And then, the iron ball at maximum momentum encountered the Skeleton group led by the Black Armor.

It happened in an instant.

Skeletons, destroyed. Bone fragments, scattering everywhere. And then…

… the iron ball, pierced by a red magic sword, ground to a halt.

The Black Armor had thrust a blazing, scorching magic sword into the spinning iron ball, stopping its momentum dead.

Then, swinging the magic sword several more times, red lines traced across the iron ball, and it melted away along those lines.

"… Huh?"

My jaw dropped. I mean, that was an iron ball as wide as the passage, you know? Do you have any idea how much mass and momentum that thing had? Stopping it with a single sword is insane. And just how much heat would it take to completely melt that iron ball?

"Whoa, I was sure that did it… Haku-neesama's [Big Ball] got melted!?"

"Splendidly dealt with. Well, these things happen… Oh? Rokuko-chan, that magic sword… isn't that Core 666's?"

"You're right. I recognize that sword… wait, don't tell me the Dungeon Core herself came in person!?"

"Eh. I totally thought it was just a Living Armor."

I'd thought it was a Living Armor, empty inside… So that kind of usage was possible too. Well, we're wearing Golems ourselves, so I can't really talk.

Dungeon Cores don't need to breathe, so being underwater wouldn't be a problem… or maybe this Living Armor is her true form?

"Honestly, those Demon King Faction types are so annoyingly aggressive…"

Haku-san sighed and pressed her hand against her temple.

Maybe that's common in the Demon King Faction. A whole group whose members personally take the field as dungeon bosses, perhaps?

"… Well, alright. Ichika, send the Sahagin squad into [Team Demon King]'s dungeon now. This is our chance while the Black Armor isn't there."

"Roger～"

"Niku, do you need reinforcements?"

"I think we should wait and see a bit longer. Gargoyles would be appreciated."

"Got it. I'll summon some."

Using [Summon Gargoyle], I sent them to the flood gate room on the lowest floor.

… It's a bit late to mention, but Gargoyles can move between floors via a back route. They pass through the sea outside the dungeon, a route that's completely off the books. Since each floor has a flood gate room set up like a spacecraft airlock, they can freely move to any floor using this route. If I collect the water first, they can move stealthily without triggering any flooding.

For invasion from the outside, we simply keep the doors firmly shut. There's a proper route, so please use that instead.

"Mu, the Black Armor has already reached the middle layer, the submerged area."

"Muu, we can't use [Big Ball] against 666 anymore."

"Just in case, I've got another one ready past the submerged area, in the upper layer. Let's try combining it with a water attack this time so it doesn't get melted."

It might have enough killing power to accidentally destroy Core 666, but coming to the front lines as a Dungeon Core is her own fault.

"… Hypothetically, it won't be my fault if Core 666 dies, right?"

"Well, accidents happen during Dungeon Battles. Feel free to go for the kill."

Got Haku-san's seal of approval. Let's continue going all out.

"Middle layer, pour in the water. Let's feed them to the orichalcum wire."

"Okay～"

"Ah, use the reverse current too. That'll make it impossible to brace."

"Oh, then I need to open a flood gate from the other direction too."

It's the middle layer, but we can pour water in from the lower layer on the opposite side.

By pouring in massive amounts of water to create a reverse current, the raging turbulence should toss them around and mince them with the orichalcum wire.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

Team Demon King's Side

"That was a close one."

That iron ball had quite the momentum. She'd let her guard down thinking it would only be water, so her reaction was delayed.

She'd nearly been run over, but she managed to deal with it.

A thrill ran through her. This. Yes, this is what it's about.

"Ahh… how delightful."

A smile spilled unbidden across her face.

The sensation of honing her very existence to a razor's edge. This was exactly the stimulation Core 666 craved.

Tranquility was nothing but a heavy, dulling poison.

"What a wonderful battle! Wisdom and traps, and strategy! So that's your power, 695. Tell me, 695… are you savoring this moment as much as I am?"

She wanted nothing more than to share this joy with her "rival," thought Core 666.

… But until now, that wish had never come true.

Because Core 666 was exceptional, and there was no comparable Core in the 600 series. Even she couldn't help but show restraint toward Cores from the 500 series and earlier, as her seniors.

She held genuine respect for those of higher generations and greater strength. But toward those at the same level or below, she couldn't help but think: how pathetic, to be on the same level as me, a 600-series Core.

That was why no one could be her "rival."

But if it were 695, a fellow Core from the same 600 series… perhaps, just perhaps, she could become a "rival" to share these feelings with.

This thirst-like, almost lovesick feeling. Painfully unbearable, making her crave more and more. The joy of filling this empty vessel made of endless desire was so precious she could hardly stand it.

If she had a "rival" she could enjoy this with… she couldn't think of a better word for it… she would surely want to trample and break them. That would be the ultimate bliss.

"Aidi, I defeated Team Dragon King's boss. Found the Core."

At that moment, a calm report came in from her master.

The voice of a boy who called Core 666 "Aidi." A report of conquest.

"Go ahead and destroy it. How was it on your end?"

"Nothing much. A letdown."

Apparently a Poison Wyvern appeared as the boss.

A flying sub-dragon with poison. Reasonably tough, but that was all.

"I didn't expect its poison breath to explode, but that was about it."

"I see."

The poison was completely ineffective against her master's Living Armor, but apparently the poison had volatilized and filled the room, then exploded when the wyvern scraped its claws against the stone floor.

So that was their trump card.

Surprising, but nothing more.

"Will you come here after destroying the Dummy Core?"

"I will. Just destroyed it."

As if to confirm her master's report, [Father] opened communications.

"Alright～, Team Dragon King is out! Too bad, 5. Pulling out your attackers."

"Ugaaaah! I didn't get to do anything at all!!!"

"""We're sorry, 5-sama!!"""

The pitiful chirping of those insects could be heard.

With this, the nuisances were gone.

"Finally, I can play one-on-one with 695."

Core 666 pressed forward into [Team Sovereign]'s dungeon.

For such a heavy Living Armor, her advancing footsteps were light.