"It even split the water flow..."

"While Bell Craney is similar, [Lijie] is indeed quite exaggerated..."

Welf, who had been transferred to lead the defense squad, and Sakura, who was carrying the wounded, were terrified at the sight. The slashing wave (Hel Caios) not only cleaved through the land but also the water, exposing the underwater surface and blowing away all obstacles in front of them.

As the river rushed back into the severed waterway, Aisha, who had single-handedly fought the monster, shouldered her broadsword and turned to look at Welf and the others.

"Alright, let's hurry up and leave while the roads are clear. If we get surrounded, even I can't protect all of you."

"You actually managed to defeat so many monsters all by yourself, and you still have the nerve to say that..."

Daphne let Luvis lean on her shoulder and muttered to the exceptionally powerful second-level adventurer.

The team carried the severely injured elven adventurers, leaving Aisha to shoulder the entire burden. As everyone resumed their journey through the labyrinth, Lily busied herself, bringing her a dual potion.

"Lady Aisha, are you alright?"

"Should I put on a brave face and say I'm doing great? Well, with your ridiculously powerful 'magic sword' as cover, things should be fine as they go."

Aisha reached into a small spring flowing from a corner of the wall, gulped down some of the underground city's water, and answered while wiping her mouth.

The team spared Sakura, Mikoto, Daphne, and even the weak and helpless Haruhime to carry the adventurers of the [Modi Familia]. Adding Cassandra carrying Chigusa, this meant a total of five team members were unable to participate in the battle. Although Aisha was fighting hard, this was an extremely dangerous number for traversing the "lower levels."

However, in this situation, Welf and Lily, wielding the short sword-type "Krozo's Demon Sword," provide excellent support. Their fast and powerful cover fire repeatedly burns monsters positioned far from Aisha, allowing the team to continue advancing safely for now.

"If only we could use 'strong odor bags'..."

"Didn't they just say that aquatic monsters don't react to stench from land? And that 'enhanced' one doesn't seem to have a sense of smell either. Besides, if they released that stench now, it would send the injured straight to their deaths!"

Upon hearing Lily mention the stinky bag that could emit a strong odor to repel monsters, Welf half-jokingly retorted. Unfortunately, his words were in vain; they did nothing to alleviate the excessive tension enveloping the team. As the group advanced through the crystal maze... Aisha, who was at the front, suddenly swayed on the shoulder.

"Lady Aisha?"

"Is it a monster?"

"No, those footsteps—they're from a fellow traveler."

Upon hearing Aisha's words, Lily and Welf were startled. Just as she had predicted, after the party reached the corner with the cave, they encountered a group of adventurers.

"Is it Dorumur...??"

"Luvis, is that Luvis?! You're still alive?!"

Luvis lifted his head from Daphne's shoulder, and a dwarf from the opposing squad called out. The other man had squinty, narrow eyes, a large nose, and a height of 170cm, which was considered tall for a dwarf. He was clad in heavy brown armor, including his helmet, and wielded a massive warhammer in both hands.

Lily and the others immediately guessed that he was the member of the Manny Familia that Luvis had mentioned.

"Are you Lord Dorumur...? Lily, we are the Hestia Familia, and we are currently on an expedition."

"Over there, on the 'White Rabbit's Paw' side! So, you were also attacked by that 'enhanced species'...!"

After Lily quickly finished her introduction, Dorumur looked at Chigusa, who was entwined with vines, and seemed to immediately understand the situation.

The opposing squad, including Dorumur, was a four-person team. All of them were powerful Lv.3 dwarves, clad in sturdy full-body armor. However, that armor was now riddled with holes and damage, a testament to the squad's weakened state.

Not only that, everyone was parasitized by the "parasitic tree," without exception.

"You can still move? You've been infected with this 'parasitic tree'...?"

"Wow... Wahahaha! I'm a dwarf, my training methods are different from those of the frail elves!"

Dorumur laughed off the exclamation about the cherry blossoms with a local accent.

However, judging from the dark circles under his eyes, he was clearly putting on a brave face.

Presumably, they forced themselves to march despite their physical limitations so that the squad could continue.

"Ha...you're right. Compared to those cumbersome elves (us), you dwarves are much more presentable..."

"W-What's wrong...? You're so discouraged, what am I supposed to do...?"

After Luvis laughed self-deprecatingly, Dorumur lost his arguing partner and his usual cheerful demeanor. Seeing the elf, who should have been constantly bickering with the dwarves, so haggard, an expression of extreme embarrassment appeared on his face.

"Dorumur... have you found the search party?"

"...Ah, we found it. But we only found the body...Below here, on the safe floor of the 'lower level'."

"Safe floor?"

Seeing Luvis's expression change drastically and his eyebrows furrow, Dorumur nodded sadly. Lily, hearing this unexpected term, repeated it and asked.

"Yes, hidden somewhere where no one can see it. It was gnawed on, placed on a dried-up corpse, wrapped in 'vines,' and it even bloomed..."

"This...this means..."

"Oh right, that 'enhanced species' ambushed the adventurer on a safe floor and killed him."

Lily and the others were shocked to hear this.

The "enhanced species" chose to launch a surprise attack from a safe floor where monsters wouldn't spawn, knowing the adventurers would be off guard. It took advantage of its prey's vulnerability.

"I thought there was nothing surprising about this, but I didn't expect... that damn thing seems to have taught me some unnecessary wisdom."

Aisha's utter disgust spoke for everyone.

The monster has learned the adventurers' habits. Regarding this unprecedented being, the Amazonian shrew said, "It seems that saying it's more terrifying than the 'Bloody Giant' isn't necessarily an exaggeration." She concluded her statement.