Slash—!
""""!!?""""
Akuo burst through the floor, carving a path through everything that dared to obstruct his ascent.
Thud!
"Ah... honestly, what a mess."
'Neither the wolf nor the elf were any match, it seems.'
In his hands, he held the unconscious forms of Bete and Lefiya, both of whom had been knocked out by the shockwaves of his own breakthrough.
—...
"""..."""
Faced with the rhythmic pulse of that warrior's presence, not a single person could move properly.
"It's him...!"
"The one who severed Akumo's arm!!"
""""!!!""""
The fact that the entity before them had achieved the impossible feat of cutting off the arm of a Level 9 adventurer—a man who could truly be called the strongest—sent tremors through their souls.
Shing—!
"You certainly move around quite busily, don't you?"
Even Ein, the masked creature who appeared in his wake, remained unscathed as she tossed aside the unconscious members of the 5th Unit who had dared to attack her.
Sssss—!!
"Well, it's not like there's a shortage of people left to fight."
Schwing—!
"I suppose I should take this seriously?"
As everyone stood frozen, Akuo drew the [Sword of Ares], intending to swing it against them, but—
—AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!
"Ah, I forgot about this thing."
The Demi-Spirit let out a joyous shriek, as if mistaking the sudden arrival of the powerful Akuo for an ally. But as the Demi-Spirit reached out toward Akuo and Ein—
Slice—!!!
—Ah...?
Shred—!!!
It was carved into ribbons, its two massive arms severed in an instant.
"Now then~ Now then~ What is everyone doing?"
Grin—!
"The strongest has made his entrance."
Akuo officially decided to roam the battlefield. He would not stop until he found Akumo.
"We'll be meeting soon enough, anyway~"
Indeed, a situation was being crafted where they would be forced to meet in less than thirty minutes.
Whish—!!!!
Boom—!!!!!
Meanwhile, Revis and Aiz continued their exchange, thrusting black storms and red flesh against one another.
Clang—!!!!!!!!
""...""
'Is the mana replenishment lagging?'
Flinch—!
"No, something is different...!"
Revis realized that a monster exceeding even her expectations was currently rampaging within the labyrinth, causing the mana flowing to her to become pitifully scarce.
Rumble—!!!!!!!!!
"However... this is the [End]."
Determined to pour every drop of remaining mana into Aiz, Revis fully deployed her crimson flesh.
"To have fallen this far... you were lucky, Aria."
Aiz faced Revis, while Tiona and Tione faced Akuo and Ein. What would come next?
'The tide has almost turned thanks to the reinforcements. Even if we ignore the creatures, we can seal the Spirits at this rate...!'
'If it's the Akuo currently present, we can just leave him to Akumo...'
However, Finn still felt a persistent, ominous premonition vibrating through his thumb.
Tingle—!!!
"No."
'Enyo won't let it end like this.'
Even with the chance of victory finally appearing amidst the despair, Finn rejected the easy conclusion.
'This sensation is the same as the first invasion. We were reversed just as we were about to bring down the Man-made Dungeon.'
"I cannot follow the same path again."
'Based on previous experience, Enyo doesn't even intend to fight on the same board as us.'
Finn recalled Enyo's objective once more.
The collapse of the city through a Great Ritual, and the victory of his own forces through that destruction.
"It couldn't possibly be such a simple structure, could it?"
Akuo's voice reached Tione, Tiona, Bache, and Argana.
"For a God, he seems to have prepared quite a lot."
—Ah.... Ah.....
"He probably doesn't even care about a strategic victory."
'Because that is how a madman thinks.'
Just as Finn and Akuo suspected, Enyo moved solely for a single result that would occur regardless of whether he won or lost on this board.
"In the first place, why did you all even find out about the existence of the Demi-Spirits?"
""""!!""""
A spark of realization ignited in everyone's minds at Akuo's words.
'Why was the first Demi-Spirit we confirmed stationed in that specific spot?'
'A display of power? A hint? A whim granted to those who overcame the trial?'
Nonsense. If the information had been kept perfectly hidden from the start, Orario—let alone the Loki Familia—would have been completely annihilated by now.
"Hurry up! While the captains are fighting, we must liberate all the hostages!!"
Every time hostages were freed and sent to the surface, the [Ganesha Familia] accompanied them. Now, only the [Loki Familia] remained in the rescue unit. Raul's squad, along with Cruz and Elfy's group, stayed behind to conduct the final search.
Alicia was checking the high-risk 10th floor with Rei to ensure nothing was missed.
'Supplies and manpower are running low.'
Dash—!!!
'Once we find the next set of hostages, we should escape the labyrinth oursel—'
ROAARR—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A massive, eerie cry echoed through the corridor they were passing.
"R-Raul... what was that...?"
"It's impossible. There shouldn't be a space large enough for such a sound near here..."
Gulp—!
"Nor an entity that massive.....!!"
"""..."""
A space that shouldn't exist, containing a gargantuan presence.
"........We're going in."
