URRAAAAAKKKK GUAAARRRR

  Low and booming voices thuhroughout the corridors, rge figures swinging their heavy maces and firing their arrows. The ground shook with every swing and the gales bellowed with every arrow shot.

  The Org rushed towards the front, his mace swinging and swirling. A loud roar echoed as it screamed, the whole corridor trembling at its every step. Its eyes were red, saliva dripping from its mouth like a feral beast chasing its prey,

  Unfortunately for it, it chose the wrong prey. He was a young man, hair bck as the night sky and eyes as clear as mdew. Despite the rge figure of the enemy several folds bigger than his, he her flinched nor panicked.

  Rather, he stood his ground and peered towards the enemy. He tilted his head a little and saw another taur Warchief join the fray, pulling back their bs and readying themselves to fire at a moments' notice.

  GRRROOOOAAARRRRRR

  The Org roared once more as it closed in on the young man. It raised its heavy mad with every vein bulging in its arms, it swung it as hard as it could, a loud crash and rumble eg as the heavy mace struck the ground.

  The heavy mace was soon lifted, and both dust and debris crumbled down as it was lifted. However, there was not a sirace of the enemy he had just crushed. There was no blood, no crushed ans, no broken bones, nothing at all.

  It tilted its head in fusion, and looked left and right, however, rather than its prey, what it found ain. A pair of arrows had struck its left shoulder bde. Blood rayed on the ground, a pained groan soon eg in the air.

  GUAAAAKKKKKL KURRRR RURRRR

  Arrows still stu its shoulder bde, the Org turned around, seeing two figures before it. They were the taur Warchiefs standing from afar, their arrows already fired and they are reloading their bows once more. It was obvious who shot him.

  GROOOARRRRR KURAAKKK KURAAKKKK

  There was no time to waste. As soon as it identified the target, the Org quickly rushed towards the taur Warchiefs. The tter didn't waste any time either. As soon as they felt the hostility of the Org, they immediately fired their shots.

  Arrows were shot and maces were swung. The two forces cshed with one another as their blood dyed the bricky floor and walls red. Screams of agony filled the air and the sound of crag bones became music floating adrift.

  The Org brought down its mad crushed one of the taur Warchiefs' left arm. However, the other taur Warchief didn't let it be. It soon fired an arrow to the enemy's eye, a pained bellow thundering all over the pce as it cried.

  Whilst such chaos occurred, and the monsters were brutally killing one another, a single figure watched them from afar. He was h in the air, watg the show unfold and taking notes of what he's , eyes clear as be.

  "Hmm... The taurs are quite weak in close bat, but surprisingly, they hold their ground, huh... Iing..." ［Grey］

  That figure was her than Grey, and now, he's taking his sweet time together, learning about the feral nature of monsters and how to better use them against one another. He was like a field biologist, only that it was a far more dangerous job.

  Of course, the reason why the monsters are fighting was her than Grey as well. He had nded on the Org's shoulder bde when he dodged, prompting the taur Warchiefs to shoot, and the rest is history.

  "Hmm... The Org seems to be overwhelmed... I guess the taur Warchiefs' cooperation is much better than I thought..." ［Grey］

  Over an hour has passed since Grey and Yuna arrived at the sixth floor, and after clearing out the traps, they have now arrived oh floor. The monsters are all at least B-rank, with some A-ranks wandering around here and there.

  Normally, Grey would finish them off in a jiffy, but now, he decided to let them fight it outー or rather, that was all he could do as he waited for Yuna. He has been waiting for over half an hour already, with no signs of a reply anytime soon.

  As for the young dy, she is now experimenting in another zorying to see how effective her new cos are against the monsters in the Labyrinth. She's been wanting to try them out, hungry for results like the alchemy maniac that she is.

