I drink the elixir handed to me. The pain drains from my body all at once.
I pick up my knife and rise to my feet.
Mineha is spinning the blue spear—the one with triangular notches cut into it—lightly at her wrist.
In sync with that motion, countless triangles rotate and become stars.
It's a Relic—Remote Manipulation.
"Wof. Where's roughly the core?"
"If it's the Infinite Spawn Core System, straight ahead from here. Um."
"What?"
"No, it's nothing."
Why is Mineha here of all places?
I almost asked, but stopped. She looked like she'd get angry.
I heard Haiyarn's voice through the earpiece.
"Wof. You're alright. Looks like I made it in time."
"Somehow... The downtime was that short? I nearly died there."
"I used a forced shutdown to trigger System Down, but the reboot was faster than expected. It might have been a trap."
Don't tell me it's a trap... How much do people hate me, Haiyarn.
"Mineha got stronger somehow, and also, why is she here?"
"She followed you, didn't she?"
"Followed me... That spear?"
"I made it. To be precise, I synthesized it. A broken OOPArt and another OOPArt. Combined with various other things, it's the first completed work from the full restoration of my alchemist's lab."
"...A new OOPArt?"
"That's right. Not bad for being rusty, is it?"
Can she really pull it off?
Mineha had been overwhelming multiple Minos Units all by herself.
Stars. Their true form was white triangles, larger and faster-spinning than those of [Oriones].
[Oriones] had lacked a finishing blow.
But that was only because its triangles were small and few in number.
The triangles from the new OOPArt spear were large, and more than double in number.
It delivered more than enough power.
Triangles... combined with the OOPArt. And the Relic—Remote Manipulation.
So that's it. She combined it with [Oriones].
"Mineha."
"Wof. I'm angry, you know."
"Y-yes."
She glared at me. Fair enough.
Still, I stand beside Mineha. She spoke coldly.
"You wait in the lab. You're in the way. A hindrance."
"No. For five minutes, I won't be."
I calmly concentrate. I use the fourth Relic—[Generous].
My eyes and hair turn purple in an instant, and the [Still Saint's Gauntlet] transforms.
Mineha's eyes go wide.
"You—your form..."
So startled that she stops her manipulation, the Minos Units all charge in at once.
I calmly hold out one hand.
"[Phantasmagoria]."
Countless basketball-sized [Banish] orbs erase portions of the Minos Units.
"That just now... Wof..."
"Mineha. We'll talk later. Let's finish this."
Mineha gives a small nod, and we run.
My [Phantasmagoria] sweeps the Minos Units ahead.
And Mineha dances gracefully, maneuvering the stars to cut down the Minos Units behind us.
Suddenly, one of the stars darts diagonally upward, obliterating an arrow mid-flight and piercing the archer.
"Watch out."
"Th-thanks."
She pulled my clumsy hand along, and it was almost like the two of us were dancing.
Only [Genesis] wasn't enough. Only Mineha wasn't enough.
Together—the two of us fought like that, pushing forward.
Going well. But there's no time.
"Wof. Good news. I can use System Down one more time."
"Please do."
I answered immediately. Yes—now we can win.
"But this is the last time. There won't be another."
"O-understood... Go ahead."
"3, 2, 1, 0. System Down!"
The Minos Units freeze with a jolt once more.
"Huh? What? They stopped?"
"Hurry."
Just a little more—the blue light is close... Just... one more step.
Suddenly, my vision clears.
Before me, a blue light and a black dot overlap on a Minos Unit.
But that Minos Unit was different from the rest.
"That's...!?"
"That one!?"
It had four arms and four eyes—a Minos Unit.
Larger than the other Minos Units.
Each of its four arms held a weapon.
A sword. An axe. A spear. A fist. I believe its designation was Minos Guardian.
This thing is the Infinite Spawn Core System?
And there are two of them. A and B.
"Well, well, what a coincidence running into you here."
Mineha spoke in a witch-like tone, flashing a brilliant smile.
She held her spear at the ready, clearly enjoying herself.
Ah, right. Even if she's here to help me, her spear was destroyed back there.
Different now, but she probably wants revenge.
Mineha readied her spear.
It seemed she'd decided to take the one on the right.
That left the one on the left for me.
"...Wof."
"Yes?"
"I'm taking them both. Together."
"Huh?"
Mineha closed in and rained all her stars down on the two.
"BUOOOH"
"BUOMOOOOO"
Minos Guardians A and B roared, swinging their weapons wildly.
Several stars were deflected.
These things aren't affected by System Down!?
"Haiyarn. System Down isn't working on the Infinite Spawn Core System!"
"What? Are those Minos Units?"
"No. They're Minos Guardians."
"A Guardian type? System Down only works on Units."
"I see, so that's how it is."
"That's right."
Even the enemy's got some tricks. I don't even know who they are—I'm not involved.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Mineha, irritated, applied [Spiral] to her spear and thrust.
She deflected Minos Guardian A's axe.
"So tough!"
I unleashed [Phantasmagoria].
Countless [Banish] orbs surrounded Minos Guardians A and B, dealing damage.
But it wasn't enough to defeat them—they took only minor damage.
Mineha rained the stars down in an arc.
Minos Guardians A and B were thrown into disarray.
Still tough. They feel tougher than the ones I fought before.
This is bad. There's only one minute left.
If so, then I need a finishing blow.
I stow Axe's modified knife and draw the Dagaa knife.
"Na?"
"Sorry to wake you up. I need your help."
"Na!"