Even if it was dangerous, they had to confirm what was inside for the sake of everyone. They entered with that resolve.
"Just a bit more!"
"I can't quite reach the Magic Stone!"
"But I'm going to kill this thing right now!!!!"
The combined forces of Tione, Tiona, and the Kali Familia were launching an all-out assault on a critically wounded Demi-Spirit.
'That aside.....'
"""...!!"""
Their attention was simultaneously divided by Akuo and Ein standing in the distance.
'He definitely knocked out Bete and Lefiya and even attacked them...!'
"And yet he isn't moving...."
'Why...?'
As if waiting for a grand stage to be completed, Akuo and Ein simply watched in silence as the adventurers cornered the Spirit.
"Huh?"
"Hey, Gareth! What is that!"
"Something's wrong....."
"Is that.....?"
At that moment, the form of the Spirit began to mutate, its appearance warping hideously.
Clang—!!
"It deflected it!? Hedin's magic!?"
"Strong magic resistance confirmed.... Seeing as it's being neutralized, that's no longer just flesh, but an outer shell coated in mana...."
"Eroded by pitch-black magic, we can't even call it a Demi-Spirit anymore."
Riveria, Gareth, and Finn—fighting in different locations—along with their respective allies, were all captivated by the anomaly before them.
"AAAAHHHHH..... AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
And before Raul's group, a massive entity appeared.
—KRAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!
They stood in horror as they discovered the Evil Dragon Nidhogg, the ultimate Demi-Spirit hidden by Dionysus.
".....No! It's not right!"
Tremble—!
"No, no way!?"
Raul, terrified by the monstrous appearance of the giant, immediately began screaming to Finn through the transmission.
"Captain! The Six-Circle Ritual isn't the real goal!"
"The real goal was a bomb!!!!! At this rate....!!!!"
The adventurers will be annihilated.
"The seventh one, you say?"
"Indeed! That is the true Staff of Frenzy I have prepared!"
Dionysus spoke to the still expressionless Loki with a voice full of rapture.
"Loki, did you truly think I would just face Orario without a plan?"
"...."
"I know you all better than anyone else."
Clench—!!!
As if proving the play's climax had arrived, and that he was the protagonist of that peak.
"Yes, I, who claim the title of the city's destroyer!"
"I know the strength of adventurers, those vessels of heroes, all too well! It's annoying! It's hateful!"
A hideous, mad laughter finally broke across his face.
""It's only natural to have a trump card ready, isn't it?""
That smile surely belonged to Akumo, not Dionysus.
".....What?"
"Loki~ I've come to pick you up."
Ignoring the flustered Dionysus, Akumo simply approached Loki and moved to pick her up.
"Aye, it was tough work havin' to listen to this idiot's prattle."
"I'm sorry~ In exchange, I couldn't fight either because I was busy looking for you, so let's call it even?"
"Heh~ Is that how the math works?"
It was as if Dionysus didn't even exist. As if his plan had been known from the start. Or rather, as if it wouldn't have mattered even if they hadn't known.
"The Evil Dragon Nidhogg. I suppose that's the 'something' you were hiding."
As if to prove it, Akumo's words flowed out calmly.
"The real target is the adventurers' strength itself."
"Even if you destroy the city once, your goal—the Age of Frenzy—won't continue."
So he chose to inflict regression and despair. By killing the adventurers who lead the era, he would force a fatal regression upon the world.
"You've probably been planning this for about fifteen years."
Showing not a shred of courtesy to Dionysus, Akumo held Loki and spoke to him with a chilling gaze.
"With just a mere Evil Dragon....."
Rumble—!!!
"It's lamentable that you called this pathetic thing your climax."
".....It's a bluff."
From Dionysus's perspective, that was the only possible thought.
'He knew my plan... in advance?'
'How? No, when? And the countermeasure? Is he just trying to fluster me?'
He believed that even if the arrogant child of the lower world knew his plan and remained calm, he couldn't change the tide of battle.
"""Divine Artifact"""
Until those words reached his ears.
RUMBLE—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The entire labyrinth shook, and the eyes of everyone present focused on two people.
"I'll do the talking from here."
"No, shall I speak?"
Two voices—or rather, a single voice that was originally one—spoke calmly to everyone in the labyrinth.
"Frenzy, chaos... you made us expect so much."
"And now it's just annihilation via a strong monster~ Is that it?"
""Ahahaha!!!!!!!!!!""
The laughter, which dismissed Enyo's actions as mere child's play, shocked everyone except Ein and Loki.
'Is he... on our side...?'
That thought reached the adventurers and even the mutating Spirits, keeping everyone in a state of extreme tension.
""Stop talking out of your ass.""
Snap—
With that one sentence, everyone's movements ceased.
Thump—!!
Clatter—!
Schwing—!
All sorts of weapons began to fall around them.
"I'm tired of hiding things."
"I'm tired of being considerate of others."
This, too, is chaos. I will show you that life itself, which never goes as planned, is a succession of chaos.
