No one's POV

Guuuwwwwaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggghhh! The violas followed up with a thunderous roar of their own, signaling the battle's start. The members of Loki Familia readied their respective weapons before launching themselves at the incoming monsters.

Finn(mind): That magic item Valletta used...is it the key to the orichalcum doors?...It certainly seemed like she was showing it to us on purpose.

As Finn took his place beside Bete and butchered one viola after another with his gold-tipped long spear, he glanced in the direction Valletta had just disappeared.

Finn: Bait, then, perhaps? To lure us into the actual trap?...A bait we'll unfortunately be forced to take.

The violas came in an unceasing flood. And considering their one way out had been effectively cut off, they didn't have much choice other than to press on.

Finn: Everyone, straight ahead! Valletta Grede is our objective.

he instructed, and the other members of the group were quick to obey. They charged forward in perfect alignment, slipping in and out between the rush of giant flowers and speeding toward the far passage. The violas, naturally, gave chase. They barreled into the single tunnel, wide enough to accept the adventurers easily, but not so much the large flowers hurling themselves into it with all the force of an avalanche.

Lefiya: Captain! Leave them to Miss Filvis and me!

Lefiya shouted as she eyed the situation behind them. The courageous initiative was enough to startle Raul and the others; Finn, however, simply glanced back from his position in the center of the party, meeting Lefiya's azure eyes before affirming her request with a nod.

Finn: They're in your hands, then, Lefiya!

Lefiya: Roger!

The trusting smile from her captain gave Lefiya a thrill of excitement as she whirled to face the onrush of violas head-on.

Lefiya: Miss Filvis!

The elf in question inferred Lefiya's plan from a single glance.

Filvis:...Understood. Leave them to me!

Filvis replied, taking a step forward and thrusting her left hand outward.

Filvis: Shield me, cleansing chalice!

The spell was complete in an instant.

Filvis: Dio Grail!!

A circular force field was triggered by her short chant. The pure-white light, a symbol of its caster's nobility, instantly transformed into an ironlike shield to protect them from the violas' onslaught.

Lefiya: Unleashed pillar of light, limbs of the holy tree. You are the master archer—!

Lefiya's voice soared with a spell of its own. Now that Filvis's shield had blocked off the tunnel and the monsters couldn't take a step, she sped effortlessly through the chant she knew by heart, weaving a cannon of light into existence.

Lefiya: Now, Miss Filvis!

She screamed, giving the other elf just enough time to retract her shield spell and step out of the way before launching her own magic in its place.

Lefiya: Arcs Ray!!

Violas: GWOOOOAAAGGHH?!

The flash of dazzling light washed through the entire passageway, swallowing all the violas in a shining river. The point-blank attack cremated them on contact, effectively purging the entire swarm.

Lefiya: These...these tactics are practically Dungeon worthy...!

Lefiya muttered in awe.

Filvis: Yes, we'll have plenty more time to practice them there if we make it out of here alive. Stay on guard. More on their way!

Filvis commented as the next wave approached. The two elves called forth their magic circles a second time to fend off the attacks as a pair.

Raul: D-did you see that? Lefiya's amazing!

Aki: Well, when you don't have to worry about more monsters spawning from the walls, it certainly gives you more room to work with.

Raul and Aki, two higher-level adventurers, were legitimately impressed with Lefiya's tactical expertise.

Bete: Heh, so she's finally gone and made herself useful, has she?

Bete smirked, offering his own two cents on Lefiya's tangible growth.

Asuna: That's one way of saying, 'you did a good job'.

Bete: Piss off!

Finn: Exceeding our expectations is all we can ask of the next generation.

Finn gave a smile of his own. His voice sharpened as he returned to the situation at hand.

Finn: Bete! Stay up front! Take out anything in our path! But don't stray too far—we don't want to stretch our numbers too thin! Your with me, Asuna!

Bete was quick to respond, leading the rest of the front line toward the shadows emerging from the darkness up ahead.

Rakuta: Those aren't violas...! Then, a new species?!

