Enhanced Species.
They feed on Magic Stones to strengthen themselves.
It was a special rule unique to monsters, much like how Adventurers gain experience.
And Revis had just accomplished exactly that.
Bell's original plan had been to defeat Olivas as quickly as possible, then join forces with Ais to drive Revis into a corner.
But the situation shifted in an instant. The Creature's unknown ability crushed his earlier calculations with ease.
Her red hair swayed as the crimson light from the quartz pillars bathed Revis in an even darker aura.
Was her latent status truly Lv6, or had she already surpassed it?
Bell didn't have enough information, nor could he afford to test it.
Under that overwhelming pressure, his instincts screamed in warning.
If he faced her head-on, he would die.
Have Ryuu stall for time?
No.
She had already exhausted herself fighting Olivas. Now that Revis had consumed a Magic Stone, the outcome would be beyond disastrous.
In that brief instant, Bell's thoughts raced.
The only one he could rely on now was Ais.
But her curse had yet to fade. Ordinary Healing Magic and potions couldn't dispel it, and [Argo's Ship] required the target to be hand in hand.
With Airmid absent, Bell had no way to grant her Healing Magic.
The grotesque shrieks of the Viola pounded against his ears. The immense pressure crushed both body and mind.
Bell didn't try to run. Instead, he forced himself to widen his perspective, searching desperately for a way to break the deadlock.
But the enemy gave him no time to think.
Revis slammed her foot down, and the shattered ground erupted with a thunderous roar.
Before that sheer, unfiltered violence, the final battle began.
...
"Come, crimson flames, the ruthless inferno. You are the avatar of hellfire.."
A deep golden radiance gathered ceaselessly around Lefiya.
Faster.
Even faster.
If it were Riveria-sama, she would have completed the chant long ago.
I'm weak. I panic, act recklessly, and make mistakes I regret.
I've always known that.
Even so, I still want to stand beside him (her).
Sing.
It's the only thing I can do.
Pour every ounce of magic into it. Raise a song of hope.
Sing.
Send my prayers and blessings to them.
Ais had already cut down countless Viola, yet their hideous fangs continued to surge forward without end.
I have to protect Lefiya...
I have to preserve the last of the [Wind]...
I have to listen to Bell and step in when it truly matters...
Bound by those thoughts, Ais remained where she was, and her pace in cutting down the Viola slowed dramatically.
"Sweep completely, bring a close to the great war.."
Lefiya did not close her eyes.
The writhing tentacles. The gnashing fangs.
It was as if none of it existed.
Her gaze fixed on the boy.
He stood facing off against the red-haired woman from a distance.
White hair stirred softly in the air. Crimson light flickered around him.
That figure, which had appeared in her mind countless times, now seemed to bear an immense weight, like a towering mountain pressing down on him.
Endless pressure bore down on his shoulders, yet he stood tall, without a trace of hesitation or fear.
Sing.
Offer the [affection] in your heart to the boy.
When discouragement threatened to overwhelm her, it was Bell who encouraged her and promised they would move forward together.
When the one she admired fell into danger and she could do nothing, it was Bell who rushed forward recklessly and created a miracle.
When she was sinking into the abyss of despair, it was Bell who stood beside her, using his own flesh and blood to bear everything, fighting at her side.
And beyond those moments, there were countless others.
Memories that pushed her onward. The shy moments during the War Game. The heroic deed before the Sacred Tree.
...
Everything converged into that tiny Crystal Drop, becoming the secret Lefiya held dear.
What exactly was this [affection]?
If the love fruit she bore had not been given to Ais, but instead offered to the boy, what would have changed?
Just imagining it made her heart tremble.
Everything converged into that tiny Crystal Drop, becoming the secret Lefiya held dear.
What exactly was this [affection]?
If the [love] fruit she bore had not been given to Ais, but instead offered to the boy, what would have changed?
Just imagining it made her heart tremble.
Lefiya didn't understand where this feeling came from. Her shyness kept her from digging any deeper.
