A few hours before Ken's arrival.
Intense weapons swings, and explosion sounds rang out inside the dim underground dungeon, with only green light stones and a single floating spell of light orb to rely upon.
It was so intense that it could be described as severe, and even the far distant wall shook from time to time. Numerous silver-colored sword trails were beautifully drawn in the empty space. Fire balls, flame spears, wind blades, and water bombs flew about like a barrage. Sound of something hitting tough flesh, angry roars for their companions, and war cries filled the should be silent space suddenly turning into a battlefield.
"O light cutting through all creation, wind bring forth destruction, scatters and dances around like a whirlpool, and become the storm of light that cut my enemies! Soaring Severance!"
The Holy Sword he had in his hand, along with his wrist blurring as they accelerated, and numerous swords of light released with him, Kouki, as the core. The attacking bat-like monster with the length of about 50cm was instantly cut into ten pieces, and fell into the ground without being able to successfully attack as its blood splattered.
"Vanguard! Counting, ten—!"
"""Roger!"""
The demonic beasts were coming from the eight tunnels all around the room. Ant-like demonic beasts that moved their jaws, bat-like flying demonic beasts, and a tree with ten tentacles like a lesser version of a treant; they wriggled and moved around inside the 30meters in diameter round shaped room.
This place was [Orcus Great Labyrinth] 89th floor. The vanguards, Kouki, Ryuutarou, Shizuku, Nagayama, Hiyama, and Kondou, were matching the countdown timing of the rear guard's all out magic attack. The monsters, which managed to attack the rear guards, were repelled and defeated by Kouki and the vanguards as they wait for the countdown.
The troublesome bat-like flying demonic beasts rushed to attack the rear guards using the space between the vanguards' defense, but were stopped thanks to rampart made by the reliable "Barrier-user."
"O' ephemeral storm, O' invisible shield; hulk out, blow, swirl, and stop everything, "Wall of Furious Tempest!"
Taniguchi Suzu activated the offensive defense magic. The chanted spell went right before the rearguards, and breeze could be felt by their outstretched hands. No change could be seen with naked eyes. Even the bat-like demonic beasts didn't notice its presence, and were not alarmed by their instinct. They kept trying to attack the rear-guards who were about to activate large-scale attack magic spells.
However, before they reached, what met the charging demonic beasts was a wall of air that looked like a huge distortion of space appearing all of a sudden. Tens of those bat-like demonic beasts collided against the wall one after another, but the wall of air only bent without letting even one through.
When all of the charging bat-like demonic beasts had collided, the distorted space exploded, causing great impact as if it had reached its limit. The generated impact was tremendous, and the fleshes crushed by it immediately splattered on the dungeon's walls with sound of raw and death. Splatter!
"Hmph! I won't let you pass that easily!"
The voice of the class's mood-maker, Suzu, rang in the middle of the intense sound of battle. At the same time, the rear guards simultaneously fired their best attacks. It was an attack where it was necessary for them to be at a distance, since it would defeat the enemies, and struck all those who are close to it.
"Retreat!" With Kouki's order, the vanguards immediately backed away from the monsters.
In the next moment, the magic attacks of six people arrived with such perfect timing.
A huge fireball crashed and simultaneously caused a huge explosion. Meanwhile, a tornado trampled the battlefield, bringing forth vacuum blades which sucked the demonic beasts and cut them up. On the ground, stone spears shot off with tremendous speed and pierced the demonic beasts' lower parts. At the same time, the icicles falling from above created holes in the demonic beasts' upper bodies.
There was no way a living thing would be able to survive inside the sublime space that looked like it was receiving the wrath of nature. The attacks only last for tens of seconds. However, more than 90% of the monsters were dead while the rest were on verge of dying due to grave injuries.
"Alright! This is good! Let's finish the leftover ones quickly!"
With Kouki's shout, the vanguards once again went forwards, and the monsters on the brink of death, couldn't even fight back thanks to the all-out magic attacks, were finished one by one. Not even five minutes had passed when all of the demonic beasts were annihilated.
The battle ended, but Kouki's party didn't relax their guards and searched their surroundings to see if there were more enemies.
"Phew, next is the 90th floor, huh… We were able to defeat the monsters in this floor without much difficulty… and it looks like the end of the combat training inside this labyrinth is near."
"That's why; don't let your guard down. After all, we don't know what kind of monsters and traps are ahead."
"Aren't you worrying too much about it, Shizuku? Didn't we just an easy battle in a floor no one ever reached? No matter what may come, I will defeat them! Even if it's the Demon race!"
Shizuku cautioned Kouki, who muttered so in deep thought, and the muscle headed Ryuutarou replied with a hearty laugh. Nevertheless, Kouki made fist-to-fist greeting with Ryuutarou, and revealed a fearless smile. Seeing them, Shizuku sighed while rubbing her creased forehead. She came and had followed the extremeness of the two, which ascended her to a stage of a wordly-wise man.
"Hiyama-kun, Kondou-kun, I think you must have recovered by now. But… how are you?"
While the others were discussing the earlier battle, Kaori was doing her duty; to heal the injured people from previous battle, since she was a "Healer." It should be noted that there was another girl with "Healer" class within the 15 people who had undergone combat training by conquering the labyrinth, and the duty to heal was divided between the two.
"… Aah, there's no problem now. Thank you, Shirasaki."
"O-Oh, it's okay now. Thanks."
Himaya, who was healed by Kaori, was daydreaming due to the close proximity of Kaori's face, and answered absentmindedly. It was obvious he was charmed by her. Even Kondou was saying his gratitude with his reddened ears. Because they were the vanguards, Hiyama and Kondou were frequently in care of Kaori's healing, and yet they still could not get used to coming in contact with Kaori. Although Kondou's attitude was just like a child in puberty… there was darkness inside Hiyama's eyes when he looked at Kaori. The darkness became thicker as days go by… but almost no one noticed it.
Hearing their gratitude, Kaori said, "You're welcome," with a wry smile. Then, she stood and turned around. When she confirmed no one else was in need of healing, she quietly went to sit at an empty space and started doing some weird things. Noticing Koari's state, Shizuku frowns as this was not the first time.
"... She's at it again. Don't you know what's going on?" says Eri Nakamura who approaches Shizuku with Taniguchi Suzu in tow. Shizuku turns to them before replying with a helpless sigh.
"I've tried asking her about her frequent disappearance and her sudden lack of drive for conquering the labyrinth but... as a bad liar, she tries to forcibly shift the question or keep completely silence"
"I never imagined Koari keeping secrets from even you..." said Suzu with a serious look as she could see it wasn't time for her usual antics.
"I could see in her eyes, she wanted to tell me but something or someone was preventing her" explains Shizuku who takes one last look at her best friend before turning her focus elsewhere as this isn't the place for such matters.
While her friend talk about her without her knowledge, Koari just sat silently without any excessive movements as she gazed forward but her mind was disconnected from her eyes right now.
<...Nn. Don't be so hard on yourself. Am alive aren't I?>
Yes. What her friend's found weird and out of place, was just Koari telepathically communicating with Hagime who amazingly has been able to hid from the Hero and his party's senses with his stealth skills gotten from stronger... ...monsters. Oh... so it's not that surprising.
Hagime decided dived together with Koari to ensure her safety at all times after their many escapades on the surface.