At first, they thought they would need to be careful walking down the stairs.
But it turned out the stairs had been used so often that the condition was actually very good. They didn't need to worry about slipping at all.
There were even lights illuminating the path, making it easy to see as they descended.
With Djeeta leading in front and Katalina guarding the back, there was no need to worry about a surprise attack. Both of them had sharp senses and would notice anything unusual.
No one spoke during the walk. They were in enemy territory, and everyone stayed focused.
Eventually, they reached the bottom—and were greeted by a massive underground area that opened wide before them.
But that wasn't all.
There were so many monsters roaming around the entire place, more than they could count. Different species walked or crawled all over the area, and in the very center stood a large building that looked like a factory.
"There's no end in sight… This Aviza guy isn't messing around!" Vyrn said, shocked by the swarm of monsters.
"But look in the middle," Katalina said, pointing toward the factory.
"Seems like we're gonna need to fight our way through," Therese said as she pulled out her sword.
"Hmm… it's going to be hard for me to use my cannon here," Jessica added, scanning the area.
"Then… do you have another way to fight?" Lyria asked her.
"Of course! Don't worry," Jessica said proudly.
"Eh? You do??" Lyria blinked in confusion. Jessica didn't seem to be carrying any other weapons, so Lyria had no idea what she planned to use.
Meanwhile, Aliza was getting ready as well—checking her clothes, warming up her body, and tightening the protection on her legs.
Stan, however, was quietly trying to back away before Aliza noticed.
"Stan, what are you doing? Aren't you going to prepare yourself?"
"My lady!? B-But there are so many of them! Shouldn't we… call for backup??"
In the original story of the game, this was the point where Stan would have gained some courage and actually fought.
But because of how the story changed—like his character development in Port Breeze, because of what happened during the Aliza kidnapping incident, because of every event that involving him is being taken by Rei—Stan was still the same as he was at the beginning.
Still the cowardly hero who hadn't grown at all.
"Stan!" Aliza shouted so loudly that even the others—who were preparing themselves—looked toward her.
She walked straight to Stan and grabbed the front of his clothes, pulling him close as if to intimidate him.
"Stan, we've been together since childhood, so I know you well. But it's time to stop acting like this. We're not children anymore—we need to grow up!"
"My lady… but how can we—" Stan tried to speak, but Aliza didn't let him finish.
"This is for the Valtz Duchy too. We're doing this to save the island from my uncle. Are you going to run away and just let him do whatever he wants?"
Stan tried to avoid her eyes, still unable to decide. Even now he hesitated.
"We don't have time to argue. In the end, either you change… or I'll leave you behind."
Aliza released his clothes and turned away, walking back to her spot.
"Leave me? What are you talking about, my lady?" Stan said, stunned by her words.
Aliza paused, but she didn't turn around.
"I'm planning to quit being the heiress and leave this island. Someone said he wants to help me meet my parents."
Then she continued walking, leaving Stan frozen and lost.
"This is just like that romance book I read before," Lyria whispered to Djeeta.
"I know, right? And then the guy gets banished but somehow comes back stronger with more girls," Djeeta whispered back.
"Stop it, both of you," Katalina scolded quietly. It wasn't right to talk about Aliza and Stan like that.
In the end, Stan wouldn't be joining the battle. He stayed behind at the exit, guarding it so no monsters could escape past them.
"The earth and fire yield up their warmth!"
Lyria cast her buff, strengthening everyone's bodies.
A warm glow of red and green wrapped around them, increasing their defenses and making their strikes stronger, all thanks to Lyria's and the Primal beast power.
"Alright, everyone—we protect each other's backs and make a path forward," Djeeta said, pointing her sword ahead. "We don't have to kill all of them. We just need to reach that factory."
"And Stan," she added, "if there's enough distance, run to us if you decide to join us inside."
Everyone nodded at Djeeta's words.
Once she saw that everyone was ready, Djeeta stepped forward and shouted:
"Now let's go kick Aviza's ass!"
The moment she said that, a green aura burst to life around Djeeta's sword, swirling like wind.
"Reginleiv!"
