[Six Fairy Rings]

Knowing all too well the traps within the Artificial Labyrinth of Knossos, the Star Beast Leo chose to summon were naturally targeted in a specific way.

For example, Virgo Star, this Star Beast's light attribute ability is so strong that it can even purify the body of Corrupted Fairy that has reversed its fall. Purifying a mere curse is naturally no problem for it.

Leo knew that the greatest dangers in the Artificial Labyrinth of Knossos were nothing more than a few things.

First, terrain that can be manipulated at will by the enemy.

Second, monsters that are deliberately released under the control of the enemy.

Third, the endless stream of curses, cursed artifacts, and abnormal status magic.

Fourth, there are the monsters whose threat level has increased significantly after being enhanced, the remnants of the Evilus that have emerged in full force, and the Corrupted Fairy hidden deep within the labyrinth.

These are all difficulties and formidable enemies that Loki Familia must overcome.

Among them, the most prominent are the endless stream of curses, spells, and abnormal status magic.

Because terrain, monsters, and even the monstrous beings and Corrupted Fairy clones can all be overcome with strength. The only thing that cannot be overcome is the curse. Without the corresponding means to break the curse, it is impossible to overcome.

Unfortunately, the means to break the curse are very limited throughout the Lower World. Of the known methods of breaking the curse, there are only two that exist in Orario.

One type is Asfi Al Andromeda, an "Perseus" with "mysterious" development abilities. The magic potion she invented that can block curses and abnormal status effects is a means of breaking curses, and it is always snapped up whenever it appears on the market.

Another type is the [Battlefield Saintess] Amid Theasanare, who also possesses "mysterious" development abilities. This best healer in Orario has the healing magic [Dia Frattel], which can cure everything, even abnormal statuses and curses, and is one of the most effective means of dispelling curses.

Similarly, Fels, who possesses the title of "Sage" and has the same "mysterious" developmental abilities as the two mentioned above, may also have the means to lift or defend against the curse. However, he is basically elusive and cannot be relied upon.

While there are other methods to break the curse, they are either not very effective or have limitations, which shows how difficult and troublesome the curse can be.

As one of the strongest factions in the city, the Loki Familia even trains members with the rarest healing profession, but those who can lift the curse are useless within the entire Familia.

In other words, once cursed, Loki Familia has no ability to resist and can only face a slow and inevitable death.

Therefore, summoning Virgo Star, who can purify the curse, was the first thing Leo confirmed.

With a way to break the curse, Loki Familia can reduce the risks of their actions in the Artificial Labyrinth.

As it turned out, his approach was correct.

After Virgo Star intervened and purified the deadly curses, Finn and his companions were finally able to break free and escape the encirclement.

They first temporarily escaped the entanglement of the remnants of the Evilus, and then took the initiative to jump into those Vertical Shaft and ravines, leaving the battlefield blocked by the Orichalcum "doors" in an attempt to regroup.

The remnants of the Evilus still wanted to pursue, and Revis, who possessed strength comparable to Lv.7, was even more unforgiving, unwilling to let the tiger return to the mountain. However, with Leo's Star Beast covering their retreat, they ultimately failed to stop Finn and the others.

The Cancer Star, possessing illusionary attributes, merely created an illusion that trapped the remnants of the Evilus, causing them to lose sight of their objective. Revis was also blocked by the Leo Star, making it impossible for her to catch up with Finn and the others for the time being.

Although the steel-attribute Leo Star only possesses abilities equivalent to Lv.5 in its incomplete summoning state, making it far from being a match for Revis is a pure melee fighter who does not use magic. Her fighting style relies solely on her superior physique and wild instincts to exert extremely high-intensity close-range suppression, leaving her opponent breathless. However, this poses no threat whatsoever to the Leo Star, who is impervious to blades and fire, possesses a body of steel, and is absolutely invincible.

Therefore, Revis could only watch helplessly as Finn and the others escaped. Even when the enemy lowered the Orichalcum "door" to block them again, the Dark Attribute Capricorn Star could transform into a shadow and slip through the gaps, leading everyone to the other side of the "door".