The monsters that came into view resembled water spiders. They were tall —coming up to a human's waist, in fact—and boasted six long legs. Strange red crystals, different from magic stones, could be seen embedded in their central bodies—small but impossibly numerous. Having been shuffled into the forward party, the hume bunny Rakuta hesitated for a moment, unsure what kind of attack they should even expect from these never-before-seen beasts.

Bete: Does it matter? Just take 'em out before they even think about attackin'!

Monsters: Gwuuoogh?!

Bete sprinted forward and tore through the spiders in one fell swoop. Their bodies were reduced to shreds as Bete's razor-sharp boots sliced through them like butter. True to his word, he hadn't even allowed the monsters a chance to go on the offensive. It was the sort of feat only the most powerful of adventurers could pull off, one that elicited trembling awe from his peers as they fell in line behind him. Meanwhile, back in the party's center...

Raul: Whuuaah! A pitfall!

Raul gave a shout as he leaped backward while Bete fielded the attacks ahead.

Aki: Careful! There's more around it, too!

Aki warned, and true enough, square holes of roughly five meters across had begun to open all along the passage floor. The pitch-black gloom emanating from the shafts was evidence enough as to their great depth; however, they appeared not to be purposefully laid traps but abandoned efforts at expansion. Equipped with her buckler and light sword, Aki paid close attention to the ground underfoot as Raul unsheathed his bow and arrow next to her, aiming at the creepy-crawlies now coming out of the woodwork on either side.

Asuna: Finn...

Finn: Yes. She's watching us...

Asuna and Finn noted with a glance at their surroundings, flourishing their rapier and spear from their spot in the middle of the group. Those two had gone up against the Evilus enough times at this point to be all too familiar with Valletta's inclinations—she hadn't fled. No, she'd hidden somewhere in the grand architecture of the labyrinth and was now monitoring them closely, no doubt just waiting for the perfect opportunity to launch her trap— Finn's head stopped mid-scan when a massive crossroads came into view. All of a sudden, his thumb was throbbing out of control.

Finn: !!

It was pain sharper than he'd ever felt before. An omen fierce enough to make his fingers twitch. It was then that Finn heard it. The sound of a door rumbling open nearby.

Finn(mind): This is...

Even for someone with a sixth sense for danger like Finn, this was too much, too fast. There was no time to give orders. His body simply couldn't react fast enough. This was an Irregular neither he nor the rest of the party had the capacity to suppress. The type of Irregular he'd already lost countless men to on expeditions to the Dungeon's depths.

The fear of impending doom descended over him with chills like a frigid winter. When suddenly, from immediately to his side... The entire pack of hellish beasts parted in a single flash of movement. Almost as though opening a path for their revered king. They revealed the door at the end of the crossroads, now open, and a figure cut through the shadow—

Finn(mind):—That red hair.

Asuna: Finn, look out!!

Finn: !!

Asuna shouted. The green eyes, an eerie black longsword, and hair the color of freshly spilled blood. All at once, the figure disappeared. An instant later, the creature, Revis, was directly in front of Finn.

Finn: Ngh?!

Revis: So we meet again, Pallum.

The frosty voice descended upon him at the same time as her obsidian sword. She followed through even as he blocked the strike, nearly blasting him backward from the incredible shock. She had power, speed, and a destructive force more powerful than his small body could take. After only three crosses of the blade, his strength simply gave out.

Revis: Compare to that Flashing Strike, you are nothing.

Her intimidating aura was worlds apart from that of their previous encounter. And her combat ability was nigh unthinkable. She was not only a creature but an enhanced species. Just how many magic stones had she eaten—?

Finn(mind): It's Hell Finegas or nothing.

He had to use it or he'd lose. But just as this thought floated through his head, so did a sudden sense of foreboding. Yes, his patented Berserker spell would increase his abilities by leaps and bounds, but it would also saturate his mind with a lust for blood, transforming him into a battle-thirsty warrior incapable of issuing orders. If Raul and the rest of his party were forced to fend for themselves in a situation like this... As the party's leader, he paused for one anguished moment at the thought. A moment that proved fatal.

Revis: Die.

