"So many people?"
Eiji stepped into the core area's chamber.
Members of both Loki Familia and Ganesha Familia had gathered here, trapped with no way out. The atmosphere was tense with anxiety, and a rough count showed nearly two hundred people present.
"You actually made it here?"
Shakti looked at Eiji with astonishment.
"While I don't entirely approve of you coming here, the fact that you did means you can move through the Green Flesh, right?"
Finn and Loki also approached.
"With this special magic sword, we can burn away quite a bit of the green flesh... but with this many people, it's going to be troublesome."
Eiji lifted the magic sword in his hand, but his brows gradually furrowed.
True, his ability to materialize armaments had no numerical limit—given enough time, he could produce hundreds of Crozzo Magic Swords and arm everyone. But wielding so many would place an immense strain on his mind.
Magic swords were consumables. Once their power was exhausted, they shattered. Even if not fully depleted, they still damaged his spiritual armaments, like a hammer relentlessly pounding his head.
If his mind suffered too much damage and he fell unconscious, all his manifested armaments would vanish. That would be disastrous—everyone would be swallowed by the Green Flesh.
"It's impossible to take this many people out all at once."
Eiji shook his head.
They would have to go in batches, dozens of trips at least. Eiji would have to endure the side effects of constant mental stabbing throughout the entire process to have any chance of saving everyone.
If only there were a magic sword that could be used indefinitely—then this wouldn't be such a hassle.
But this way, it would likely take several days. Who knew if it would already be too late by then?
"What, you don't have a way out?"
At that moment, a beautiful, long-haired male god approached.
His face bore a gloomy yet bewitching smile.
"Thanatos, just shut up."
Loki glared at him fiercely.
"If you hadn't been so easily fooled by Enyo, we wouldn't be in this mess! You'd better pray we find a way out, or we'll all starve to death here!"
"Fine, fine."
Thanatos obediently closed his mouth and wandered off to sit casually to the side.
"Gareth, Tiona, Tione—how are things on your end?"
Finn turned his attention to the other teams.
"All good here!"
"We've already reached the upper floors!"
"Captain! Captain, what about you? Does this mean I won't get to pat your butt anymore?!"
All teams were evacuating swiftly.
With the terrifying Green Flesh chasing them, the adventurers pushed themselves to their limits, scrambling up and down the dungeon corridors until they reached the upper floors.
"Once we got to the upper floors, the green flesh's expansion slowed down significantly. It probably won't catch up to us now."
Gareth added.
"From the looks of it, the green flesh's expansion isn't infinite. Its scale must have limits."
Finn quickly shifted into strategist mode. "And for now, the adamantite walls seem capable of resisting its corrosion. At least our immediate safety is guaranteed."
That was a relief.
Everyone let out a sigh.
As long as their lives weren't in immediate danger, they could figure out an escape plan later.
"Riveria, how's your side?"
"&%$#!"
"Riveria?"
Finn's expression turned grim again.
"Sorry, we're in a bit of a hurry here! Will contact you later!"
Continuous noise came from the other end, occasionally mixed with shouts from Narvi and others. Riveria quickly entered chanting mode.
"Still not out of crisis state yet?"
Finn's face was full of worry.
Who would have thought that when Enyo truly acted for the first time, it would display such terrifying aggression.
At this rate, if the allied forces could retreat safely, it would already be a blessing in disguise.
"Loki, I have a question."
Eiji's gaze fell on Thanatos not far away, his eyes gradually turning hostile.
"I remember the light pillar produced when gods are sent back is extremely powerful, right?"
"Uh... that's correct."
Loki was taken aback, her voice becoming very small.
"You're not thinking of...?"
"?"
Finn, Shakti and others also looked over.
Their expressions gradually turned fearful.
Does this man really have no reverence for gods at all?
"The light pillar can definitely blast through the dungeon ceiling?"
Eiji asked again.
He silently raised his sword, his friendly gaze locking onto Thanatos.
"If you're asking whether it can... then yes, definitely..."
If she wasn't his patron god whose Falna was necessary for his powers, Loki had every reason to suspect this bastard might even dare swing his sword at her!
Nearby adventurers looked on with awe in their eyes.
Not even batting an eye at killing a god—truly worthy of being called the God Slayer!
Thanatos suddenly felt a chill.
He instantly caught sight of Eiji's extremely "friendly" expression.
"Loki, I've thought of a great way to help you all escape!"
Thanatos stood up with a serious expression.
He trotted over to Loki and spoke with utmost sincerity.
"Actually, I'm very resentful about being tricked by Enyo. I'll leave the rest to you all—I don't expect you to avenge me, just hope you can thwart his schemes!"
With that, he took out a small knife and decisively stabbed it into his own chest.
Better to commit suicide than be killed by a mortal!
How embarrassing would it be to return to heaven that way?
Under Loki and the others' speechless gazes, Thanatos quickly breathed his last.
Boom—!
Tremendous divine power erupted from his body.
A holy light pillar centered on Thanatos shot straight upward, the radiance piercing through the super-hard metal ceiling as easily as tearing paper before soaring into the night sky.
People outside were going crazy.
Two gods dead in one day—what was happening to Orario? Was it the apocalypse?
Through the gaps in the light pillar, they could see the green flesh on upper floors retreating as if in fear, surrounding but not daring to approach the space occupied by the light.
A god's return would unleash incomparably massive energy—undoubtedly the highest level of power in the mortal world, against which nothing earthly could stand!
"Charge out!"
Finn shouted.
Though it might not be entirely appropriate to say so, thanks to Eiji's complete lack of reverence for gods, they might actually be saved!
"Ooooh!"
The adventurers cheered with mixed shock and joy.
With the help of the high-ranking adventurers, the group leaped into the air one after another, using fragments of the ceiling to propel themselves further upward, step by step approaching the top.
Every person here was at least an upper-class adventurer of Level 2 or higher, each possessing astonishing jumping ability.
Eiji reluctantly sheathed his sword.
To be honest, he had been looking forward to slaying another god.
It wasn't about whether there were benefits—he was simply addicted to it.
"Never mind, let's go!"
Eiji carried Loki on his back and jumped toward the top alongside Ais and the others.