211 From 210.56 layer.txt (1/2)

There was still more than half of the labyrinth left to be explored. Fifty-six layers in number - and it sounds insane to end it in a single labyrinth search.

Reiner doubted my sanity. But this was a skill 'sensitivity' - above all, it was a decision I made with all of my experience to date. That premonition has reached a certain level of certainty.

''I ran around the castle today and managed to mend it, but ...... I'm at the end of my rope. After talking to the two of you, I'm sure of it. Lord could collapse again at any moment, and Nosfi could change his mind again at any moment. Maybe there's no time left.

I assure you while leading the way.

'Something about this stagnant 'world' (vii'ishia) is in motion now that you've met the Lord, called up Nosphy, and the two 'saviors' are together 'here'.

'But Lord's feeling better now, and you've arranged for him to make up with the Nosfi guy, right?　And yet, should we be in that much of a hurry?

'I think it's only on the surface. I'm just guessing from my experience fighting various guardians (guardians) up until now, but clearly they're both crazy. ......

Unlike at the end of yesterday's labyrinthine search, both of their expressions were brighter.

Lord's tantrum has subsided, and Nosfi has become more mature.

It's going well - it looks like it's going well. But that's not the kind of life I can be optimistic about.

Rather, it's the opposite of 'things are going well'.

It's the opposite of 'I'm doing well'; I'm even feeling trapped.

That's why I'm going to get off the ground as soon as possible.

It's too closed in 'here' to do anything.

...... I understand what Christ meant,” he said. But don't ever go alone. If you're heading to earth, let me help you.

Ryner nails it, as if I looked like I was having a hard time with it.

I shake my head softly and tell him of my inexperience.

'Yeah, I'm not reckless. I mean, it's rather tough without Ryner. If you don't help me, I probably won't be able to make it through the day.

Those are definitely the words from the heart.

It's because we've killed each other several times that Ryner and I are able to clash with our true feelings. Furthermore, after exploring the labyrinth together for the past few days, I've come to understand Ryner's way of thinking. I want to make the most of that strength.

We were dropped to the bottom of the labyrinth and formed a party in a hurry, but I feel like we're finally becoming real friends.

Perhaps Reiner thought the same thing as I did, but he didn't doubt my words and patted his shoulder with relief.

'Let's go, Reiner. There's no rest from here on out.

''Haha, you're a rough party leader: ....... --OKE.

In order not to regret it, I climbed the stairs leading to the fifty-sixth layer.

There was not the slightest bit of carelessness in his steps.

Of course, I didn't intend to be careless in my search until yesterday. However, right now, this is the time to refocus my attention on the fifty and sixty layers, as I intend to undergo the 'test' of the fifty and sixty layers.

To be honest, after the battle with Palinclone, I've lost the magical stone in my body, and I've become weak. My 'qualities' were refined and certain skills were weakened.

But instead, my mind became stronger - I don't doubt that.

I will not be afraid again. I will not run away from this world. Nor will I make a mistake in my wishes. I will not be alone and lose myself.

I will rely on the strength of my heart and enter the fifty-sixth layer.

And the familiar stone corridor stretches out in front of me.

The labyrinth's construction seems to have returned to normal here.

Unlike the craggy rock surfaces of the lower levels, the walls are still slightly luminescent, but you can see in the Dimension that the axis is an intricate maze.

The maze feature is an unlikely obstacle for me as a dimensional wizard. While reassured by this familiar corridor, we proceeded at a fast pace along the shortest route we had grasped in Dimension.

We encountered several monsters along the way, but we weren't attacked. Just as Nosfi had said, it seems that no belligerent monsters will appear while the characteristics of the light attribute are still present. Apparently, the fifty-sixth layer is still a safe zone.

While there's still time to spare, we'll discuss the finer points of our earlier absurd proposal.

'But, Christ. What about food, even if we are going to the ground this time?　We only have enough for one more meal, right?

Reiner checks the practical part.

There is no good food in the 'possessions' right now. Partly because the Lord wasted my food yesterday, but fundamentally there is not enough food.

'The food--let's hold off on that.

”Ta, that's a simple solution: ......

Ryner's voice trembles at that fundamentally untrue answer.

Although he was dressed up and said ”I'll help you”, he seems to regret his overly wild plan a bit.

''No, I'm not saying this without any calculations, so don't worry. I don't think it will prevent you from getting sick from being hungry, but I don't think it will hurt you that badly if you're on the hierarchy from here on out.

Sure, the enemy will only get weaker from here on out, but ......

