Knossos?
So this was the name of the artificial labyrinth?
Before anyone could ponder its meaning, Valletta flipped her palm open.
In her right hand was a red orb, crystal-clear like glass, with the letter "D" engraved at its core.
"All of you can die here!"
Boom!
A tremendous noise erupted from behind them in an instant.
"Captain, the rear passage is blocked by a gate!"
Raul Nord, guarding the rear, shouted in alarm.
"And that sheen... it's probably an Adamantite gate!"
An Adamantite gate... Orichalcum again?
Just how much wealth had these people hoarded?
But that wasn't the most pressing issue.
"That red jewel—could it be the key to this labyrinth?"
Finn's gaze fixed on Valletta, his mind racing with possibilities.
Crack!
The next moment, the surrounding walls and ceiling split open, revealing countless man-eating flower monsters that dropped onto the chamber floor, roaring as they slithered forward!
"Form ranks! Prepare for battle!"
Finn had no choice but to shift his focus from the red jewel for now, his commanding voice echoing throughout the room.
"Don't back against the walls! Move to the center and form a defensive formation! The executives will handle the enemies!"
Though the situation was abrupt, Loki Familia was well accustomed to ambushes.
This battle scenario closely resembled encounters with monsters in the Dungeon, and everyone swiftly fell into their designated positions.
Warriors led by Level 4 adventurers like Raul took shields handed to them by supporters and stood at the front lines, while mages began chanting spells.
Executives like Eiji and Ais charged straight into the fray, their overwhelming momentum cutting through the horde of monsters. Blades flashed relentlessly, each strike claiming the life of a man-eating flower.
Having fought these creatures multiple times, the executives had long since identified their weaknesses. Now at Level 6, each of them could effortlessly wipe out swathes of the flowers!
Eiji's lightning-fast movements made him drift through the monsters like the wind. Not only could they not stop him—they couldn't even catch sight of him. The air shimmered with the gleam of his swords, and monster limbs flew in all directions before turning to ash.
Wielding dual blades, Eiji's slaughter speed even surpassed that of Ais, now a Level 6!
"There's no way it's just these flowers!"
While cutting down monsters, Eiji kept part of his attention on Valletta.
These man-eating flowers stood no chance against the might of Loki Familia—Valletta surely knew that. There had to be a deeper strategy at play!
Yet, at the opposite passageway, Valletta showed no intention of lingering. After releasing the flowers, she immediately turned and fled into the corridor behind her.
"Advance toward the other passage!"
Finn immediately issued the order.
The group swiftly coordinated their assault toward the opposite side of the chamber.
With the executives' overwhelming prowess and the second-tier adventurers holding the front lines, the man-eating flowers couldn't even breach their defenses. The supporters began to relax, smiles forming on their faces.
The team crossed the hundred-meter distance without incident and arrived at the opposite passage entrance.
Here, they had to adjust their formation. The square-shaped formation was clearly unsuitable for a passage only five meters wide. The group instinctively stretched into a single file and slowly entered the corridor.
They had to catch up to Valletta!
Finn stood at the forefront, his gaze resolute.
At present, their greatest enemy wasn't the Evilus, nor the new-type monsters, nor even the corrupted spirits—it was the dungeon itself!
Without a map of the labyrinth, they could only wander blindly, unknowingly led into traps. Once gates descended and passages were sealed, they would be immobilized!
To change this situation, they had to seize the key in Valletta's hands!
"Divine·Holy Grail of Salvation!"
"Arc·Bow and Arrow!"
At the rear of the formation, Lefiya and Filvis unleashed their magic in unison, obliterating the man-eating flower monsters charging straight down the passage.
"Ooh! Lefiya's grown stronger too!"
"Advance quickly!"
Finn barked the order, tense.
They had to catch up as soon as possible!
Urged on by the mounting tension, he quickened his pace.
Then, they reached a crossroads.
Whoosh!
Without warning, a figure leaped out from a side passage.
She raised the massive black sword in her hands and swung it down with overwhelming force!
"An ambush after all!"
Finn showed no surprise, raising his twin spears to meet the attack.
But suddenly, an intense pain shot through his right thumb, and a wave of overwhelming danger engulfed his entire body.
Boom!
An unimaginable force erupted from the black sword, unstoppable as a tidal wave.
Finn's spears were knocked aside in an instant, his stance shattered.
"It's not Valletta…!?"
Crimson-red short hair like fresh blood.
Soulless, zombie-like emerald-green eyes.
A bewitching figure.
The freak, Revis!
"And she's this strong!?"
Finn was momentarily stunned.
He had been fully prepared for an ambush—there was no element of surprise, and he had struck with his full strength. Yet he had been overpowered in an instant?
How could Revis be this powerful?
According to Ais, even if Revis could grow stronger by devouring magic stones, just a month ago, she had only been around the early stages of Level 6. But now…!
Revis pressed forward without pause, swinging her massive sword again with brutal force.
"I can't win!"
Finn made the judgment in an instant.
He had to use "Hell Finegas"—otherwise, he would be killed in a single strike!
But was this the right choice?
He was the brains of the team. If he lost himself to frenzy, the Loki Familia would lose all coordination and surely perish in this dungeon!
His hesitation lasted only a moment.
But a moment was all it took to decide the outcome.
Schlick!
The black sword cleaved downward.
Blood splattered instantly.
"Finn!"
"Captain!"
The horrified cries of disbelief from the group and Tione's piercing scream rang out simultaneously.
At the front of the formation, the figure of the Pallum leader slowly collapsed.
A river of blood spread beneath him.
At the same time—
"Watch out!"
A sharp warning echoed through the chamber.
Watch out?
Watch out for what?
Before they could even process the shock of their captain's fall—
Crrack!
Crrack!
The ground beneath them suddenly vanished.
Dazedly, they looked down.
The metal floor had disappeared, replaced by a bottomless pit!
"Ah—!"
"What—?"
In the blink of an eye, half the team had vanished.
Metal floors suddenly gave way as several massive pit traps appeared beneath their feet. Caught completely off guard, everyone fell victim to them.
Not only the healing team led by Line and the supporter squad, but even second-string members like Cruz and Narvi had fallen in.
Even Tiona and Riveria disappeared before their eyes.