Whatever it was, one thing was certain.
She wanted to live on together with the boy.
Lefiya knew that whenever they formed a temporary party, he always adjusted himself to her pace.
Sometimes he slowed down.
Other times he deliberately pretended to be tired, staying by her side.
Because Lefiya so often walked at the rear, she was the only one who noticed.
With just a few simple words, the boy could stir both her embarrassment and her stubborn resolve, as if he could see straight through her.
Bittersweet memories swelled in her heart.
She wanted to keep walking like this.
Shoulder to shoulder.
Through laughter and lighthearted moments, all the way to the end of time.
And so she sang at the top of her voice.
"Burn them through—Sword of Surtr—!"
Lefiya was an idiot.
A hopeless magic idiot.
Yet every time she heard that phrase from the boy's lips, she felt an unshakable trust.
That was enough.
He would bring everyone back safely.
He would save the swordsman she admired.
He would break through every obstacle and bring a dawn of hope to them all.
The Bell in her heart was a true hero.
"—My name is Alf!"
If she was a magic idiot, then she would take that path to its very limit.
She would stake all her magic power, squeeze out every last drop of spirit.
She would offer everything she had to the boy.
A dazzling radiance overwhelmed the blood-red glow of the quartz pillars. An emerald magic circle spread at blinding speed, covering the entire cavern.
At almost the same instant, true annihilation magic was unleashed.
"Rea・Laevateinn!!!!"
Karmic flames roared to life.
Centered on Lefiya, massive pillars of fire erupted from the magic circle and shot outward like lightning.
One, ten, a hundred...
Countless blazing columns surged upward like swords of judgment, piercing toward the ceiling.
The inferno devoured every Viola, burning away their shrieks and wails along with them.
Tentacles, fangs, bodies—even their Magic Stones were reduced to nothing. Wave after wave of karmic fire swept away every trace of that ominous presence.
The towering pillars of flame carefully avoided Bell and the others.
Riveria's annihilation magic, the strongest mage in the city, could automatically lock onto its targets, bypassing allies within the magic circle and striking only enemies.
Revis, who had been charging toward the boy, was one of those targets.
"?!"
Crimson light swallowed everything.
A pillar of fire burst up beneath Revis's feet.
Caught off guard by the sudden eruption, she couldn't evade. She could only cross her arms over her chest and curl inward to block.
"Such meaningless resistance."
When the flames faded, Revis rose to her feet with a sneer.
Most of her clothing had been burned away. Her skin was twisted and scorched, stained a ghastly blackish red.
But the flames had gone no further.
Her muscle tissue remained completely intact.
Though it had drawn upon Riveria's annihilation magic, Lefiya's own magic power was still insufficient to truly wound the Creature before her.
"Your magic power should be exhausted by now. Or do you still have some little trick left?"
Revis smiled wickedly and lunged at the boy again.
Her iron fist shot forward like a loaded bullet, moving so fast Bell had no chance to dodge.
"Cranel-san!"
Even Ryuu, a Level 5, couldn't intercept the blow in time.
The raging fist, wrapped in a violent gale, was about to strike Bell.
Then [Wind] arrived.
Though Lefiya's magic hadn't injured Revis at her core, it had bought Ais precious time.
With the Viola and Olivas gone, Ais immediately activated Ariel, pouring what remained of her strength into it.
Don't meet it head-on...
Her instincts warned her that even she would be defeated if that iron fist landed cleanly.
The Desperate Sword slipped past the incoming blow, using its superior reach to thrust straight toward Revis's chest.
"Tch."
Revis twisted her body, abandoning her attack on the boy.
She turned her assault toward Ais instead, and a storm-like clash erupted between them.
Iron fists hammered down one after another, each strike detonating against the ground with a thunderous roar.
Ais focused on evasion, riding the power of [Wind] as she unleashed countless flashing slashes.
"Aria truly is extraordinary. Even after being wounded by a cursed weapon, she can still fight like this."