In addition, with the Sagittarius Star constantly harassing the enemy with its long-range shooting and homing arrows, and the Taurus Star manipulating the earth's floating rocks to create footholds, Finn and his companions would be safe even if they were swallowed by Vertical Shaft or burrows.

Thus, Finn and his companions escaped their initial predicament and gained a respite. While fighting the enemy, they continued to move through the artificial maze, gathering intelligence, surveying the terrain, and searching for an opportunity to defeat their powerful foe.

During this time, they encountered the enemy many times, fell into unexpected traps, and even encountered monsters that belonged to the Dungeon and were not supposed to be there, which were placed in the maze by the enemy. If it weren't for the efforts and rearguard action of Leo's six Star Beasts, they would definitely have been overwhelmed, and even if they were not completely wiped out, there would have been many casualties.

Then, they encountered Thanatos, the evil god to whom the remnants of the Evilus now sided.

That was the last remaining evil god in the Lower World.

Of the evil gods who founded the Evilus back then, all but one were deported five years ago, leaving him as the sole survivor.

Therefore, He gathered all the remaining remnants of the Evilus and brought them all under His command. In the past five years, He has been constantly bewitching ordinary citizens and adventurers, using them as disposable self-destruct devices, and cultivating them into a group of fanatical believers who are not afraid of death.

It was also He who colluded with the monsters created by the Corrupted Fairy, and united with the city destroyer "Enyo"—that is, Dionysus —forming a common alliance with them, with the ultimate goal of destroying Orario, and for this purpose, they have been operating in the shadows.

The strange man, the last remaining evil god of the Evilus, and Dionysus, who calls himself "Enyo," are the three forces behind this underground alliance that intends to destroy Orario.

Among them, the strange man was responsible for communicating with the Corrupted Fairy, creating colorful monsters, Seedbed, and nurturing the precious Jewel Fetus that could be transformed into Spirit Clone. Thanatos was responsible for providing shelter for the entire alliance, providing manpower, assistance, and even financial resources. Dionysus was responsible for strategizing, and he established and organized many of the alliance's operational guidelines.

The three parties were mutually beneficial, and could not be considered partners; they were merely using each other. However, they all undoubtedly wanted to destroy Orario and turn the Lower World into hell.

At this point, the true nature of the entire underground alliance was exposed to Finn and his men, leaving no secrets remaining.

Ais even discovered the place where the cultured Jewel Fetus were placed, finding seven culture tanks.

Seven?

Everyone quickly realized what this number represented.

"So, the enemy has already nurtured seven mature Jewel Fetus —no, they should be called Spirit Clone?"

Riveria Ljos Alf's soft words created a sense of suffocation in the already oppressive office.

The thought that seven of the Corrupted Fairy who had appeared on the 59th Floor had been transported to the ground and were now staying in the Artificial Labyrinth Knossos sent chills down everyone's spine.

"After we discovered this, those guys seemed to panic," Gareth picked up where Finn off, and said in a deep voice, "They released one of the Spirit Clone and lured us over to fight it to the death."

Upon hearing this, Leo, Riveria Ljos Alf, and Loki could all imagine just how dire the crisis was.

Fighting Spirit Clone in enemy territory, with the constant threat of traps, reinforcements, ambushes, and assassinations, is an absolute desperate situation.

Moreover, this time is different from the last. Without Leo's help or Riveria Ljos Alf, the city's strongest Mage, supporting them from behind, the pressure that Finn and the others need to bear is undoubtedly enormous.

Fortunately, they had six Star Beast helping them, which allowed them to hold on.

After a fierce battle that felt like a fight to the death, even the Star Beast summoned by Leo, each with unique abilities, ultimately perished.

However, thanks to the desperate protection of these Star Beasts and Finn's all-out strategy and command, they successfully defeated the Spirit Clone and repelled the powerful enemy.

The remnants of the Evilus were almost completely slaughtered, and the colorful monsters were also eliminated one by one.

Even Revis was temporarily repelled by Ais.

Leo Star was always by Ais's side, assisting her in resisting this most powerful monster.

