Chapter 46 - The Guardian of the Last Floor (Final) (1/2)

The bottom of the staircase opened up into a massive open room, empty save for the pillars that dotted the area. Each pillar had a spiral pattern engraved into its stone face. It gave off the impression that each pillar was a massive tree with vines entwined around its trunk. The pillars were all spaced evenly apart from each other, and extended all the way to the ceiling thirty meters above. The ground was unnaturally smooth, as if it had been paved. All in all, it was a very majestic room.

They took a step forward as they marveled at the room's design. The moment they stepped inside, the pillars in front of them began glowing faintly. The two of them instantly returned to their senses and warily observed their surroundings. Starting from the pillars nearest to them, each set began glowing one after the other.

Rio knew what would happen next, so he informed his girls to stay on their guard. They then carefully continued forward. Everyone was on alert for any sign of enemies.

After about two hundred meters of walking, they found themselves staring at the opposite wall. Set within it was a massive set of doors. The ten-meter-tall pair of double doors also had something engraved into them. There was a heptagon carved into each, with a peculiar pattern adorning each vertex of the shape.

”Well, that's quite the impressive entrance. Do you think this is...” Liselotte trailed.

”...Where the liberators live?” Aletia responded.

It really looked like the kind of room that'd have the last boss in it. Though none of Liselotte's perception skills were picking up on anything, her instincts were screaming at him nonetheless. ”It's dangerous to go any further,” they told her. Aletia felt it as well, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

”Well, if it is, that's just perfect. That means we've finally made it to our goal.” Liselotte pushed down her instincts and put on her confident smile as she threw a meaningful gaze at Rio who allowed the girls to have their moment. No matter what was ahead, they had no choice but to move forward.

”...Yeah!” Aletia nodded her assent as she followed Liselotte's example before she and Liselotte glared resolutely at the double doors.

”Good spirit, girls. But, don't be overconfident.” Rio reminded them easily.

Afterward, they stepped forward simultaneously, walking past the last pair of pillars. The moment they cleared them... a massive, thirty-meter large magic circle appeared in the air between them and the door. It pulsed malignantly as it shot out a gout of dark red light.

This kind of magic circle was very familiar to Rio. He could never forget the magic circle that was responsible for sending him and the students on the bridge. However, this one was three times the size of the one that had summoned the behemoth, and the inscriptions on it were far more complex and precise.

”Well, that size is no joke. We're seriously up against this place's strongest monster, aren't we?” Liselotte commented in worry as she watched the magic circle.

”Don't worry... we won't lose.” Rio tried to calm Liselotte with an optimistic smile. Meanwhile, Aletia nodded her agreement and displayed resolute expression.

However, Rio's smile understandably faltered a little, Liselotte's tight expression turned into a deep grimace, Aletia's determined expression remained unshaken but she tightly squeezed Rio's arm when they the magic circle let out one last incandescent burst of light and displayed their foe. What stood before them was a monster thirty meters in length. It had six heads attached to very long necks, each of which had a different-colored pattern engraved into its head and a pair of dark red eyes. It resembled the Hydra from Earth's myth.

Although Rio had the utmost confidence to win in a fight against the hydra, the size and its monstrous appearance still caught him off guard.

”Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!” It let out a peculiar howl and focused all six pairs of eyes on Rio, Liselotte, and Aletia. Determined to pass judgment on the foolish intruders, the Hydra unleashed a wave of bloodl.u.s.t so powerful it would have stopped a normal person's heart on the spot.