\u201cRight! You can count on me, Benimaru!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shion beamed as she thanked him. I have trouble understanding why she loves fighting so much, but\u2014hey, if she\u2019s happy, then great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood. In that case, Rimuru, it is time to prepare!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll join ya, Master! Time for us to show \u2019em just how terrifying the labyrinth can be!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cQuite so. And with me as your final defense, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse us, Sir Rimuru\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brimming with enthusiasm, Veldora and Ramiris left the Control Center, Beretta following behind. The room suddenly felt a lot quieter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Veldora, this would be his first real<\/em> day of work as the master of the labyrinth. I wasn\u2019t entirely sure if he\u2019d have a role to play here, but either way, his zeal was certainly encouraging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight. Let\u2019s see what the enemy has in store for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I tried to sound as demon lord-ly as possible as I watched the rows of people marching through the gate. Everyone else nodded. And with that, our battle against the seven-hundred-thousand-strong main army of the Empire began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Caligulio, commander of the Armored Division, smiled at the sight of things going to plan. He looked over his army with supreme confidence. One after another, his rows of elites were streaming through the massive gate. It connected to the labyrinth, no doubt, and that labyrinth was bound to bring Caligulio immense wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By now, the monsters must have been in a panic over the unexpected six-figure-strong force at their doorstep. But it was all thanks to long, careful planning\u2014and soldiers strong enough to execute on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a great deal of discussion with the main brass over their <\/a>route of invasion, they decided to send the Magitank Division in first, standing out as much as they could. In addition to this, they also deployed a hundred airships from the Flying Combat Corps, their ace in the hole, so they could fight off the evil dragon Veldora if he happened to show up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Flying Combat Corps was also responsible for transporting the Magical Beast Division westward, with Gradim commanding them\u2014but their journey would be chiefly over the sea, guaranteeing a safe trip. It was therefore decided that the airships wouldn\u2019t need any armaments, so Caligulio\u2019s only remaining responsibility was providing logistical support. This he planned to do by operating three hundred airships at full capacity, transporting the necessary military supplies at the same time as Gradim\u2019s force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They had concentrated their forces in a single area mainly for the projected battle against Veldora. The other hundred airships deployed to the Forest of Jura were each outfitted with a full set of the most elite magicians the Empire boasted. With this final piece of the puzzle, their support system was fully complete, and Caligulio believed it all enough to let them take over the entirety of the West\u2014and if Gradim\u2019s force attacked the capital of Englesia, the war would be over in no time at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a simultaneous dual-pronged operation, and Caligulio\u2019s Armored Division would play a major role. If they succeeded, they\u2019d be putting up dazzling military results. That would grant Caligulio more power in the Empire no matter what, and the thought made it impossible for him to wipe the smile from his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The basic outline of this operation worked like this: The Magitank Division would make a conspicuous entrance. The enemy would latch on to them, and once they did, Caligulio himself would lead the main force in a grand display of power, attacking the stronghold of the demon lord Rimuru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to intel, the demon lord could apparently transport his entire capital into the labyrinth for safekeeping. It sounded ridiculous on the face of it, but it was true. All that was left on the surface was a large gate opening up into the labyrinth. So they decided that the first thing was to surround the gate, blocking any escape <\/a>routes. A handy magic canceler or two working on the surrounding space would make it impossible to magically teleport out of there. It seemed possible to completely seal off the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The problem here was the strength of the Armed Nation of Dwargon. One underestimated the Heroic King Gazel at their own peril, and the dwarves are known for their stoutness. They remained undefeated for a millennium for good reason, and anyone who downplayed their might was bound to be burned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no way we can lose. Breaking out old-fashioned antiques against two thousand magitanks? It won\u2019t even be a fight.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dwargon\u2019s purported neutrality didn\u2019t even register in the Empire\u2019s mind. They had let the Armed Nation go unchallenged so far because they\u2019d be a thorn on their side\u2014but if they could win now, there was no need to pull back. With a combination of magic and science, they had built an all-powerful force based on a completely new system of combat. That, in a nutshell, was the Armored Division Caligulio led.