Ais' eyes snapped open.

  As her vision cleared, the familiar scenery of the 37th floor... the battlefield and Udeaus... returned to her sight.

  She sucked in a sharp breath as her heart pounded violently.

  Unconsciously, her grip on her sword tightened, and she clenched her other hand as well.

  As if she were trying to hold on to something... only to realize she grasped nothing but empty air.

  'Ah... his hand.'

  A sudden sense of emptiness settled in her chest, but the distant roar of Udeaus snapped her back to reality.

  'That dream just now... I must've lost consciousness for a moment.'

  She thought as she pushed herself back to her feet.

  A wave of spikes surged toward her.

  Ais reacted instantly, shifting to the side to narrowly avoid the attack.

  'Once again... I must swing with all my might.'

  She closed her eyes, feeling magic power churn violently within her.

  'I will exhaust everything I have.'

  She took a deep breath, then opened her eyes once more.

  "Tempest!"

  "Highest Output!"

  Emerald-colored wind engulfed her figure, as if a miniature tornado had formed around her, blasting dust and shattered rock in every direction.

  Watching from a distance, Judas' eyes widened slightly.

  "This magic power... her Ariel can get this strong?"

  He muttered under his breath, feeling the brush of Ais' wind against his skin even from this far away.

  A Spartoi tried to sneak up from behind—only to be crushed by a backhanded fist, Judas never even bothering to look.

  The usage of her only magic, Ariel, placed a tremendous toll on Ais' body, which was why she had never pushed her wind to its highest output before.

  Once the magic wore off, her body would grow sluggish, the strain dragging her down.

  A steep price to pay for such a leap in combat strength.

  "Udeaus... I will overcome you and become stronger."

  "Right here, right now."

  Ais declared her resolve, her gaze fixed firmly on the towering skeleton.

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  There was no more hesitation.

  She crouched low, then launched herself forward, fully intending to end this once and for all, her sword swinging with Ariel at its highest output.

  Udeaus roared in response, raising and swinging its massive blade.

  The collision produced a devastating shockwave... far more powerful than before.

  'A draw...?'

  Ais' Ariel was deflected, while Udeaus staggered backward.

  Pain flared throughout her body from the dangerous strain of Ariel, but she gritted her teeth and forced herself to endure.

  Looking at Udaeus, which had yet to regain its footing, Ais knew this was her chance.

  'Again... highest output!'

  "Tempest!"

  The wind roared once more, coiling around her blade as a compact tornado formed along its edge.

  She surged forward and struck before the monster could even react.

  Ais unleashed a relentless barrage of slashes, each one infused with Ariel at maximum output.

  "Haaaa!"

  She screamed at the top of her lungs, blade flashing again and again as she tore through Udaeus' defenses.

  Cracks spread across its ribcage.

  'I can do this!'

  Just as she prepared to press the assault, Udaeus finally moved.

  Its massive sword swept toward her in a brutal horizontal arc.

  Ais reacted on instinct, raising her blade to deflect... but the force behind the blow was overwhelming.

  "Argh!"

  She was sent flying.

  A sickening crunch rang out as the bones in her sword arm shattered.

  Pain detonated through her entire body as the backlash of over-drafting Ariel finally caught up to her.

  'Am I... going to lose?'

  The wind howled past her ears as she tumbled through the air, her vision dimming.

  With half-lidded eyes, she felt herself on the verge of blacking out.

  Turning her head, she caught sight of the two figures watching the battle.

  Riveria's face was twisted with worry as she shouted Ais' name.

  Then her gaze shifted.

  Judas.

  There was no panic in his expression.

  His lips moved... silent, yet unmistakable.

  'Don't give up. It's not over.'

  Something surged within her.

  Ais snapped her eyes wide open.

  'No! I refuse to lose here!'

  She twisted her body mid-air, forcing herself to move despite the agony, and switched her grip... her sword transferring to her unbroken hand.

  Ignoring the arm that now hung limply at her side, she kicked off the dungeon wall and landed hard.

  "Absolute highest output!"

  She dragged every last ounce of magic power from her body.

  "Tempest!"

  Her scream tore from her throat as pain ripped through her veins.

  "Lil Rafaga!"

  Since becoming an adventurer, this was the strongest attack she had ever unleashed.

  A finishing blow to defeat the opponent in front of her.

  ...

  Meanwhile...

  Belle Cranel struggled to draw breath as her body was sent flying, slamming violently into a distant wall.

  "Urk—!"

  Agony exploded through her entire body.

  She could vaguely hear the sickening crack of bones snapping as she dropped to the ground with a dull thud.

  Her vision swam, blurring more with each passing second as a thin trail of blood dripped from her forehead and splattered onto the floor below.

  When she forced herself to look up, the minotaur was already approaching.

  It let out a wild, guttural roar before lowering its stance and charging straight toward her.

  'Oh no...'

  Belle realized the danger instantly and tried to stand.

  Her body refused to respond.

  Her limbs felt numb, unresponsive, as her consciousness threatened to slip away.

  'Not yet... I'm not done yet...'

  Gritting her teeth, Belle gathered every last shred of willpower she had left.

  With a trembling cry, she managed to push herself halfway up from the ground.

  But it was already too late.

  The minotaur had closed the distance.

  Her mind knew it before her body could react... dodging was impossible.

  Blocking was impossible.

  Just as the monster raised its arm to send her flying once more...

  A figure suddenly appeared in front of her.

  SMACK.

  A single, casual strike landed on the top of the minotaur's head, driving it straight into the ground.

  The impact was so overwhelming that a small crater formed, the monster's skull buried deep within it.

  Belle's ears rang as a familiar voice reached her through the haze.

  "Ten minutes."

  "That's how long you lasted."

  Alfia stood calmly before her.

  "Sleep for now."

  "We'll try again tomorrow."

  Relief washed over Belle as the last of her strength gave out.

  Darkness overtook her vision, and she slipped into unconsciousness.

  ---

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