For me, a few days ago (apparently a year ago in real life: ......), when I hunted monsters with Rastiara and the others near the 40th layer, I didn't feel that the enemies were strong. As long as we entered the forty layer range, we wouldn't be scared of monsters like we were in the sixty layer range.

''Also, I've done proper time calculation. I've completely memorized the path from the ground to the forty layers, so I actually only have sixteen layers left to go. And if you consider that it takes about two hours to complete one layer of these sixteen layers, the time needed is about thirty-two hours. And the forty layers that I know the way to, I think I can do the forty layers in about twenty hours if I don't waste any time, so the total time is ......--

Mmmmmm: ......

Hmmm, in a nutshell, if you proceed with a couple of days of no sleep, you'll be done.

Ryner's face twisted when he talked about the details of the numbers, so he gave a rough time - two days.

That's right.

It's just a matter of putting up with it for only two days or so. On a positive note, it looks like we can solve the food problem by returning to the ground at once.

Even if they had to be a little reckless, as long as they could get to the forty layers, they would almost always win. If they could place the Connection at the 30th level, they would definitely be able to return to the ground (the goal).

It was a challenge with a good chance of success.

However, if it were me, I wouldn't be taking on this challenge.

It's because if you put profit and loss first, it's not rational to take such a risk.

As a timid person, I would be afraid to go through the labyrinth if I didn't have a hundred percent chance of winning and absolute safety.

But I'm not going to do that anymore.

A hundred percent win rate and absolute safety are just an illusion.

It has bled into my mind. There is no such thing as a hundred percent. It's impossible.

It's because you think about safety margins and margins of safety that you are always one step too late. On the contrary, more often than not, what I thought was the best thing I could do ended up backfiring and causing trouble for many people.

That's why I decided to hurry on, even if it meant taking a risk.

I used to be too scared to even run, but I should be able to run through it now.

Ah. There are about sixteen layers left - I'm going to fly and fly and fly.

”Huh, two days ......, you're going to keep going without sleeping ......

But seeing my prepared face, Ryner looked uneasy.

I'm just saying that's about the most I can estimate. If we run seriously with our current physical abilities, we can shorten a lot of things. If it works, we'll be done in a day. ...... I've done more than that in the 'Dancing Tournament' so I can afford it, but is it tougher for Reiner?

'No, I'm pretty good at not sleeping too. ...... but I'm not sure I can stay focused when I'm not sleeping.

In my case, once the sleepiness has gone around for a week, my nerves are sharp in reverse. I was even told by Rustyala that the sleepier I was, the stronger I was.

But apparently that's not the case with Ryner.

It seems to depend on the person's affinity for sleepiness.

But that was to be expected, so I quickly explained the alternative plan I had prepared.

'With ......, you can take some time off for the liner.'

Seeing me immediately retract my previous statement, Ryner is puzzled.

''No, you can't rest in the labyrinth. I mean, weren't you talking about going without resting?''

'Technically, I guess that means we won't have to start over. We're not going to go back to Viaisia and start over again from the fifty-sixth layer - we're not going to do that.

'But you can't rest until you get back to Vyasia. You can't relax in the labyrinth, as it were.

Yeah. So let's just take one of the Connection back to Viysia and take a break.

Just one of them?

'Oh, only one of us who needs to rest will return to Vyasia. The other one will go to the labyrinth to guard the Connection alone.

'Oh, you can do that too: ......

Finally, Ryner looks convinced.

It's a highly risky method, but the rewards of success are great. He seems to understand that as well.

''The higher we go back up, the easier the defense of the Connection will be, so I don't think it won't be too difficult.

Of course, there is the possibility of failure.

But if I fail to defend myself and am left behind in the labyrinth, all I have to do is make another ”Connection” and leave. If Ryner is left behind, though, I'll have to bow to Lord and Nosfi in Viisia and ask them to help me rescue him: .......

''If this method of resting works, I think we can certainly return to the ground on this quest.

'You've thought a lot about it, for one thing. But that Christ must be very serious about choosing such a dangerous method.

'Yeah, I'm in a real hurry. ...... No, I really should have done this all along.

Although I am grateful to The Pledge of the Deepest (Di Cavernanter), I am certain that I have induced slackness. I had long since forgotten the frustration I once felt when I was about to run to the deepest depths without sleep or rest.

After all, there is no power in the world that can be trusted completely.

Anything can be either a poison or a medicine, depending on how you use it.

'Christ, the road is getting a little darker: ......

As we were talking about the plan of exploration this time, we had come to the depths of the fifty-sixth layer. Since it was still mainly light-attribute monsters, we were able to proceed smoothly without getting into a battle.

