300 - - the last master

The depth of the room is less than 30 steps on foot.

The width is the same.

The high ceiling is covered with layers of black haze like a curtain, the outline of which is not even clear.

Between the haze, flickering light particles were scattered like stars.

Thanks to this, it was not so dark, and we could see into every corner.

However, on the floor covered with black paving stones, all that could be seen was the throne at the end of the room against the wall and its master.

There is only one large depression on the throne, but nothing else of interest.

It seems that there is only one room on the fourth level.

It is much smaller than the spacious upper level.

However, the sense of disaster that filled the space had increased by an order of magnitude.

Thor, who looked around the room slowly, quietly guessed at the atmosphere that was so foreign to him.

"This is probably the lowest level."

No one disagrees with these words.

It seems that they do not agree, but they do not even have the time to do so.

The moment they opened the door and peeked inside, the twins jumped back.

Kugasse lifts both fists and Rasel draws his large sword and takes a few steps backward, each taking a stance.

Barconia and Rummella, who had been standing behind them, looked tense and held up their sticks as if to defend themselves.

The only ones who seemed to be able to keep their composure were Sora and Yuril.

They nodded to Thor without showing any sign of fear.

Moe had sensed something even before he opened the door. He pressed his face against Thor's thigh and closed his eyes tightly.

The threat was so great that it had the eyes of the Kongo class adventurers glued to the door, and their bodies shuddering.

It was the work of a skeleton that was supposed to be the end result.

The body of the skeleton sitting on the throne is covered in jet black, as is the sword it holds.

The skeleton sits with its back slightly rounded, its two empty holes, in which the eyeballs have been lost, facing the door in front of it, not moving a muscle.

Indeed, it appears to be nothing more than a human bone.

His physique is small compared to the dead dragons and demon chiefs we have slaughtered so far.

However, everyone present here recognized that this rotting being was the greatest threat they had ever encountered.

It was as if a miasma had condensed.

"............What is it,...... that ......?"

"I don't know what you're asking me. ......"

Kugase blurts out a question, to which Kikiriri answers with bated breath.

But inwardly, both of them had already arrived at the obvious answer.

The Lord who controls everything in this abandoned underground prison.

His bones are the last master of the labyrinth.

Thor scratches his chin at the sight of his friends, who look completely overwhelmed.

But then, as if on target, a girl's voice rings out.

"Hey, Thor! Is it really the end if we defeat that bone man?　You seem very weak."

Rammerla and the others blinked a couple of times at Sola's airless question.

But then again, it has been less than a year since the girl decided to become an adventurer.

It is no wonder that she feels differently from those who have been exposed to the miasma deep in the miasma zone for a long time.

However, there was no doubt that this one word had relieved the tension in the room.

Instead of Thor, who was about to laugh, Yuril answered with his usual ice-melting smile.

The silver-haired woman, who unusually closed one of her eyes, replied happily.

"Hmmm...yes...you are right. If we defeat that bone, it will all be over, Ms. Sora.

"Thank goodness! I'm getting tired of being under the ground all the time.

"What's that? You're right, but... ...... Yeah, it's not crazy.

"Yes, I agree with you wholeheartedly, Mister Sora. It's really small and dark here, and this feeling of being blocked in above my head is truly stifling.

"Yes, I think so too, Sora. It's just so boring, isn't it?

"Yes, it is. I wish I could go back to the ground as soon as possible.

Kikiriri's prodding prompted the group to express their true feelings to each other.

When even Mordamo unusually revealed his feelings, Thor proposed a change in strategy.

"Okay, I don't know. How about we just get it over with?"

If we go back to the surface, it will take a lot of energy to come back here and face the skeleton again.

But now that we have defeated the master of the labyrinth on the third level, we have not lost our momentum yet.

Although he is mentally tired, his physical strength and magical power are in perfect condition.

Thor thought that this was a good opportunity, and everyone shook their heads vigorously at his suggestion.

"Then, let's attack from here first.

Then I'll go myself. Even if there is a counterattack, it will not affect my strength so much.

As she says this, she lifts her staff and bites her lip a little.

The flame wizard, moustache tugged, chanted a prayer to the throne.

From the torch of my own body, unleash the sparks of fire. Come and pierce the boundless darkness.

A red fire blazing from the tip of the staff runs straight up through the sky.

"What!"

It is not clear whose voice it is.

But the voice perfectly expressed the inner feelings of the magician in the room.

The moment the streak of flame reached the center of the room, it quickly changed course.

The flames suddenly turned upward and headed straight for the ceiling.

Then, as if absorbed by the black haze, the unleashed magic disappeared.

"That's impossible. That's impossible!

Balconia fires a volley of firebombs one after the other.　

But the result was always the same.

All of the magic tricks suddenly change direction and are sucked into the ceiling and disappear.

The same result was obtained with the freezing spell that Yuril, who had nodded his head, had performed.

"The magic doesn't work? ......"

"It would seem so."

"I guess we'll just have to hit them directly."

Thor, who had been subjected to a strengthening spell, took a deep breath as he drew his sword.

As he stepped into the room, he reflected the future in his eyes.

Then he stops.

No, he had to stop.

His vision is filled with countless images of skeletons crossing swords.

But not one of them showed the image of Thor's victory.