The next day.
The sky was shrouded in darkness; dawn had not yet arrived.
During this chaotic time of day, Ryuu got up early and came to the warehouse in the inner courtyard.
This was originally the place where Mia planned to build another structure, but for some reason, she gave up on the idea.
Not wearing her usual work uniform, the Elf Maiden began her morning exercise in a simple outfit of shorts and a shirt.
The crisp sound of air being sliced echoed in front of the warehouse.
After walking out of the shadows of the past, Ryuu would perform daily exercises like this every day.
However, today, the exercise was interrupted.
"Ryuu's swordsmanship is even better than before."
"Syr?"
Noticing the gray-haired girl walking from not far away, a look of surprise appeared on Ryuu's face.
The naturally lazy girl's favorite thing to do on weekdays was to slack off.
As her best friend, this was the first time Ryuu had seen her during her early morning exercises.
"Good morning, Ryuu."
Syr walked over with a faint smile on her face.
"Are you surprised to see me here?"
"It is very surprising, or rather, an abnormal situation."
"Eh? It's not that exaggerated, is it?"
"I think it is."
Ryuu put down the wooden sword in her hand.
The sweat from her hard work slid down her cheeks, dripping onto her delicate collarbone.
Thick dark clouds covered the sky, and an oppressive atmosphere, as if a rainstorm were about to arrive, quietly rose.
"Syr, is there something you need from me?"
"Not really, I just woke up suddenly and couldn't sleep, so I came to watch Ryuu's training."
"Um... I shouldn't have disturbed you, right?"
Syr tilted her head and asked.
Facing the other's question, even Ryuu wouldn't bluntly reply, "You disturbed me."
That would be lacking in social awareness.
The teachings of an old friend surfaced in her heart; at a time like this, all she needed to do was reply with one sentence.
"Today's training is already over."
"Hehe~ Ryuu has also become considerate."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Of course, it's a compliment. When we first met, Ryuu, you wouldn't have been this considerate of others."
The scene of their first meeting two years ago was still vivid in her mind.
Having completed her revenge, like a burnt-out shell, the Elf Maiden stood on the edge of a cliff.
In order to help her find the motivation to live again, Syr had gone to a lot of trouble.
"Ryuu, are you happy now?"
"Of course, I'm happy."
Ryuu nodded without hesitation.
If the Astrea Familia was the first place she found after coming to Orario that gave her a direction to move forward,
then The Hostess of Fertility was her second place of belonging, the starting point for beginning a new life after completing her revenge.
"Syr, what's wrong?"
Facing her best friend's strange question, Ryuu keenly sensed something was wrong.
"Did you encounter any difficulties? If there's any trouble, you can tell me."
"No, everything is fine with me, or rather, these past few days have been the happiest time for me this year."
"Then you..."
"Actually, the person I'm worried about is you."
"?"
"Lynn is a Monster; he seems easy to talk to, but in reality, he only cares about strength and the people around him."
The topic suddenly jumped.
As if stating a fact, Syr looked out at the distant sky, her light gray pupils flickering with strange emotions.
"Ryuu, what do you think of your relationship with Lynn?"
"...Standard, I suppose. We have some cooperation in private and often meet to exchange information."
"In other words, you are partners."
"Yes."
"Then have you considered taking it a step further?"
"Eh?"
The thoughts in his mind came to an abrupt halt.
Facing the sudden question, the innocent Elf Maiden was stunned for several seconds before reacting.
"Syr... Syr! Are you teasing me?!"
"No, I think this is a good opportunity."
Syr took out a leave slip from her embrace: "Go meet up with Lynn. I've already prepared the leave slip for you."
"…"
"If you can't make up your mind, just come back to the tavern. Anya and I will always wait for you."
"…"
How strange.
Why did the conversation jump to romance?
Looking at the leave slip in her hand, Ryuu hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back, her mood somewhat subtle.
Her impression of Lynn wasn't bad, but it wasn't to the point of love either; she could only say they were friends.
However, facing Syr's kindness, Ryuu hesitated for a moment and chose to accept.
Lynn rarely sought her out on his own.
Inviting her to the Dungeon today was most likely about the Evilus.
If that's the case, let's get it over with quickly.
...
The sun slowly rose above the horizon, the morning light piercing the eastern sky and illuminating the ground.
