"…We’ve finally made it."
Selma muttered the words just as the First Unit reached their destination.
We had come to the Great Labyrinth of the South today to conquer the 93rd Floor. After several hours of navigating our pre-planned route, we finally stood before the doors to the boss area.
That morning, the members of the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky had seen us off with cheers, just as they had when we set out for the 92nd Floor. However, the time spent since then felt so long that those cheers seemed like a distant memory.
It was only natural. While the 93rd Floor wasn't quite as treacherous as the 91st, it was still crawling with magic beasts. We had been on constant high alert to avoid unnecessary combat whenever possible.
While we weren't physically exhausted, the mental fatigue had certainly begun to accumulate.
"Good work, everyone. We can’t afford to dally, but let’s catch our breath while we prepare. We can rotate the watch, right, Selma?"
"Yeah. No problem."
Rain suggested a brief rest, and Selma gave her approval.
"Then I’ll take the first watch. You rearguard types make sure you get some proper rest. Orun, you good?"
"Yeah, I’m fine."
Will was the first to volunteer for lookout duty. He gestured to me as he spoke; knowing exactly what he was thinking, I didn't refuse. I took up a position slightly away from the boss area doors to help keep watch.
"The 93rd Floor conquest is finally hitting its peak. Let's pull through this without letting our guard down, Orun."
Will called out to me, his eyes never leaving the surrounding area.
"Right. …Will, like I said in the meeting, this enemy is a different breed from what we’ve faced before. If the initial plan works, it’s actually going to make the situation harder for you to fight in—but we’re going to need to rely on you at the very end."
"Haha! I know, I know. No matter what happens, I’m just gonna give it everything I’ve got. You just make sure you don't mess up your part, okay?"
"Yeah. I’ll set the stage so you can do your best work."
"I like the sound of that. I’m counting on you again, Ace."
After Will and I had finished our brief rest, we began our final preparations. Everyone donned their winter gear.
Dressing too heavily would interfere with our movements during combat, so it was a delicate balance, but this gear was light enough that it wouldn't hinder us.
"Ugh… it’s so hot… and sticky…"
Lucre grumbled as she pulled on her winter overcoat.
The 93rd Floor was a warm, humid environment that felt almost tropical. Wearing winter clothing in such a place was, understandably, stifling.
The coat I wore now was also different from my usual one; it had full sleeves instead of three-quarter ones, and the fabric was thicker, causing heat to pool against my skin. Even while standing still, I felt like I was about to break into a sweat.
Nevertheless, this attire was essential for our strategy to succeed.
"Just endure it for a little while, Lucre. Don't lose your focus."
"I know, I’m fine! Rain, I know it’s tough for you too, but I’m counting on you!"
"Of course! Leave it to your big sister!"
Rain puffed out her chest with a confident smile. Seeing her acting like her usual self, without any signs of nervousness, put me at ease. With her in that state of mind, we would be fine.
Rain would likely be the pivot of this entire battle.
"…Everyone ready?"
Selma looked at each of us to confirm we were prepared. We responded with firm nods.
"Then let’s go. Time to take down a boss!"
""""Yeah!!!!""""
As I placed my hand on the massive doors separating the labyrinth from the boss area, they began to creak open.
Watching them part, I let out a long, heavy breath. I began to circulate Ki through my entire body.
"—[Culmination]."
I released the mental shackles that bound my power.
As the doors opened wide enough to reveal the interior of the boss area, I immediately scanned the terrain. It was exactly as I remembered it from my time with Golden Dawn about a year ago. The ground was thick with overgrown grass, dotted with small shrubs at wide intervals.
And there, near the center of the area, sat our target.
It was a massive magic beast, its body so thick it could be mistaken for a colossal log. It lay coiled on the ground, its triangular head held high, a long red tongue flickering out like a wavering flame. The "White Snake" glared in our direction.
"The White Snake is in the center! Teleporting everyone as planned!"
While relaying the situation, I constructed spell formulas at high speed within my sharpened consciousness. Seeing the other four pull out magic tools shaped like white daggers, I manifested a matching one of my own and activated the spell.
"[Space Leap]!"
The four of them vanished instantly, reappearing at equal intervals along the perimeter of the boss area, effectively encircling the White Snake.