  "Hmm... I wonder how she's doー" ［Grey］

  BOOOOOOOOMMMM RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE

  "... It seems like she's doing just fine." ［Grey］

  And as one would expect of cos which had to be tried out in the Labyrinth, the destructive power they possessed was no joke. They were just Superirade items, but they are capable enough to even render High-Rankers incapable.

  As for why Yuna made such items, she's simply thinking of ways to crush waves of monsters without the help of High-Rankers. Monster waves might happen once more, and people couldn't always rely on the High-Rankers. A sort of st resort, so to say.

  Grey had just checked with his "Heaven's Eye" and the firepower behind them was no joke. A few dozen of them would be more than enough to wipe out a whole town. No matter what, they are items which shouldn't fall into the wrong hands.

  "Grey, I'm doing～!" ［Yuna］

  Before long, the young dy had returned with a bright smile on her face. It seems like she was satisfied with the result and quite happy that her creation worked out. Grey soon nded back down on the ground to greet the former.

  "How'd it go? Was it effective?" ［Grey］

  "Un! It takes a few tries, but it should be able to kill B-ras after two or three shots. Well, for the diluted solution, at least." ［Yuna］

  "That was all diluted...? Aren't you making something too dangerous, Yuna? I know your iions are good, but this might get quite risky, you know?" ［Grey］

  "I know. That's why I'm trying to see what dilution rate I should go with. I'm throwing 1ht now, so I think 0.5% should be fi's capable enough to wipe out E-rank monsters. Something like... What is it... Umm... Grenades, right?" ［Yuna］

  The young dy expined calmly, showing Grey the explosive solution she made. It was one which would explode as soon as it's filled with a rge amount of mana as in tact with air at the same time. An another-wrenade.

  People already have means of creating explosions with magic, but normal people who don't know magic could never do anything of the sort. Yuna was still debating whether she should release it to the publiot wanting it to cause troubles as well.

  "Well, worst-case sario, I think we should just keep these to ourselves. These things are far too dangerous." ［Grey］

  "Un. I think so too... It's a shame, though... I worked so hard on these..." ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. We 't just endanger everyone, after all. I'm sure you'll be able to make something more appropriate ime. Maybe like a long-sting potion?" ［Grey］

  "A healing potion with extended duration, huh... It may make it less effective, but it should be useful iain situations... Un, I'll try that one." ［Yuna］

  "There you go. I know you do it." ［Grey］

  There was o say anymrey simply patted Yuna's head to cheer her up, the young dy's pointy ears fpping up and down as soon as he did. She may have ged a lot, but she was still the same, adorable Yuna deep down inside.

  Wlst Yuna tried not to think of the matter about the explosive cos anymore, a peculiar se made her eyes linger away from Grey. Shocks and crashes echoed all throughout the Labyrinth, blood spilled time and time again.

  "By the way, Grey, what are those guys doing?" ［Yuna］

  They were the Org aaur Warchiefs who were still engaging in bat, trading blow for blow and making the ground shake. The tter may be weaker in close-bat, but with two of them, they could fight a fair match.

  It has been several minutes sihe battle started and heavy wounds have started to appear on the monsters. The Org had lost an eye and had its ribs broken, whilst one or the taur Warchiefs had lost an arm, the other's head bleeding red.

  "Ah, well... I got bored of waiting so I let these guys fight. I'm them right now to see how they fight against other monsters." ［Grey］

  "Ohh... I see... That might be helpful some time." ［Yuna］

  The fierce fight tinued and the two parties engaged in brutality, not wanting to back down nor run away. They traded blows, wounds appearing soon after. If anyoo get in their way, uhey are High-Rankers, they would surely be crushed.

  BUHIIIKKKKK GRAAARRRR ORRYYYAAAAA GRAAAARRRR

  The Org cried and the taur Warchief yelled. The former swung its massive mace, sending the tter away. A couple more bones broke and a few more wounds were opened, however, it was going just as pnned.

