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

Following Lily's instructions, Welf and the others leaped out and arrived at a wide, long, and large passageway.

It was a single passage on land, without any water flow. Although a few small side caves could be seen here and there, only the front and back paths allowed large groups of monsters to crowd in.

The white crystal at the top of the ceiling emitted an exceptionally bright light. As the team approached the central area under this light, Lily gave the order:

"Everyone, fight the monster here!"

"Choosing a place like this!? There are tons of monsters here!?"

"From here, we can limit the monsters' path to one direction! They should be within the 'Demon Sword's' firing range! Lord Welf, please burn them all!!"

"Received, received!"

Upon hearing Sakura's rebuttal, Lily roared back, giving direct instructions to Welf in her loud voice.

Seeing the staff officer's eyes bloodshot from working so hard, Welf was momentarily intimidated by her arrogance, but after understanding her explanation, a smile appeared on his lips.

Annihilation from a single direction. I see, that's easy to understand.

Although I'm reluctant to admit it, this time I'm going to let this overpowered "Crozo's Demon Sword" take the lead.

Aisha, at the very back of the group, caught up. Just as Welf brushed past her, he raised the crimson "magic sword" he had drawn from his back and slashed down at the advancing monster.

"Red Fang!!"

He raised his longsword high above his head and slashed down, unleashing a large ball of fire.

The intense heat surpassed that of the "magic sword" previously unleashed on the floor master (Goliath), and Welf swept away the entire horde of monsters about to engage. The piercing screams were drowned out by the roar of flames, and enormous sparks danced in the crystal corridor.

"Such intense heat...!"

The surging, fiery breath that filled the space caused Daphne to instinctively cover her face with one arm.

Ahead lay the burning remains of a monster, and several "magic stones" molten and buried in the dust.

However, another new batch of detachments appeared in the distance.

"Using the terrain is fine, but what if the 'Demon Sword' breaks?"

"No matter how we try to escape, things will only get worse! Even if we want to get out of this maze, we need to find a place to reduce the number of monsters, otherwise this will never end!"

Aisha, sweating profusely, accepted the elixir. Lily, desperate to find a way out, frantically scanned the map while answering questions. When the second wave of the group was blasted away by Welf's "magic sword," Aisha, with more adventurer "experience" than anyone else, tilted her head back and finished the test tube of medicine, saying, "The outcome is unpredictable."

"──"

then.

Fate is still the first to sense the impending crisis.

"My life?"

"This is bad."

As Chunji was handing the tools to Aisha, she ordered someone to stand beside her and look around with her bluish-purple eyes.

As if confirming her murmured words—"Pichi!"

"────"

Cracks appeared in the crystal wall.

Moreover, the number of cracks is staggering, covering a vast area.

Lily's time seemed to stand still. Sakura and Daphne were speechless, Cassandra froze on the spot, and even Welf, who was wielding the "Demon Sword," noticed the phenomenon. Even the weakened Dorumur, Ruvis, and Chigusa turned pale.

The adventurers who had trekked all the way to the "lower level" instantly understood what that omen meant.

"Monster Party". A localized surge in monsters.

A vicious labyrinthine trap that plunges adventurers into the depths of hell.

A wall fissure stretching fifty meters from the center of the main passage completely enveloped the party. The dungeon revealed a clear malice, intent on annihilating the adventurers.

"Hey! This is something no human could do!"

As Welf, responsible for holding back the advancing army, shouted, the ominous cracking sounds continued unabated, as if announcing the adventurer's remaining lifespan.

"The scope is too broad... Is this the end...?"

"Damn it, I've already come all this way... I...!"

Faced with a scene that could easily make anyone feel listless, both Luvis and Dorumur's expressions were contorted.

The other elves and dwarves, faced with this overwhelming scale, were also shrouded in despair.

"Tsk... There's no other way."

Aisha, all alone, clicked her tongue.

Reluctantly, she brushed her bangs aside and said to Lily beside her:

"Little one, use that one, get ready."

"!"

Before she could answer, who was still in shock, Aisha walked up to Luvis and the others.

Then...

"Alright—hey, you guys, promise me."

"ah!?"

She pointed the large broadsword she held directly at the elves and dwarves who had raised their heads.

With the tip of her broadsword pressed against his throat, Luvis was utterly astonished. Dorumur, who was supporting him with his shoulder, was equally shocked. Aisha cast a sharp glance not only at them, but also at the silent elves and dwarves behind them.

"You are absolutely not allowed to tell anyone what happens next... Can you promise that?"

"What, what are you saying?! What time is it?! Are you crazy?!"

"Yeah, that's right! What's going on here—"

"Can you guarantee it?"

Dorumur's voice was cut off as the tip of the knife forcefully pierced the skin of Luvis's neck.

Seeing the blood dripping from their necks, the sickly Luvis and Dorumur turned even more ashen-faced.

Aisha's gaze was unsmiling, and the maze walls seemed poised to burst open at any moment, accompanied by the wails of monsters crashing to the ground.

Death loomed close, and fear ravaged their minds.

Faced with Aisha's chilling gaze, the dwarf and elf managed to utter a sound:

"I...I promise you!"

"I swear in the name of Her Majesty the Elf Queen!"

