"It seems we have to choose one of these magic circles to enter, right?" Paul looked around, his brows furrowing slightly.
"But there are four magic circles here, and we only have a 25% chance of success." Lilia also began to observe the surrounding situation.
"What are you guys analyzing?" Eris said nonchalantly, arms crossed. "Leave this to Rudeus!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's eyes fell on Rudeus, awaiting his decision.
"Oh."
Rudeus's lips curled slightly upward, revealing an expression that suggested he had already seen through everything.
I've already seen through everything.
He stretched out his hand and pointed to the magic circles around him.
The true path is not within any of the surrounding magic circles.
He paused here, looking down at his feet.
"But it's under your feet."
"Underfoot?"
The group exchanged bewildered glances and then looked down to examine the scene.
However, the ground remained completely unremarkable, with nothing unusual about it except for the neatly laid stone slabs.
Rudeus didn't bother to explain any further.
A surge of psychic power quietly emerged.
The next moment--
boom!
A huge stone slab in the center suddenly rose into the air and was overturned to the side by an invisible force.
"This is..."
The crowd crowded forward.
Beneath the stone slab lay a hidden cavity, a deep passage leading downwards, where an eerie red light flickered slowly.
"Oh~ it really is right under my feet!"
Paul's eyes widened immediately.
"Wow, that's amazing, Nii-san!" Aisha leaned closer, her face full of admiration. "How did you figure that out?"
Rudeus raised his chin smugly.
"That's called insight."
He reached out and gently rubbed Aisha's forehead.
"Little Aisha, you still have a lot to learn. Hahaha~"
Aisha nodded earnestly, as if she had truly learned something extraordinary.
Then, the group followed the hidden passage downwards.
Before long, they arrived at a secluded underground space.
There, a magic circle that had never been discovered before, was found.
The magic circle glowed with an eerie red light, its complex patterns resembling the blood vessels of some ancient creature, slowly flowing across the ground.
Roxy stared at it for a moment, then couldn't help but speak:
"Should I really stand there? I have a feeling... it might be dangerous."
"I've already confirmed it."
Rudeus walked to the edge of the magic circle and carefully observed the patterns on it.
It doesn't connect to any areas we've explored before.
He looked up.
"Instead, it leads directly to the final level of the maze."
After he finished speaking, he waved to the crowd.
Let's go.
The group stepped into the magic circle one by one.
The next moment--
boom!
A blinding red light suddenly burst forth.
Space seemed to be instantly distorted by an invisible hand.
Immediately afterwards, everyone disappeared at the same time.
When their vision returned, they found themselves in another unfamiliar space.
A deep and ancient palace ruin stands silently in the darkness.
The wide stone steps stretched forward, their end faintly illuminated by a soft blue glow.
Apart from that, nothing else could be seen clearly.
Rudeus's expression also turned serious.
"Listen up, everyone."
He turned around and glanced at the crowd.
"No matter what you see inside, do not act on your own."
"Leave everything to me."
"Do you understand?"
"Understood."
Everyone nodded in unison.
Rudeus then turned around and led the group deeper into the vast palace.
The further you go in, the more open the view becomes.
And the source of that faint blue light gradually became apparent.
Deep within the palace, an enormous "rock" lies across the middle of the road.
Behind the rocks stood a huge crystal that emitted a faint glow.
Inside the crystal --
A familiar figure was prominently displayed there.
Paul suddenly stopped walking.
His pupils suddenly contracted.
The next moment, a roar that almost tore apart a throat suddenly resounded throughout the entire corridor.
" Zenith!!!"
Paul completely lost his temper and ran away.
"Father!"
Rudeus's expression changed.
However, at this very moment—
Boom!
The "rock" that was blocking the middle of the road suddenly moved.
The massive body slowly rose to its feet.
Nine ferocious dragon heads emerged simultaneously from the darkness, their crimson eyes fixed intently on the crowd.