Ais alone is no match for Revis in her current state, but with the assistance of the Leo Star, which counters Revis, Ais has a chance to defeat Revis. This was Finn's most correct judgment based on the situation at the time.

Loki Familia overcame one danger after another, successfully turning defense into offense and defeat into victory, even driving Thanatos, who led the remnants of the Evilus, into a desperate situation.

Then they met.

They met Dionysus, also known as "Enyo".

"At the last moment, he appeared with the final strange man, the Masked Man."

Finn's voice became heavier than ever.

He said that the strange man accompanying Dionysus, though created by the Corrupted Fairy, seemed to have been a member of Dionysus's kin in his previous life.

Before becoming a monster, the other party was an adventurer, possessing divine Falna. After being transformed into a monster by the Corrupted Fairy, he further fused the power and characteristics of monsters, combining the strength of adventurers and monsters into one, making him so powerful that he seemed like an unintelligent life form.

The opponent's strength was in no way inferior to that of Revis; he single-handedly blocked all those who attacked Dionysus and protected the Chief God behind him.

In Dionysus's eyes, the Loki Familia, who were fighting desperately and covered in wounds, were completely invisible.

He set his sights on Thanatos, who was cornered.

"----I see."

Loki crossed his arms and muttered to himself.

"That Return Pillar —was it Thanatos being sent back?"

That's right.

The Return Pillar that caused a sensation throughout Orario was meant to repatriate the last remaining evil god of the Evilus.

This evil god was killed by Dionysus, who pierced his heart with a dagger. This immediately triggered the protective mechanism, released the seal on divine power, caused the repatriation phenomenon, and summoned the Return Pillar.

"His aim was to use the immense energy generated when the gods were banished to activate the magic circles inscribed throughout the Artificial Labyrinth."

What is that magic circle?

Nobody knows.

Dionysus offered no explanation, only giving everyone a mocking look before leaving with his only freakish companion.

After that, Finn and the others saw the "magic circle" appear.

It was activated in an instant, spreading to every corner of the entire Artificial Labyrinth, with the magic circle's patterns covering the ground, walls, and ceiling.

Immediately afterwards, Green Flesh gushed out.

The endless Green Flesh seemed to be stimulated by the enormous energy brought by the appearance of the Return Pillar, surging in from all directions, more ferocious than a tsunami and more filthy than the tide.

The entire Artificial Labyrinth of Knossos was occupied, covered, and devoured by endless Green Flesh, and Finn and his companions nearly perished within it.

Fortunately, the Return Pillar shattered the ground when it appeared, creating a large hole above the Artificial Labyrinth that led directly to the surface, allowing Finn and the others to escape before being devoured by the Green Flesh.

They struggled against the walls, trudged over rubble, and overcame numerous obstacles before finally leaping out of the hole and onto the ground, where they met Leo who had come to their aid.

That's the whole story.

Finn finished his story, plunging both those who knew the story and those who didn't into a long silence.

"Magic Circle----"

Riveria Ljos Alf frowned deeply and said this.

"What kind of magic circle is that? Why would Dionysus be willing to kill a colleague and sacrifice an evil god to activate it?"

Riveria Ljos Alf always felt that this magic circle was a very dangerous thing.

Unfortunately, Finn and the others were only focused on escaping and had no idea what it was.

[Six Fairy Rings].

Suddenly, Leo spoke up.

"What?"

Everyone was immediately taken aback.

Leo met everyone's gazes and spoke calmly.

This is a story that took place in an era far more distant than ancient times.

Leo began recounting the story as if no one else was around, without any warning.

"It is said that before the appearance of the three great monster kings— Behemoth, the king of the land; Leviathan, the overlord of the sea; and the One-Eyed Black Dragon— the surface of the land was plunged into a terrifying abyss."

"The monster's name is Nidhogg, a symbol of darkness and despair, a monstrous dragon that ravages the earth, possessing overwhelming power enough to plunge the world into an abyss of despair, so powerful that ancient humans could never contend with it."

"In order to defeat this dragon, the gods sent six Great Fairy."

The [Six Fairy Rings] that could destroy the evil dragon then appeared.