However, the brightness of the corridor visibly changed when we came here.

The more I advanced, the less light there was, and occasionally it would blink like a light bulb that was about to go out. It seemed to indicate that the safe zone of the light attribute was broken.

'Yeah, let's proceed with caution,' Like Nosfi said, the enemy's attributes might be changing soon.''

The only thing that hasn't attacked me is the light-attribute monsters.

I become more vigilant and push forward into the darkness.

And when the brightness of the corridor has dropped to the usual dimness, I reach the stairs leading to the fifty-five levels. Before going up the stairs, I lightly skip the 《Dimension》.

What was waiting for me at the fifty-fifth layer were not glowing monsters, but fierce wind-attribute monsters that looked as if they had appeared near the sixty-sixth layer. The ceiling was a bit high, and it was an unsanitary corridor of familiar rock-making.

I'm sure the monsters will attack from here on out. I'm going to avoid the enemy as much as possible, but even then I can't avoid all of them, so please.

Yeah, I know. As always, I'll take care of the vanguard.

With Reiner in the lead, we descended to the fifty-fifth layer.

Then, we aim to reach the ground through the shortest route calculated by the Dimension. The enemy's perceptual range is based on the high green element on the upper level as a guide. It was predicted that this layer, which is nearly ten layers shallow, would not exceed that wide range of perception.

Along the way, of course, unlike the light hierarchy, there would be places where we couldn't proceed smoothly. There are monsters that stand in the way that cannot be avoided. In that case, the two of us will have to take it by surprise. Unlike the previous explorations, there's no wait-and-see. We prioritize saving time over safety and force our way through.

The monster you're dealing with is a beast-shaped monster that resembles a wolf. What makes it different from a normal wolf would be its four legs. Instead of flesh legs, it walks through the sky with its dense legs of magic power.

[Monster] Skyrunner: rank 52.

His name is Sky Runner.

As the name suggests, a wolf that runs in the sky.

We attack from the Sky Runner's blind spot.

The liner runs in a straight line toward the enemy, and I follow behind it.

Along the way, I speak to the knight in the vanguard with plenty of time to spare.

'I'll correct one thing I said earlier about sleeplessness ......, I don't think I'm as dangerous as Ryner is worried about, because we're getting stronger. Because we're getting stronger. Especially Ryner, that one is already--

Sensing the attack, the Skyrunner turns around.

Its reaction speed is so fast that its surprise attack will be intercepted without success. Recognizing the enemy, the two front legs of the Skyrunner transform into a disastrously shaped claw.

The liner runs on the ground and the skyrunner runs through the air and intersects with it.

The first blow - the liner's twin swords collided with the Skyrunner's claws and fangs, and they bounced backwards into each other. And the second blow that followed. Seeing that Ryner and Skyrunner charged in the same way, I activate my magic without chanting.

Having kept the first intersection under observation, I predict the second blow's movement.

Based on that information, I really lightly - change the trajectory of both attacks with Dimension Curved Warfare Operation (Difference). Probably, the only thing that shifted was a distance of less than an inch. However, its effect is immense.

''--Wind Flamberge!

Only Reiner's all-out magic sword strikes directly.

The sharpness of the karma's twin swords were amplified by the wind's magical power. As a result, without much resistance, the Skyrunner's body was severed and turned into light and disappeared.

The battle is over, and he says the rest of the words with conviction.

''--It's already in another dimension of strength.

Even in this deep layer, Ryner's attack power is sufficient. The sword I'm using may have an effect on me, but if I'm dealing with a monster that's a bit weaker around here, I can win if I take the initiative and strike the biggest blow I can.

Ryner nods his head in question as he tosses the fallen magic stone to me.

''Have you gotten that strong?　I think the enemies are just getting weaker: ....... For example, the guardians (guardians) - aren't they still not as good as Lord, Nosfi, Palinclone and Mr. Rowen and the others?

'No, they say it's the wrong person to compare, that ....... You should be more confident in yourself, Reiner.

The first time I met Ryner, he was on the verge of being devoured by a single-digit hierarchical monster.

But the next time I met him, he showed me the urgency, albeit with abandon, and the next time I met him, he worked with his friends, but he cornered me. Then, in the last battle against Palinkulon, he showed that he was completely talented and stood shoulder to shoulder with me.

On top of that, I'm currently learning magic from the thousand-year-old Demon King Lord, and my equipment is being enhanced by Reynand, the owner of the thousand-year-old Divine Iron Forge, and I'm raising the bar even higher.