Geez....

　He slammed into the wall and Koganei rolled straight to the floor. The red-winged demon turned its gaze directly to Serena.
　Serena doesn't get frightened, she doesn't get scared and looks at the red winged demon from the front with a snap.

''A survivor of that survey team........ It's odd that you've wandered in here.''
'Oh, who are you? Wha, what is the point of this...?

　There was no way they could be mistaken for each other. It's the same demon we came across while investigating the reddish-brown wilderness outside the city walls. He is the one who slaughtered all the knights and mages present and destroyed the survey team in an instant. It's not just the beast that can't communicate, but the fact that it is a deformity that doesn't try to understand our situation at all, while giving us a sense of intelligence and reason, was more difficult for Serena to understand.

'We can't let the humans know about us. It's not just us. It's also about the 40 or so xenomorphs in the labyrinth (here).

　This demon knows something. Serena had a hunch.
　A group of forty or so monsters living in a strange communal setting in a labyrinth. Serena knew nothing about them, naturally, but they themselves didn't seem to know much about themselves. They didn't even have half of the monster knowledge that Serena knew as a matter of course. It was so unnatural that the mushroom shade (Matango), a type of living mushroom, didn't know about the hypnotic effects of the spores.
　The demon in front of them knows about such unnatural circumstances for them.
　However, it's not as if the demon is friendly to them. It's clear from their treatment of Koganei.

　The red-winged demon is slowly approaching.
　Considering the power of the demon that destroyed the survey team in an instant, Serena's body would be torn apart in an instant. She leans back against the wall and shrinks back.

　At that moment, a silver shadow that rushed up without a sound leapt at the red winged demon from the side.

''Grrrrrrrr!
M.........?

　The demon shook it off with force as it bit into his right arm. The silver shadow landed in the corridor on four legs while hovering in the air.
　It was over two meters long. It was a silver wolf with a beautiful mane around its neck. It was one of the monsters that lived in groups. Inugami Hibiki, I believe. I remember that she was a werewolf (warwolf) girl. However, unlike the werewolves that Serena knows, she is so beautiful that her fur line when she is beastified reminds me of a silver moon. And as far as Serena knows, the beastman (lycanthrope) species should not be able to take on such a complete "beast" form.

　The demon muttered abominably.

"I never expected to find people like you here. I must say, I'm somewhat disappointed.
Guuuuuu...!

　The Inugami is laying bare a kind of hostility towards the demon. I wondered if he came to help me, but apparently he didn't.

''Goaaaaaaaah!''

　Further down the corridor, Ouga's huge body came running down the corridor and punched the demon in an attempt to join the Inugami. The demon received the fist in a matter-of-fact manner and muttered.

''The reincarnated ouga I've heard about........isn't it? It's a wild individual.''
"Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
'They say it's even stranger than I thought. I'm looking forward to reporting this.

　Immediately after, the demon catches Ouga's fist and slams his huge body towards the floor with force.

''Ze, Zeku-san!''

　Zekou stood up quickly and looked at Serena, then pointed to the end of the hallway. That's the direction of the cafeteria. He told her to go let Ryuzaki and the others know about this situation. Serena looked at Koganei, who was lying on the floor. Feeling somewhat hesitant to leave him alone, Zekou, this time, stands to protect him.
　The Inugami, as usual, seemed to have no knowledge of us, and repeatedly leapt at the demon. For now, we have no choice but to leave it to him here.

''........I understand. Please!

　Serena said just that and started running as fast as she could towards the end of the hallway.




　As the meeting finally began to come together, a shudder echoed through the cafeteria, roaring through the labyrinth. All of them looked at each other.

''What...?''

　Ryuzaki let out a quizzical voice. A murmur spread through the class as well.
　As for the beings that attacked this dungeon, my classmates have some idea of what they are. It could be a wyrdness worm, a red-winged demon, or a black knight with flaming wings who is identified with that demon. The mood of the class was at once heightened by the external enemy's attack, and the mood of the class was at once heightened in its tension.

''What is it........ Is it a worm........

　Rin also spoke up.

'I don't know. I don't have a very good feeling about it...''
People!　Ta-oh, my God!

　Right after Kyousuke answers, a girl rushes into the cafeteria. It's Serena.

''Serena-san, what's going on?''
Oh, um!　Red, Wings!　Oh, the devil....

　Her words caused the buzz in the class to grow louder. Ryuzaki frowned. Sakuma also stood up, revealing his nervousness. Beni was still fiddling with his nails at this stage of the game, but Kyousuke could see him glancing his gaze out of the cafeteria.

