In the crushing darkness, Bell Cranel, suspended in the air by the Lambton's jaws, felt the pressure in his mandibles ease slightly. In a flash of determination, he gathered what strength he had left.
— "Oh icy wind, cover the earth with an immaculate shroud. Let eternal peace descend and let my vengeance be engraved in ice… Cryostasis of Eternity!"
A wave of intense cold emanated from him, freezing the Lambton's mandibles that imprisoned him. Taking advantage of this opening, Bell grabbed his sword and, with deadly precision, delivered a vertical blow that passed through the creature's massive body.
The Lambton let out a shrill scream before collapsing heavily, his body slowly disintegrating.
Bell, panting, dropped to the ground. His vision was blurring. His left arm hung uselessly at his side, visibly broken. The side effects of Ethereal Vision, which he had pushed beyond its limits in the previous fight, were showing: intense tingling burned his eyes, blurring shapes and colors.
He tried to get up, but an earthquake shook the area: the last spasms of the Lambton caused a massive collapse, cutting off any possibility of return.
As the dust settled, Bell realized he was no longer on the 18th floor, but much lower. The walls around him were dark, oozing, and covered in glowing moss. The air was heavy and oppressive.
Eina's words came back to him, like a warning:
> "Bell, avoid the depths at all costs if you are not ready. From the 37th floor onwards, the monsters are no longer the same. Even the most experienced are hesitant to venture there alone."
He absently touched his injured arm and felt a sharp pain that made him wince. With calculated slowness, he took out a scarf that Aisha had given him, her lucky charm and wrapped it tightly around his arm in an attempt to immobilize the injury.
— "I have to get out of here. No matter how."
As he slowly advanced through this new hostile environment, Bell realized he was on the 38th floor. A dizzying distance of 20 floors separated him from Rivira.
Every step was an ordeal: the sticky ground, the shifting shadows, and the sinister noises of an unfamiliar ecosystem weighed on his nerves.
He came across monster tracks, wider and deeper than he had ever seen. Distant roars made the walls vibrate.
— "I'm alone… But I can't give up. They're counting on me."
As he progressed through a particularly narrow corridor, he found a still-intact light crystal embedded in a wall. He pulled it out and held it in his hand, briefly marveling at the soft light it emitted.
He whispered to give himself courage:
— "Aisha… Welf… Lili… I'll be back. I promise."
Bell continued to move forward, determined to survive in this underground hell, unaware that his friends in Rivira and the Loki Familia were already putting a desperate plan in place to find him.
Chapter 78: Unrest in Rivira
In Rivira, the atmosphere was tense. The sudden disappearance of Bell Cranel, carried away by the Lambton, had left his friends in an indescribable panic.
Aisha stared at the ground where Bell had been ripped from, her eyes wide. Her fist was shaking, and her voice, full of anger and fear, broke the silence:
— "We have to find him! Now! No matter where that damn monster took him!"
Lili, with tears in her eyes, looked at the gaping hole left by the collapse caused by the Lambton.
— "Bell-sama… He's still alive, I'm sure of it! But… But how can we get to him?!"
Welf, though devastated, tried to think calmly.
— "If he's fallen any lower, we need to prepare. We don't know where the Lambton left him. Aisha, Lili, we can't just rush in. We need a plan."
Meanwhile, the members of the Loki Familia, though exhausted from their recent fighting, also gathered to assess the situation.
Finn Deimne, still lucid despite his fatigue, spoke:
— "We must act quickly. If Bell has fallen to the lower floors, he is in extreme danger. The monsters there are much more powerful, and he is alone."
Aiz Wallenstein, who had remained silent until then, clenched the hilt of her sword. Her eyes shone with cold determination.
— "I'll get him."
Riveria intervened, her voice full of wisdom and firmness:
— "You're exhausted, Aiz. We all need rest. But Bell is important… We need to join forces. With a well-organized group, we'll have a better chance of finding him alive."
Bete Loga, who seemed annoyed, growled:
— "Tch. That kid has a knack for getting himself into impossible situations. But if he's survived this far, he's tough. I'm coming too."
Aisha, unable to bear the wait, walked towards Finn.
— "You can discuss strategy all you want, but I'm leaving now! Bell may be injured or worse!"
Finn placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
— "I understand your concern, Aisha. But going alone is suicidal. We need to gather potions, supplies, and prepare an expedition. You would be of no help to him if you get killed."
Aisha, though frustrated, knew he was right. She gritted her teeth, swallowing her anger.
After a brief discussion, it was decided that two teams would be formed:
The first team, consisting of members of the Loki Familia and Bell's team, would immediately go down to look for Bell.
The second team, made up of the inhabitants of Rivira, would remain on the surface to repel possible monster attacks or coordinate rescue operations.
With a plan in place, Finn gave his instructions:
— "Aiz, Riveria, Bete, you will accompany me. Welf, Lili, and Aisha, you will be with us. Prepare to face the worst."
Lili, clutching her little crossbow, murmured to herself:
— "Wait for us, Bell-sama. We're coming."
As the group prepared to descend into the depths, there was a palpable tension. Everyone knew that the lower floors were not just a challenge; they were hell.
From afar, Tammuz, hidden among the adventurers of Rivira, observed.
— "Even with all this, he remains alive… Bell Cranel, you are more tenacious than I had imagined. But no matter… It is only a matter of time before this dungeon breaks you."
With these dark thoughts, he disappeared into the alleys of Rivira, leaving the heroes to prepare for one of the greatest challenges of their lives.
To be continued…