Chapter 22

The days when the moon was in a bad mood passed easily. After killing the fake Alawani without any questions, Aichi was directly drained of blood until he fainted. The value of such actions lay in their ability to successfully restore the moon's mood. Indeed, when she was angry, eating delicious food would improve her mood. After the moon's mood was restored, the two of them were once again busy with the dungeon strategy.

Then, finally, they advanced further, and the next level was the hundredth level from the initial level. Before this step, Aichi conducted the final equipment check and replenishment, while the moon, as usual, watched Aichi's work without tiring. It was not that she was interested in Aichi's work, but rather that she enjoyed watching Aichi work. Now, the moon was by Aichi's side, leisurely alternating her gaze between Aichi and his work. Her expression was relaxed, which did not match the dungeon.

Since meeting the moon, how many days had passed? Without a sense of time, it was unknown. Recently, the moon often had a leisurely face and a calm expression. Sometimes she would be overtly affectionate. Especially when resting at the base, she would always cling tightly. If lying down, she would hug his arm like a pillow, and if sitting, she would embrace him from behind. When drinking blood, she would always do so face-to-face, and even after finishing, she would not easily leave, using her face to rub against Aichi's chest until she showed a satisfied and relaxed expression.

Aichi was a man. Although the moon's appearance was only that of a twelve or thirteen-year-old, it was endearing and did not easily arouse lust. However, her actual age far exceeded her appearance. Aichi occasionally saw glimpses of this, and her outrageous allure truly troubled him. Since they were still in the dungeon, he could endure by maintaining a constant sense of tension. But after returning to the surface and relaxing, if the moon forced him into her adult mode, Aichi had no confidence in maintaining his rationality. That also meant that it might...

"Aichi... more cautious than usual..."

"Huh? Ah, the next level is the hundredth. I'm thinking there might be something significant. In general, the hundredth level of a dungeon... well, just in case."

When Aichi discovered that this dungeon had more than eighty levels, the possibility that it was the usual "Orkus Great Dungeon" he knew on the surface disappeared. The feeling of falling into the abyss was as if he had already traversed each level. This place was definitely much deeper underground than a typical dungeon.

Spear techniques, body techniques, innate magic, weapons, and alchemy. Aichi was quite confident in his mastery of these. It was impossible for him to be easily defeated. However, the terrifying aspect of this dungeon was its ability to easily deal fatal blows, regardless of such skills.

Therefore, as long as he could prepare, he would do so as much as possible. By the way, Aichi's current attribute status is as follows:

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Nagumo Aichi, 17 years old, male, Level: 76

Profession: Alchemist

Strength: 1980

Endurance: 2090

Resistance: 2070

Agility: 2450

Magic Power: 1780

Magic Resistance: 1780

Skills: Alchemy "+Mineral Identification," "+Precision Alchemy," "+Mineral Exploration," "+Mineral Separation," "+Mineral Fusion," "+Replication Alchemy." Magic Manipulation "+Magic Emission," "+Magic Compression," "+Remote Operation." Stomach Acid Enhancement, "+Lightning Wrap," "+Sky Step," "+Air Force," "+Shrink Earth," "+Powerful Kick." Wind Claw, Night Vision, Far Sight, Breath Perception, Magic Perception, Heat Source Perception, Breath Concealment, Poison Resistance, Paralysis Resistance, Petrification Resistance, Adamantine, Intimidation, Telepathy, Language Understanding

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Since the first time he ate a monster, his attributes have been continuously rising, but his innate magic has not increased much. Eating high-level monsters sometimes grants innate magic, but eating ordinary small monsters no longer does. (Comment: The mighty fake Alawani, is it the same as a small monster? Even the Cyclops (laughs) has Adamantine, sweat...) Monsters also eat each other, and similarly, they do not obtain each other's innate magic. As attributes rise, the body undergoes changes, and it becomes increasingly difficult to learn innate magic.

After a while, all preparations were complete. Aichi and the moon walked towards the stairs leading downstairs.

This level was a space supported by countless thick and sturdy pillars. Each pillar had a diameter of at least five meters and was carved with spiral vine-like patterns. The pillars were arranged at regular intervals, and the distance to the ceiling was probably thirty meters. The ground was smooth and beautiful, without a single rough spot. The space gave a sense of solemnity.

Although Aichi and the moon were captivated by this scene for a while, they eventually entered the space. Then, all the pillars began to emit a faint glow. Aichi and the moon immediately regained their senses and became alert. The pillars started to shine in sequence from their position towards the deeper part.

Aichi and the moon remained alert for a while, confirmed that nothing special had happened, and then proceeded. They steadily advanced with all perception skills activated. After advancing about two hundred meters, they saw the end point ahead. No, it was not the end point; it was a huge door. A double door over ten meters long, intricately carved with beautiful patterns. Especially the seven patterns at the seven vertices of the heptagon gave the impression of depicting something.

"…This is quite impressive. Could it be…"

"…The abode of the rebel?"

