Even if a Minotaur got close, they would struggle to withstand it, let alone the Floor Boss's throw—something even Ryu and the others wouldn't dare face head-on!
If Goliath got close, someone was bound to get hurt!
Without needing detailed instructions, the girls of the Astraea Familia responded swiftly, relying on the teamwork they had built through years of fighting side by side—
Ryu, Alise, and Kaguya, the three vanguard fighters, drew their weapons and moved to slow Goliath down from the front.
The Amazon Iska, the werewolf Nize, and the human Noin covered the rear guard as they quickly retreated into the rocky cavern.
Thankfully, they only needed to retreat inside the cave to escape Goliath's attacks—
"Crack—"
Just then, a sound that made everyone's blood run cold echoed through the cavern.
It sounded like the malicious chuckle of a hunter who, after lying in wait for a long time, had finally caught its prey.
Ryu and the other two looked up and saw a crack.
A crack had suddenly appeared in the ceiling of the cavern, which had suffered no attack or damage.
Then the collapse came, swift and complete.
The falling rocks weren't anything to worry about, but the cave, which had been only three meters wide, instantly widened several times over.
And in less than ten seconds, Goliath had crossed the two or three hundred meters from the Wall of Sighs to the exit.
A huge boulder suddenly appeared in its hand, and it hurled it at the Astraea Familia like a cannonball.
Before, they could have avoided the attack by retreating just ten meters into the cave. Now, it could probably pierce a hundred meters or more.
And there was nowhere to dodge!
There was no room to maneuver in the narrow cavern. Goliath's strength would be on full display.
The boulder would roll through the cave like a shell through a barrel, crushing them all to death.
In the blink of an eye, their shelter had become a stone mortar of death. The world changed so suddenly, so absurdly, it almost made them want to laugh.
A sneak attack!
In an instant, everyone who witnessed this understood Goliath's—or rather, the Dungeon's—intentions.
Perhaps from the moment it was born, it had realized it was no match for Noah and shifted its attention to the other adventurers—the Astraea Familia.
It had given up hope of defeating its powerful foe and only wanted to inflict casualties on the enemy of its "mother"!
So, during what had seemed like a futile attack, this Goliath had quietly kept a rock in its hand, waiting for this very moment!
And the Dungeon, which had been quiet until now, had delivered that fatal blow at the crucial moment.
The Dungeon was alive!
It could patiently wait for its moment, secretly lay traps, and seize the chance when adventurers let their guard down, plunging the denizens of the Lower World into the depths of despair!
That had just been proven once more!
There was no time. Someone was going to die!
Images of her familia members meeting their terrible ends flashed through Ryu's mind. Her thoughts went blank, then burst into flames.
Before her conscious mind could react, her body was already moving. The elf rushed out of the cave, green magical radiance surging around her.
"Ryu!"
"Don't!"
"Come back!"
Leaving her familia's cries behind, Ryu knew she had no time to chant. She prepared to forcibly draw on the magic within her, making it explode in a chaotic burst.
Like a mage whose chant was interrupted, unleashing a massive magical backlash.
—At the very least, she could buy them a little time!
Just as Ryu thought this, something changed.
Her consciousness raced forward, and time stretched out endlessly.
Everything else faded away, leaving only the corners of her vision. An unusual radiance appeared there.
Deep and pure, beautiful yet ominous, like a deep-blue crystal—or the dazzling aurora of the far north.
It was an electric arc, a streak of lightning...
It wasn't close yet, but as a faint, prickling numbness flowed across her skin, Ryu's heart recognized its presence before her mind did.
Then, the aurora truly appeared!
A streak of Dark Radiance lightning tore through the world before her eyes.
It came from far away, pierced the sky, and arrived before its thunderous roar—
It was a longsword wrapped in crackling lightning, stained with a deep-blue glow.
The instant Ryu saw the aurora's true form, the sword pierced Goliath's head completely, then kept going with undiminished force and smashed the huge boulder it had thrown.
They were saved?
The thunder that followed told Ryu it wasn't that simple.
Both Goliath's head and the boulder hurtling through the air quickly began to glow a melting red after being pierced.
