-411- I absolutely won't leave

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Saichou and Hanachou let out cries of shock and anger.

Seeing Rozen and Asuna roll to the side, avoiding the scythe's strike, Saichou and Hanachou immediately flew towards the Fatal Scythe, sprinkling large amounts of yellow phosphorescent powder over it.

Even the paralysis effect from the 74th-floor boss's "Paralysis Powder" skill, which worked for several seconds, was applied to the Fatal Scythe.

However, to their surprise, the Fatal Scythe was completely unaffected. Its blood-red eye sockets spun around, fixing it's gaze on the two rainbow butterflies.

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Realizing their skills had no effect on the Fatal Scythe and that it had locked onto them, Saichou and Hanachou widened their eyes in disbelief and panic.

The black Grim Reaper immediately turned around, facing the two familiars and charging towards them.

Against ordinary monsters, Saichou and Hanachou, with their flight abilities, would be virtually untouchable. Unless the enemy had long-range attack capabilities, it was impossible to hit them while they were airborne.

However, the Fatal Scythe possessed a floating ability similar to flight, allowing it to easily glide towards Saichou and Hanachou, launching an attack against the two familiars.

"Clang!"

The scythe's lightning-fast strike cut through the air.

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Saichou and Hanachou quickly dodged, letting the incredibly powerful attack sweep through empty space.

Fortunately, Saichou and Hanachou were fast enough, and thanks to Rozen's training, they could manage to evade the Fatal Scythe's attacks.

However, their skills had no effect on the Fatal Scythe, which seemed to move effortlessly through the air, wielding its scythe with deadly precision, generating powerful gusts of wind with each swing.

Saichou and Hanachou found themselves in a frantic chase with the black Grim Reaper. Or more accurately, the Grim Reaper was pursuing them, leaving the two familiars in a state of panicked evasion.

Nonetheless, Saichou and Hanachou had bought Rozen some precious time.

"Are you okay, Rozen?" Asuna finally realized, her voice filled with concern as she looked at Rozen, who had rolled away and was now crouching beside her.

"I'm fine!" Rozen quickly replied and got back on his feet.

Seeing Saichou and Hanachou barely avoiding the Fatal Scythe's relentless attacks, Rozen acted swiftly and issued orders.

"Don't panic! And don't group together! Spread out and evade!"

After all, no matter how powerful the Fatal Scythe was, it could only target one location at a time.

If Saichou and Hanachou stayed close together, the scythe's attacks would endanger them both.

However, if Saichou and Hanachou separated, the Grim Reaper would only be able to attack one target at a time and would be distracted by the other, allowing for effective control of evasion, luring, or conservation of energy.

Following Rozen's instructions, Saichou and Hanachou separated from each other. When one of them came under attack, the other would reposition and release phosphorescent powder on the Fatal Scythe to divert its attention, making it easier for the first one to evade.

Thanks to this strategy, Saichou and Hanachou managed to avoid the Grim Reaper's attacks more effectively.

However, the situation remained extremely unfavorable. Their opponent was a terrifying monster capable of rivaling a Floor 90 Boss. Not only were Saichou and Hanachou's abilities ineffective against it, but it was likely that the damage current players could deal to it was close to negligible. Even Kirito and Heathcliff wouldn't be exceptions.

Rozen could inflict some damage thanks to the fully enhanced Azure Abyss, even on a Floor 90 Boss. It should, in theory, be able to deal a fraction of damage.

Even with Rozen identifying weak points using his Mind's Eye skill and landing critical hits, it might not even chip away a thousandth of the Grim Reaper's health.

This meant that while they could potentially survive the encounter, defeating their opponent was out of the question.

"Asuna!" Rozen shouted loudly to the Asuna in his arms. "Use a Teleport Crystal to escape!"

This was the safest course of action.

But there was a problem...

"What about you? What will you do?" Asuna asked the crucial question.

Indeed, using a Teleport Crystal would ensure her safety, provided they weren't in an Anti-Crystal Zone.

However, the process of retrieving the crystal, designating the teleport location, and actually initiating the teleportation took several seconds.

During this time, if they were attacked by the monster, the teleportation would be canceled. In frontline combat situations, in the face of emergencies, players typically relied on mutual cover and teleported away one after another, following a predetermined sequence, to ensure safe escapes.

Now, Rozen could have chosen to let Saichou and Hanachou delay the Grim Reaper while he used a Teleport Crystal to escape. However, that would essentially mean abandoning his familiars to save himself. Would Rozen do such a thing?

As Asuna understood him, he would never make that choice.

As expected...

"I will try to delay it and then take Saichou and Hanachou into the safe zone. That way, the monster won't follow us," Rozen said with a sudden smile.

"Don't worry, with my abilities, I can make it into that room without any trouble."

With the assistance of his Mind's Eye skill, Rozen was confident that he could achieve this. He might even use the openings he identified in the monster's attacks to initiate an emergency teleport using the Teleport Crystal.

However...

"Yui is in that room. We can't both leave, can we?." Rozen calmly pointed out.

To this...

"In that case, I won't leave either," Asuna replied, standing up from the ground and looking back at Rozen.

"Yui is in that room, and you're here. So, I absolutely won't leave."

Asuna spoke with unwavering determination.

This made Rozen turn his head and meet Asuna's gaze, clearly seeing the determination and unwavering resolve in her eyes.

"You..." Rozen chuckled, wearing a somewhat expected expression.

Clearly, Rozen had anticipated this development long before.

"While you have changed quite a bit compared to before, that stubbornness and determination won't be changing anytime soon," Rozen remarked with a chuckle.

"In that case, when I say 'run,' don't hesitate, don't even look back. Go straight to the safe zone as fast as you can, and don't stop no matter what happens. Understand?" Rozen instructed.

"Alright," Asuna replied solemnly, nodding her head.

Rozen then redirected his gaze forward.

"Gu!"

"Gu!"

Saichou and Hanachou were still entangled with the Grim Reaper, weaving through the air ceaselessly.

Rozen took a deep breath and, seizing the right moment, issued a command.

"Run!"

As he gave the order, Rozen forcefully stepped on the ground and charged forward.

Without hesitation, Asuna followed suit.

The two of them sprinted straight towards the white room.

"...!"

The Grim Reaper, engaged with Saichou and Hanachou, abruptly turned its head, its eyes gleaming with bloodlust.