A profound silence fell for a few seconds
before the ground cracked violently beneath their feet, as if the mountain's interior were vomiting its contents. From the heart of the pitch-black darkness emerged those strange monstrous creatures; enormous stone beings with purple crystals gleaming with ominous light in their foreheads, surrounded by a swarm of hybrid beasts with blazing eyes and bloodthirsty jaws.
Naofumi, who had never faced such a multitude before, took a step back, his clenched fists trembling.
Ivan thought to himself: This strange presence isn't just these monsters; there are two colossal beasts, and then three powerful magical auras approaching. The rest of us can't survive this dungeon. I have to hurry; the situation is becoming critical.
Ivan spoke: Calm down, Naofumi.
Naofumi: What on earth is this? "I've never seen monsters like these in any records!" In an instant, the monsters charged at him, but Ivan grabbed him from behind and pushed him back. Then he said, "Ivan: Fire Magic: Tornado Vortex." He unleashed a powerful flame that killed half the monsters, then looked at Naofumi. "Ivan: Don't panic. Look, there are stones on their heads. Once we destroy the stones, we'll finish them off." Naofumi: "I'm sorry, Ivan." "Ivan: Never mind. Now, let's hurry." The rest of the monsters rushed at them. Naofumi regained his courage and began to unleash his magic. "Naofumi: Inflation Magic: Giant's Ruin: Inflate your fist to an enormous size before delivering a crushing blow." He launched several attacks at them. "Ivan: Not bad." Naofumi: "Thank you, Ivan. Thanks to you, I've become more resilient." Ivan launched multiple attacks at the remaining monsters and said, "Fire Magic: Projectiles." Torvin.
Meanwhile… deep in the dark dungeons:
Deputy Tatsuo stood in the middle of a vast hall filled with ancient carvings that seemed to respond to the surrounding energy.
"Tao said: The defensive wall won't hold for long!"
Rin cast her rose and thorn spells at the enormous golems that carried the same black stones in their chests.
Tao, sweating profusely as he tried to concentrate his earth spell, retorted sharply: "These monsters never tire! Every time you break one, the stone absorbs energy from the earth and rebuilds itself!"
Tatsuo, with his expert eye, noticed something suspicious about the collapsing ceiling of the hall.
He thought to himself anxiously, "What's happening? There are two destructive magical auras, and a very powerful monster's energy. This can't go on like this. Please, Commander Yahiko, come!"
In the deep shadows, a masked figure stood, wearing a dark cloak that completely concealed their features. This figure's aura was unlike the other monsters'; it was a thick, cold, orange aura... watching Elena as she fought on the opposite side of the passage.
"You're still weak, Elena," they muttered in a voice no one else heard. Back outside:
Ivan was fighting with a skill that astonished Naofumi, but suddenly, the ground shook violently beneath their feet. From the mouth of the dungeon, a wave of purple energy shot out, pushing everyone back.
"What was that?" Naofumi cried out. Has the dungeon exploded?
Ivan looked towards the cave entrance with an uncharacteristic seriousness, at the destructive force that was beginning to awaken below. It wasn't just monsters, it was something much greater, a giant stone demon feeding on the black stones.
Ivan: Naofumi, listen. From this moment on, there's no room for fear.
Naofumi: Alright! I hope everyone is alright.
Ivan replied:
"Naofumi... the mission has truly begun now." "Prepare yourself, we're about to enter." The scene returns to the dungeon. Inside, we see the corridors slowly narrowing. It's not the smell that's killing the squad now, but the atmospheric pressure. Suddenly, a terrifying aura erupts from the depths of the great hall, an aura that is neither human nor even ordinary demonic; it is an aura tainted by the energy of the Black Stone, which makes the stone walls weep purple blood.
Tao's breath stops for a moment, and his earthen shield shatters. Renta, who was analyzing the inscriptions, trembles, and his book falls to the ground. Even Deputy Tazio, who rarely shows fear, breaks out in a cold sweat at the sight of a monster he has never seen before. Yes, it is the eight-headed Hydra. Everyone freezes in terror at the sight.
The Hydra's first eyes glow with a deep crimson light.
Tazio (shouting in panic): "Retreat! This is not a monster we can defeat! Withdraw immediately to the exit!" "Noah, Hotaru, cover the retreat!"
But before they could take another step, the ground behind them shook with even greater violence. An entire stone wall collapsed, revealing another enormous head, larger and more monstrous, emitting a blast of frozen blue gas. It wasn't just one Hydra... they had fallen into a "nest."
Rin (frazzled): "Vice Captain... there... there's another one behind us! We're trapped in the jaws of death!"
