"Now that we’ve finished lunch, it’s about time we resumed the exploration."
Rei stored the Magic Tent back into his Misty Ring and called out to Elena, who was nearby stretching her limbs to aid digestion. Elena, twisting her upper body deeply, gave a nod of agreement.
"Yeah. We ate here because the situation demanded it, but even with a Magic Tent that repels low-rank monsters, it was hard to truly let my guard down. I’m in favor of moving on."
"Guruuu."
Seto, who had eaten outside the tent to stay alert for any monsters lured by the scent of blood from their earlier dismantling, let out a short trill.
"Sorry for making you eat outside, Seto. But right now, we’re relying on your five senses."
"Gurululululu!"
Leave it to me! Seto chirped as if to say. One reason for his high spirits was likely the savory aroma still clinging to his beak. Before their meal, Rei had dismantled the Sky Fang and used magic to roast its meat specifically for Seto.
It wasn't exactly guilt for eating inside while Seto stayed out, but Rei had wanted to ensure his partner was well-fed and satisfied while on guard duty. Seto had been disappointed he couldn't be right next to Rei, but he was clearly delighted to have gorged himself on Sky Fang meat. His current good mood was a direct result of that feast.
(Well, he did devour a massive amount.)
The supply of sliced Sky Fang meat had dwindled significantly—far more than what Rei had roasted. It was clear that while Rei and Elena were occupied in the Magic Tent, the raw leftovers had quickly found their way into Seto's stomach.
"Let’s get out of here for now. We’re still near the entrance of B14F. If we want to reach B15F today, we need to pick up the pace."
Rei agreed with Elena's suggestion, and they began making their way back from the dead-end. They arrived at the junction near the maze’s entrance without encountering a single monster.
(It's definitely lucky, but... isn't this a bit too convenient?)
Rei tilted his head in thought. They had dismantled numerous monsters back there to strip their materials, leaving a thick scent of blood in the air. It was only natural for predators to be drawn to it; in fact, it was strange that none had appeared.
Suspecting there might be a reason for the quiet, the party proceeded down the left path of the fork. They continued forward with caution until Seto was the first to pick up on something. Then Rei, and finally Elena, noticed a sound echoing from ahead.
It was a sound an average adventurer likely would have missed—the dull, heavy thud of something heavy striking the earth.
"...Rei."
"Yeah. It looks like we’re finally about to meet the reason for the lack of monsters. Let’s see what we’re dealing with."
"The most likely answer is that some adventurers are engaged in a battle," Elena suggested.
Just then, Seto, who had been staring down the winding path with a sharp gaze, tilted his head in confusion as if encountering something entirely unexpected.
"Guruuu?"
"Seto? What’s wrong?"
"Guruuu... Gurululululu!"
Seto rumbled his throat and tugged on the hem of Rei’s dragon robe with his beak, urging him to hurry. Though they found his behavior strange, Rei and Elena followed Seto. They rounded a bend through the towering boulders and widened their eyes at the scene ahead.
They found themselves in another wide, plaza-like area. What caught their attention, however, was a single figure standing near the entrance. She was short, looking like nothing more than a child at first glance. Indeed, she was a child. Though she wore a cloak to shield herself from the desert heat, they immediately recognized the face beneath the hood.
"Byune?!"
Elena was the first to dash toward her, followed closely by Rei and Seto.
"Nn."
Byune acknowledged Elena with her usual monosyllabic greeting.
"Are you alone today? ...No, I suppose I don't need to ask that."
As he spoke to Byune, Rei kept his ears tuned to the relentless sounds of combat echoing from within the hall.
"Nn."
Byune pointed, and the group followed her gesture to see a person battling a giant over four meters tall. The fighter wore a cloak, but given the weaponless style and her presence here with Byune, her identity was unmistakable.
"Vihera, then. But... that’s a Cyclops, isn't it? Isn't it a bit too reckless to face one of those single-handedly?"
"Nn—"
Byune gave a slight tilt of her head, her expression as stoic as ever. To most, she seemed emotionless, but Elena could sense a deep current of trust in the girl's gaze.
"A Cyclops. That’s a nasty one to run into. If a monster of that caliber is prowling the area, it’s no wonder nothing came near us," Rei muttered, drawing his Death Scythe from the Misty Ring just in case.
