The Mother Dungeon realized the truth. It sensed the loathsome divine aura of the gods—those sworn enemies who had shackled it and imprisoned its children within the abyss.
Consequently, the Mother Dungeon decided to give birth to its own champion: a black monster destined to slay the gods, just as it had done seven years ago. Ordinarily, monsters in the middle floors reach a peak equivalent to Level 5, regardless of how much the Mother Dungeon empowers them. However, the Mother Dungeon possessed the perfect "material" for this task.
This involved the cycle of monster reincarnation. When a monster's soul harbors an intense longing for the surface world or humanity due to some anomaly, that soul circulates within the Dungeon to undergo a true reincarnation.
The Dungeon itself manifested this powerful soul—which had perished on the upper floors—to become the "God-Slayer." This being was born with power surpassing the "Great Calamity" of seven years ago. It would undoubtedly execute its mother's command to kill the gods.
Regardless of the power it wielded, it could not defy the Mother Dungeon's orders.
But ───
●○●○●
Ryuu had intended to watch over Bell from the beginning, following Al's request before their departure. Therefore, she moved alongside Lilliruca and the others to ensure the safety of Bell and his companions.
"I sensed from Al's tone that something might happen, but for it to come to this..."
Even after Hestia quelled the conflict stirred by the thugs, and as they prepared to return to the surface, Ryuu witnessed the scene. A monster was being born, radiating the same aura as the black beast she had faced on the 18th Floor during the Great Feud seven years ago.
Intermittent tremors pulsed beneath their feet, gradually intensifying. It felt as though something massive was surging upward from the very depths of the Dungeon.
"Lord Hermes, what have you done this time?!"
"Haha... even if I tried to pull some tricks, I couldn't create something like this."
Hermes replied with a dry laugh to Asfi's doubt-filled cry. Amidst the violently trembling air, everyone realized that the situation was far from ordinary. A black shadow appeared on the Dungeon's ceiling and began to expand rapidly.
"Oh, Ouranos... what happened to the prayers? I heard nothing about this."
Who could have imagined the Dungeon itself would attack them as an enemy? The words Hermes whispered carried an unmistakable trace of turmoil.
"Don't try to process this alone; explain the situation! What is happening right now?!"
"It's a frenzy. It seems the Dungeon has become unprecedentedly sensitive and sensed our presence."
Hermes answered Asfi briefly as she grew agitated by the accelerating tremors. Before she could ask about the meaning of this frenzy, it happened. ── CRACK!!!! A thunderous impact echoed, and the ceiling crystals collapsed.
Then, they saw the creature crawling slowly from amidst the wreckage. Everyone held their breath before the aura of a monster that far surpassed them in power. Both the monsters on the floor and the adventurers froze in their tracks.
"Asfi, go to Chigusa and the others. Tell them to head to Rivira to call for reinforcements."
"Reinforcements? Do you really intend to fight instead of evacuating the floor?!"
"No, most likely..."
Hermes spoke amidst the echoes of falling crystals. He stared toward the cave leading to the 17th Floor. Asfi followed his gaze, her eyes widening behind her glasses.
"The cave has been sealed... clearly, it has no intention of letting us escape."
"Damn it! Damn it! If we don't make it back alive, I will pour my curses upon you, Lord Hermes!"
Asfi screamed in despair as she left, heading toward the sound of shattering crystals and howling monsters. Hermes watched her go with an apologetic look, then turned his attention back to the fractured ceiling.
"Well then..."
Crystal shards showered down from the ceiling as it groaned and cracked. Amidst the continuous shaking of the earth, Hermes silently narrowed his eyes. The crystal ceiling split open, and a pitch-black shadow emerged. In that moment, it felt as though the world itself began to moan. Facing that sight, Hermes flashed a strained smile.
"Ah, just as I expected. It's the black monster."
The black beast that members of the Astraea Familia—whom Hermes had lent as guards during the Great Feud—had spoken of. The being breaking through the crystal ceiling possessed a pair of glowing horns sprouting from its head.
