"Damn it! What kind of broken magic is that!?" Vito snarled, yanking Basram backward as the forest around them erupted in flame and sound.
The two dove behind a thick tree just in time, while the surviving spirit soldiers surrounded them, their bodies forming a desperate wall against the lightning storm.
The barrage crashed into the forest like a god's punishment, fire burst into being, smoke billowed, and residual arcs of electricity snapped through the trees like whips.
The thunder balls tore through everything in their path, leaving behind a wasteland of scorched earth and shattered bark. The very earth split, waves of force toppling trees and flinging dust skyward.
In mere seconds, a once-dense and vibrant woodland was reduced to a scorched ruin, the very air trembling from the aftershocks.
Akira hovered in the sky, watching quietly. After a long moment, he swept the forest with detection magic, twice, then a third time. After detecting no signs of life, he lowered himself gently to the ground, landing beside his companions. Together, they turned their focus to mopping up the remaining Evilus stragglers.
"Ahh... I'm so tired…" Akira rubbed his eyes and yawned, the fatigue finally catching up to him. "Even lying on Alfia's lap earlier didn't help much."
Now that the adrenaline had faded and no enemies remained to keep his focus sharp, sleepiness set in with terrifying speed. But there was still more to do. No time to nap.
With a soft sigh, he gathered magic into his palm and raised it skyward. A pulse of water magic shot into the air, then burst like a bubble.
Drip.
Then a downpour.
Artificial rain poured from the sky, dousing the flames that continued to flicker in the charred forest, smothering the embers and washing away the last traces of chaos.
Soon after, more people arrived, drawn by the sound of battle.
Lyra ran over, worry etched on her usually carefree face. "Is everyone alright!? Any injuries!?"
"We're okay." Kaguya said coolly, sliding her blade back into its sheath. "You did well getting everyone to safety."
But her expression twisted with frustration. Her fists, hidden in the sleeves of her uniform, clenched tightly.
Still not strong enough…
She hadn't even been able to properly finish off one irrational monster.
"We evacuated the adventurers who could still move to Rivira." Neze reported as she approached. Her voice was heavy. "But those who were caught in the first attack…"
Her gaze shifted toward the battlefield. The bodies of adventurers, broken, blood-soaked, still littered the ground. The blood hadn't even dried.
"…Damn it," Ryuu whispered, her voice shaking. "If only I had gotten here sooner…"
Her hands trembled, the bitterness and helplessness threatening to swallow her whole.
A gentle hand landed on her shoulder. Akira gave her a warm, understanding smile. "We did our best, Ryuu. That's all anyone can ask."
Kaguya, perhaps unable to bear Ryuu's self-blame, spoke harshly, but her tone carried a hidden gentleness.
"Don't act so high and mighty." She snapped. "What, you think you're a hero? We're not strong enough yet. We can't save everyone."
Her words were cold, but the pain beneath them was unmistakable.
"I know, Kaguya. I know we're not strong enough now." Ryuu fired back, eyes blazing with emotion. "But that doesn't mean we should just give up from the start. Justice may not be perfect, but giving up on it entirely is what's truly wrong."
The air grew tense again.
Akira sighed and moved between them quickly, placing a hand on each girl's shoulder.
"Alright, alright. Both of you are right." He said. "So let's not fight over it—again."
The two girls glared at each other over his shoulders, sparks flying between their eyes. Even the air seemed to crackle.
Lyra let out a tired groan, one finger plugging her ear. "Ugh, you two are so noisy. We get it. You're close. Now stop bickering in the middle of a battlefield. Captain, do something."
Alise didn't respond. She had knelt beside one of the fallen adventurers, her hand gently closing the man's wide, lifeless eyes. A swirl of emotion churned in her chest.
"Let's move the bodies." She said quietly. "They deserve a proper rest. Their companions should be the ones to carry them home."
She rose to her feet and turned to the others. "We'll take a detour… the path we found before is still usable."
With that, the Astraea Familia, carrying the dead in silence, began their solemn journey toward Rivira.
But far behind them, in the smoldering remains of the forest—
A hand suddenly reached out from beneath the blackened earth. A moment later, a dirt-smeared head emerged.
It was Vito. His breathing was ragged, his eyes wild, but he was alive.
"…Basram… you actually turned out to be useful."
He glanced down at his left arm or rather, what remained of it. A burnt, twisted stump.
When the thunder balls struck, he'd ordered the spirit soldiers to block the attack. But they'd been shattered almost instantly.
In desperation, Vito had grabbed Basram, threw him in front like a shield, and sacrificed his own arm. Then, using the magical item bestowed upon him by his god, he activated a false-death spell, entering a suspended animation state as the blast consumed everything around him.
Now, barely able to stand, he limped through the ruined forest.
After searching among fallen branches and collapsed trees, he finally found what he sought, Basram's staff, the tool that controlled the spirit soldiers.
"Can't lose this." He muttered.
Gripping the staff tightly in his remaining hand, Vito turned away from the scene of destruction and limped deeper into the labyrinth's shadows.
"Astraea Familia…"
A twisted grin stretched across his bloodstained lips.
"Let's see how long you can keep this up."
Later, Akira and the others, twelve in total, quietly continued their expedition through the eastern side of the 18th floor.
Vigilant for signs of Evilus or lurking monsters, they made their way through the deep forest.
The soft sound of flowing water tickled their ears, accompanied by the faint glimmer of blue-white crystal streams.
Like the polished edge of a giant's dagger, the crystals shimmered beneath the trees, reflecting the weary yet determined faces of the party.
Eventually, they reached their destination, a hidden glade tucked away within the forest's embrace.
"Ohhh… It's still as beautiful as ever." Alise beamed, stretching her arms with renewed energy.
Here, the canopy of trees parted. In its place, a dome of radiant, chrysanthemum-shaped crystals bathed the area in a warm, golden glow, like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.
A secret base.
A memory.
This was the spot the Astraea Familia had discovered during a past expedition, an oasis of calm amidst the endless maze.
Because they had been dealing with the Evilus non-stop lately, it had been a while since any of them had visited this quiet, hidden sanctuary.
The mood was different now. A heavy burden had been lifted, and the atmosphere among the girls visibly softened. Their happiness was evident in their expressions, each of them quietly touched by the familiar, peaceful surroundings.
"Alright, Ryuu! Kaguya! Deep breaths, this will help you feel calmer!" Alise's voice rang out in the stillness.
For some reason, she spread her arms theatrically and began exaggerated deep breathing, puffing out her chest with a dramatic flourish. Her eyes gently drooped at the edges, a fond smile playing at her lips.
"Whether you're focused on reality or chasing ideals, both are fine. But right now, it's okay to relax a little. Just… let your shoulders rest."
Next to her, Akira was already curled up on Maryuu's soft, pillowy thighs, arms wrapped loosely around her waist, his head rising and falling with her steady breathing as he drifted off. He had barely rested since the previous night, first exhausting himself to heal Alfia, then sprinting with everyone from the surface down to the 18th floor without a pause.
Why didn't he just teleport here like before?
Because the magic circle he'd once carved for that purpose had been destroyed in the chaos of a previous battle.
Back then, when he rescued Zald, he was too focused on healing to think of redrawing another. In the rush, he simply forgot. And now, he just didn't have the heart to bother.