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gazel was a champion among dwarves, yes, but what could he do by himself? It may have been quality, not quantity, that could potentially turn the tide of battle, but knowing what he did about how destructive his tank guns were, Caligulio saw fighting with swords and magic as nothing but an anachronism. The dwarves\u2014only capable of producing outdated, obsolete armaments\u2014could never imagine the true value of this next-generation army\u2026 And by the time they realized it, it\u2019d be too late. All that awaited the dwarves was a lopsided rout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These ideas were all fundamentally wrong at the core, but Caligulio had no way of knowing that at the time. He was so happy with himself, and so assured of his victory, that he never imagined for even a moment that he\u2019d be defeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And just moments earlier, the long-awaited report came in. An envoy from the enemy had paid a visit, but negotiations had broken down, and hostilities were already underway. Receiving this news, <\/a>Caligulio and his team stuck to the plan and marched forward\u2014and now they had captured the lands believed to comprise the demon lord Rimuru\u2019s stronghold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caligulio, perfectly at ease, contemplated his troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rather a waste to give Gaster a free shot at Gazel\u2019s head, but ah well. You can\u2019t give \u2019em the stick all the time\u2014the troops won\u2019t follow you otherwise. They need a carrot now and then.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lieutenant General Gaster and Major General Farraga were among the most capable of Caligulio\u2019s subordinates. He had no doubts that they\u2019d fail to live up to expectations. Both Gaster and Farraga were dead at this point in time, but it\u2019d be asking too much of Caligulio to know that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo have we heard from Gaster yet?\u201d Caligulio asked one of his men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot yet, sir! Not since he reportedly entered battle!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh. I\u2019d think the dust will have settled by this point. Bit lazy of him to delay his report. He can\u2019t be having trouble over there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid I have nothing else to report, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine. So what about Farraga?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gaster\u2019s first on-the-field battle in ages must have been getting to his head. With total victory in sight, Caligulio reasoned, he must\u2019ve been too focused on the fight at hand. But what about Farraga, then? He must\u2019ve had a balcony view, dreamily floating up in the clouds, and he\u2019d surely be able to give an accurate report. But the liaison officer assigned to Farraga was acting strangely, sweating profusely as he desperately tried to make contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026What is he doing<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This put the brakes on Caligulio\u2019s good mood. He was irked, and that emotion no doubt came out in his tone of voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMajor General Farraga,\u201d reported the harried liaison, \u201chas reportedly encountered a monster believed to be Veldora! He said he would send a follow-up once he could confirm it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>\u2026But nothing had come since then. Just that first report\u2014and then total silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the communications wizard on duty, the Forest of Jura was so thick with magicules that voice transmissions could easily be jammed. That made sense to Caligulio for a number of reasons. This entire forest was created by his archenemy Veldora, and it was home to a demon lord to boot. It stood to reason, in his mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deciding there was no use worrying about it, Caligulio shuffled the concern out of his mind. If they were engaged in combat, they wouldn\u2019t have time to send superfluous reports. And like the wizard said, there were more than enough magicules in the atmosphere to block incoming and outgoing magical calls. Plus, if Veldora himself was out on the field, no way any calls would make it out anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So Caligulio mentally switched gears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHmph! We\u2019ll have to wait for the good news, then. If they truly did<\/em> encounter Veldora, it\u2019s perfectly natural to expect silence from Gaster and Farraga. But no point shuffling our feet over them. We\u2019ve got a labyrinth to capture!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Given the vast size of the force he provided Gaster, Caligulio didn\u2019t give a moment\u2019s thought to the idea that he might be defeated. In his mind, he had completely discounted the possibility long ago. In fact, this lack of contact could even be a good thing for him. If Farraga was engaged with Veldora in the skies above the forest, that meant only the demon lord was inside this labyrinth. He had heard stories about their Big Four and the threat they presented, but the Restructured Armor Corps would make quick work of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So without further hesitation, Caligulio\u2019s eyes turned toward the labyrinth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before him lay a clearing\u2014a vast one, big enough to house a large city. Near the middle of it loomed a huge gate serving as the labyrinth entrance. Magic-based probing revealed no traps or other threats. It was a simple gate, just waiting for Caligulio\u2019s force to challenge it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The words carved into it\u2014THROUGH THESE GATES, THE WEAK ARE UNWORTHY TO PASS\u2014told Caligulio that his strategy was right all along. Hiding everything from us because you\u2019re too afraid we\u2019ll plunder it all, eh? Pretty cheeky thing for a bunch of monsters to do.