Chapter 260 Beyond This Point Is The Deepest Floor
"――Alright, let's go."
With that, Lucia walked on her own and passed through the elevator doors.
Day 6 of the exploration.
Climbing up the incredibly long cable, we finally reached the deepest floor of the [God's Remains Labyrinth]――the final area known as the "Geostationary Station."
After the elevator, which had been moving continuously, stopped for a moment, Lucia operated the panel to open the door and stepped outside.
Following her small back, we got off the elevator and looked around the inside of the station.
"We can see our planet outside... No, but that's probably just an illusion created by the labyrinth."
"It's beautiful..."
"The sky is so dark."
"Idiot Calum, that's not the sky, it's space."
The walls of the station had many transparent parts like glass, allowing us to see the outside scenery. A shining blue planet floated below us, and the space――not the sky――was wrapped in a dark, unsettling void.
On the other hand――
"It's really creepy, isn't it?"
"There are no people here."
"It's too quiet, it's kind of scary."
The inside of the station had an overall white impression and was clean. The place where we got off was a wide, open entrance lobby, and looking up, it seemed to go up about 5 levels. The lobby was a cylindrical space, with countless rooms that looked like shops or facilities lining the inner edge.
And strangely, there were several poles――no, they were too thin to be called pillars, so maybe we should call them poles――installed throughout all the levels, and where those poles went through, there were large holes big enough for a person to easily pass through.
As I wondered what the hole was for, Io said something very obvious to Lucia.
"Lady Lucia, we can walk normally here. I thought our bodies would float."
"Hey, Io, what are you talking about?"
I chuckled and jumped in with a tsukkomi. Is Io's head messed up from being nervous?
"There's no way our bodies would float when we're not in water――."
"Yeah. Io's thinking is correct."
"――Of course, we would float."
I agreed with Io's words.
Did you not know? In space, bodies float, you know? I don't know why, but since Lucia-san said it, it must be true.
Lucia explained.
"Here, at the geostationary orbit station, the planet's gravity and centrifugal force balance out, creating a microgravity state."
"I see... so that's how it is."
"Hmm... just as I imagined."
Io and I nodded. But then Io asked.
"Then, why is there gravity here?"
"Well, even in a real geostationary orbit station, there are artificial gravity generation devices, but basically, they are only used in certain areas. However, here, it seems they always activate the devices to generate gravity. The reason is simply that it is set up that way..."
"I see... well, that's convenient for us. If we had to fight in a 0-gravity environment, we might not be able to move well."
"Exactly."
As I nodded in complete agreement, Lucia gave me a suspicious look.
"Aaron, you don't have to pretend to understand."
"That's rude. I understand perfectly. For example――."
I pointed at the strange hole in the hallway and the pole that went through all the floors.
"That hole and pole are for moving, right? If your body can float, it's more efficient to move straight up and down than to use the stairs, right?"
"――――!?!?!?"
For some reason, Lucia looked shocked. Well, I guess she was just surprised by my intelligence.
Meanwhile, Io shrugged and said to Lucia in a comforting tone.
"Lady Lucia, don't think too hard about it. This guy didn't come up with the answer logically; he just guessed based on his instincts because the 0-gravity environment might affect the fight. He wouldn't say something this sharp about academic stuff that doesn't relate to battle."
"Yeah... right. For a moment, I thought Aaron got smarter, and I was surprised. I thought he was a fake."
Lucia sighed in relief, patting her chest.
Are these guys making fun of me?
...No, that can't be. If I think calmly, there's no way this super talented workshop master could be mistaken for a fool.
"Then, let's go to the Guardian's room! I want you to follow me!"
While I was thinking about whether I should punish Lucia or not, she said that and started walking.
* * *
As we passed through the wide entrance lobby and moved down the hallway, the scenery inside became more and more bleak.
"This area ahead is the lab area."
Lucia said, so it seemed like a section filled with research facilities.
I feel like I've walked quite a bit, moving further ahead. Finally, I reach the place I was aiming for, probably at the edge of the huge geostationary station.
What appears before me is an ordinary door――one that doesn't even have a handle to open it, a thick metal door that seems hard to describe as normal for us living in modern times. Still, it looks pretty much the same as many of the doors I've seen on the way here.
I stop in front of it, and Lucia turns around.
