"This is one of the Church's greatest manifestations, and the beginning of the pilgrimage to Paradise to worship the Supreme Miracle."
The girl calling herself Ma spoke in a soft, waxy voice, saying things that were completely incomprehensible.
"The Church has deceived everyone and inverted the world."
"Please ascend, Adventurer, and continue to illuminate the Dark Mother's blessing. When the time comes, I will meet you again and answer your doubts."
"Oh, right, right!"
The pitch-black specks of light dissipated. Just as Isagi thought the girl before him was about to leave, her pretty and cute figure reappeared before everyone's eyes.
"Please accept this."
A strange black ring was placed into his hand.
It felt cold to the touch, unfathomably deep, as if it wanted to suck all the surrounding light into its interior.
"What is this?"
"A secret."
Without answering his question, Ma smiled prettily, then transformed into specks of light and vanished.
[Ring of Dark Covenant:
A ring capable of establishing a connection with the Dark Mother.
At the end of that unreachable, pitch-black profundity, in the depths of the void where nothing exists, "Darkness" exists alone—a voice that no one can hear, from beginning to end.]
Is it not an accessory?
Why doesn't it add attributes or have any attached effects?
Isagi was puzzled, but he silently put it away. Since he got it for free, he might as well keep it; he couldn't just throw it away. He figured it was probably some important quest item.
"? Did that child leave?"
"Is she an NPC? Such a beautiful girl, finally it's not a Goblin!"
"But what did she mean by what she just said?"
"Hmm, it looks to me like..."
"This is the Great Tree Labyrinth."
Suddenly.
Heith's voice interrupted Lefiya and the others' chattering, simultaneously pulling everyone's attention back.
As a veteran adventurer—or rather, a fellow who wasn't actually that talented—she was all too familiar with the place before her.
Located beneath the 18th Floor's [Under Resort · Rivira], spanning from the 19th Floor to the 24th Floor, was the area known as the [Great Tree Labyrinth]. It still belonged to the Middle Floors, with Monster levels around Level 2 and Level 3.
Because it possessed abundant harvestable resources—mainly various flowers, plants, and the fruits they bore, or the accompanying dewdrops, mushrooms, and so on...
The gathering requests from the Guild, production Familias, and merchant associations were all concentrated here.
Therefore, adventurers around Level 3 loved coming here the most.
Mainly to make money. Moreover, even if they encountered danger, they could withdraw to Rivira to rest at the fastest speed. In contrast, if they continued downward, they would reach the area after the 24th Floor, the considerably dangerous Lower Floors.
Heith had once adventured in the Great Tree Labyrinth for a long time.
So she recognized it at a glance.
Whether it was the walls and ground that appeared to be almost entirely paved with wooden planks, the blue fluorescence covering them, or the lush mountain forests and towering trees before her eyes.
Everything proved that her guess was correct!
"That's right!"
Tiona jumped out at this moment as well.
When she and her sister arrived in the city, they were already at Level 3, so the two sisters had actually adventured in the Great Tree Labyrinth for a whole year as well.
The reason the insect-men they saw in the Goblins' expedition camp earlier looked familiar to the Amazon girl was that in this area, the Monsters were mainly various insects and beasts.
"So, you're saying we suddenly went from the 12th Floor to the 24th Floor?!"
"Didn't that girl just say this is the [Inverted Spiral Road of Pain]? The so-called 'inverted' means that originally the Middle Floors go from the 13th Floor to the 24th Floor, but here it's reversed."
"Makes sense!"
Following Lefiya and Tiona's harmonious analysis, Ryuu also spoke up.
"In that case, the 'Paradise' Ma mentioned just now should refer to the Safe Floor originally located on the 18th Floor, the Under Resort Rivira."
"Then what about the Supreme Miracle?"
"It's the Goliath."
Ryuu looked at Isagi. Seeing the boy nod in agreement, she inexplicably felt a little happy in her heart.
Wait!
I am the senior.
What is there to be happy about being recognized and praised by a junior?!
However.
Isagi is also my teacher now, so... No, no, still not right... It's too messy! I said it shouldn't be like this!!
"So, do we need to go up now?"
"That should be it."
As Isagi answered Ais's question, the team's goal was now clear.
The exploration of the Dungeon.
Inexplicably, it had turned into an upward climb, having been "inverted."
It even gave people a somewhat novel feeling.
"Then let's go!"
Tiona was eager and wanted to walk toward the large tree in the distance.
"Wait a moment, Tiona!"