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Looting in the name of \u201csupply procurement\u201d was something any nation was afraid of. Securing enough provisions to keep an army fed was always a challenge, especially to one as large as the Empire\u2019s. Taking the enemy\u2019s supplies was always an effective tactic, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, tough luck!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Caligulio laughed at the monsters\u2019 shallow intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His soldiers, having been enhanced via surgery powered by magic and otherworldly science, could work at full strength without food or water for a week. A single one of the nutritionally balanced energy bars they carried with them provided enough sustenance for a day\u2019s worth of activity. Twenty were included in a soldier\u2019s standard equipment, and their consumption rate was as previously calculated. Each soldier had been given a refreshed supply, and they\u2019d have no problem keeping themselves sustained without plundering the enemy\u2019s food. These portable, lightweight energy bars made logistics infinitely easier for the Empire\u2014and potable water, the other piece of the puzzle, could be conjured up via magic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So no problems whatsoever. By their calculations, their elite soldiers could stay active within the labyrinth for up to twenty-seven days if need be. The enemy might\u2019ve pinned their hopes on their vast army running out of supplies\u2014the biggest weakness with any force this size\u2014but they were about to learn just how naive they were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThink you\u2019ve won because you\u2019ve cut off our supplies? Think again, fools.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caligulio gave the thought a mocking laugh. It caught the attention of one of his staff officers, a man of noble birth trying to latch on to Caligulio\u2019s coattails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHa-ha-ha! Ah, my good Caligulio, don\u2019t be so mean to them! The demon lord Rimuru began this entire campaign by making a mistake. He misjudged our Restructured Armor Corps so badly that he sent out his greatest asset, the evil Veldora, to meet them. <\/a><\/a>And now, the next thing he knew, he\u2019s being surrounded by these teeming masses of champions!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I can\u2019t blame him for making that move. Bait or not, it is<\/em> quite a large force over there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExactly. I can certainly see why he\u2019d want to pit his maximum war power against them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hearing the officer chatter egged Caligulio on further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHmph! Call him a demon lord, call him what you will, but I think it\u2019s clear just how out of his league he is! I\u2019m sure he\u2019s all curled up in a corner of the labyrinth somewhere right now, shivering from head to toe!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scoffing at the demon lord\u2019s low intellect, Caligulio and his team couldn\u2019t have been more confident of their success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh-ha-ha-ha-ha! You\u2019re absolutely right. Now all we have to do is drag this demon lord out and have Commander Caligulio chop off his head. Then he\u2019ll become a demon lord\u2013slaying hero!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The noble officer never wasted a chance to flatter his superior. Caligulio didn\u2019t mind it much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first step, as he saw it, was to seize this labyrinth and use it as a foothold. Establishing a military base here would help maintain their momentum, no doubt, as they pressed on and overran the West. If they didn\u2019t hurry, in fact, Gradim and his Magical Beast Division would conquer and pillage the West from the north side, and he really wanted to be out of the Forest of Jura before then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But no need to panic. If things turned out that way, his list of accomplishments in this campaign wouldn\u2019t be quite<\/em> as long, but there was no need to quibble. Defeating Veldora the Storm Dragon was the Empire\u2019s long-held desire for ages, and if they could achieve it, any other badge of honor was insignificant by comparison. If they took the head of Rimuru on top of that, Caligulio would undoubtedly become the greatest achiever of this entire war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the rest of his staff were just as assured of their victory as he was. This was a force of seven hundred thousand, after all. With a force that size, none of them could even think of defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe can make this area our camp once we build a barrier around <\/a>it. Once that\u2019s done, they can start marching in. The labyrinth will never know what hit it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re on it, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFine. Proceed as planned, then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There were no objections. Things weren\u2019t urgent enough that anyone wanted to create trouble for themselves being contrarian. Gradim could have his glory over in the West if he wanted it\u2014that\u2019s what everyone here agreed on. For now, the major prize was all the money and goods they\u2019d be able to score in the labyrinth. Greed had won the day in their minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a pretty simple plan, really\u2014just overload the labyrinth with sheer numbers and strip the whole place bare. The fact that nobody objected to it was proof positive that greed, and the potential for instant profits, was already blinding them. Being so assured of victory, Caligulio and his team weren\u2019t bothering to hide their desires any longer. Whatever share of the labyrinth\u2019s booty they got, it was bound to make them fabulously rich.