It certainly felt like the final boss room. In reality, the perception skills did not react, but Aichi's instincts sounded the alarm. Something was not right ahead. The moon also felt this way, as a fine sweat appeared on her forehead.

"Ha, if it is, that would be great, wouldn't it? We've finally reached the end, right?"

Aichi ignored his instincts, a smile of invincibility on his face. Even if something was waiting inside, the task at hand would not change.

"…Yeah!"

The moon also stared at the door with a determined expression.

Then, the two of them crossed the last pillar in front of the door.

At that moment, a huge magic circle appeared about thirty meters between Aichi and the door, emitting a dark red light and making a pulsating sound.

Aichi recognized the magic circle; it was impossible to forget. On that day, the day Aichi fell into the abyss, he saw the same trap that forced them into a corner. However, the magic circle of Behemoth was about ten meters in diameter, while the one in front of them was three times larger and had a more complex and precise structure.

"Oh, what is this size? Is this really the final boss?"

"…It doesn't matter… We… won't lose…"

Aichi's face twitched into a smile. The moon had a resolute expression and tightly grabbed Aichi's arm.

Hearing the moon's words, Aichi nodded, "Yeah," while a bitter smile appeared on his face as he glared at the magic circle. It seemed they could not proceed without defeating the monster in the magic circle.

The magic circle shone even brighter and finally burst into light, like a split. Aichi and the moon immediately raised their arms to prevent blindness. When the light subsided, what appeared was...

A thirty-meter-long, six-necked, six-headed monster—each head with sharp teeth and dark red eyes—resembling the mythological monster Hydra.

"‘‘‘‘‘Guruaaaaaaah!!’’’’’"

Hydra screamed in a harmonious voice (Comment: Six-part harmony, is it the King's Singers!) and simultaneously pierced Aichi and the moon with six pairs of eyes. Was it to judge the intruders who dared to enter? Hydra released a killing aura that could make ordinary hearts stop beating.

At the same time, the head with red patterns suddenly opened its mouth and released a flame jet (Comment: Fire dragon, huh~). It was already on a scale that could be called a wall of fire.

Aichi and the moon simultaneously dodged to the left and right and began their counterattack. Aichi's Dona fired flames, and the electromagnetic-accelerated super-speed bullets targeted the red head. The bullets hit the red head precisely and blew it away.

First blood! Aichi made a victory sign in his heart when the white-patterned head let out a "Guruaah!" and the red head was enveloped in white light. It was as if the image was rewinding, and the red head returned to its original position. The white head seemed to have used a healing spell.

A little later than Aichi, the moon's ice bullets blew away the green-patterned head, but it also returned to its original state with the white head's cry.

Aichi clicked his tongue and used [Telepathy] to send a message to the moon.

"Moon! Aim for that white head! Otherwise, it will never end!"

"Okay!"

The blue-patterned head spewed ice pellets from its mouth. While dodging, Aichi and the moon aimed at the white head together.

Do Bang!

"[Scarlet Spear]"

The flash and the burning spear approached the white head. However, at the moment it seemed to hit, the yellow-patterned head shot out like a ray and instantly expanded. It glowed with a faint yellow light and withstood Aichi's electromagnetic cannon and the moon's [Scarlet Spear]. After the impact and the explosion, the yellow head was unharmed and calmly glared at Aichi and the moon.

"Damn! A shield role. Attack, shield, healing, the balance is quite good!"

Aichi threw a [Burning Grenade] at the head. At the same time, he fired at the white head with Dona's maximum output. The moon also fired [Scarlet Spear] in rapid succession. The moon's [Azure Sky] might be able to reach the white head by eliminating the yellow head, but using the highest-level magic would render her unable to act. Although she could recover quickly after drinking blood, Aichi did not think the other heads would give them that time. At least half of the heads needed to be eliminated before using the highest-level magic.

The yellow head withstood all of Aichi and the moon's attacks. This time, it was not unharmed; the attacks successfully injured the yellow head.

"Guruaah!"

The white head immediately let out a strange cry and healed the yellow head. It was indeed an excellent healer. However, after that, the [Burning Grenade] exploded on the white head. The tar, burning at 3000 degrees Celsius, was scattered. The white head was drenched and let out a painful cry, struggling desperately.

"We can't miss this chance!" Aichi used [Telepathy] to send a signal to the moon and prepared to attack. However, before he could, a scream rang out—it was the moon's voice.

"Yaaaaaah!"

"!? Moon!"

Although Aichi wanted to rush to the moon's side immediately, the red and green heads released countless fireballs and wind blades to obstruct him. The moon was still screaming, and Aichi gritted his teeth, trying to figure out what was happening. Then he realized that the black-patterned head had not done anything yet.

(No, if it has already done something!)

Aichi alternated between [Shrink Earth] and [Air Force], desperately dodging the attacks while firing at the black head with Dona. With the sound of gunfire, the black head, which had been staring at the moon, was blown away. At the same moment, the moon collapsed from exhaustion. Aichi saw the moon's face turn blue from a