Chapter 83
Ruslan and Lyudmila were running frantically.
The two had been Exploring for several years now.
Like most Expert-rank Explorers, both were veterans who had set foot on the Fifth Floor.
Nevertheless, the situation they were experiencing now was unprecedented.
"Lyudmila!"
"I know! Oh wind that stays by our side! Settle upon my companion and lighten body and mind!"
The moment her acceleration buff, amplified by chanting, settled on Ruslan, he leaped backward.
True to his lion beast-folk nature, a fierce roar burst from Ruslan's mouth.
The aura-filled cry extinguished the Blazing Death’s flames with powerful sound waves.
Such power from just a shout.
Even for a Blazing Death possessing a Third Floor monster, it couldn't withstand the lion's roar of Ruslan, an Expert Explorer considered to be Frontier's next Master-rank Explorer.
But the flames quickly reignited.
Not that extinguished flames rekindled, but rather the empty space was instantly filled by the endless flames behind it.
Ruslan didn't stop either.
Even if covered in flames, a Blazing Death was a monster, not a natural phenomenon.
It was something akin to a parasitic spirit.
Ruslan had long since memorized how to deal with a Blazing Death.
Raising his claws, Ruslan swept through the Blazing Death's fire pit in all directions.
Flames extinguishing, reigniting, extinguishing, reigniting in endless repetition.
No matter how much he tore them apart, they filled back in.
Like dancing alone in an aquarium.
Just as water immediately filled the space when cut in an aquarium, the Blazing Dead gradually pushed Ruslan back with endless numbers despite his fierce attacks.
Even in such chaos, Ruslan's skill deserved high praise for protecting his body with aura, not letting a single spot get singed.
After unleashing a massacre and raising an aura barrier to buy time, Ruslan withdrew and let out a sigh.
As if to prove he'd just been in a fire pit, his breath carried intense heat.
"This is hell itself."
"Really... there's no end."
Lyudmila quickly applied a recovery enhancement buff to him.
As an Enchanter, though she couldn't use direct healing magic, she could achieve versatile recovery by enhancing a person’s natural healing ability.
Moreover, Lyudmila's recovery enhancement increased not just physical healing but also stamina and aura recovery speed.
They'd made it this far without a single casualty thanks to her hidden dedication.
While Ruslan caught his breath, Lyudmila spoke with concern, "I wonder if those kids are okay?"
Lyudmila was known for being caring even within Frontier.
Realizing she was worried about Arthur and Deina, Ruslan comforted her, "Lady Viola is with them. No need to worry about that side. We're the problem."
"Yes... right. The Guild Master is there..."
Ruslan glanced at the other Explorers they were protecting.
Half the mages are mana-depleted. The rest aren't much better.
Lyudmila's enhancement worked based on basic capabilities.
If basic recovery was weak, the enhancement effect would be small, and if stamina was completely depleted, recovery wouldn't work at all.
It was why Ruslan, born with overwhelming physical specs as a lion beast-folk, paired perfectly with Lyudmila, creating massive synergy.
Should we abandon them?
Ruslan harbored cruel thoughts.
Even their current path forward could become a fire trap at any moment.
Saving everyone was an unrealistic option from the start.
Though Lyudmila wanted to protect everyone out of responsibility and Frontier Guild pride, Ruslan thought differently.
Ultimately, their own survival was most important.
While he might feel differently about Lyudmila herself, Ruslan felt no obligation to risk his life for temporary allies.
"No, Ruslan."
As if seeing right through his thoughts.
Lyudmila stopped his thoughts with a firm voice.
"Lyudmila."
"Let's try a bit longer. Seeing how the Guild Master hasn't stepped in, maybe it's just our side dealing with this."
"It's been three days already. We've barely slept. Even I have limits."
"But we're not there yet, right?"
Lyudmila smiled knowingly.
True.
Ruslan still had stamina left.
Even in the dreaded Fifth Floor, Ruslan had endured for over a week with just short naps.
Despite protecting these people, he wouldn't be exhausted after just three days on the Second Floor.
"...Haa, fine."
Ruslan finally yielded and accepted Lyudmila's policy again.
