Chapter 216
「Where is this place…?」
As soon as he wakes up, Joker checks his current situation.
He looks around, seeing rough, rocky walls and crystals shining here and there. And he feels the undulations of magical power.
From any perspective, this is undoubtedly a dungeon.
（A dungeon…? But which one? No, this magical power feels familiar…）
The Eight Great Dungeons beneath the imperial capital of the Hà Giang Empire – Fáfnir.
The magical power he feels is very similar to that place.
No, not just similar – it is exactly the same.
But compared to the magical power he had sensed before, this is on a completely different level.
If he isn’t careful, it could even be denser than the dungeon where that emperor beast is sealed.
（Could this be Fáfnir’s deeper levels? With magical power this dense, it’s certainly possible… I didn’t expect it to be this extraordinarily strong, but…）
The deeper one delves into a dungeon, the thicker its magical power becomes.
If that is the case, then it makes sense to think this is Fáfnir’s depths.
（But why am I in a place like this? No, more importantly, what about Senior Rias? What happened with Lord Ouronus’ resurrection?）
He recalls his memories.
The last thing he remembers is activating his self-detonation magic against that freakishly powerful monster, Earth.
（Back then… I should have died completely…）
He shivers. That final spell, burning up his own life.
With that, he has probably killed that Earth Dragon… Jibru’s son.
But what has happened afterward?
While Earth is likely dead, there have been other enemies with formidable forces remaining.
That Imperial Ant reminiscent of Mýrus, the “World Piercer” who has awakened Gungir’s true power, the sage Elibel who has a history with Rias, and her follower Berg.
Even with Aoba, Lau, Suiren, and Sister Dia on their side, the battle is far from decided.
Just how much time has passed since then?
Seconds, minutes, hours? Or even more?
（Anyway, I need to regroup with Senior Rias quickly.）
There will be time to figure out why he is alive later.
For now, he has to hurry and find his comrades.
With that thought, Joker begins walking through the dim dungeon.
◇◆◇◆◇
Meanwhile, at that time―――.
『Haa…haa… So you’re saying this Riguld guy appeared on the surface without his soul?』
As I wipe the blood from my mouth, I speak to Léna-Lloyd.
「That’s…right. When the ‘Abyss’ Riguld appeared on the surface, his body already lacked a soul and was in a rampaging state. Body and soul are two parts of one whole. If either is missing, it cannot function. In fact, Riguld’s power was greatly weakened. Even Eli could have easily defeated him…cough!」
『Are you okay!?』
Léna-Lloyd coughs up blood and staggers.
No good… The wound is deep. Blood keeps gushing from her side…
「It’s a bit…much, heh…」
「Gawrr…Guraaa!!」
The wounded beast charges at Léna-Lloyd again.
「Whoops-」
But she narrowly evades it.
She swiftly puts some distance between them.
She grabs a nearby cloth to stanch the bleeding.
Though she’s lost a lot of blood, if treated quickly she should still make it.
「Don’t you think your current state resembles Riguld’s rampage, lacking the soul that should reside in your body?」
『I see your point…』
To be precise, half my soul is missing…
「Kishaa!」
I dodge the beast’s tackle while listening to Léna-Lloyd.
The separation of body and soul.
We need to fix this quickly…
It’s fine for now, but who knows what effects this could have down the line.
「Ah, Earth! Over here!」
『Whoops!』
The beast narrowly misses me as it charges past.
That was close, too close.
『I get that I’m in a dangerous state. But how can I return to normal?』
「There are…a few ways. But first, we have to do something about her.」
『Her, huh…』
I look at the one before me.
「Grrr…」
The beast – no, Elibel – growls threateningly at me.
「Her reason is dominated by desire. Words won’t reach Eli like this. All her mind contains are a living being’s fundamental urges. Namely―――」
『Devote yourself to devouring shota… I see.』
「Hiiieee…」Rattling, burbling
She’s lost it.
To think a person could fall this far…
Missing her mating period, unsatisfied frustration, and overwhelming impatience condensed within Elibel into dark energy.
It easily exceeded the limits of the weakened Elibel who could no longer use magic.
「Grrr…Give me that boy…」
There is no trace left of the sage she once was.
She is a complete inhuman beast.