The mere instant of hesitation was like a massive opening for Revis as she was now. Her sword carved a ravenous arc through the air before connecting with Finn's body.

Finn: Gngh—!

It divided the handle of his spear as he attempted to raise it in defense, before finally plunging into his tiny frame. Finn's world turned red. As blood clouded his vision, he saw Revis's unimpressed features disappear from view. Behind him, no one uttered a sound. Time slowed to a dull crawl as both his Fortia Spear and body jerked backward.

Asuna: Fin...

The rest of the party was powerless to so much as react as their beloved Braver slowly fell.

Asuna: Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!!

His body bounced as it hit the ground amid the cries of his party members. First Bete, then Lefiya spun around at the commotion, and time froze. Finn had fallen. Braver, the one who had always roused the familia back to its feet no matter the situation, had fallen. They had seen Asuna, Riveria, Gareth, and themselves taste defeat before, but Loki Familia had never felt a despair like this. It was an unfathomable blow. Their panic had swelled in an instant, threatening to burst and restart time.

There was no one to replace him. Finn was Loki Familia's emotional fulcrum. The one person who simply couldn't crumble. Which was why... Asuna understood better than anyone, faster than anyone, just how calamitous the current situation really was. The drop in morale. The confusion. The utter collapse of the group. All of it culminated into a few words in his blood-clouded thoughts: We'll be wiped out. It triggered the fastest decision she'd ever made.

Asuna: Raul!!

Raul: !!

Asuna called out to a single young man frozen in fear. After all the knowledge and experience he'd learned the hard way from Asuna and the other elites over the years, Raul understood immediately, leaping into action before Asuna even had to tell him what to do.

Revis: !!

Before the blade of death could inflict the finishing blow over the pallum captain. Asuna the strongest in the team took actions. She intercepted the blade with her own, forcing a lock on them.

Asuna: You won't lay a finger on Finn!!

Revis: Tch!!

Tossing aside his bow and arrow, he flew. Faster than anyone. With no one but Finn in his sights, he ran forward at breakneck speed. That single decisive action would prove victorious. He extended his arms, still trembling with the shock, right shoulder still mangled from their previous bout, and caught him.

Revis cursed under her breath. But no matter what she do to kill the pallum was thwarted by the high-elf! Raul didn't stop. Cradling the prum's small frame like an infant, he pushed off the ground with everything he had, streaking toward the far passage—and toward the abyssal void of the nearest pitfall.

Raul: Follow me!!

Aki: !

Aki and the others heeded his desperate yell and quickly fell in line behind him. Abandoning the battle at hand, they dove down the pit, escaping the wrath of the creature and her monster brethren. Finn and the rest of the party's center had fled.

Revis: You bastard!

Asuna: You'll have to go through me!

They clash in serious of rapid lightning succession. In terms of power, the red creature is clearly far superior. But Asuna won in speed, she was countering Revis every strike with her speed, until she managed to land a hit.

Revis: Tch!

Asuna: I'm finishing you here!

???: Didn't that Flash of yours always told you to keep your guard up, Berserk Healer!

Asuna: !!

Just as Asuna was about to activate her magic and Stacia to defeat Revis once and for all, a single person entered her blind spot from behind. Someone whom she didn't sensed until he was right near her. Asuna went to counter attack, but the person behind her was faster. He grabbed Asuna by the face and lifted her up.

Asuna: GAaaaaaaaaaH!!!!

Bete and Lefiya: Asuna/Miss Asuna!

???: You and I are going for a ride.

The person whom grabbed Asuna's face jumped into one of the pit-hole that all those new species of monsters had appeared. Separating them from the rest of the party. Bete, Lefiya, Rakuta and the rest of the vanguard party all stood in shock as they lost another core member of the team.

Valletta: Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!

Valletta's laughter resounded off the narrow walls of the tunnel. As Finn had surmised earlier, she had been secretly observing the party's progress. Now, after poking her head out from one of the side passages, she made her way toward the pitfall Raul and the others had just dropped into.

Valletta: How do you like that, huh, Finn, Asuna?! Run, run away with your tail between your legs like the miserable dog you are! It makes for a wonderful show!

