Chapter 107 - The Calamity Descends

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Dungeon, 27th Floor.

"—Wind of Light!"

Boom!

After a fierce battle—

Under the final strike of [Gale]'s wooden blade—

The severely injured Lampton crashed violently into the wall.

"ROOOAAARRRGHHH!"

The monster let out a pained roar. After a final spasm, its snake head drooped in defeat.

The long body of the serpent collapsed sideways, buried beneath the crumbling crystal debris.

The cat person Jarrah was left stunned.

He never imagined Lampton would be taken down so easily by [Gale].

"I've defeated Lampton once before. There's no reason I'd lose to it."

The [Astraea Familia] had an official floor record of reaching the 41st floor.

That meant [Gale] Ryuu Lion had fought through many battles in the deep levels.

"Jarrah…"

"You're next. It's time to end this."

Ryuu swung her wooden blade and crossed the deathly silent chamber, stepping in front of the man.

Jarrah trembled, his remaining left hand hanging, head slightly lowered.

Then—

Covered by his bangs, a twisted grin crept across his lips.

"Heh… hehehe… ahahahahahaha?!"

A burst of crazed laughter spilled out of his mouth.

His half-severed cat tail swayed slowly.

Seeing his maniacal state, Ryuu's eyes widened slightly.

"End it?"

"No, Ryuu. This is just getting started."

Jarrah's laughter echoed throughout the chamber.

The next moment—

BOOM!

The ceiling of the massive chamber shook violently. Shards of crystal rained down.

"The me you were so desperately chasing just now—was only bait."

Hearing that, Ryuu's expression shifted dramatically.

She could sense it—an enormous explosion had occurred on the upper floors.

In fact, it was the 25th floor that screamed in anguish.

"Stop…!"

"Stop?"

Ryuu's face turned pale. She looked up, lips trembling.

"GRAHAHAHAHA!"

"Ryuu, I just love that look on your pretty face."

Jarrah laughed through teary eyes.

"I knew you'd go mad chasing me. So I acted as bait."

"After wrecking most of the 27th floor, I left the rest to Takk and the others on the 25th."

Jarrah cheered gleefully, basking in the crystal rain falling from the ceiling.

Ryuu's expression went blank for a moment—then twisted in rage as she leapt at him.

"JARRAAAAH—!"

"Do you even realize what you've done?!"

Jarrah crashed to the ground but kept laughing madly:

"Hahaha! Of course—I summoned the despair you've dreamed of every night."

"These past five years since you wounded me, I've been researching just how to do it."

"How best to call it forth."

"How to make your beautiful face contort in agony—I've thought about it every day."

"Come now, appear—return to us once more!"

As his words fell—

The Dungeon released a long, mournful cry.

Ryuu's face turned ghostly pale. Her strength left her. She collapsed.

"I-It's the same…"

"Just like back then…"

"It's happening again…"

"…Alise~~"

If [Gale] Ryuu Lion was Jarrah's lingering nightmare—

Then Despair…

Was undoubtedly hers.

In this moment—

Ryuu's face twisted in sheer terror.

She involuntarily recalled that scene from the past—

The time she had no choice but to kill her dearest comrade, Alise, to stop that monster.

…

Crack—

Meanwhile, in a great cavern on the 25th floor—

A sudden crack split across the crystal ground.

It grew wide, long, and deep—quickly spreading.

From the fissure, thick purple fluid seeped out.

Then—deep within the rift, a crimson radiance began to glow.

Despair had returned.

"SKREEEEEEE—!"

A chilling screech pierced the air.

Shattering the crystal walls—

A jet-black figure fell into the waterfall basin, sending water splashing high.

It flicked its tail. Its legs stirred the pool's surface.

Its crimson eyes glimmered faintly.

In the next moment—

BOOM!

The water exploded.

The monstrous figure vanished—charging into the maze-like depths of the floor.

…

24th Floor.

Raven Eltharion sat proudly atop the summoned Juggernaut.

"From now on, I'm calling you Lil' Jug, got it?"

The blood-red Juggernaut nodded as if it understood.

It shifted its body, creaking its knees.

"Not bad. You've got presence."

"Now this is a real monster."

Raven smiled in satisfaction.

"Alright, everyone—we're heading to the lower floors to investigate."

"You all felt that massive tremor just now, right?"

Alise's face suddenly turned grim.

"Raven, I'm sorry. I have a really bad feeling."

"Can I go down with Kaguya and Lila to scout ahead?"

Raven paused, then said:

"Alright, go."

"But don't go too deep. And make sure no other adventurers see you."

"If you get too far, my magic drain will skyrocket."

"Got it."

"Kaguya, Lila, Neze, Noin—everyone, follow my lead."

With that—

Alise's figure vanished down the slope.

In an instant—

All ten members of the [Astraea Familia] disappeared into the cave ahead.

"We should get moving too."

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