The Absolute Godspeed of Infinite Worlds

"Don't go after them!"

"But—!"

"Raul and the others are still here! We can't spread our forces too thin!"

Finn stopped Ais from moving.

"Riveria, cast your magic on them! Gareth, you go after them! Everyone else, keep moving!"

Though he prevented Ais from pursuing, Finn had no intention of abandoning anyone. He decisively issued orders, splitting the party into two groups.

"I'm entrusting the juniors' safety to you, Gareth!"

"Leave it to this old man!"

With his shield strapped to his back and his battle-axe in hand, Gareth let out a fierce shout before plummeting into the pit like a meteor.

Meanwhile, Riveria swung her staff, bestowing fresh defensive magic upon the four falling figures.

"Keep moving! We need to regroup with them as soon as possible!"

"...Understood!"

Ais's face twisted with conflict, but she returned to her position at the vanguard.

Only, the raging winds around her grew even more violent.

...

A sudden, intense sensation of weightlessness struck.

By the time Lefiya regained her senses, all she could see before her was an endless, abyssal void.

The massive vertical shaft spanned floors 53, 54, and beyond, its depth exceeding at least 800 meters. Even with her vision, she could make out the hellish crimson world at the very bottom.

This is bad!

This is really bad!

Her azure eyes flickered with fear and trembling. She shuddered uncontrollably from sheer terror.

Falling from this height was nothing short of a nightmare!

And to make matters worse, at the very bottom of this shaft, she could see several ferocious dragon species prowling about.

They were enormous red dragons.

Each over ten meters in length, they now circled the base of the shaft, baring their savage fangs upward.

BOOM!

Suddenly, an explosive gust of wind roared from behind.

Before she could even turn her head, she felt a tight grip around her waist—as if someone had grabbed hold of her.

"Hold on tight!"

Eiji accelerated his descent using his ability, instantly closing the distance to Lefiya and wrapping an arm around her waist.

In the midst of the violent freefall, the sudden sensation of something to cling onto made Lefiya instinctively wrap her limbs around Eiji.

Only after a moment did she realize just how mortifying this position was—enough to make an elf consider suicide.

"Eiji! Lefiya! Are you two alright?!"

Forgetting her embarrassment, Lefiya looked up.

Just in time to see Tiona sprinting down the vertical shaft's wall.

"—Veil of the Holy Spirit!"

Then, a melodious chant of magic echoed from above.

Emerald-green veils of light enveloped the three falling figures.

"Riveria's defensive magic? We're saved!"

Tiona's face lit up with relief.

Eiji recognized this spell.

Back during their battle against Udaous, Riveria had cast this same magic on him and Ais. Its effect was equivalent to Jeanne's Noble Phantasm—it wouldn't fade until the damage exceeded its limits.

"So, what now?"

Suspended midair, Eiji kept one arm around Lefiya's waist.

He glanced downward at the shaft's depths.

From the 52nd floor onward, the Dungeon was hell.

That was a phrase Finn often repeated.

Now, Eiji understood why.

Seven red dragons in total lurked at the bottom of the shaft, watching intently—ready to unleash their artillery fire at any moment.

In that crimson world, not only the red dragon could be sensed, but also many other terrifying presences.

It was said that the Zeus Familia, which once ruled over Orario, referred to the floors from the 52nd to the 58th as the "Dragon's Vase." Especially the 58th floor, the bottom of the pot, where the Valgang Dragons—red dragons of at least Level 5—resided. Their monstrous strength was utterly terrifying!

The threat level here was like another world compared to the upper floors!

"We have no choice but to head to the 58th floor first. I hope Finn and the others can catch up soon!" Tiona shouted as she landed near the other two.

Eiji glanced upward.

Finn and the others had already left the vertical shaft and were advancing deeper into the 52nd floor.

At this point, even if they went back up, they would still be split into two groups. It was better for them to proceed to the 58th floor together—at least they could stay as a team and not get separated.

"Watch out! Another fireball incoming!"

"ROOOOOOOAR—!"

Before Eiji could finish speaking, the roar of a dragon echoed from the depths below.

A massive fireball, five meters in diameter, erupted from the ground like a cannonball, hurtling toward the trio with terrifying speed.

"Leave it to me!"

Tiona kicked off the rock wall and charged forward, raising her indestructible greatsword as she plunged straight into the fireball.

"Miss Tiona?!"

Lefiya gasped in shock.

With a thunderous boom, the fireball was split in two.

"Hot, hot, hot!"

Tiona emerged from the flames, laughing cheerfully after a brief yelp.

"Heh, Riveria's defensive magic is amazing! Without it, we'd be toast!"

The emerald veil covering her had already been partially worn away.

"What a waste!"

Eiji glared at her.

Riveria's Spirit Veil was an incredibly precious resource—every use diminished its power. And you just wasted it on a fireball?!

Eiji raised his Bling Blade, transforming it into a cross-shaped one-handed sword, then hurled it downward like a supersonic projectile!

The blade pierced through the second fireball like a balloon, detonating it far before it could reach them, eliminating the threat entirely.

"Incredible! As expected of Eiji! But what about your weapon?"

"I've got more!"

Eiji reached behind his back and pulled out another Bling Blade.

Tiona and Lefiya both froze.

Where the heck did you pull that from?!

"Careful! We're about to land on the 56th floor!"

The ground was rapidly approaching, and Tiona suddenly remembered something, urgently shouting a warning.

"What's there?"

"Wyverns! They can fly—they'll definitely ambush us!"

The irregular rock walls, resembling an anthill, flashed past in a blur.

As they continued their descent, the five-hundred-meter drop passed in the blink of an eye.

"GROOOOWL!"

Counting the floors in his mind, Eiji heard the savage roars just as they neared the 56th floor.

A swarm of wyverns surged out from the labyrinth.

These were three-meter-long, grotesquely dark-purple dragonkin with crimson eyes devoid of reason. Their razor-sharp claws and fangs slashed through the air, exuding a bloodthirsty, predatory aura.

Like the red cannon dragons, these wyverns were also unique to the Dragon's Vase. They would attack adventurers through the vertical tunnels created by the red cannon dragons. Being flying monsters, they were particularly troublesome.

Eiji's thoughts shifted, and the Bling Blade in his hand transformed once again.

What appeared to be an ordinary short sword was now gripped in his hand, with a long rope attached to the hilt that immediately drew attention.

Eiji grasped the end of the rope and hurled the rope-bound short sword forward with force!