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so their conquest of the labyrinth began\u2026and with that, the poor oblivious soldiers joyfully descended a staircase they would never climb back up again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The labyrinth never refuses anyone who comes for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That applied even if the invading party didn\u2019t respect the rules. But the safety was already off on this loaded gun, and what awaited them beyond was the labyrinth as it truly was\u2014a living hell beyond anything anyone had ever experienced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n In one of the deepest rooms of the labyrinth, there exists a secret conference room not even Rimuru knows about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gathered within its vast confines were the rulers of the maze, people who usually didn\u2019t come together very much. The fact that they were all here right now indicated just how vital they considered the topic of discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n The meeting was chaired by Beretta, Ramiris\u2019s aide\/representative\/gofer and general manager of labyrinth affairs. Seated in the four cardinal directions were the labyrinth\u2019s four Arch Dragons\u2014the Fire Dragon Lord, Frost Dragon Lord, Wind Dragon Lord, and Earth Dragon Lord. In the middle was a round ebony table, currently seating the following individuals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u201cNine-Head\u201d Kumara, guardian of Floor 90<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u201cInsect Kaiser\u201d Zegion, guardian of Floor 80<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u201cInsect Queen\u201d Apito, boss of Floor 79<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u201cImmortal King\u201d Adalmann, guardian of Floor 70<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u201cDeath Paladin\u201d Alberto, Adalmann\u2019s advance guard on Floor 70<\/p>\n\n\n\n These comprised the so-called Ten Dungeon Marvels, and they were joined by three others: Gadora, the old, sharp-eyed wizard, was seated next to Adalmann; meanwhile, Bovix and Equix, co-guardians of Floor 50, sat huddled at one lonely corner of the table, aware of just how much they stood out among all these titans. They both once thought they could beat any opponent who came their way\u2026 But now, seeing the very pinnacle of the labyrinth before them, they realized just how stark the difference was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It made them squirm uncomfortably in their seats, but that wasn\u2019t the only reason they were cowering a bit. The real reason: Everyone in this chamber had a bad habit of incessantly squabbling over who was the strongest among themselves. They were clashing over the issue now, in fact, weighing down the very atmosphere as if it were warped apart by some strange force. Gadora, despite being the new kid on the block, was an active participant in the debate, making Bovix and Equix realize all the more exactly how they stacked up by comparison. As they saw it, some foes were just too insurmountable to ever beat. And given that these were two former rivals who fought each other for a literal century, it showed just how much of a presence Gadora struck around here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>Beretta and the Dragon Lords didn\u2019t join in this competition, but they had no motivation to stop it. If that was what they liked doing, then \u201cFine\u201d was their attitude. And whether they intended to or not, that only spurred the debate over who was strongest among the Ten Marvels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adalmann\u2019s promotion in floor rank, following direct praise from Rimuru, was still fresh in everyone\u2019s minds. It instilled a new enthusiasm in everybody present, all of them believing they were the most useful among the guardians. This was especially true among the Marvels tending the deeper floors, since they frankly didn\u2019t see much action during regular Dungeon operations. Any chance they had to strut their stuff, they seized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even Gadora, the new guy, was eager to be of service to his old friend Adalmann. If he could make an impression with his performance here, he believed, it\u2019d work wonders to ensure a position for him. Adalmann, meanwhile, wanted to work even harder for his beloved Rimuru than he already had. He wanted to be awarded even higher levels, and on that score, the other guardians were nothing but obstacles\u2014not enemies, no, but definitely in the way. Alberto followed Adalmann\u2019s lead with this, but in his mind, he, too, had a desire to improve his fighting performance and make himself a household name. Despite appearances, he was surprisingly ambitious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apito and Kumara, the two female Dungeon Marvels, had (to say the least) a strained relationship. Kumara, in particular, guarded Floor 90 and thus almost never received a chance to perform in public. Apito got an opportunity to tangle with the paladins before, and Kumara was intensely jealous of that, leading her to treat this as much more of a battle than it really was. Apito, for that matter, was