Chapter 88

【Ancient Lune Great Volcano】, around the fiftieth level.

That's roughly where Aichi and the others are now. Why "roughly"? That's because their current situation is somewhat unusual, so they're not entirely sure which level they're on.

Specifically, there's a small boat-like object made of reddish-brown rock slowly drifting on a river of magma that flows like a great river in the air, and Aichi and the others are riding on this small boat.

"It feels like a hard mode version of Mr. Indy..."

Aichi recalled the most famous overly enthusiastic scholar on Earth and muttered to himself. (Note: Indiana Jones, the protagonist of the Indiana Jones trilogy, a mad adventurer, archaeologist, and part-time university professor.)

Why did they end up in such a situation... To put it bluntly, it was due to Aichi's mistake. In a slightly earlier level, while Aichi and the others were searching for Tranquility Stones, they noticed that the magma, which was continuously scorching them, occasionally showed unnatural movements.

Specifically, even when the flowing magma was not obstructed by rocks or anything else, its direction would suddenly change, or it would slow down dramatically for no reason, or in a section of the magma river flowing in the air, a large amount of magma would suddenly drip.

These situations mostly occurred far from the passages or on the opposite side of the magma, and since they did not hinder their progress, they did not stop to investigate. However, by chance, one of these areas entered the range of the "Mineral Detection" skill, and it was revealed that the unnatural movements were caused by Tranquility Stones. The magma itself seemed to contain magic, which was being calmed by the Tranquility Stones, and the unnatural movements were the result of the flow being obstructed.

Aichi and the others deduced that where the flow of magma was strongly obstructed, there must be a large amount of Tranquility Stones. Indeed, they found many places with a large number of buried Tranquility Stones. Aichi and the others, paying attention to the movement of the magma, collected a considerable amount of Tranquility Stones. They had already collected enough, but they decided to gather a bit more just in case and went to a certain place.

That place was where the magma flowing in the air bypassed a large wall. Aichi used alchemy to create a temporary ladder to approach it, and with "Mineral Detection," he confirmed that there were indeed a large number of Tranquility Stones buried there. He immediately used "Mineral Separation" to recover the Tranquility Stones. Perhaps due to the intense heat causing a loss of concentration, and the repeated recovery of Tranquility Stones, he became careless and did not pay attention to the other side of the wall.

Aichi realized his mistake the moment he stored the Tranquility Stones in the "Treasure Vault" and their effect was lost, and a torrent of magma erupted from the wall where the Tranquility Stones had been removed.

Although Aichi immediately leaped back, the momentum of the magma eruption was too strong, like a torrent from a breached dam, quickly expanding the crack into a hole. The magma swiftly surrounded Aichi and the others, and while Mochizuki created a barrier to hold it back, everyone boarded the small boat Aichi had made with alchemy to escape. Although the boat was immediately heated by the scorching magma, Aichi used the "Adamantine" skill, a derivative of "Adamantine Fortification," to reinforce the boat, so it was not a problem. (Note: While it wouldn't melt, would it be hot?)

Then, they drifted on the magma, unknowingly riding the magma river in the air, advancing deeper into the "Ancient Lune Great Volcano" along a route different from the stairs. Sometimes they were swept away, experiencing the thrill of drifting in the scorching rapids, but they managed to reach this point without incident.

Incidentally, when they boarded the magma river in the air, they would usually fall through the riverbed, but when they boarded the magma, Shia immediately used the "Effect Grant" of gravity magic to reduce the weight of the boat. "Effect Grant" allows Shia to adjust the weight of anything she touches, like her own body weight.

"Ah, Mr. Aichi. There's a tunnel over there,"

"We're probably near the foot of the mountain. There might be something interesting,"

Looking in the direction Shia pointed, indeed, the magma they were riding was flowing into a large hollow in the wall. The path ahead was illuminated by the magma itself, making it clear where they were going. So far, they had always entered the next level of the cave through the magma river, so their descent was much faster than using the stairs.

After hearing Thea's advice, Aichi nodded and said, "Let's go," and the group plunged into the cave. In the center of the vast cave, the magma river in the air continued like a giant serpent. They descended smoothly, but soon, the winding path suddenly ended. No, more accurately, it was a steep drop, like a waterfall.

"Here we go again... Everyone, don't get thrown off!"

Mochizuki and the others agreed with Aichi's words and tightly held onto the edges of the boat or Aichi's waist. Like a roller coaster slowly climbing to the first drop, in this tense atmosphere, Aichi's boat finally began its descent.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh

The wind howled in their ears. The magma river flowed with astonishing speed, and the boat drifted under the control of Shia's gravity magic and Thea's wind manipulation. The magma seemed to have no viscosity, and its speed increased with each passing moment.

Aichi used alchemy to nail his boots to the boat to secure himself and remained vigilant. Because, only at such times...

"Tch, as expected, they're here."

