Chapter 698 The Colosseum
As they progressed through the floor, the number of monsters ambushing them kept increasing as they got near the center of the 37th floor. Since the staircase towards the 36th floor was on the other side of the floor, they had to get through the Colosseum.
The Colosseum is the arena that the Dungeon created 30 years ago. In it were a certain number of monsters continuously fighting each other if there were no Adventurers around. For each monster that would die, one more would spawn keeping the number up.
Although it would still be a lot, Ryuu thought that it would at least be manageable since they were only two of them. However, she was already having doubts due to the number of monsters around them despite not reaching the Colosseum yet. If not for Kisuke continuously sacrificing himself to cover her back and block attacks for her, it's improbable that they would even be able to travel this far, 'No... It's clear that he's still stronger than me despite the weird situation he's in, I'm just holding him back. If it's just him alone, he'd probably be able to break through the walls of monsters alone.'
Little did Ryuu know that the reason for a large number of monsters spawning around them is because of Kisuke himself. More specifically, the special energy he's using is confusing the Dungeon. When it's just the combination of Ki and Spiritual energy, the Dungeon is sure of their alien origin, but now with the strange combination of Magic, Ki, and Spiritual energy, the Dungeon didn't know how to treat him.
Since Kisuke was trying to slow their progress as much as possible, they only reached the entrance to the Colosseum after four days. Before entering, Ryuu stopped and checked their supplies. While already tattered, Ryuu was still wearing Kisuke's haori and over it was clothing made out of Skullsheep's fur.
Kisuke, on the other hand, his clothes were already destroyed long ago and was wearing Skull Sheep's fur. Thanks to his dexterous hands, he was able to make two sets of robes and clothes for them, "Why do you still wear that? Although it's still in one piece, the fur was already enough to cover us."
Ryuu unconsciously touched the black haori that sports a white diamond pattern along its bottom half when he heard his question. She also thought of discarding the haori away as it isn't needed but somewhere inside her, she didn't want to and she doesn't understand the reason why, "It's very soft and just right as an inner clothing.", Ryuu replied as an excuse.
Aside from the sword, the only thing that remained with her was the few kaensekis that she snatched away from the members of the Evilus when she's interrogating them. With a total of three explosive items, Ryuu contemplated the time she had to use them.
"This time, I want us to switch our roles.", Ryuu suddenly proposed.
Kisuke thought for a moment before nodding in agreement, "Okay. I'll leave it to you."
There shouldn't be any problem with their previous arrangements but Ryuu suddenly suggested switching, Kisuke was curious about what she wanted to do, 'What is this stubborn lass planning this time, I wonder? She keeps resolving herself. Is she thinking of sacrificing herself when things get difficult?'
In any case, the way he is now, sacrificing his own body is a cheap price to pay if he really wanted to save Ryuu. Without saying anything, Kisuke walked in front of Ryuu and entered the Colosseum through a long bridge.
If one were to jump from the bridge, one would be able to instantly reach the 38th floor. In essence, the Colosseum is a very wide hanging arena that could contain a fourth of the whole Orario.
Entering the Colosseum itself the two of them saw a war between monsters, 'Now I really wonder what this place is for? Since people are very rarely down here, maybe it's to pool experience for the monsters?' Kisuke thought as they watched them.
They needed to use the bridge on the southern part of the Colosseum and they were on the northernmost part but they couldn't afford to take the shortest path so Ryuu led Kisuke to the east side so that they could travel along the walls.
It was going well and the monster did ignore them as they went on. After half a day of carefully maneuvering around the monsters, the nerve wracked Ryuu finally saw their destination and thought that the most dangerous part of their journey would finally end when all of a sudden, the monsters in their vicinity suddenly all turned in their direction, "Not good! Go! I'll take the back!"
Kisuke silently followed her instruction and started using low-level spells that he already mastered. Although these spells don't damage his body anymore, Kisuke wanted to improve their efficiency so he kept using them instead of high-level spells.
Using the toned down Byakurai, Kisuke defeated the monsters in front of him one by one, however, their number kept increasing as the monsters from other parts of the Colosseum kept coming and they would certainly chase after them until they left the 37th floor.
This is the reason why expedition parties have to defeat all the monsters in the Colosseum before they proceed.
As they kept going, Kisuke heard Ryuu start chanting her magic behind him. But when they reached the bridge, instead of the monsters, Ryuu aimed her 'Luminous Wind' at Kisuke's back. Luminous Wind is a wind and light element Magic that could cause explosions and by detonating it before it hit Kisuke, the shockwave was enough to send him flying without causing much damage.
An instant later, the spot where Kisuke was standing suddenly exploded, collapsing the bridge. Ryuu just used her kaensekis to demolish the bridge. With a warm smile on her face, Ryuu said, "Please go on. You shouldn't risk your life for someone like me.", before jumping back into the fray of monsters that couldn't pass through the bridge.