Countless cracks appeared across them, and light seeped out, illuminating the elf's eyes.
Oh, no. This is bad!
She hadn't been crushed or struck to death, but it looked like she was about to be blown up?
And she'd brought it on herself?
No!
That was such a stupid, embarrassing way to die!
Would the Loki Familia replace their flag with one of me?!
In that single instant of consciousness, Ryu regretted her clownish behavior far more than she feared death.
Then the world before her eyes was swallowed by a scorching blast.
Plasma and searing heat rained down. A dazzling light surged like a churning sea, swallowing everything and plunging Ryu into a scorching white world.
Her consciousness sank into boundless emptiness. Only a faint, prickling numbness flowed across her skin, reminding her that her body still existed.
But the agony of being burned alive never came. Instead, she felt an embrace—somewhat slender, yet firm.
Someone had saved her?
Maybe hours passed. Maybe only seconds.
When Ryu regained control of her body and consciousness, the first thing she smelled wasn't the sharp, acrid stench that should have followed a lightning strike.
It was a fragrance.
Clear and elegant, gentle and faint, it reminded her of the homeland she had left long ago—
The clear streams flowing through the forest beneath the Sacred Tree's lush branches, the white flowers swaying gently.
Had the lilac she planted before leaving bloomed?
That wistful thought rippled softly through her heart, and Ryu opened her eyes.
She met a pair of azure-blue eyes, bright as the glacial rivers of the polar regions.
Then she felt an unfamiliar touch at her waist.
"Hm?"
Ryu: Why are you so good at this?!
Seeing the elf in his arms open her eyes, her sky-blue gaze still clouded with confusion, Noah was struck by a powerful sense of déjà vu.
Was this girl okay?
Why was she staring at him so blankly?
Had the explosion scrambled her brain again?
Wait, why had he said "again"?
Thankfully, the Blonde Elf soon came to her senses.
Noah could tell because her eyes suddenly widened and focused completely on his face.
And the slender, soft waist beneath his palm suddenly went rigid.
In fact, the elf's entire body had stiffened, like a salted fish so hard you could use it to chop someone.
Just then, Noah felt his back grow hot, and a sense of unease welled up inside him.
He knew that the skill that gave him such strong instincts was warning him.
Had he overlooked something again?
A monster?
Noah instinctively glanced around.
Most of the long hall, originally made of pale stone, had turned blackened. Large patches of amber-colored sand, melted and crystallized, remained scattered across the ground.
Flickering flames dotted the scene, lending it an otherworldly beauty.
A scorching gale rolled over him, burning his skin as the heat distorted the light and shadows.
There was no doubt about it: the enormous Floor Boss had vanished in the blast. Not even ash remained.
And he couldn't see any other monsters, either.
After checking the area, Noah turned his gaze back to the elf in his arms.
Then he saw the fair skin of her cheeks turning red before his very eyes!
"Hey! You! Are you hurt?"
Could it be internal injuries?
Alarmed, Noah supported the elf's waist with his sword-wielding right hand, while his left hand cautiously felt over her body.
His movements were gentle, but the strange sensations coming from her waist, legs, and belly made Ryu feel as if she were going to die.
Y-you bastard!
Don't touch me all over!
She screamed inwardly, but felt all the blood in her body rushing to her head. Her cheeks and ears burned red, and her heart pounded as if it were about to leap out of her chest.
She was dizzy. From her thighs to her fingers, she couldn't muster any strength.
Wh-why was this happening?
Hit him!
Damn it, this elven instinct of mine only ever gets me into trouble!
This was the one time it could actually be useful. Why was it failing her at the crucial moment?
No matter how much Ryu scolded herself, her body seemed determined to rebel and refused to obey.
Her legs gave way completely, pitching her forward until she had no choice but to bury her face in Noah's chest.
This was bad!
Ryu's eyes widened. She desperately tried to hold her breath, but it was too late.
The faint fragrance she had only noticed between breaths now flooded her nostrils, growing stronger as the warmth of his body pressed against hers.
And then...
Before you continue