  With the Org now focused on one of the taur Warchiefs, the other one could finally gain some distand wield its bow. Its eyes may be blurry because it was drenched by its own blood, but it was more than enough.

  The taur Warchief pulled the b and fired off towards the enemy, a loud boom thundering throughout the Labyrinth as soon as it let go, striking the enemy at breakneck speed without even giving it time to react.

  KUAAAARRRRKKKKKK HIIIIKKKKKKK

  It was aimed at the head, but because of the blood obsg its view, it missed. Still, it bleart and way the Org's left shoulder, a loud bellow rog the Labyrinth as its body screamed in pain. Its gre soon pierced the enemy.

  "Ohh～! They are quite the persistent fighters, aren't they?" ［Yuna］

  "Well, they're monsters, after all. They won't stop until either their enemies are dead, they are dead, or their target is out e." ［Grey］

  "Hmmn... I already know that, but it's still very fasating seeing them fight. It would really be dangerous if they're also intelligent, right?" ［Yuna］

  "People would have beeinct by now, if that was the case. That's what makes monsters of Camity-Css and above so dangerous... Now that I think of it, maybe your cos aren't that dangerous, after all... Just maybe,.." ［Grey］

  Overwhelming monsters, deadly beasts, and dangerous people. Despite Merusia seeming so lovely and peaceful, once you think about it, only then one realize just how truly terrifying life in Merisia is.

  Thankfully, the monsters don't just head straight to people's settlements after they spawn, and what's eveer is that they mostly act out on instinct. Otherwise, the whole Salferine popution would have already been wiped out.

  Well, it's not like people are the only enemies monsters have. There are also beasts which find them annoying and troublesome to deal with. Especially those referred to as "Sn" or "Divine" beasts. They go out of their way to elimihem.

  "Are you going to tinue , Grey?" ［Yuna］

  "I was, but... Now that you're here, there's o observe any further. I'll just dispose of them real quid we'll proceed to the floor." ［Grey］

  "Ah! In that case, I use my cos again? I want to see how powerful 0.5%, 1%, and 3% solutions fare against these B-rank monsters!" ［Yuna］

  "Umm... Okay, sure... Go ahead." ［Grey］

  "Un! Thank you!" ［Yuna］

  Grey was about to finish off the Org aaur Warchiefs, but Yuna has other pns in mind. As soon as Grey gave her his permission, she instantly brightened up, aed expression blooming on her pce as she prepared her things

  There was the main solution and the diluent, a few dozen bottles and vials here and there as well. Yuna soon mixed the two liquids together, creating slightly different solutions oer another, colors slightly varying.

  "Now, let's see how they fare!" ［Yuna］

  The mixing was soon finished and what was left were a couple dozen bottles of 0.5%, 1%, and 3% solutions. Yuna poured a bit of mana in them, and soon hurled them towards the enemy. A massive and deadly explosion followed soon after.

  BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

  Well, there wasn't just one or two explosions, but a series of them, exploding oer another like fireworks in the middle of a festival. Only that those fireworks were extremely deadly and the festival was filled with blood.

  The unsuspeg monsters were peppered under a rain of death and demise, their pained screams drowned out by the sound of the explosiing and silenced by the rumbling ground. Even blood was scorched, only death to be seen.

  The enemies were already wounded, but it still doesn't remove the fact that they were deadly. A sea of fmes raged on in the Labyrinth, the st of death looming along the st of burnt flesh. It was too devastating.

  "Yuna... Isn't this a bit overkill?" ［Grey］

  "Hm? What do you mean? They're the weakest ohough? I haven't evehe 30%, 50%, and 100% solutio." ［Yuna］

  "Haha... Just make sure to practice moderation, okay?" ［Grey］

  There was o hold back. With a bright smile on her face, Yuna ravaged the floor with her explosive cos, throwing them time and time again. It was a rain of death and demolition, flesh and blood exploding everywhere.