''Ko, Koganei-san was hit... and now Inugami-san and Zekou-san...''
All right. I'll be right there.

　With that, Ryuzaki looked around at the entire class.

''For starters, we don't know what the 'Red Winged Demon' is or what it's coming for, but it's certainly not a friendly presence. I'm going to intercept them, but does anyone else have any objections?

　At his words, the class falls silent. It seems that no student here is going to argue with him.

Good. Then I'll head to intercept. All search personnel will go to the rescue of Inugami and the others. The base personnel will stay here. Serena-san, stay here as well.
Uh..... Ha, yes.
'I want Asuka to stay here and keep everyone safe. Okay?
Hmm. Okay.

　Ryuzaki's instructions were crisp and clear. They looked a lot different than they did just a week ago, when he was rotting in the corner of the cafeteria with dead eyes. Following Ryuzaki, Sakuma and Kagoi (Gargoyle), a powerful combatant, ran out of the cafeteria, and the rest of their classmates followed with a murmur.
　In the middle of a class meeting, which was probably a relatively better timing for our side. At the very least, Ryuzaki's leadership is functioning decently. The will of the class, which was in disarray, is now barely holding together.

　All of the search personnel have gone to intercept the red-winged demon, leaving a handful of base personnel, Benii and Serena in the cafeteria.
　Kyousuke and the rest of the team/useless team head out of the cafeteria, taking advantage of the timing after the rest of their classmates have left.

''Eh, Utsurogi-san and the others are going too?''

　Serena made a barefaced noise.

'Well, everyone else is going...'
I don't want to be rude. Good luck.

　Kyousuke and Rin wave lightly and Ei leaves the cafeteria without saying a word. However, his feet are directly opposite of the direction the other classmates were headed.

'Not bad for a red-winged demon to show up at this point in time.

　After making sure no one else was listening, Ei said.

'That's right. It doesn't seem like they'd say anything in particular if I revealed my identity.'
'Now that we've got a class policy in place, it's better to make a clear show of power than to continue to hide it.
That's why I'm going full cross.

　Such words from Ei were a bit woozy.

　When Kyousuke and the others descended the stairs leading from the base to the labyrinth area on the first basement floor, there was already Gokugawara and the dismantled Chibisuke waiting there, along with their black armor. As expected of them, they were quick to prepare. It was Gohunawara, a capable man.

I'm ready. You're going for the full cross, right?
Yeah, please.
I'm on it.

　Goshigawara nodded and connected the parts for the wing limbs to Kyousuke. Once the connection was finished, Rin merged with his body and Ei with his wings, and then he went to put a black armor over it. The reason for wearing the armor is to prevent Ei's flames from directly interfering with Rin's body and causing damage. Since the armor is made of metal, it's not insulated, but it's considerably better than being scorched by an open fire.
　A few minutes later, the Black Knight. The Black Knight Trinity Full Cross, as Ei calls it, is completed. Kyousuke clasped and opened his hands to check the feel of it.

''Hey, Utsurogi-kun.''

　Rin's words echoed in Kyousuke's head as they merged.

'What?'
What's this red-winged demon up to now?
You know.

　It's a question everyone has probably had, but of course it's not one that can be answered.

'The fact that Koganei was hit and Inugami is returning fire means they probably have hostile intentions, and that's about all we know. The only other thing we know is that he destroyed Serena-san's survey team.
He's so strong.
There's no doubt about it.

　Ei agrees.

'Her mother was apparently able to mow down an army with a single swing of her sword. We don't know if the survey team had that much ability, but perhaps the people of this world have enough fighting ability to fight against monsters like us in hand-to-hand combat.
That survey team was wiped out, so, well, they're strong.

　He is an opponent whose strength, purpose, and everything else is unknown. But that's no different for the King of the Dead and the Wilderness Worm. If they are the ones that bare their fangs to the class, they must be fought.

"Thank you for your help, Gotohara. I'll be on my way.
It's all good. Well, get on with it and get it over with.

　The Black Knight (Full Cross) lightly waved his hand back at the fluttering gobbler and looked forward. Kicking the floor, the six flaming wings took the place of boosters and accelerated his body with great force.




''Inugami!　Zekou!

　When Ryuzaki and the others rushed over, they found a silver-furred wolf and a two-meter-long owl outnumbered against a single figure. Zekou noticed Ryuzaki and the others and kept his distance from the figure, but Inugami only glanced at him and didn't stop threatening the figure. On the floor, Koganei is in a coma. He's bleeding from his head, but he still seems to be breathing.
　He knew that Inugami's ability was to beastify, but it's rare that she, a fast-paced delinquent girl, is so bare of her bestiality and hostility. Not only Ryuzaki, but also the other students were quizzical, but the first thing they should be concerned about was the monster in front of them.

