――65,000 years after the game began.
It took a little under ten thousand years to advance one hundred floors from the 600th floor. Previously, clearing up to the 600th floor had taken an absurdly long time because I had traced back from the first floor to thoroughly fill out the Subjugation Compendium, but this stretch went quickly because I was simply pushing straight ahead. Floor progression itself went at a brisk pace. Well, even so, it still took nearly ten thousand years, which goes to show just how ridiculously vast this labyrinth really is.
And so, we arrived at the 700th floor.
The 700th floor was an endless, crimson wasteland where not a single tree or blade of grass grew, sheltered beneath an expanse of sky as blood-red as the earth below.
At the center of that stark, monochrome world sat a solitary, gigantic crimson bird.
"Hoh, an unfamiliar face. Has a nameless one managed to reach this floor? It seems the situation outside has changed considerably. If so, then that—"
The monstrous bird was lost in its own world, muttering absently to itself.
This is trouble. I can't gauge its strength at all. Or rather, how is it any different from the standard avian monsters that spawn around here? It's likely a side effect of the God-Sealing Gloves, but lately, discerning the strength of others has grown even more difficult.
"Hmm. Faf, what do you make of this guy?"
"If we roast it nice and brown, it looks like it would be delicious!"
Drooling profusely, Faf delivered an answer that did not disappoint.
Figures. Faf is a glutton, and chicken is its absolute favorite. But that wasn't what I was trying to ask.
"Faf, you are a lady. You shouldn't always let your appetite take the lead. Besides, if you eat a bizarre monstrosity that speaks like this, you'll upset your stomach."
"Uu... but it looks so tasty..."
Faf hung its head dejectedly, sucking on its index finger.
"I'll cook a feast for you once we get back above ground, so be patient for now."
I patted its head, speaking in an admonishing tone.
"Okay!"
Faf thrust its right arm into the air with vigor. Yes, what an obedient, good child.
"Y-You insolent wretch! Did you just call me a bizarre monstrosity?!"
"Ah, it was just a figure of speech. Don't go making a fuss over every little thing."
Digging at my ear with my left pinky, I grimaced and tried to placate the noisy bird.
"Insolence! Disrespect toward me, the Divine Bird Phoenix—I shall never forgive this!!"
With a furious cry, it spread its wings and hovered into the air.
"Ah, not again... How pitiful... Trial: [Defeat the Phoenix] will now commence."
The familiar woman's voice echoed in my head. Rather than her usual flat, mechanical delivery, however, it was laden with profound pity.
"Faf will do it!"
Wiping the drool from its mouth, Faf boldly cracked its knuckles.
Faf, my dear Faf, I hate to dampen your surging enthusiasm, but in the end, you just want to eat that thing, don't you?
"No, I'll handle this."
"Ehh?! No fair!"
Just as expected, Faf voiced an immediate protest.
"I'll treat you to the finest yakitori tonight, so be a good girl and wait."
I offered the exact reward it wanted most.
"Uu... fine..."
Still looking thoroughly reluctant, Faf went back to sucking its thumb.
"Do not underestimate meeee!!"
The monstrous bird threw its head back toward the heavens and bellowed. In an instant, a towering pillar of fire crashed down upon us.
As casually as if swatting away a fly, Faf swept the flames aside with its right hand, scattering them into nothingness. As for me, thanks to my heat assimilation ability, the inferno was simply absorbed straight into my body.
"Wha-What?! My flames were—"
While the monstrous bird was politely narrating its shock, I sliced it clean in two with Raikiri.
It split right down the middle. I assumed that was the end of the trial, but no announcement followed.
"Kuhahahaha!! Such an attack is meaningless! Utterly meaningless against me!"
Cackling loudly, the bird floated idly in midair, fully intact.
"Hmm. I was fairly certain I killed you properly just now."
I had cleaved it vertically straight down from the crown of its head. Normally, that would mean instant death.
"It is futile! I am immortal and imperishable! The immortal Divine Bird!! Someone of your caliber—"
Just to test the waters, I used the lightning from Raikiri to vaporize its head and limbs.
"Looks like you weren't lying. Now it's just a matter of degree."
"You bastard! Striking while someone is speaking—"
This time, I reduced its entire body to scattered mince. The next moment, crimson flames erupted, instantly restoring the bird to its pristine form.
"That is why I told you to stop attacking while I am talking!!"
It soared high into the sky to put distance between us, glaring down at me with pure venom.
"No matter. Well, do you understand now?! I am immortal! A divine bird governing death and rebirth, capable of resurrecting through tens of thousands of deaths!"
If this boastful bird was telling the truth, it really wouldn't die no matter how many times I chopped it up. I had encountered foes with absurd regenerative capabilities before, but I had never run into a being blessed with truly infinite life.
"Khaha!"
A laugh thick with pure ecstasy slipped past my lips.
Splendid! Simply splendid, you monstrous biiird!! If your words are true, doesn't that mean I can't win through conventional means?! Of course, if I brought out that technique, the fight would likely be over in seconds, but I hadn't encountered an opponent that brute force couldn't overcome in tens of thousands of years.
"Have you finally lost your mind upon realizing you cannot defeat the immortal me?!"
To the bird, which shouted valiantly as if trying to banish the faint spark of dread rising within itself, I roared back:
"You're the best! You're absolute perfection!"
"How pitiful..."
Amidst the faint echo of the guide's muttered pity, I threw myself into slaughtering the monstrous bird with unbridled joy.
――Five hours after the slaughter began.
Just as I minced its entire body into miniscule shreds once more――
"Subjugation of the Phoenix confirmed. Trial cleared."
A strangely weary, indifferent female voice resonated in my mind.
"Huh?"
Wait, it's only been about five hours. For someone who went on and on about being immortal, there's no way he threw in the towel over something like this!
Yet, in cruel defiance of my earnest hopes, a translucent window materialized before my eyes.
"The soul of the Phoenix has been detected. Would you like to capture it in the compendium?"
Damn it all! That all-talk, spineless featherbrain! You bragged so much about immortality! You could have at least held out for ten years or so!
Because I had gotten my hopes up, my frustration simply wouldn't subside. Once I lock that bird away in the Subjugation Compendium, I'll have to thoroughly beat that spoiled attitude out of it.
While I was storing the Phoenix's soul into the compendium—
"Master, Faf's tummy is completely empty!"
Faf's deeply dissatisfied whine rang in my ears.
"Sorry, sorry. Let's get food right away. Tonight, we're having your favorite: yakitori."
"Yay!"
Watching Faf hop around to express its pure delight, I couldn't help but state the obvious.
"Well, to be fair, Faf's stomach wouldn't have lasted ten years anyway."
Voicing that simple truth, I turned on my heel and began the journey back to the surface.