  Just like that, the two desded from the 7th floor to the 8th, once again ravaging the whole pd leaving not a sirace of the enemies behind. Even those who just spawned were not spared, greeted by death as they opeheir eyes.

  It was an utter and plete massacre, the cries of the monsters eg in the air as they were ed by the merciless fmes of hell, ead every one of them dang in agony as the potions tiheir deadly downpour.

  "Right, Yuna... You're only using null-attribute mana, right? What happens if you imbue it with an attribute?" ［Grey］

  Grey asked, but no sort of reply came from the young dy. Rather, she paused for a moment, an even brighter and more excited smile soon blooming on her face. A cold shiver ran down Grey's spine as he realized his mistake.

  "Fufufu! I was waiting for you to ask that!" ［Yuna］

  "So there really is something different..." ［Grey］

  "U me show you a demonstration!" ［Yuna］

  Enthusiastic as be, Yuna soon took out another explosive potion from her person and soon filled it with mana, imbuing fire-attribute magic at the same time. The bottle ged color and the tents shone brighter, ready to explode any time.

  Yuna threw the co with extreme force, the sound of shattering gss eg subtly soon after. The bottle broke and the tents were exposed to the air, all sorts of reas happening in but a split sed.

  BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH

  An even loud explosion boomed in the Labyrinth and the fmes erupted like a raging dragon, swallowing everything within read painting the whole corridor red and amber. The fmes were even strohan before, scorg everything bck.

  It was the same tration of solution, but the whole se couldn't seem any more different. Not only the fmes, the sheer power of the explosion was enough to tear apart any B-rank monsters in an instant.

  "This is what happens! The explosions bee prettier! Don't you think so too, Grey? It's really pretty, isn't it?" ［Yuna］

  "Yuna... It's not a matter of being pretty or not... Isn't this too dangerous?" ［Grey］

  "Hm? Do you not like the color? We ge the explosion to light blue if I use ice-attribute mana instead. Or would you prefer another color?" ［Yuna］

  "You're missing the point, My Dear..." ［Grey］

  It was dangerousー no, far too dangerous. It may be helpful ierminating rge hordes of monsters, but it was not something which should be released out to the public. Items which could cause wars and ruin at the simplest mistake.

  However, it is also because of such destructivity that it could be used as a trump card against powerful monsters like Flood Bosses or Dungeon Bosses. Maybe they could eve a Labyrinth Boss using su absurd and dangerous method.

  Thankfully, though a bit too cheerful and mischievous, Yuna is not the type to py around with such dangerous items with other people around. Still, they must test the true power of the items to know just how much risk and be it could bring them.

  "Yuna, ime you test something, tell me first, okay? We should be able to prepare some termeasures in the Sanctuary." ［Grey］

  "Un!ー Ah! Right! I almost fot! I expand my Laboratory a little bit? I o do more experiments ter, so I need a little bit more space." ［Yuna］

  "Sure. Just don't go overboard, alright?" ［Grey］

  "Un! I'll keep that in mind!" ［Yuna］

  All things now sorted, Grey and Yuna proceeded with their jouraki another hour to pass from the 8th floor to the 9th, and eliminating several dozen monsters on the way there, colleg the drops, and disarming the traps.

  It was also then that Grey and Yuna realized how effective the cos were against the A-rank and S-rank monsters. It takes a few 30% or a single 100% solution to kill an A-rank, dismembering it to pieces.

  However, the same couldn't be said for the S-rank monsters. They need about 5 to 8 100% solutions to kill, making it very expensive. Moreover, it was only possible sihey are fined in a closed in aively narrow pce like the Labyrinth. It would be more difficult out in the open.

  The experiments tinued and soon enough, Grey and Yuna reached the 9th floor after almost 2 hours. It was also the floor with monsters sitting at S-rank, and some even at Camity-Css. Everaps have bee "somewhat dangerous".