Donning her weapon and armor, Ryuu waved goodbye to her friend and headed towards the Hestia Familia.
Perhaps due to a prior greeting, she smoothly passed through the gate and entered the courtyard.
A white-haired boy, like a rabbit, stood in the middle of the courtyard, excitedly reporting his progress to Lynn.
"Mr. Lynn! My ability value increased by almost 300 points yesterday! God Suma said I have a chance to break through to LV2 in two months!"
"Don't be arrogant. 300 points is just average. I once gained 1500 ability points at LV1."
"Sugoi! As expected of Mr. Lynn!"
"It's nothing special."
Ryuu: "..."
Do these two not hesitate at all when bragging?
Leaving aside that white-haired boy, even if Lynn leveled up quickly, it's impossible to gain 1500 points at once... right?
"Good morning, Ryuu!"
Lynn waved in greeting: "Didn't you say you'd only be free tonight? Why are you here so early?"
"Something unexpected happened. In any case, I'm free now."
Ryuu looked at Bell not far away: "Did I come a bit too early? You seem busy."
"Not at all, not at all. Bell is just reporting his training progress from yesterday, he's not here for a lesson."
"Yes, I'm about to leave now."
Bell replied very cooperatively.
Even he, with his lack of experience, understood that staying here would only make him a third wheel.
"Mr. Lynn! See you tonight!"
Waving goodbye to Lynn, Bell ran out of the courtyard with full energy.
Watching him leave, Ryuu was thoughtful.
"It seems you've recruited a good newcomer."
"Bell certainly has potential, but whether that potential will have a chance to be displayed is unknown."
Taking in Bell was just a coincidence.
As for whether he could grow in the future, or to what extent, Lynn didn't care.
Donning the billion-Valis katana, Raikiri, Lynn greeted the Elf Maiden.
"Let's go, we're heading to the Eighteenth Floor."
"Can you tell me what we're going to do now?"
"Not yet."
"What?"
He still can't say, even at this point?
Ryuu frowned slightly, giving a mental thumbs down to Lynn's cryptic behavior.
She disliked this secretive way of speaking.
It would cause her to miss some clues, leading to wrong decisions when danger arose.
"Don't worry, we're not doing anything dangerous."
Perceiving Ryuu's thoughts, Lynn let out a light chuckle.
"I just want to give you a gift."
"A gift? The Eighteenth Floor?"
"Yes, this gift is quite precious. It's easy to cause a commotion if brought to the surface, so the Eighteenth Floor is more suitable."
"…"
Are you sure you're not talking about a monster?
After silently complaining in her heart, Ryuu also gave up on trying to uncover the truth.
Taking steps, the two walked towards The Babel.
...
"Hey, Gran. Where are we going?"
"The Eighteenth Floor."
Under the illumination of the magic stone lamp, the bald, glittering man in front replied calmly.
"Dix wants to see you."
"Why do I have to go to the Eighteenth Floor to see him?"
"Don't ask me, I don't know either."
"…"
What kind of answer is that?
The one-armed Cat Person frowned, not very satisfied with Gran's reply.
However, when under someone else's roof, one must bow their head.
As a Remnant of the Dark Faction, Karyo, who had survived by relying on the Artificial Labyrinth, did not have a high status within the labyrinth.
He had seen Dix a few times and knew that he was a malicious being just like himself.
With a difference in status and strength, if Dix wanted to see him, he could only obey.
Inside the vast, steel-forged labyrinth, the two quickly arrived at the Eighteenth-Floor exit, one after the other.
Greeting the guard, Gran took out a key, opened the large door, and led Karyo into the forest.
"Hm? Gran, did you go the wrong way?"
After following Gran for a few more minutes, Karyo suddenly noticed something was off.
"Riviera Town is to the west, you're going the wrong way."
"I'm not going the wrong way. Dix just gave me the meeting location, and it's over here."
"Just now?"
Karyo's face showed a hint of confusion.
The two had been together the whole time, walking for nearly an hour in the Artificial Labyrinth, and they hadn't seen Dix at all.
Even if it was a pre-arranged meeting spot, he couldn't use the phrase "just now."
Furthermore, wasn't this meeting location a bit odd?
Not meeting in the Artificial Labyrinth, not in Riviera Town, but on the outskirts of the Eighteenth Floor.
This didn't look like a suitable meeting place at all.
Compared to a meeting, this desolate wilderness area was more suitable for... murder and robbery?
