For twelve straight hours, the 73rd floor became a meat grinder. As monsters were slain, new ones spawned and were immediately drawn back into the vortex around Leon.
The sheer volume of enemies began to apply a genuine pressure, forcing his World's Grace to work overtime.
It wasn't the concentrated intensity of the Hydra battle, but the sheer duration and quantity were achieving the desired effect.
By the end of the twelve hours, Leon had effectively drained the floor's energy. They spent another hour exploring the 73rd, but the dungeon was exhausted, not a single monster was born.
They moved to the 74th floor and repeated the process, clearing it entirely within the day.
"Next up is the 75th floor." Leon announced as they stood before the final passage.
"Ouranos said the Black Dragon is still there. When the time comes, I will handle the dragon myself. You all focus on clearing the rest of the monsters."
"Understood. Leave them to us." The group responded in unison.
"Then, let's go."
They stepped into the passage. Regardless of the floor type, the transition zones were always cloaked in a heavy, oppressive dimness. However, for adventurers of their caliber, the dark was no obstacle. They moved with practiced ease through the shadows.
Tiona voiced as they marched, "Speaking of which, Ouranos said the Black Dragon's strength had reached Level 9. To keep growing, it would need to go deeper to find stronger magic stones to devour. Why is it still lurking on the 75th floor?"
Tione replied with a wry smile, "That was just the report from before we left. We don't actually know if it's still there."
Hedin analyzed, pushing up his glasses, "Ouranos mentioned that the dragon hit a new level of power shortly after entering the 75th, but then it stayed there for over a week."
"It only moved toward the 76th floor right as we started our expedition. I suspect there is something even more dangerous on the 76th floor—something the Black Dragon didn't want to confront until it was forced to."
Finn nodded. "I agree. It's likely the Corrupted Spirit."
Alise asked, her eyes wide, "Is the Corrupted Spirit stronger than the Black Dragon? Does that mean it's Level 10?"
Hedin corrected, "Not necessarily. It might be Level 9, but the floor it occupies is its base of power. Don't forget it's nature. It can create clones, merge, and tap directly into the dungeon's energy. We saw what a clone could do in the artificial labyrinth. The true body in the deep floors would be far more formidable."
Finn murmured, his voice firm, "Regardless, we must destroy that dragon. This world cannot survive the birth of another Calamity."
Leon listened to their theories, feeling a nagging premonition. His instincts told him the reason the Black Dragon had hesitated wasn't out of fear for the Corrupted Spirit. There was something else down there.
But the truth would only be revealed when he finally came face-to-face with the black dragon once more.
—
The architecture of the dungeon shifted once more as the group descended.
Beyond the 60th floor, the labyrinthine tunnels had vanished, replaced by a series of "single-level apartments"—massive, self-contained vaults with no interconnecting passages other than the direct descent points.
Leon and the vanguard quickly reached the 75th floor. Unlike the rugged wilderness of the previous levels, this floor was a colossal, open basin, structurally similar to the 49th floor but far more oppressive.
The entire level was situated within this deep depression, surrounded by towering walls that resembled sheer, jagged cliffs. Because of the elevation of the entrance, the entire floor was visible at a single glance.
In the dead center of the basin, the Black Dragon stood in eerie silence, as if it had been waiting specifically for Leon and the others to arrive.
It was not alone. Surrounding it was a legion of monsters consisting of only two species: giant Fomoire and giant Minotaurs. These were not the common variants found in the Deep or Middle layers; they were titans, at least five times larger than their counterparts.
They stood in disciplined ranks around the Black Dragon, acting as a living shield—a clear sign they had been subdued and commanded.
Subjugation among monsters was an extremely rare phenomenon. Aside from the Corrupted Spirits or "New Species," Leon had never seen the dungeon's denizens display such a hierarchical structure.
The Black Dragon remained stationary, its subordinates mirroring its patience, seemingly inviting Leon's group to initiate the slaughter.
"Something is wrong. It's as if this dragon knew exactly when we would arrive." Hedin remarked gravely, his hand drifting to his glasses.
"That shouldn't be surprising. The Dungeon itself likely notified him." Finn replied calmly, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the basin.
"Leon almost finished this thing before, but the Dungeon intervened to let it escape from the 59th floor." Alise added, her voice tight with a mix of frustration and focus.
"It seems this Black Dragon is vital to the Dungeon's internal plans." Kaguya noted, her brow furrowed.
While the strategists focused on the dragon, Tione and Tiona were fixated on the guardians.
"Those Fomoire and Minotaurs... they're absolutely massive." Tiona whispered, her grip tightening on her double-edged blade.
The others nodded.
These were monsters so physically distinct due to their size that they almost felt like an entirely new subspecies.
Finn steered the conversation back to the tactical reality, "Leon, now that it has a commanded army, this battle becomes significantly more troublesome. Subdued monsters mean they will fight in coordination with the dragon."
Riveria added, "And as for the Black Dragon's 'Fear' ability, our raw strength cannot resist it. Leon is the only one among us truly immune to that pressure."
Allen questioned, looking between Gareth and Riveria with a skeptical scoff, "Is it really that potent? How can a warrior simply lose the will to fight out of fear?"
Finn said with a faint, knowing smile, "It is not a matter of cowardice, Allen. The Hera and Zeus Familias brought back the same records after their defeat. It is a supernatural suppression of the spirit. However, I went to Ouranos's private stores before we departed and requested magical items designed specifically to anchor the mind."
Finn turned to Leon. "Leon, could you please distribute those artifacts?"
Leon nodded and produced the items: small, unassuming pieces of translucent crystal.
According to Fels, these were Mind-Suppressing Magic Stones, the result of years of research into the Black Dragon's psychological impact. They allowed a user to selectively dampen a specific emotion.
"Infuse your will into the stone and focus on the emotion you wish to seal. Everyone, choose 'Fear'." Finn instructed.
He demonstrated first, his body becoming enveloped in a faint, steady glow as the stone activated.
One by one, the others followed suit, until the entire vanguard was shrouded in the protective light of the crystals.
"Will this light interfere with your Gate of Heaven, Leon?" Tiona asked, poking at the intangible glow surrounding her arm.
"No, I've already tested the compatibility with Finn." Leon reassured her.
"Good. Then it's time." Finn looked at the assembled heroes, his voice rising to a command. "Is everyone ready?!"
There was no verbal reply, only the collective sharpening of intent in their eyes.
"Ais, Tione, Tiona—each of you pick a flank. Riveria, Lefiya, Haruhime—prepare the rear support. Now, let's go!!!"
Finn shot forward. The others followed suit, a wave of Orario's finest surging down into the basin.
Ais and the strike team moved in perfect synchronization with the mages, leaving only Leon at the elevated entrance for a fleeting second.
Leon didn't move immediately. He stood at the edge of the cliff, his gaze locked onto the center of the basin. The Black Dragon's eyes remained fixed on him, ignoring the charging vanguard as it focused entirely on its true rival.
Leon's lips moved in a silent whisper, "Wait for me. I'm coming to finish this now."
In the next heartbeat, Leon vanished. He reappeared as a streak of blinding light, bypassing the front lines and soaring directly toward the heart of the enemy formation.
Boom!!!