Chapter 40. Corrupted Spirit? [Avenger Ais], Does the Hero Emiya Have to Work Overtime Again?
Dungeon, Floor 39, "Tree Labyrinth – Safe Floor."
Although called a "Safe Floor," the air here was still as thick and murky as expired milk that had been fermenting for three days. However, for the Loki Familia expedition team about to set out, this was already the final paradise.
"Everyone, check your equipment!"
"Are the potions distributed? If you didn't get yours, hurry up and find that red-haired guy (Shirou Emiya) to claim them!"
"Five minutes until we break camp! If you want to write a will, do it now, though no one's going to mail it for you!"
Gareth Landrock, the veteran Dwarf whose voice was louder than thunder, was giving the final mobilization speech using his unique "hardcore motivation method."
Meanwhile, at the team's logistics center, Shirou Emiya was surrounded by a swarm of supporters.
"Emiya-sama! My spare short sword seems to have a crack!"
"Sir Shirou! Here is the special Mana Recovery Potion requested by Captain Finn!"
"Emiya-senpai! I want one last rice ball before we leave! Umeboshi flavor, please!"
"Alright, alright, one at a time." Shirou sighed, but his hands moved so fast they left afterimages.
"Trace—On (Repair)."
"Projection—Container (Potion Bottle)."
"Cooking (Rice Ball)—Speed Mode."
At this moment, he wasn't fighting alone. He was a blacksmith, a pharmacist, a chef, and the "Logistics Daddy" of the entire Familia.
Watching Shirou's movements, which were so practiced they were almost painful to behold, Lili couldn't help but comment: "Emiya-sama, the way you look right now is exactly like an author frantically filling pages the day before a deadline. You're radiating a 'death by overwork' aura."
"Don't say that, Lili," Shirou gave a wry smile. "I suppose this is what they call 'the capable must work harder.' Besides... if I don't arm these guys to the teeth, the path ahead won't be easy."
He looked up toward the pitch-black hole leading to the deeper levels. His [Mind's Eye (True)] was throbbing slightly. It wasn't malice directed at him personally, but a pure "killing intent" emanating from the Dungeon itself.
"Alright! Time's up!" Finn Deimne, the Pallum brave, stood atop a high rock and slammed his spear into the ground.
"Loki Familia, move out!! Target: Floor 50! Let's go show that coward hiding in the shadows what we're made of!"
"OOOOOOHH!!!"
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Floors 40 to 48. This stretch of the path was known by adventurers as the "Death March."
If the upper floors were the starting village and the middle floors were advanced dungeons, then the deep levels starting from Floor 37 were "malicious stages" where the developers taught you a lesson. Monster strength started at Lv. 4, the terrain was complex, traps were everywhere, and the spawn rate was horrifyingly high.
"Fire Hell ahead! Everyone, activate fire-resistance barriers!" Riveria's voice rang through the team channel (amplification magic).
Floor 44. There were no paths here, only flowing lava and glowing red rocks. The air temperature exceeded 50 degrees Celsius; every breath felt like swallowing burning coals.
"Roar—!"
From within the lava, countless "Fomors"—flaming giants—roared as they climbed out. They brandished massive obsidian morning stars, each strike capable of causing small-scale earthquakes.
"With this many... are they trying to host a bonfire party?!" Tiona shouted as she sliced through an incoming fireball. "And this weather is terrible for my skin!"
"Shut up and fight! Vanguard, hold the line!" Bete transformed into a streak of silver lightning, weaving through the giants. His war boots were enchanted with "Hati," fighting fire with fire, kicking the flame giants until they wailed.
But there were simply too many monsters. Moreover, in this terrain, an adventurer's stamina consumption was triple the normal rate.
"Rear Guard Mage Unit! Support!" Riveria raised her staff, preparing to chant a large-scale spell. But large-scale spells had a long cast time, and the giants clearly didn't intend to let her finish.
"In that case..."
Located in the middle of the formation, Shirou Emiya's eyes narrowed. He didn't draw the [Pseudo-Magic Sword] (heavy weapons were too clunky in this terrain); instead, he gripped the empty air with both hands.
