After the battle with the flame dragon, the defeating party went to rest again after confirming that there were no demons around.
　Fortunately, even after being attacked by that many, the defeating party had suffered little or no damage.
　Some of them were wounded, but the level of damage was manageable with potions and magic.

　The battle with the Flame Dragon used up most of their magic power, but thanks to the Jade Tathagata, they are almost recovering.
　I can't help but wonder if the taijutsu is great or if my magic power is low.

　A few minutes later, a meeting was held to determine the future course of action.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this," he said. There were many casualties, and the burning place continues from the midsection onwards.

　It's an advanced flame attribute magic.
　When we came here, no such magic was cast, so it must be the power of a new flame demon general.

　Considering the heat and the amount of energy and water consumed in the fight against the demons, we had to decide whether to retreat in the middle of the road.
　If we want to proceed from here, if we don't challenge the Flame Demon General with the determination to defeat him, what awaits us is death.

''We haven't suffered any casualties this time, and we still have strength and water left. Shouldn't we keep going?

　Many adventurers were of the opinion that we should continue on.
　So, good for us.

"What do you two think?

　So, me and Elfie were asked for our opinions.
　They hadn't been taken seriously earlier, and now they're doing this since they defeated the flame dragon.

"I don't disagree.
Me too.

　The words of the two of us didn't help, but in the end, the strike team decided to move on.

◆


　About thirty minutes had passed since they left the midway point.
　Since they had come to the depths of the labyrinth, the magic element was dense and the number of demons was also large.

　From the point where they crossed the midsection, they didn't see any of the lower level demons, the Fire Ropers, and instead, many Flame Rock Tigers and Fire Lizards (Fire Lizard) began to appear.
　Each one of them was also very powerful.
　I could feel the room gradually diminishing from the adventurers.

　No matter how elite they were, they couldn't deal with this many demons when they appeared.
　And since there are so many of our friends, we can't even avoid the demons and break through.
　If you're going to capture the labyrinth, it's more efficient to take on a few of the highest level of ability in a country.

　A few minutes later, we encountered another group of demons.
　We were pinned down from front and back, left and right, and we were left to deal with them.

''Uhhhh!''

　Breaking through the vanguard, the flame rock tiger rushed towards the sorcerer's troops.
The other adventurers were engaged with the demons that came from before and were unable to react.

''----.''

　Elfi activated his magic eye.
　A small-scale explosion occurred in front of the flaming rock tiger's eyes, stopping its movement.
　In the meantime, the other adventurers regained their positions and attacked.

　A few minutes later, they managed to annihilate the attacking demons.

"I'm sorry, 'blast'!"
Thank you!

　The adventurers thanked Elfi for the name that has become so well established.
　I'm sure you've seen this many times before.
　When you are attacked by an attack that could cause your formation to collapse, Elfi's magical eye will help you rebuild it.
　That's why none of them have died yet.

''...... Elfi. Are you able to properly conserve your magic power?

　The adventurers cannot defeat the Flame Demon General.
　It's a good idea to use Elfie's magic eye to attack the Flame Demon General just as the Earth Demon General did.
　It's important that the Elfie is depleted of his magic power, it will be useless.

''It's not a problem. I'm keeping my magic power consumption to a minimum.

　While saying that, Elfie will then dutifully help the adventurers.

Why are you going to go to such lengths to protect them?
...... I don't like them, but we're all on the same strike force now.

　Fellow ...... adventurers, huh?
　It's true that they're on the same defeating team, so it's not hard to see that they are friends .......

　With a huff and a smile, Elfie said.

'If I could, ...... I wouldn't want my friends to die anymore.
......, a sweet idea.
Yeah. Ortegia says you're a sweetheart.

　At that moment, a cry resounded, announcing an enemy attack.
　This time, flame lizards (fire lizards) are crawling out of the cracks in the ground.
　One of them reacted and pounced on the delayed adventurer.

''--Huff!''

　There, I threw my spare sword at it.
　I pierce the eyes of the flame lizard and let it die.

You're saved, thank you!

　Nodding back at the adventurer who thanked me, I said to Elfie.

'In that case, I'll move with the jade taiji to restore your magic power. You don't use your magic eye too much.

　I'm not saying I approve of Elfi's ideas, but at least me and Elfi are friends.
　As long as we have the same goal in mind, we'll have to compromise.
　Elfie looked a little surprised, and then a smile appeared on his face.

　From that point on, I became an active supporter of the adventurers.
　I'm not going to use magic stones as much as possible, but as much as I could recover with my jade sword.

　Thirty minutes later, another thirty minutes later, we were in the deepest part of the labyrinth.
　We have arrived at the deepest part of the labyrinth.