pretty competitive herself, refusing to back down a single step from her rival. This put them at odds over pretty much anything and everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zegion, meanwhile, acted like he was above the fray, and realistically speaking, he did<\/em> stand at the pinnacle of the labyrinth, the target of everybody\u2019s envy. Whether he asked for it or not, he constantly got dragged into the debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>Thus, to sum up, things were kind of acrimonious among the most powerful denizens of the labyrinth. But did they truly hate each other, deep down? The answer was no. Their goal, in the end, was to prove they alone were the best, not to try to kick everybody else down. There was a lot of jealousy but a lot of respect, too. They might have fought a ton, but there wasn\u2019t any real hate involved. Every one of them saw each other as diligent rivals, nothing else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the crowd sharing this meeting hall, it was surprisingly quiet right then. All eyes were fixed on the main seats in the table, currently unoccupied. They belonged to Veldora, king of the labyrinth, and the great Ramiris, its creator. They had been called to the meeting two hours ago, and while there was much carrying on between the Marvels earlier, they all quieted down once Beretta showed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSir Veldora and Lady Ramiris will arrive in a few moments. Please remain quiet as we wait for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beretta sat down at his chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChairman, can I ask you a question?\u201d said Kumara, and Beretta nodded back. \u201cWhy are we gathered here today?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor the reason you\u2019re all imagining, I presume. We need to discuss how we will dispatch the foolish army attempting to invade the labyrinth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone fell silent. They were all aware of the situation. Nobody told them exactly what this meeting was about, but they had accurately guessed its purpose already. Maybe they had been jockeying with each other for position before, but with the imperial army at the door to the labyrinth, hostility toward the enemy had replaced their competitive spirit. What did it mean to make an enemy out of the labyrinth? They were all of a single heart now\u2014they needed to make their foe fully understand the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A heavy tension filled the hall. And then:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHeya! Sorry for the wait!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow nice of you all to gather here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>Ramiris and Veldora appeared, upping the fervor in the hall that much more. It delighted Ramiris even further as she addressed the crowd in an unusually serious tone of voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToday we\u2019re facing an unprecedented crisis\u2014a kind that hasn\u2019t been seen since the labyrinth\u2019s foundation! So I wanna hear some of your thoughts, people!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was the signal for things to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kumara reacted first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHmm? Well, isn\u2019t it obvious?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She could barely wait to express her thoughts, but Apito beat her to the punch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe kill them all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two glared at each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo are you going to leave things for my<\/em> level this time, Apito? You got to play with those paladins for so long, you have<\/em> to be happy by now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you talking about? Lady Hinata is one thing, but the Crusaders were all so weak that I had one of the most boring times of my life!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A different kind of tension ran through the hall. Veldora, oddly, stepped up to defuse it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKwah-ha-ha-ha! Stop fighting, you two. And worry not! This time, I will give you all a chance to wage battle. From what I\u2019ve heard, they think that the deepest level of the Dungeon is merely Floor 60. Considering we\u2019ve advertised a hundred floors from the beginning, I find it simply absurd, but here we are. Can you believe that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n No!<\/em> everyone thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Veldora gave them a nod. \u201cI thought it would be fun to play along with those expectations\u2026 But really, it seems too much trouble to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes! Exactly!\u201d Ramiris agreed. \u201cLike my master said, it\u2019s too much trouble to wait for them to get past Floor 50\u2014not just for us, but for our foes, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed. There are currently seven hundred thousand soldiers <\/a>jamming the area around the gate. I\u2019ve been instructed by Rimuru to lure as many of them as possible into the labyrinth\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut making such a huge crowd navigate that entryway is gonna take forever<\/em>, won\u2019t it? Honestly, you have to wonder why they brought so many folks along! So instead of that, we decided to divide up the enemy, one thousand soldiers per floor, and then repeat as necessary!