Aichi clicked his tongue, drew Dona, and pulled the trigger without hesitation. The sound of the explosion echoed around. With three shots, three flashes of light cut through the air and precisely destroyed their targets. The attackers were bats that could spray magma from their wings.

These magma bats, individually, were not particularly threatening. Apart from flying fast and mixing fireballs into the magma they sprayed, they could do nothing. To Aichi and the others, they were like common enemies.

However, the troublesome aspect of the magma bats was that they attacked in swarms. If you saw one, dozens more would follow. They emerged in droves from the cracks in the rock walls, like black cockroaches.

Aichi had just gunned down three magma bats, but as expected, during the rapid descent, amidst the sound of the wind, the sound of countless flapping wings began to be heard.

"...Aichi, to the left rear, I'll take care of it."

"Ah, leave it to you. Shia, Thea, please steer the boat."

"Sure thing!"

"Um, sure. A reward of a pat on the butt will do, okay?"

Ignoring Thea's perverted comment, whether serious or joking, Aichi and Mochizuki stood back-to-back at the diagonal corners of the boat, and then they saw a large swarm of magma bats.

That swarm was almost like a single organism. Countless magma bats moved in perfect unison, forming a wave-like formation. From the side, it looked like a dragon. Their wings were wrapped in red magma, making them resemble a blazing dragon.

The magma bats, now united, approached Aichi and the others, splitting into two groups to attack from the front and rear. Even though each one was weak, their sheer numbers could overwhelm anyone.

However, Aichi and his group were cheaters and would not be overwhelmed by mere numbers, as the monsters that had become fertilizer for the land of Urul had already proven.

Aichi took out Meserai (a six-barreled machine gun) from the "Treasure Vault," placed it on his waist, and pulled the trigger.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!!

The distinctive sound of gunfire rang out, and the storm of bullets, with their terrifying power, rained down mercilessly. Each bullet pierced through the air, reaching far into the distance. Along the line of fire, the magma bats were shattered and fell to the ground, unable to resist.

Aichi then took out Orgon and shouldered it with his other hand, unleashing its devastating power without mercy. The rockets, trailing sparks, plunged into the center of the bat swarm, which was already surrounded by Meserai's barrage, causing a massive explosion.

The result was clear. The bat swarm was decimated, and the fragments of their bodies created a temporary storm.

The magma bats approaching from the rear met a similar fate.

"【Storm Dragon】"

Mochizuki extended her right hand straight out and muttered. Instantly, a ball of green wind gathered. Then, the ball transformed, taking the form of a dragon. The wind dragon, called "【Storm Dragon】," glared at the magma bat swarm and then opened its jaws to devour the helpless prey.

Of course, the magma bats tried to dodge the "【Storm Dragon】" by splitting into two groups and circling around. However, Mochizuki's "【Dragon】" was a composite spell that included gravity magic. The "【Storm Dragon】" was not just a dragon made of wind but was composed of wind blades, entangled with gravity that pulled enemies towards it. Once activated, it was nearly impossible for enemies to escape.

The magma bats, like the monsters that had become prey for the "【Thunder Dragon】" or "【Azure Dragon】" in the past, were helplessly pulled towards the "【Storm Dragon】." Their bodies were shredded by the storm of wind blades, and their flesh and blood scattered in all directions. Mochizuki did not use "【Thunder Dragon】" or "【Azure Dragon】" because the magma bats were heat-resistant, and she judged that cutting their wings would be sufficient.

Finally, the "【Storm Dragon】" rushed to the center of the bat swarm, releasing hundreds or thousands of wind blades in all directions, completing the annihilation of the magma bats.

"Umm, Master and Mochizuki's destructive power is terrifying every time I see it."

"Indeed."

Thea and Shia, while skillfully steering the boat in the rapids, praised them with a slight smile. Mochizuki, pleased, puffed out her chest, while Aichi simply shrugged, put Meserai and Orgon back in the "Treasure Vault," and gently touched Mochizuki's cheek. Mochizuki, feeling the touch, relaxed her eyes and then returned her attention to the surroundings.

Seeing Aichi and Mochizuki taking any opportunity to be affectionate, Shia released a spirit of loneliness and concern, and Thea joined in. Aichi, with a slightly troubled expression, said, "Can't be helped," and gently stroked Shia's rabbit ears, while pinching Thea's cheek. Both of them smiled happily, but for Aichi, this was a source of genuine frustration. (Note: A luxurious frustration indeed.)

While being attacked by monsters on the magma river in the air, Aichi and the others remained calm. However, perhaps annoyed by their composure, the magma river, which had been flowing downward, suddenly began to turn upward.

After a fierce climb of several dozen meters, they saw light ahead. The exit of the cave. However, the problem was that the magma path really did end this time.

"Hold on!"

At Aichi's command, Mochizuki and the others tightly hugged the boat. The boat, carried by the momentum of the rapids, was thrown directly out of the cave.