The male and female guardians of the ancient dungeon had surrounded the squad from the front and back. In that moment of utter despair, everyone awaited their end.
The scene shifts back to outside, where terror grips Naofumi's face as he watches the stone dungeon gate crumble into rubble, sealing off the only way inside. "Ivan!" he shouts. "They're trapped!" "The gate is completely destroyed!" he shouted, desperately pounding against the rocks.
But Ivan stood firm, his eyes blazing red, his mind resolute, knowing that what lay ahead was the very beginning of hell from the depths.
Amidst the ruins of the dark dungeon, Noah Penny desperately tried to use healing magic to mend Tatsuo Kamda's wounds.
Tatsuo, trembling with pain, whispered haltingly, "Noah... take care of the others... I'll keep them occupied..."
Tatsuo, his body riddled with wounds, rose to stand before General Batori.
Batori said, laughing, "You Ninth Division members are always so reckless. Very well, show me what you've got, Lieutenant-Commander."
A fierce battle erupted between Tatsuo, fighting with all his might against Batori and Elena, bleeding profusely.
Tatsuo: Green Wind Oriel's (Multiple Tornadoes) magic launched a powerful attack against them, but the merciless Princess Elena Frankenstein charged directly at him. Only the intervention of Hotaru Kaneo with Water Magic and Rin Mutsu with Thorns and Roses Magic prevented them from holding their ground.
Tatsuo: "You guys are something else!" Despite their exhaustion and injuries, everyone rose to their feet and tried
desperately to hold on.
The fiery dimensional destroyer:
But alas, they no longer had the strength to endure. Batore manipulated his sound waves like invisible daggers, firing them down. Tazio fought with all his remaining spirit to protect his team, but the difference in strength was vast due to his depletion.
His magic was against the Hydra. With each strike from Batori, Tatsuo's body recoiled until he finally collapsed to his knees, unable to move.
The princess had defeated the remaining members, all of them unconscious. Then,
Princess Elena approached Batori's side, her crimson blade gleaming with the coldness of death. Batori looked at Tatsuo with bitter admiration, saying, "You have shown unparalleled courage. When I meet Yahiko, I will tell him of your bravery. And now... this is the end."
Behind the shattered rubble (outside the room):
Ivan stood amidst the shadows, his eyes gleaming with an unnatural red light.
Ivan: I've exhausted all my ordinary magic. It's no longer enough. (He sighed) I have no choice now.
He turned to Naofumi, his gaze enough to freeze the blood in your veins. Ivan (in a murderous tone): "Naofumi... listen to me carefully. What you are about to see, you will not tell anyone, no matter what... Do you understand?"
Naofumi felt a chill run through him at the terrifying aura, and he could barely speak: "I promise... I promise you, Ivan."
Ivan repeated: "Release the Level 2 Flame Seal (Holy Flame)."
At that moment, immense magical pressure began to emanate from Ivan's body, and magical energy began to flow from him with terrifying force. He slowly drew his second sword, his eyes fixed on the wall of ruins that separated him from the rest.
Ivan: "Two-Sword Style... Ikardihon (Dimensional Destroyer)!"
The attack was launched like a magic bomb; under the utter shock of Naofumi, who couldn't believe what he was seeing, he said: "Two-Sword Style and this immense power... Ivan has always hidden his strength."
Not only did the wall shatter, but space itself was torn apart by the exploding flames.
Batori looks on: What?
Elena: What's happening?
Amidst the flying dust and debris, Ivan rushes toward Batori before they can hit Tatsuo. He strikes him, saying: Fire Magic, Sacred Flame Fist, and throws him away.
Elena is momentarily distracted. She says: Bator... (She doesn't finish her sentence).
Naofumi unleashes a powerful magic attack, pushing her away.
They stand before Batori.
Batori (in shock): "What?! Where did this power come from? Who did this?"
Announcing the beginning of the "Battle of Destiny." Batori looked at Ivan with a mysterious, wary smile and whispered, "Interesting..." All the members of the Ninth Division were severely injured, as was the lieutenant. Ivan looked at everyone, realizing he had no choice but to fight at a higher level because he knew he was facing two very powerful opponents. Ivan: "My body hasn't yet adapted to the power of the bird's magic, and I haven't fully mastered the dragon's power. So, the only solution is to separate everyone. Naofumi, listen." Naofumi: "What, Ivan?" Ivan: "Take everyone and leave." Naofumi: "Don't joke with me. I won't leave you alone." Ivan: (With a look of genuine terror) "Quickly! The captain is coming. I can feel him."