"Aisha-sama, Bell-sama is..."
"I know. I saw it."
Immediately after Bell fell from the cliff, Lily was on the verge of a complete panic attack.
Aisha assessed the situation with clinical calm, while Mikoto activated her skill to determine if Bell was still within detectable range.
"Bell-dono's signature... I cannot sense it anywhere near here."
"How can this be..."
Thud—!
"You lot, listen carefully."
Having reached a decision, Aisha slammed her greatsword into the ground to command their attention before addressing the group.
"We must not go to save Bell Cranel."
"W-Wait! Aisha-sama!"
Tremble—!
"That is simply too much...!"
Snap—!
"Ugh!?"
Lily, overwhelmed by Aisha's cold command, tried to plead with her through trembling hands, but Aisha silenced her with a resounding flick to the forehead to snap her back to reality.
"You are the Commander! What do you think you're doing?"
"....."
"Even if we went now, there is no way we could catch up to him!"
Swoosh—!
"We have wounded to think about!"
Aisha pointed to Chigusa, who was gasping for breath, as well as Luvis's party being supported by Ouka and Welf. The current situation dictated that they prioritize the transport of the injured over combat.
"Besides, as long as that Enhanced Species isn't there, Bell Cranel can break through these floors on his own."
"That brat's status is an anomaly. He's already mid-tier Level 4... and his Agility reaches the upper echelons."
"I hate to admit it, but Bell Cranel is stronger than I am."
"He's tenacious. He would have survived even in the water."
Analyzing Bell's combat potential with cold precision, Aisha assured Lily that even if he were injured, he would not die, easing the supporter's anxiety as much as possible.
"In this situation, we need to worry about the wounded and ourselves."
"....."
"Am I wrong?"
"No... you're right. We must prioritize the safety of the party for now."
Swoosh—!
"If something happens to us, it will only become a greater shackle for Bell-sama."
Thanks to Aisha's pragmatic intervention, Lily regained her composure and began to reorganize their objectives.
"Are you sure?"
"....I will trust in Bell-sama."
Clench—!
"Lily proposes that we evacuate this floor."
""""!!""""
The group was startled by her choice to retreat, but Lily immediately began outlining a detailed tactical plan.
"When I say evacuate, I don't mean heading to the surface. We head toward the entrance of the 25th floor."
"Aquatic monsters won't appear there, and we can evade the Enhanced Species even if it attempts an ambush."
"We will use that area as a temporary base. Aisha-sama, please head to Rivira to request reinforcements."
"In the meantime, the rest of us, led by Ouka-sama and Mikoto-sama, will protect the wounded using Haruhime-san's sorcery."
Faced with her calm strategy—one that accepted the risk of sending Aisha away to ensure the survival of the majority—Ouka asked one question.
"If the Enhanced Species actually shows up, how do we handle it on our own?"
"That is exactly what I'm counting on."
"What do you mean..."
"That path is a single, narrow road with no escape. If it attacks, we use Mikoto-sama's gravity magic to bury the monster along with the entire passage!"
"""!!"""
Everyone present was struck with admiration. In such a short span of time, Lily had devised a countermeasure for the Enhanced Species and the optimal plan for their survival.
"Not bad. Let's start the preparations immediately!"
Finding no flaws in the logic, Aisha agreed to the plan, signaling the start of their operation.
**
"Cough!! Cough!!"
Meanwhile, Bell, who had plummeted from the cliff, had fortunately landed in the river at the base of the waterfall, leaving him relatively unscathed.
Pop—!
"A Dual Potion...."
Gulp, gulp—!
"Haa...! Haa...!"
He consumed a Dual Potion provided by the Miach Familia for the expedition, restoring his depleted stamina and Mind before looking up at the towering waterfall.
'I fell from all the way up there....'
Swoosh—!
"I have to regroup with the others quickly...."
The moment Bell realized he was isolated and stood up to move—
Slash—!
"!?"
Something resembling a high-velocity bullet grazed his arm, drawing blood.
"Could it be... an Iguazu?"
'The information Eina-san taught me before the expedition....'
"The fastest monster of the Lower Floors!"
Recalling the intensive briefings Eina had drilled into him, Bell identified the threat that had just struck him.
Whish—!!!
But there was no time for reflection. The Iguazu dove toward him again with lethal intent.
Clang—!!
"Kh!!"
'I can't see where they're swarming... and there are so many of them!!'
Whoosh—!!
The Iguazu launched themselves like projectiles, showing no regard for their own lives as they shattered against the walls. Bell immediately took cover behind a large crystal formation.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat—!!!!!!!!!!
The monsters showed no sign of stopping, clearly intending to hammer away until the crystal shield shattered.
"What...!!"
'What do I do? How can I....!!'
'The cave is too far, and there are monsters in the water too!'
Crack—! Snap—!!
'So this is the Lower Floors... this is the Dungeon....'
As the sound of the cracking crystal intensified and pressure threatened to cloud his mind, a spark of clarity returned.
Flash—!!
'What am I doing, just standing here...!!'
Clench—!!
'The others must be fighting right now. We promised... we would get stronger together!!'
The faces of the comrades he had sworn to journey with flashed through his mind, hardening his resolve.
Step—!!!
'Brother... Mother... Ais-san... they would have fought like this!'
"Let's go!!"
Channeling the spirit of his idols and heroes, Bell abandoned his cover. Gripping [Hakugen] and the [Hestia Knife] in each hand, he stood defiantly before the swarm of Iguazu.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat—!!!!!
'Here they come!'
Slice—!!
Clang—!!
Whish—!!
