Looking Forward to Another World Chapter 738: Faith in the Unreasonable (300 PS BONUS)

Swiftly the hours flew by, and as morning gave way to dusk, night descended.

For those lost within the depths of the Man-Made Dungeon Knossos, a place untouched by the sun's embrace, the arrival of night was a trivial matter. However, for the vigilant support team members waiting anxiously on the surface for the return of their exploration party, this very passage of time amplified their growing unease.

Consequently, a palpable tension began to spread amongst the support group, gathered in a state of heightened alert before the ominous entrance of Knossos, their hushed voices soon filling the air.

"...Riveria, what are your thoughts?"

Loki, her gaze fixed unyieldingly on the dungeon's maw, finally broke the silence, her question tinged with worry as no sign of movement had occurred even after nightfall.

Upon hearing this, Riveria, standing close by Loki's side, assumed a somber mien.

"The agreed-upon timeframe has already passed..." Riveria stated with a level tone. "Before we entered the labyrinth, Finn declared that if they hadn't returned by now, with no word whatsoever received, it would signify either a catastrophic event or their entrapment."

"Well, there isn't much we can do about that, is there?" Loki replied with a heavy sigh. "It's a labyrinth none of us have ever encountered. If it were one of the familiar Dungeons, Finn and the others might devise a solution, but this man-made one? It's simply an unfair challenge. Who truly knows the dangers lurking within?"

"There is but one certainty we can cling to..." Riveria murmured, pausing briefly before continuing, "That this labyrinth likely surpasses our initial estimations in scale."

Indeed, given the formidable capabilities of the advance party, it was inconceivable they would remain out of contact for such an extended duration without having returned, unless the labyrinth itself presented an unforeseen immensity.

Riveria then added, her voice a curious blend of resignation and stunned disbelief.

"Though my mind resists the notion, we must seriously consider this labyrinth as a potential second dungeon. Even if it's not identical, its sheer magnitude may rival that of the Dungeon's Upper Floors."

This statement carried a world-shattering implication: the Man-Made Dungeon was, at the very least, as profound as the second tier of a standard dungeon.

"Tch, so it's not just some mere entryway to a second dungeon, but essentially a whole separate one, huh?" Loki clicked her tongue, her words laced with a mix of awe and apprehension. "Hah, this Lower World truly teems with mysteries that defy even divine expectations. To think something so utterly unknown could exist... should I be excited, or dreading it?"

"Loki, this is hardly the moment for levity," Riveria admonished with a frown. "The critical issue at hand is whether we should initiate a rescue operation."

"Hmm..."

Loki immediately clasped her arms, sinking into deep contemplation.

Her heart yearned to venture forth and rescue Finn and the others. Yet, their strength far surpassed that of the support group, and the unknown perils within this labyrinth, capable of ensnaring them, remained a terrifying mystery. Should the support group charge in blindly, they risked becoming mere lambs to the slaughter, vanishing without a trace.

If this labyrinth indeed harbored such extreme dangers, then as the familia's goddess, Loki's paramount duty was to avert total annihilation at all costs. Thus, even if it meant sacrificing the advance party, the priority remained the preservation of the support group members – a thought both brutal and undeniably necessary.

With this grim realization, Loki spoke.

"We must take action, but the time for your direct involvement has not yet arrived," Loki stated with composed resolve. "I can still perceive their Falna have not vanished."

As the goddess of the familia, she possessed a faint sensitivity to the Falna she herself had bestowed.

Regrettably, this sense offered little tactical advantage, its sole purpose being to inform the goddess of the count of engraved Falna and whether any of her charges had met their demise.

Nevertheless, in the current predicament, she could ascertain that while Finn and his companions had not yet returned, they were, at the very least, still alive and had not fallen.

"They are most likely trapped, or perhaps they encountered an obstacle preventing their immediate return."

Loki lightly tapped her cheeks, then turned to Riveria, issuing a series of clear directives.

"Dispatch a few of our beast-kin members, those renowned for their swiftness and keen senses, to conduct reconnaissance. They need not venture too deep; their primary objective is to gather any available intelligence."

"Additionally, send individuals to the Guild. Task them with diligently searching for any records pertaining to the architect of this domain, the craftsman known as Daedalus."

"I harbor a strong premonition that this labyrinth bears a connection to that individual, and the Guild may hold pertinent information about him."

Upon hearing these instructions, Riveria nodded, then sought clarification.

"Finn and the others should be safe for the time being, correct?"

In response to Riveria's question, Loki offered a wide, reassuring smile.

"No matter what, Finn and Gareth are already Level 7, Tiona and Tione are Level 6, and even Raul and Aki are Level 5. We have to trust them."

"Besides, even if something unexpected arises, someone among them will undoubtedly step up and resolve everything cleanly."

"Don't forget, within our familia, there exists someone who completely goes against common sense..."

Loki's significant words caused Riveria to fall silent, as she inherently understood who Loki was alluding to. The only point of confusion was why Loki possessed such unwavering faith in that particular individual.

