Rina was very excited about her father's plan, but at the same time she was discouraged for having realized that they were just going in circles.
'In total we took three laps, which means we passed through three similar halls three times.'
Even so, it was embarrassing for her family, so without a doubt this would serve to increase her experience in paying more attention and planning.
'Next time I'll notice it right away.'
Looking sideways at Enrico, she needed to gain experience in this kind of thing, and he would be perfect. Surely when they returned she would ask for a little help. Rina noticed that something new was happening as she stepped into the next hall.
'What is this?'
Around them, a light in the hall appeared. Droplets of light touched their skin, and they felt as if they had become twenty percent better than before.
"Wait, does that mean that even those who aren't injured receive a bonus?"
"Yes, that's great, isn't it? We're temporarily stronger."
"This is very good, so it will be easier for us, Ketsumei."
This dungeon's ability was a secret that the villains only learned after completing it and using it later. Renzou had been told beforehand because Daigo had passed through that place as a hiding spot to rest the first time.
From what Daigo told Renzou, he needed a few moments to rest while searching for one of the ingredients to cure him. Even in an urgent situation, he had to stay hidden for twenty minutes because two Rank Ranvil level three were searching for him together.
"We need to take full advantage of this temporary boost, so it's time to get ready. Understood?"
"Yes, Emperor."
"Excellent, let's go."
With that, they walked out of the hall where they would face the dungeon's first difficulty. In this phase, they would be forcibly separated to random places within the dungeon, losing the ability to stay together—or even to be alone.
'I really understand why the villains used this dungeon as a secret hideout.'
The story behind this dungeon, created by a god as an experiment for his first world, was that centuries ago an order called Solarius built a floating castle to act as an anchor for a seal. The problem was that the seal corrupted everything around it, draining light and transforming light magic into darkness, creating a phenomenon known as Dark Sky.
'Looks like we really are in another dimension, even above Tsuyokuni.'
Outside, the sky was completely dark. When he looked out a window, he saw a sun with dark flames around it. Even with everything dark, he could still see some team members feeling a slight heat, making things a bit uncomfortable.
'Even so, I barely feel the heat.'
The only ones who wouldn't feel this heat were mages with fire affinity, because of their resistance. This seal was meant to contain one of the six Nartheis of the Ranvil rank.
'Serpent of the hidden abyss… Basilisk.'
This Nartheis was so strong that in the world the god created, continents went extinct wherever it passed. That's why the people of that world made this dungeon—it was the only method they had.
'Apollo managed to create his world the first time, but his mages could only reach circle six.'
That's right—the god who created the world of sealed dungeons was the same god Enrico needed to find in order to survive his fire cancer. When he returned, he had to calm Yumeha down by saying he still had time to survive.
'The good thing is that since my body is so strong, I might survive maybe three months depending on the twenty years.'
He explained this to the two people who knew about his cancer, which is why they weren't asking much. He explained it to them personally—Yumeha and Rina—since his relationship with them was now similar to that of Yumeha and Angela, letting her tell the others for him.
[Your body is unbelievably strong—what the hell is that? And you're telling me Victoria has it too?]
'She's a complete aberration, she just doesn't use it properly.'
Victoria was someone with great pride in her magic, but she must have realized her body wouldn't withstand so much power, so it's very possible she started training physically. Squeezing his shoulder, he trembled a bit; he had to ask for Angela's special massage soon because even though her and Yumeha's regular massages were good and took good care of his muscles, his body was still very tense.
'Even so, the fire cancer activated a day earlier still hurts.'
[Well, it's a dangerous pact, so even with that body, the pain increases over time.]
'Damn it, why did Virelle have to call Angela on the day of that special massage?'
He had already asked for help from Elaris, and she helped along with massages from Yumeha, but he simply couldn't endure that pain because it felt like being burned by the sun itself—that was the level of pain he had now.
"It seems the Nartheis are starting to notice us."
From several luxurious halls, some Nartheis of rank Ranvil level one came out—the weakest monsters in this dungeon. Each one had a different appearance, especially one that was without a physical body, only a floating mage's robe and cloak, with a black hood as if trying to cover its "body."
"See you later, everyone."
"What do you mean by that, Master?"
With a lift of the hand from that hooded Nartheis, everyone vanished from that place, being sent to different locations inside or outside the dark castle. Enrico was outside looking around without any surprise.
"It seems I was sent to the place where Danael was sent."
Danael was one of the villains he followed in this arc. The place he was in was a garden of black and golden flowers.
[At least this dungeon knows how to properly balance the opponents' levels.]
"Yes, and I'm going to enjoy this a lot."
In the center of the garden, a few meters away, a knight in golden robes over black armor seemed to be resting, kneeling and holding a red sword.
"I'm really going to love this one-on-one."
Name: Corrupted Solarius Knight, Nerfe
Magic: Golden Fire
Unique Ability: Blood Brother — each Knight of his order gains ten percent more of their normal capabilities.