"...…Eh?"
The first one to raise their voice was Sumire.
— The challengers have been wiped out.
The Angel Announcement of the Last Dungeon said this.
But that's wrong.
Sumire and I are here.
However, the martial arts club and us are not an official united party.
We were simply moving together as two separate parties.
In that case…if the challengers only refer to the martial arts club…?
"W-Wiped out…? What about L-Leona-san…? N-No way…" (Sumire)
Sumire was trembling heavily here.
I hugged Sumire without saying anything.
(…What should we do? No, there's no need to think. We have no choice but
to stay hidden with Hide Location.) (Eugene)
The moment I decided this, the merciless voice rang again.
— "Announcing new challengers inside the Territory."
""?!""
Sumire and I shook.
New challengers…?
There's probably only us in the 20th Floor here.
The Dungeon Admin knows that Sumire and I are present.
— "If you are going to forfeit your challenge, retreat outside the Territory at
once. In the case you are not outside the Territory, the Trial of Gods will
automatically begin."
(…Oi oi, don't joke around.) (Eugene)
This is the 20th Floor, Dungeon Admin!
Why are you doing the Trial of Gods as if nothing?!
But I can't complain to them in a loud voice.
Cerberus is outside.
In the first place, it was only assumed that Discipline Beasts only show in
the 100th Floors because of past instances.
It is not like there were such arrangements exchanged.
Also, the situation won't get better even if we were to stay here.
Sumire is trembling with a pale white face.
I have to protect her.
I am her guardian after all.
…Resolve yourself, Eugene Santafield.
"E-Eugene-kun…" (Sumire)
"Sumire, believe in me and stay here." (Eugene)
"And what will you do, Eugene-kun?!" (Sumire)
"I will become bait." (Eugene)
"T-That's impossible! Even all those people from the martial arts club were
wiped out!" (Sumire)
"It is okay. I have a plan." (Eugene)
"B-But…" (Sumire)
"We don't have the time. Please don't move from here at all…please."
(Eugene)
I continue nailing that point and head to the exit of the cavity.
There's a time limit in the conditions to lose in the Trial of Gods.
I…have heard…that the Discipline Beast will return to where they came
after a time limit.
This is so that you don't just buy time mindlessly against the Discipline
Beast.
It is apparently in order to give an opportunity for the next challenger.
Even if you lose because of a time out, it is not like you will lose your life.
That said, who knows if I can buy time against Cerberus…
There's no point wailing about this.
Anyways, I have to buy time for the rescue of the dungeon staff, or the time
limit of the Trial of Gods.
There's no other way.
There's the choice of staying hidden the whole time, but…the Dungeon
Admin is aware of us.
We are currently inside the Territory of the Divine Beast.
If we just stay hidden there, we would eventually be found.
If that happens, I wouldn't be able to fight while protecting Sumire.
We would both be killed.
"I am going now, Sumire." (Eugene)
"Eugene-kun…" (Sumire)
"Is it okay to get your mana, Sumire?" (Eugene)
"Okay…" (Sumire)
I held the hand of Sumire that's trembling slightly.
—Mana Link.
I have Sumire share me her Red Mana.
A large amount of hot mana pours into me.
"Hn…" (Sumire)
Sumire moans faintly.
I might have taken a bit too much mana in one go.
"…Are you okay?" (Eugene)
"Yeah… Avenge Leona-san… No, survive at all cost, Eugene-kun."
(Sumire)
"Got it." (Eugene)
Sumire looked up at me with tears in her eyes, forcefully making a smile,
and then, I headed outside the cavity.
After coming out, I layered more barriers to the entrance of the hollowed
part.
The only thing I have to do for sure is that Sumire is not found by
Cerberus.
I once again look around the 20th Floor.
(…It is silent.) (Eugene)
There's no cries of beasts, or the singing of birds.
The 20th Floor is currently in the presence of the Divine Beast.
All living beings are kneeling.
"Eugene Santafield challenges the Trial of Gods." (Eugene)
I speak to the D Rank explorer badge.
The inorganic voice of the Angel Announcement rang in the floor.
— "The challenge of Eugene Santafield for the Trial of Gods has been
accepted. Godspeed."
(So it has been…accepted, huh.) (Eugene)
I can't turn back anymore.
A white line spread around me.
It is the Challenger Border.
And this also becomes the mark of prey for the Divine Beast.
*Rumble…Rumble…*
The footsteps of Cerberus approach.
The legendary Divine Beast growled from its 3 heads as it looked down on
me.
The drumming of my chest is noisy.
I don't know if the trembling of my body was from fear or from
anticipation.
(Pops…what should I do at a time like this?) (Eugene)
I asked my Pops, who is my sword master and goal, inside my heart.
— "Smile. When in trouble, just smile away, Eugene. If you do, you will
surely be able to manage somehow."
The Pops in my memories is as half-assed as always.
But he was always right.
"Fuuh…" (Eugene)
I sighed.
"Alright, let's do this!" (Eugene)
I smiled boldly and took the Twin Heavenly Resonance stance.