Chapter 496 - 496: The Plan

The underground sanctuary beneath Guild Headquarters.

Four torches burned beside the altar, casting a wavering red glow.

Ouranos suddenly opened his eyes.

"We have an image again, Ouranos."

Fels stared at the crystal and spoke.

"..."

Ouranos's pale blue eyes wavered for an instant.

He let out a long sigh and replied, "I know. The Destroyer has appeared."

"..."

After hearing what had happened from Ouranos, Fels was left speechless.

The monster that had once massacred Astraea Familia had now been used by the enemy and revived deep within the Dungeon.

"That monster is Juggernaut?!"

Fels's voice was filled with urgency.

She had been relieved when the crystal's image returned. It meant that although Bell had noticed something unusual about the magic item, he still trusted the [Man in Black].

The boy had probably already realized Fels's connection to the Guild. Letting the crystal see the light again was his way of gaining trust and making future negotiations easier.

Once Fels understood that, her interest in the boy deepened.

But the scene inside the crystal swept away her thoughts like an unreasonable avalanche.

The blonde girl was locked in constant battle with a terrifying monster.

The gale and slender sword roared, while claws and fangs scattered sparks and blood mist.

"The Sword Princess... is being pushed back?"

Fels's voice trembled slightly.

In Orario, Ais was already one of the top adventurers. Yet even with the protection of that emerald light, she was falling into a disadvantage against the monster.

"That thing is an assassin sent by the Dungeon. The deeper the Floor, the stronger its combat power."

Ouranos looked at the crystal and added, "[Dragon's Vase]... If Loki Familia fought with everything they had, they should be able to...?!"

His words cut off abruptly.

Even Ouranos's pale blue eyes seemed to be dyed with shock.

"[Elgarm] and [the Braver] aren't there. Did the Dungeon split the party apart?!"

Fels voiced the surprise Ouranos had not spoken.

The party's compatibility was far too poor.

Only the Sword Princess could clash with Juggernaut. If the others charged in recklessly, they would either die on the spot or become burdens that hindered Ais's movements.

Lefiya, Alicia, Riveria, and even Bell, who excelled at quick-cast Magic, were all countered by Juggernaut's anti-Magic shell. As for Ryuu, who had only just reached Level 5, there was no room for her to make use of her strength in this battle either.

Total annihilation.

An unbearably grim outcome flashed through Fels's mind.

"Ouranos? Can't you think of something?!"

Fels shouted anxiously.

"It is too late... And even if the Xenos were there, they could not withstand the Calamity."

Ouranos closed his eyes in grief.

Although the battlefield appeared to be holding a delicate balance, as observers, both Ouranos and Fels understood that it was only a facade.

Alicia, chanting frost Magic to fend off the monsters outside. Riveria, casting protection and healing light. Ryuu, dealing with the monsters emerging from the walls. And Ais, enduring the wind's erosion while fighting Juggernaut.

Those four women were holding the line. If even one link failed, death would engulf everyone present at unimaginable speed.

"Bell Cranel..."

Fels murmured the boy's name.

When the Moon Goddess incident broke out, Ouranos had learned what happened from Artemis's lingering image and sorrowfully declared that the goddess was doomed to die.

Yet the boy had surpassed divine will and saved Artemis.

Could a miracle happen again here and now?

Fels stared fixedly at the crystal, then saw something unbelievable.

The boy's right side was empty.

"How can this be?!"

Fels tore off her hood and rushed to the crystal.

This time, even though her skeletal body blocked the image, Ouranos made no reaction at all.

"Impossible. Was this the result of Juggernaut's surprise attack?! But with Bell Cranel's abilities, how could he have blocked that monster? Did he step in to save someone else?"

Fels muttered her analysis aloud.

Her thoughts were in chaos, and she could only use words to conceal the despair welling up inside her.

Bell had lost his right arm.

Though they had never even met, Fels was badly shaken.

The last shred of hope left in her heart seemed to have vanished into nothingness along with the boy's right hand.

The firelight flickered without end, and the image in the crystal looked as if it might turn into a feast of tragedy at any moment.

Just then, the sound of a bell rang out.

White light gathered around the boy. In Fels's eyes, that tragic body with its missing right arm suddenly seemed incredibly tall.

There was no doubt that Bell's Skill was enough to defeat the Black Goliath. It was a hero's strike.

But the boy was only Level 3. Could he truly break through Juggernaut?

Fels's reason told her the answer was no.

The boy was clever. He must have known that too.

Then what exactly was he trying to do?

As if answering Fels's doubt, the elf girl in the image voiced the question.

"Bell?! What are you doing?!"

Ryuu rushed anxiously to the boy's side, her expression thrown into panic.

She had seen the boy's Skill with her own eyes. The gathered white light could bring an overwhelming boost, but that power also damaged whatever it enhanced.

When Bell fought the Black Goliath, the longsword in his hand had turned to ash after he swung it.

And now, the boy was using that power on himself.

Ryuu was sharp enough to understand where this would lead. While the white light was gathering, Bell's body, like that greatsword, showed no effect. But once the action was over, what would happen then?

Just imagining it made Ryuu's entire body tremble.

"Please, stop right now..."

Ryuu begged through her tears.

The tragedy had already happened. The boy's arm had already been devoured. Ryuu could not bear any more tragedy.

But the bell did not stop ringing.

Bell knew that what he could do was extremely limited.

There was only one chance.

He had to kill Juggernaut for certain.

To do that, he had to force open the monster's shell.

When Bell was Level 2, a fully charged [Argonaut] had been able to destroy a Viola monster with Level 5 latent ability.

Even if he recreated that feat now, it would still be difficult to cut through Juggernaut's shell. More importantly, the weapon in his hand could never withstand the moment the limit was released.

So Bell made a bold choice.

"I'll wear the [Goliath Scarf] and charge into the monster's mouth, then use [Defense] to brace against its fangs. Ryuu, make sure you seize that moment and fire your Magic into its mouth. Blow open the anti-Magic shell from the inside."

The boy slowly laid out his plan.

His voice was calm as still water.

"...?!!!!!!"

In that instant, time stopped for Ryuu.