Chapter 621 – To the Heart of the Labyrinth

“I’ll handle the ones coming from above!”

“Mm-hmm!”

As soon as Sion spoke, she swung the weapon in her hand, leaving behind pale blue trajectories of slash attacks. This was one of Sion’s signature techniques – she could suspend these slashes in midair to launch them at will or later gather them into her own sword to unleash powerful attacks.

In the square of Claudia’s castle training grounds, countless crystal and rock pillars created by Corulis and Princess Stephania protruded from the ground, forming obstacles. By filling the spaces between these pillars with suspended slashes, she could effectively create additional makeshift barriers.

Sion then moved to intercept a Beast Knight charging from the front. They clashed training weapons against each other, their guards pressing together for just a moment. The lion Beast Knight, brimming with fighting spirit, attempted to push forward, but Sion didn’t resist – instead redirecting the force and flying sideways just above the ground.

As Sion rebounded off one of Corulis’s crystal pillars, the Beast Knight followed her into aerial combat. After flying sideways once, using the pillar as a foothold, they exchanged slashes as they passed by each other.

Though the Beast Knight lacked shield magic tools, it skillfully maintained aerial combat parity by scattering bullets of fighting spirit to counter Sion’s ability to change trajectory midair.

Meanwhile – in the air, Marceska was engaged in combat with a group of Little Soldiers.

Marceska leaped about utilizing her speed, maneuvering to avoid being surrounded. When the Little Soldiers realized they couldn’t keep up with Marceska’s movements, they formed a three-dimensional spear formation in the air, moving as if they were a single organism. With spears thrust out in all directions while spinning to counter Marceska, they resembled… perhaps one could describe them as steel sea urchins.

This appeared to be a defensive formation to prevent being attacked from behind and defeated individually. No matter how fast Marceska was, if they focused only on defending their assigned space, they wouldn’t be easily broken.

“The basic principle is to counter numbers with numbers…”

Sigritta’s swarm of Ink Beasts approached the group of Little Soldiers. In response, Marceska accelerated further, tracing complex trajectories as she flew about. She likely intended to attack where Sigritta’s support had created openings.

Fundamentally, the castle monsters were on offense while Princess Stephania and the others were on defense. The general premise was that if the Beast Knights managed to get close to Princess Stephania’s group, they would lose. However, the main position was defended by crystals, with Corulis protecting the ground and the Lindwurm guarding the air, making it quite difficult for the castle monsters to press their attacks.

Corulis intercepted a black panther Beast Knight approaching from the ground. It deployed crystalline armor and fiercely exchanged blows with twin swords and claws.

Then – a crimson flash shot through. Support fire from Princess Stephania and Princess Adriana. This was essentially training light magic with no lethal capability, just for appearance.

The assumption was that they were using high-rank magic for support fire, with direct hits counting as unable to fight. However, there were restrictions like only being able to use it once every few seconds, or having a limited total number of uses.

True to their careful aim, the light grazed the black panther’s nose – but it was barely avoided. However, Corulis mercilessly pressed its attack as the panther lost its balance. A wolf Beast Knight intervened at that moment, stepping in just before Corulis’s attack landed, then taking turns with alternating slashes against Corulis.

But this wasn’t two against one – it was two against two. Flamia, blended into the scenery, used fiery illusions to momentarily multiply Corulis’s arms or make spears appear to shoot from its crystal armor, making it difficult for the opponents to easily attack Corulis.

The Beast Knights with their superior senses seemed to have some grasp of Flamia’s position, but that was that. Corulis’s massive frame prevented them from getting to the rear. If they tried to force their way through, substantial attacks would likely emerge from the crystal armor to strike them from the side.

The Lindwurm – was engaged in aerial combat with an eagle Beast Knight. When at a distance, it scattered water bullets from training magic tools, and when approached, it fought back using fighting spirit and shields, claws and fangs, and its tail.

While the Beast Knight had better maneuverability, the Lindwurm skillfully deployed charge shields and other defenses, fighting evenly against the spear-wielding Beast Knight.

The Lindwurm – seemed to be enjoying being able to engage in aerial combat to its heart’s content. After exchanging blows with the eagle several times as they passed each other, it twisted the corner of its mouth, baring its fangs in what appeared to be a smile.

— In this manner, the group combat training had become quite heated.

From what I could see, the Beast Knights seemed specialized in physical abilities, senses, and martial arts. Their abilities also appeared to differ depending on their animal type. Overall, they were perfect opponents for close combat training.

“We also have much to learn from this. We might be able to develop new combat formations and tactics.”

Helvorte, watching the group combat from a high place in the castle some distance away with us, nodded repeatedly.

Though the gesture suggested admiration, its expression remained as usual. Seeing this, Claudia smiled softly.