　The black armor and sallow skin. And the red wings on its back. They were much closer to humans than they are now, and although their appearance gave a sense of reason and intelligence, it was clear from their behavior that they had hostile and harmful intentions.
　The red-winged demon acknowledged the appearance of Ryuzaki and the others, and then a smile appeared on his mouth. After a moment, Inugami leaps at him, but he catches the bite from both of his jaws with the basket hand of his right arm.

'Ho, great.'

　An uproar among the classmates as the red-winged demon uttered the understandable words.

'Dragoneut and ... a succubus? That's a medium-sized grain.'

　She forcefully shakes off Inugami, who bites her right arm. She is slammed into the wall, but as it is, she adjusts her posture in the air and lands firmly on her four legs.

''Inugami-san, don't be reckless.......!

　Sakuma runs out and holds her body in place. Her silvery fur appeared reddish or darkened in places if one looked closely.
　The Inugami let out a low growl at the red-winged demon, fangs bared. The demon glared at it and snorted with a humph.

'There were some unexpected hazards lurking around, but for the most part they seemed to be bites.
What are you talking about...?

　Ryuzaki took a step or two forward. He took the place of the magically shaped and physically weak Sakuma and the wounded Inugami, advancing to the point where he could take the attack. Following them, Kagoi the gargoyle, Okumura the orc, and other physical strength boasters stepped forward.

''Didn't you hear me?　I don't know why you guys came to our side looking like that...
What...
Oh, well. I'm going to be in the back. Let's get you through.

　The red-winged demon tried to push Ryuzaki away and advance. He grabbed his arm and held him back.

　It's clear that this man knows the "situation" of Ryuzaki and his friends in Class 4 of the second year. Probably more than most of the students on our side. If you don't disobey him, he'll probably be friendly to you. However, the more than that, the stronger sense of danger that arose in Ryuzaki's consciousness as a class officer.
　At the very least, this demon in front of me is the "enemy. I'm not going to be able to get a good look at it. We couldn't let it pass, as long as we didn't know what was going to happen.

''Don't. A rare species like you is too good to kill.
'I don't know what you're talking about, but we can't let it pass from here...!
Okay.

　Immediately after the demon said that, a dull shock shot through Ryuzaki's entire body. The shock propagated to his brain and his vision bled red. Screams could be heard from the surroundings. He managed to suppress his dizzy head and in just a split second, Ryuzaki realized that his body had been blown away and slammed into the wall. As Ryuzaki tried to get up, the demon told him, 'Ho, that's sturdy.
　There was an uproar among the classmates. Zekou, whose wounds had been healed by Hakuba's (Unicorn) recovery magic, stepped forward again. Zekou made eye contact with Okumura and they nodded at each other, simultaneously trying to hold the demon down. A beat later, the gargoyle Kagoi followed suit.

　Even though it took the three of them to boast of their strength, the man's body didn't twitch. Sakuma started the magic chanting, followed by Uozumi and her sister (Mermaid), who also prepared their attack magic.

''Evil Flame's Evil Claw (Evil Flare)!
The Maelstrom!

　The demon pushed Zekou and Okumura's huge bodies away and grabbed the remaining Kagoi by the neck and held her high. The fire magic released by Sakuma and the water magic released by Uozumi and her sister hit Kagoi's robust body one after another.

''Ugh...!
Ka, Kagoi-kun...!

　The demon let go of Kagoi, who had become the breath of an insect, and quickly fleshed out the other students at once. The overwhelming difference in ability was shown and the students were completely destroyed. Some students, such as Kenzaki and his brother Uozumi (Gilman), barely tried to stand up to him, but were pushed back by the current of students who were going against them.
　Sakuma defends the Uozumi/Sister who was unable to escape. The demon's arm now grabbed her white neck.

''Sakuma!''
Satchan!

　The black basket hand, giri, giri, giri, tightens the neck. Ryuuzaki stood up and went to tackle Okumura and the others from behind, but again, he didn't move an inch.
　Ryuuzaki bit his teeth. The strength of this guy is not comparable to the King of Death who was hiding in the lower levels of the dungeon. If they didn't manage to think of a way to escape, the class could be wiped out.
　But if we were to escape, where would we go?　You don't even know what you're dealing with?

　Just as Ryuzaki's thoughts were still uncollected, another scream came from the far end of the passage, the one from which his classmates had fled.
　What is it this time, I looked up and saw the figure of a black knight flying straight up, breaking through the hedge of his confused classmates.

''Full cross........!