"――Beyond this point is the deepest floor of the [God's Remains Labyrinth]. There exists a being that 'recreates' me from the time I was captured by the [Evil God]. It's the innermost chamber."
"...Is this really the place?"
I ask, feeling doubtful.
After all, this is where the last guardian is. I thought it would be a more majestic or mysterious place.
Sure, being 36,000 kilometers (≈ 22,369 miles) above the ground is special enough, but the door in front of me is much smaller and lacks any decorations compared to the huge gate at the floating island in the highest floor of the sky.
However, Lucia nodded, saying, "There's no mistake."
...It seems that the last guardian is really beyond this door.
I turn to my companions and tell them.
"――We don't know what will happen beyond this point. It's very possible that the [Evil Gods] will attack during the battle with the guardian. ...Everyone, stay on high alert."
"""Got it!!"""
They respond with a firm answer, as if to say it was obvious.
I nodded, stored "Black Radiance" in its sheath on my waist, and took out "Black-White" instead, gripping it tightly. I then channeled my aura and magical energy, dyeing it black and white.
"If you have 'Black Moon,' equip it now!"
"""Got it!!"""
"And as I mentioned before, during the fight with the guardians, we'll seal the entire area with [Black Seal Domain]. Lucia, Noah, Chloe, you can't use space magic, so keep that in mind."
"Okay!"
"Understood!"
"Y-yes, I got it!"
"Fiona, have you already disconnected from Lucia over there?"
"Yeah. I haven't connected at all since I woke up today."
"Good. If those [Evil Gods] show up, be ready to activate [God's Descent] immediately."
"Yeah. No problem."
...Have I said everything I needed to?
I turned back toward the door and spoke to Lucia, who was standing in front of the glowing panel next to it.
"Lucia, please."
"Okay. Here we go."
Lucia operated the panel.
Right after that, a hissing sound echoed as air escaped, and then the door began to open.
In that moment, I swung my sword toward the other side of the door.
My unique sword technique [Continuous Blade]――variation [Black Seal Domain].
Released was a black [Continuous Blade] stained with heavy attributes. Countless blades dove into the innermost chamber, scattering and spreading to every corner, then breaking apart and transforming like mist.
"――Here we go!!"
I charged into the innermost chamber covered by the [Black Seal Domain]. I could tell my teammates were right behind me, even without looking.
The innermost chamber we rushed into was surprisingly spacious.
It was probably about a quarter the size of the above-ground part of the [Seal Temple]. Even with over 80 people fighting, there was plenty of room.
Inside, despite being called a research facility, there was nothing there.
The floor, walls, and ceiling were all a spotless white, but occasionally, lines of magical energy light ran across the surface, countless and orderly.
This strange size must mean it was structured differently from the lab where Lucia was.
In the center of that peculiar room, about 3 meters (≈ 9.8 feet) above the floor, a white sphere floated.
――I understood it through magical energy.
That was the final guardian of this labyrinth.
As we entered the room and looked up, the next moment, the white sphere changed shape.
Like petals opening, pure white wings spread out, and from within, a woman appeared.
She had 6 pairs of wings, long, shiny silver hair that flowed like moonlight, and golden eyes that shone with a gentle light like a mother's. Her features were extremely beautiful, but to us, she had a strangely familiar face.
It was the beauty of what Lucia would look like if she grew up into an adult.
Her perfectly balanced figure, with a rich chest, floating quietly in the air with a smile――indeed, she was exactly what humans imagine a goddess to be.
And that silhouette was the same as the false angel that had been parasitizing Nord.
"That's...!!"
"The last...!!"
"How beautiful...!!"
My friends murmured in awe.
[God's Remains Labyrinth] Floor 50 Guardian――≪the Original Priestess Lucia≫
Or perhaps we should call her the "False Goddess."
She mastered all types of magic, including space magic, and even skills that used aura. The false goddess could use skills from many different jobs.
A guardian with all-powerful abilities.
Compared to her, even Ignitor would seem like just a weakling. But, she shouldn't be our enemy right now.
If everything goes as it should, victory is certain.
I was about to swing my sword at the false goddess to signal the start of the battle――when suddenly, a scream rang out.
"W-Why!!?"
It was Lucia's voice.
Lucia looked up at the floating, still false goddess, her face filled with shock as she shouted.
"Why!! Is she n*ked!!?"
The false goddess was completely n*ked.
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