Rihya, Lyn, Warren.
You all right?
Yes.
Yeah.
Arthur, how's it going over here?
Well, it would seem we've been relocated.
Relocated?
Where are we?
I want all of you examining our surroundings at once!
There's no telling what might show up.
Proceed with the utmost caution.
Director, what in the world happened?
From the sensation we experienced, I'd wager teleportation.
Which makes grasping our current whereabouts urgent.
Do you suppose the Gate was responsible?
Most likely.
The theory was that the monsters from this Great Tidal Bore
came from below the 38th layer of the dungeon, but...
That would now appear to be incorrect.
There's a high chance that the Gate was the source of it all.
Still, this may prove an unexpected blessing.
Discovering the real root of the Tidal Bore,
which flies in the face of the prevalent theory, will make for an excellent finding.
With what we uncover on this investigation, I, Clive Staples,
will build the scaffolding for my ascent to department head!
Director, is that...?
What is it?
The readings... vanished?
That shouldn't be possible.
Wait, I've got something!
They're... on the 40th layer?
What are they doing there?
Ah, and now it's gone again.
Who's in charge here at the moment?
Oh, that would be me.
My name is Christopher Blatt from the College of Magic.
I ask you, as an organizer of this investigation
and a fellow acting on the orders of His Majesty the King...
Is there something anomalous going on in the dungeon at present?
Well...
I know we belong to different organizations.
You have your position to consider.
For now, just tell me what you can with that in mind.
Moments ago, people entering the dungeon disappeared.
We were making our way in with the local adventurers we'd hired.
But then, right as they were crossing the threshold...
They vanished before my very eyes.
Then it's not just our readings.
So you've confirmed other vanishings?
Y-Yes, on the tenth layer out of the blue.
Have there been any signs of them since?
Only for a moment.
Truly? And where were they?
The reading was from the 40th layer.
Layer 40? Such great depths...
The farthest any adventurer has ever made it is the 38th layer.
Anything beyond the 30th is said to be difficult even for B-rank parties.
One of Lune's B-rank parties, the Crimson Sword,
was escorting our team. There's a high chance they're still together.
For now, I've sent a messenger to the adventurers' guild.
The guild master will come as soon as he hears of this,
and we'll need to explain what happened then.
Yes, I understand.
Natalie!
Master, big trouble!
Give me the news.
Something's gone wrong in the dungeon.
The investigation team vanished.
Dean Christopher from the College of Magic is requesting
your presence at the dungeon entrance at once.
The team vanished? Does that mean Abel and his party, too?
I'm on my way. Have the rest of the staff on standby.
Have our liaisons assemble at the dungeon checkpoint.
Don't let the adventurers know the details.
Just tell them I'll explain the situation once I've confirmed what's going on.
Well, this won't do.
I have no idea what books are here, much less where.
Oh? If it isn't Ryo!
Sera!
Wh-What's the matter? Are you looking for something?
Yes. I was hoping to compare records of past eclipses and Great Tidal bores,
but I have no idea where to look.
I see. I can help you with that. I happen to know where those records are.
I had a feeling you would!
I hope you don't mind helping me again.
If I can be of use, I'm happy to.
Ryo...
Do you think there might be a link between eclipses and Great Tidal Bores?
Well, only vaguely.
There was that major eclipse two days prior to the monster emergence this time.
Yes, exactly.
If you don't mind me confirming your suspicion,
I do believe your theory about there being a connection between the two is correct.
To be more specific, there has always been an eclipse prior to a Great Tidal Bore.
But in the past, it was never a total eclipse like this time.
And you think they're related?
Well, it just so happens I've looked into this very subject before.
But I am curious as to what tipped you off to the connection.
It, uh, just kinda came to me...
It's not like I can tell her I was fighting an akuma in the middle of the eclipse.
S-Sera, might you know what determines the vividness of magic stone?
Okay, I'll let you change the subject.
I certainly do.
The longer a monster lives, the more vivid its stone becomes.
That's right. I learned about that on a journey with a friend of mine.
And it got me wondering about the hue of the magic stone
collected from monsters during the bore.
Were they pale?
Indeed. I could understand if they were strong in color,
which would just imply elder monsters from lower levels were coming up to the surface.
But the stones being pale implies the monsters only recently spawned.
All of those goblins, including their generals and king.
It's unheard of for a cohort like that to spawn suddenly.
But if they were created artificially, that would've taken considerable energy...
There's no shortage of mysteries surrounding this.
Tell me, Sera, did you already know the magic stones were pale?
I did. Some records regarding a previous Great Tidal Bore noted
the magic stone from its monsters was also like that.
Incredible! Such records exist?
They aren't in very good condition, not to mention on parchment,
so even the librarians don't know about them.
Care to see them yourself?
Yes, I would love to!
All right, then follow me.
That sensation we felt...
It was just like when I experienced teleportation
in a dungeon of the Western Provinces.
Teleportation, eh?
I've heard of dungeons with such magic, but...
I wonder where we are.
I'm not sure.
Perhaps another level within the dungeon, or maybe someplace else altogether.