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luckily for Ramiris, the Empire\u2019s soldiers were matching in neat, well-disciplined rows. This allowed for smooth entry into the labyrinth so far, but this was clearly going to take a lot of time. If the first few rows got in a fight, it\u2019d interrupt the entire flow, and then there\u2019d be no telling how long it would take to cram everybody in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow does that sound to you? And if you get a lucky draw, you might even wind up facing a real strong opponent or two!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKwah-ha-ha-ha-ha! Who knows, indeed? One of them might be the grave threat to Rimuru that Benimaru has been searching for! I think he\u2019s far too worried about that for his own good, but if you can find the man, that\u2019ll be a feather in your cap.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ramiris and Veldora made all eyes in the room sparkle. To the labyrinth guardians, the Big Four serving Rimuru were the targets of intense admiration. Benimaru, in particular, was Rimuru\u2019s closest friend and most trusted confidant; everyone wanted a chance to fight him someday. Veldora might have said No, no, I am his stoutest of allies<\/em> if anyone brought up Benimaru\u2019s name, but they didn\u2019t, so things continued smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo\u2026we all have a chance, then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, if that\u2019s the case, I have no complaints at all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apito and Kumara immediately seemed to patch things up with each other. They weren\u2019t alone\u2014everyone else was driven by similar motivation and ambition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll right,\u201d intoned Adalmann, \u201cdoes that mean we can do whatever we please with whoever enters our territory?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExactly!\u201d replied Ramiris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now everyone was treating this more seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re still filing in right now,\u201d she continued, \u201cbut I\u2019m just gonna connect them straight to Floor 41 for starters. Once a <\/a>thousand make it in, I\u2019ll move on to the next floor down, so be patient! Bovix and Equix, I\u2019ve got another job for you two, so I\u2019ll brief you on that later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jealous glances shot toward the pair at once, making them tremble with anxiety. Now they were huddled down closer than before, trying their best to get through this social awkwardness. It\u2019d be far better, they both agreed, if they could just fight those foolish invaders instead of facing up to this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Ramiris paid them no mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo the idea here is to spread all these troops out and take \u2019em in at each floor. We\u2019re talking one hundred thousand people total from Floors 41 to 50; one hundred thousand from Floors 51 to 60; one hundred thousand from Floors 61 to 70; one hundred thousand from Floors 71 to 80; and one hundred thousand from Floors 81 to 90. Then maybe, like, we can have each Dragon Lord tackle ten thousand at once? And if we get any more<\/em> comin\u2019 in after that, I can stash \u2019em in the higher floors, too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus the labyrinth would house a maximum target of five hundred forty thousand invaders at once. Ramiris wanted this number to be at least three hundred fifty thousand, if possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last, but not least:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, the one thing I don\u2019t want you guys to forget is that these are one-time rule changes to the labyrinth. Each Dragon Lord chamber has been expanded to ten times its initial size, and I\u2019ve switched the floors around as well, so if they make it past Floor 90, they\u2019ll be plunging right into those Dragon Rooms. But that\u2019s not really important. What is<\/em> important is that I\u2019ve changed the conditions for \u2018beating\u2019 this labyrinth!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ramiris did a little dance in the air to accentuate her point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What kind of conditions were these? Well, for starters, once you went through the main gate at the surface, you couldn\u2019t go back out until you beat the labyrinth. Beating it, in this case, was defined as defeating Veldora, so the Empire would have to deploy pretty much everything they had to stand a chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to gain the opportunity to face Veldora, however, a would-be invader would need to collect ten keys, passed out to each <\/a>of the Ten Dungeon Marvels. If you wound up starting on Floor 80, you\u2019d have to backtrack to earlier floors to defeat the requisite Marvels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The moment they heard this, the Marvels immediately perked up. Even the Dragon Lords situated behind the table rumbled their approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn that case, we really do<\/em> all have an equal chance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re right. It\u2019s a race to see how many we can hunt down!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many among them were already out for blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHeh\u2026 Hopefully I can find someone worthy enough to lift my sword up against.