Just the aftershocks from the battle between Judas and Olivas were enough to rattle the entirety of the 24th floor.
Adventurer parties who happened to be present on the floor felt the tremors even from the opposite side.
"Woah!"
"This shaking... I heard there was something weird going on this floor, but to think it's to this extent."
"Is there something happening on the 24th floor?"
Adventurers murmured in confusion.
"Who cares!? Let's run and report this to the Guild. Whatever is causing trouble, it's clearly beyond what we can handle."
An adventurer with enough brain cells to clearly survive a horror movie spoke up, and the others nodded without hesitation.
Within the pantry itself, the effects of the battle were even more intense.
Colorful explosions erupted from magical attacks, accompanied by violent shockwaves each time the two absolute powerhouses clashed against one another.
Judas quickly realized the scale of destruction their battle could cause.
'If this keeps up, this pantry area will be destroyed, crushing everyone within it.'
He looked down at the ground as a plan formed in his mind.
"Where do you think you are looking, huh?"
Olivas suddenly appeared in front of him, arms cocked back and fist clenched.
『Earth Cocoon』
The ground around them trembled as massive chunks of earth rose at Judas' command.
The stones converged on Olivas from every direction before sealing shut around him completely.
A giant sphere of earth the size of a house appeared in front of him.
It was significantly larger than the one he had used on Bete, considering the strength of the opponent trapped inside.
Judas then pointed a single finger toward the ground.
『Sinkhole』
The earth groaned before splitting apart beneath them, swallowing itself as a massive hole tore open in the floor... dropping straight down to the 25th floor below.
But he didn't stop there.
Floor after floor, the tunnel continued to bore downward at his will, punching through each successive level one after another until it finally bottomed out deep within the dungeon's depths.
The 37th floor.
Suddenly, the giant ball of earth in front of him cracked like an egg before bursting open, large chunks of stone flying in every direction.
Olivas emerged with a twisted scream, glaring in Judas' direction.
"Let's fight somewhere else."
Judas spoke quietly... but by the time the words had even left his mouth, he had already moved.
His figure blurred across the distance in an instant, his palm driving straight into Olivas' face before the man could even process what had happened.
His fingers closed around the man's skull like a vice.
And without another word, Judas hurled himself... and Olivas... into the sinkhole.
"Judas... good luck."
"Please be safe."
Both Alise and Lefiya spoke with worry in their voices.
Even Kaguya tightened her grip on her sword.
The thought of fighting by his side naturally crossed their minds, but they held back, knowing they would only get in his way.
Likewise, there was a different opponent they needed to confront at this moment.
"Everyone, please focus. She's coming."
Asfi spoke just as Revis made her move.
Hearing this, everyone finally turned their heads and focused on the enemy before them.
"None of you are going to make it out of this alive."
Revis spoke with a cold voice, her presence exuding thick killing intent.
...
Judas could feel the wind brushing past his skin as he forcefully dragged Olivas with him while they plummeted downward, floor after floor rushing past in a blur.
"Let go of me!"
Olivas thrashed violently in his grip the entire way down, his bubbling, writhing body twisting and contorting as he clawed and slammed his fists against Judas' arm.
Judas felt the bones in his arms snap into pieces.
Waves of pain shot through him, but he held on without flinching, his grip iron-clad as they descended even faster.
Then the 37th floor rose up to meet them.
They hit the ground like a meteor.
The impact was catastrophic... a deafening crash that sent a shockwave rippling outward in every direction.
The dungeon floor cratered beneath them as chunks of stone and debris were launched high into the air.
Cracks spider-webbed across the ground for dozens of meters in every direction.
The dust settled slowly.
At the center of the crater, Judas stood upright... breathing hard, but still standing.
Olivas lay at his feet, embedded in the broken earth beneath him.
"Where are we?"
Judas muttered as he looked around, his arm hanging weakly at his side.
Although he had once reached the 37th floor with Ais and Riveria when they went to defeat Udaeus, it wasn't as if they had explored every part of the floor.
There were still many areas he was unfamiliar with.
"Don't tell me... are we in the Colosseum?"
Looking left and right, Judas realized they stood within a massive structure eerily shaped like a stadium.
Monsters filled the arena, and every single one of them turned to stare in their direction the moment they arrived.
The Colosseum.
The largest chamber on the floor... a place where monsters constantly fought one another.
The room spawned monsters endlessly until a certain number was reached, and each time that number decreased, it was immediately replenished.
An unlimited supply of monsters.
Easily one of the most dangerous locations in the dungeon.
Skull sheep. Spartoi. Loup Garou. Peludas.
Monsters that had no business appearing anywhere above the deep floors filled every corner of the arena.
And every single pair of eyes was now locked onto them with undisguised hostility.
Roar!
The moment the first wave surged toward them, Judas was already moving.
『Rising Whirlwind』
『Water Cannon』
『Firestorm』
『Detonate』
Four spells fired off in rapid succession in four directions, each tearing into the charging horde without mercy.
Wind, water, fire, and raw explosive force collided with the mass of monsters all at once.
However, while he was briefly distracted by the surrounding horde, Judas felt a small gust of wind brush against his skin.
His instincts screamed a warning.
He turned his head just in time to see Olivas... already back on his feet... driving a fist straight toward his face.
『Wrath of the Celestial Titan』
Judas retaliated with a punch of his own.
The two fists collided with each other's faces at the same time, sending both men flying to opposite ends of the Colosseum and crashing violently into the walls.
The resulting chain reaction lit up the arena in a violent cascade of explosions that shook the walls and sent debris raining down from the ceiling above.
'I know I'm the one who brought us here... but why the Colosseum of all places?'
Judas thought as he coughed up a mouthful of blood, slowly prying himself free from the pile of rubble he had been buried under.
He straightened and looked around.
Monsters to the left.
Monsters to the right.
Monsters pouring in from every direction the arena had to offer, their collective roars shaking his eardrums.
'Monsters, monsters... more monsters.'
Then movement caught his eye from across the arena.
Olivas exploded out of the rubble on the opposite side, dark veins rapidly spreading across his grotesque, bubbling body like cracks spreading across breaking stone.
His gaze instantly locked onto Judas.
And without a moment's hesitation, he charged.
No matter where Judas looked, there was nothing but enemies in sight.
The killing intent saturating the air was so dense he could practically taste it on his tongue.
A corner of his mouth slowly curved upward.
A brutal free-for-all?
Surrounded by enemies on all sides?
'Fine by me.'
---
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