However, it's certainly safe to say we were forcibly relocated.
Are our instruments functioning normally?
I believe so, sir.
The wind magic in this device appears to be working.
I should say the surface team will transmit us information on our location.
Then they might send help, too!
Well, I'm not sure about that.
Is something bothering you?
Yes. It's the air in here.
Rihya, does it remind you of anything?
It's just like inside of Sanctuary Square...
Sanctuary Square, as in the spell that only the highest rank of priests can cast?
Yes, the ultimate defensive magic. It's considered a divine miracle.
Its protection is said to deflect all offensive spells and physical attacks.
Then, if this reminds you of that...
It means we may have been trapped inside some kind of barrier.
That does indeed seem to be the case.
And it must be absolutely massive if we can't tell where the boundary lies.
Wherever we are, it's definitely bad news.
Lyn, sorry, but can you use Probe to check for anything of note around us?
All right.
Bring to me the pulse and existence of life.
Probe!
I'm detecting multiple humans present at a distance of about 500 meters ahead.
About a thousand of them...
plus fifty life forms I've never encountered before.
A thousand humans?
I think we can assume Clive and his team were also whisked to wherever this is.
I guess we'll head their way.
It'll be good to rendezvous, in any case.
The 40th layer?
Right. It was only momentary, but we're certain of the reading.
Come on, now. You've got to be kidding.
Even if we mobilize every adventurer in town, they'd never make it that far.
We'd have no way of sending anyone to help them.
There also remains the question of why these people vanished in the first place.
It's entirely possible it may happen again.
I'm sorry, but neither I nor my subordinates can risk
going in with the situation in this kind of flux.
Yeah, that makes sense.
I can't send the local adventurers into this kind of danger either.
We'll just have to pray that, wherever they ended up, it's safe.
Help!
Stay as far inside our barriers as possible!
Get inside, quickly!
Damn it! What in the world are these things?!
Those are...
They're...
Devils!
Devils?
Yes. I've only read about them before, but they match the description.
What's going on here?
Are those... devils?
Yes, I'd certainly think so.
They are the enemies of gods and angels.
Beings immune to magic.
Stronger than any human.
They represent purest despair...
Or so the texts on them say.
But what are devils doing down here?
We can speculate later.
We'll pincer them!
Get ready to hem them in!
How...? In a place like this...?
Air Javelin!
Light Javelin!
Stone Javelin!
Fire Javelin!
Incredible. And magic is supposed to be ineffective against devils.
That has never been confirmed.
It stands to reason that three groups focusing on a single target
could overcome even a devil's defenses.
Incoming! Prepare the second volley!
This isn't impossible, but there are too many of them.
We'll likely run out of mana first.
There's a particularly nasty one back there.
The fourth volley will be our last. We've got no firepower left.
Okay, then we'll have to move to melee combat.
Warren, we'll charge single-file.
Light Javelin!
Air Javelin!
That improvised twin casting was enough to fell them!
The Crimson Sword lives up to its reputation.
Lyn!
I'm out of mana! Warren, I need cover!
Any magic potions left?!
We're out!
Six of them to go...
Abel, their boss... I think that might be a demon prince.
It's those differently colored eyes.
That's said to be one of their traits.
A demon prince, as in a demon lord that has yet to fully awaken?
Right. They're the immature form of a demon lord.
It's said only four can exist at once.
One of them will become the demon lord.
That's what they taught us at the temple.
I've heard the stories.
So this one's strong, huh?
There's no record of anyone except a hero ever defeating one.
I'm going in with the intent of beating them all expect the prince.
There's always a chance
that something unexpected could break the barrier, after all.
So don't lose hope.
Abel...
This isn't as bad as when that gryphon had its sights on us.
That's all I can think.
Rihya!
I'm okay! All three of us are!
You want to do this one-on-one?
Blowing the others aside to set this up... You devils play rough.
Frighteningly fast and strong.
I can't envision a way I win this.
All our spells are being deflected...
Does that mean magic can't defeat it?
Damn it, get back! Get back!
Abel...
Sword Skill: Zero Turn.
This can't be!
Abel!
I'm sorry, Rihya...
No...
No!
Are you hurt, Abel?
Ryo... what are you doing here?
I'm here to save you, of course.
It looks like you can't stand.
Are you concussed?
Never thought I'd see you on the verge of death because of something like that.
You've still got some growing to do.
Shut up. I just slipped a bit.
Who in the world...?
Well, lots of people are apparently worried about you guys, so let's head back.
As much as I would love to...
I'll handle this guy. You don't mind, do you?
Wait, Ryo, slow down! That's a demon prince!
A demon prince? Like, the son of a demon lord?
You must realize now isn't the time for jokes.
I'm skeptical anything this weak is kin to a demon lord.
Demon princes are immature forms of demon lords.
They're incredibly strong.
I see.
So it really is a baby demon lord.
That explains why it's so weak.
Weak? What is wrong with you?
Icicle Lance 6.
Water Jet.
Wha...
I've had enough of being looked at like that.
All right, you so-called demon prince,
let's get this over with.