Danmaku, my skills refresh weekly.

But in her dreams, it seemed that one person was missing...

"I will become the strongest in the world! I will make it impossible for even the gods to control my will!"

"If living isn't about becoming stronger, then what's the difference between you and a walking corpse?!"

"Don't be afraid, we can win, we'll win together! We promised to create a legend!"

"I believe you!"

click-

The dream shattered, and when I opened my eyes again, I saw short, gray hair with a slight dampness on the tip of my nose.

"Oh. You're awake? You can sleep even longer than a pig. How can you be the strongest in the world if you're so lazy?"

"It's the future!"

"Hi hi."

……

Seemingly sensing the boy's heavy footsteps, Ais jumped down on her own.

"very tired?"

"Ah, I was about to die. Your coming down here was a huge help." Charles stretched his old back and breathed a sigh of relief.

"We won?" Ais was clearly more focused on the outcome of the battle.

"Ah."

"Ok!"

"You'll see the results when you get back, don't be surprised."

"Ok!"

"Can I not say 'um'?"

"Ok?"

Charles sighed, "Fine, it was my mistake to expect a long-winded explanation from that airhead. Now that you're awake, you can lead the way. I'll rest for a bit too."

"Mmm." Ais's eyes crinkled, and she was very happy.

"..."

However, this pleasant atmosphere soon vanished completely from the little girl's face.

……

The sounds of swords clashing violently mingled with the surging barrage of cannon fire.

"Extreme Cold: Fimbulll Winter!"

The emerald-haired elf, holding aloft a silver staff, stood on a dazzling magic circle, with frigid frost spreading around her and blowing her clothes.

"Ughh ...

"Retreat! Retreat!"

……

"Is it Rivera?" Ais paused for a second, then instinctively rushed out: "We have to help her!"

Charles reached out his hand, then covered his face a second later: "Girl, you... you're courting death."

The sword light, carrying the pressure of the wind, instantly slain two fleeing underworld faction fodder.

"Rivia! Cover!"

"Ais!"

"!"

The mother and daughter stared at each other, and when Ais saw the almost spitting rage in Riveria's eyes, the corners of her mouth froze.

"careful!"

While Ais was still in a daze, a human male with squinty eyes and short, dark red hair, dressed in a black suit, suddenly appeared behind her.

"An unexpected bonus! If I kill you, the Loki Familia will be thrown into chaos."

Riveria raised her staff, and an extreme cold blizzard was unleashed in an instant.

The red-haired man stepped back: "Ha, just kidding. We'll meet again someday, little girl."

Riveria turned her staff around again, but no matter how much mental energy she mobilized, she could no longer quickly convert it into magic.

"Tsk... a feint?"

"Riveria? Are you alright?" Ais huddled up to Riveria.

"It's nothing, it's just that my mental energy is a bit chaotic from releasing magic in a short period of time." As she spoke, Rivera suddenly raised her eyebrows and pinched Ais's ear with her delicate hand.

"You little brat! Didn't I tell you not to run around like that?!"

"Ah wu..."

"How dare you come to the 19th floor alone? Don't you know that even a regular level 4 can't come alone!"

"I...I'm not alone, there's...wait?"

Ais looked around, but couldn't find that familiar figure.

"Who else? That supporter of the Soma Familia? It must have been you who encouraged others to venture into such a dangerous floor! Where is he? I hope he's alright?"

"No... um..."

This is a secret between the two of us.

Ais recalled their promise and shook her head: "We parted ways in Rivera. He was only level 1 and refused to enter the Great Tree Maze."

"Speaking of Rivera... what's with that bill?!"

"ah!!"

"Hey, you! Sit up straight!"

Chapter 40 Ending Line

Entrance on the 18th floor.

Ciel watched Ais return to Riveria's side. To avoid unnecessary conflict, he put on the "Reversed Spirit Veil" and disappeared from everyone's sight.

Ais is no longer of any use.

Returning directly to the ground would be too much of a waste of time. Just then, a group of fleeing members of the Dark Clique flashed before his eyes.

Following these men in black robes into the 18th floor, they gathered at the southern edge of the floor, some fighting, some sitting, as if waiting for something.

Russian qing.

A man walked slowly towards them.

He had dark red hair, inconspicuous facial features, squinty eyes, wore a black double-breasted suit, and had a sinister smile on his lips.

He is No-Face, Werther!

The leader of the Erebus Familia, and also a member of the Dark Faction, is said to have killed everyone who had ever seen him, so few people remember what he looked like.

Why is he here?

Charles blinked, then quietly disappeared into the crowd.

"Lord Witt... about this operation."

"Hmph, it was just a little accident. I didn't expect that Kumohime would suddenly run into the dungeon."

"So... what's our plan?"

"Retreat first, we have plenty of time." Witt waved his hand, and the towering rocks in front of him vanished like phantoms, revealing a bottomless tunnel.

Rows of carts, loaded with goods, lined both sides of the tunnel. From some of the boxes covered with black cloth, Sharl heard the low growls of monsters.

Witt led the inspection, lifting the black cloth to ask, "How many fire stones are being transported this time?"

"Only half of the usual amount."

"Tsk. Where are the monsters..."

"Only thirty..."

"Not enough, still not enough! This number is not enough to fulfill my lord's grand ambition!" Witt gritted his teeth. "Tsk, Nine Demon Princesses."

"Forget it, take as many as you can. Arrange for them to enter Knossos first, and we'll find another opportunity for the rest."

After reporting, the soldiers pushed the transport vehicle across the long tunnel and arrived at a huge metal gate.

The door is carved with strange patterns, and a crimson gem is set in the center.

Witt produced a magical artifact, round with a scarlet pupil in the center, resembling an eyeball. A huge "D" symbol appeared in the center of the ruby, echoing the ruby ​​in the center of the gate.

With a click, a few specks of dust fell, and the door slowly lifted.

The hardest metal, tsk tsk, I want to dig it up... Charles remained silent, his gaze fixed on the metal door made of Orha steel, swallowing hard.

Coming to his senses, the gate slowly descended. Charles quickened his pace, following the others into the dark maze, aided by the sound of the massive wheels.

As Ciel followed, he processed the information in his mind:

According to Witt, the Dark Faction attacked adventurers only to divert their attention, thereby transporting monsters and firestones through the man-made labyrinth.

During the seven days of death, adventurers not only have to deal with a vast number of mobs, but also countless monsters.

If it weren't for the major defeat on the main battlefield, the story would probably be quite different.

As Charles witnessed firsthand the monsters being transported up from the lower levels and even the deeper layers, his sense of urgency intensified.

"I need to get stronger... otherwise I'll just become food for them, and I don't want to be a meal for these things."