Kisuke silently watched as the wave monster receded and chased after the Elf, 'That girl really did it... Maybe I should have told her that I'm not in any danger?'
But then again, he wanted to see how Ryuu would act in this situation and she didn't disappoint him, 'If by chance I would need her assistance, she'd be trustworthy enough.'
Circulating the energy inside him, Kisuke smirked, "Alright~ Time to go with a bang~!"
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Ryuu tried her best to dodge the attacks but with the sheer number of monsters coming after her, it's nigh impossible. After getting hit by a Spartoi, she got pushed towards a Barbarian swinging its club. Using her arm to block, she was sent flying once again, 'I have to stay alive as long as possible... Though it's really the end for me, huh...'
Time slowed down for her midair as she recalled several people, the girls of the Hostess of Fertility that she won't be able to see anymore, the Goddess that 'left' her but still kept in contact with her, and her long-gone comrade that reminded her that there is no right answer when it comes to reality and ideals, Alise, 'In the end, I wasn't able to reach an answer. But maybe that's for the better.'
Ryuu wanted to close her eyes and rest but before she could do so, a dark silhouette appeared on top of her, "Hey. What the hell are you doing?", she heard Kisuke's voice from it.
Opening her eyes in shock, Ryuu asked in a panic, "H-how!? What are you doing here!?"
Grabbing her in mid-air and keeping her close to him he answered, "As I said, I was commissioned to save you and I won't allow you to break my clean record."
Ryuu's face was buried in his chest but she still tried to retort back, "This isn't the time for that!? Your own life should be your top priority!"
"I don't really want to hear that from you," replied Kisuke before pointing his palm downwards and muttering, "Hadou no 33, Soukatsui!"
From his palm, a large wave of blue fire emerged, crashing onto the monsters below and instantly annihilating them. But before the fire could even melt the floor, the shockwave produced by it demolished a large section of the Colosseum, causing it to crash down the 38th floor.
Losing consciousness from the explosion, Ryuu recalled the bombing attempt five years ago when Jura and the Rudra Familia had attempted to kill them in the dungeon, which they survived with some injuries. Just as they were about to attack the Rudra Familia, the dungeon began to wail, creating the Juggernaut to get rid of the adventurers there. The Juggernaut immediately killed Noin, splitting her body into three parts, then Neze, and finally Asta, all in a few moments.
Angered by the death of her companions, Ryuu attempted to attack the Juggernaut, though it jumped up to the ceiling in an instant, then dropped back down to attack her from behind. She narrowly dodged the attack but was then hit by its tail, sending her flying whilst the Juggernaut tried to finish her off. Fortunately, Kaguya saved her at the cost of her right arm. Unfortunately, Ryana and Celty died soon after when their magic was reflected back at them. It then proceeded to kill Iska and eat Maryuu. Upon seeing this, Ryuu felt something break inside of her, feeling fear for the first time.
As the Juggernaut began massacring the Rudra Familia, Alise checked on the remaining members, one of which, Lyra, had her eyes and eyelids melted by the reflected magic. Alise met eyes for a moment with Ryuu, then asked both Kaguya and Lyra to give their lives, wanting to save Ryuu even if it cost them their lives. She asked Ryuu to stay put and chant while they would remove the Juggernaut's shell.
Turning its attention back to the Astraea Familia, it first killed the blind Lyra, but not before she activated her bomb in her last moments, taking the Juggernaut's right arm with her. Kaguya took advantage of the opportunity Lyra created to attack its legs, destroying one of its joints, enraging it and causing it to kill her with its left arm.
Alise then used her enchant magic and rushed at it, allowing it to stab through her with its left arm to hold it in place, and stabbed her mithril rapier into its body, sending her flames into its body. She then ordered Ryuu to use Luminous Wind, the attack hitting her along with the Juggernaut. The Juggernaut decided to retreat, running out of the room as the magic continuously hit it.
Later on, instead of heading back to Astraea, she tended to her wounds on the surface, then returned to the dungeon to get revenge on the Juggernaut; however, she only found its remains. Following this, she gathered her companions' weapons, created the grave on the 18th Floor, and asked herself in front of their grave what she wanted to do with her life, ultimately deciding to get revenge on Jura, the Rudra Familia, and Evilus. She returned to the Astraea Familia home, pleading to Astraea to leave. She agreed, though as she left, she sorrowfully told Ryuu to throw away her justice.
Ryuu first began her revenge against people, then buildings, and finally their base, doing whatever it took to get rid of them. To finish up, she attacked the Rudra Familia at their home, massacring the members, then destroyed the building with her magic. As she stood there in the burning building, Rudra appeared in front of her, but she couldn't bring herself to kill a God. He laughed loudly and told her that he would've liked to have the current Ryuu in his Familia.
After she left, Rudra was captured by the Guild and sent back to heaven. Her actions led to the destruction of 27 organizations, caused 4 Gods to be sent back to heaven, and brought about the end of the dark age of Orario. She was later found by Syr, ending up where she was now.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