The group quickly went down into the dungeon and began to head down.

Rrrrroooooooooooooar!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Annoying little bastards!" Cirrus spun his spear with such fitness and strength that it was as if he was dancing his way through the monsters, slicing them through the magic stones.

"This is actually my first time seeing him fight monsters." said Alise. "Actually this the first time we ever went into the dungeon with him now that I’m thinking about it?"

"Really? You have never seen him do battle in the Dungeon?" said Gareth.

"We never have the time to. Whenever we were to go on expeditions, Astraea simply tasked him to cover our patrols." said Lyra.

"Our goddess says he is her Little Lone Star-"

"Less talking and more walking!!" shouted Cirrus over Alise making a grin at what Astraea called him. "We were on a time crunch here!"

A floor later.

"-Strike." Said Ais slicing through monsters with ease.

"Uwah another strong fighter." Said Noin.

"She and I are about the same size but when I look at her moves…it’s no joke. And she’s still growing huh? I’m pretty jealous…" said Lyra.

"Shut up Pallum. Stop being so jealous of others. You are so annoying. But you are correct...Calling her a swordsman would describe her perfectly. The Sword Princess of the Loki Familia…she’s not even 10 yet…it’s like seeing a younger and cuter version of Cirrus." said Kaguya.

"You weren't exactly a cute kid either, Kaguya." said Cirrus.

"Oh? I remember when I dislocated your arm!"

"I was holding back and acting to keep my identity a secret you fucking thuggish tomboy!"

"Let's go! Right here right now!"

"Okay then! Hiyaa!!" He slapped Kaguya in the back of the head.

She slammed her face into the ground.

Thud!!

"Hahahaha!!!" Cirrus laughed wholeheartedly.

"Come back here you asshole!!" Kaguya quickly got up and chased after him.

As Kaguya and Cirrus insulted one another, Ryuu was also helping cut down monsters.

"Haaa!!!"

Ryuu sliced through several monsters like the wind.

"Stare~~~"

Ais started at Ryuu watching her movements.

"Umm…what is it, Sword Princess?" Ryuu said in a slightly confused manner.

"…Have we met?"

Ryuu seemed as though she was replaying a memory, and a look of dread fell on her.

"Your eyes and your voice…they remind me of something…"

"I-I know! It must be that time when you and I were fighting over the last potato snack in the food stall! "

"…Ah yeah!" Ais then returned to slaying monsters.

"Thank goddess she’s a little off…" Ryuu said under her breath.

"Not as off as you fighting the kid." Cirrus said brushing past her.

"Now stop standing and keep moving!!" shouted Kaguya with another bump on her head.

"I-I'm sorry!!"

She then followed in Cirrus and Kaguya’s path.

 

Two more floors down.

"Did we actually talk about how we are supposed to kill this Nightmare, Finn and them were talking about? It's supposedly as big as a Floor Boss! " said Neze.

"Cirrus any ideas?" said Kaguya. "You are the only one who has fought massive floor bosses like monsters."

"Uhh yeah make sure you’re in a spacious area and hope to all that is holy, kind, merciful, and good that it isn’t poisonous because those bastards suck!"

"So we just leave it up to you?" said Lyra.

"Well wasn’t that the idea? I will be the damage dealer and decoy while the rest of you chip away at it?"

"Not a very good plan." said Ryuu.

"Well, I never really worked much in a group I sort of just did most of the work, and someone usually chimes in when I need help."

"You are a damn Lone Star!" Alise shouted. "Lady Astraea should have told you off!"

"I’m sorry are you a first-class adventurer? No? Then I suggest you stop chatting and start cutting some fuckers!! RAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!"

Cirrus kicked off and blended spearmanship with hand-to-hand crushing all in his path leaving behind nothing but blood and ash.

"I can see why." Said Ais. "People are slow fu-Bonk!"

"Don’t you dare imitate him! He has years of experience and training under his belt!" shouted Riveria hitting Ais over the head. "And we will all fight it on the 18th floor! Hear that Cirrus!! And no profanity!!"

"Understood!! But you’re not my fucking mom!"

"Cirrus come here!!" She shouted running faster towards him.

 

Back on the surface.

"… It's strange we never fought Ottar?" said Ai turning to Ottar.

"Hm…I have heard of your swordplay; I would like to see for myself how formidable you are one day." He said glancing at her from the corner of his eyes.

"Sure thing!" she said with a bright smile.