She shouted gleefully down the length of the chasm before turning her gaze to Revis.

Valletta: That was some quality work. PoH As well. Guess you two picked the right profession, eh, Miss Kill for Hire?

Revis: If it wasn't for that elf, that pallum would've died. Whatever. The two heads are gone now.

The red-haired creature woman replied in annoyance, glancing down the hole. It was no longer her concern.

Revis: From here on out, I follow Aria.

Valletta: H-hey! But Finn and Asuna are still—

Revis: Do the rest yourself. And that elf is with PoH. Or do I need to serve them to you on a silver platter?

Revis responded coldly, giving her sword a flick. The pallum's blood still painted its black blade, sliding down the side to color the ground with tiny spatters. Without another word, she turned on her heel to chase her own target.

Valletta: Screw you, too, then...Creep.

Valletta made a face in disgust at the departing woman.

Valletta: But whatever! Like I care! I don't want anyone else to have the pleasure of killin' him anyway. Don't go too far now, Fiiiiiinn! I'll be over in just a moment to bring you down!

Her annoyance soon faded in favor of a sadistic smile as she gazed toward the hole. The wicked twist of her lips made her obsession clear to any who saw it.

Bete:...You...bastards...

But the voice this time was the decidedly husky growl of a certain werewolf. As the first of the stunned-silent front line to recover from his shock, Bete leaped forward toward the woman, eyes flashing.

Bete: Ruuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrtrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!

His enraged howl echoed off the walls as he went flying toward his enemies. Tearing through the monsters standing in his way, leaving dust in his wake, he stretched his claws toward Valletta, but...

Valletta: You're seriously attacking me head-on? At Level Six? Be real, Vanargand.

Valletta laughed before again thrusting forward her spherical magic item. Rather than giving off a brilliant light as it had the time before, it instead triggered the thick metal wall immediately in front of Bete to drop with a sudden thud.

Bete: !!

The crossroad disappeared from in front of him, replaced by the all-too- familiar sight of an orichalcum door blocking his way. Seeing the impenetrable obstacle before him, Bete could do nothing but roar in anger.

Bete: Shit!!

There was a terrible thud as his fist hit the door, but the orichalcum held strong. He ground his teeth together audibly, his blue tattoo contorting on his face.

Rakuta: M-Mister Bete!

As if this new barrier weren't enough, the frightened screams of his allies behind him alerted him to an all-new danger. He whirled around, coming face-to-face with a teeming throng of everything from water spiders to violas.

Bete(mind): Presents from Valletta, huh?

Bete cursed beneath his breath at the enemy's trap as he quickly surveyed the situation. The tunnel they were currently occupying had been effectively turned into a cage, and they were the rats. Even if Bete himself would emerge unscathed from the horde, there was no way his fellow familia members would. As much as it pained him, they had no choice but to retreat.

Bete: We're gettin' the hell outta here!

The party was quick to respond, powering through the wave of monsters in desperate retreat. Bete could do nothing but join them in leaving the door behind.

(Elsewhere)

Lefiya: C-Captain... Miss Asuna... Mister Bete...

Lefiya was powerless as she watched the events play out. Though she'd successfully stopped the violas behind her, she hadn't been able to move from her position. She and Filvis, who'd stayed in the back to protect their rear, were all alone now, effectively separated from the rest of the party. Valletta glanced at the two frozen elves.

Valletta: Hey, Miss Kill for Hire. At least take care of those two elves, would ya? That high-elf is with PoH, and there's no way he'll lose. So I have to go pay a visit to the tear-stricken face of a certain high-and-mighty Pallum.

With that, she closed the last door, and the intersection was completely sealed off. Now that she had cut off all means of support for Finn, Valletta let her laughter fade on the far side of the wall. Revis looked none too happy about the last-minute duty thrust upon her, no doubt anxious to exact her own revenge, but she turned toward Lefiya and Filvis all the same. Lefiya's shoulders gave a jump at the icy gaze that met hers.

Revis:...

Revis's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Then, she simply turned away, completely ignoring them and continuing on her own path.

Lefiya: Wha—?

