A massive bronze gate shimmered under the golden sunlight of Nyvaris. The entire area trembled subtly as powerful magic returned to the surface—the exit portal to the Labyrinth of Eternity pulsing with energy.
One by one, figures emerged, each marked by exhaustion, battle damage, and something far rarer—genuine awe.
First Out: Milim Nava
Tattered black armor flickering with residual power, her pigtails frizzed and uneven, Milim leapt out of the portal and landed with a thud. Scratches covered her arms and cheeks, but her eyes burned with excitement.
"AHHHH! That was the BEST THING EVER!!!" she howled, fists in the air. "I want to go again!! Right now!!"
She twirled on the spot like a child on a sugar rush, oblivious to the damage she'd taken—bruises, blood, torn cape.
Varvatos, leaning against a marble column with his arms crossed, raised a brow.
"You truly are insatiable," he said with a soft chuckle.
Next: Guy Crimson
Out strode Guy, his long crimson coat billowing behind him, a thin trail of black ash trailing his boots. His eyes glinted with amusement. Though his face was calm, sweat clung to his brow. Misery and Rain waiting for him.
He approached Varvatos and smirked.
"You impress me again, Varvatos," he said, voice low and smooth. "I only reached floor 20… and yet, there are eighty more?"
Varvatos nodded. "That's correct."
"Heh…" Guy's smirk deepened. "If the monsters beyond are stronger than what we've faced so far... that means your strength is..." He paused, shaking his head. "...I don't even want to think about it."
Varvatos simply smiled. "Then perhaps, don't think. Just keep going deeper."
Then Came Draguel
Draguel, his long silver hair matted with sweat, his once-polished armor dented and scorched, limped through the gate, holding his ribs.
"Floor 15…" he muttered. "Those beasts with time-slicing claws… who designs these things?"
"You survived," Varvatos said calmly.
"Barely," Draguel groaned. "Glassord owes me a new leg brace after this…"
Behind him, Leon Cromwell and Luminous Valentine emerged almost together, both visibly shaken.
Leon wiped blood from the edge of his golden gloves.
"I'll admit it. I didn't expect to be pushed like that." He glanced at Luminous. "You good?"
"Tch… Don't speak to me like I'm fragile," Luminous snapped, though her shoulders trembled. Hinata was by her side, supporting her slightly.
"We stopped at floor twelve," Luminous said through gritted teeth. "Any further, and we'd have started dying for real."
The Middle Rankers: Carrion and Frey
Carrion stumbled out of the gate shirtless, fur smoking, laughing hoarsely.
"Floor eleven... and I thought Tempest's Dungeon was bad. Varvatos, you maniac!"
Frey floated behind him, wings tattered, holding a piece of a broken halberd.
"Next time… you go in first, lion," she said, shooting him a death glare.
"Heh! I'll race you," Carrion shot back.
Clayman... and His Shame
Finally, Clayman crawled out, cloak torn, his once-slick hair a frazzled mess. He was on all fours, gasping.
"I... I gave up at floor five," he wheezed. "You people are monsters!"
Milim laughed so hard she fell over.
"FLOOR FIVE!? HAHAHAHA!"
"Shut up, Milim!" Clayman shouted. "It was a tactical retreat!"
"Sure, sure," Guy said dryly. "Maybe next time just bring a blanket and a juice box."
The Observers
Sitting atop the grand viewing terrace, Rimuru, Veldora, Velzard, Diablo, and the rest of the elite waited with amused expressions.
"So this is what happens when you throw Demon Lords into Varvatos' playground," Benimaru said, arms crossed.
"They look like they crawled through a volcano," Shion added.
"More like ten," Souei noted.
Elmesia, sipping tea elegantly, murmured, "I imagine this was humbling for them."
"And useful," Rimuru said. "They needed this… to remember what it means to grow."
Varvatos stepped forward.
"You've all done well. You faced battles beyond imagination. But this is only the beginning."
"Another time," Leon said. "I'll come prepared."
"Hah. I'll bring my sons next time," Draguel added with a grin.
"If I survive the first twenty, I'm building a temple in your name," Carrion joked.
"Don't," Varvatos waved him off. "I don't do temples."
Milim, now clinging to Varvatos' arm, bounced excitedly.
"Please, please, can I go back in now?! Just one more floor!"
"You need rest," Rain said sternly.
"BOO."
Guy turned, his smirk ever-present.
"With this Labyrinth around, I won't be bored anymore."
He stopped beside Varvatos and said with a sideways glance:
"You're not just strong. You're dangerous."
Varvatos only chuckled.
"And yet you're still standing."
One by one, the Demon Lords began to depart.
Guy, flanked by Misery and Rain, walked toward the floating platform that would return them to the Ice Continent.
Leon vanished in a shimmer of light, leaving only a sigh.
Luminous, supported by Hinata, gave a final glance toward Shizu's spirit at the gate before disappearing.
Carrion and Frey, bickering, flew off together.
Clayman dragged himself toward the bathhouse, muttering curses.
And as the wind carried away the scent of battle, and the sun began to set over Nyvaris…
Varvatos stood alone before the Labyrinth gate, eyes glowing faintly.
"This is only the surface," he whispered.
"Deeper still lies the truth… and the war that none of them are ready for."