SWDnovel Chapter 428 Finally Entering the 65th Floor, Ryu's Resolve
Chapter 428 Finally Entering the 65th Floor, Ryu's Resolve
"Roy, Rivera!!"
As the blizzard subsided, two figures silently vanished from the vast, desolate land—the group preparing to ascend to the sixty-fifth floor to vanquish the true form of the corrupted immortal spirit. Anxiety instantly settled on everyone's faces.
Ryu, Tione, and Haruhime's beautiful eyes trembled, and their delicate faces revealed worry.
Finn and Grace were no less worried than they were.
"As expected of the dungeon!" Leon muttered to himself. Before they even saw their target, they had already lost several combatants due to various accidents. Ota was held up by Barol on the 49th floor, and Roy and Riveria had mysteriously disappeared.
Roy was also the overall commander of the operation!
Fortunately, this operation was a joint effort by the entire city, and there were reserve commanders like Finn and Hedin; otherwise, losing their leader would have greatly damaged people's morale.
"Could it be... that they went to...?"
Alphia scanned her surroundings with her heterochromatic eyes. None of them had been swept away by the blizzard, so there was no reason for Roy and Riveria to be affected. Where could the two of them have run to in such a short time?
As one of the most outstanding adventurers of the Hera Familia, Alphia certainly knew about the existence of the "Thousand Ice Garden" and also knew about Riveria's relationship with that special area, but what about Roy?
"Don't worry about them. Even if we get killed, they'll be fine!" Alphia said.
Upon hearing this, everyone was speechless.
But upon closer reflection, it really is true! With Roy's top-tier combat strength and spatial magic, he can come and go as he pleases, and no one can stop him. He also has the means to store supplies (spatial ring), so it's impossible for him to starve to death.
That amazing boy is just too much!
"The destination hasn't changed, move forward! I'm sure Roy and Riveria will catch up!" Finn shouted. With Roy gone, he was the reserve commander.
Finn also knew Ais's background and vaguely realized where the two had gone.
A special area hidden on the sixtieth floor!
Their anxiety was futile; once Roy and Riveria escaped, they could quickly catch up with them using the Netherworld Soul Chaser and the Upper Realm Transfer. Ryu, Tione, and Haruhime could also discern the priorities, and with worry and trust for Roy in their hearts, they followed the main force, continuing their journey. The Tower of Babel, thirtieth floor.
The safety of the entire Orario was at stake, and the gods were extremely concerned. The huge hall was packed with people who could see the situation of the team in real time through the eye crystals. Wails of agony rang out continuously, making it more lively than a vegetable market.
Aside from Freya and a few other deities who were absent due to their need to maintain urban order, almost all the gods gathered together, staring at the giant eye. "My God, Roy has disappeared!"
"Has fate not been kind to Orario?"
"Who is that gray-haired girl, 'Silent'?"
The gods turned pale and wept bitterly.
If only Rivera had gone missing, the gods wouldn't have reacted so strongly. Roy was different; that boy carried too many expectations. Loki screamed, "Damn it! Where are my madam and that brat Roy?"
Hermes lowered his hat slightly, but he firmly believed Roy would return to the battlefield; the one who always created miracles would never fall in such a place! Astraea's exquisitely beautiful face remained unchanged, her gentle smile revealing an almost blind trust in Roy. This giant eye crystal could communicate with the team in the dungeon, but unless absolutely necessary, the gods would not interfere, leaving everything to the children of the lower realm.
Including their lives!
at the same time.
Under the cover of Hedin, Mia, and others, the main force broke through four floors in succession, and everyone stood at the entrance between the sixty-fourth and sixty-fifth floors. The sixty-fifth floor was just ahead!
It is the end of the glacial realm and the location of the true form of the filthy immortal spirit, which has been assimilated into the demon realm!
"You guys go first, we'll go in after a short rest!" Hedin said. With three main players lost, the substitutes had to go.
"Okay!" Finn nodded emphatically.
The harsh environment and powerful monsters in the glacial region put even strong individuals like Hedin and Mia under immense pressure. The main force barely had to make a move, relying entirely on their desperate attacks to open a passage.
The squad responsible for providing cover was exhausted, and their breathing was noticeably disordered.
But the benefits are significant.
The main squad is in excellent form!
"Ryu, Tione, I'm leaving you to us. We'll catch up as soon as possible. If the captain returns, he'll definitely pass through here," Daphne said. Cassandra gripped Ryu, Tione, and Haruhime's hands tightly. "Miss Ryu, Miss Tione, Miss Haruhime, please be careful of the dragon's roar!"
Liu Qing's cool and beautiful lips pursed. With Roy not around, she had to protect these girls.
Ryu, Tione, Haruhime, Finn, Grace, Alphia, Amid, Leon, and Allen, after overcoming numerous hardships and breaking through the dungeon, finally stepped into the sixty-fifth floor of the Demon Realm.