"Trace—On."
His magic circuits roared to life. This time, he wasn't projecting a single weapon, but an array.
"I am the bone of my sword."
Dozens of magic swords of various designs, all radiating a chilling frost attribute, materialized out of thin air in front of the team. One could only say that Unlimited Blade Works was truly versatile, even if it lacked the sheer opulence of a certain "Goldie."
"Freeze Out——Fire!"
Whish-whish-whish-whish!
The dozens of ice swords shot out like missiles, accurately piercing the feet of the fire giants or plunging directly into the lava.
"Broken Phantasm——Attribute Release!"
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion rang out. But what erupted wasn't fire, but extreme freezing air. The flowing lava instantly solidified into black rock, and the giants covered in flames were frozen into ice sculptures (though it would only last a few seconds, it was enough).
"Good chance! All units, charge!" Finn keenly seized the opening.
"Ooh! This is much cooler!" Gareth laughed, charging forward with his battle-axe to smash the brittle, frozen giants into ice shards.
"That Emiya... is he really Lv. 3?" Lefiya watched Shirou's back while chanting, her eyes full of admiration (and a hint of jealousy). "That kind of mana control—to instantly create and detonate a massive number of magic swords... it's practically cheating!"
"Don't daze off, Lefiya," Riveria tapped her on the head. "That's his talent (cheat code); you can't learn it. Focus on your chanting!"
With Shirou acting as a "humanoid crowd-control machine," the Loki Familia's advancement speed was staggering. The "Fire Hell" that normally took three days to cross was breached in just half a day.
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Floor 49, "The Great Wasteland."
This was a massive wasteland with no cover whatsoever. It was also the final barrier before reaching Floor 50.
"Huff... huff..." Even someone as strong as Ais was slightly out of breath. Prolonged high-intensity combat meant that even with potion support, mental fatigue was unavoidable.
"Everyone, rest for ten minutes!" Finn commanded. "This is the final break. Floor 50 is just ahead."
Shirou walked to Ais's side and handed her a compressed biscuit and a bottle of special mana water. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." Ais took the water and took a small sip.
"No problem. As long as I see that... I can move."
She was referring to the "Corrupted Spirit." The flames of revenge were her best fuel.
"Don't push yourself." Shirou sat beside her, looking at the gray sky (the ceiling of the cavern) in the distance. "If you get tired, hide behind me. Don't forget, I'm your 'back-up' (support)."
"...Mhm." Ais nodded gently, her body unconsciously leaning toward Shirou. In this deep level filled with the scent of death, the youth beside her was like a portable furnace, radiating a reassuring warmth.
A breeze blew past. No, it wasn't wind. It was mana. A mana storm so dense it was suffocating, carrying the scent of rotting flowers and blood.
"It's here." Finn stood up, his spear humming.
"Everyone! Battle stations!!"
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Dungeon, Floor 50.
When the main force of the Loki Familia stepped into this floor, everyone was shocked by the sight before them.
This was supposed to be a barren, rocky area. But now, it had turned into a... sea of flowers.
Bizarre, colorful flowers as massive as trees covered the entire floor. Red petals looked as if they were dripping blood, and purple vines pulsed like veins. It was hauntingly beautiful, eerie, and bone-chilling.
"This... what is this?" Lili hid behind Shirou in fear. "Those flowers... are they moving?"
"They aren't flowers." Shirou activated [Mind's Eye (True)]. In his vision, this entire "sea of flowers" was actually the tentacles of a single organism.
"They are alive. And... they are all draining the mana from this floor."
"Welcome to... my garden."
A voice suddenly rang out in everyone's minds. The voice sounded like both a young girl's whisper and an old woman's screech, even mixed with the roars of countless monsters. Overlapping, distorted, and filled with unspeakable madness.
RUMBLE—!!!
In the center of the flower sea, a "bud" large enough to block the dome slowly bloomed.
The petals unfurled, revealing the... core inside.