The Cyclops was a single-eyed, giant-type monster over four meters tall. It possessed monstrous strength and enough intelligence to utilize weapons. A single horn sprouted from its head, and it wore nothing but a waist-wrap fashioned from the pelts of its kills. Beyond its raw physical power, it could fire shockwaves of magic power from its eye. It was a C-Rank monster, and its proof of subjugation was the right ear.
Its hide served as material for sturdy armor, while its horn and eye were prized as catalysts for magic items. Its bones and sinews were used for weapon crafting, and while its meat had a gamey flavor that wasn't for everyone, it still fetched a respectable price.
"Even at C-Rank, a Cyclops is a monster that borders on B-Rank. It’s a bit strange to see one this high up on B14F... Watch out!"
The Cyclops swung its 3-meter-long metal hammer, but Rei instinctively threw a nearby stone with pinpoint accuracy. The impact momentarily stunned the giant, giving Vihera the opening she needed. She leaped over the strike, landing on the hammer as it created a crater in the ground. She sprinted up the handle and along the Cyclops's arm, aiming to drive the blades of her gauntlets into its single eye.
However, the giant bared its jagged teeth, waiting to bite and crush the woman running up its arm. Sensing the trap, Vihera kicked off the Cyclops's shoulder and leaped in the opposite direction. She landed gracefully, facing her opponent with an exhilarated laugh.
"Aha, ahahaha! I can’t believe such a powerful monster appeared here! I thought this would be a dull job, but I’m lucky today! Come on! Show me that boiling blood! Clashing our lives together in this single moment... nothing gets my heart racing more! Oh, and—don't you dare interfere!"
Her mood was reaching its peak. She looked at the Cyclops with wet eyes, as if gazing upon a lover, before casting a sharp glance at Rei and charging back in.
"Gaaaaaaaah!"
The Cyclops roared, swinging its hammer again—this time in a wide, horizontal slash to catch her. Vihera leaped again, landing on the hammer as before. However, this time she didn't run up the arm; she rode the hammer as it swung. As the strike reached its peak and slowed, she performed a full rotation and drove her heel into the Cyclops's hand.
Or rather, her magic-imbued greaves, which had sprouted a sharp blade from the heel. Fueled by her unnatural strength, the heel blade sliced through the joint and severed the Cyclops's right thumb entirely.
"Gaaaaaaaah!"
The giant let out a howl of agony, dropping its heavy hammer as its grip failed. It swung its left fist at the mid-air Vihera. Against any other foe, it would have been a crushing blow, but this was the woman known as the Crazy Beast. She twisted her body in the air and stomped directly onto the incoming fist, driving her heel blade deep into the back of its hand.
The giant’s own momentum worked against it, impaling its hand on the blade. As she landed, she twisted her weight, shattering the bones in its hand. She kicked off the mangled limb and landed silently, facing the giant once more. The Cyclops clutched its hand, retreating one step at a time, its eye wide with newfound fear.
"Phew. You're strong, but... if you only have brute force, it gets boring fast. I was hoping for a bit more technique... but I suppose asking that of a Cyclops is useless."
Vihera let out a small, disappointed sigh. Her earlier excitement had already vanished. She began walking toward the monster, which was now unable to use either of its hands. The giant possessed healing power that almost bordered on a regeneration ability, but the severed thumb and shattered hand wouldn't heal in such a short time. It backed away from the approaching Vihera, one step after another.
After about a minute of retreating, the Cyclops's back hit the rock wall. It had nowhere left to run.
"Fufu, and where do you think you're going? Your opponent is right here. Don’t lose your nerve now; it would be a shame for a C-Rank monster to die so pathetically. At least resist until the end, or you’ll leave this world as nothing more than a lump of meat."
The terrifying sight of the giant cowering was a testament to Vihera's overwhelming strength, but even more so to her personality. She was a blood-hungry predator. With her blood-splattered cloak billowing, she approached her cornered prey. Her eyes glowed with the dark pleasure of the slaughter. To an observer, that gaze might have seemed sensual, but to those who understood the madness behind it, it was enough to paralyze them with fear.
She closed the distance, and with a final, devastating strike, the Cyclops’s head blew apart, and its flame of life was extinguished.