Lili, focused and determined, managed to close the box containing the divine mana. A soothing wave emanated from the chest, canceling the summoning of the infinite monsters, leaving behind only the creatures already summoned.
Tammuz, seeing his plan fail, took advantage of the confusion to escape. Aisha tried to pursue him, but Bell stopped her with a gesture.
— This is not the time. We must help others, he said firmly.
On the battlefield, the Loki Familia and the people of Rivira continued to fight, but fatigue weighed heavily on them. Riveria, exhausted, struggled to maintain her defensive spells. Finn, Bete, Gareth, and the other cadres were nearly exhausted, their movements slowed by the exhaustion of their previous expedition.
When Bell and his team arrived, they saw a chaotic scene: exhausted bodies, still menacing monsters, and the Black Goliath, still standing and terrifying despite the incessant attacks.
Bell spotted a monster about to attack a human nearby. Without hesitation, he used Firebolt to push it away. The human he had saved was none other than Mod, the one who had tried to provoke him earlier.
"Why?" Mod muttered as he watched Bell walk away. Then, louder, he added, "Thanks. I was wrong."
Bell continued on his way, rejoining his allies.
Seeing the desperate situation, Lili stepped forward and raised her voice:
—Listen to me, everyone! We have successfully closed the box! The infinite monsters will no longer come, and the Black Goliath no longer has the full protection of the dungeon. We have a chance!
She looked at the exhausted members of the Loki Familia, the people of Rivira, and her own group.
— This fight is our last. If we join forces, we can win!
His speech gave the fighters a renewed sense of courage. Even Bete, who was naturally grumpy, nodded with an approving grunt.
Bell gestured to Aisha, Welf, and Lili.
— Save time. I'll prepare Argonaute.
For his part, Finn gave clear orders:
— Aiz, focus and build up your strength. Prepare for a final blow.
Despite her fatigue, Aiz nodded and stepped back to focus. Meanwhile, the remaining members of the Loki Familia, supported by Bell's team and the people of Rivira, engaged in a final fight to hold the line.
Bell, in the center of chaos, closed his eyes. He murmured the incantation of Argonaut, letting the light gradually invade his body.
> "Ignite your passion, scream your desire."
As Bell finished casting the Argonaut incantation, a powerful sound echoed throughout the area: the sound of a bell. It came not from a weapon or an object, but from Bell's overwhelming aura, amplified by his unique ability.
The monsters, sensing this power, instinctively backed away. Even the Black Goliath, who had so far crushed everything in his path, paused, as if hesitating.
The exhausted members of the Loki Familia turned their gazes towards Bell.
Finn, despite his fatigue, murmured:
— So this is the light of a true hero.
Tiona exclaimed in amazement:
— It shines! Like in the stories!
Riveria, weakened but still analytical, observed the scene with a glint of admiration in her eyes.
—even the monster begins to fear him.
Even the usually sarcastic Bete clenched his fists.
— He has something… something special.
Aisha, seeing Bell surrounded by golden light, felt an inexplicable pride mixed with her growing admiration for him.
The light intensified around him, transforming into a white aura. Each second seemed to last an eternity as the power concentrated into his sword.
While Bell and Aiz were building up their energy, the others struggled to contain the Black Goliath and his minions.
Aisha fought with incredible rage, striking the monsters with a power that defied the limits of her body. Welf, although exhausted, used his forged blade to block the most dangerous blows. Lili, agile and precise, targeted the weak points of the creatures, creating openings for the others.
Finn, despite his fatigue, guided his allies with strategic precision. Riveria, although on the verge of collapse, cast spells to support the team.
As the Black Goliath raised his gigantic fist to crush Bete, a cry rang out:
— Aiz! Bell! Now strike together!
Bell and Aiz exchanged a look. Without a word, they understood what they had to do.
Aiz, surrounded by a swirling wind (Lil Rafaga), propelled herself at inhuman speed, her movements becoming almost invisible to the naked eye.
Bell, activating all of Argonaut's power, launched himself after her. He leapt with a speed and precision that almost rivaled that of the Sword Princess.
As they simultaneously reached the Black Goliath, the moment became almost suspended in time.
