In this world, I'm a strong man.
　I don't know why, but this world is favoring me.

　In talent, in the system, in magic, I am strong.
　In the past few days, I've figured that out, and I've made Alken and his friends do my bidding with the threat of a duel.

　-- simply put, I was on a roll.

　In just a few days, I had gained a power that rivaled the experts of this world, and I arrogantly assumed that I had no enemies in this layer.
　But I was wrong. The threat (monster) that would threaten my life is now talking in front of me.

I sensed that there were people hunting Hang Shadows at a pretty fast pace. I came to check on them. I thought it might be a party of six, but it's not.

　The black liquid human named Tida speaks to me while falling to the ground in a sticky manner.

　The strangeness of the situation leaves me and Dea speechless.
　My internal alarm bells keep ringing.

　This guy is bad.
　The one-sided narrative characteristic of a strong man.
　Too fearless.
　He's dangerous.

And now we're down to two interesting kids. What do you think of ......?　Why don't you take my test here?　Although the humans have reached the twenty-third layer, it's the twenty-second 'trial' of the twenty-second layer that everyone skips. Defeat me, and you'll be a hero.

　A black Noh mask speaks to me with a muffled laugh.
　The invitation is devilish, and I want to turn around and run away at once.

　But I calmly make a plan in my mind to escape from this demon.
　Meanwhile, Dia starts talking to Tida instead of me.

'Oh, you're ....... You're the boss of the 20th layer that you say no one could defeat ......?
"How.
'Indeed, it looks just as they say: ....... Even that humanity's 'most powerful' explorer, Glen Walker, was famously unable to touch only the tenth and twentieth 'trials': ......
'I've missed you, Glen. I think it was a few years ago that I had my way with him. He was on the right track, but he was a little short.

　It seems that Dia knows about this monster called Tida.
　It seems to be a legendary existence among the searchers.
　If you know that much, there's only one choice we can make.

Let's run for it!　Dear!

　There's no reason to risk it here.
　If it really is a 20-layer boss, then it's only natural to take on it after a solid leveling up, with MP and physical condition in good shape.

　We're still at the fifth layer here.
　At the very least, it's not someone I should be fighting here today.

　At the same time I shouted, I was trying to run out of the room to get out.

You're busy. I can't let you go. Alty, please.

　He stopped when he saw a girl standing in front of him as he ran off.

''--!''

　The girl, called Arti, was as strange as Tida.

　The figure of a short, red-haired girl, her body was wrapped around a kind of bandage with letters engraved on it. And, most importantly, its legs are not flesh and blood - they are fire itself (・・・・・).
　Greenish flames erupt from beneath the bandages and float in the air.

'The road is closed,'

　The girl called Arti shows her will not to pass with an unusual intimidation.
　I pick up the girl's information without forcing myself to do so.


Ten Guardian] The one who steals the reason for fire.


............!

　I'm at a loss for words.
　If the information is correct, this guy is a 10-layered watchdog.

　So go to ......!
　Here's five layers: ......!

Christ, we can do it. We can beat anyone. That's what I believe.

　Dia's voice comes from behind her.
　Understanding that she had been caught in a pincer, Dear had drawn her sword with a look of determination.

　--No.

　It's not going to happen.
　Even if Dia does, I don't want to do it.
　This isn't right. If these guys are really the bosses of the tenth and twentieth layers, then it's not right that they're in these five layers.

"Wait, Dia!

　I couldn't resist and called for restraint.

　Then I turn around and decide to talk to the monster named Tida.

　Yes, I can talk to this monster.
　I can talk to this monster. Then there must be a way that isn't a fight.

'Um, ...... Tida, is that okay?'
Call me by name, please. Humans and monsters. Otherwise, it doesn't show.
'I'm sorry, Tida. We don't want an 'ordeal'. We want to get out of the labyrinth right now. ......

　I politely indicated that I had no intention of fighting Tida.

'Oh, you don't intend to fight her?　But hey ....... We're humans and monsters. It's kind of an unwritten rule of this world that when we meet, we start fighting, isn't it?

　d*mn you--!

　Although his mouth is in the form of inviting us to take the ordeal, he doesn't seem to have any intention of giving us a veto.
　My voice trembles in front of Tida, who leaps in front of the black liquid and lays bare her will to fight.

'So you're going to fight after all ....... 'No questions asked,'

　I move closer to Dia, keeping the conversation going.
　Either way, I have to work with Dia.

"The 'trials' of the labyrinth are for those who are worthy. You are worthy. Or so I felt.

　Tida seemed unable to wait before her prey.
　She praised us and then seemed to be brave enough to say that she was the one who was going to lay waste to us.

'Christ, let's get hungry. We're in a labyrinth. These things happen.

　Dia was the same.
　She laughed in front of the powerful enemy called Tida.
　He didn't even try to hide his wariness, as if to say that he was the one to defeat that powerful enemy.