Revis muttered softly, a relaxed smile playing across her lips.
She smashed both fists into the ground at once. Ais leapt back, avoiding the massive shockwave.
Revis held no weapon.
In her earlier battle with Ais, she had used a giant Viola to retrieve a crimson greatsword from the green wall.
Now that every Viola had been eradicated, she could only fight with her bare hands.
But she was certain that would be enough.
Ais's [Wind] couldn't last much longer. Even unarmed, Revis was more than capable of matching her in combat.
The curse and the raging gale were draining Ais's mind at the same time.
Revis only needed to wait.
The silver blade danced amid the storm.
In just a few seconds, strain was already visible on Ais's face.
"Ais-san...!"
Supported by Filvis, Lefiya felt the world spinning so hard she could barely stay upright, let alone make out what was happening in the fight.
"..."
Bell frowned, keeping silent.
The voice from his lover echoed in his mind.
"Bell, the cursed weapon that attacked you before was made using the Development Ability of [Mystery] and [Blacksmith]."
"In Orario, only a handful of people can undo that kind of curse."
"You have to keep anti-curse medicine on you at all times."
Airmid lay against Bell's lap, patiently explaining how curses worked.
"What if the enemy brings a bunch of cursed weapons, and we run out of potions?"
Bell gently stroked Airmid's silver hair.
"..."
Airmid turned toward him, her violet eyes full of tender affection.
"If that ever happens, don't force it. Get back to the surface as soon as you can. I'll chant healing Magic the moment you arrive."
After a brief pause, the Dea Saint added, "Their cursed weapons prevent the victim's wounds from healing. For high-level Adventurers, unless they're stabbed in a vital spot, they can still keep fighting for a while."
"But curses are like poison. The higher someone's rank, the easier it is to ignore it in the middle of battle. And when it finally turns fatal, it's already too late."
"So even if you think you can keep fighting, don't push yourself. The instant you collapse, you'll lose all combat capability."
Airmid emphasized it again.
The curse's effect on Ais was severe.
Bell knew it. If this kept up, Ais would lose before long.
Silver sword and iron fists traded blows without pause, their positions shifting with the shrieking wind.
This wasn't like Olivas.
The battle unfolding in front of him wasn't something Bell could jump into with Firebolt.
This was a clash near the very top of Orario. If he recklessly used Quick-Cast Magic, he'd only put Ais in danger while she was forced to keep dodging.
So what could he do?
"If you feel lost, then just move forward first."
Artemis's smile rose before his eyes.
"Orion, give me your hand."
Under the moonlight, the goddess's beautiful face held a faint blush.
Bell did as she said and lifted his right hand.
With a gentle, crescent-moon softness at the corner of her eyes, Artemis slowly raised her left hand and laced her fingers with his.
"...?"
Artemis was usually so shy. For her to take his hand on her own left Bell a little startled.
She smiled, then looked up at the night sky, bashful.
"This is magic unique to the Moon Goddess."
"To me, Orion is the arrow that pushes through hardship and pierces every calamity."
"So if you ever feel lost, just keep going forward."
"Don't forget. I'll hold your hand like this, and I'll stay by your side."
"Go on, Orion."
Warmth poured into his heart, carried by her clear, bell-like voice.
Ring.
Ring.
The chime sounded, and white light began to gather in Bell's right hand.
No more overthinking. No more hesitation.
Even staring despair in the face, he had to move forward.
That was the resolve of the Arrow of Orion.
The ringing echoed on as the white light condensed.
But judging by Ais's condition, time was already running out.
"Bell, you can rely on us as much as you want."
Laurier's almost-too-bold words surfaced in his mind.
"Don't carry everything on your shoulders. Sometimes you should let the girls spoil you."
She said that, and yet she herself clung to the boy from behind like a needy kitten.
Golden hair and a fresh, sweet scent wrapped around Bell, along with honeyed words whispered into his ear.
