The Zeus Familia, which once reigned supreme in Orario and still holds the record for reaching the deepest floor, named these floors: the Dragon's Crucible.
At the bottom of the Dragon's Crucible, on the 58th floor, resides the dragon Valgang—
a massive red dragon capable of standing ten meters tall on its hind legs.
Feeling the pulse of danger reverberate through every part of her body, Lefiya sensed as if she had stepped into hell itself rather than a dungeon.
"Lefiya!"
With a roar, Shirou rushed toward her.
"Brother!"
Seeing the figure rapidly approaching her, a spark of hope lit up in Lefiya's eyes—eyes that just moments before had been filled with despair.
Accelerated by gravity, Shirou quickly closed the gap between them as she continued falling.
Catching her in his arms, Shirou slowed their descent with magic, asking urgently:
"Are you alright, Lefiya?"
"Yes, I'm fine!"
"Good…!"
Hearing her answer, the tension in Shirou's heart finally eased.
"You idiots, this is no time for chatting! Watch what's below you!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Lefiya—still held in Shirou's arms—looked up and saw Bete, Tiona, and Tione sprinting down the narrow passage wall.
"Everyone!"
Seeing her companions rushing in to save her, Lefiya's eyes welled with tears.
"Don't get in my way, you idiots!"
Even while rescuing someone, he still held nothing back.
Hearing his sharp reprimand, Lefiya smiled softly.
"Yes, Mr. Bete!"
As the group continued falling, Riveria's magic finally reached completion on the 52nd floor.
Dark green robes of magical protection wrapped around Shirou and the others as they plummeted downward.
This was Riveria's defensive magic—capable of withstanding all forms of enemy attacks.
Meanwhile, the Valgang dragons on the 58th floor caught sight of Lefiya as she fell through the narrow corridor.
Recognizing intruders, they unleashed their merciless flames.
A massive fireball shot upward, aimed directly at Shirou and the others.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Seeing the fireball hurtling toward them, Shirou extended his right hand, palm facing the incoming attack.
"Rho Aias!"
His magic surged, and projected energy spiraled outward.
A giant pink petal blossomed before them—shaped like a flower with seven petals.
This was Shirou's strongest defensive Noble Phantasm.
The massive fireball struck Rho Aias, managing to pierce only two layers before dissipating harmlessly.
But through his Clairvoyance, Shirou clearly saw another three blasts of fire incoming.
"Bete, Tiona, Tione—straight down to the 58th floor!"
"It's our only option. If we fall into a random floor, we'll be in danger unless we all land together."
"Then let's break through!"
Under the force of the two incoming blasts, more layers of Rho Aias shattered, leaving only the final one.
But the last petal was incredibly durable; even after taking a third cannon-like blast, it remained intact.
Cracked, yes—but Shirou knew it could hold for just a bit longer.
However, he had no intention of staying on the defensive. Simply taking blows without fighting back was not his style.
"Lefiya, hold onto me. Tight."
"Okay!"
Knowing Shirou was preparing to counterattack, Lefiya blushed and wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs tightening around his waist.
"Good."
Freeing his other hand, Shirou projected his bow and Caladbolg.
"I am the bone of my sword…"
Nocking Caladbolg onto the bowstring, Shirou used Clairvoyance to lock onto the massive red dragons below on the 58th floor.
"CALADBOLG!!!"
Drawing his bow to the fullest, Shirou released.
The next instant, the arrow tore through the passage, propelling them straight to the ground of the 58th floor.
A deafening explosion followed, and a mushroom-shaped cloud rose slowly.
Shirou had no idea of the massacre occurring on the 58th floor, but the five people directly above the blast were forced downward extremely slowly.
The violent shockwave lasted for over ten seconds before finally subsiding.
But they were not yet safe. Drawn by the commotion, monsters from the 56th floor also attacked.
These monsters were three meters long, tails included.
Living on the 56th floor, they used the large openings created by the Valgang dragons to climb between floors and ambush adventurers.
"Die!"
Tiona swung her sword, killing the monster the moment she encountered it.
Behind her, Bete leapt onto another creature, stabbing through its head with his twin swords.
He then kicked it aside, right as another prepared to launch a fireball.
Meanwhile, Tione was relentless.
She darted between walls and monsters, her spear striking mercilessly as she carved a path through the enemy.
Shirou, due to controlling their movement, lagged slightly behind the other three.
But for an archer, that position was perfect.
He continuously projected and released arrows, each shot followed by the sharp whistle of air being torn apart—monsters falling with every impact.
With the great dragon Valgang of the 58th floor destroyed by Shirou's Caladbolg, the pressure on everyone decreased dramatically.
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52nd Floor
"Ais, don't go!"
After Bete and the other two descended through the narrow passage after Shirou, Ais attempted to follow—but was stopped by Finn.
"If we all go through the narrow passage, we can't guarantee the safety of the supporters who fall afterward. We must proceed through the proper route. And for that, your combat ability is essential."
With the combined boosts of her Avenger skill and her magic, Ais was nearly unbeatable in terms of raw monster-slaying firepower.
Her presence was vital for the group taking the correct route.
"Gareth, go down the passage to support Shirou and the others!"
"Leave it to me!"
And so, the Loki Familia's expedition team split into two groups, each advancing toward the 58th floor.
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(End of Chapter)