Dungeon, 24th Floor.
As its name, Large Tree Labyrinth, suggested, the scenery on this floor was a perfect blend of 'Tree' and 'Labyrinth.'
Not only were the paths here intricate, but they were also tangled, like a fairytale forest—one that gave the illusion that stepping into it would lead straight into a dream, a paradise where one could easily lose their way.
Meanwhile, the walls, ceiling, and ground were all made of bark, as if the entire labyrinth had formed within the hollow of an enormous tree.
Glowing moss spread wildly without order, flourishing across the labyrinth, and along the roads grew leaves of peculiar colors and shapes, gigantic fungi, and flower petals dripping with silvery dew—plants unseen on the surface.
There were even beautiful gardens, overgrown meadows, lush groves, and enormous beehives, all forming a breathtaking sight that turned this labyrinth into something like a paradise.
In truth, for some people, this place was indeed a paradise.
From the 19th to the 24th Floor, the Large Tree Labyrinth had a unique trait—it was home to a great variety of rare herbs, fruits, and other natural materials.
Some of these could be eaten directly and tasted exquisite, while others possessed instant healing or detoxifying effects, making them highly prized by alchemists who brewed potions and crafted items.
Some plants were considered rare or even luxurious collectibles on the surface, and others held artistic value. Even the luminous moss that served as the labyrinth's light source could be sold for a considerable amount of money.
One could say this floor was literally covered in treasure.
Because of this feature, many merchants and pharmacists from the surface posted quests at the Guild, requesting high-level adventurers to venture into the Large Tree Labyrinth and gather valuable materials for them.
Some business-type familias even formed regular collection parties to visit this area, turning it into one of the Dungeon's most profitable zones.
Thanks to that, many adventurers treated this place as a gold mine, for every year, countless adventurers short on money came here hoping to find 'treasures.'
Yet many also lost their precious lives in the process—a grim reminder that no matter how rich in resources it was, the Dungeon was still the Dungeon, and danger was always ever-present.
Perhaps because of that, the Dungeon—like a mother—seemed especially fond of this area, giving birth to monsters far more numerous and varied than on the previous floors.
In this place dwelled Bugbears and Mad Beetles with high innate abilities that ordinary Level 2 adventurers could hardly handle.
There were also Gun Libellulas and Firebirds that specialized in long-range attacks, and Dark Fungi that could inflict poison. If one were targeted by these monsters, even a Second-Class Adventurer at Level 3 would find it troublesome.
Aside from those, there were Deadly Hornets that suddenly burst from trees to stab their massive tail stingers into flesh, Lizardmen capable of wielding weapons and shields, Hobgoblins so large they were hard to believe, and Sword Stags with terrifyingly sharp horns.
None of these creatures was easy prey—each had its own strength and danger.
In such a place, even a large group of mediocre Level 2 adventurers would only be walking to their deaths.
For a Level 3, surviving alone was difficult, and even a Level 4 could die here from carelessness since there had been more than a few Level 4 adventurers who had perished on this floor due to monster outbreaks or other irregularities.
In that sense, the mysterious magus had been right to entrust the abnormal incident—the sudden monster outbreak—to the Hermes Familia, with fifteen members coming to the 24th Floor, including Asfi herself.
Most of them were Level 3 adventurers, while Asfi was Level 4.
Such a party could easily explore even the deeper Lower Floors, perhaps even risk a dive down to the 37th Floor if they wished.
Under normal circumstances, sending such a powerful party to the 24th Floor would have been—no, absolutely—overkill.
But today, this very party could only barely defend itself.
Why?
Simple.
*ROOOAAAAAARRR—!!!*
With a deafening roar that shook the entire Large Tree Labyrinth, a massive horde of monsters appeared, swarming through the labyrinth like a stampede of beasts.
It was a sight like a black tide surging forward.
It was a scene like a world overrun by unleashed beasts.
Deadly Hornets, Lizardmen, Sword Stags, Dark Fungi—monsters of all kinds discarded their differences and charged together as one, forming what looked like an army, a single force crashing toward any prey they found on this floor.
Such a spectacular monster horde nearly flooded the entire passage, leaving the adventurers with no place to escape.
"Form up! Raise your shields!"