Lefiya(mind): She let us go! Had she deemed us weak and unworthy of her time?

Lefiya felt a tiny fire begin to grow in the pit of her stomach with a sharp crackle. There was another rumble from the direction Revis had left. Leaping into action, Lefiya raced after her, only to see the red-haired woman already gone behind the newly closed door.

Lefiya: Gngh...!

Lefiya bit down on her lip in frustration.

Filvis: Lefiya, wait! Calm down!

Filvis called out as she jogged to catch up. The sound of the other elf's voice was enough to restore her composure somehow, and her ragged breathing finally slowed.

Lefiya: Miss Filvis, the others, we...we must save them...!

Filvis: I know, but the way is blocked. There'll be no getting through those orichalcum doors, no matter how much you want to help Braver...!

There was an urgency to Filvis's voice. Even Lefiya could pick up on it. The room behind them had already been shut off; those impervious doors of steel blocked their routes to Finn, Bete, and the others. Lefiya and Filvis were truly and utterly alone, trapped in the middle of this giant labyrinth.

Lefiya: Then... then what are we supposed to do? Try and find them? Try to escape, get word to Lady Riveria and the others? Either way, we're—

Filvis: We'll find a new route.

Filvis cut through Lefiya's rant with a nod, her features strained.

Filvis: Come. We'll need to do our best to avoid combat. Though I fear we're already deep within the spider's web...

If that was the case, they'd need to find themselves their own version of the ariadne guides. Swallowing hard, Lefiya nodded. Then, the two elves sped toward one of the passage's side tunnels, seeking out their one sliver of hope.

Slyphid(mind): Well... This has turned into a bad situation. I guess I better contact him.

One person was left in the room. Before Asuna fell into the pit-hole, she ordered Slyphid to stay behind in case Revis had attacked Lefiya and Filvis. And what's more, she ordered the Spirit Girl to contact her boyfriend since their situation had turned upside down.

Sora(telepathy): What is it...?

Slyphid(telepathy): The situation had skyrocket. That Pallum had chosen pride over what's right.

Sora(telepathy):...

It was clear from the silence on the other side of the communication that Sora's face was filled with grim. Not only does Finn ignore Sora's warning, but now the situation had just gone from bad to worst.

Slyphid(telepathy): And there's more...

Sora(telepathy): He's alive...!!!

Slyphid(telepathy): Yeah...! Asuna is handling him on her own. What should I do...?

Sora(telepathy): Did Asuna ask you to do anything else?

Slyphid(telepathy): She said to not worry about her and contact you.

Sora(telepathy): Then here's the plan. We'll leave 'him' to Asuna. You go and find Aiz. If that Red Creature had become something immeasurable, then Aiz stands no chance in defeating her. I'll start heading your way...

Slyphid(telepathy): As you command!

(Elsewhere)

Snap. Gareth stopped with a start at the sudden, unbidden crack that formed along the back of his gauntlet.

Aiz: Gareth...? What's wrong?

Aiz asked from behind him.

Gareth:...Nothing. Ain't nothing.

Gareth replied before turning around. Glancing back at the path Finn and the others had taken, he attempted to shake off the lingering feeling of dread tugging at the hairs on the back of his neck. Unease aside, he had no choice but to continue forward.

Tiona:This place is...

Tione:...huge...

Tione and Tiona murmured in awe. The spot they'd reached was almost exactly the same as the large hall Finn and his party had arrived at not long ago. There was only a single exit, positioned straight ahead and just slightly above their current vantage point. It was around the same height as a building's second floor, only with no stairs, making it a curious structural design. Before the twins' comments even had a chance to fade away, the figure of a man appeared from the passage in front of them.

Everyone: !

Barca: A pleasure to finally meet you...adventurers of Loki Familia.

The light of the magic-stone lanterns illuminated the features of a lugubrious-looking man emerging from the shadows. He wore a set of loose- fitting work clothes topped by a long waistcloth; his weary and begrimed appearance was the antithesis of clean. His sickly pale skin told of a life away from the light of day, and his washed-out, almost desaturated hair hung down in unkempt clumps, hiding one of his eyes. Beneath its visible counterpart was a large, dark bag. There was no question about it. While time had certainly passed since the deed had been done, he was, without doubt—

Tiona: The guy from the picture!