Isagi took out a small black clay pot from the pocket at his waist. This was a container Cecil had made for him to hold dung pellets. It could be thrown directly, and because some small ingenuity was added during its creation, it would explode from the inside out upon violent impact.
It could serve as a "Poison Gas Bomb" in a certain sense.
Isagi threw this thing toward the lush green grass not far away.
The result—
The dung pellet clay pot landed straight on the ground, and then, it sank silently just like that.
The grass before their eyes looked normal, but in reality, it was a mire!
It might even contain other dangers!
"?! Isagi, how did you discover that?!"
"Intuition."
Because the scene before them was too normal, it actually made one feel it was abnormal.
According to Heith, the Dungeon before them was no different from the Great Tree Labyrinth she had adventured in before. That was the biggest problem!
How could there be no difference?!
Sure enough, the Dungeon was becoming increasingly insidious, actually learning to lull him into a false sense of security. Heh.
"Let's fly up."
With the vast patches of grass and flower fields before them, they had no idea where the mire was or where they could walk, let alone how many dangers lay within.
Since that was the case.
Since they had to go up anyway, they might as well fly up.
Of course.
It wasn't about letting Miss Ais carry five people on her back and fly up alone.
Isagi switched his Character Card to [Golden Age], and subsequently, used the new skill it brought: [Crucible: Hundred Aspects].
Golden specks of light gathered behind him, transforming into a pair of incomparably dazzling wings.
Ancient life possessed many "features," and wings were just one of them. Aside from that, there were tails, long horns, and even more "strange and bizarre" parts that could be manifested.
"?!"
In response to this.
The girls were all somewhat in disbelief, wearing expressions that said, 'Brother, what new trick is this now?'
Hmm...
"Miss Ais take Lefiya, I'll take Miss Heith."
Isagi quickly made the arrangements.
One carrying one.
Tiona and Senior Ryuu, who had stronger "athletic ability," would use grappling hooks to keep up with everyone.
This was also for safety's sake.
Because, when he really carried the pink-haired older sister and flew upward...
Just as expected.
From unknown locations within the woods, sharp, piercing sounds like whistles rang out.
"!"
Having just taken off and still in mid-air, Isagi turned around hurriedly. At the same time, he had already pulled out the original greatshield, "Door No. 2."
Bang bang bang!
A series of muffled sounds came one after another. As he lowered his head, Isagi discovered that several small, dark green spikes had pierced into the interior of his shield.
He knew it was impossible for nothing to happen after flying up!
"Isagi, there's more!"
Ais's voice came from not far away, along with Lefiya's small scream.
At the moment both of them flew up, those small spikes shot toward them from all directions.
Isagi even saw it.
In the flower field not far away, a small flower that was originally blooming suddenly shifted its direction and abruptly sprayed several spikes at him from its bud.
#@!
He quickly dodged in the air while defending.
In the distance.
Tiona and Ryuu also discovered the new situation!
After the two girls used the Legion Prosthetic's grappling hooks to climb onto the big trees, they immediately saw that the paths between the tree trunks, which originally looked flat, were covered in densely packed spikes that left no room to stand.
Simultaneously.
Many of those spikes flying from all directions were also aimed at them. This meant they had to constantly use grappling hooks to continue upward while paying attention to dodge and defend against the incoming "traps."
For a moment.
Heith, lying on the boy's back, was so nervous she didn't dare to speak!
As a veteran adventurer, she naturally knew how dangerous the current situation was!
How did it suddenly...
Isn't this too sudden?!
It was clearly fine on the ground just a moment ago. How did it turn from calm and tranquil to crisis-ridden in an instant?!
No...
It's her mindset that hasn't shifted yet; this is the true face of the Dungeon!
Originally, she felt somewhat embarrassed.
Thinking that being carried by a boy and flying in the sky was a bit too strange.
But looking at the situation now, fortunately, she was being carried.
Ryuu and Tiona's side not far away was even more thrilling. The two fellows had to dodge or block the incoming spikes while finding footholds, maneuvering and shifting between the spike-filled giant trees to constantly move upward.
Heith had indeed switched to a Healer only after reaching Level 4.
So in reality, an average low-level adventurer would be far from her match in terms of "melee ability."
The woman was by no means a fellow who had absolutely no combat power and needed protection in the usual sense.
But in this situation, she could only be protected!
She hugged the neck of the boy wearing the pitch-black wolf armor even tighter, letting the other party carry her as he sped through the air.
