"...

"

Ayda let out a sigh before walking up to john and kneeling down besides him. She then placed her hands slightly above his head and began to chant

"That john never ceases to amaze me... I'm not sure even I could have gotten up after getting hit by an attack like that.

" He said before letting out a chuckle

But you would have survived it? Everyone simultaneously thought as they looked at him

"Saint-Class Holy Magic: sacrum infirmos

" Translation: Sacred Heal

A light-green light began to cover John's body and shortly after his eyes opened

"Where... Ah... right... I was talking about that new spell... what happened after that?

"

"Nothing!

" Serena and Ariel simultaneously shouted, still embarrassed.

"I see...

" John muttered

"Hm? That's strange...

" Ayda muttered

"What's wrong?

" Azure asked as he approached them

"His bones... They weren't broken... He was only injured in his head?

"

"No, I'm sure I heard a crack...

" Said Ariel

"It definitely broke.

" Added Serena

"Oh! I remember now... I was feeling light headed so I tripped and held on to you two so I wouldn't fall and then you knocked me out!

" Said John

"Wait, you're saying that happened because you tripped?!

" Serena asked with an annoyed look

"Really?

" Ariel asked with a dejected look

"Wait, why are you the ones getting mad?

" John asked

"Nothing.

" They simultaneously replied as they turned their heads

Zestari, did I suffer any permanent lethal damage to my brain to make me unable to tell between who's in the right and wrong in this case?

No, you continue to remain as dense as you've always been, or rather, I feel like hitting your head may have made you smarter.

And I was a fool for asking you.

Nonetheless, to change the subject of the conversation to avoid explaining the new spell which you nearly gave out, even I didn't expect that. You also didn't trip did you?

Is there anything you don't know?

How much magic power you used to reinforce your body right before you hit the wall?

…

I still deserve a thank you

For?

Protecting and healing your consciousness after your brain suffered a major impact.

"

Thank you, I don't feel too different, are there any drawbacks?

None, I cast the spell the instant you impact, so you're perfectly fine

I see... Thank you.

John was concerned about how she was able to use a spell despite him being under control, but he decided to keep that question to himself.

***

"So, are you sure you're fully recovered?

" Azure asked

"That's right

" John replied

"You really surprised me, I thought for sure you had given up on the race and was planning to be last in the order or something.

"

"Haha, I'm not that kind.

"

"I doubt that, you see those guys over there?

" Azure asked as he looked at the ladies party and the 5 who wore cloaks.

"Yeah, what about them?

"

"I'd be careful around them, they're hiding a lot of things

"

"As if their getup wasn't blatant enough... Don't worry, I'm already being wary of them, and others.

"

"Others, huh? I'm not surprised that no one in that lady's party has fallen yet, she's a great leader.

"

"If only her members had a portion of that.

" Said John

"Hahaha, yeah, but anyways, you should probably get going, your party is waiting in front of the door

"

"Those guys... so impatient, but yeah, make sure you put on the anti-sound ear plugs after I leave, I'm sure master told you about my spell to make you take them off. Thanks for trusting it.

" Said John

"So she's your master... No problem, she had no reason to lie, I'm more interested in how she wasn't hypnotised despite not having the anti-sound ear plugs

"

"She's my master, after all. Well, bye Azurel

"

"May we meet again.

"

John ran up towards his party, and the four opened the door and entered the boss room before it closed.

"Now, let's see how long it'll take you to deal with the boss...

" Azurel muttered as he put on his ear plugs

--------------------------------

As John and the others looked around the room, they noticed that there was arena like last time, but another edge, in front of it was a pit which was filled to the brim with water.

"We're not supposed to go down there, are we?

" Serena asked

"Do you have any better ideas?

" John asked

"... How about, we just throw down a bunch of spells and kill whatever's down there.

"

"It'll be a waste of magic power, we still have 3 floors left after this.

"

"Didn't you end up getting hurt so badly you lost consciousness? You're the last person that should be complaining.

"

"Sure, sure

" John replied before running towards the edge

"Hey wait!

"

He jumped off and landed in the water as he shouted

*Splash*

"let's go, the water's pretty warm!

"

Ariel and Master Sylvia followed after and jumped in, Serena was the only one still on the edge

*Splash* *Splash*

"... Screw it. If anything goes wrong, it's on you.

" She said before running off the edge and jumping into the water

*Splash*

"It always has been

" John muttered

He then formed an air bubble and sound-proof field around them.

"Alright... I wonder what's down there...

" John muttered as they began to slowly descend

It was dark, pitch-black just like before, the lights from the dungeon only reached a few meters down before the entire water was clouded in darkness

"Lux

" Translation: Light

3 Small orbs of a bright glowing light were formed and illuminated the whole pit. The bottom of the water pit could be seen but there was no monsters.

Not only that, but the water was surprisingly clean in terms of John's perspective

Deprehendre

"Posession!

"

As soon as darkness started to cloud John's eyes, he froze the water around the air bubble and in that instant, something collided with the dark ice which was formed.

"Deja-vu sure is handy... Now how should we deal with that...

"

"Ariel.

"

Serena called out to Ariel and the two nodded at each other

Looks like you won't have to worry about how you'll deal with it. Said Zestari