"…I can see why Cirrus chose you." His eyes returned to what was in front of him.

"Eh? W-what do you mean?"

"Nothing, just that many would-be envious to know you have the Kirin’s heart."

"Well I know the Amazons like him like a lot but for, um…different reason I’m sure you know."

"Hm, they can be clingy."

Some minutes later a loud voice echoed through the streets.

"Orario!! It seems the city of hers has disgraced its name while we were gone!! If you’re welcoming me back you can do so by giving up your lives!! Prove it to me with all you’ve got!! Don’t leave me starving for blood!! Mortality is a bigger sin than being a glutton!! You’ve got to stop disappointing me! Disappointment is bitter, and it’s the most disgusting thing one can ever taste!! Something has to be poured down my burnt, dry throat. It never is enough. Therefore-" Zald readies his great sword and prepares to bring down a part of the wall made of ice made by the mages of Orario. "Try pleasing me, my preys. Make my blood boil, and my flesh twitch. Bon appetite!!"

And with a flurry of sword swings, Zald brings it down and walks into the barrier.

"…No one is here…no."

He turns to see Ottar and Ai.

"It would seem my prey has come first."

"Dam, I’ll go wait inside." Ai said walking to Babel.

"So…you are the only one coming to stop me?" Zald said.

"Yes." He then draws his blades. "This time I will defeat you on my own right here-once and for all."

As Ai walks away she takes out a simple flare.

"Time to let Finn know." She aims it at the sky and explodes.

Several mages soon pop up and began chanting, creating a barrier around Central Park.

"Haa…I’ll just wait at the bottom."

Ai walks down to the bottom of Babel and seizas. She now waits for whoever comes down.

Ai could hear the vicious and thunderous clashing of swords and magic from where she sat, and it shook the entire city.

"…Where could you be Alfia."

Nox transformed right next to her.

"Don’t worry I’m sure she’ll show her face eventually."

 

Down on the 17th floor.

"It’s almost to the 18th floor!" shouted Ais.

!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Nightmare’s roars could be heard getting louder and louder.

"The dam ground is shaking like crazy! Our target monster should be arriving at the Under Resort soon enough!" said Gareth running.

"Good to know that we won’t be late to the party!" said Kaguya.

"The time would just be cutting it! I’m getting goosebumps by how on point Finn was!"

"Cirrus! Go on ahead and when you arrive at the floor take the hill so we can attack with magic!"

"Got it! (Exousía, Adorn: Ceryneian)!!!"

Cirrus quickly ran ahead leaving the others in the dust and arriving down on the 18th floor when cinders flew past his eyes.

"?"

Cirrus finally arrives at the floor to find it completely terraformed with pools of lava and fire everywhere.

"Holy fuck…"

‘Oh fuck…’

"This…this reminds me of the Dragon’s Urn, full of molten earth and a red hue to the air…"

 

Several pillars of fire emerge all throughout the floor like geysers.

"Dam!"

‘Cirrus the monsters!! The monsters are on fire and coming!!’

"Well, time to bust out the shield."

Cirrus draws his spear and shield; He cracks his neck and charges ahead.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Cirrus runs off, he tosses his spear into one of the monster's heads that were deep within the horde and Cirrus jumps in after it.

"(Damocles)!!!"

With his magic, Cirrus spun his spear at a 360-degree angle cutting all the monsters in half. He then put a spin on the spear and began to violently charge through several hordes of monsters all the while avoiding the geysers of fire. Cutting through waves of monsters and blocking any heat with his shield.

"Fuu," he exhales a deep breath. He looks out to the sea of an inferno. "I feel like I’m in hell."

‘Cirrus they arrived on the 18th floor! They should reach you in a bit!’

"That’s good-"

"(Gospel)."

"!?!?"

From the first sound wave that reached his ear, Cirrus turned and blocked the attack with his shield sending him flying.

Dong!!

"Gah! Fuck! Alfia is here!! How!? Nox!! Circe!! Alfia is here on the 18th floor!!"

 

"T-this is the 18th floor…" said Ryuu.

Flying down to them Circe stops them from proceeding.

"Cirrus’s familiar? Where is your master?" said Kaguya.

Circe lands and scratches a name onto the ground.

"Al…fia?" said Alise.

Riveria's eyes widen.

"Alfia is here!!"

Circe nodded and pointed in the direction where something crashed into the wall in the distance.

Crash!!!

"Cough! Dammit!!" Alfia said pulling herself from the hole she had made from the impact.