"Don't worry, that kid is incredibly capable."

Loki placed a hand on Riveria's shoulder and stated this, a subtle glint in her eyes.

It couldn't be helped.

"Anyone who perceives that kid as merely some ordinary Level 6 has essentially reached a dead end."

Leaving these pronouncements behind, Loki offered no further commentary.

Riveria, too, gradually withdrew, commencing the execution of the directives Loki had laid out.

At this juncture, approximately ten hours had elapsed since the vanguard had penetrated Knossos, and the conflict within its confines persisted without abatement.

===

Within a resilient corridor constructed from stone, a formidable door wrought from orichalcum slammed downwards with immense force, effectively sealing the passage ahead and ensnaring those who had ventured thus far, precluding any further advance.

Concurrently, accompanied by a hoarse, ragged roar, a multitude of vibrantly hued monsters erupted from the fractured walls, the floor, and the ceiling, their predatory gazes fixed upon the trapped prey.

However, in that precise moment, the roles of hunter and hunted underwent a dramatic reversal.

A ferocious tempest suddenly unleashed itself within the confined corridor, unleashing countless razor-sharp wind blades that swept towards the encroaching monsters from all directions.

Instantly, the sound of flesh being rent echoed repeatedly, as merciless incisions harvested the monsters surging from every perimeter, felling them one by one.

In the blink of an eye, all the Violas were torn asunder as if dismembered, their forms disintegrating into fragments of flesh. Simultaneously, all the caterpillar-like monsters, the Virgas, were ruthlessly cleaved apart, bursting open on the spot and expelling copious amounts of corrosive fluid.

As for the Valgs, some were flattened by massive pieces of Viola flesh, others succumbed to corrosion from the acidic spray of the Virgas, and a portion were caught in the tempest of cutting wind blades, shredded into unrecognizable bits, leaving no intact remains.

Riezel annihilated a staggering number of monsters in this manner, dispatching the vividly colored creatures with an ease akin to slaughtering common beasts.

Regrettably, the sheer quantity of these monsters proved overwhelming. Even after Riezel's relentless assault, they continued to pour forth endlessly from every angle. Some even consumed the magic stones of their fallen comrades, enhanced their capabilities, and only then advanced towards him.

Undeniably, this represented a form of violence driven by sheer numbers, a human-wave tactic—or rather, more accurately, an insect-wave tactic. Confronted by such numerical might, even Riezel found himself under considerable pressure as a vast number of vividly colored monsters converged upon him.

The Valgs, in particular, due to their diminutive size, exhibited dramatically increased agility, enabling them to swarm within a mere two to three meters of Riezel in mere instants.

Riezel promptly initiated the deployment of landmine magic in his immediate vicinity.

Without delay, a Valg triggered a magic landmine that had seamlessly concealed itself beneath the ground. Following the detonation of this magical trap, the creature was completely obliterated.

Explosions continuously erupted in Riezel's surroundings, unleashing formidable shockwaves. These blasts not only pulverized the advancing Valgs but also propelled many nearby monsters backward, effectively preventing them from closing the distance.

Riezel maintained his resolute stance, alternating between the application of swordsmanship and magic, single-handedly stemming the tide of a monstrous horde that would have presented a severe challenge even to Finn, Ais, and their companions, potentially forcing them into a desperate plight.

However, the number of vividly colored monsters showed no indication of diminishing, as fresh waves were incessantly replenished from the walls, floor, and ceiling, progressively fueling Riezel's mounting irritation.

"Tch, there must be a breeding ground for these infernal monsters somewhere nearby."

Otherwise, such an unending stream of their kind would be impossible to sustain.

"Huft, there's no way to annihilate them all through attrition like this..."

With time rapidly running out, Riezel decisively cast aside all reservations and unleashed a devastating, high-impact offensive.

Indeed, Riezel resorted to employing a long-range instant-death magic.

Although he was not a practitioner of necromancy and lacked specialized abilities to augment the success rate of instant-death spells, rendering him incapable of instantly dispatching opponents of a significant power level, the vividly colored monsters were undeniably less formidable compared to him and still fell within the parameters of targets susceptible to instant annihilation.

Thus, when a shriek, like that of a banshee, tore through the corridor and reverberated within the enclosed space, every living creature present, save for Riezel, met an impartial end.

What end was this?

Death.

"..."

The vividly colored monsters that had been charging towards Riezel abruptly halted, frozen in place. After a considerable pause, they began to fall, one by one, their life force extinguished, transforming into mere corpses.

"Now!"

Amidst the sealed corridor strewn with monster remains, Riezel suddenly propelled himself upwards.

Fiery flames burst forth from his form as he drew his black blade, which radiated intense heat. He then swung it downwards in an arc, mirroring the sun's path.

Instantly, the adamantite floor fractured under the onslaught of the blazing wheel of fire.

Riezel pressed onward, venturing deeper into Knossos, resolutely advancing towards the floor where the enemy leaders were concentrated.

===