Tione: Yeah, you're the human who made that deal with the sea god in Melen, aren't you?

As Tiona pointed at him, Tione's tone was considerably sharper than her sister's. The man in question glanced downward at the two Amazonian twins.

Barca: Something like that happened, yes... You said you were looking for me? However, I've certainly had no interest in meeting you.

He remarked, so softly it might as well have been a whisper. Tiona and Tione blinked in confusion.

Barca: At any rate, even meeting like this costs me precious time. The will of our ancestors is grand, indeed. There is never enough... Even were we to one day complete it, there's no guarantee I will be around to bear witness. This human body is a truly odious thing... Even with the boon of elven blood. Ah, a pity, really...

As he muttered his mystifying soliloquy, he drew the attention of not just the twins but the rest of the party, including Aiz. Was he really about to simply wave them along? Loki Familia? His enemy? Considering the remnants of the Evils were usually coming at them with everything they had, this man was a rather unusual specimen.

Tiona: H-h-h-hey now! Stay with us, would ya? No flyin' away to la-la land!

Tione: Yeah, what the hell is wrong with you? What do you even want?!

The twins' indignant shouts brought the man's monologue to a halt, and he lifted his gaze.

Barca: I do apologize. I am called... Barca. Nothing more.

he replied in the same dispirited tone. It was an honest answer, though the man's eye narrowed with mild irritation.

Barca: I've been tasked with luring you deeper into the shadows of the abyss...

At these words, a spark of tension ran through the group. The healer Line, Cruz, and the rest of the party readied their weapons. As for Gareth, still silent at the front of the pack, he had noticed a troubling discrepancy.

Gareth(mind): There's no way this spindly stalk of a man's alone, is there? Aiz and them could cut 'im down in an instant given the chance. And there's no sign of any monsters lurkin' about...

The man, Barca, was clearly not a fighter. A mage or hexer, perhaps. But even then, the moment he tried to unleash a spell, Aiz or someone would stop him in his tracks—at this distance, even a quick chant couldn't beat their speed. If the enemy was hoping to take on their party, they were severely lacking in men. Yet, there were still no signs of a monster ambush. Which could mean only one thing: This dispassionate man currently exchanging words with them—was setting a trap.

Gareth: ?

It was at this moment that something caught Gareth's eye.

Gareth(mind): A red orb...in the middle o' the floor...?

It was embedded in the center of the stone hall, a jewel not dissimilar to the many they'd already seen as they made their way through the maze—just decidedly bigger.

Gareth: !!

Gareth suddenly looked upward with a gasp. Barca's eyes were focused solely on the jewel. As if on cue, something inside the stone began to thrum.

Gareth: Everyone, ju—

Barca: You're too late.

Interrupting Gareth's warning cry, Barca swept forward his bangs to reveal his left eye. An eye of red—emblazoned with the letter D. In that instant. KA-THWOOM. The floor around them simply opened up.

Everyone: !!

Aiz, Tiona, Tione, Gareth, and the rest of the party froze. Suddenly with no ground beneath their feet, they found themselves floating in the air above a boundless chasm of darkness. It was a pitfall. The stone that had been supporting them wasn't an ordinary floor at all. In fact, it wasn't even stone but a material they'd become all too familiar with at this point in their dungeon crawl: orichalcum. Two orichalcum doors of monstrous proportions, disguised as a floor. It was a Dungeon Gimmick. And it had just swung open beneath their feet.

Barca: Farewell, Loki Familia...and sweet dreams.

They fell.

Everyone: Whhhhuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!

All they could do was scream as their bodies plunged into the darkness. It was a trap that spanned the entire room. A trap that Barca had unlocked to ensnare every adventurer of Loki Familia's party.

Tiona: A pitfall?!

Tione: Damn it!