An indescribable shock came over me!
The sixty-fifth floor should be the end of the glacial realm, but the scene that came into view was filled with a nauseating eeriness. What you could see was not the cold wind and blizzard, the eternal permafrost and snow-covered land that you had expected.
A layer of ghastly green, viscous miasma formed a thin mist that lingered throughout the entire floor, emitting a pungent, putrid stench. Even more chilling was...!
The surrounding landscape—the ice walls, the frozen ground, even the towering ceiling—was replaced by grotesque dark green flesh. The fleshy walls writhed, the green skin undulating like blood vessels transporting something, its interior shimmering with green light. This extreme contradiction and distortion created a nightmarish scene that sent shivers down one's spine.
Those who participated in the "Six Rings of the Immortal Spirit" battle immediately recognized that this was the green flesh that made up the body of the filthy immortal spirit. Without a doubt, the true form of the filthy immortal spirit was right here!
It's not just about the fog and green meat.
Within the eerie mist, countless phosphorescent lights filled the entire space, making it impossible to escape.
Chunji raised her head, the light in her pupils had faded, and her delicate cheeks were flushed, which was a symptom of being under the influence of "bewitching". Whoosh!
Haruhime drew the dagger from her waist and, using her LV.5 power, stabbed Ryu fiercely at her side. The blade transformed into a dangerous, cold light, tearing through the surrounding mist.
Ryu seemed to have anticipated this, his movements fluid as he easily dodged the incoming cold light, and with lightning speed, he snatched Haruhime's dagger and gently pushed her away.
Chunji staggered and fell to the ground.
Those beautiful eyes became even more ferocious. Just as Chun Ji was about to get up, Tione reacted quickly, lunging forward and pinning Chun Ji's limbs down.
"Aaaaaaah!"
The fox-girl struggled, but it was all in vain against Tione's LV.7 power.
Everyone frowned as they watched Chun Ji lose control.
"This is the allure Roy was talking about... Amid, please, use magic!" Finn shouted, his thumb having been stinging ever since he entered this floor, and the pain was getting worse.
In the demon realm, which has been assimilated by the tainted immortal essence, the phosphorescent light in the air is like a poison; once inhaled, it will "bewitch" the inhabitants.
Its strength is far less than Freya's charm, but it is enough to make LV.5 and LV.6 adventurers lose control, which is already very terrifying. Therefore, in this operation, they excluded the vast majority of adventurers below LV.6.
Those who enter this demonic realm will immediately be controlled and turned into their enemies.
According to the information Roy provided, at least LV.5 and a G-rank "Abnormal Resistance" ability are required to resist the allure poison from the Demon Realm. In this team, Haruhime and Amid are the lowest level; the former doesn't have very high abnormal resistance, and the latter wasn't charmed but relied on special magic.
"The Sacred Well of Tears!"
As Amid finished chanting, her magic transformed into clear spring water that enveloped Chun Ji's entire body, with wisps of water flowing into her cherry-like mouth. The ferocity and murderous intent in Chun Ji's eyes gradually vanished.
Amid's second spell, "Well of Tears," summons holy spring water. Unlike the universal healing spell "Dia Frattel," this spell allows the target to immerse themselves in the spring water to gradually restore their physical and mental strength. In addition, it has a second effect: by having the target ingest the holy spring water, it purifies the body of powerful and complex toxins and "foreign substances."
Ordinary monster poisons can be neutralized with Amid's first spell, "Diah Frattel".
If the toxin that successfully invaded remains in the body, it will continue to erode the body like a persistent ailment, and the magic "Well of Tears" can then take effect. The difference between the two lies in their quantity and thickness!
Dia Fratl is a single entity, while the "Well of Tears" is a group, and the holy water will penetrate from the skin to every corner of the body, completely eliminating and cleansing it!
The title bestowed upon Amid by the gods, "Battlefield Saintess," is not undeserved; she possesses terrifying healing abilities that allow her to sustain an entire battlefront single-handedly. This stems from the powerful magic Amid has awakened!
What's wrong with me?
Chunji, whose enchantment had been dispelled by the holy spring water, slowly opened her eyes, a look of confusion appearing on her small face.
Upon learning of her actions, Haruhime wept bitterly, "Waaah! How dare I attack Lord Ryu with a weapon forged by Lord Roy! How utterly disgraceful!"
Ryu and Tione comfort Haruhime, who is heartbroken.
"Quiet!"
Alphia gave Haruhime a sharp rap on the head, the sound accompanied by a white shockwave, demonstrating the immense power she used. The attack, exceeding the speed of sound, caught Ryu and Tione off guard, leaving them only able to watch as Haruhime was struck.
Alphia wasn't going to reason with anyone, nor was it because this was the Demon Realm or a time of battle; it was simply because she adored "tranquility." Haruhime winced in pain, her small hand covering her forehead, her eyes brimming with tears, but she made no further sound.