As a deluge of Iguazu rained down upon him, Bell met them head-on. He parried, dodged, and counter-slashed with his twin daggers, engaging the swarm in a high-speed dance of death.
Slash—!!
'Faster!'
Slice—!!!
'Stronger!!'
Clang—!!
'Like those people... I want to reach them!!!'
While fending off the monsters that sought his life, Bell visualized the heights reached by those he admired.
—'[Full Bloom]'
He recalled Akumo, who had stood victorious against a sea of blood-spears far more terrifying than these monsters. To follow in those footsteps, Bell pushed his limits.
Thud—!!
Clang—!!!
Slash—!!!
Seconds felt like minutes. Bell carved through the relentless baptism of Iguazu with his two blades until the air cleared.
Whish—!!!
"It's over!!!"
Thrust—!!!!!!!!!!
With a final, decisive strike through the last monster, he declared his victory.
"Haa... Haa...!!"
'I did it...!! I actually...!'
Sheath—!
"..."
He sheathed his daggers, standing tall as the exhilaration of battle and the sense of achievement made him momentarily forget the wounds covering his body.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
"!!"
'Applause!?'
The sudden sound of clapping reached his ears. He turned toward the source.
Smile—!
"Waa....."
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
".....A Mermaid?"
There, looking at him with genuine admiration, was a young Mermaid girl, clapping her hands in delight.
**
"Hooh....?"
Akuo had ascended to the 25th floor to hunt the [Moss Huge]. As soon as he arrived, he was greeted by the echoing sounds of a fierce struggle.
'He's grown stronger since I last saw him.'
He had observed Bell being swarmed by over a hundred Iguazu, only to see the boy choose a frontal breakthrough and succeed brilliantly.
"A Level Up.... it seems."
'And Marie is with him.'
Marie, the Mermaid Xenos who looked like she stepped out of a fairy tale, was one of the Xenos he knew well.
Given her nature as a Mermaid, her mobility was restricted to water, making her one of the harder Xenos to encounter. Akuo watched with interest, noting that Bell had managed to find her in such an unlikely place.
'I don't feel any hostility?'
'Could this Mermaid be....'
Bell, of course, was unaware of her identity. He was simply startled by her sudden appearance and began to cautiously analyze her behavior.
"Are you okay?"
'She spoke...!'
"You have wounds...."
Swoosh—!
"Ah...."
Only then did Bell feel the stinging pain of the cuts inflicted by the Iguazu. However, since the injuries weren't severe, he prioritized confirming her safety.
"More importantly, are you a Xenos?"
"!"
Smile—!
At Bell's words, Marie seemed to realize something. She smiled brightly and leaped from the water.
Splash—!!
"!!"
'She suddenly jumped—'
Hug—!!
"The scent of Rei and the others!"
"////!!!"
Marie lunged at Bell and pulled him into a tight embrace. Bell's face turned beet-red at the sudden skinship and the softness he felt, leaving him completely flustered.
"You... you know Rei-san?"
"Yes! Rei is beautiful, Lyd is cute, and Gros is a shy boy."
"Cute.... and shy....?"
Bell tried to reconcile those descriptions with the faces of the Lizardman and the Wyvern.
".....Ahaha....."
Rei's beauty was undeniable, but calling Lyd and Gros 'cute' and 'shy' felt like a massive linguistic disconnect given their monstrous appearances.
"Um.... my name is Bell."
Tilt—
When Bell introduced himself, Marie tilted her head, seemingly unfamiliar with the language or the name.
"Bell... Bell! I am Bell."
"Be-ell?"
"Yes, Bell."
Smile—!
"What is your name?"
Recalling Lyd's mention that some Xenos weren't fluent in the common tongue, Bell spoke slowly and clearly. Marie mimicked his mouth movements until she could finally pronounce his name.
The sight reminded Bell of when he first taught Wiene how to speak. A natural smile touched his lips, and his tension began to melt away as he asked for her name.
"Ah, I am Marie!"
"Marie-san, then...."
"Oh, right!"
Crunch—!
"?"
Bell watched in confusion as Marie suddenly bit her own finger, drawing blood.
"Bell, eat."
"Eh?"
Shove—!
"!!??"
Marie shoved her bleeding finger into Bell's mouth, her hand moving around inside.
"!!!??"
'Wha-wha-wha-what is...!!'
"Lick it~ Suck it~"
Swirl, swirl—!
"Lick it~ Suck it~!"
Bell tried to pull away from the bizarre situation, but sensing no ill intent, he couldn't bring himself to push her away forcefully. Marie, meanwhile, became even more insistent, swirling her finger as if this was the only way.
Flail, flail—!
"Hurry~"
'I, I'm....!'
Clench—!
"More!"
'If anyone saw this right now, they'd think something outrageous was happening....!'
Mortified by the compromising position and terrified that someone might stumble upon them, Bell was frozen in a state of panic. But then, as he tasted the blood on his tongue, he felt a strange sensation coursing through his body.
Shuuuu—!
"!?"
'I'm completely healed...?'
Only then did Bell remember that Marie was a Mermaid. He recalled his studies about the Lower Floors—specifically, that the blood of a Mermaid was a legendary, rare recovery item.
"I'm shorry, thank you sho much...."
Realizing she had done this solely to treat his wounds, Bell's embarrassment subsided slightly. He tried to apologize for the misunderstanding and thank her, though his speech was muffled by her finger.
"Pffft—hahahaha!!!"
""!!""
The sight of Bell's mangled pronunciation and the sheer absurdity of the situation finally proved too much for a certain observer, who burst into uncontrollable laughter.
========================
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