Roxy's expression changed drastically.
"Etc!"
"That's not a rock!"
"It's Mana Stone Hydra!"
"Roar--!!!"
The nine dragon heads roared simultaneously.
A deafening roar instantly engulfed the entire palace.
But Paul seemed not to hear anything.
His eyes were fixed only on the crystal and Zenith, who was sealed inside it.
" Rudeus! Let me go!"
Just as he was about to rush forward, an invisible force suddenly pulled him back.
Rudeus used his telekinesis to pull him to his side.
"Calm down!"
But Zenith is inside!
"I know."
Rudeus's tone turned somber.
"Of course we should save them."
He looked up at the nine-headed dragon.
"But this guy is dangerous."
"If you rush in rashly, you'll only become its target."
"Roar!!!"
The Mana Stone Hydra roared once more.
Nine dragon heads twisted and grotesquely in mid-air, their massive bodies resembling a moving mountain.
Aisha and Norn turned pale instantly, instinctively hugging Rudeus's neck tightly, not daring to even look up.
"Do not be afraid."
Rudeus reached out and patted his two younger sisters on the head.
"I'm a very strong brother."
The words had barely left his mouth.
Rudeus slowly raised his hand.
"Barrier - Deploy!"
Buzz!
A massive blue magic circle instantly unfolded beneath his feet.
" Space Pause!"
In an instant--
The whole world seemed to have lost its sound.
Time stood still.
The Mana Stone Hydra, which had been roaring just moments before, had completely transformed into a real statue. Its nine dragon heads were frozen in mid-air, and even the breath it was exhaling had solidified.
"Alright."
Rudeus turned around.
The power of telekinesis erupted suddenly.
The enormous crystal behind the Mana Stone Hydra slowly rose up.
Rudeus controlled the crystal to levitate in mid-air, and then peeled away the outer structure bit by bit with extremely precise force.
A moment later.
The crystal shattered.
Zenith was finally rescued.
Rudeus quickly took out a robe and gently draped it over his mother.
Then he looked up and shouted:
"Father! Here you are!"
Paul quickly stepped forward and gently pulled Zenith into his arms.
After confirming that his wife was safe, his tense nerves finally relaxed a little.
And at this time--
Rudeus slowly turned around.
He looked at the enormous Mana Stone Hydra before him.
"So..."
The corners of his mouth gradually turned up.
This is a legendary monster.
A true S-class monster.
Not only can it negate direct attack magic, but it also possesses an extremely terrifying self-healing ability.
More importantly--
Every part of it is a treasure.
Dragon scales, dragon bones, dragon tendons, dragon flesh...
They are all top-quality materials for crafting equipment and magical items.
"Tsk tsk tsk."
Rudeus couldn't help but smack his lips.
Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
The next moment--
He lifted the barrier.
"Sa~"
Rudeus's smile gradually broadened.
"Wail as loudly as you please!"
"Oni-san! Ganbatte!"
"Oni-san! Ganbatte!"
Aisha and Norn shouted in unison.
"What a beautiful and melodious tune!"
Rudeus seemed to be filled with fighting spirit.
"I feel full of energy!"
"The Ultimate Technique of the Magic Sword Style!"
Blade Storm!
Buzz--!
Rudeus opened his Magic Pocket.
A demonic sword flew out of thin air.
Then, the second one, the third one...
Dozens of demonic swords simultaneously hovered in mid-air.
The sword tip spins.
Swords flashed.
In an instant, a terrifying storm composed of countless sharp blades suddenly took shape!
boom!!!
Blade Storm swept out, completely engulfing the Mana Stone Hydra.
The sharp blades were frantically slicing through its massive body.
Dragon scales, dragon tendons, dragon bones...
"This one's steamed, that one's braised!"
One by one, precious materials were precisely cut off.
Rudeus even opened his Magic Pocket and put all the spoils into it without missing a single one.