After continuing group combat for a while, we planned to take a break and then train individual close combat one-on-one, or have the Little Soldiers provide shooting practice for evasion training… Yeah. This looked to be quite intensive training.

“– Close combat is still difficult after all.”

“Especially dealing with Beast Knights on the ground.”

“This time — it feels like we received quite the lesson.”

And so the training ended, and break time began.

Princess Stephania and the others had also done close combat training… Well, since the content involved remaining on the ground and facing the Beast Knights’ attacks head-on with magic, it seemed quite exhausting.

“But the content was good. If we continue a bit more and become more familiar with the Beast Knights’ movements and techniques, the magic we prepare for interception should become more efficient, and the training content should become more substantial.”

“Hmm… That’s true. Maybe things will change once we understand their techniques better. If we could prepare one more type of magic for offense, defense, and as insurance, it might become easier…”

Princess Stephania contemplated my words with a serious expression.

“In that regard, with magic tools assisting in aerial combat, it might be more advantageous than ground combat.”

Since Princess Stephania and the others had been training in aerial combat too. There might be more evasion options available in the air.

“Shall we try close combat training in aerial combat next?”

“That sounds good. How to handle close encounters is important too.”

Princess Adriana smiled as she spoke.

“We’re learning a lot too.”

“They used formations that made our speed irrelevant.”

“But… it’s pretty fun…”

It seemed to be good stimulation for Sion and the others too. The castle monsters used coordination that couldn’t be overwhelmed by simple physical ability alone. They were discussing various strategies for the next training session. Trial and error in combat is valuable. This seemed like it would be meaningful for Sion and the others too.

Corulis, Flamia, and the Lindwurm had performed quite well in the group combat. When our eyes met, Corulis responded by raising its thumb – where did it learn that?

… Well, I’ll return the gesture with a thumbs-up too.

The training content was quite substantial… For Princess Stephania and the others and Sion’s group, if they continued training at Claudia’s castle, it should yield good results.

And… for us too, things were proceeding as planned. With the party members, we were essentially scouting out the labyrinth core area.

Even those who wouldn’t be descending to the core had come along to see us off.

“Well then, we’re off.”

“Yes. Be careful.”

We exchanged words with Princess Stephania and the others.

“We can return from here.”

Claudia deployed a magic circle, opening a simple gate to the surface some distance from the rainbow-colored gate leading to the core.

It was similar to the gate created when using the Red Transfer Stone, but Claudia seemed able to create escape gates even without transfer stones.

“Then we’ll return to the surface ahead of you. Good luck.”

“Yes.”

Claudia smiled in response to Princess Adriana’s words.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes. We’re prepared.”

“Same here.”

The party members each nodded.

“Alright. Let’s go–“

And so we jumped into the rainbow-colored gate. Princess Stephania and the others jumped into the escape gate, each group going their separate ways.

Enveloped in light– and when it subsided, we found ourselves in a strangely bright, open space.

There was a pillar of light very close to us. This was probably the gate to exit the core area. We were standing near the center of what seemed to be a plaza.

Somehow… I’d heard this corresponded to the interior of the Moon Ship.

“It’s very quiet. No smells either.”

“Temperature too. I don’t sense any signs of living creatures.”

Sheila and Irmhild reported on the surrounding situation. It was indeed quiet. Aside from the sounds we made, everything was enveloped in silence.

“It appears there are no enemies in sight.”

Said Helvorte.

If that’s the case, we should at least have some leeway to observe our surroundings.

“So this is the labyrinth core?”

“It’s a mysterious place… isn’t it?”

Grace and Ashley said while looking at their feet. Marlene was also blinking as she looked around.

Complex patterns and designs glowing pale blue, similar to magic circles, floated in the pitch-black empty space… and these magic array-like things constituted the floor and pillars.

There were no walls or ceiling. Only dark space stretched out endlessly.

“It looks similar to a Magic Shield too.”

Rosemary said while looking at the floor.

I lightly tapped a pillar with my fist, checking the situation through the magical power reflection. It seemed to have considerable strength… but no response came back.

“That’s right. It’s composed of magical power, and while there appears to be nothing but the magic array, the surrounding structure seems designed to prevent us from seeing through it. Moving beyond rooms and passages seems difficult.”

“So we should give up on going through walls or floors and just methodically descend? What about the outside?”

When I used earth magic to send a small stone flying toward the edge of the magic array – the black space – the moment the stone reached the edge, it was repelled by a glowing wall and rolled back onto the floor.

Visually, there appeared to be no walls, with only black space stretching out… but it seemed accurate to understand this as a room with space blocked off by spell formulas. It wasn’t so much that we couldn’t see through it, but that it probably absorbed light. The ceiling was likely the same.

Well then… Let’s proceed with our exploration carefully.