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t be cocky yet, Alberto. All we must think about is laying waste to our divine enemies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Master and servant were brimming with spirit. But others among them were meditating in silence over this. In their own way, everybody in the chamber was in high spirits for the upcoming battle. Gauging them, Beretta\u2014the overseer of the Marvels, more or less\u2014spoke up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, Lady Ramiris, regarding the matter I asked for your assistance with\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh, right, right. Yeah, Rimuru gave it the go-ahead, so let\u2019s see how things unfold with it, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you very much. In that case\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After that quick exchange, Beretta stood up and surveyed the Ten Dungeon Marvels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLadies and gentlemen, Lady Ramiris has assigned me the title of Dungeon Master. I would normally share this title alongside my duties as chairperson of the Ten Dungeon Marvels, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beretta saw that overseer job as a bunch of garbage dead-end work and little else. Ramiris thought having ten<\/em> Marvels sounded better than nine<\/em>, so he got tossed in to fill up the ranks. The job, as one would expect from Ramiris\u2019s birdbrained ways, changed from day to day. Sometimes it was little more than being Ramiris\u2019s gofer, which\u2014to put it bluntly\u2014was not his cup of tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treyni, despite having roughly the same position, seemed far more valued by Ramiris than he ever was. A lot of that was because <\/a>Treyni never<\/em> lectured Ramiris about anything\u2026 And Beretta couldn\u2019t see what was fair about that, either. Besides, Treyni pretty much did whatever she pleased, too, jetting off on these mystery trips out of nowhere (although gaining Ramiris\u2019s advance permission for them).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a real problem for Beretta, who secretly grumbled over it quite a bit. Regardless, he was still named one of the Ten Dungeon Marvels, whether he liked it or not. He really wanted to give that position over to someone else\u2026 And now the perfect opportunity had arisen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I think I would like give my position to whoever puts in the best performance in this battle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Marvels had to resist the urge to whoop for joy. Even Bovix and Equix were filled with ambitions not quite in line with their talents, hoping against hope that they could join the Ten Marvels. Unfortunately, their ambitions were shattered by the next thing Beretta said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor this current battle, I will provisionally grant Sir Gadora my position in the Ten Dungeon Marvels. Given Adalmann\u2019s attesting of his powers, as well as his own knowledge, both Lady Ramiris and I have no qualms about this appointment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gadora, facing this sudden announcement, was surprised but calm. Given how long he had lived, he was used to situations like these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yessss! This is my time to shine! And if I put in an eye-catching effort, I won\u2019t be \u201cprovisional\u201d for very long at all!!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gadora had always been an aggressive man. He had to be, or else he couldn\u2019t hone the right-place-at-the-right-time knack he used to navigate the world for so many years. And Gadora knew his place, too. His steely eyes told him just how powerful the Ten Marvels were. Some were lower or equal to him, while others were so far above him that even making a comparison was ridiculous. He\u2019d never be appointed overseer of the Marvels if he let those titans be\u2014something he understood well enough\u2014and so his goal was merely to gain membership to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>\u201cI will humbly accept your offer!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou will? Thank you, Sir Gadora. It helps me a great deal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gadora and Beretta had a real you-scratch-my-back, I\u2019ll-scratch-yours moment. And while still temporary for now, that was the last change made in the lineup before the Empire war. Beretta was out of the Ten Dungeon Marvels, and Gadora was in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, yes! I\u2019m just as glad you\u2019re taking the offer, Gadora. I\u2019ll be assigning you to Floor 60, with the Demon Colossus boss, and I hope you\u2019ll make good use of that one!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything wrapped up without a hitch. They had already discussed all this with Rimuru, and they had decided to put Gadora to the test on a trial basis. Gadora had already been helping with Ramiris\u2019s research and so forth, so he didn\u2019t need much convincing to accept the job. In fact, to him, being entrusted with the demon lord\u2019s Demon Colossus was a real dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGreat! In that case, shouldn\u2019t we give Gadora some kind of nickname, too?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOooh yeah. Any ideas, Gadora?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being asked this out of the blue, Gadora had nothing to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s see\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is this really important?<\/em> he couldn\u2019t help but think. The Empire was already invading labyrinth space. They really needed to take up defensive positions ASAP, something everyone must\u2019ve been thinking (if not saying out loud). But the big bosses didn\u2019t seem too concerned about time and were treating this like just another chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavens\u2026 My hat goes off to them. Emperor Ludora is a great man, too, but I fear he\u2019s no match for this group. But given the labyrinth we\u2019re in and the Storm Dragon we\u2019re with, I suppose it\u2019s only to be expected\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gadora was truly impressed. He was never one for loyalty, but seeing Veldora and Ramiris\u2014and most of all Rimuru, so adept at manipulating those two\u2014he couldn\u2019t help but feel a sense of awe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow about the Rune Master, then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOoh, how catchy!