Danmaku, my skills refresh weekly.

A young dark elf with long silver hair, ashen skin, stars and moon floating on her forehead, and pointed ears appeared before everyone.

"This is...Vina?"

Alfia recognized the fairy twins from back then.

This dark elf's sister not only served as the prototype for 'Alpha', but also underwent more than half of the "corruption" modifications, ultimately becoming Rimuru's food and melting into his belly.

Now, it has reappeared in this form.

"Boss?" Rimuru, in his dark elf form, released black matter from his body, which transformed into a bodysuit to protect his newborn body.

"Want to try out a new skill?"

Rimuru nodded obediently and stretched out her hand, three protective orbs containing lunar energy surrounding her body.

【Pale Waterfall】: Generates three protective penalty balls that explode upon contact, dealing damage and granting the caster a shield with additional health.

With only one skill available, Sharl is unsure whether he will be able to unlock all of the [Moon Goddess]'s abilities in the future.

“But, boss, in this state, I can’t use any of my other abilities; only some of my passive abilities related to divine authority are active.” Rimuru seemed somewhat troubled.

Rimuru poked his head out from Alfia's body: "Only that one has its power sealed."

Charles looked at the dark elf: "Can you still revert to your slime form?"

Rimuru tried it, and his body slowly melted, turning back into a round sphere.

"Seems okay, boss! Slime form, the ability seems to be usable again!"

"Transformation? Not bad." Ciel's lips curled up slightly.

Rimuru is not lacking in skills. With the improvement of the food chain, Ciel has a continuous supply of skills to provide to his familiars.

The fact that Rimuru has the ability to mimic a human makes his role worthy of this one-star hero card.

Ciel pondered: Perhaps, I really can raise a Rimuru.

Chapter 420 Infiltration, Artificial Maze

Seeing Rimuru's change, Ciel also gained some clues about the other two hero cards.

"If we're talking about the Spider Queen, Valetta would actually be quite suitable..."

Valetta's magic is similar to the effect of setting up a spider web; targets caught in the magical trap will slowly struggle until they lose all ability to resist.

but……

LOL, why would you give the card to Valetta to evolve?

Charles put away the [Spider Queen] card and handed the [Crimson Reaper] card to Fels: "Use this as research material."

Fels got busy.

These things, though they may not seem so 'just', are weapons to fight against the 'end' as long as you hold them in your own hands.

Whether something is good or evil isn't actually that important.

Everything was for the sake of 'saving the world'.

……

Seven days have passed.

Over the course of seven days, under the supervision of the Dis sisters and with the assistance of Balka and Revis, the first two levels of the labyrinth were quickly transformed into a magical realm, forming the basic barrier to prevent adventurers from invading.

Meanwhile, Riveria and Astrea's Familia, having returned to the ground and completed their rest, will also inform their respective Familias of their plans.

Having learned from Allen what Ciel was doing in the labyrinth, Freya naturally wouldn't go and join in the fun.

Helen longed for it, but as a person of low status, her words carried no weight and she could do nothing to change it.

Astrea's Familia, due to her unhealed injuries, only Ryu participated.

Ultimately, due to Riveria's insistence, the Loki Familia had no choice but to organize a force and station themselves in front of the collapsed tunnel in the western sewers.

“We still have urban patrol duties to perform, so this is all the help we can give you.” Shakti said sternly, waving his hand dismissively.

"start……"

At her command, hundreds of her relatives, armed with shovels and spades, began digging into the collapsed and buried tunnel.

Having lost the hardest metal gate, and even the outermost super-hard metal being recycled, the passage had expanded to 500 meters in less than half a day, revealing a dark, labyrinthine cave wall to everyone.

"Finn, you really didn't hide any spies within the Dark Faction beforehand?" Riveria asked again before entering the labyrinth.

“No. According to Loki, it’s always Lady Astraea who shares the information. As for her sources of information…” Finn looked at Ryu, hesitating to speak.

“Lady Astraea said it’s a secret that can’t be told,” Ryu explained.

Information concerning the "Vortex of Chaos" and the "Dream Rabbit" is of no benefit to the children of the lower realm.

“Is that so…” Finn nodded, then asked suspiciously, “The Freya Familia’s attitude is strange. They weren’t surprised by the previous intelligence sharing. Perhaps the source of the intelligence is the Freya Familia.”

Rivera frowned: "Using seduction is indeed the best way to plant a mole."

Since this concerns Freya's Familia, it's unlikely that she'll get help from an insider beforehand.

Upon hearing this answer, Liu nodded in realization.