"I love Bell. I'm past saving. I don't want to see you get hurt, and I don't want to see you in danger."
"If you run into something you can't get past, then lean on me. Ask me for help."
"...My level is low, so I might not be useful, but if Bell doesn't try to do everything alone, if you come to me for help, I'll be happy. I really will."
"And everyone else feels the same way..."
Later, Laurier's words had turned into a soft, sweet kiss, lighting the fire of love between them.
Bell didn't let himself sink into those memories.
There were girls waiting for him to come back.
There were girls fighting for him right now.
He took a deep breath and finally spoke, directing his plea for help to the elf girl at his side.
"Ryuu-san... I know it's asking a lot, but please. Buy us some time somehow."
"Understood."
Ryuu didn't say anything more.
Her stamina had only just begun to recover, but it was enough.
Her wooden sword cut through the air as she stepped into the fight.
The ringing of steel echoed through the vast cavern, silver blade and wooden blade weaving together into an unbroken war dance.
Ryuu didn't try to confront Revis head-on. Instead, she waited for gaps in those iron fists, striking whenever she found an opening.
Even if she couldn't injure Revis, it was enough to give Ais room to breathe.
"I'm not like that idiot!"
After several seconds of this stalemate, Revis snarled and lifted her right leg, then slammed it down hard.
The ground shattered, and a violent shockwave burst outward, flinging jagged stones in every direction.
Bell used his parallel charge technique to evade the incoming debris.
Filvis, carrying Lefiya on her back, also escaped the blast radius.
But the two closest to the impact had no such luxury.
Ais raised her wind armor (Ariel) to block the flying rocks, but the curse slowed her movements, preventing her from charging in and meeting Revis head-on.
Ryuu twisted her body aside, dodging the shockwave while swinging her wooden sword to knock away the stones flying at her.
But Revis's iron fist was already right behind it.
"Hng?!"
The punch slammed into the wooden blade, and the monstrous strength behind it sent Ryuu's weapon flying from her hands.
And the fist didn't stop.
"Get out of my way, you little pest!"
Red hair whipping wildly, Revis roared as her fist smashed directly into Ryuu's right arm.
A deafening impact rang out.
Ryuu was blasted backward and crashed onto the ground.
Her right arm was twisted at an unnatural angle, completely ruined. She couldn't fight anymore.
"Ryuu-san!"
Still carrying Lefiya, Filvis rushed over in a panic to check on her.
"I'm fine..."
Ryuu braced herself with her left hand and tried to rise, but could only manage to kneel on one knee.
Anyone could see it.
Ryuu had reached her limit.
But the battle wasn't over.
Ais charged forward again, plunging back into a brutal struggle balanced on the edge between life and death.
"..."
Bell clenched his right fist.
He had relied on Ais's natural kindness.
He had relied on Ryuu's sense of justice.
And yet, what did it amount to?
What could he actually do?
If he fired Firebolt with all the power he had stored up, amplified by his immense [Magic Power] and [Argonaut], then yes...
He could hurt Revis.
But only if he landed a direct hit.
Ais and Revis were fighting with everything they had.
Bell didn't have the kind of precise target-locking that Lefiya's annihilation magic possessed.
That limitation was exactly why he hadn't been able to join the fight.
The bell continued to toll.
Sweat ran down Ais's cheeks, her expression strained with pain.
Without Ryuu to cover her, the blonde girl had no time to breathe.
And with the curse eating away at her, Ais was rapidly approaching her limit.
The moment of decision had arrived.
The white light gathered in Bell's hand, ready to be released at any second.
He had to create an opening for Ais.
He had to help her land a decisive blow.
But in a battle this intense, one that he could barely interfere with...
What could he possibly do?
"Bell..."
Syr's whisper echoed in his ear.
A plain, unremarkable little cottage.
And yet, through the girl's love, it had become something far more special.
"Syr... you pulled another prank, didn't you? You tricked Laurier and Airmid just so I'd stay with you."