The heroine has shown her worst possible side.
「But…that’s why Eli’s actions are easy to read now. She’s focused on getting the shota, so we can restrain her when she makes a move! Now’s our cha- gahhhhh!」
『LÉNA-LLOYD!!!』
Elibel’s jumping knee kick slams Léna-Lloyd into the wall.
Damn! She looks like a modern art piece.
「I-I’m fine… no pro-blem…」
Ah, she’s done for.
Blood’s spurting out of her head like a fountain…
And I’m tottering too.
『Come to think of it, it’s barely been tens of minutes since fighting Agil…』
My magic power and stamina are shot.
Should’ve eaten some magic stones.
Didn’t expect the backlash from that fight to hit me here.
「Graaah!」
「―――Gah…! She’s coming!」
「Hyaa!」
Léna-Lloyd screams, Baal cowers.
『Hm…?』
But Elibel doesn’t move from that spot.
She just howled, and now she’s trembling all over.
What’s going on?
「…Grr…haha…ahahahahahahaha!」
！？
She’s…laughing…?
「It can’t be!?」
Léna-Lloyd gasps.
What is this?
There’s light returned to Elibel’s eyes, which had been bloodshot just moments before.
『…What’s the meaning of this, Léna-Lloyd?』
「The previous Eli was acting purely on instinct in a rampage, but it seems now that her reason has caught up with her instinct…」
Wh-what did you say…!?
「Her pent-up hyper-libido from being unmated. Her reason has synchronized with that. In other words, the fusion of intellect and desire――― that is the true form of an ultra-pervert!!」
Sorry, that made no sense to me whatsoever.
But at least I understand that this Elibel now is dangerous.
「Fufu, to show such an unsightly side… The real show is…just beginning.」
Elibel grins wickedly.
That’s all.
Just that, yet―――
「What tremendous pressure…」
『Guh…haa…haa…』
「I-I’m scared…」
As she watched us tremble, Elibel took something out from her chest. …She’s surprisingly busty.
It looked like a TV remote control.
Countless switch-like objects were attached to it.
「Here you go, click.」
「Wha-!? Bad news, everyone get back, run awaaaaay!?」
『LÉNA-LLOYD!?』
A moment’s carelessness.
Endless hellish torment!
Especially groundless electrical shocks assault Léna-Lloyd!
「Ukyuu…」
Thud.
Léna-Lloyd crumbles to the ground.
「Too naive, too naive, Earth. Did you seriously think that just because I can’t use magic, I’d leave that weakness be forever?」
『What do you…』
「In that surveillance room, I was at a disadvantage against the captain-class zombie. But here in the research lab, things are different. I designed this place myself, working the Skeleton Corps and Undead Corps like horses to construct it. This is my magic workshop, my ‘Sage’s Fortress.’」
What!? She’d made such pointless modifications?
And I can hear skeletons sobbing as they work in the back.
How awful! Follow labor laws! Give them breaks sometimes!
「If you don’t understand, I’ll teach you. Humans are the wisest beings in this world.
Yes, right now, in this moment, this place is―――my belly (dungeon)!」
Don’t rip off someone else’s lines!
Ruining things in all sorts of ways!
「…No, for little Baal, rather than my belly, it’s more my va―――」
『Stop right there!』
Seriously, stop! Don’t say it!
I don’t know why, but I’ve got an extremely bad feeling about this!
「Tsk, fine. I hate to do this, but I’ll stop you with everything I’ve got, Elibel.」
「Oh…?」
I rapidly restructure my body.
『Armamentization! Attack… Huh?』
Bashun! My armamentization is forcibly cancelled halfway.
What’s going on here?
「Hmph, that’s why you should listen when someone’s talking.」
Elibel sneers ominously.
「You can’t use your ‘Armamentization’ in this room.」
What did you say…?
「How long do you think we’ve been together? I know everything about your Armamentization, from the magical power density and transformation speed to the composite materials. I’ve linked that data to Gijie’s barrier formulas, making it so the entire lab forcibly cancels your Armamentization.」
Gh…! Abusing technology like this…!
You should have used even a tenth of this skill against the Demon King’s army!
『Guh… Then!』
I immediately try to draw out my other hand.
