Daedalus Street, Underground Waterway.
The orichalcum gate here had long been shut, with even the passage itself disappearing from sight.
The Guild had previously stationed guards here, but they were quickly driven back and killed by the Evilus. With a kick to the white adamantite pillars, the gate descended once more, sealing the only two entrances.
At the break of dawn, Eiji and Ais arrived together at this underground waterway, standing before the same passage they had used last time.
Boom!
As the stone wall was shattered, a familiar alternative passage was revealed. At its end stood the gleaming orichalcum gate, radiant with silver light.
"Ready?"
Eiji turned to look at the group behind him.
Alicia, Narvi, Cruz, Arcs, and several other elite Level 4 adventurers, along with a Level 3 rabbit-girl named Rakta, all tensed up at his words.
Each of them carried packs filled with potions and weapons, while Alicia held a pale blue crystal orb in her hand.
"Ready!"
After exchanging glances, they steeled themselves.
"There won't be much time for chatter from here on out, so let me make this clear—we're carrying out a mission of utmost importance. Everyone must give it their all."
Eiji paused, his stern expression softening slightly.
"Of course, more importantly, you must protect yourselves. Don't push beyond your limits. Loki Familia can't afford to lose any more members."
His demeanor was almost identical to Finn's.
Ais watched Eiji, thinking just that.
There was no denying that as a leader, Eiji had learned much from Finn.
"Alright, everyone, take your positions. The lightning assault begins now!"
Eiji took a deep breath.
A red jewel the size of a palm appeared in his left hand.
Immediately, the jewel on the gate and the one in Eiji's hand resonated, both flashing with a "D"-shaped symbol.
Rumble—!
With a low roar, the gate slowly opened, revealing a gloomy passage illuminated by flickering magic-stone lamps.
"Charge!"
At Eiji's command, the entire group broke into a sprint.
The sound of rapid footsteps flooded the corridor.
"Stay close, don't stop moving!"
Shouting orders, Eiji led from the front, advancing relentlessly.
"Yes!"
Alicia and the others responded in unison.
Ais fell back slightly, blending into the formation.
A forced march!
An unrelenting forced march!
Not a single moment to pause!
They had to accomplish Finn's mission before Evilus could react—otherwise, this lightning assault would be meaningless!
"Who goes there?"
Soon, several figures in black cloaks appeared ahead.
They barely had time to shout before a torrent of raging flames engulfed them.
The inferno filled the entire passage, stretching dozens of meters forward, reducing the cloaked figures to ashes in an instant.
"That's one powerful magic sword!"
Narvi stared at the black magic sword in Eiji's hand, utterly shocked.
"Even a Level 4 would be incinerated if hit by that, right?"
It was strong enough to threaten even a Level 5!
The power of this magic sword is far greater than last time!
Is it a new model of magic sword?
Thankfully it's on our side—if it appeared in enemy hands, it would be a nightmare!
"Narvi, don't forget to destroy the statue's head!"
"Ah, right!"
Narvi quickly responded, drawing her bow and shattering the monster statue's eyes with an arrow.
Boom—!
Eiji held the black magic sword in one hand while using a key to open the next orichalcum gate with the other.
"Everyone, follow! We're entering the second layer!"
Each member performed their role efficiently as they advanced in an orderly manner.
"Well? Can you sense it?"
After entering the second layer, Ais asked Eiji coldly.
"...There's one over here!"
Eiji closed his eyes briefly, maximizing his intuition.
Following his guidance, the group descended one staircase, then climbed another, finally stopping before an orichalcum gate after about ten minutes.
Eiji used the key to open the gate, revealing the scenery beyond.
"It's an exit!"
"I remember this place—it's the northeastern district!"
Someone immediately exclaimed in excitement.
"Alicia!"
"Yes!"
Alicia quickly snapped out of her wide-eyed daze and raised the pale blue crystal in her hand.
"Finn, this is Alicia. I'm currently in the northeastern district—"
She relayed their location.
"Understood. Stay alert."
Finn's voice came through the crystal.
"Raul, transport a white adamantite pillar there immediately!"
"Already on it!"
Raul's energetic voice also transmitted through.
"Such a convenient magic tool."
Ais murmured in admiration.
If they had this magic tool during their last labyrinth expedition, perhaps Line and the others wouldn't have died.
This was a magic tool specially provided by the Guild to Loki Familia for eliminating the Evils.
Named "Eye Crystal," it could transmit voices between locations—essentially a magical version of a telephone, though with limited range. Rushed into production by someone commissioned by the Guild, these were extremely scarce and impossible to mass-produce.
To thoroughly eradicate the Evilus, Loki Familia had gathered support from multiple fronts this time. The Eye Crystals were just one part of their vastly more thorough preparations compared to last time!
Soon, Raul arrived with several panting subordinates, placing a white adamantite pillar beneath the orichalcum gate.
Though not as hard as orichalcum, white adamantite's durability rivaled super-hard metals—more than sufficient to bear the gate's weight.
"Let's move!"
Seeing the entrance secured, Eiji turned and left.
Ais, Alicia, and the others quickly followed, navigating the labyrinth without pause.
Raul left a few members behind and returned to the vicinity of the Tower of Babel—the city's central hub, allowing the fastest access to any location.
"There's one here!"
"And another over here!"
Leading the mobile unit, Eiji traversed the labyrinth up and down multiple times.
Within just an hour, guided by his intuition, he located six surface-connected entrances.
At each one, Alicia immediately notified Finn, and Raul promptly delivered white adamantite to wedge open the orichalcum gates.
Soon, all six surface entrances were secured.
"The enemy should be reacting any moment now."
Finn's voice, calmer than anyone else's, came through the Eye Crystal.
"Eiji, it's time for Phase Two of the operation!"
"Got it!"
Eiji paused his steps for just an instant before charging headlong into the deeper levels without looking back.