Licht said, "Ok then." As they descended, the voice said, "Leave." Liebe said, "I refuse." As they went on deeper and deeper, and at one point the stairs split. Licht said, "What now?" Liebe said, "We split up. M, you are with Alysa and Fate. Licht, you got Isurugi and Elizabeth. And I will go straight." Licht said, "Seems like a plan." As they split up, while walking M said, "It sure is getting dark." Alysa said, "Yeah it is." M said, "Holy Light Magic: Luminescence!" as her hands started to glow as they encountered trouble—more golems.
Meanwhile, in the room with Licht, he said, "It's best not to walk in blindly. Light Magic: Creation's First Light!" as he created a 3D map of the structure. Isurugi said, "It is quite convenient." Elizabeth said, "Let's rush in and get that treasure!" Licht said, "I doubt there is any treasure there that can be worth more." Licht said, "Same, but be on guard."
Meanwhile, on the way Liebe is going, seeing the walls as Liebe was walking, Liebe could sense and think, These walls are definitely made of pitch black obsidian, yet the writings are made of artinium. Based on how much was at the mural, and these writings are made of either artinium or aldinium. I doubt in this place there is any less than 30 tons of it. The mural alone had more than 20 tons. But what could be written on it that someone would use such expensive and heavy materials? At least we can be sure about the fact that they certainly didn't want it getting damaged. 'Virgin goddess of the hearth, Freya, boulder'—what the hell can it mean? Can the stories, poems, and myths have been true? But that would mean..... yeah, it can't be. Wait! I have magic. Dark Magic: Mana Resonance. Let's see what shows up in my brain. Maybe if the creator of this mural was strong enough, maybe I can sense their mana.
As he tried, his brain was overflowed with information as he lost consciousness. And soon, he couldn't help but hear apologies. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Yet everything felt like it was a letter, as he could hear the words from a woman's voice. "Soon we will reach Mikill," a man stated. "Princess, soon we will reach Mikill." The woman said, "Thank you. I really do miss Mikill, don't get me wrong—the nation of Akishima and Sakuragi." The man said, "Of course." The woman said, "I wish this moment could stretch for an eternity." The man said, "Lady ..... is waiting for us."
And he woke up as water was dripping on his forehead. After waking up, Liebe said, "What the hell was that? And why the hell does my mouth feel so dry? And what the hell is Mikill or Akishima or even Sakuragi? And what was even that last name? I can't even remember. Well, no point in thinking about it. But these walls sure are nice." As he kept walking down, he finally saw light. He had made it.
Licht said, "And where have you been?" Liebe said, "I don't know. I fell asleep." Licht said, "You have been missing for more than 12 hours. Alysa almost died from worrying." Liebe said, "Well, I was looking at the wall and, well, I got carried away and fell asleep. And here I am now." Licht said, "Let's go then." Liebe said, "We are on the 3rd floor and this thing has 10 floors, so just about 7 more left since we are done here." Licht said, "Wait up first. Let us finish eating." Liebe said, "Grab me a plate, will you?" Licht said, "This is far too good to share." Liebe said, "Sad to know," as he sat down.
Licht said, "Alysa, so what have you been doing for the year?" Alysa said, "Running the restaurant with Mr. Hiroto and training for an hour or two." Licht said, "So basically cooking." Alysa said, "Yeah." As Licht took his first bite, Licht said, "This has been the best training I have tasted so far." Liebe said, "You mean seen?" Licht said, "No, tasted. It's amazing." Liebe said, "I mean, her cooking was already good, but it couldn't have gotten that much better." As Liebe took his first bite, he said, "This is heaven. You really did utilize the past year the best." Licht said, "Told you." Alysa said, "It isn't that special. What have you two been eating for the past year?" Licht said, "Bugs." Liebe said, "Whatever monster I killed. And well, Fang was at the monster buffet—ate every monster." Licht said, "Same here, but part of my journey was to eat bugs." Alysa said, "I'm sorry for your loss." Liebe said, "Don't be. Most of them tasted great—meat with low fats, just the way I like it." Licht said, "What, that pity or sympathy?" Alysa said, "Both." M said, "I had an actual buffet. The Grand Maestro had me as a guest, so food wasn't a concern." Licht said, "Somehow, I really do hate you." Liebe said, "Agreed."
The descent was a gauntlet. After splitting up, each floor tested them in new ways.
The Fourth Floor was a gallery of horror—a forest of explorers and warriors turned to permanent, screaming stone. They moved through in a hushed, fearful silence.
The Fifth Floor was a maddening, shifting labyrinth. Licht's magic maps were useless against the breathing, rearranging corridors. They only escaped by trusting M's instinct to feel the dungeon's pulse.
The Sixth Floor was an armory of cursed, sentient weapons that hummed with dark power. It was a test of greed, and they passed by resisting the temptation to touch a single blade.
The Seventh Floor was a trial of endurance: a narrow path over a lake of fire. The scorching heat threatened to overwhelm them as they leaped from one crumbling basalt pillar to the next, their very boots smoldering.
Stumbling onto the 8th floor, they were exhausted. A moment of respite came as they shared a meal, the simple taste of Alysa's cooking briefly restoring their spirits and reminding them of a world above. But the comfort was short-lived. A new voice, cold and commanding, soon echoed from the darkness ahead: "Leave." The fight was upon them.
As they rushed through the floors, soon they had reached the 8th floor as they saw a devil. The devil said, "Leave." Liebe said, "Make us." As it created more powerful devils, Liebe said, "Let me take the big one. You guys can take the rest." Licht said, "8 for the 7 of us seems unfair, but I don't mind taking two."
As Liebe rushed towards the devil, it said, "Mercury Magic: Endless Rebirth!" as a female humanoid-shaped mercury stopped him, while two men—one with dual swords and steel, and the other with a long katana and water magic—came to face him. For M, it was a man with a broadsword; for Alysa, it was a giant with a club; for Fate, it was a woman with string magic; for Elizabeth, it was a small man with flame; for Isurugi, it was a man with acid powers.
As the devil extended his wings, he said, "I will not fall. Dustk will arise!" Liebe said, "If you plan on throwing this thing into Eldoria, I will stop you no matter what." Licht said, "Stop giving the big bad devil ideas, dumbass!" Liebe said, "Ohh, sorry."
As it stated, "Bone Magic: Death Grip!" as bones pierced Liebe's legs. As it said, "Mercury Magic: Spear!" as mercurian spears pierced Liebe. The devil said, "I don't know who you are, but you all will die quickly."