Hermes looked with a bitter smile at the black giant appearing from the 18th Floor's ceiling. Its head emerged from the crystal "placenta," its eyes scanning the surroundings sharply. Its black arms shattered the crystals with raw power, and its massive, solid upper body appeared amidst a deafening roar.
The giant monster with the head of a black bull let out a birth cry that shook the Dungeon's core as it looked down upon them. Adventurers involuntarily retreated before this bizarre being that had suddenly appeared on the 18th Floor—a supposed Safety Zone.
The bull crushed the crystal shards scattered from the ceiling, its body slowly emerging down to the waist. The cracked crystal placenta pulsed with light from within. Finally, the Black Minotaur appeared in its entirety, breathing heavily like a rampaging beast. It emitted an immense pressure that rattled the atmosphere.
The monster fell like a meteor bound by gravity, making the entire labyrinth scream under the weight of its impact. The earth trembled, the air shook, and the world shuddered. Amidst the dust of shattered crystals, not only did the adventurers scream, but even the monsters wailed before this extraordinary being.
No one could move before a monster wielding a presence that eclipsed even the Floor Bosses of the middle floors. Even if they tried, their bodies refused to obey. While looking down on them with disdain, the Black Minotaur landed directly atop the Central Tree with a lightning-like crash.
BOOM!! The trunk of the Central Tree shattered in a single blow from the massive impact. The tree twisted from its roots and collapsed, followed by a rain of crystals that caused the ground to fissure. The beautiful green scenery turned to rubble in the blink of an eye; the fairy-tale atmosphere vanished into ruins.
The faint light from the crystals died out, and darkness swallowed the floor as the groans of the great tree echoed in its final moments. Atop the corpse of the tree with its scattered branches, the black monster stood majestically. Crystals were crushed beneath its feet with every step. No trace of the peaceful crystal floor remained.
The bull-monster, freed from the crystal placenta, took a deep breath as it looked toward the sky.
It possessed fists as solid as rock.
It boasted a body as tough as steel.
And it carried a massive black blade.
The terrifying monster cast a superior gaze over all the beings trembling in fear.
Then... the black monster roared.
"UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
Bell and his companions emerged from the forest, their eyes widening as they heard the roar that shook the Dungeon. The Minotaur appeared, having shattered the crystal ceiling, landed on the Central Tree, and began scanning the area. It crushed the scattered shards underfoot and began to walk slowly.
Under the dim light filtering through the cracked ceiling and amidst the drifting crystal flakes, the Black Minotaur moved its eyes to examine the adventurers and monsters. Then, it threw its head back and let out another deafening cry.
"UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
The sound resembled a crashing thunderclap—a vibration that rocked the earth and rattled the air. That sound, saturated with majesty, made the hearts of the listeners tremble as if a hand had gripped them.
Black skin, a towering frame that nearly touched the sky, and an aura suggesting the presence of countless sharp, solid blades.
"What is this creature...!!"
"A Black Minotaur?"
It was clear that this being existed on a completely different level from the Minotaurs Bell and his companions knew. Its massive body, covered in black fur, looked like a great mountain; its majestic appearance made the observer feel as if they would be swallowed whole.
Despite the distance, the Black Minotaur surrounded itself with a pressure that made the space itself seem to groan. Everyone stood stunned and speechless before that imposing form.
"This monster... is likely an assassin sent to eliminate me... or rather, to eliminate the gods."
Hestia was certain that this being was a child of the Dungeon, created for a single purpose: to kill her and the other gods. It was a "God-Slayer" born in response to the presence of its sworn enemy.
"...We... we must hurry to save them!!"
Bell snapped out of his daze under that pressure and looked toward the adventurers who had lost the will to fight near the Minotaur—Mord and his companions.
"Please, wait!!"
"!"
Bell tried to rush forward, but Lilliruca reached out and stopped him. The boy turned to her with a look questioning why she was holding him back. Lilliruca said with a serious expression:
"Do you really intend to go save them? With this team?!"