It was a monster with the upper body of a human female, but the lower body was connected to countless tentacles and plant roots. Her skin was deathly pale, her hair was green vines, and her eyes had no pupils—only a chaotic black void.
The [Corrupted Spirit]. A clone.
"So beautiful... so hungry..." The Spirit tilted her head, looking at the adventurers below as if they were plates of exquisite snacks. "Give me your mana... Give me your life..."
"This is... a Spirit?" Finn's face was extremely grim. This level of mana reaction completely transcended the scope of a Floor Boss. This was... calamity itself.
"Ais." Riveria looked at the girl beside her.
Ais didn't speak. She simply drew [Desperate]. The golden Ariel (Wind King Barrier) roared frantically on the blade, even turning into black wind because the mana was too immense. It was the resonance of her [Avenger] skill.
"Kill." Ais spat out a single word.
"Go!" Finn ordered.
"Ariel!" "Hell Finegas!" "Wynn Fimbulvetr!"
The Three Greats of the Loki Familia erupted simultaneously. Three attacks capable of destroying a town blasted toward the massive Spirit.
However...
"Useless... useless..."
The Spirit let out a mocking laugh. The petals beneath her suddenly closed, forming a massive shield.
BOOM!!!
The attacks hit. The smoke cleared. Although the petal shield was shattered, the Spirit's main body was unscathed. Furthermore, the broken petals regenerated in an instant!
"Regeneration speed... faster than that bone monster?!" Shirou's heart sank. This was trouble. With this level of regeneration, unless they crushed its core into dust in one hit, it was impossible to kill.
"Since you won't give it... I'll take it myself."
The Spirit opened her mouth. Countless green beams of light shot out from her mouth and from the surrounding flowers.
"Firebolt!"
"Defense! Everyone, defend!"
The battlefield instantly turned into a purgatory. Those beams were not only powerful but also highly corrosive. If hit, equipment and flesh would melt instantly.
"AAAAHHH!" Several supporters who couldn't dodge in time screamed as they fell.
"Damn it! There are too many!" Gareth held up his tower shield, tanking the bombardment of light beams. "We'll be ground down at this rate!"
"We have to break her attack rhythm!" Finn shouted. "Bete! Tiona! Go cut her tentacles! Don't let her draw mana from the ley lines!"
"Got it!"
Just then, Shirou felt a familiar, nauseating gaze.
It wasn't coming from the Spirit. It was coming from... beneath the Spirit.
Under that massive flower receptacle, the shadows writhed. A red, skeletal monster slowly walked out.
It held a massive sword forged from Orichalcum. Although its body was somewhat damaged (from when Shirou blew it up last time), the pressure it radiated was even stronger.
[Spartoi]—Modified.
It wasn't dead. It had even been "reconstructed" by the Spirit.
It looked up, those eyes burning with ghost fire locking precisely onto Shirou Emiya.
"..."
"Rematch..."
"I knew it." Shirou sighed, loosening the bandages on his arms (which he had already undone with magecraft). He drew the [Pseudo-Magic Sword Ilmana] from his back.
"Ais, leave the big one to you guys." Shirou looked at the approaching Spartoi, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"This 'old friend'... I'll handle him."
"Emiya, watch out!" Ais wanted to help, but the Spirit's tentacles had already surged forward like a tidal wave, separating her from Shirou.
"Don't worry." Shirou turned his back to Ais and raised the massive sword.
"Last time was because I wasn't prepared."
"..."
The magic circuits inside Shirou's body opened fully. The immense mana of an Lv. 3, combined with the blessing of his "Mystery" ability.
"Trace——On."
"Unlimited Blade Works—Partial!"
Countless sword silhouettes materialized behind him. They were no longer illusory shadows, but solid steel filled with killing intent.
"I'll show you what a real... hell looks like."
The final battle of Floor 50 officially began. On one side was the main force of a Familia challenging myth. On the other was a red-haired Heroic Spirit in a duel of destiny.
This epic named the "Expedition" had finally reached its greatest Chapter .
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