Finn had of course already anticipated the possibility of unexpected developments, having notified other Familia before the operation began.
So, the moment the corrupted spirit clones emerged, the major Familia across Orario immediately sprang into action. Even those not informed soon sensed the crisis, and adventurers all over began mobilizing.
In an instant, Orario resounded like a battle hymn had been struck—an epic of heroes was unfolding.
Amidst this rising song of war, Charles, Finn, and the others moved swiftly toward the sewers beneath Daedalus Street.
Standing before a massive gate forged from Orichalcum, even Charles couldn't help but sigh at the extravagance of the Daedalus lineage.
That gate alone, if melted down, could produce more than ten indestructible first-tier weapons.
Finn glanced at the battle flag Charles had pulled out from who-knows-where, then looked at the ornate gate and said, "So this is the entrance to the artificial dungeon? How do we get in?"
Charles took out the Daedalus Eye and said, "Good thing we got the key from the dark faction earlier!"
The central "D" rune of the magical tool lit up, and the Orichalcum gate groaned as it opened.
After adjusting their gear, the group entered the underground dungeon. But the moment they stepped in, something felt wrong.
The floor and walls were covered in fleshy green material, like veins of living meat.
Everyone had experienced the food vault incident and immediately realized: the artificial dungeon had been transformed by the corrupted spirits into a breeding nest.
Charles also noticed flickering red veins of light among the green mass—parts of a massive magic circle.
Everyone tightened their guard, bracing for another grueling battle.
Charles, however, felt a little relief. His greatest worry about the artificial dungeon had been its traps and mechanisms. But in this altered state, no trap was likely to function properly.
Moreover, they all heard it—an unsettling sound reverberating through the tunnels, somewhere between breathing and a heartbeat.
The moment they stepped onto the green surface, a swarm of man-eating flower vines erupted, spearing toward them like javelins.
But before they could get close, they were shredded—Ais, having activated [Ariel], created a blade barrier of wind that repelled every incoming threat.
Without missing a beat, the team continued deeper into the dungeon.
Clearing obstacles and guided by the Daedalus Eye, they soon reached the tenth floor's great chamber.
This space had once served as the dark faction's meeting hall, but it had now become the corrupted spirits' nest.
The bizarre pulsing sound they had heard earlier clearly originated from the massive mass of vines bundled before them.
Riveria asked, "Shall we test it with a magic bombardment first?"
Charles shook his head. "No need. The host already knows we're here."
The vines quivered and unfurled, revealing the corrupted spirit within.
"Uaaaahhh!!"
If the previous corrupted clones had retained even a trace of divine dignity, this one was a pure embodiment of filth. Its exterior remained deceptively beautiful, but its aura reeked of madness.
Charles raised his battle flag, his fighting spirit igniting into flame.
"Then I'll go first!"
With that, he charged forward, unleashing a blast of Fire Dragon's Blazing Flame.
The corrupted spirit screamed and retaliated, clashing with Charles in a magic duel. Lightning and flame collided, scouring the green flesh around them and revealing the ultra-hard metal floor beneath.
Charging through the firelight, Charles closed in and smashed apart the attacking vines with his flag.
The rest of the party didn't lag behind—they struck together, cleaving through the spirit's outer defenses. Greataxes, twin blades, curved knives, war boots, rapiers, spears—every weapon tore into the corrupted body, even managing to destroy parts of its core.
The corrupted spirit howled again, releasing a massive cloud of white vapor that knocked everyone back.
"It's burning hot!" Tiona shook her scorched arm in pain. The heat radiating from the creature had raised the chamber's temperature drastically.
Gareth frowned. "Is it healing itself? This one's different from the others."
Indeed, something was off. The vines parasitizing the female form kept swelling, red markings crawling up the body. Its green shell cracked, exposing black tissue beneath.
Everyone had wondered why Dionysus would use such a seemingly weak creature as his trump card. Now, they saw the truth—this monster was only beginning to reveal its true form.
The corrupted spirit kept growing until all its green parts fell away as dead husks. What emerged was a pitch-black monster, the very embodiment of despair.
"…Is that… a dragon?" Finn muttered.
Before them now stood a beast with three pairs of six wings, covered in black scales, with a demonic head—it was the very image of an evil dragon from legend.
And the corrupted spirit itself had stretched out its arms as if crucified, now fused with the magic stone, half its face missing as if it had been devoured by the dragon.
The first to move wasn't Charles or Finn—but Ais.
The usual emerald winds around her had turned into jet-black flames.
Her skill [Avenger Princess] had activated—born from hatred of monsters, especially dragons, it fueled her with terrifying strength. She returned to her cold, emotionless "Doll Princess" state of old.
Perhaps her black flames had a particular resonance with the corrupted spirit—now turned dragon—as the beast stilled briefly.
But sensing the threat, it launched a magical barrage at her.
"No way I'm letting you hurt our princess!"
Gareth and Bete surged forward, tearing through Nidhogg's magic with brute force.
Ais closed in, plunging her flame-wreathed Despair Sword toward the core.
But Nidhogg raised its giant claw—the sword only knocked off a few scales.
A dragon was a dragon. Even if born from corrupted spirits, dragon-scale defense was no joke.
"Burn it all—Sword of Surtr! My name is Alf! High Victory Sword!"
Riveria followed up with a bombardment. Her flame blade struck Nidhogg dead-on, sending a shockwave through the chamber.
But as the smoke cleared, Nidhogg only bore a single wound, a few shattered scales littering the floor.
While cutting down some lingering vines, Finn suddenly noticed Charles tossing him the battle flag.
"Use this, Finn. Pray to the heroes!"
Finn caught it. He didn't know what this flag truly was—but he trusted Charles wouldn't act rashly at a time like this.
Trusting his instincts, he gripped the fluttering flag and began to pray.
A horn sounded.
To everyone's astonishment, one by one, glowing figures began to appear behind Finn.
Even Charles, who had crafted the flag, hadn't expected this outcome.
What Finn summoned wasn't a single heroic spirit—it was the entire Heroic Spirit Corps of the Fianna Knights.
Historically, the Fianna Knights had been composed entirely of belittled Pallum.
But in those dark times, they carved through despair like a blade of light. Wherever the smoke of oathfire rose, they would arrive and, with unparalleled skill, repel the monsters.
Behind Finn now stood that legendary corps. At its head rode a Pallum astride a blazing blue steed, crimson eyes gleaming from beneath a helm.
The banner adorned with a lance design fluttered proudly. As the lead Pallum pointed his lance toward Nidhogg, the Fianna Knights charged as one—straight toward the dragon.
------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!
Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256) — $5
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336) — $5
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542) — $5
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924) — $5
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284) — $5
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289) — $5
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316) — $5
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402) — $5
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570) — $5
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660) — $5
Get access to all of them for just $15 on Patre@n!
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]