\u201d Ramiris gushed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, is it not? When push comes to shove, I always have the right answer! Kwaaah-ha-ha-ha!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>There was no possible way Gadora could object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It seemed like everyone had their orders, but Ramiris still had one thing to announce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, oh, right! I had a real important role for Bovix and Equix!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two of them almost leaped out of their chairs, still nervous about what they\u2019d be asked for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWh-what role is that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat would you like us to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their nervous questions were greeted with a matter-of-fact reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo I\u2019m gonna have you two stand by on Floor 30. You can use the bosses there however you like, so if you see any invaders trying to escape, wipe \u2019em out for me, all right? I set the resurrection point for your bracelets at Floor 30, too, so even if you get killed somehow, no worries! Do your best up there!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the sound of things, Ramiris assumed this would be easy work for them. All they could do was nod their agreement. They were motivated, yes, but more than that, they were anxious. If they didn\u2019t deliver at a time like this, they feared being abandoned for good. If they put in a half-hearted effort, they could be fired from this most prestigious of positions. They exchanged firm nods, promising they wouldn\u2019t let that happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The boss of Floor 30 was an ogre lord, ranked a B-plus, along with his five minions. Following orders from the A-ranked Bovix and Equix, they were all bound to become a great team. Gadora, despite being so new, had readily accepted his appointment into the Ten Dungeon Marvels. Given they had been part of the labyrinth far longer than him, they couldn\u2019t afford to embarrass themselves here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That, and the two of them realized something else. Even if part of the imperial force did<\/em> make it past Floor 30, there was still no escape for them. That held even if they climbed all the way back to Floor 1. They\u2019d just have to turn back, and along those lines, Bovix and Equix\u2019s assignment was extremely low stakes, come to think of it. And they both also realized that losing to those soldiers meant getting killed however many times it happened\u2014an unpleasant experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s do it. We\u2019re guardians, too. And if we can earn some recognition for our exploits, we\u2019re bound to get a promotion!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>\u201cYes, you\u2019re right, my brother. No need to take turns or hold back this time. Let\u2019s crush our enemies with everything we\u2019ve got!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll crush every single fleeing imperial soldier we find!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe will! And I promise we\u2019ll live up to your expectations, Lady Ramiris!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If their backs were against the wall, the only place to go was forward. Their anxieties instantly vanished, the two of them burning with enthusiasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now everybody had their assigned roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRimuru has asked us to lure as many imperials into this labyrinth as we possibly can! And if we wanna do that, you\u2019re gonna have to show these guys a good time, to some extent! Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They all nodded, understanding. Everybody saw what their role was\u2014for day one, at least, they\u2019d keep quiet and watch how the enemy moved. Then Ramiris, giving them all a satisfied look, dropped one more bomb on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood, good. Well, good luck, guys! And by the way, Rimuru said he\u2019ll be watching this battle. We\u2019ll be deciding who\u2019s the next overseer based on this, but it\u2019s a good chance for all of you to show off, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone\u2019s faces turned dead serious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Sir Rimuru will be watching?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even Zegion, silent until now, felt the need to gravely ask the question. It really surprised Apito. The Insect Kaiser was a taciturn individual, rarely speaking at all. Apart from his loyalty to the demon lord Rimuru, Zegion was interested in little besides strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUm, y-yes. Rimuru said he\u2019d be observing the whole thing, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The unanticipated pressure made Ramiris stammer a bit. Not even she had the opportunity to see Zegion talk much. Her surprise was only natural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cZegion, there are no lies in Ramiris\u2019s words. Rimuru has a great curiosity about the strength of his labyrinthine ranks. That is why he trusted you all enough to give you such a major role in this war.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n