At the 27th floor, the team rotated once again, with Akira taking the lead.
On this level, the monsters dwelling within the Water City had grown significantly stronger. Among them were several blue-bodied, blue-maned, horse-shaped monsters—Kelpie and Lamia—half-human, half-serpent female monsters with wicked claws and long, serpentine tails.
One charged across the water toward Akira and the others, while the other slithered aggressively on the damp stone ground, its muscular tail swaying ominously.
Facing the oncoming threats, Akira wasted no time. With a swift motion, he unsheathed the one-handed sword at his waist.
In the blink of an eye, his figure blurred—like lightning weaving through the narrow, dim corridor. It was as if he'd teleported seven times in rapid succession.
With each burst of movement, the sword sliced through the air with a piercing whistle, sharp gusts of wind trailing behind the arcs.
Then, like a meteor streaking across the night sky, Akira's blade danced.
"Seven Lights." He said.
The next moment, he reappeared in front of the group of monsters. His sword glinted faintly as he gently shook it, scattering the droplets of monster blood that clung to the blade.
A muffled "puff" echoed through the corridor, and an invisible force slammed into the creatures. In unison, blood gushed from deep gashes, and their bodies suddenly split cleanly in two. Their lifeless remains crashed onto the cold dungeon floor.
Witnessing the seamless execution, Alise chuckled and tapped Kaguya on the shoulder. "Hey, isn't that your move, Kaguya? What's with 'Seven Lights'? I thought it was supposed to be 'Five Lights'? Hahaha."
[T/N: This refers to Kaguya's move Iai no Tachi "Gokou" where Gokou means Five Lights.]
Veins popped along Kaguya's forehead. She crossed her arms inside her sleeves and narrowed her eyes.
"I didn't teach him any technique. And his move isn't the same as mine. He just swung his sword seven times really fast. It has nothing to do with me."
Her own technique, "Five Lights," was the result of combining magic and sword skill—a different art entirely.
"Are you sure he's not borrowing your technique name?" Alise teased.
Kaguya frowned, reached out, and pinched Alise's cheek. "It's just a name. What's so funny about it?"
Before the debate could continue, Akira's shout echoed from ahead.
His sword ignited with blazing flames as he charged into another pack of monsters.
Kaguya burst into laughter and smacked Alise on the back. "Now it's your turn, Stupid Captain."
"Hmph. I should charge Akira a naming fee!"
While their banter echoed in the corridors, the expedition team finally arrived at the expansive lake where Amphisbaena dwelled.
Due to the unique terrain of the 27th floor, this floor boss held a distinct trait—the uncertainty of its spawning location.
Among the four known monster rexes of the Dungeon, both Goliath of the 17th floor and Udaeus of the 37th had fixed chambers within stone structures. Their locations never changed.
However, the remaining two—Amphisbaena on the 27th floor and Barol on the 49th—were influenced heavily by their environments.
The 49th floor, known as the "Great Wilderness," lacked any stone chambers, allowing Barol to roam freely across its expansive terrain.
Amphisbaena, on the other hand, was deeply affected by the interconnected waterways of the 25th, 26th, and 27th floors, all joined by a massive waterfall.
As a result, the two-headed dragon could appear on any of the three floors.
Throughout the expedition, the Astraea Familia remained vigilant, watching for signs of Amphisbaena. Yet, having found no trace of the beast on the upper two floors, it was all but confirmed that it waited here, on the 27th.
The 27th floor, the lowest point of the Water City, was dominated by a vast lake that absorbed water from the waterfall above and circulated it across the region.
Fighting Amphisbaena here meant facing the beast on its home turf—in the water.
According to intelligence from Riveria, Amphisbaena's aquatic combat potential ranked near Level 6. It was an existence comparable to the floor boss of the 37th floor, Udaeus.
Moreover, prior experience taught them that each of Amphisbaena's two heads bore unique abilities.
One head could unleash devastating flames, not magical in nature but raw, combustible jet-fire born from volatile fuel within its body. It was a physical attack with immense force.
The second head exhaled a thick mist that blanketed the area, severely weakening the effects of magic within its range.
Its entire body was coated in resilient, ivory-colored dragon scales, rendering magic largely ineffective against it. Combined with its tenacious vitality, the beast was a nightmare for any lone mage.
Looking over the silent surface of the lake, the girls recalled past tactics, where they had to lure the creature out. Otherwise, a battle wouldn't even commence.
But this time, they had Akira.
Having shared his plan beforehand, the team stood ready.
Alise slung an arm around Akira's shoulders and pointed at the tranquil waters. "Once the fight starts, that part's on you, Akira."
"Leave it to me." Akira nodded. "I'll provide the footing you all need."
Before engaging in battle, each member pulled out their protective garments—special gear akin to the Undine cloth used in earlier floors.
Woven from narcissus essence, the garments allowed adventurers to breathe underwater and move more swiftly while submerged.
In this flooded labyrinth, venturing in without them would be suicide. Even with the suits, danger was ever-present.
Raising her palm high, Alise shouted with a blazing spark in her voice, "Is everyone ready? Then the battle against Amphisbaena begins! Let's go!"
A thunderous cheer erupted in response. "Ohhhh!!!"
At the edge of the lake, Akira stood tall and still. His gaze fixed on the massive silhouette slumbering beneath the water's surface.
With a breath of resolve, Akira initiated his transformation, switching his class to Glacial Master.
As the shift completed, his body underwent a dramatic change. His jet-black hair faded into a snowy white cascade. His eyes, once a deep darkness, now blazed a cold, blood-red hue like frozen fire.
Even though the others had seen this form before, they still felt a tingle of awe. Akira, in this state, exuded a chilling majesty that captivated all eyes.