-409- [ Azure Abyss +80 ]

This labyrinth resembles a sewer, where monstrous creatures dwell.

It's populated by huge frogs with slippery skin, crustaceans with glowing black claws, and red-eyed gray rats. For female players, it's a place they'd rather avoid.

Currently, in front of Rozen and Asuna, there are these giant frogs, each the size of a tiger, leaping towards them with croaking sounds.

These creatures have simple attack patterns, either whipping with their tongues or spitting corrosive venom. While the venom doesn't significantly reduce a player's HP upon contact, it rapidly deteriorates their equipment's durability.

Facing such monsters, even level 70 players would struggle to handle two simultaneously, perhaps manage three with some difficulty. Dealing with five at once would be nearly impossible, and fleeing would likely be the best option.

The astonishing thing is the sheer number of frogs emerging from the sewer, often in groups of dozens. A solo level 70 player would find it challenging to deal with them, let alone a six-player party. This is just one wave of monsters in this labyrinth, and if the players' combat power isn't sufficient, breaking through will be impossible.

If this happened when they were at level 70, even Rozen would need to bring the entire clearing group to have a shot at conquering this labyrinth.

"Splush!"

With graceful slashes, Rozen's sky-blue crystal sword left a trail of stardust as it sliced through the abdomen of a massive frog. A burst of blood-like visual effects spilled out, and its HP bar plummeted to zero in an instant.

"Bang!"

Amidst the shattering sounds, the giant frog didn't even have time to let out a pitiful cry. Its entire body froze into a bluish hue and burst apart.

Rozen wielded his "Azure Abyss" crystal sword like a tiger amidst a flock of sheep, charging through the group of frogs. His sword moved so quickly that the blade became a blur, and he effortlessly killed one giant frog after another, leaving no corpses behind.

Naturally, Rozen's audacious actions provoked the fury of the frog group. Their long, sticky tongues lashed out like whips, accompanied by corrosive venom, but none of their attacks could touch Rozen.

Utilizing his "Mind's Eye" skill to see through all attacks, Rozen gracefully dodged left and right, evading every assault with minimal movements. He turned the monsters' attacks into futile endeavors and capitalized on their attack cooldowns, delivering sharp strikes with his crystal sword.

With Rozen's level and the capabilities of the "Azure Abyss," these creatures were no threat at all. In fact, when Rozen was below level 90, he used this very sword in the 60th floor training area. Now, with higher level and enhanced equipment, he effortlessly dominated the battlefield.

As a side note, during this period, Rozen entrusted Kirito to give both the "Azure Abyss" and rare items that could be successfully upgrade his sword to Liz, who then maxed out the enhancements on the "Azure Abyss."

— "Azure Abyss +80."

This is Rozen's current main weapon, without a doubt, it's currently the most powerful and has been enhanced the most in SAO.

Although it has been enhanced to its limit and can't be improved any further, it will continue to be effective all the way up to the 90th floor, which is truly astonishing.

Thanks to this, even in the 75th-floor labyrinth area, Rozen has more than enough capability to charge through without any reservations, let alone in this labyrinth that's only comparable to the 60th floor.

So, Rozen practically charges into the fray without any hesitation, delighting in the slaughter. The frogs' cries and the continuous sound of shattering bodies are unceasing.

In comparison to Rozen, while Asuna may be somewhat inferior, she's still at a level where she can charge through without any issues. Her rapier moves like a shooting star or a flash of light, continuously releasing high-level sword skills, easily taking down numerous monsters.

Due to Rozen's attribute points allocation of 2 in strength and 1 in agility, when it comes to attack speed, Asuna might even surpass him.

Because Asuna's attribute points are allocated entirely to agility.

Considering this, thanks to her outstanding speed, Asuna's efficiency in eliminating enemies is not in the slightest inferior to Rozen's. When Rozen had dealt with the thirtieth frog, Asuna had already taken care of the twenty-eighth.

The monsters were wiped out by these fierce two players, and soon, they stopped emerging, no longer appearing.

Amid the scattered polygon fragments, Rozen and Asuna stood with their weapons, showing no signs of emotion. It was as if the monsters they had just defeated were nothing to them, not even worth mentioning.

"Where's Yui?" Asuna looked around, her expression filled with worry. "She hasn't encountered any monsters, has she?"

Asuna was concerned about this.

"It's fine," Rozen replied calmly. "With Yui's unique ability to handle even the guards at the entrance, these monsters here shouldn't pose a threat to her."

If not, given the speed of Rozen and Asuna, they would have caught up with Yui by now.

"Although I'd like to explore this labyrinth thoroughly and gather all the map data, it might delay us from catching up with Yui."

Rozen opened the map, examining the terrain while speaking.

"Let's catch up with Yui first."

Rozen's suggestion immediately gained Asuna's agreement.

The two of them continued forward together, continuously encountering groups of aquatic creatures as the primary monster type, which they easily defeated.

However, as they progressed, the terrain around them gradually changed, and the groups of monsters were no longer primarily aquatic creatures. Instead, more terrifying monsters like zombies and ghosts began to appear.

While the difficulty had increased, it still couldn't trouble Rozen. As for Asuna, she was so frightened by these terrifying monsters that she screamed repeatedly. Her rapier even accidentally stabbed Rozen several times in her panic, nearly scaring him to death.

In this situation, the two of them spent over two hours sneaking through the labyrinth. Finally, they saw a passage emitting a warm light.

"Is that... a safe zone?" Rozen stopped in his tracks.

In the curved passage to the right, the light source ahead revealed a large cross-shaped intersection.

Ahead of the intersection, they could see a small room.

It was a unique safe zone in the labyrinth area, where no monsters would appear.

"Rozen...! It's Yui...!"

Asuna also spotted this room and immediately became spirited. She pulled Rozen's clothes with force, pointing ahead.

Rozen saw it too.

Yui was walking as if sleepwalking, then entered the location of the light source, the room belonging to the safe zone.

"We finally caught up."

Asuna couldn't help but show a smile and rushed ahead.

Rozen smiled faintly and followed her.

And then...

"————!"

Rozen's whole body stiffened, his eyes wide open.