From Ottar, Eiji had learned about Level 7.
The current Revis undoubtedly stood at the pinnacle of Level 7.
Eiji's expression turned solemn.
"But this is perfect!"
He silently resolved himself in his heart.
Revis's gaze was icy.
Having lost to Eiji half a month ago, she had been deeply provoked. Driven by that humiliation, she ventured into the deepest parts of the Dungeon, reaching floors beyond the 60th stratum. There, she consumed vast quantities of high-grade magic stones, elevating her strength to astonishing heights—all for the sake of revenge!
If only she had more time. Had it not been for Evilus's messenger notifying her three days ago that Loki Familia was about to launch a full-scale assault, forcing her to return from the deep floors prematurely, she would have undoubtedly pushed herself to Level 8 before emerging.
"Ais, don't intervene!"
Eiji barked sharply.
Ais, who had been raising her sword, froze mid-motion, turning to him with surprise.
His face was resolute, his eyes sharp with determination.
From his expression, Ais suddenly understood his intent.
Pressure.
He wanted overwhelming pressure!
He intended to use Revis as a stepping stone for his own evolution!
Neither she nor Ottar and the others had been able to provide what Revis could.
Slowly, Ais lowered Desperate and withdrew, silently watching from a distance.
"You're really just going to stand aside?"
Revis had been wary of Ais's movements, but now she furrowed her brows in disbelief.
Her face twisted into a sneer, as if mocking Ais for her foolishness.
"I believe in him."
Ais replied calmly.
Time and again, Eiji had defied the impossible. There was no reason this time would be any different.
She had absolute faith in him.
"Hmph! Let's see if you can keep that smug look when you're staring at his corpse!"
Revis snorted coldly, her focus locking onto Eiji.
Still, she knew better than to underestimate him.
"But I will win!"
Revis roared.
She had no sense of self.
Beyond mechanically obeying the corrupted spirit's commands, she had scarcely any desires of her own.
But now was different. Repeated defeats at Eiji's hands had stirred something within her—something beyond mere orders.
The desire to fight.
The desire to crush this man!
For the first time, the hunger for victory burned in Revis's eyes as she swung her sword.
A deafening explosion, like spring thunder, shook the air.
...
"Tch, things have escalated to this point, huh?"
In the core area of the 9th stratum, Thanatos clicked his tongue irritably as he stared at the countless water membranes floating in midair.
The 7th stratum. The 8th stratum.
Led by the mightiest—Loki Familia and Ganesha Familia—six teams were advancing relentlessly through the labyrinth. These two forces, in particular, had already broken through the 7th stratum and entered the 8th.
They were now just one step away.
"What the hell are Valletta and Revis even doing?"
Thanatos muttered under his breath. "At this rate, we're all doomed... Seriously, where's Evilus's backup when we need it?"
"God Thanatos."
Just as his patience was wearing thin, the room's door abruptly slid open.
The figure wearing a mask with eerie patterns and a purple cloak entered the room, holding a key.
"Oh! Enyo's messenger, you've finally arrived!"
Thanatos let out a sigh of relief, his face breaking into a radiant smile.
"Where is Enyo's support?"
"There is no support."
The masked figure glanced at the body lying in a pool of blood nearby before speaking in an androgynous, distorted voice that sounded like multiple voices layered together.
"This is Lord Enyo's message to you: Thank you for your efforts thus far. I will not let your sacrifices go to waste. Thanks to you, my plan can finally begin."
His voice was icy, devoid of any warmth.
The smile on Thanatos's face froze instantly.
"...So, we've been sold out, is that it?"
He clutched his head, laughing maniacally.
"Hahahaha! You've really outdone yourself! A fellow god, yet so masterful at betraying your own kind! You've been using us, Evilus, as pawns from the very beginning!"
Fifteen years ago, when Evilus first rose, Enyo had already existed in the shadows of Orario.
He actively allied with Evilus, pulling strings both overtly and covertly, yet no one had ever discovered his true identity.
Gods typically transcend human intellect; their thoughts leave no gaps.
Thus, no god—not even the patron deity of the weakest Familia—could ever be underestimated.
But that deity had manipulated countless Familias in the labyrinth city, even Evilus itself, into becoming mere playthings in his hands—all without ever revealing his face.
"Go ahead and face your defeat. Lord Enyo will inherit your legacy and fulfill the grand dream of destroying the mortal realm."
With those mocking words, the masked figure gradually dissolved into particles of light, vanishing before Thanatos's eyes.
Soon, the vast artificial labyrinth was left with only Thanatos standing alone.
"We've found it—the enemy's stronghold!"
With an inspiring shout, the allied forces poured into the room through the entrance.
The Loki Familia and the Ganesha Familia, the two vanguard forces among the top-tier Familias, charged into this central chamber, appearing before Thanatos.
The figure of the prum leader stood at the forefront.
"Is that... Barca?"
Finn's gaze fell upon the corpse beside the control panel.
The young man with heavy dark circles under his eyes lay in a pool of blood, his eyes wide open as if he couldn't comprehend why he had to die even in his final moments.
"Did you kill him, evil god Thanatos?"
Finn's eyes shifted to the beautiful, long-haired male deity.
"No, not me."
Thanatos lowered the hand that had been covering his face, his expression as calm as ever.
"Revis-chan killed him. Ah, though it's true that I discovered his betrayal and ordered Revis-chan to do it."
Finn's eyes flickered slightly.
When they had encountered Revis on the upper floors earlier, the tip of her sword had been stained with blood.
He had assumed she had slain adventurers from other Familias, but it turned out the blood belonged to Barca.
The legacy of Daedalus had been severed here—truly a pity.
This labyrinth was invaluable, a treasure bestowed upon adventurers and the Guild. Finn believed that if Barca had defected, the labyrinth's worth alone could have absolved him of his crimes.
Unfortunately, they were a step too late.
"Ahaha, you simply can't imagine how hilarious Barca-chan's expression was when he died! Though you lower realm folks have all sorts of ways to perish, you're always so ridiculous when facing death!"
Thanatos laughed with empty amusement.
"What's so bad about death? Death is the truth of this world, the final destination for all life. When I, the God of Death, personally bestowed the gift of death upon Barca-chan, he actually refused it! Kept babbling about 'I must complete the labyrinth, I can't die yet' and such nonsense~!"