The room itself was a massive pitfall!
Anyone could tell that no one would want to step into what lay below!
Yet Eiji's movements didn't falter in the slightest!
In fact, after picking up the key, he didn't even glance back at the door he'd entered through. Instead, he charged straight toward the door on the opposite side!
This room only had two doors—naturally so. Even if it was a trap, it would be meaningless if it trapped their own people as well. Every room here followed this design.
From the start, Eiji had never intended to exit through the door he'd entered by.
Before stepping inside, he'd already spotted the door opposite him and set his escape route there!
Of course, that door was firmly shut, its silver surface gleaming like dark gold under the dim glow of magic stone lamps.
Someone was undoubtedly controlling that door.
But if he timed it right—using the key to open the door the moment he rushed in—he could leap out of this room!
Eiji possessed extraordinary intuition, allowing him to instinctively determine the most correct course of action on the battlefield. The instant he entered, he'd already used the key.
But there was no response!
The door remained stubbornly in place, showing no sign of lifting.
It didn't react to the key at all!
"Hmph, there's no way those bastards could know!"
Valetta stood behind the door, a cruel smile twisting her face as she clutched a red jewel in her hand.
"If two keys are used simultaneously with conflicting commands, the door won't open. After all, they only ever had one key before!"
That's right—with only one key, they couldn't have known this!
In their haste to march forward, they'd never had the chance to test this, and most people wouldn't even consider such a possibility!
So anyone who charged into this room was doomed to fall into the pit!
And this room's pitfall was specially designed.
There were no exits below—just a massive shaft filled with several meters of corrosive fluid, all extracted from the corrosive monsters. Even a Level 6 adventurer would eventually be dissolved beyond recognition!
Placing the key here was inevitable. Once the pitfall opened, the key would drop in and be destroyed, eliminating any risk of it falling into enemy hands.
"Certain death?"
A voice devoid of warmth came from beside her.
"Exactly."
Valetta smirked triumphantly, though wariness flickered in her eyes.
"What, are you worried about them?"
"Why would I be?"
The man sneered.
"Trash dying is only natural. If they die, it's because they're weak. Worthless scraps don't deserve sympathy."
He had silver-white fur, a tall and lean frame, but his aura was lethally dangerous. His gaze was predatory, deterring anyone from approaching.
"How heartless. They were your former comrades, after all."
Valetta chuckled.
Seeing no intention to act from him, she relaxed slightly.
This man had suddenly appeared from the underground waterway entrance ten days ago.
However, once inside, he didn't engage in combat with anyone. Instead, he declared his intention to join Evilus.
According to him, he had been ostracized within his familia and ordered by Finn to leave.
"What's wrong with calling trash trash?"
He had declared with disdain at the time, cold as ice.
After investigation confirmed this was true, Thanatos accepted him with some skepticism.
They had just learned of Ishtar's banishment and the Kali Familia's imprisonment by the Guild, leaving them severely short-handed, especially in high-level combatants. That's why they made an exception for him.
Of course, they didn't trust him much.
Despite being Level 6, Thanatos never gave him a labyrinth key—the clearest proof of their distrust.
Without a key in the labyrinth, he couldn't move freely. There was no need to worry about betrayal; at the first sign of treachery, they could trap him inside forever.
He wasn't even allowed near the labyrinth's core areas, showing just how cautious Thanatos was.
"Hey, they're coming."
He suddenly spoke up.
Werewolves had excellent hearing and smell, so he was put on signal duty.
This was also a test of his loyalty.
But would he really give the signal honestly?
Had he truly turned against Loki Familia?
Valetta covertly studied the werewolf's expression beside her.
It was icy, showing no trace of reluctance or sympathy.
As if six years of camaraderie meant nothing.
That coldness even unsettled Valetta slightly.
"Now."
The werewolf abruptly spoke.
Valetta immediately activated the key.
She slammed down the gate across the room while simultaneously locking the door behind them, preventing it from opening.
Whoosh—!
But at that moment, a fierce gust of wind swept through.
A golden-haired girl shot forward silently from the distance!
Slice!
With blinding speed, she closed in on the two.
Ais swung her sword!
"Argh!"
Valetta screamed.
The oncoming wind blinded her, leaving no room to dodge in the narrow passage. The door behind her was locked by her own hand.
Before she could react, her right arm was severed.
The key fell into Ais's grasp, and with a thought, the gate opened.
Rumble!
The silver gate slowly rose.
A streak of light shot from the other side, slipping through the gap in the rising gate. It rolled smoothly onto their side of the chasm, landing firmly before them.
"Whew, just in time!"
Eiji exhaled in relief.
He was holding four keys in his arms.
"Damn it! You split your forces? Are you idiots?"
Valetta picked up her severed arm, retreating to the wall with a grimace.
"Knowing there's a trap, you still divided your strength? Even if you run into danger, at least drag someone down with you!"
"Using allies as shields? You're a terrible commander!"
Eiji sneered, his gaze dripping with contempt.
"Don't lump us in Loki Familia with scum like you!"
"Being scummy is how you survive, isn't it?"
Valetta scoffed.
It was precisely because she was despicable enough to drag numerous adventurers down with her that she managed to survive the nightmare of the 27th floor.
"But now you're going to die too."
Ais stepped forward.
However, her gaze wasn't fixed on her, but rather on the expressionless werewolf standing nearby.
"...But why are you here, Bete?"
The young werewolf standing beside Valletta was none other than Bete.