Bell felt this situation resulted from their actions, so he had to save them; he couldn't run away alone. Lilliruca read this in his eyes but shook her head. She—and everyone else—realized that this monster was not an opponent a Level 2 adventurer could handle.
True, Bell was a promising adventurer, but this monster was beyond all calculations. A temporary team consisting of a few Level 2 and Level 1 adventurers would have no chance of winning, no matter how hard they tried.
The gap in power between Bell (Level 2) and that Minotaur, which represented a threat exceeding the Floor Bosses, was despairingly vast. If there were a chance for victory, it would require a miracle or a legend out of heroic tales.
Regarding rear support, Bell and his companions lacked mages and couldn't do much. Had they companions who used bombardment magic, things might have been different. But Bell and his companions as a front line possessed abilities insufficient to face even a Floor Boss, let alone this creature.
In other words, the only thing they could do now was flee this place immediately. For this reason, Lilliruca intervened to stop him.
Furthermore, did Mord and his companions even deserve saving? While Hestia had summoned the monsters by releasing her Divine Aura, the root cause was Mord and his friends taking Hestia hostage to harm Bell.
...And of course, Hermes was the actual mastermind behind all of this, though Lilliruca and the others did not know that.
Lilliruca, who still harbored resentment toward adventurers in her heart, did not want to put Bell at risk to save the likes of Mord.
"I'm sorry, Lili."
However, Bell's will did not change. Lilliruca looked at Bell, who apologized with a regretful look but had made his decision. She narrowed her eyes as if looking at something dazzling. Lilliruca was certain that even if they fled, Bell would join that battle alone.
"──Sigh, there's no helping it. But, we won't fight directly, understood? The most we can do is pull out the dying adventurers. We aren't even strong enough to provide rear support."
Bell smiled gratefully when he saw Lilliruca's smile, which seemed like she had surrendered to reality. When he turned, he found Welf and the others smiling as well. It seemed they had decided to enter the fray alongside Bell.
"Thank you, everyone...!!"
After confirming everyone's resolve, Bell turned his gaze toward the Black Minotaur again. At the edge of his vision, an elven warrior was preparing to begin the fight.
The adventurers near the birth site of the black bull were the unluckiest. They had been subjected to a birth cry equivalent to the "Roar" of deep-floor monsters, sending them into a state of panic and frenzy. They recklessly raised their swords and magic swords toward the bull.
Asfi trembled as she watched the scene from her hidden position.
Several shadows flew through the air like spray; it wasn't water, but the bodies of adventurers the bull had struck. They fell to the ground, gasping their last breaths amidst the sounds of breaking gear and armor. In the middle of a pool of blood, the bull advanced majestically.
More than twenty high-ranking adventurers were annihilated in the blink of an eye by a single "monster." The sight left Asfi and everyone else speechless. Level 2 swords could not pierce the monster's black skin; it even blocked magic sword attacks with its massive blade without taking a single scratch.
"A... Black Minotaur..."
The sound of its ragged breathing filled the area. Amidst the terror gripping everyone, Asfi alone tried to think coldly. Even for Asfi, this creature was unknown; she had never seen or heard of it before.
Everything about it differed from the Minotaurs in her records: its birth cry, the superhuman toughness of its body—everything was anomalous. Was this the "malicious will of the Labyrinth"? Asfi found no other explanation for this creature's strangeness.
It was undoubtedly a threat surpassing the "Spirit Clone" she had faced on the 24th Floor. She felt deep regret for not stopping her god from staging this foolish performance. She tried to calm her racing heart while watching the black bull, biting her lip hard to stop her limbs from trembling.
Even without engaging, she recognized the massive gap in power. She focused all her senses. What caught her attention most was the massive black blade the monster carried, which matched the height of a human.
The gleam of the black blade suggested a beauty that could not originate from a "natural weapon." Asfi felt an aura rivaling the first-class weapons held by elite adventurers.