""And that is no different even for the Gods.""
After those words, everyone saw it.
CRACK—!!!!!!!!!!!
"What... is that....?"
The floors and walls of the level crumbled and shattered one by one, creating a massive open space.
Swoosh—!
Standing below was Akuo, wielding the sword of the God of War, while hovering above was Akumo, wearing the shoes of the God of Adventure.
"We finally meet?"
"I suppose so~"
Step—!
Proudly showing everyone his use of Divine Artifacts, Akumo handed Loki over to Finn.
"Enjoy the show, everyone."
Step, step—
As Akumo walked toward Akuo, he paused for a moment and let out a sigh.
"Haa..."
It was a sigh regarding the disposal of Nidhogg, and perhaps a moment of contemplation on how to pursue the ideal that Finn insisted upon.
"I've decided."
Reach—!
"[Apocalypse]"
He decided not to give up on anything. He reached his hand toward the ground.
FWOOSH—!!!!!!!!
The hellfire that burns everything bloomed once more from the King's hand.
"This should be enough of a stage, right?"
With a single spell from Akumo, the massive prison that seemed indestructible was oxidized in an instant.
—KYAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!
"Know your place."
Crunch—!!!
Everyone could only watch with bated breath as Akuo effortlessly split and killed a Demi-Spirit that lunged at him in surprise.
"GET A GRIP, WILL YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????"
"""""""""!!!"""""""""
Akumo was angry with them. At the same time, he almost wanted to laugh.
"I'll ask only once."
Point—!
"That thing... are you going to fight it? Or should I handle it?"
Grin—!
Pointing his finger toward the depths where Nidhogg would be, Akumo showed his usual smile.
""""....""""
Faced with his sudden, overwhelming strength, they couldn't say a word. They almost thought it was natural to be speechless.
"Ahaha.... My, my, my man truly exceeds all imagination."
Step, step—!
""""!!""""
Riveria turned her steps, showing her resolve to be sent down to Nidhogg immediately.
"In exchange, you'll have to pay dearly for playing such a prank."
"Of course."
The sight of Akumo and Riveria exchanging soft smiles provided the driving force for others to move.
"I heard about it beforehand, but to think it was really this much....."
Step, step—!
"It's chilling. You truly are something else."
"Did you not know that since the day we met~?"
Finn and Gareth, who had crossed countless lines between life and death with him for over ten years, realized that his actions were no different from what they had always been.
"....No."
"....As if we'd let that happen....!!"
Argana and Bache also didn't want to show a pathetic side in front of the man they loved, so they moved to stand before him.
Thump—!!!
"You won't lose, right?"
"If I lose, you kill me yourself."
"Hmph, that won't be happening then."
Even Ottar, known as the strongest in Orario alongside Akumo, had a calm face despite choosing to leave the anomaly known as Akuo to him.
Step, step—!
Trot—!
Dash—!!!
Just like the day of the Great Feud, everyone began to gather with one heart.
"Shakti, Ardee. Are you ready to put your lives on the line?"
"Of course."
"Yep!"
From those who protect the city's peace and the citizens' safety.
"Big sis, take good care of this guy and make sure he doesn't die, alright?"
"Of course, you brat!"
Clap—!!
"Both of them are so refreshing....."
To those who walked the path of blacksmiths together, aiming for the same supremacy, and the Familias they belonged to.
"Amid, you've worked so hard.... but please, work just a little bit harder!"
"Ahaha.... This really is grueling....."
To the Saint who would willingly dive back into the battlefield to save everyone, and the healers behind her.
"W-What is this....."
That sight—the sight of overwhelming martial force ruining everything he had built.
"This makes no sense....."
'How could it be so absurd and hollow...!'
Even if he killed every adventurer, as long as that man remained, the Age of Frenzy would never come. No, because that man existed, not a single adventurer would die.
As he admitted that fact, Dionysus's face contorted violently.
"How...!! How!!! A mere child of the lower world!!!!!"
'How much I agonized and suffered to prepare Enyo....!!'
"It's cheating!!! It's a foul!!!!"
'My frenzy....!!!'
"Don't you dare ruin it—"
Thwack—!!!
Something pierced the ground beside him. In the blink of an eye, not one, but over ten weapons were embedded around Dionysus.
"Ye daft bastard. Do ye still not get it?"
Loki, wearing an ecstatic smile as if she had returned to those old days, explained it to him kindly.
"Isn't this exactly what life's all about?"
"...What?"
"Just like how ye appeared out of nowhere, and how tragedy was born from it."
"..."
"What exactly are ye so unhappy about?"
Since he said he wanted chaos, they decided to give him ultimate confusion and chaos. That was all.
—'He's just a bastard who wants to see what he wants to see while jerkin' himself off.'
"...No."
He had long ago admitted he had no noble purpose.
He had done it since the distant past simply because he wanted to. He thought it was only natural. So he acted.
"Ye lost, ye miserable fool."
Now, step down and be a spectator, you unfunny clown.