"It's been parasitized."
Alphia's heterochromatic eyes stared ahead.
Everyone noticed something was wrong and followed Alphia's gaze, their faces becoming serious.
Deep within the mist that shrouds the Demon Realm, a colossal figure gradually emerges: the Poisonous Centipede Dragon, with a dark purple body fifty or sixty meters long and dozens of densely packed thin legs. Its head is adorned with ugly fangs, long and sharp protrusions resembling the mouthparts of a mosquito!
On the head of the Poisonous Centipede Dragon was a woman with a slender, alluring, and wicked form, just like the illusory fairy avatar they had seen before. Everyone was certain that it was not the illusory fairy herself!
Because it's too weak!
The Poisonous Centipede Dragon was originally LV.6, but after being parasitized, it reached LV.7 and emitted an aura no weaker than Baror's. It can be considered one of the best among LV.7, but a true filthy fairy spirit could not be so weak.
"Did she seize a monster from a lower realm and then embed it into the 'jewel fetus'?" Tiony asked.
"There's nothing strange about it. The next floor is Dragon Village," Alphia said calmly.
Floor 65 is the end of the "Glacier Realm" and has a floor master. Floor 66 is a safe floor. Starting from floor 67, the Dragon Realm is full of dragon-type monsters. The Filthy Fairy must have brought up a lot of monsters and made them stronger by parasitizing the Filthy Fairy clones.
Finn pondered, "This is a test from the other side!"
Everyone could feel the extreme sense of crisis emanating from this demon realm, a feeling that came from seasoned adventurers. Yet, the enemy had only sent out a single Poisonous Centipede Dragon, suggesting that a master was behind it.
"Let me do it!" Ryu stepped forward.
The beautiful and charming elf girl faced the terrifying and evil filthy dragon head-on. Everyone present, as well as the gods who witnessed this scene through the eye crystal, couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise and anticipation.
"Yes, good news!"
Alphia unleashed a sonic barrage, cutting through the air and creating ripples in space, forcing back the menacing Poisonous Centipede Dragon and restraining it. Seeing this, Ryu cast a grateful glance at Alphia, her lips slightly parted, and she began chanting a magic incantation, calling out in her heart to her beloved boy, "Roy, lend me your power!"
An invisible connection transcends space, linking them together. It is the synchronization contract between Roy and Ryu that combines Roy's abilities, skills, and development potential, causing a tremendous power to surge from Ryu's body.
The weaker party can maximize the boost from the Synchro Contract, gaining power beyond their limits. It was Roy before, now it's Ryu. Ryu's sky-blue eyes were as firm as a rock.
Even without Roy, they must fight and vanquish the corrupted fairies. They cannot rely solely on Roy and burden all the responsibilities and pressures upon him. Receiving Roy's response, Ryu felt relieved.
"So powerful!" Liu exclaimed inwardly, carefully sensing Roy's ability values, skills, and development potential, a beautiful smile curving her delicate lips.
Astrid's Memoirs!
As the incantation finished, a star barrier erupted from Ryu's body, spreading outwards and isolating her from everything outside. The immense magical power drew everyone's attention. The Elven Flowing Light Dragon Staff in Ryu's hand burst forth with dazzling light, and then her figure transformed into a blurry afterimage, rushing forward! Five Lights - Afterglow!
Liu swung the blade in her hand, and five condensed blade beams were like the cold, desolate arcs of the moon tearing through the eternal night!
Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!
Five dazzling slashes of light traversed space, piercing precisely through the massive body of the Poisonous Centipede Dragon, covered in hard, venomous armor. The Poisonous Centipede Dragon, or more precisely, its tainted celestial essence clone, which had been entangled by Alphia, froze abruptly. The cruel, ferocious light in its scarlet eyes was instantly replaced by boundless astonishment and deathly silence.
Five streaks of light slashed along the massive body, and terrifying energy erupted from within!
Rumble!
The Poisonous Centipede Dragon and the Filthy Immortal Spirit clone roared and howled, but to no avail. In the dazzling light, they instantly disintegrated, turning into countless dust particles and specks of light that were evaporated and purified by pure light energy, scattering with the wind!
"ⅠⅠ"
Finn, Grace, Leon, and the others were shocked and stunned. It was another afterglow, and it was superimposed with the magic "Five Lights" and unleashed five slashes at the same time!
The filthy poison dragon, which had reached the upper level 7, was instantly killed by the elven girl in front of him!
Throughout the years, Roy has always been the one to step up and deal with those powerful enemies, causing the brilliance of others to be overshadowed by him. But to grow to this level, who among them isn't a top genius in the world!
"Thank you, Roy." Liu touched her pounding heart with her small hand, an indescribable feeling of happiness welling up inside her. This was the "afterglow" that Roy had taught her.
Roy never protects them; instead, he empowers them to protect themselves!