It seemed as though the terrifying specter of Evilus had finally retreated into a brief, eerie silence, granting the city's adventurers a much-needed reprieve.

With the oppressive shadow of madmen temporarily lifted, many seized the opportunity to breathe easier, relax, and return to what they knew best—the dungeon.

After all, it was far more comfortable to face monsters devoid of thought than to constantly guard against deranged enemies in human skin.

In the past, when Akira roamed this vast and mysterious dungeon alone, it was a rare sight to encounter other adventurers along the way.

At most, he might spot a few small groups scattered here and there, traveling cautiously through the shifting corridors. But now, the situation had changed dramatically.

Every time he pushed forward through the passages, it wouldn't take long before another team of adventurers would appear ahead—close enough to be seen, if not to be heard.

Akira couldn't help but take note of the change. He listened quietly as laughter echoed from nearby—joyful and brimming with relief.

Amid the lively sounds of camaraderie, he narrowed his eyes, as if he could see through the noise itself and glimpse the satisfied smiles lighting up those weathered faces.

His one-handed sword carved a brilliant arc through the air, its blade flaring with radiant light. With a graceful swing, it tore through the towering frames of grotesque Minotaurs, severing limbs and silencing roars with ease.

Compared to the elemental weapons he conjured using his magic, there was a distinct pleasure in wielding this steel sword.

Though not inferior in power, those magical constructs carried a strange intimacy—an extension of his very self.

The sensations were too familiar, too seamless. It lacked the adrenaline rush, the tangible satisfaction of gripping a weapon forged by human hands.

Holding the Oath of Justice gave him a distinct thrill, a freedom that surged through his veins like wildfire.

If I had this sword back in the day, all the cauliflower in ten miles wouldn't have had a head left.

A wry smirk touched his lips at the absurd thought as he nimbly moved forward, weaving through the web-like network of stone corridors.

Without pause, he surged onward, clearing the floors without resistance.

As he emerged into a vast chamber, his eyes scanned the field but the familiar figure of the Goliath was nowhere to be found.

Instead, strewn across the ground were monster remains: corpses, shredded vines, shattered bone fragments.

In their place, supporters from various Familia busily scoured the battlefield, collecting magic stones and resources. The floor boss had already been slain.

It had only been two weeks since Akira had last felled it himself. That meant someone else had bested the guardian within the last few days.

He reached into his pocket and drew out his silver timepiece. The hands pointed near 10 o'clock. If he kept his current pace, he estimated he'd arrive on the 24th floor in about two hours.

Tucking it away, Akira paid no mind to the glances cast in his direction and quickened his stride. Without breaking rhythm, he passed other adventurers who had stopped to rest, fading into the tunnel ahead.

Soon, he reached the 18th floor—the dungeon's first true safe zone.

In the hushed expanse of the underground forest, blue-hued crystals shimmered in silence. They protruded from the ground like gemstones, their soft glow illuminating the underbrush. Small shards twinkled like fireflies, while enormous clusters resembled swords embedded in the earth.

The entire forest was a dreamscape painted in azure.

He looked up, past the towering canopy, to the ceiling of the dungeon itself. It arched high above like a sky of crystal, shimmering with thousands of radiant points.

Daylight—at least, the dungeon's version of it—bathed the land in pale light.

Akira's gaze drifted toward the massive tree in the distance, its trunk like a towering monument. Hidden in its colossal roots lay the staircase to the next level.

Even though this wasn't his first visit, the breathtaking beauty of the scene never failed to strike him.

No matter how many times he witnessed it, the tranquil allure of this place stirred something in his chest.

Descending once more, he stepped into the 19th floor—the Large Tree Labyrinth.

The place was filled with mist. His dual-colored sword gleamed, its golden and silver edge reflecting like starlight in the murky fog. Here, insect-type monsters dominated the ecosystem.

Suddenly, a pack of Bugbears burst out of the haze, charging blindly as if fleeing some invisible threat. Their thunderous roars echoed across the maze.

But before the lead Bugbear could take even two steps toward Akira, its massive head was severed in one clean stroke.

The sword cut through the air, splattering blood. The bear's brain landed at Akira's feet with a grotesque thud.

The rest of the monsters screeched in alarm. These middle-floor creatures, capable of rudimentary thought, froze and then fled.

Trembling, they scattered like leaves in a storm.

— — —

24th floor.

According to the guild's guidelines, this was the furthest depth a standard Level 2 adventurer party was allowed to venture.

Unfurling the map Tsubaki had entrusted to him, Akira studied the hand-drawn landmarks and recognized the circled destination. With a burst of speed, he shot forward.

Up ahead, a narrow slope wound downward. The moss that normally glowed faintly along the walls began to vanish.

The further he went, the dimmer the surroundings became.

Akira grew cautious and leaped nimbly to a lower level.

The earthy scent of damp soil filled his lungs. The walls now resembled burrowed tree hollows rather than carved stone or interwoven branches. The floor beneath his boots was soft—spongy almost. It reminded him of the 18th floor's lush terrain.

"Bzzzz…"

A strange, low buzzing crept through the air.

Raising his eyes, unbothered by the growing darkness, Akira peered into the tunnel ahead, toward the source of the noise.

Nestled deep inside the cavernous hollow were three massive beehives, built into the very bones of the sunken tree.

Countless Deadly Hornets swarmed around the hives like sentinels. Yet curiously, there were no signs of intruders, and not a single drone stirred toward him.

Akira halted.

Something was wrong.

It wasn't the number of Deadly Hornets that caused him to pause—he had faced worse. But the way they moved, the way they didn't move, was unnerving.

These creatures, known for their aggression and unrelenting offense, remained clustered like guards… as if they were defending something precious.

Three massive hives blocked the narrow path forward like a barricade. No gaps, no alternate routes. It was as though the hives themselves had become a gate.

And the wasps?

Gatekeepers.

"…What are they guarding?"

Akira frowned, gaze sharpening with thought.

His mind shifted quickly through every word Tsubaki had said. He tried to recall if she had ever mentioned this place in detail—but found nothing.

Had she never been this deep?

It was hard to say whether this peculiar sight was the anomaly she had sensed when issuing the commission. After all, the hives before him seemed like a recent development.

When he looked at the map again, the red circle drawn by Tsubaki pointed deeper—straight into the blocked passage hidden behind the central beehive.

And yet… no mention of monsters. Nothing at all.

That could only mean one thing—these Deadly Hornets hadn't been here when she had explored this place.

"I don't believe Tsubaki would deliberately omit something so critical. Which means…" Akira murmured to himself, eyes narrowing.

"…She never reached this far."

His thoughts sharpened to a fine edge.

Advance or retreat?

The decision was his.

Akira exhaled slowly and stepped out from behind the tree trunk that had offered him cover.

At his side, the Oath of Justice hummed with golden light, casting a faint glow through the dark.

And within his eyes—those deep, midnight pupils—there flickered a glimmer of deadly violet, like an orchid blooming in the void.

Something was waiting beyond the gate.

And Akira had come to face it.

(End of Chapter)

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