　Dia's recklessness was exposed in the worst possible way.

''Oh, you dainty one there, you know exactly what to do. After all, it's good. You guys are so good. The talent is good, but most of all, I like the way you look. You're very much like those heroes.
It's certainly similar: ......

　Tida was delighted by Dia's wariness, and Arti muttered softly behind her.

'Let's do it then,'

　Then Tida gives an ultimatum.

　Immediately, I crisscrossed behind Dia and took a stance against Arti at the rear.
　Seeing this, Tida, as if remembering, continues to say: "Yeah, two against two is not what we want.

'Yeah, two against two is not what we want. There has to be one boss in the labyrinth.'

　Tida was trying to cut their advantage in half with the lightness of a fashion story. The way she was trying to comply with some kind of rule made me ponder if there was a breakthrough from that.

'Which one of us should go first, Arti? If things are in order, you're in charge of layers one through ten, you should be first.
'No, I'm good. I still have things to do in this world ....... I'm almost done with that doubt: .......
Okay. Well, I'll do it. Arti can just seal the room. Just block it up with those flames, please.
Okay.

　While I warily watch the flow of the conversation, the two monsters happily make arrangements.
　If I had a chance, I'd want to run away, but it's not that easy to find them.

　However, as far as the two of them were concerned, it seemed that if they waited, they would be able to avoid a two-on-two situation.

　Arti spewed flames from his body, creating a wall of black flames at the entrance and exit of the room.

''It's above the 'magic stone line', so it won't last that long. So long, Tida.
Yeah, thanks.

　With that, Arti disappears into the flames.
　The situation where the contents of her stomach, that she is sandwiched between the bosses, is resolved.

　However, her leftovers have caused her to lose her retreat.

"Well, the field is ready. From now on, this is (...), this is the twentieth layer (・・・・・・・・・). It's the hierarchy of Tida, the one who steals the Dark Reason. Sorry to be so rushed on a business trip, but consider this space closed to the fire to be the 20th layer. And I'll have you guys undergo the 'Twentieth Trial'!

　Tida's Noh mask laughed.

　This time he must be serious.
　The magic power that Tida wears pulsates, and space convulses.
　The remaining humanity in Teada is being chipped away, and her body is being transformed.

　The part against the arm becomes a large blade.
　The place where it hits the leg becomes a curved beast's leg.

''-- Magical "Dimension Decisive Operation (Gradient)"!

　I cast a spell.
　With its activation, the black liquid that had kept Tida's human form bent languidly - and bounced.

　In the blink of an eye, I recognize Tida as she approaches Dia and swings her hand blade at me.

'Dia!'

　I protect Dia from Tida's deadly blade by pushing it away.

''--!　I knew you could see it!

　I break out in a cold sweat as Tida shouts out in amusement.

　I can see the enemy's movements. But my body can't keep up with it.
　I shudder at the fact that I can barely catch up with them, even with magic.

　Dimension is the basis of my current strength.
　If it doesn't work, I won't have anything left to show for it.

　Hence, 'Escape' appears as an option in my mind.
　And then I immediately eliminate it. As long as my opponent's speed is greater than mine, it's not realistic, and that wall of black fire can't be just a flame. It's impossible to escape.

''This oh--!

　I flashed my one-handed sword at Tida's black torso, hoping for a little more.

　But what echoes is a metallic sound.
　My side-nagging flash is blocked by Tida's altered, hard hands.

　And Tida moves.
　I swing both hands along the belly of my sword.
　The target of the swing is my hand.

　I dodge against Tida's finger aim by letting go of my sword.
　For a few moments, the sword floats in the air.
　I quickly regrasped it in the air and struck Tida in the face.

　It's a momentary attack and defense.
　It would be a supreme divine action using the 《Dimension》.

　But Tida looks at it with her eyes firmly and taunts the thrust.
　In addition, he laughs.

''Hmph, hmph!　That skill, that speed, that's one of the best in humanity!　You're worthy, after all!
The Flame Arrow.

　A flash of light pierced Tida's black torso.

　It's magic by Dia, who was chanting while being pushed away by me.
　A hole appeared in the black torso and Tida went rigid.

''Eat it!''

　Taking advantage of the opportunity, I fleshed out Tida and slashed her with a shoulder-to-shoulder kesa slash.

'Yes!'

　Dia squealed with delight that our coordination had hit full force.
　We were able to cut a hole in his torso and cut both sides of his body.
　She seemed convinced that the battle was won.

　But I contort my face to put some distance between me and my enemy.
　An uncommon amount of cold sweat has not stopped from earlier.

"-- Ha, ha ha. It's not going to end there. After all, this is a monster.

　With a grin, Tida's Noh mask distorts.

　Its perforated torso is blocked, and the blades on its arms are transformed.
　Both hands stick together and turn into a large mallet, which vigorously attacks my body.

''--Kuh!