"These are all top-quality materials for crafting equipment!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"And no matter how you cut him, he won't die immediately."
Rudeus became more and more excited as he spoke.
"I'm almost ready to keep it as a pet!"
The poor, Mana Stone Hydra had no chance to fight back under the attack of more than a dozen flying swords.
Paul, Lilia, and Roxy, who had been hoping for this scene, were already completely dumbfounded.
Is this really an S-class monster?
Why does it look like...?
It looks like they're being processed in bulk at a slaughterhouse?
Rudeus, on the other hand, was completely immersed in the adoring gazes and cheers of his sisters.
"Um!"
He wielded the demon sword.
"This strike contained the power of Norn's encouragement!"
"This strike is imbued with the power of Aisha's blessing!"
"Nissan is amazing! (≧∇≦)ﾉ"
Aisha excitedly wrapped her arms around Rudeus's neck.
"Nissans is too much! (✧∇✧)ﾉ"
Norn cheered as well.
The intense slashing continued for about ten minutes.
finally--
The Mana Stone Hydra's body stopped regenerating.
Its once massive body was now badly damaged.
The nine dragon heads drooped limply, their entire bodies like withered branches battered by wind and rain, falling heavily to the ground, leaving only faint breaths.
"Oh dear~"
Rudeus stroked his chin.
"Why are you dying so soon?"
"That won't do."
He turned to look at his two younger sisters.
" Aisha- chan, Norn -chan."
"That evil dragon is a terrible villain who kidnapped my mother."
"Do you know what to do when dealing with such a villain?"
The two younger sisters exchanged a glance.
Then they both tilted their heads.
Clearly, they hadn't come up with an answer.
Rudeus flashed a bright smile.
The answer is --
"Heal it with Healing Magic."
"Then..."
"Kill them one more time!"
The words had barely left his mouth.
Rudeus waved his hand dismissively.
A holy green light crashed down, completely enveloping the mangled body of the Mana Stone Hydra.
In no time at all.
The body, on the verge of death, began to recover at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Roar--!!!"
A deafening roar suddenly erupted.
The ceiling was shaking violently, and countless pieces of gravel were falling down.
All nine dragon heads rose simultaneously.
A massive amount of magical power began to converge wildly.
"Oh?"
Rudeus raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting~"
Is it about to breathe on itself?
"Hahaha!"
"Come on, let me see what else you've got up your sleeve, you beast!"
The next moment--
The nine dragon heads simultaneously opened their gaping maws.
A fierce flame gathered deep in his throat.
boom--!!!
Nine terrifying dragon breaths were spewed out simultaneously, and the scorching energy instantly dyed the space in front of them crimson.
Paul's heart skipped a beat at the sight, and he almost rushed out on the spot.
" Rudeus!"
Eris quickly reached out to stop him.
Don't go there!
At this moment, Rudeus simply stood with one hand behind his back.
Faced with the terrifying dragon breath sweeping towards him, he didn't even take a single step back.
He slowly raised one hand.
Dark demonic light condensed slightly in his palm.
"[ Magic Devouring ]."
Buzz--
In an instant, the black light suddenly surged.
A pitch-black vortex suddenly unfolded in his palm, like an abyss that devoured everything.
boom!!!
Nine dragon breaths crashed into the vortex.
Then--
Vanished without a trace.
No matter how intense the dragon's breath, it could not escape being swallowed by that darkness.
Until the last bit of strength was exhausted.
The nine heads of the Mana Stone Hydra drooped limply.
"Out of ideas?"
Rudeus looked at the dragon before him, now completely exhausted, and chuckled softly.
"Then..."
Let's get going.
He slowly raised the Arrogant Water Dragon King.
The next moment, a scythe-like blade materialized from the tip of the staff, radiating a chilling light.
" Magic Sword Style Secret Technique - Final Form!"
"[True Fruit Original Cut]!"
boom--!!!
The sword light suddenly slashed down!