　It's Kyousuke and the others. Ryuzaki let out a slight breath of relief.

''Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　The black knight (Full Cross) raised his right fist as Kyousuke and Rin's breath met perfectly. He multiplied the weight of the armor and the acceleration force from the flaming wings and slammed a rushing blow (dynamic entry) into the red-winged demon. The demon turned its free palm to catch the fist, but the fist that struck down did not stop with just one hand.
　As a result, the fist struck the demon's cheek hard for the first time. Sakuma's body is released and falls to the floor with a thud. The black knight nipped the demon, who was slightly frightened, with a follow-up kick and landed on the floor.

''Oh, that guy...!
The Black Knight from the rumor mill...?
You're not the enemy...?

　The students were buzzing. There were a few voices here and there that said, 'That's a voice I've heard somewhere.

　Ryuzaki gives Okumura and the others a look. They nodded, Okumura stepped back, Okumura holding Sakuma and Zekou holding Kagoi's body. Ryuzaki makes his way towards Koganei, who is lying some distance away.
　The red winged demon wiped the blood from his mouth as he faced the unidentified black knight who landed in front of him.

''I see. Some of them realized their own abilities and advanced to Phase 2?''
.........

　The Black Knight did not answer. Or perhaps there was a communicative conversation by Kyousuke and the others in it.

''It would be a shame to destroy someone who has blossomed to that point, but........ ''Fine. I'll take care of the other guy.

　While saying that, the red-winged demon does not take any stance. It just walks forward leisurely.
　In contrast, the Black Knight Full Cross took a Jeet Kune Do-like pose and moved into a demon interception stance.

　The two sides' gazes flashed and their divine speed fists crossed.




''(Kyousuke, be careful not to be misled by the other's words and actions)''

　Ei's warning echoed in his head. Kyousuke silently showed his head affirmation.

　There are certainly many things that I am curious about in the other person's words. A statement as if he knows the situation here. Or, there was even the possibility that he was involved in this transference racket itself. But there is no indication at the moment that the discussion is likely to get through. For now, I will strive to repel them, or capture them if I can.
　Kyousuke took a stance and looked at the red-winged demon that leisurely walked up to him.

　He noticed an ability, which was probably the ability to amplify the power of the monster he was in contact with. Kyousuke was now making full use of that power. The demon in front of him had called that state Phase 2. But.........

'(Kyousuke, I told you not to be misled!)
(Uh, sorry...)
''Oh, the scolding from your wife...''

　Kyousuke regained his stance once again and moved into a position to intercept the demon. The red winged demon had a fearless light in its twin eyes.

　Both of their gazes popped and their divine speed fists intersected.
　Full Cross' fist struck the demon's fist, catching it in the face again. There was a definite feeling, and then another fist struck the abdomen with the other fist, through the top of the armor. The students around him cheered. He clenches his fist and goes to strike the demon's face several more times, striking it in the face.

　That's a nasty feeling, Kyousuke thought. It's the same as when he hit Koganei.

　But it's not the same as that time. I'm not going to settle my fist here. As Kyousuke pulled his right fist, one of the six wing limbs on his back stuck to Kagome and covered his entire arm in flames.

''Baaaaaningtu!''

　As Kyousuke gave the signal, Rin and Ei breathed together.

''Bro-woo!''
.........!

　A flaming fist aimed at the demon's face from the front. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about it. It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.


Quite an interesting use for it. But...!

　The demon twisted up his full cross right arm. It was almost painless as it was like it had no joints, but it greatly restricted his movement.

''Himemizu!''
Oh, yeah!

　From the joint of the armor, Rin stretched out her body to attack. The sharp blade-shaped tip cuts through the demon's cheek, but even so, the demon showed no signs of being frightened and reached out to Kyousuke's back.

''Ugh...!

　The demon grabbed one of the six wing limbs in which Ei's body resided. Ei's flames increased in momentum and counterattacked with heat, but the demon didn't pay any attention to it and plucked the bone wing limbs from his body. The abandoned bone rolls to the floor with a clang. A scream went up from the students.
　Someone started a magic chant to join in. However, the demon reached for the second wing limb and still plucked it flatly and threw it at that student. The third and fourth wing bones are ripped off of Kyousuke's struggling body one after another.

''Eeeeeeee!　Hey!　Let go of that hand!

　In the meantime, the vain counterattacks by Rin and Ei continued. As expected, the demon found Rin's attack depressing, and once the demon stopped its hand from grabbing the wingbone and let the black energy consolidate in its right fist. A lightning-like effect flashed across its palm. Even Rin, who had been desperately slashing its face, stopped moving for a moment at the new ability the red winged demon had shown.