It closely resembled the "Black Dragon Sword" possessed by the strongest individual in the city. She sensed in it the same aura as the "One-Eyed Black Dragon Scale" that Hermes had received from a certain god as material to forge that sword.
It seemed as though this weapon was crafted based on the Black Dragon Sword, and this conclusion might not be far from the truth. If that blade possessed performance approaching the Dragon Sword, any third-class adventurer and their armor would be sliced in half instantly.
But the adventurers lying under the Black Minotaur's feet were still breathing. In fact, none of them had died yet.
Most likely, the Black Minotaur did not view them as enemies; it was holding back from killing them, as if afraid of breaking its toys. It left them after they lost the ability to fight without taking their lives. If treated immediately, they would not die.
Since the escape route was blocked, abandoning them and fleeing was no longer an option. The elven warrior—Ryuu Lion—realized this even more than Asfi. She prepared herself quietly, gripping her wooden sword and short blade.
Her vision cleared, and she heard her heartbeat thumping in her ears. She felt the blood flowing through her body and heat spreading to her limbs. Her body felt light; her five senses were at their peak.
Before the Minotaur realized her presence, Ryuu dashed forward. With every step, her speed increased. In the blink of an eye, she closed the distance. The Minotaur responded with speed unimaginable for its massive frame.
As it prepared to bring down its massive blade, it turned toward Ryuu and assumed a blocking stance. Shortly after, Asfi threw flying needles and explosive bombs from her belt.
The Minotaur reacted quickly to the projectiles, lifting its blade with one hand and swatting them away with a horizontal swipe.
The needles shattered upon contact with the black blade. Ryuu used the explosion's smoke to slip behind the Minotaur.
The Minotaur showed incredible reaction to Ryuu's swift movements, throwing an elbow strike backward without turning. But the strike hit only air; Ryuu had already moved out of the attack's path, delivering a roundhouse kick toward the Minotaur's flank as she evaded.
"──!!"
"!"
The monster's body was so hard that Ryuu was the one who felt the pain. Her face contorted from the powerful recoil, as if she had kicked a thick metal plate.
The attack was merely a probe, and she hadn't expected significant damage. However, the Minotaur let out a low groan and prepared to attack with its blade. Terror appeared on Ryuu's beautiful features due to a body toughness that exceeded even the monsters of the deep floors.
On the other hand, the black bull recognized for the first time an "enemy" capable of facing it. It roared and raised its blade high. Ryuu ducked quickly and slipped under its feet to get behind it once again.
But the Minotaur's powerful leg spun with incredible speed, attempting to sweep Ryuu. Ryuu kicked the ground and jumped, the blade passing just in front of her nose. Had her judgment been delayed for even a second, she would have been sliced in two.
Asfi, using flight tools and invisibility to monitor the fight, was unable to find an opening to intervene in this high-speed battle.
The movements of Ryuu, a Level 4 elite, were staggering thanks to her skill, speed, and combat experience, which surpassed even some Level 5 adventurers.
Nevertheless, she was doing her absolute best just to parry the Minotaur's attacks. The blade strikes were fast, heavy, and sharp. If she lost focus for a moment, she would die in the next. Cold sweat poured down Ryuu's back as she fought desperately.
The black blade targeted Ryuu's shoulder. As it descended, Ryuu grabbed a greatsword (Oodachi) lying on the ground from a fallen adventurer and tried to defend herself.
── CLANG!! A solid metallic ring echoed as sparks flew. The greatsword snapped in half after taking the hit from the black blade. Ryuu's body was sent flying through the air, unable to absorb the full shock, and she nearly lost consciousness.
She flipped her body in the air and landed, but her legs failed her, and she fell to her knees. The damage she took from a single clash was severe. She felt a tearing pain in her body, and blood began to trickle from a wound on her forehead.
"──────────!!"
