Killer glanced back nervously. In that moment, one of the enemies clawed his face. Blood flew. Killer’s eyes flew wide, glowing brilliant blue. He howled and rushed at the monsters, flying blindly into their depths. A lion-like monster leaped on Killer, bowling him to the ground. Killer lifted his legs and kicked the lion into the air, then rolled and kicked himself high into the air, chasing after it. Spinning in midair, he kicked the lion back into the floor.

Aster stepped back, narrowly dodging the lion as it smashed into the floor. That’s a berserker for you.

Still screaming, Killer plunged deeper into the enemies. Even with his red cloak, he quickly vanished amidst the melee.

Overhead, Silas began to sing. Killer roared in time with his singing as he grew stronger yet again. The invading monsters turned, racing to stop Killer before he charged into their dungeon again.

One of the monsters broke away from the knot of enemies around Silas and charged toward Aster instead. The monkey-like creature barreled toward Aster on its knuckles, letting out a terrible screech as it lowered its head to charge.

Aster stepped forward and swung the hammer with both hands. The monkey raised its huge hands to block the hammer. The hammer smashed into it. It staggered sideways, then looked up at Aster, smug.

Its big hands wrapped around the hammer’s head, holding it still.

Unhesitatingly, Aster drew his sword. He yanked the hammer’s shaft with one hand and drew the monkey closer to him, slicing at its neck with the other hand. The monkey’s head plopped off and rolled away, neck spraying blood, and it sank to its knees, dead.

Everywhere the blood touched, Aster’s skin turned purple, poisoned and sick. His skin burned around the purple splotches. Heat emanated from his skin. With every moment, the area turning purple spread wider and wider. He raised his hand. “Milo!”

Pale healing light fell over Aster. The purple blotches faded, vanishing along with the burning sensation. Aster took a deep breath and lifted the hammer again. I can’t be careless. Even if I kill them before they hurt me, their blood can still kill me.

Strength flowed through his body from Silas’ spell. Aster took a deep breath and stretched, then charged ahead. Alright! Let’s take this wave down!

Daiyo thumped down beside him, rattling the floor and the walls. He reached out a hand and closed it around a mangy dire wolf’s head. The dire wolf didn’t have time to scream before it died.

“I shouldn’t let the humans have all the glory,” Daiyo chuckled.

The stone spirits screeched out and spun around, stone hands flailing wildly.

“Slimes!” Stella shouted.

The slimes bounced around Aster. One exploded, sending baby fire slimes everywhere. Aster ducked, dodging the baby slimes. Another slime crumpled over, sagging to the earth, then another and another, all of them melting into limp puddles except the babies, who bounced away happily.

“Slimes?” Stella asked.

“They’re diseased!” Aster shouted. So much for slimes being immune to disease.

“Oh no, oh no!” Stella cried, nervous.

Milo lifted his staff, uncertain. “You know, I… I’ve actually never healed monsters before. Come to think of it, I’m not sure I can heal monsters…”

Stolen story; please report.

Couldn’t have mentioned this earlier, huh? Milo… come on, man. Didn’t tell me about Alice and Silas, and now this? Aster rolled his eyes. “Try it, at least!”

Swallowing, Milo closed his eyes and chanted. Light spun around the chamber in the labyrinth’s center. The light settled around the slimes, sinking into their melted bodies.

“Aster, are they okay? Did they heal?” Stella asked.

“Give it a moment,” Aster said, watching the slimes.

They sat there, still and sad, little more than floppy puddles. The invading monsters trampled over them, splattering their bodies all around.

Aster twisted his lips. He stepped forward, raising his hammer. “Milo…”

“It takes a moment! It…” Milo scowled and shook his staff.

Silas sighed. “It’s holy magic, Milo. Monsters are unclean, and cannot be healed. It’s like you aren’t even a priest.”

Milo bit his lip. He looked at his staff. “So… I’m useless?”

Little footsteps sounded. Stella leaped across the labyrinth and tugged at Milo’s robes.

“I’m sorry, Stella. I can’t heal them,” Milo apologized.

Stella shook her head. She pointed at his staff. “Use me.”

“H…huh?” Milo asked, startled.

“Instead of that god of yours. Use me!” Stella said. She shook her head. “I don’t know healing spells, but you do. I have mana the monsters can use, but you don’t. So use me, and cast your healing spells!”

Milo furrowed his brows. “I… that…”

“How is that even possible? Don’t be ridiculous,” Silas snarked, rolling his eyes.

“No, it is. Have you ever heard about Land Gods?” Milo asked, looking at Silas.

Silas frowned. “Isn’t that all bullshit? Land Gods are just the bullshit people bring up when they want to ban adventurers from dungeons. They aren’t real.”

Eyes locked on Stella, Milo nodded once. He took a deep breath and lifted his staff again. Closing his eyes, he murmured to himself, “Use Stella… instead of my god. Use Stella as my god.”

Brows furrowing deeper, Silas stepped forward. “Milo. This is blasphemy. What are you doing? If you keep this up, the church will reject you. You’ll get banned as a priest! You’re only a B-rank priest, you can’t—”

“Silas! Let him choose his own path,” Aster shouted.

“But this is obviously a mistake! He’s cutting off his own future!” Silas argued.

“Even if it’s a mistake to you, it’s his choice whether to make it or not,” Aster returned.

Silas wrinkled his nose. “You’re just saying this because it benefits you.”

Aster snorted under his breath. He channeled his frustration into a furious swing and crushed a huge, elephant-like monster’s knees out from under it. How does it benefit me? Explain it to me. I don’t even like slimes! I’d be very happy if there were no more slimes in Stella’s dungeon, but here I am helping her out anyways, dammit!

The light on Milo’s staff changed from white to blue. His lips moved as he murmured a spell, and he thrust his staff out.

Blue light swirled around the slimes. This time, it soaked into them. They glowed blue from the inside out. The slimes shivered, then began to reform. They jiggled up to their full height. Blue flames burst from their heads. Bobbling aggressively, the rejuvenated slimes charged at the monsters once more.

“Milo!” Silas shouted, scared and frustrated. “Milo, what did you do?”

“I helped. Aren’t you helping, too, Silas? Is there anything wrong with that?” Milo asked, folding his arms.

Silas rubbed his forehead. “But… I just sang a song I already knew. You… you swapped gods! You can’t just do that!”

Milo shrugged. “Apparently I can.”

“What if you leave this dungeon? You can’t call on Stella’s power outside of here! What about healing humans?” Silas protested.

Milo swirled his staff. The blue light around it changed to white. “It’s only temporary.”

Silas scowled. “Still, the church won’t like this.”

“The church dislikes much,” Milo returned, waving his hand lightly.

“Milo! Are you seriously throwing away your future?” Silas asked.

Milo scoffed. “What future? The one my parents picked for me, where I vanished into the priesthood, never to appear again? The one where I spend my entire life as a B-rank adventurer without any goal or objective of my own?”

“I thought you wanted to be an adventurer,” Silas said, taken aback.

“Did you ever ask? Ah… no. I should have mentioned it myself,” Milo said quietly. He shook his head. “I’m still figuring out what I want to do. And maybe… I want to help Stella.”

Silas sighed. He shook his head. “So I guess you’re not coming with me when I leave.”

“Maybe,” Milo allowed, shrugging.

Killer fell back once again, spitting up blood and phlegm this time, streaked in claw marks and blackened blood. Aster pushed him back, holding the line. “How’s it look up there?”

“Wave… is almost done,” Killer reported.

Aster nodded. “Hear that, Daiyo?”

Daiyo laughed. “Sounds like we’re going to win this one.”