  "Ohh～! We're finally here! The 9th floor!" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah... It looks quite different from the Labyrinth of Stars, doesn't it?" ［Grey］

  "But it's still amazing! It's like aremely massive maze!" ［Yuna］

  Yet despite that, the 9th floor was a sight to behold. Lightning veins pulsed left and right, light shining from all ers, and the corridors now encased in tough bricks which made it look even more dungeon-like.

  The anic feel of the Labyrinth was now gone, repced by the artificial look of the bricks, arches, and hallrovided. There were all sorts of geometric shapes all over the pce, sharp ers and hidden traps to be seen everywhere.

  But perhaps the most iing things were the lightning veins themselves. They have now incorporated themselves into the artificial aesthetics of the dungeon and looked like futuristies, circuits Grey often sees in sci-fi movies.

  "Grey! It's the 9th floor already! I?! I?!" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, you ... Just make sure to be careful." ［Grey］

  "Un! I'll make sure to make it spectacur!" ［Yuna］

  "Hey, that's not what I said..." ［Grey］

  But perhaps the most excited of them all was her than Yuna. She has been curious about the lightning veins ever since Grey told her about it, but she had to keep her curiosity to herself until they reached a po other would intrude in.

  The 9th floor erfect for such a pce. She still doesn't know how explosive or destructive the veins are, but she knows that they'll go boom once you hit them hard enough. It was a hazard not only to the challengers but the monsters as well.

  The young dy didn't waste any more time. As soon as she got Grey's permission, she immediately went around to the smallest vein. She may be curious, but she isn't one who'll endanger herself recklessly. Grey would surely be scoldihen.

  "Everyone, e closer. I'll put a barrier around you." ［Grey］

  Of course, with such danger looming over them, Grey made sure to call the spirits over. They may be in their spiritual fht now, but there is no saying whether they'll be affected or not by such a destructive bst.

  Yuna had spotted a vein and Grey had already shielded the spirits. With everything now in pce, Yuna soon took quite a number of steps away and focused her sight oargetー Or so she was about to.

  THUMP THUMP THUMP THUD

  But before she could even start, a resonant rumbling echoed in the air. There was a rge monster approag, its footsteps resounding on the ground. It was an S-rank "Orqueror", still unaware of Grey and Yuna's presence.

  Unfortunately for it, it had arrived at the wrong timing, and vely enough, there happens to be anhtning vein close by it. An iing and mischievous idea popped into Yuna's mind, curiosity looming in her heart.

  The young dy had made a decision. With a flick of her finger, a rock, the size of her closed fist, materialized from thin air. It grew and pressed, repeating the process over and ain, and soon enough, it bolted throughout the air.

  BOOOOOOMMMMMM BOOOOOOOOOMMMM CRACKLE CRACKLE CRACKLE

  Thunder resounded as the stone was thrown, and thunder resounded once more as the lightning vein was broken. Bolts of lightning and clouds of explosi out all over the pce, flooding the pce with heat aricity.

  The unsuspeg Orqueror was far too pitiful. Before it even noticed, its body was already ed by lightning, deadly currents running through its vein and charring it i, its sense of pain numbed by the electricity.

  The rampaging currents soon calmed down and little sparks soon dispersed. The nightmares are already over, yet remaining alive in Grey and Yuna's memory, forever etched deep ihe wind soon blew and ashes drifted afloat in the air.

  "G... Grey...? Isn't this a little too dangerous...?" ［Yuna］

  "Ah... Yeah... I didn't expect it to be this powerful either... It... It certainly was surprising... Yeah... Too powerful..." ［Grey］

  "Th... That actually scared me a little bit." ［Yuna］

  From aed rabbit, to a meek fawn. Yuna's attitude had turned a plete 180 after seeing just how potent aating the lightning veins were. Even Yuna's explosive potions were not a match for it.

  "Grey... I don't wanna do this anymore..." ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, good choice..." ［Grey］

  CHAPTER 436 END