Aiz, coming from above, concentrated all her power in a vertical strike:
— Tempest-Avenger
At the same time, Bell, coming from the ground, and shouted "as my incantation says Ignite your passion, scream your desire!" released Heroic Strike, a burst of golden energy concentrated in his sword.
Their combined attacks struck the Black Goliath from top to bottom, creating a shockwave so powerful it shook the entire level.
The explosion of light and wind swept away everything in its path, reducing the surrounding monsters to dust. The Black Goliath's roar abruptly cut off as its massive body disintegrated, unable to withstand such force.
When the dust settled, the Black Goliath was nothing more than a pile of debris. Silence fell over the battlefield, followed by cheers.
Bell, exhausted but standing, turned to his allies. He raised his sword in victory.
— It's over! We won!
Finn, exhausted but smiling, said:
— Well done, everyone.
Riveria, astonished, murmured:
— Perfect coordination. They exceeded all our expectations.
Tiona jumped for joy despite her fatigue:
— He's so cool!
Even Bete, crossing his arms, sketched a rare smile:
— Not bad… for a kid.
Aisha, for her part, said nothing. She looked at Bell, her heart beating faster than she wanted to admit.
Bell, exhausted, turned to his friends and whispered:
— It's over.
Aisha, still at his side, placed a hand on his shoulder.
—You did a hell of a job, Bell.
The people of Rivira, the members of the Loki Familia, and Bell's team had won, but they all knew that this victory came at a price.
Bell, however, looked at his friends. Aisha, Lili, Welf… All of them had given their all.
He muttered to himself, with renewed resolve:
— I won't stop there.
Chapter 76: The Last Card
As Rivira still echoed with the cries of victory, an eerie silence suddenly fell. Tammuz, hidden in the shadows, observed the scene. His failure to eliminate Bell and his team had pushed him to use his last card: a mysterious weapon that a hooded figure had given him the day before.
> "If all else fails, use this whistle. Point to your target, and it will disappear."
Tammuz held the object in his shaking hands. He hesitated for a split second, but the determination in his eyes took over.
He blew the whistle. A shrill, piercing sound cut through the air.
The earth shook violently. In the distance, a deep, guttural roar echoed. The tension rose instantly.
From beneath the ground, a titanic creature emerged: the Lambton, a giant worm with sharp fangs and a blackish carapace that reflected light like dark metal. Its mere presence gave off a malevolent and suffocating aura.
Before anyone could react, the beast lunged at Bell, who stood aside to retrieve his sword that had fallen during the final attack on the Black Goliath.
— Bell! Watch out! Aisha shouted, but it was already too late.
The Lambton, fast and unpredictable despite its massive size, wrapped its body around Bell in a split second. Its crushing grip completely immobilized him.
Bell struggled, trying to use his strength and power, but the Lambton was far too powerful. He didn't have time to cast an incantation or break free before the beast plunged into the ground at breakneck speed, taking Bell with it.
The scene left everyone frozen. Lili and Welf shouted his name. Riveria, exhausted, tried to analyze the situation, but even she seemed uncertain in the face of such a threat.
Aisha, who had been watching the whole scene, felt an icy coldness invade her.
— Bell… No…!
The members of the Loki Familia quickly gathered. Finn, resuming his role as strategist despite the exhaustion visible on his face, gave orders:
— We must follow him. This creature did not kill him on the spot, which means it has a goal. Gareth, Bete, come with me. Lefiya, stay with the inhabitants to protect them. Riveria, Tiona, Tione, stay ready.
Aiz, still on the front lines, silently gripped her sword. Her eyes glowed with fierce determination.
— I'll go get him.
For her part, Aisha rushed to the place where the Lambton had disappeared. Her heart was pounding.
— We can't lose him! Bell… I won't let you down!
As Bell's team and the members of the Loki Familia mobilized to follow the trail left by the Lambton, Tammuz, hidden in the shadows, watched the scene with a mixture of satisfaction and regret.
> "He may be tougher than I thought… But this time, he won't get out."
Meanwhile, underground, Bell struggled against the Lambton's relentless stranglehold. He felt his strength gradually diminishing. Darkness surrounded him, and the air grew thin.
In a last effort not to lose consciousness, Bell whispered:
—I won't fall... not like this... Aisha... Lili... I have to... come back.
To be continued…