She bit her lip and stood up forcefully. The Minotaur's movements were fast, but the gap could be closed with correct maneuvers. Once she grew accustomed to its movement, she could evade its attacks.
But this wouldn't solve the problem fundamentally; continuing like this meant certain death. Regular strikes or stabs could not damage the Minotaur's steel-like body.
The only finishing move Ryuu possessed was bombardment magic at close range. However, even with Ryuu's skill, performing "Parallel Casting" during a high-speed battle against an opponent far stronger than her was nearly impossible while ensuring a precise hit.
As she thought, punches resembling shells rained down on her. She dodged them by a hair's breadth, but the mere touch of the air they generated made her bones groan.
Those punches, which turned into storms of wind, meant the end if even one hit her. A direct hit meant certain death. Asfi tried to snipe whenever she found a chance, but the Minotaur's reaction speed prevented it every time.
Ryuu rushed forward bravely, trying to cast out fear and terror from her heart. In contrast, the Minotaur seemed to be enjoying the fight, flashing a smile as it prepared for a powerful blade strike.
Facing the descending blow, Ryuu lowered her center of gravity and pointed her wooden sword forward. Instantly, the black blade slammed into the ground with a thunderous boom, shattering the crystals and exploding with shards like bullets.
"Kagh!!"
"──── Gwaaa!!"
Ryuu covered her face against the crystal shards flying like bullets. One shard scratched the area near her left eye, and blood flowed. With a quick flick of her wooden sword, she knocked away the remaining shards. But behind her, sounds of shattering crystal and a cry of pain echoed.
Ryuu realized that the Minotaur considered Asfi—who was using unknown magic tools—a greater threat than her and targeted her instead. It seemed she avoided a fatal wound, as she was taking a healing potion with sluggish movements, but the bleeding didn't stop.
Ryuu didn't have the luxury of worrying about Asfi; the Minotaur fixed its gaze on her as if saying, "You're next." Ryuu felt despair facing the Minotaur, who was still almost scratch-free. Nonetheless, she stepped forward and assumed a combat stance.
The Minotaur raised its blade and charged again. In that moment, Ryuu retreated quickly, evaded the attack, and lunged inside to pierce its defense, the blade passing right beside her cheek.
Alone, Ryuu faced the Minotaur.
Sweat poured from her forehead, and she panted heavily. She put all her strength into every movement. She settled for evading during the enemy's attack and transitioning to offense otherwise—a simple concept in appearance, yet so difficult to execute.
In a battle where the scent of death lingered, she gave everything to read the enemy's movements and make the optimal decision. Any delay in judgment meant death.
Any direct hit meant an immediate exit from the battle. Nevertheless, Ryuu was holding her own against that monster. But this was still not enough; she would eventually be defeated.
She couldn't escape. After Asfi's fall, there was no one in Rivira who could face this bull; the highest they had was Level 3. Thanks to her agility, she might succeed in escaping alone, but since the exit routes were blocked, that wouldn't help for long. More importantly, if this bull—which rivaled deep-floor monsters—was unleashed, a massacre would occur. Among the victims would be Al's brother and the girl she loved, Syr.
The power gap reminded her of the one she felt before the Juggernaut. Nevertheless, she stood to challenge her limits for someone else, ready to die; her appearance embodied the meaning of a "Hero."
She drew upon everything she had learned in her life full of death within the Dungeon, sharpened her senses, and raised her concentration to its limit.
In the next moment...
── A sudden flash erupted.
"──?! Nuoooh!"
Blood sprayed from the bull's skin. The bull's gaze changed upon the appearance of an "enemy" capable of killing it. The charge of that chariot equipped with a silver spear—which neither Ryuu nor the bull could react to—inflicted the first clear wound on the bull in this battle.
"Damn, he's tough. Is he a descendant of the deep-floor monsters?"
"Oi, have the dregs prepare the magic swords."
"Goddess's Chariot... and the Savage Wolf ──!!"
There stood the elite adventurers, the pride of the City of Heroes, Orario—the first-class adventurers.
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