As Tiona let out a surprised scream, Tione and a number of others pulled out ropes and chains anchored to knives or claws, launching them at the wall. But the sturdy, seamless surface of adamantite repelled the incoming weapons. The chasm would allow them to do nothing but fall—a revelation that filled the party's eyes with terror.

Even first-tier adventurers were rendered powerless without firm ground to stand on. Their minds went blank with shock and confusion as above them, the twin orichalcum doors slowly, mercilessly rumbled shut.

Gareth: Aiz!

Aiz: Ngh!

Almost in sync with each other, Gareth and Aiz leaped into motion.

Gareth: Guurraaagh!!

Aiz: Awaken, Tempest!!

Gareth flung his ax toward Aiz as the wind swirled up around her. She slammed her sword into the oncoming weapon to propel herself skyward and, drawing power from her Airiel, ascended at an astonishing speed. Just as the doors were about to grind to a close, she shot up through the shrinking gap, the sole person to escape from the trap.

Barca: ?!

In fact, it launched her so high that she made it all the way to the second floor of the room, landing in front of a very surprised Barca in one continuous leap.
Barca stepped backward, putting distance between himself and the Sword Princess.

Barca: Now, this is a surprise...I hadn't expected anyone would be able to escape my ancestor's trap.

Aiz: Open these doors, now!

Aiz ordered, her friends' peril at the forefront of her mind. Barca's one visible eye narrowed ever so slightly.

Barca: But I cannot allow myself to be caught.

He had only one escape route. As he took off down the path behind him, Aiz was hot on his heels. She would have caught him, too, had another orichalcum door not slammed down with a shudder the moment Barca scampered through a nearby side tunnel.

Aiz: Orichalcum...?!

Aiz cursed, glaring at the irritating obstruction before turning back toward the hall. Standing where Barca had only a few moments earlier, she gazed into the empty room.

Aiz: Everyone...!

(Elsewhere)

Meanwhile, in the dark recesses of the labyrinth.

Tiona: Are we...trapped...?

Tione: We lost Gareth and Aiz, too...

Tione, Tiona, and the rest of the group attempted to peer through the darkness at the bottom of the pit.

(Elsewhere)

Narfi: Gareth, what do we do...?!

Gareth: I'm afraid the tables have turned, lads 'n' lasses. We may have started as the hunters, but we're most certainly the hunted now. Buck up!

Gareth replied as he donned his helmet to face the writhing mob of monsters that had already formed around them.

(Elsewhere)

Raul: Captain! Captain!!

Finn:...Ra...ul...Give the order to...retreat...

Finn managed, his breath growing increasingly labored as blood continued to gush from his wound. Raul and his companions could only cry out in teary-eyed despair at the sight of their half-dead captain. Still wrapped in Raul's arms, Finn rolled his eyes weakly toward the shadowed ceiling, eyelids fluttering closed.

(Elsewhere)

Rakuta: Which way, Mister Bete...?!

Bete: The hell am I supposed to know?! Use your damn nose! Or your ears! I don't care how; just find a way to Finn!

Bete shouted back at his animal- person peers as the group made their way aimlessly through the maze.

(Elsewhere)

Filvis: Lefiya! We'll make for the exit first. It must be here somewhere!

Lefiya: R-right!

At the same time, Lefiya and Filvis frantically navigated their own way down the convoluted passages in an effort to deliver the rest of their companions from their current predicament.

(Elsewhere)

Asuna: No way...! How are you still alive...?!

???: Gyahahahaha....!! As long as you and the Flash is here, I'll keep returning no matter how many times it takes!

Asuna stare at shock at the person standing in front of her. She readied her blade as the two began to clash.

(Elsewhere)

Meanwhile.

Baraca: The Sword Princess may have escaped... but all is as Thanatos planned.

Barca had successfully evaded his assailant and was now ambling unaccompanied down the dark passageway.

Barca: No doubt Valletta and the others have also succeeded in their duties. The preparations are complete...

Door after door opened before his red eye, the key to the maze, allowing him free rein of the labyrinth. Softly, he made his declaration.

Barca: You shall become the cornerstone of my ancestor's greatest work, Loki Familia...the man-made dungeon Knossos.

The darkness bared its fangs.