Countless monsters surged forward, Goliath's colossal frame close behind them.
Daggers clashed against claws as Daphne-sama's valiant figure moved like a dance in front of Lili and the others.
"Do as I say! Move out and engage!"
"B-But… Daphne-sama, there are too many monsters! We won't be able to hold out like this!"
Lili frowned as she argued back.
"There's no time to hesitate! Move!"
Daphne turned sharply, facing the oncoming horde.
The decision had been made.
Regret or doubt no longer mattered.
Putting on the iron mask of a commander, Daphne began to chant her Magic.
"Follow blindly the sun in the sky. Blossom, armor of laurel, so that all will flee from thee."
She had never wanted to use this Magic.
It was tied to Apollo, the god she despised.
She hadn't even used it during the War Game. But now, with her comrades' lives on the line, Daphne finally spoke its name.
"Raumure!"
A green light flashed, a thin translucent membrane spreading over her body.
[Durability] slightly increased.
[Agility] greatly enhanced.
Wrapped in protective Magic, Daphne charged straight into the oncoming monsters.
"Guh…"
Lili swallowed her unease and turned toward Goliath.
"The second roar is coming!"
"Burn out, illegal work - Will-o-Wisp!"
Welf raised his right hand and released another invisible solar flame.
A thunderous blast erupted from Goliath's mouth. Barely three seconds later, the roar crashed toward them.
Thanks to Welf buying them time, the group narrowly avoided the violent shockwave. The spot where they had just been standing was now reduced to barren ground.
The roar cut off abruptly, replaced by the heavy pounding of massive footsteps.
Just as Goliath drew closer—
Mikoto's chant reached its final line.
"—Descend from heaven, rule the earth—Shinbu Tousei!"
Though Mikoto had joined the party last, she was the one closest to Bell.
Responsibility weighed on her shoulders.
Yet she felt no pressure. She accepted it as the trust placed in her by the boy and their companions, and poured everything into her Magic.
"Futsunomitama!"
A blade of light fell, and a deep violet gravitational cage formed in an instant.
Goliath's feet sank into the ground, his enormous body beginning to bow under the pressure.
"Ugh…"
Mikoto clamped down on her right hand, a strained groan slipping from her lips.
The giant's brute strength clashed violently against the gravity barrier.
Faced with the overwhelming difference in power, Goliath slowly began to straighten again.
"Now!"
Lili shouted at the top of her lungs.
Cassandra raised the magic sword in her hand and fired a blazing cannon shot at Goliath.
The torrent of flames struck the giant's extended right foot.
With a deafening explosion, the gravity barrier seized the instant of injury and bound him tightly once more.
Daphne's plan was simple.
Don't try to defeat the Floor Boss. Just buy as much time as possible. That was all.
"Mikoto-sama, please drink a Mind recovery potion!"
Lili pulled out the cork and, using the terrain for cover, brought the elixir to Mikoto's lips.
These potions were expensive. Aside from the portion Airmid had provided free of charge, Lili had gone through quite the verbal battle to "extort" a sizable supply from Naaza.
With the elixir and the magic sword supporting her, Mikoto struggled to maintain the Gravity Magic.
Under their tightly coordinated assault, Goliath could barely lift his arms, much less open his mouth to unleash another roar.
But items would eventually run dry.
The first to be exhausted were the Mind recovery potions.
"Wuuu... my barrier's about to break!"
Mikoto's face had gone pale and drawn.
"Over here too..."
Cassandra kept chanting Healing Magic without pause.
But the instant the healing light faded, new wounds split open across Daphne's body, blood quickly soaking through her clothes.
Disaster crashed down like a tidal wave, pressing in on everyone's hearts.
"I can't... hold it any longer..."
Before Mikoto could finish, her Mind ran dry and she collapsed.
"Mikoto-sama!"
Lili hurried forward to catch her.
Welf put away his magic sword and rapidly chanted, trying to suppress the giant's roar.
The gravitational cage vanished without a trace. The roar, delayed by three seconds, brushed past Welf's body. Even the aftershock alone was enough to send him flying and slam him hard onto the ground.
The giant's crimson eyes locked onto them, brimming with fury and hatred.
Swarms of monsters slashed with their claws, kicking up a mist of blood around Daphne.
Goliath gathered magic power as he charged straight at them.
At that critical moment, a shout erupted from the southern edge of the grassland.
"Charge!!!"
"Mord?! You idiot, stop messing up the command!"
Bors snapped, then roared, "Frontline, follow that fool! Mages, hit Goliath with something big!"
"Ooooooooh!!!!"
With a battle cry no less fierce than the monsters', every Adventurer in Rivira Town rushed into the fight.
Mord took the lead. Catching Goliath with his back turned, he swung his longsword at the giant's massive right foot.
Greatswords, giant axes, and long blades followed in quick succession as the other adventurers joined in.
The sound of metal striking hardened flesh rang out. The giant's tough outer shell sent numbing shocks up the vanguard's arms.
But none of them hesitated. Using their superior numbers, they seized the brief window before the giant could react, relentlessly battering Goliath's legs.
There were over a hundred adventurers in total.
A portion of the vanguard, led by Mord, cut off Goliath's roar and then charged toward the monsters swarming in front of Daphne.
"Everyone..."
Lili supported Mikoto as she stepped forward.
"Goliath's drops are valuable. Sorry, but we're taking your prey."
Mord raised his longsword, blocking an incoming strike for Lili.
"Mm..."
Lili saw through their intentions and smiled.
"I've run out of Mind recovery potions. Could you spare me a few?"
"Those things cost a fortune! No way we could afford them! And even if we had any, we'd save them for ourselves!"
Mord shot back while swinging his blade.
Once the Adventurers joined the battle, the difference in numbers between both sides vanished almost instantly.
Some of them weren't residents of Rivira Town at all. They had simply been resting on the Safe Floor, taking shelter from the Monster Parade on the twenty-fourth floor.
Among them were even Level 3 adventurers.
They didn't bother with coordination. They kept their distance, darted in to land a strike, then immediately retreated.
The vanguard pinned Goliath in place while the Mages unleashed their Magic.
It was the safest and most reliable method for bringing down Goliath.
"I've brought out every weapon I've got! Potions, items—don't hold anything back! If we don't bring this monster down, we're all done for!"
Bors dumped his entire shop inventory onto a corner of the grass. If anyone's weapon shattered, he'd replace it on the spot.
"Roar incoming! Shield Guard, get ready!"