"Hmm?"
When I pull the Dagaa knife out, something feels off.
The grip is normal, but the blade has changed.
It's shaped like a slightly pointed arrowhead triangle, with a fork splitting down the middle.
At the center of that fork, a large teardrop-shaped jewel gleams brightly.
Could this be the mysterious jewel on Dagaa's forehead? Come to think of it, it never showed up before.
"Na!"
"Huh? Enchant [Phantasmagoria]? You want me to use it on the True Eye? What's a True Eye? The jewel?"
"Na!"
"..."
"Na!"
"I get it. No idea what'll happen though."
Forty seconds left. I can't afford to waste even a moment on hesitation.
I used [Phantasmagoria] on the jewel called the True Eye.
The image was of driving all of the countless [Banish] orbs straight into it.
The jewel glows purple, and I know instinctively.
I'd been holding it casually to the side with one hand, but—
this
would
be
dangerous
if
I
kept
going
like
this
—and naturally, I grip it with both hands and raise it high.
When I slowly swing it down, the ceiling high above shakes, and stone pillars and massive boulders come crashing down.
Not only that—the entire 12th floor trembles, and sounds of collapse echo from every direction.
And when the swing finishes, Minos Guardian B has been cleaved in two.
More than that—it was cut far beyond, and part of the Ark's hull collapses as well.
"Wh-what is that?"
<......Ah......To think it could......do that......>
"Huh?"
What was that just now? What—who? No one was there... Huh...?
"Wof! You—what did you do!?"
"That's, well, I don't actually know..."
"BUOMOOOOO"
The remaining Minos Guardian roared. A tremendous roar.
It deftly moved all four arms, closing in on Mineha.
"How noisy."
She intercepted every last one with her stars, knocking them back violently enough to lift the Minos Guardian's massive body off the ground.
And she was still glaring at me. Mineha was furious. Dead serious.
She drove her spear into the ground, then gripped its pommel with both hands.
The classic sword pose.
"Feel honored. I'll show you. Dance. 'Star Manifest Lance'!"
She pointed the spear at the enemy, and eight stars aligned in a row.
The taut, crushing pressure and intimidation radiating from Mineha dominate the field.
"Starlight."
She raised the spear.
The eight stars surround the Minos Guardian and begin circling.
"Vortex!!"
She brings it down, and a ninth star plummets from above onto the Minos Guardian's head.
Instantly, a violently brilliant vortex of light erupts, and the Minos Guardian is swallowed whole.
"......W-whoa......"
Mineha straightens gracefully.
The nine stars return and are set back into place, reforming the blue spear with its white spiral pattern.
"......Infinite Spawn Core System shutdown confirmed. Well done."
"...Whew."
As I let out a breath, Mineha suddenly meets my eyes and pulls me into an embrace.
Before I can react, she holds me tight—gently, desperately.
"..."
I stay silent.
At the same time. 12th floor. The Ark Ruins.
On a stone plateau sat an incongruously out-of-place white tea table.
Sprawled across the table was Chaibe, wearing a yellow robe with the hood pulled deep over his head.
"Ugh—aah, what do you mean it was seriously dangerous?!"
"It's nothing to worry about for Shiro."
Beside him sat a girl dressed entirely in white, occasionally sipping blue-purple glowing herbal tea.
A short distance from the pair, a witch and a maid stood side by side.
"My, my, my, what a surprise."
"So that child really is your apprentice."
"Heh heh, heh heh—my pride and joy."
"That Wof kid—lend him to me."
"Shiro is also interested in that child."
The witch grinned while glancing at the pair.
The maid watched the wreckage of the fallen Minos Units with a detached expression.
"Witch. Were these Minos Units from the earliest generation? Compared to the latest models, they didn't use Relics, but they were quite tough."
"That's right, that's right. This type—I've only ever seen it once, in the lowest level of the Gate of the Underworld dungeon."
"Huh, something like that existed? In a shallow floor like this—it really was dangerous, wasn't it?"
"That's right, that's right. For the Infinite Spawn to appear in such a shallow stratum is terrifying."
"Even so, she lives up to being your apprentice."
"Mm-hmm. Young Wof is a pride and joy."
"I wasn't talking about him. Don't let your apprentices go around destroying dungeons."
Shiro said, exasperated.
The witch laughed. The maid sighed.
"But still—even if it is a crisis, aren't you being overprotective, Witch? I get that your first apprentice is precious, but we're not supposed to be in this dungeon, you know?"
"Well, well, can't really argue with that. You're absolutely right on that count."
"Huh? You admit it?"
"Mm-hmm. Overprotective, guilty as charged. And adorable is also a fact. That's exactly why—I don't want my apprentice to die. If there's even the slightest chance of that, I won't hesitate to help."
"Wow—Wof, you're loved."
"Shiro is also interested in romance."
"And is that why you brought us along?"
"Well, you were both in this city. I don't know why there are so many Class I delvers here, but still."
"I suppose so. After all, my motto is comprehensive aftercare."
"Shiro needs to stay here for a while to deliver a message, so it worked out."
"I am here as a bodyguard for the Foolish Prince."
"Then, then—it only makes sense to put you to use."
The witch gazed down at the scene below and smiled.
"Oh my, oh my—Shiro of the Messages staying put for a while? What could that mean?"
"How rare indeed."
"Is something happening?"
"Yes, there is. That's right—I have an important message from Grand Guild Master Alhazad Abramilin for all of you. One month from now—this city, Hydrangea, will be—"
Shiro spoke to them.