　I'm good at dodging line and point attacks with a single piece of paper, but I'm not very good with surface attacks.
　The sudden change in the opponent's gain caught me off guard, and the edge of the hammer face grazed my body.

　Even though it was only scratched, the unbelievable impact caused my body to float and be blown away.

　I was blown a few meters away and rolled on the ground of the labyrinth.

　A dull ache runs through my body for the first time in a long time.
　And then I realize.

　This was the first damage I had done since I started using 《Dimension》.
　A crack appears in my faith in my magic.

''But it's amazing. Your dainty magic, you've taken my body pretty well. You're also a good slayer, even if you're quick. I think I died a total of two times.

　Tida undoes her two hammers and speaks happily, waving her arms around like a whip.

　I check the damage to my body and think about my opponent's characteristics.

　-- Ah, a trait that is really like a game boss.

　Does it have a separate body, a core that is its weak point, is it only effective with special attacks, and does it have to be killed repeatedly from the way it talks? It's more obvious.

　It's a joke.
　I understand if it's a game boss prepared to be defeated. But this isn't a game.
　I don't believe there's a way to beat it the same way as in the game.

　Sometimes the game is already dead and there's no way to beat it.

'It looks like you're having trouble figuring out how to beat me. I'd like to tell you about it, but that won't be your 'test'. Don't tell anyone here.

　d*mn .......
　He's a good one for nerve-wracking.
　If you want to teach me, teach me--!

Christ, what am I going to do?
'Stay tuned!　If you have a chance, shoot your magic around!

　I give Dia a command and jump on it as fast as I can.
　After all, I don't have too much information.
　What I can do now is--

♪

　All you have to do is chop the smirk on your face into pieces right in front of you!

Even faster!

　As I try to charge in with a discarded sword, Tida tries to intercept me with admiration.

　To be honest, my sword won't work if I do this normally.
　More importantly, my MP is unreliable.
　It has to be a short term battle no matter what.
　In order to do so, I had no choice but to take a gamble.

　I reduce my pause to zero in an instant and lower my posture.
　Then I pull out the sword in my right hand and release it from my left hip. That's all there is to it, but I put all my strength and speed into it. It's a flash of full speed at full strength, disregarding magic and strength.

　Tida sees that flash with her eyes and is about to strike it down with her right blade.
　The enemy is moving fast enough to make that possible.

　I was able to understand that world in less than a tenth of a second thanks to the Dimension Decisive Operation (Gradiate). I was able to grasp the movement of space in less than a millimeter.

　Time was being compressed.

　It was even like a chemical reaction between the magic power circulating through the body and the drugs in the brain.
　Certain - and in the midst of the gradualness of time, I ponder and ponder.

　I beat out the optimal action to control this momentary attack and defense...

　First, I strike the side of Tida's blade, which is about to strike down my flash, with the back of the hand that is not holding the sword.
　That technique, which does not allow for even a millimeter of displacement, passed through, and the tip of the Teeda's blade swung down slightly off.
　Then he twisted himself to the limit of human mobility while maintaining his speed. And then I succeed in dodging the blades of Tida's two arms without letting them touch me.

　--Results.

　Only my flash cuts both sides of Tida's stomach.

"It's true--!

　Still, still on guard, I don't let up.

　I slash up my sword to carve Tida's face.
　In contrast, Tida was cut in both directions, but still tried to swing the blade. My brilliant senses make me dodge it with one paperweight after another. Then I continue to slash Tida's head again and again, from the top, from the side, from an angle. Again and again and again and again--

This oh-oh-oh-oh ----!

　Slash and slash and slash and slash.

　Tida's body is dismembered and the pieces fall to the floor.
　At the end of it, a black gel-like object scattered on the ground and stopped moving.

''Haha, haha, haha--!

　I beat it.
　If this isn't what I beat, then what is it that I beat?

　But I have a hunch.
　The ice surface at the edge of my mind won't melt.

　One of the black gels wriggles out, clenches its mouth and speaks.

'--Kaha, kaha, haha, kanawanaina ....... Hayasa demo, giriyo demo makel. Khoibaai, maho, let's counter it with magic.
'Diaaah!　Shoot, yeah--!

　He shouted with horror.

'Not a speck of dust remains!　--Flame Arrow!

　In response to my shout, Dia's exceptionally powerful magic is shot out.

　That 《Flame Arrow》 was not the usual instantaneous, penetrating kind.
　It had a wider range and a longer duration of illumination, so it was no longer close to a different magic.

　The overwhelming amount of heat burned away Tida's body scattered on the ground.

　But not before leaving no dust behind, as declared.
　Some fragments remain, and they writhe and gather in one place. And then Tida's chanting is complete.

''Huh, huh.'' --Mahou, "Mind, Different, Darkness, Wash (Variable Cars)

　The moment I finish chanting that magic, a black curtain hangs over my vision.