Episode 366: The Lowest Level of Tartarus
The Black Dragon’s head was enveloped in smoke, swaying unsteadily. That single blow, which had even blown away the Red King’s face, should have decided the battle.
Just as Yuma thought so, the Black Dragon appeared from within the smoke, its mouth open. Although half of its face was severely damaged, it hadn’t been finished off.
“This guy!”
The Black Dragon was about to unleash its Breath of Corrosion. Taking that head-on would be really bad. Thinking so, Yuma jumped back and raised his left hand in front of him.
It was a breath that corroded even magic, but Wind Magic should be able to defend against it.
Yuma blew away the mist with wind and took a stance to punch again with his fist of flame. At that moment, a loud voice came from behind his head.
“Get out of the way, get out of the way! I’m going to finish it off!!”
When Yuma turned around, he saw Akito approaching at breakneck speed. He poured Magical Power into the Gae Bolg he was riding on and jumped off just before impact.
The large spear crackled with Lightning and shone brightly as it plunged into the Black Dragon.
It entered through the open mouth, pierced the neck, and exited from the back of the Dragon’s head. Gae Bolg gained momentum and pierced into the rocky walls of the Labyrinth.
Akito, who had landed on the ground, raised his face and said, “How’s that!”
The Black Dragon shook its head greatly and slowly collapsed.
Along with a thud, a large amount of dust rose into the air. Akito rejoiced grandly, saying, “Yes!”
“I did it! I subjugated a Black Dragon that no one has ever defeated! I’m amazing, right?”
Seeing Akito like that, the Iron Giant stamped his feet.
“What are you doing, Akito! If I don’t defeat it, the Demon Ore won’t drop! A Black Diamond might have appeared!!”
Because the Giant was rampaging, the inside of the Cave shook violently. Akito scratched his head without remorse, saying, “Ah, that’s right.”
“But, well, it’s fine, isn’t it? We were able to defeat the Black Dragon. More than that, let’s hurry up and move on.”
Akito released Lightning from his left hand. The Lightning wrapped around the shaft of the Gae Bolg stuck in the rocky wall. When Akito pulled his hand with a grunt, the spear came out of the rock and flew to Akito.
Akito, holding the spear in his hand, quickly went ahead.
“He’s as selfish as ever.”
Rui came to Yuma, who had returned to his human form and was dumbfounded.
“Anyway, I’m glad you weren’t injured. We should avoid fighting after all.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Yuma looked around with Rui, but as expected, the Demon Ore had not dropped. Yuma sighed in disappointment, but resigned himself to it and followed after Akito to the lower level.
◇◇◇
After that, Yuma and the others focused all their efforts on getting through the levels without fighting Monsters.
They were only confronted by huge Monsters, and it wasn’t difficult to pass by their feet. After diving quite deep, Yuma opened his mouth.
“We’ve passed the 230th floor, right? How many floors does this Tartarus have?”
Rui, while descending the rocky area, turned his gaze to Yuma.
“I think it’s about 250 floors. No one has ever reached it, so I don’t know exactly.”
“250 floors, huh…”
Yuma heightened his tension towards the lowest level, which he would soon reach.
And then, the 253rd floor—
“This is it.”
At Yuma’s words, Rui and Akito, who were nearby, also stiffened their faces. The atmosphere was clearly different from the previous floors.
The size was about the same as the previous floors, but the air that touched the skin was chillingly cold.
Furthermore, there was something like a pressure covering the entire Cave, and Yuma noticed that his hands were trembling.
Rui also looked at his own hands and grimaced.
Only Akito didn’t seem to care. He hopped over the rocky area and went ahead. When the three of them poked their heads out from behind a large rock, there was something in the back of the Cave.
“That seems to be the Labyrinth Guardian.”
Yuma and Rui nodded at Akito’s words. At the end of the three people’s line of sight. A huge Monster was sitting on a rocky area that was one step higher.
Because the entire Cave was dimly lit, it was not possible to clearly confirm its appearance.
Even so, it was clear that it was a humanoid Monster.
The three moved from the shadow of the rocky area to another rocky area, closing the distance with the opponent. As the figure of the Monster gradually came into view, Yuma couldn’t help but gasp.
“That’s… a Varlin! An incredibly huge Varlin!!”
“Varlin? Is that the monkey Monster that was also in this Dungeon? It certainly looks similar, but it seems incredibly strong.”
As Akito said, it wasn’t just big. Its entire body was muscular, and its limbs were longer and thicker.
Its face was also dignified and tightened. The air it wore was too different from a normal Varlin.
“It’s like a Boss Varlin. If we fight, it might be quite a struggle.”
“What are you saying so timidly! We’re going to join in. There’s no way we can lose!”
Rui also called out from behind Akito, who was encouraging him.
“That’s right, Yuma. We’re going to support you, so there’s no need to be so nervous. Rely on us.”
At the powerful words of his companions, Yuma smiled.
“That’s right. That guy is the last enemy, so let’s give it our all and defeat it!”
“Yeah, let’s go!”
“Let’s do it!”
Yuma and the others jumped out from behind the rocks and approached the Monster, keeping their distance. Rui on the left, Yuma in the center, and Akito on the right.
Yuma charged from the front, and Rui and Akito on the left and right would bewilder the Monster.
The three understood their respective roles without even discussing it. It was the result of fighting together for a long time.
Yuma activated Metallization and further concentrated his consciousness.
His black body swelled out, and he transformed into a Giant in less than three seconds. His body had completely recovered, so he should be able to fight with all his strength.
When Yuma stared ahead, the giant ape remained seated and didn’t move at all.
–Are you underestimating us!? If that’s the case, then that’s fine. I’ll defeat you in a blitz!
Yuma pulled back his right fist and charged with all his might.
Rui also drew his Katana and lit the blade with flames. Akito also held up Gae Bolg and poured Lightning Magical Power into it. They surrounded the giant ape, and their battle readiness was complete.
Everyone thought that the match would be decided in an instant. At that moment, the figure of the giant ape disappeared.
“Eh?”
Rui let out a strange voice and doubted his own eyes.
Akito couldn’t even make a sound. When the two turned around, there was Yuma, blown away and crashing into the rocky wall.
The two were stunned, not knowing what had happened.
The giant ape stood in front of Yuma, swaying its tail. Its standing figure was just like a human.
No one here understood.
That the Monster in front of them was an unimaginable monster.