Perhaps it was inevitable.
The one whose heart yielded was the one who held the other deeper in their heart.
"Just one more week. If this situation continues until the tenth day, we can't go on."
"By then, won't we have met up with the Guild Master~?"
Though Lyudmila spoke cheerfully, she too felt anxiety in one corner of her heart.
Perhaps worried that her Guild Master had fallen into a situation where she couldn't act.
That's impossible.
But that anxiety quickly disappeared.
This was Viola.
One of the Eight Pioneers.
Even against the Cult of the End, considered the most dangerous among Abyss Worshipers, it was impossible to imagine Viola losing.
"I'm recovered enough. Let's move."
"Yes. We're close to E-20 Plaza. If there are people remaining there, they could be reinforcements."
Though thinking they might be burdens instead, Ruslan silently nodded.
No need to pour cold water on someone trying to hold onto hope for strength.
They'd find out at E-20.
Until then, having hope would help carry those exhausted burdens a little easier.
Even if E-20 was already destroyed or only had new burdens, it wasn't far from there to the gate leading to the First Floor, so he could manage to escape somehow.
Their journey continued as a chase with fire.
When entering Labyrinth intersections, suddenly appearing Blazing Deaths would tangle their route, and each time Ruslan would either break through somehow or stay behind to guard the rear while the others escaped.
Finally reaching E-20 Plaza through sheer determination.
Ruslan's worried future came true.
It was a moment of hope's collapse.
At the end of the path leading to E-20 Plaza.
There, with the plaza in view, they encountered it.
A fire murderer, different in class from normal Blazing Deaths.
A fire demon that had burned those already there without a trace and was about to leave seeking new fuel.
"Damn it..."
"That's... no way..."
Lyudmila reflexively covered her mouth.
Though its form was unrecognizable wrapped in flames, the equipment still remaining revealed who this being had been.
"This is the worst."
Master-rank Explorer, Grant Dexter.
If he had simply died, that would have been manageable.
But becoming a Blazing Death's host was different.
After all, Blazing Death's power output changed based on their host.
"Should have died cleanly if you were going to croak."
And this confirmed it.
Those who could kill Grant Dexter and modify him into a Blazing Death host might not be able to harm Viola Pelletier, but they had the capability to restrain her.
"We're retreating. Breaking through that would require preparing for death. Better to take a detour even if it's longer."
Just because it had a Master-rank Explorer as a host didn't mean this Blazing Death's power was truly Master-rank.
There were limits.
Originally, something like a Blazing Death couldn't take such a powerful host even as a corpse.
Even residual aura and mana after death would easily resist a Blazing Death's corruption.
Grant becoming a host was already in the realm of abnormality.
Either they modified Grant's corpse, or they manipulated the Blazing Death.
Probably both.
Still, Ruslan didn't think they'd definitely lose to it.
Instead, they'd need to be prepared for death.
What meaning would there be in defeating it?
With unknown dangers potentially lurking ahead, if their strongest fighter Ruslan was neutralized, the team would collapse.
"We need to retreat... wait."
Ruslan's keen nose caught a faint scent.
He immediately enhanced his senses through aura.
Then, he heard something faintly.
"Water sounds?"
An impossibly strong water flow.
By the time he identified it, it was approaching at tremendous speed.
Many times, tens of times faster than the Blazing Death possessing Grant approaching after noticing them.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA—!!
A massive amount of water, truly enough to make one wonder if this was really the Second Floor and not the Fourth.
KWAAANG!!!!
It rushed in.
A wave.
A tsunami.
An ocean.
A massive water current exploded into E-20 Plaza, which had been covered in flames.
Fierce water current.
The grayish water stream gathered and rose like a great water dragon.
The Blazing Death had been burning like a sun in the darkness-filled maze.
Water droplets reflecting its flames sparkled like stars in the night sky.
An explosion occurred when water met fire.
As rapidly expanding steam blocked their vision, voices revealed what was happening ahead instead of the obscured view.
"Roman! Faster!"
"Stop surfing and get down!"
"W-wait! Something's wrong with Undine!"
It was an incomprehensible conversation.