Karyo suddenly stopped.
"What are you standing there for? Catch up."
Gran turned his head and glanced at him.
"Gran, my stomach suddenly hurts."
Karyo recalled all the happy memories of his life, then forced a sheepish smile onto his face.
"Can you give me a few minutes? I..."
"Less nonsense, if your stomach hurts, hold it in."
Gran snorted coldly: "I'll give you three seconds to catch up, or you'll regret making that lord wait!"
"…"
That lord?
Karyo's ominous premonition grew stronger.
However, just as he was thinking about how to escape, Gran, who was urging him, suddenly fell silent.
Like the calm before a storm, an overwhelming killing intent rushed towards them in the next instant.
"Karyo!!!"
"?!"
That voice...
Karyo's body stiffened, and he looked in the direction of the voice in disbelief.
Through a gap in the forest, an Elf Maiden with light green short hair rushed over, wielding a wooden sword, her eyes faintly showing black flames of wrath.
Although her hair color and style had changed, that familiar face, too familiar to be mistaken, still allowed Karyo to recognize the Elf Maiden's identity.
"Rion! Why are you here?!"
Past painful memories flooded his mind; the figure that had blown up the Rakshasa Familia's stronghold, killed countless people, and cut off one of his arms slowly overlapped with the Elf Maiden.
Instinctively, Karyo's body moved, running back towards the way he came, towards the entrance of the Artificial Labyrinth.
But just then, a figure blocked his path.
"Gran! Are you f***ing crazy?!"
Karyo finally couldn't hold back and swore: "Get out of my way, or I'll die even if I..."
"Less nonsense! Be quiet!"
Gran punched out, stirring up a gust of air.
"Damn it! I'll kill you!"
Not daring to fight Ryuu didn't mean Karyo didn't dare to fight Gran.
Having prepared earlier, he dodged the attack immediately, drawing a dagger from his embrace with his remaining arm.
But just then, a loud bang sounded.
The fist that brushed past him suddenly exploded, sending a violent shockwave that hurled Karyo away.
The world spun endlessly. By the time he adjusted his posture after landing, the Elf Maiden who had been dozens of meters away just moments ago was already standing before him.
"W-wait!"
Karyo instinctively raised his only remaining arm. "Listen to me, Lion, I..."
*Shlick—! *
A crisp tearing sound rang out.
The wooden sword, forged from the branch of the Great Sacred Tree, was like an indestructible divine blade. In an instant, it severed the arm cleanly at the shoulder.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
Blood gushed from the wound as a piercing scream echoed through the forest.
Watching this gruesome scene, Ryuu's expression didn't change in the slightest, only growing darker.
"[O distant forest canopy of yore. ]"
"[The infinite stars set in the boundless night sky, heed the voice of one as foolish as I, grant me once more the protection of starlight. ]"
Raging flames burned fiercely within her body.
Having failed once before, the Elf Maiden would not repeat the same mistake this time.
"[Come, wandering wind, vagabond traveler. ]"
The wooden sword was raised high, and in the next moment, it fell.
Like a watermelon hitting the ground, Karyo's head burst apart with a sickening *splat*.
"[Soar through the sky, gallop across the wilderness, act with a speed surpassing all things! Gather the radiance of the stars to vanquish the foe! ]"
"[Luminous Wind! ]"
At the same moment, the parallel incantation reached its conclusion.
As the magic's name resounded, vast magical power coalesced into hundreds of light orbs that rose behind her.
*Boom! Boom! Boom! *
Firepower sufficient to gravely injure a floor boss rained down. The earth trembled violently, and thick clouds of dust billowed out in all directions.
When all was calm again, a crater over ten meters wide scarred the ground.
It was over.
Standing at the edge of the crater, Ryuu let out a sigh.
This time, she had not failed. She had truly, definitively, delivered the finishing blow.
The mastermind behind the downfall of the Astrea Familia had been completely erased from this world.
"How does it feel?"
The question came from behind her.
"Having achieved revenge, are you a little happier?"
"Revenge cannot bring joy."
The Elf Maiden spoke a universal truth.
The moment revenge is completed brings a sense of release, but what follows is emptiness.
The dead cannot be revived.
Killing the murderer cannot bring back the lost lives.
Those companions who had once been by her side, who had shared the happiest times of her life... they were gone.
...