Freya and Loki actually have a good relationship; it's just that their subordinates' familias are constantly at odds due to competition.

As Finn's actions during the Great Protest worsened, cooperation between the two sides naturally became difficult.

"So, the intelligence has always been relayed by Lady Astrea?"

No wonder, sharing the information that the children risked their lives to bring back with a rival family behind the back of their own family is something that can't be made public.

Finn licked his thumb and said, "Now is not the best time to conquer the artificial maze. Currently, the information we have about it is nominally entirely from 'Jester,' and I'm not comfortable with that."

Rivera frowned. "So, isn't it even more necessary for us to go and see the 'unknown' for ourselves?"

"Moreover, even for Aina's sake, we must find Charles."

Grace shouldered his battle axe and laughed, "How long has it been since I've seen you act like a bossy 'princess'? Since things have come to this point, for that little girl Aina, this old man is willing to risk these old bones."

Finn chuckled: "Then let's go. I refuse to believe that a man-made maze is more terrifying than a hell like Dragon Nest."

……

Having made the decision to set off, Finn rechecked his equipment, supplies, and map.

The objective of this mission is to gather intelligence and complete the incomplete map from the last raid into the maze.

Therefore, the members who went on this expedition were only the three leaders, plus Ais, Bert, and the veterans of the Loki Familia.

"Change into the prepared clothes and check the condition of your eye crystals," Finn ordered. "Raul, you stay outside the maze and be ready to meet us at any time..."

"Raul, can you hear me?"

"Yes... I understand, Commander."

After the previous incident, Raul's condition has been very low.

Not long ago, he heard Loki complain again.

He admitted in the tavern that he was just teasing Raul, and he mocked Raul for several days afterward.

Even now, Raul still can't figure out what the so-called 'truth' really is.

“Raul…” Finn looked at his junior, who seemed lost on the path of life, and patted him hard on the shoulder: “Raul, of all the newcomers, you are the one I have the most faith in. At your age, you can already think about problems from the perspective of a ‘commander’.”

"If we fail to return from the man-made labyrinth... the 'Knights' and the 'Loki Familia' are entrusted to you."

Raul looked up abruptly, meeting Finn's earnest gaze, and subconsciously asked, "Captain, have you already planned to fake your death? Something like Finana the Second..."

Finn paused for two seconds, then chuckled, "How could that be?"

but……

“Raul, it’s good to stay vigilant. Perhaps you will become the Joker’s only enemy in the future.” Finn’s eyes showed admiration.

As the person at the center of the incident, he knew very well that no one could capture the Joker, who could transform into anyone, even a god. Such a character would never easily reveal his identity.

Raul, who harbors doubts about his companions and even the Supreme God, yet still possesses basic trust, may become the "silver bullet" that pierces the Joker.

"Let's go, let's go."

At Finn's command, the group, clad in black robes and wearing bone masks, infiltrated the man-made labyrinth.

……

The dark passageway, with its jagged rocks, resembled a cave.

Finn carried the magic stone lamp and strolled forward along the winding alley.

“Finn… the situation is completely different from when we came in last time.” Grace, dragging his giant axe, led the way, and an eerie atmosphere enveloped the group.

"Ah. Is the 'Eye Crystal' still working?" Finn asked softly. "It's recording the changes here, and the terrain. Raul and the others will be outside drawing up a map for us."

“Hmm. No problem.” Riveria unfolded the map she had drawn earlier, frowning slightly. “The route has also changed significantly, so the previous information is no longer useful.”

"Is that so?" Finn licked his thumb. "No wonder 'Noname' infiltrated the man-made labyrinth to investigate, completely altering the blueprints left by 'Daedalus'... Even though they're enemies... as expected of the Joker, they've got guts."

Just as everyone was whispering among themselves, the sound of small rocks rolling down came from the back of the tunnel, and a shadow less than 1 meter tall slowly approached.

"!"

"Did Raul and the others follow us in?"

When everyone could see what was in front of them through the magic stone lamp, they breathed a sigh of relief.

"What... it's just a goblin..."

Chapter 421 The Mad Goblin Kingdom

Under the warm yellow glow of the magic stone lamp, everyone could clearly see the monster in front of them, holding a wooden stick and with saliva dripping from its mouth.

With its green skin, pointed ears, and slender body, it is none other than the most common monster on the ground—the goblin.

Amazonian veteran Bara drew her short sword and sliced ​​open the goblin's head with a single stroke, then stomped on its chest, turning the monster to ashes that scattered on the ground.

"You scared the hell out of me," Bara muttered, sheathing her short blade.