But―
「―――Sorry, but it’s the same for your ‘Gluttony,’ you know?」
『No way―』
「The anti-Gluttony spell that the Emperor Beast Agil used back then – I was researching the same topic. After seeing it in action and analyzing it, I had Gijie incorporate my theoretical formulas into the spell. …You understand what this means, right?」
「Y-yeah…」
Baal begins trembling violently.
Trickles…
I feel a faint dampness overhead…
It seems he’s pissed himself in terror.
The mental fragility of a child…
To him, Elibel is not a kind guardian, but a ruthless predator.
「Now then…」
Elibel takes out a test tube filled with green liquid from her chest.
『What’s that…?』
Elibel grins wickedly. She sneers ominously. She cackles disturbingly.
「This is a ‘Forced Maturation Drug.’ I refined it extensively so it works on dragon king too. It not only promotes pseudo-personifications to mature, but has powerful aphrodisiac effects as well. Ahahahaha! I’ll use this to become one with little Baal…! Earth, it’s still not too late. If you value your life, move aside!」
Damn you, perverted sage!
『Tsk… If only I had some magical power…』
A hopeless situation.
How can I get out of this…?
『Let me talk!』
A sudden thought transmission.
This voice, it’s the other me!?
『Partner, use my magic power! It should be enough to defeat Elibel as she is now!』
『Eh, but how…?』
『Breath attack. From Elibel’s explanation earlier, she only sealed your Armamentization and Gluttony. A pure physical or breath attack should still work! But your current tattered body can’t manage direct attacks. So use a breath!』
I-it’s true.
『But if I breath attacked, it’d destroy the dungeon…』
『Control it! Focus the breath to just blow away Elibel!』
『Control the breath…』
『You can do it partner! You, we, who have come through countless battles so far!』
『But, but if I mess up the control, it’d severely damage the dungeon…』
『You idiot!!』
『!?』
『Don’t chicken out because of that! Think carefully. If you don’t stop Elibel here and now, she’ll become a true monster!』
…Well, I’d say she’s already past that point, but I’ll keep that to myself.
『Do it! You, we, have to stop Elibel’s evil deeds!』
『…You’re right. Sorry, partner. I’ll give it my all!』
『Heh, finally calling me partner huh. Go for it!』
『Got it!』
My partner’s magic power flows into me. It’s a miniscule amount of recovered power.
But with this―――
「Guhehe. Now Earth, step aside―」
Elibel’s face fills with shock.
She’s realized what I’m about to do.
「Breath attack…? Are you trying to destroy this lab?」
『I’ve got no intention of that!』
I focus my consciousness.
I can do it… Our current strength should be enough!
『Take this, Elibel! Our trump card― ‘Super Restrained Breath Attack’!』
A miniature breath fires from my mouth.
It rockets straight at Elibel!
「Hmph! As if it’s just some lame attack… I’ll easily av- Huh!?」
But Elibel doesn’t move.
No, she can’t move.
Because a certain girl who should have been knocked out is clinging to her feet – Léna-Lloyd.
「Tsk! Let go, you half-dead nuisance!」
No matter how much she’s kicked and stomped, Léna-Lloyd doesn’t let go.
「Eli…, stop this already..」
「Shit! Damn it all! Sto- Gahhhhh!」
My breath scores a direct hit.
Screaming her death wail, Elibel passes out. Evil has been vanquished.
「E-Earth… so cool…」
I feel Baal’s hot gaze. I hope that’s just my imagination.
Anyway, with that handled― Eh, the people who could explain things, Elibel and Léna-Lloyd, are both out cold!
…What are we even doing, right after finishing the fight with Agil…?
And so the supremely fruitless battle came to a close…
◇◆◇◆◇
Meanwhile, at that time―――
「Nufufuu, preparations are complete. Shall we head to the dungeon?」
「…leave the pathfinding and guards to me.」
「Back to the dungeon right after getting out, huh?」
「Sorry for the sudden request, you two…」
「…it’s fine. Orion’s not to blame.」
「That’s right. This proposal benefits us too after all.」
「Nufufu! We want to make the most of this chance as well, don’t we everyone?」
「Hehehe, boss’ life…」
！？
「We’ll protect them with all our strength…」
「「「「Hyaha! Onward to the dungeon!」」」」
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