After collecting all the magic stones and storing them in the Hestia Ring, Orsted and the others moved toward the monster site.

Soon, they reached the end of the passage.

A massive, grotesque wall of swollen flesh, glistening eerily, blocked their path entirely.

Unlike the surrounding stone walls, this flesh wall was alien in structure and nature.

This was a cave, now overrun with thick vines.

No wonder so many monsters were trapped on the path—cut off from their hunting source with no way forward.

The vines sealing the site were tough, impervious to mid-floor monsters, preventing deeper progress.

"There are other paths. Let's check them," Asfi suggested, adjusting her glasses.

"Don't split up. This place is dangerous—separating risks being picked off one by one," Orsted warned, stopping Asfi's plan to divide the Hermes Familia.

In such an unusual place and situation, splitting up invited trouble.

Orsted knew this from novels in his past life. Fiction often drew from reality, sometimes understating it.

This incident felt especially ominous.

In the Anime, splitting up might have been fine.

But with Revis already killed by Orsted's Excalibur Proto, only the Olivas Act should remain.

Yet, that wasn't certain.

Without Revis, that guy might have new allies.

What if they targeted lone adventurers?

Olivas Act, with near-Level 5 strength, could overpower even Asfi, let alone other Hermes Familia members.

If the creature had allies, they'd be formidable too.

It was a tamer, controlling monsters, and any allies likely shared that skill.

Orsted recalled those violas here, strong enough to hurt Level 5s Tiona and Tione with punches, suggesting Level 3 strength.

In the movie, Olivas alone scattered the Hermes Familia. If attacked while split up, they'd be doomed.

Hearing Orsted, Asfi paused, then heeded his warning, abandoning her plan.

"These are alive," Ais said suddenly.

All eyes turned to her as she poked the grotesque wall. It quivered under her touch, bouncing like a meatball.

"Let's break it. There's a path behind," Orsted suggested.

No one objected.

Unable to split up or explore other routes, they had to proceed this way.

The cave was vast, and this wasn't the true end. Destroying the flesh wall should open the way.

Orsted drew Excalibur and unleashed a small attack.

A golden torrent surged, striking the wall head-on.

A huge gap opened instantly, reeking of a foul stench. Everyone covered their noses.

Despite the odor, they focused on the gap, revealing a path beyond.

They stepped through.

At the passage's end, in a gloomy tunnel lit by crimson light and lined with flesh, a male voice spoke.

"Intruders—adventurers, it seems," the man in a robe and mask said, gazing at a crystal ball. "Took them long enough. The Guild's slow."

"Revis, you going out?" he asked indifferently.

"Snap."

"Let me handle it," came a cold reply from a dark corner, staring at two figures in the crystal ball.

If Orsted were here, he'd recognize Revis—alive, despite his belief that he'd destroyed her.

She seemed stronger than before.

"This time, I'll erase my past shame!" Revis glared at Orsted's image in the crystal ball, her expression icy.

Unaware of this, Orsted and his group entered the mutated tunnel.

But as they stepped in, they were spotted.

Someone manipulated the flesh wall to seal the gap, cutting off their retreat.

Orsted frowned but remained calm.

"This place is definitely wrong," Asfi sighed.

She'd initially thought dungeon caused this, not human touch.

But this deliberate sealing confirmed human interference.

Sure enough, the flesh wall shifted, and Violas surged out, swiftly attacking.

"Split up, now!" Asfi ordered her team.

But before the Hermes Familia could react, Orsted and Ais struck the charging violas.

But ..

Asfi's eyes twitched.

"So annoying," she sighed.

Light footsteps echoed.

A figure emerged from the darkness, stepping into view.

Orsted and Ais' eyes widened.

"Nice to see you again, Aria, and the elf who nearly killed me!" the woman said coldly.

---

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