"Ais! Let's try to stay closer to Senior Ryuu and Tiona's side, don't fall behind or get separated!!"
"Okay!"
The situation on Ais's side was a bit better because the girl was fast enough, and Lefiya could also use defensive magic to block those shooting spikes.
Unknowingly.
The group had been ascending for a long time. The sea of grass and flower fields below were slowly obscured by the lush foliage, barely visible anymore.
The towering giant trees interwove with each other, transforming into one wooden platform after another.
Looking out.
The space before them was by no means small, at least comparable to the core of the Goblin Kingdom from before.
As for how long they had to go up, Isagi didn't know either.
Looking up, the moss covering the surface of the forest emitted a faint light, illuminating the end of his vision in a patch of azure blue. It looked like an ocean suspended upside down in the sky.
Buzz!
Accompanying the sound of vibrating wings.
A cold light flashing violently through the leaves was once again blocked by Isagi with his greatshield!
A knight clad in golden armor wielding dual swords. That streamlined carapace appearance, as well as the swollen tail behind it, made it clear at a glance that it was a wasp.
It was quite strong!
Isagi held the shield with both hands, unable to do anything to it for a moment. Fortunately, Heith on his back wasn't just for show; she directly smashed her staff ruthlessly at the Monster.
"This is the Deadly Hornet of the Great Tree Labyrinth. Be careful, the poison stinger on their tail is enough to kill a Level 2 adventurer. They are considerably dangerous fellows!"
The staff accurately hit the Monster's head, causing it to stagger. At the same time, it gave Isagi the chance to switch the shield in his hand to the pitch-black [Blade of Ten Thousand Bones].
Then came a continuous series of Clang Clang Clang parries.
The instant the Monster finally exposed a flaw, dazzling brilliance accompanied a "Dead Line" flashing past, instantly cutting the guy into two pieces.
Phew!
Ais's situation on the other side was about the same as his; she was also attacked by two Deadly Hornet Monsters that appeared suddenly.
Almost simultaneously.
Senior Ryuu and Tiona among the big trees.
They were blocked by a giant beetle. Its body, exceeding three meters and covered in an incomparably thick shell, was simply like a small steel hill.
However.
The Elf girl's sharp estoc wrapped in raging fire still pierced through its shell. Accompanied by the Amazon girl roaring and swinging her large blade wrapped in surging blood energy, they soon smashed most of its body to pieces.
In mid-air, the breeze chopped the Hornet Knight into several segments, causing it to fall, while the other one was also blasted into fragments by the Elf girl's magic.
But the Monster attacks were far from over.
Isagi flew in mid-air carrying Heith. Like the other girls, he had to dodge spikes shooting from unknown places while fighting Monsters.
This won't do.
If they got separated in the dense forest, it would be troublesome.
"Regroup first, Ais! We're going to find Senior Ryuu and the others!!"
Following Isagi's order.
The golden-haired girl quickly followed him, landing together among the massive branch platforms extending from the edge of a certain big tree where Ryuu and Tiona were located.
At this moment.
The two girls were being besieged by a group of Lizardmen.
Wearing uniform silver-gray armor and holding longswords and shields, they quickly formed a formation with the Hornet Knights that had followed Isagi and Ais, looking as if they were about to launch an attack on the group.
"Use that."
At Isagi's words, both Elf girls nodded simultaneously.
Only Ais and Heith were confused.
That?
What is 'that'?
Amidst their confusion, they saw Isagi, Ryuu, and Lefiya all begin to cast magic simultaneously.
But there was no chanting.
Accompanied only by the flashing of azure brilliance, gorgeous specks of light resembling meteors shot toward the Monsters not far away.
And it was continuous.
[Swift Glintstone Shard], infinite spam!
The Glintstone Magic cast by the three of them simultaneously looked like a machine gun in Isagi's eyes, rapidly perforating the Monsters before them. The remaining two or three couldn't escape the longsword in Ais's hand either.
The idiot Tiona was still there following him and the Elf girls, attempting to cast Glintstone Magic together, but it was useless.
Sigh.
Unfortunately, Isagi had actually taught her.
But currently, it seemed the Amazon girl's Intelligence might only be "9"; she couldn't even learn the [Glintstone Pebble] which had the lowest requirements!
No wonder her sister had magic but she didn't.
Not only that, she also didn't have—
Truly pitiful.
Not only Isagi, but Ryuu and Lefiya were also thinking silently in their hearts like this, because Tiona was not only an idiot, but she was also flat-chested.
This was simply too pitiful!
____
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