A floating sensation hit Aichi, and he suppressed the discomfort in his groin, quickly assessing the situation. The space they had flown into was even larger and more expansive than the final trial space of the "Lysion Great Labyrinth" they had seen before.

Unlike the spherical space of the "Lysion Great Labyrinth," this space had a naturally irregular shape, making it impossible to determine its exact size, but its diameter was at least three kilometers. The ground was almost entirely filled with magma, with a few isolated rock pillars providing minimal footholds. The walls had many large protrusions, and conversely, many indented areas. Numerous magma rivers crisscrossed the air, most of which eventually disappeared into the magma sea below.

The scorching sea, bubbling and boiling, occasionally spewed fire columns from flare-like spots. If there were a place like a hellish cauldron, it would look exactly like this. Aichi and the others naturally had this thought.

However, what caught their attention more than anything else was the small island in the center of the magma sea. A rock island, about ten meters high, rising from the sea. If that was all, it would just be a larger foothold than the others, but it was covered by a magma dome, resembling a small sun. The central island's unusual presence was enough to capture Aichi and the others' attention.

"【Wind】"

The boat, about to capsize from the momentum of the flight, was steadied by Thea's wind magic, and everyone regained their balance and sat back down. Mochizuki used "Flight" to adjust the boat's descent speed. Upon landing softly on the magma sea, a distinctly different atmosphere prevailed, and Aichi and the others were on maximum alert.

"Is that where they live?"

Mochizuki glanced at the central island with the magma dome and muttered.

"Considering the depth of the level, it's reasonable to think so... But if that's the case..."

"There should be a final guardian... right, Master?"

"We took a shortcut, so we might have already passed it. We can't assume that, can we?"

To confirm Aichi's thoughts, Thea scanned the surroundings with a sharp gaze, not missing a single anomaly, making it hard to believe she was a masochistic pervert. There were stairs leading to this place from the walls, so if they had followed the regular route, they would have emerged from those stairs at the end.

However, even if it was generally impossible for anyone to ride the magma river in the air to get here, it was overly optimistic to think that taking a shortcut would allow them to skip the final trial of the great labyrinth. Shia, while saying, "It would be nice if that were the case," also had a sharp expression, indicating she did not believe it either.

Soon, magma itself began to fly out from the magma river in the air. Aichi and the others' vigilance was correct, and this was proven in this form.

"Ugh, leave it to me!"

Thea shouted and cast a spell, causing the fireballs from the magma sea to cancel out the magma blocks approaching from above.

However, that attack was just the beginning. After the fireballs and magma blocks canceled each other out and scattered, the magma sea and the magma rivers above began to shoot fireballs like machine guns.

"Tch, scatter!"

Aichi judged that their current position had been targeted and gave the order. Everyone abandoned the boat and scattered to nearby footholds. The boat they had just been on was shattered by a staggering number of fireballs and sank into the magma sea.

Aichi and the others landed on different footholds and each defended against the approaching magma blocks. Although they did not have to defend, the wave of attacks that seemed to have no end caused them to show signs of frustration. The scorching air that distorted the scenery was also a source of their frustration.

To break this deadlock, Aichi, while reloading Dona Shuraku, turned his elbow over his shoulder and aimed the gun at his back. He then fired a shotgun blast to intercept the magma blocks while using Shuraku to shoot down the magma blocks approaching Mochizuki from behind.

Even without words, Mochizuki correctly read his intention and took advantage of the opening to cast gravity magic.

"【Absolute Calamity】"

With the sound of the spell, a black vortex appeared in the middle of the four of them, and the magma blocks flying in all directions were continuously pulled towards it. The black planet used supergravity to crush and compress everything it swallowed.

Mochizuki's spell created a gap in the barrage of fireballs, and Aichi used "Air Force" to jump into the air, quickly approaching the central island with the magma dome.

The most troublesome aspect of the barrage attacking Aichi and the others was that there was no way to stop it. From their location, this was clearly the final trial of the "Ancient Lune Great Volcano," but unlike the previous great labyrinths, there were no visible enemies, making it impossible to determine the conditions for passing. Therefore, Aichi decided to quickly reach the most suspicious central island.

While running towards the central island in the air, Aichi used "Telepathy."

"I'll investigate the central island. Please provide support."

"Understood."

Fireballs from outside the range of "Absolute Calamity" attacked Aichi, and Thea shouted, "Not a chance!" while summoning numerous fireballs from the magma sea to intercept them. Shia also deployed the hammer Doryugen in shotgun mode to continuously intercept. Mochizuki, while maintaining "Absolute Calamity," summoned fireballs from the magma sea to intercept appropriately.

With the support of Mochizuki and the others, Aichi advanced straight towards the central island, moving through the air and using "Air Force" for the final jump.

However, at that moment,

"Guhoh