◆

　Wide footholds and a river of magma flowing at the far end.
　If you look up, you can see the sky peeking out of a wide open crater.
　Judging from the structure of the labyrinth, this is the deepest part.
　From the amount of magma floating in the air, there is no doubt that the labyrinth core is here.

''............''

　There was no sign of the Flame Demon General, and no sign of Bertoga.
　However, I can feel the presence of the demons.
　They must be lurking somewhere in this space.

''......!''

　At that time, Misha turned towards Magma as if she had been played.
　Elfi also turned his gaze in that direction with his magic eye.

　At the same time as Misha called out a warning.
　With a roar, multiple shadows flew out of the lava.

　The one who appeared was not the Flame Demon General.
　It was the flame dragon that Elfi had defeated with his magic eye just now.
　Three of those flaming dragons had appeared at the same time.

''Don't tell me that these are the Flame Demon Generals?

　While the adventurers were confused.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!

　Three roars shook the labyrinth.　　
　The three opened their mouths at the same time and vigorously released their breaths.

""Flowing Water Wall (Aquawall)!"

　The magicians put up a protective wall and somehow surpassed the Breaths.
　But before they could relieve themselves, the flame dragons chased after them.

''Waaaaaah!''
''--Don't get upset, you fool!

　In the air, Elfi's magic eye fired continuously.
　The small-scale explosions caused the flame dragons to stop moving as if they were surprised.
　In line with that moment, he threw a magic stone.

''Break Magic.''

　The flaming dragon, consumed by the explosion, was still alive while chasing its wounds.　
　As expected, it couldn't be defeated with a single blow.

''Follow the two of you!''

　That's when the adventurers finally made their move.
　Each of them regrouped and attacked the flame dragon.

　From there, a fight to the death ensued.
　The flame dragon unleashed a breath and the sorcerer blocked it.
　In the meantime, the swordsman attacked the flame dragon.

　The one who was most active was that man in full body armor.
　For some reason, he took off his basket hand and swung his great sword and snapped the claws of the flame dragon.
　Just as the flame dragon, which had lost one of its weapons, was about to release its breath, Elfi's magic eye exploded into its mouth and the flame dragon exploded.

　Misha ran around the battlefield with inhuman movements, kicking and leaping off the walls and putting a sword in the flame dragon's claws.
　Aiming at the falling flame dragon, I and the other swordsmen slashed at the falling flame dragon.
　We repeated those actions, and the adventurers managed to repel the flaming dragon.

　This one was not unscathed either.
　A number of people were blown away by the Flame Dragon's rush or were unable to assist with their breaths, and a number of them were unable to fight.
　Even those who weren't were weakened by consuming a large amount of magic power.

"If it wasn't for those 'blasts', it would have been bad. ......
Yeah. Those two are the biggest contributors to this one, aren't they?

　Still, the adventurers are satisfied with the look of satisfaction on their faces that they've done it.

'Elfie,'
Yeah.

　It's not the end.
　There was no reason for three flame dragons of that level to be Flame Demon Generals.

　In the next moment, a river of magma explodes and several pillars are born.
　The entire labyrinth trembled violently.

''What the hell is ......?
"Hey, you're kidding me!

　From the lava, a fire giant several times the size of a human emerged from the lava.
　It spewed out a magical power that was incomparable to that of a flame dragon from its entire body and let out a roar that resounded from the depths of the earth.
　Then, it swung its arms wide.

　At that moment, flames blew out from it.
　The adventurers screamed at the flames that seemed to fill the room and barely invoked their defensive magic.
　I, who knew it was coming beforehand, jumped back out of range, and Elfie used his magic eye to surpass the flames.
　By the time the flames were extinguished, the majority of the adventurers were letting out cries of anguish.

''That's nothing compared to the Flame Dragon's Breath ......!　What the hell was that!''
''That's the Flame Demon General?　There's no way you can beat that thing. ......!
"Run away!

　The adventurers, having lost the will to fight, turn their backs on the flame demon general and try to run away.
　They are not sweet enough to let it get away.
　With a roar, the Flame Demon General raises his arms in the air.
　At that moment, the arm made of the flame exploded.
　The Flame Demon General turns to me in a circle.

I don't see Beltran. He might be lurking somewhere, so be careful.
Yes, sir.

　I'm just thankful that we've been able to save our magic power.
　You adventurers are done here.

　--We'll do the rest.

　I don't see Beltran, but if he's here, he's not.
　But if he's here, he should have shown up before the demon lord is defeated.
　Come out of there.
　That will be the end of you.

"----

　The Flame Demon General roared and started to move.