She unleashed the aura forward, and it shot across the battlefield before exploding the instant it touched the nearest monster, killing several at once.
Using the blast as cover, Djeeta rushed in and sliced through the monsters ahead of her as if she were cutting through butter.
Behind her, Katalina moved with equal speed. Her rapier pierced through multiple monsters, leaving ripples of blue energy in her wake, like water flowing around her body.
Aliza, Therese, and Jessica split in different directions, each taking a side to prevent the group from being surrounded by monsters coming from every part of the underground cavern.
"On your left, Jessica! Watch out, Aliza! Nice one, Djeeta!" Vyrn shouted from above, flying and watching everyone's blind spots to warn them of surprise attacks.
At the back, Lyria placed her hand on the crystal on her chest.
Slowly, its color shifted from deep purple to earthy brown—the power of earth gathering around her.
She lifted her gaze toward the ceiling of the underground cave, focusing on the long stalagmites hanging above.
"Yggdrasil, lend me your power."
She raised both arms.
"Purgatio Luce."
The roof of the cavern began to tremble. The stalagmites sharpened instantly, transforming into deadly spears that rained down at incredible speed, skewering the monsters from above and killing a lot of them in an instant.
Meanwhile, Therese moved with the same magic she had used when challenging Rei during the festival. Lamina Indicam wrapped around her body, and her speed became so overwhelming that every slash or step left behind three overlapping afterimages. Her figure flickered through the battlefield, carving through the monsters before they even realized she had passed.
Aliza fought beside her, using the same strengthening technique from earlier—only this time, Lyria's buff amplified it further. Her strength surged, allowing her to take on groups of monsters alone. Each strike sounded like thunder, and every movement pushed her deeper into the swarming enemies without hesitation.
Jessica, on the other hand—
"Hahahaha! Take this!"
BOOM!
"What the hell are you doing, Jessica!" Vyrn yelled, shocked beyond belief as he watched her current fighting style.
Jessica only laughed louder as another shockwave blasted out from her direction. "What? Of course I'm fighting! What else would I be doing?" She didn't even look at him as she swung again—and another monster flew.
"Well of course you're fighting—but why are you fighting like that!?"
"I can't use my cannon normally because of the explosions! So this is the better way!"
"WHO FIGHTS USING THEIR CANNON FOR BASHING THEM!?" Vyrn screamed, voice cracking.
Unable to fire her usual explosive shots, Jessica had resorted to a method that no sane person would choose: using her massive cannon as a blunt weapon.
A monster rushed toward her, and she casually swung the cannon with one hand, sending the creature flying into the air like a ragdoll. Another lunged from the side, and she pivoted, smashing it away with the same effortless strength.
She crushed groups of monsters in wide arcs, flattening them with overwhelming force.
What truly made Vyrn scream wasn't just the absurdity of her style—it was how easy She does it, Jessica fought with her cannon using only a single arm, not even breaking a sweat. At one point she smoothly switched hands mid-swing—from her right to her left—continuing her assault as if she already used to this.
Everyone fought side by side, moving forward together while covering each other's backs.
There wasn't a single trace of fear on their faces.
"Incredible…" Stan murmured to himself as he watched.
Even surrounded by so many monsters, everyone pushed forward without hesitation, while he stood behind them, unable to take a single proper step. His fists tightened. He wanted to join them. He wanted to stand with them. But his legs wouldn't stop shaking.
The truth was simple—he only became Aliza's bodyguard because he was her childhood friend.
And because Aliza could always protect herself, he had never actually done anything. Every time someone harassed her, she had beaten them on her own. He was just… there.
"I'm really a coward, huh…" he whispered, smiling sadly.
Aliza's words from earlier echoed sharply in his mind.
We're not children anymore—we need to grow up.
I'm planning to quit being the heiress and leave this island.
If she truly left the island… would she take him with her?
Stan had always harbored a quiet affection for his childhood friend. But with their difference in status, he had buried that feeling deep, convinced she saw him as nothing more than a childhood companion. After all, who would fall for someone as cowardly as him?
"No…" he breathed, clenching his fists even tighter until his hands trembled for a different reason.