Bell spoke softly, staring at her gently rising and falling figure.
"Because I'm that kind of shameless girl..."
Love shimmered in Syr's eyes.
She leaned closer, bringing her soft lips right up to the boy's ear.
"Bell is clever. I hope you'll carry your despicable deeds through to the very end—just as I will."
"If I did that, countless people would condemn me."
Bell understood exactly what Syr meant by "despicable."
Though she was only a tavern girl, Syr was adept at reading hearts and steering people without them even realizing it.
"It doesn't matter. That's the version of you I love. If anyone dares to curse you or come for revenge, I'll deal with them all."
"Bell..."
Syr murmured his name, her breathing uneven.
Justice and evil.
Despicable and wise.
In the end, they were only differences in standpoint.
Bell had already made his choice.
He would become a different kind of hero.
No matter how others saw it, to him, this was the unmistakable path of the wise.
The instant the bell's chime ceased, white light flared.
Bell raised his right hand and pulled the trigger at his chosen target.
"Firebolt!"
The blazing bolt shot forth.
Wrapped in white radiance, the crimson flame flew straight toward the [Jewel Fetus].
"?!"
"You bastard?!!"
Revis shrieked, abandoning the silver blade in front of her as she hurled herself toward the jewel embedded in the quartz pillar.
Firebolt slammed into the Creature's back, detonating beside the blood-red column with a thunderous roar.
The charge time of [Argonaut] was limited. It wasn't some grand bell tower capable of overturning everything.
But for Bell, it was enough.
Revis positioned herself between the [Jewel Fetus] and the incoming fireball, raising both hands to block it.
If it had been ordinary magic, she could have knocked it aside with ease, even turning Firebolt back on him and killing the boy.
But empowered by [Argonaut], this was no ordinary spell.
Revis failed to deflect it as she once had.
Firebolt burned wildly.
It tore through skin and bit into muscle.
The flames locked Revis in place.
The golden-haired, golden-eyed girl did not let the opportunity slip.
The Desperate Sword, wrapped in a raging tempest, followed right behind the Firebolt.
Ais knew she had only one chance.
Gathering every ounce of strength, borrowing the momentum of her charge, she thrust forward with a storm-laden strike.
Blood sprayed.
Wind roared.
Under the violent impact, Revis was hurled backward.
Carried by the gale, she slid across the ground and slammed straight into the quartz pillar.
The already fractured crimson column splintered further, cracks racing across its surface.
"It's you. Always you...!"
Revis clenched her teeth and forced herself to stand.
Back in Rivira Town, the boy's sudden interference had kept her from taking [Aria].
And now, once again, he had stopped her.
"You despicable man!!!"
She spat out a mouthful of blood and screamed the insult.
Her body was covered in wounds. A massive gash across her chest gave off faint steam.
Revis could no longer continue the fight.
She understood that if she rushed in recklessly now, she would end up like Olivas, trapped in a cycle of injury and forced recovery, unable to fight back at all.
Cracks spread across the quartz pillar with sharp, splintering sounds.
Deprived of nourishment, the [Jewel Fetus] let out a piercing wail.
"Ahhh...!"
Revis ignored its cry and roughly tore it free.
"This place is about to collapse. I'll concede this victory to you."
"Aria, go to Floor 59. You'll find the answers you seek there."
"White-haired boy, if you don't want Aria to disappear, then come as well. The score between us will be settled sooner or later."
Revis shot Bell a frigid glare.
Then a shrill cracking sound rang out from the quartz pillar.
The moment the massive red column toppled, the ceiling of the entire food storage chamber began to cave in.
Bell and the others had already exhausted too much strength. They had no choice but to give up pursuit and focus on escaping.
Revis vanished into the depths of the storage chamber.
Dodging falling rocks, Bell and the others fled through the passage.
The battle that had pushed them to the brink of death finally came to an end.
However—
What Bell and the others didn't know was this.
In the darkness of Floor 18, a pitch-black giant stood.
And roared.