Asfi, her eyes widened at the sight of the approaching horde, instantly felt a jolt of instinctive fear electrify her body before she shouted her order.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
At once, the vanguards of the Hermes Familia stepped forward, suppressing their trembling hearts as they followed their captain's command, slamming their shields into the ground to form a solid wall.
Behind them, a weretiger swung his greatsword, a pallum mage raised his staff and began chanting, a beautiful elf nocked her bow and released a volley of arrows, and a chienthrope girl leapt into the trees with twin daggers in hand, preparing to flank the enemy from the forest.
At this moment, the Hermes Familia clashed with the monstrous army, plunging into a desperate melee.
Facing such overwhelming numbers, even Level 3 and 4 adventurers could only barely hold the line as they fought desperately to block the monsters' charge outside their ranks.
What stood before them was sheer violence manifested through numbers.
For the Hermes Familia, this roaring, frenzied horde was far more terrifying than any monster outbreak, pounding against their defense in a hysterical attempt to consume them.
"So this is what they mean by an irregular monster outbreak?!"
Asfi finally grasped the severity of the situation.
Now she understood why so many adventurers who had explored this floor before had never returned.
With such an abnormal number of monsters, even they struggled to hold on—lesser adventurers at Level 2 would have stood no chance.
"Trickster Sword! Sword Princess!"
Asfi turned her head toward the two First-Class Adventurers beside her, hoping for their aid, but before she could even finish calling, two gusts of wind swept past her.
Now, the young man and woman who had been standing by her side were already gone, their bodies becoming twin streaks of hurricane that whipped through the air.
"Let's go!"
"Mm!"
After that brief exchange, the two leapt high into the air, vaulting over the Hermes Familia shield wall amid gasps and astonishment, plunging straight into the swarm of monsters.
*Schwing!*
*Clang!*
Two crisp sounds of drawn blades echoed through the labyrinth.
*Swish!*
Ais was the first to strike—her silver sword flashed through the air, tracing a lightning arc as it cut down a Deadly Hornet midflight.
*GROAAAAA!*
*ROAAARRR!*
*SCREEECH!*
As Ais approached, the surrounding monsters immediately turned their bloodthirsty eyes toward her.
Among them, two Firebirds were the most prominent, spouting flames as they dived at her, intent on burning her and their allies alike into ashes.
Yet Ais simply moved—cold, swift, and merciless.
Her sword carved through the air in a storm of blinding slashes, her figure darting like the wind itself, while her silver sword became the heart of a maelstrom, shredding every monster that dared to approach.
Even the Firebirds' flaming breaths were cleaved apart and scattered, her strength terrifying to behold.
Compared to Ais's whirlwind of destruction, Riezel's movements were far more graceful.
He followed just a step behind her, slipping through the gaps between monsters.
Reaching the center of the horde, he turned sharply, and his crystal-clear sword, Fool, traced arcs of shimmering light through the air.
Even though his slashes were silent, like a breeze brushing past, they were sharp, precise, and seemingly light, yet every monster his sword touched screamed in agony, losing limbs in an instant as blood splattered across the ground.
Unlike Ais's tempest of swordlight, Riezel moved like a dancer weaving through death itself, reaping lives while elegantly evading every strike with perfect timing.
And then, before the stunned eyes of the members of the Hermes Familia, he began chanting magic—calmly, with composure and grace.
"Unleashed streak of light, bow limbs of the holy tree. You are an expert of the bow."
"Shoot, sniper of the fairies."
"Penetrate, arrow of absolute accuracy."
As if dancing on the edge of a blade, Riezel sidestepped the downward slash of a Lizardman, kicked away a swooping Gun Libellula, dodged the assaults of Bugbears and Mad Beetles, and turned toward the densest cluster of monsters, raising his hand.
"Arcs Ray!"
A golden magic circle flared before Riezel's palm, and in the next instant, a radiant torrent burst forth from his hand.
*Whoosh!*
In an instant, the light devoured the monsters and the passage.
*BOOOM!*
It also devoured the entire labyrinth before it culminated in a thunderous explosion.
Asfi trembled at the sight.
"Ridiculous..."
Seeing Riezel's performance, Asfi, the captain of the Hermes Familia, pressed her lips together tightly.
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