He forced his legs to stop shaking.
"If I can't be with her, then who's going to protect her?" Determination burned across his face. His heart screamed that he didn't want to lose his childhood friend.
He reached for the sword at his waist, pulling it free as he focused on the empty space around him.
He had a job here—preventing the monsters from escaping this underground area.
Djeeta had been right: the monsters seemed to realize they were losing. They were trying to flee—rushing toward the stairs, toward the surface, toward the town.
Dozens of them charged toward Stan, aiming for the exit he now stood in front of.
Seeing a lone human blocking their escape, the monsters lunged eagerly, wanting to tear into him before bolting away.
But just as they reached him—Stan whispered:
"Sorry. Leaving is not allowed here."
He jumped, dodging the monsters, and in midair twisted his body downward, his sword pointed straight at one of them.
"Riot Blade!"
He slammed his blade into the monster's vital point, creating a powerful shockwave that blasted the surrounding creatures back.
The monster beneath him died instantly as he landed on top of its body.
Stan pulled his sword free and pointed it at the rest of them.
"I'm Stan, bodyguard of Aliza Clythe. I will not let a single one of you leave this place!"
---
---
---
---
---
---
Meanwhile, outside the mansion—
"Gyaaahhh!"
Several draph men were sent flying before crashing into a wall, collapsing into an unconscious heap.
"Another one done."
Sandalphon dusted off her hands, looking at the growing pile of bodies slumped against the wall.
She had been guarding the mansion entrance when a large group of draph guards suddenly arrived, trying to enter. They were Aviza's men—coming home after pretending to help the townspeople. Sandalphon could feel the malice in their hearts the moment they approached, and naturally, she refused to let them through.
A fight broke out immediately.
Of course, she easily overpowered them, knocking each one out and tossing them aside so they wouldn't dirty the street.
"How many guards does that Aviza guy even have? That makes twenty-seven already…" she muttered, patting more dust off her gloves.
She paused as a faint ripple of energy brushed against her senses.
"…Hmm? That's a primal beast's power."
Her eyes turned toward the mansion. "Looks like the fighting has already started."
It was unfortunate she couldn't join them. If she could, the whole thing would probably be over in minutes, and they could return to the others on Ravi Island.
Still—she could feel Rei's presence drawing closer. He was almost here.
"Sandalphon? What are you doing here?"
Speak of the devil—he landed in front of her a moment later.
"You took so long. What were you doing?" she scolded immediately.
"Sorry. I was trying to get a flower, but that old dragon wouldn't give it to me easily." He shrugged, remembering how ridiculous that struggle was.
He stepped closer, gently took her hand, and kissed it. "Thank you for waiting, milady."
"Flirting won't change anything, you know."
But the faint blush on her cheeks said otherwise—and Rei definitely noticed.
"Haha, sure. Anyway, where is everyone?" he asked.
"Djeeta and the others are inside, confronting the culprit behind the attack on this town," Sandalphon replied, glancing toward the mansion.
"The culprit? Oh… I see."
Rei finally remembered the story.
This should be the second part of The Cowardly Hero and the Kidnapped Princess event—the fight against Aliza's uncle.
"It seems like you already know about this," Sandalphon observed, noticing his expression.
"Maybe. But they should be fine."
The current Djeeta and Lyria were far stronger than their original versions. After experiencing the Boundary Power, and with Lyria able to use multiple primal beasts effectively, this battle should be a breeze.
"So you're not going to help them?"
"I don't think they need my help. With everyone working together, they should finish this in half an hour."
Rei turned and began walking toward the town center.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm planning to help the people. Want to come with me?"
Sandalphon thinking for a moment… then nodded. She had nothing else to do here anyway.
"Sure, but let me create a barrier first so no one can get in."
With a single gesture, she created a shimmering barrier around the mansion, sealing it off from any more guards.
When she turned back, Rei stood waiting with his hand extended toward her.
"Shall we?" he asked with a gentle smile.
"Fufufu… sure."
With a soft giggle, she took his hand, and the two of them walked together toward the town with her hugging his left arm.