''What, what...?''
I need you to keep your mouth shut.

　Rin hurriedly retracted herself into the joint of the armor, but the demon's fingertips, clad in black lightning, were plunged straight into the joint. Immediately after, bachin!　There was a dull ache in Kyousuke's body as well.

''Hee-uhn!''

　That scream was the last thing that broke my sense of communion with Rin. The connection that enveloped my entire body was released, and I felt as if the weight of the armor was bearing down on my entire body. A semi-liquid blue color came sloshing out of a crack in the armor. It is Rin's unconscious body.
　Seeing it, which was instantly recognizable as Rin at a glance, he could see that the students were upset. Kyousuke tried to get up, but the weight of his armor was in the way and he couldn't move. Ei moves his wing bones and removes the armor impatiently, but one of his wing limbs is also plucked off, and it's the last one.

''Huh, 《Fireball》!

　Immediately after, a high-density fireball landed on the demon's back. The explosions bounced off the armor, and the heat of the flames reached the head. Instantly, the red-winged demon covered its face and thrashed around.

''Gah!　

　If you look, Koganei, supported by Ryuzaki, is standing with his right arm outstretched. The red winged demon dispelled the flames that clung to his face and turned around to face Ryuzaki and Koganei. Koganei let out a small scream and Ryuuzaki stood in front of him to protect him.

''Eeeeee!　What a depressing imitation!

　As the demon thrusts out his right arm, what looks like a black energy body converges and fires. Ryuzaki defends Koganei, but the blow knocks him into a wall, knocking him into a coma. The red-winged demon tries to get closer to Koganei, who is also very angry.
　At that point, all of his armor is finally removed and Kyousuke stands up. The murmur of the students grows louder as they see him with Ei's flames all over his body.

''Oh, hey, that........ Utsurogi and, is it Hino...?
I knew it was Himemizu growing on the ground...?

　It's a very uncool way to be exposed.
　As it was, Kyousuke chased the red-winged demon from behind. He amplified the power that Ei had and launched it out in a series of flame bombs. The red-winged demon looks depressed, turns around, clenches its fist and thrusts it towards Kyousuke. The fists continued to aim at Kyousuke's chest and extended straight at him.

''Kyousuke!''

　When he heard Ei's cry, Kyousuke realized the folly of stepping in too far.

　His fist first slams into Kyousuke's ribs, shattering his spine and sending him through to the other side. The bone shatters and Ei separates from Kyousuke's body. The effect of the ability amplification disappeared as Soraki Kyousuke was no longer established as a single individual skeleton. A scream goes up around them, and Kyousuke's body rolls to the floor with a clank. The red-winged demon sniffed and further crushed the dismembered bones lying on the floor with its steel boots.

''Kisamaaaaaaah!

　Ei let out a shout. At the same time, some of the students who had been standing behind him heal their wounds with their recovery magic and start running again. Okumura, Zekou, and Kagoi tackle the Red Winged Demon again.

''Evil Flame's Deadly Claw (Evil Flare)-aah!

　The black magic of the flame attribute chanted by Sakuma rushed the demon along with the flaming bullets released by Ei. The demon popped the bodies of the three people who tried to hold their bodies down and caught the magic released with its gauntlets. A little bit of an abhorrent expression appeared on their faces.

''He's not coming out after causing so much commotion, is he serious...?

　No student here is calm enough to ask the true meaning of the words that were spat out. With only part of his upper body, his right arm, and his skull left, Kyousuke managed to turn his gaze towards Koganei, barely moving what was left of it.
　The red-winged demon stepped on Kyousuke's outstretched right hand and grabbed up Koganei's body, which slumped to the floor and rattled and trembled.

''Hi, hi!
"We'd be a fool to show the King we're not worthy of being honored if we didn't bring back at least one souvenir!
Hey, Koganei...!

　Kyousuke's words, which he tries to utter, don't make a sound. The demon holds Koganei's jittery, struggling body at his side.

''Can you hear me!''

　As Okumura and the others tried to chase him away, as well as Inugami and Uozumi who jumped out of the room, the demon shouted to the back of the corridor, "I don't know what you mean by that, but if you ignore our request any longer, it will be considered as treason to the king!

"I don't know what your intentions are, but if you ignore our request any longer, it will be considered treason to the king!

　Were those words really thrown at anyone who was not here? Waiting a few beats, but finding no response, the demon clicked his tongue, unfurled his red wings, and flew away, leaving only these final words.

'Very well!　Next time I'll come with my troops!

　After the red-winged demon left, only an unearthly sense of tension, fear, and an inexplicable sense of defeat remained among the classmates.