"Very good, I heard you."

Seeing Dorumur and Luvis nod repeatedly, she put away her weapon.

The Amazon heroine immediately curled her lip and shouted at a girl:

"Then—do it, Haruhime!"

Her fox ears suddenly perked up, and her beautiful golden hair swayed slightly.

The fox-girl looked nervous, but resolutely nodded in response to Aisha, and then unleashed her "magic".

"Form a square formation centered on Lady Haruhime!! Defend Lady Haruhime to the death!"

Lily suddenly looked up, giving simple and clear instructions.

Sakura, holding a shield and a battle axe, raised her katana. Daphne and Cassandra, holding short swords and short bows, pushed off the ground and retreated sharply. Then Aisha swung her broadsword, all forming a perfect circle around Haruhime.

The girl quietly put her long black robe back on to cover her face, and clasped her hands together like a priestess.

"—I'll begin."

The next instant, the surrounding maze walls roared like an avalanche, giving birth to a huge horde of monsters.

'Roar! Ro ...

The monsters' feast has begun.

The claws were raised high and swung down, a sharp metallic clang rang out between them and the rebounding Japanese sword.

Chunji felt her life force shattered by her tangled black hair. She blocked the monster's attack with her first sword strike, then closed her eyes and used the threads of her focused energy to bind herself.

She is about to begin using the power she has awakened through the "magic book".

"【Ninefold】".

The first step of this newly acquired "magic" is not chanting, but rather a declaration of the "magic name".

"【Love's Snow. Love's Crimson (Red). Love's White Light (Light)】."

Simultaneously with the woven incantation, Haruhime's body underwent changes.

The emanating "magic" transformed into countless particles of light, which gathered at the girl's buttocks, and accompanied by a clear, tinkling sound like rolling bells, five "light tails" of the same color as her fur sprouted.

"[May I be allowed to stay by your side forever—the love I found at the end of the second night (night)]."

Including its original tail, it now has six gleaming golden fox tails.

The dwarves, who were protected by the circular formation of Welf and others just like Chun Ji, had their attention diverted.

The aftershocks of the extraordinary "magic" caused her long, black robes to flutter gently. Even the noble and virtuous elves were captivated by the sight of the girl chanting prayers like a priestess.

—I'm truly defeated by you.

Aisha said this when the "magic" manifested.

She even strictly ordered Haruhime not to use it without her instructions. Her reasoning was that if this ability were to become public, it would reignite an ugly power struggle centered around young girls.

Moreover, this is the "ultimate trump card" that can break the battle situation with just one move.

—It hurts so much.

Chunji's forehead was covered in beads of sweat.

She felt her spiritual energy rapidly diminishing within her body. She had a strange feeling, as if fragments of her life were being sucked away by the tail of light. Was this the feeling of the sacrificial priestesses of the Far East since ancient times? She even entertained this inappropriate thought.

"【My name is Fox Demon, the destruction of the past. My name is Ancient Ballad, the longing of the past. I only wish to be a noble person, like a bird spreading its wings, to have nine demons dwell within me】."

Her throat burned, her body was burning hot. Golden light transformed into ferocious fangs that bit into the girl's tender flesh, attempting to trigger a magical explosion (ignis fatuus).

However, Haruhime would not back down. She would never allow that to happen.

"Gahh ...

"Goo ...

She heard the voices of those who fought against the monsters, protecting her weak and powerless self. Their roars ignited a burning passion within her.

Chun-hime can only sing.

Since that's the case, let her sing until her voice and body are exhausted, until her life is cut short, and offer a prayer to her beloved companions. Let the wishes of these courageous people be fulfilled. And she wants to become the strength of the boy she so desperately yearns for, who is not here at this moment.

The monster attacked even more fiercely, and she, standing beside her companion who had weathered the onslaught, quickened her chanting.

Ming and the others prevented the monsters from getting close to the girl. Faced with the sheer number of monsters, they managed to muster their remaining strength to slash, slash, and retaliate. Welf's "Demon Sword" spewed fire regardless of the close proximity, cherry blossoms howled while bleeding, and Aisha's greatsword swept away all the enemies that were relentlessly pursuing her.

"[Let the golden song flow, the summons of Tamamo (song). White-faced, golden-haired, the king of nine tails]."

The songs of the battlefield shook Pingchang's resolve, yet Chunji's incantation never ceased.

She kept her eyes closed and continued to weave a song of golden light.

"[Devouring everything, achieving everything, the tail of the auspicious beast—]"

Next is...

"【-Grow bigger】."

Chanting link.

She connected the chants of different "magic" spells and sang the next incantation.

"[Its power, its vessels, countless treasures, and countless desires. Until the bell tolls to announce it, enjoy glory and dreams—grow bigger!]"

As soon as they entered the familiar section for Lily and the others, the golden tail swayed as if gazing up at the heavens.

Each tail seemed to undulate independently, with countless gold particles spreading out like fairy scales. The crystals appeared to be attracted, exhibiting diffuse reflection and creating a mysterious spectacle.

"[This body that has devoured the delicacies of the gods, this golden light bestowed upon the gods. From the mallet above to the earth below, may you be blessed.]"