『Alright, everyone, stab the daggers into the ground!』
Selma’s voice rang in my head via [Telepathy].
Exactly as instructed, the team plunged the white daggers into the earth the moment they finished teleporting. Plumes of freezing white mist erupted from the hilts of the five daggers, rapidly blanketing the entire boss area.
Immediately after, I felt my body temperature rise under Selma’s support magic as the trio of casters unleashed their spells. A sudden gale whipped up, slashing the temperature in the boss area until the humid heat felt like a distant memory.
The White Snake was a serpentine magic beast. Magic beasts often share the biological traits of animals found on the surface, and we were betting on that fact. We had transformed the area into a frigid wasteland—the natural enemy of any reptile.
This strategy was inspired by my recent joint battle with Shion; it wasn't a tactic we had used back when Golden Dawn defeated it. Because of that, there were risks. We didn't know for sure how effective it would be against a Floor Boss, and the cold would also hinder our own movements. Still, I had judged it a risk worth taking.
Several seconds had passed since we entered. The White Snake had yet to make a major move. By the time the wind died down, the landscape had been transformed into a scene of mid-winter.
Now, to see just how effective this would be.
"Chaos Edge!"
As the white mist cleared, Will was the first to act. He swung his twin-bladed sword, sending a slash composed of chaotic, mixed mana flying toward the White Snake.
The beast's reaction was visibly more sluggish than I remembered.
『The scales haven't changed, but its reactions are definitely slower. It might just be individual variation, but we’re proceeding with the plan.』
I shared the observation with the team immediately.
『Understood. Continue the engagement. Rain, Lucre, begin your barrage! Will, Orun, handle the hate control as best you can!』
『『Roger!』』
『You got it! Orun, let’s crush this overgrown worm!』
『Right!』
Following Selma’s lead, Rain and Lucre began bombarding the White Snake with Water and Ice-type magic.
I used [Alteration] to transform Schwarzhase into a magic sword and closed the distance in an instant. Reaching sword range before the snake could react, I unleashed a massive blow enhanced by both [Impact] and [Gravity Manipulation].
I poured everything into that opening strike, hoping to end the fight right then and there, but it wasn't going to be that simple.
The White Snake’s scales were the polar opposite of the Black Dragon’s. Where the dragon’s were rigid and hard, the snake’s were incredibly soft and flexible. My slash felt as though the impact was being absorbed and diverted away.
Against that supple yet sturdy hide, even my strongest blow failed to do significant damage. Worse, the way the scales "caught" my blade caused my movements to stall for a split second.
It wasn't a merciful enough opponent to ignore such a lapse.
Using its magic, the White Snake caused a sharpened wooden trunk to erupt from the ground, lunging at me with terrifying speed.
"Kh!"
I quickly recovered my stance and kicked off a mana foothold, leaping away from the snake and out of the path of the rapidly growing wood.
A massive, branchless tree now stood between me and the snake. Its trunk was riddled with holes at regular intervals. A split second later, a hail of razor-sharp twigs shot out from those openings.
"[Fifth Form: Mont Fünf]!"
Having seen this attack before, I was ready. I curled my body and took cover behind my shield to weather the storm.
"Look at me, you damn snake!"
While the White Snake was focused on me, Will had closed in. He brought his twin-bladed sword crashing down on its head.
Normally, the snake would have dodged such a move with ease, but its diminished physical abilities in the cold made it too slow to evade. The blade struck true. No matter how much its hide could divert force, it couldn't absorb everything when struck directly in the head.
Will’s attack, boosted by my [Impact], slammed the White Snake’s head into the dirt.
However, it was a Floor Boss for a reason. Even as its head hit the ground, its tail lashed out with pinpoint accuracy toward Will. Caught in mid-air, he had no way to dodge. At this rate, he would take a direct hit and suffer massive damage.
But parrying attacks was second nature to Will—even when he was airborne and helpless.
Taking advantage of the tail's sluggishness caused by the cold and my [Gravity Manipulation], Will redirected the strike with ease.
I sent a telepathic suggestion to use [Reflective Wall] for a quick extraction. Will agreed, and I activated the spell. We both slammed into the gray wall and were propelled away, putting distance between us and the beast.
As if waiting for that exact moment, another wave of magic from Rain and Lucre crashed into the White Snake.