Chapter 80: Reaching the Climax

"…Soon, the raging flames will be unleashed."

"…The encroaching war, an inescapable ruin."

"…The trumpet of war blares, and brutal chaos will envelop all."

Behind them, Lefiya, now in her second stage, was chanting Riveria's magic. In front, surging hordes of monster Piranha Plants advanced. Shirou, Bete, and the members of the Hermes Familia formed a triangular formation, encircling Lefiya to protect her and ensure she could successfully cast her magic.

Facing the enemies, Shirou's body was surrounded by constantly projected armaments. Spitting out the bottle of Mind Potion from his mouth, Shirou charged forward with numerous weapons. At this moment, a thousand swords flew at once.

With his mental concentration at its peak, Shirou fought with greatswords amidst the monster horde while simultaneously controlling the projected armaments to shoot at the enemies. To prevent his weapons from being shot down, Shirou continuously manipulated the magic in the armaments, changing their flight paths. Dozens of weapons dodged the Piranha Plants' whips, hitting their targets with various bizarre trajectories.

They pierced through the enemies' magic stones. Not only that, but Shirou, whose mental power was already in overdrive, constantly flowed magic, controlling the already flying weapons to return and re-enter the battle.

Shirou couldn't have performed such an operation before. But now, in the intense battle, Shirou was constantly growing, evolving, and advancing to a higher level. The basis for this continuous progress was his Mind's Eye.

Any possibility of reversal can be seized and executed tactically.

In this critical moment, Shirou set a strategy for himself that exceeded his own capabilities. But the part that exceeded his capabilities was the part he could accomplish but didn't know how to. Since his brain didn't know, he would let his body accomplish it. Under the skill amplification of Divine Blessing, Shirou surpassed himself, accomplishing tasks that would normally be impossible. And this was the infinite possibility brought by Divine Blessing!

"Die!" More and more weapons were projected, and more and more weapons flew in the air. At the same time, Shirou's killing speed became faster and faster. For a moment, the Piranha Plants in front of him couldn't advance an inch. At this moment, Shirou fulfilled his promise: This area is off-limits.

"…Come, crimson tongues of flame, savage inferno. You are the embodiment of cleansing fire."

"…Sweep away myriad armies, bringing a grand war to its end."

"…Burn all to ash, the Sword of Surtr—my name is Alf!"

Filvis, who had been keeping an eye on Lefiya, loudly shouted, "Come back quickly, Lefiya's magic is complete!" Hearing the voice from behind, Shirou leaped backward. In mid-air, he stepped on the returning weapons, using them as stepping stones to continuously retreat. Finally, he swiftly left the battlefield and returned to Lefiya's side.

At the same time, as the incantation was completed, the emerald magic circle beneath Lefiya's feet continuously expanded. It ultimately covered the entire large cavern. The colossal sight was even witnessed by Ais and Revis, who were fighting on the other side of the large cavern. Revis, sensing something amiss, quickly leaped backward. In the very next instant, the magic was activated.

"High Elf Holy Sword!"

The summoned sky-filling flames shot out from the magic circle. Countless pillars of fire, like swords of flame, surged from the ground and soared towards the sky. Under Lefiya's control, the swords of flame avoided their allies, instantly incinerating all enemies. Under the high temperature of the flames, nothing was left behind. Even the monsters' magic stones were completely destroyed.

"Has it truly failed?" Revis, who had anticipated the danger and dodged the fatal blow, stood outside the magic circle, looking at the burning world, and couldn't help but sigh. At this moment, she had no teammates left. With her power alone, she couldn't even defeat Aria. In the previous battle, although her strength greatly increased after consuming the white-haired ogre's magic stone, she was still suppressed everywhere by Ais, who had used magic, having almost no ability to fight back. Once the opponent completely eliminated the monsters, facing an encirclement by the enemies, she would have no chance of survival. If that was the case, then she should retreat!

Having made up her mind, Revis looked at the gradually extinguishing flames and swiftly leaped to the side. Just then, Ais's figure suddenly darted out from one side, slashing at her. Taken by surprise, Revis was directly slashed in the abdomen by Ais, stumbling backward. She finally collapsed beneath the quartz pillar.

"It seems the current me is still not your opponent!" Covering the wound on her abdomen, Revis, who had almost been cut in half, glanced at the blood continuously flowing on the ground and murmured.

Slowly landing, Ais, who wielded the wind, raised her Despair Sword and walked towards Revis. The opponent was a monster; such an injury would not cause her too much inconvenience. She needed a more powerful strike. Looking at the swiftly approaching Ais, Revis smiled and said, "I won't die here!" With that, she punched the quartz pillar.

"This Great Main Pillar is the central hub of the granary. Once it's destroyed, what do you think will happen?" Blocking Ais's attack with her sword, Revis looked at Ais seriously and said, "Aren't you going to save your companions?" As the quartz pillar was destroyed, the entire granary trembled. Cracks continuously spread around, and rocks constantly fell from the ceiling. Hearing Revis's question, Ais quickly looked back.

Asfi, already battered from blocking monsters, and numerous members of the Hermes Familia, though not dead, were gravely wounded. Lefiya, having cast her magic, was already limp on the ground, unable to move. Only Shirou and Bete still had the ability to act, but there were too many injured. If they delayed any longer, some might be buried here.

"Abandon the packages; prioritize the evacuation of personnel!"

"Bete, hurry and help carry people!"

"Damn it, this is so troublesome!" Holding Lefiya in his arms, Shirou commanded Bete while looking at Filvis, who was weakly exchanging concerns with Lefiya. Looking at Filvis, whose eyes were filled with worry, Shirou couldn't help but sigh. As expected of you, Lefiya.

"Hurry and retreat! Anything you want to say, say it when we get back!" Hearing Shirou's words, both their faces flushed, and then Filvis ran out with Shirou. While running, Shirou didn't forget to urge Ais. "Ais, come back quickly!"

Hearing Shirou's call, Ais had already made her decision. Just then, Revis on the opposite side suddenly said, "Aria, go to the 59th floor!"

"Something interesting is happening there!"

"What do you mean?"

"You should have felt it a little too. Even if what you say is true, the blood in your body should tell you!"

"..."

"If you go yourself, it'll save me trouble!" After saying a few words that sounded like muttering to herself, Revis stopped speaking, merely standing in place. Seeing the other party fall silent, Ais paused, then turned around. Her teammates were waiting for her there.

---

That day, the granary on the 24th floor of the Dungeon collapsed.

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