Chapter 90: Safe Floor, Setting Sail Again, Reaching the Familia Expedition's Goal
"Goliath."
Liam was relatively familiar with this monster. Compared to the Young Dragon encountered in the upper levels, it was on a completely different level of strength.
Its ability scores were classified as Lv4.
And regarding the latter half of Lili's information, he wasn't surprised either. To leave the Dungeon, one must pass through the 17th-floor area.
Considering the Loki Familia's strength, it was reasonable for them to have "taken care of it" along the way.
Relying on the "Warlord's Fervor" skill effect, with all amplification effects at full power, and the strength he currently possessed.
Whether he could deal with Goliath – Liam was indeed very curious.
Looking at Lili's slightly childish, serious expression, as if she needed a definite answer, his face was filled with seriousness.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"That's good then."
After receiving his reply, Lili put away her serious look. She once again led the team to explore the 17th-floor area.
Still the familiar cave environment.
As the main force for clearing monsters on the expedition, Liam naturally led the team forward. No new monsters appeared in the current area.
"Drawing Sword."
In the current area, this was an absolutely overpowered combat method. As long as he stood at the other end of the passage and simply charged up.
He could enjoy the ultimate pleasure of mowing down grass!
When encountering a large gathering of monsters, the effect of the "Futsunomitama" magic that Mikoto had mastered was perfectly displayed.
Applying a gravity field, it briefly restricted the monsters' movements.
When the charge was complete, the slashing effect of the Selfless Sword Aura could easily clear out all the monsters in the current area.
There was a price, of course.
Liam could clearly feel the decrease in his weapon's durability. The reason for this was very easy to guess: filling it with sword aura.
Compressing the Selfless Sword Aura would inevitably have some effect on the overall material.
But the good news was that this weapon could be repaired for free at the "Hephaestus Weapon Shop" without limitation.
After dealing with the monsters, Lili, as the supporter, and Chigusa, who was helping.
Quickly collected the dropped magic stones and materials from the ground. Everyone in the expedition team had their own task.
On the contrary, the Lv2 adventurer Kashima Ouka.
Who should have been the mainstay of the Familia expedition team, had instead become an unofficial member who was just slacking off. He also realized this point.
"Why do I feel like I'm just an uninvolved bystander?"
Kashima's honest face looked at Liam with a bitter smile, his tone as solemn as when addressing a god.
He made a request.
"Liam, you have to let me have some sense of participation in this Familia expedition, right?"
"You want a sense of participation?"
Stopping in place for a simple rest, upon hearing Kashima Ouka's request, Liam looked up, his mood filled with strangeness.
He didn't refuse his request.
Just from a professional perspective, and analyzing the current situation, he quickly had a specific idea.
He pondered for a moment, finally looking up with an exceptionally serious tone, "There really is something you can do, and only you can do it."
"Leave it to me!"
Kashima patted his chest resoundingly. He didn't even ask for any details. As long as he wasn't a freeloader in the expedition team.
That was enough!
The expedition team continued along the passage. As the sound of footsteps grew closer, Mikoto chanted an incantation, preparing her magic.
The distance was constantly closing, and behind them were the roars of monsters.
What came into view next was Kashima Ouka, his expression numb, running towards the team without any weapon.
Attracted by the sound of his footsteps, behind him was an extremely vast number of monsters.
"Being used as bait to attract monsters."
He had never dreamed that this was what Liam meant by "playing a role." Although in past Dungeon explorations.
Kashima had certainly done this no few times, but this was the difference between being active and passive!
"No..."
"This isn't the kind of participation I wanted!" Following the route designed by Lili, a very obvious landmark.
Having completed his mission, he hid behind a rock.
Kashima panted heavily. Finally unable to hold back his thoughts, he fiercely complained about Liam's so-called arrangement.
The scene that subsequently appeared was Mikoto using "Futsunomitama" magic, paired with Liam's large-area clearing Drawing Sword.
"The participation you spoke of."
"Now that you're really participating, you're not happy…" From a results-oriented perspective, after Kashima participated in this strange "play."
Using an unfamiliar adventurer to resist monsters and buy time to escape – such behavior could be called "Monster Gifting."
Then using a nearby adventurer to attract monsters, gather them, and clear them out – wasn't this a more advanced form of entrapment?
All the nearby monsters were attracted, and then using Drawing Sword to mow them down, the efficiency was significantly improved.
Everyone's ability scores were trained. Liam felt this was a win-win cooperation. Looking at the empty passage in the distance ahead.
His mood was somewhat regretful.
"A pity there's no one-click sweep function."
Along the cave passage, on the way to the 18th floor's safe zone, the team passed by the open area where the boss room refreshed.
The all-white, neat wall known as the "Wall of Lamentations."
Looking from afar, Liam could see the floor lord, Goliath, gestating inside the wall. Its massive body was at least nearly 7 meters tall.
It wasn't time for it to respawn yet.
Besides, with the current team's level, even if the floor lord Goliath could be challenged, the difficulty would be extremely high!
"Continue exploring."
Liam didn't linger. Following the staircase passage, he arrived at the 18th floor's safe zone. The scene before him changed drastically.
An underground world filled with crystals everywhere.
It retained a natural environment, its area at least half the size of the Labyrinth City Orario. A rare light enveloped this place.
The northern part of the labyrinth was a wide wetland, while the south-to-east direction was a dense forest.
Lili, leading the adventurer team, was heading to the eastern island. Teams choosing to stay on the safe floor would basically rest here.
And on the eastern part of the island, there was a street called "Rivira."
Liam was originally quite familiar with the middle levels' "Labyrinth of Entertainment," thanks to the plot that occurred in the original work.
Through Lili's simple introduction, he had a clearer grasp of the current area.
Continuing downwards, they arrived at the brand-new "Great Tree Labyrinth" area. Abnormal status effects, poison-type monsters, and traps.
Would appear frequently on the subsequent floors.
The temporary, hastily-assembled team, after this period of Dungeon training, had already developed a simple tacit understanding in their cooperation.
Lili and Mikoto began to set up the temporary camp.
Liam, finally getting some mental and physical relaxation, lay on a soft sofa, gazing at the crystal-covered ceiling of the safe floor.
Briefly emptying his mind.
"It's time to consider the future development of the expedition!"
What lay before him next was the problem of the Familia expedition. As long as he killed the signature monster of the 24th floor and brought back its drop.
This expedition could be completed.
As for subsequent monsters, Liam had a simple grasp: Tapir Bears, which could be understood as extremely fast Minotaurs.
Dark Mushrooms, Trolls…
The more threatening ones were the Spear Dragonflies, which usually appeared in groups.
Literal strength-type monsters, Giant Fools, the upper-level killer Death Hornets, and the rare species Moss Huge.
In the deepest part of the middle levels, the ability score requirement was C-S.
Liam wasn't particularly concerned about the ability score issue; it could be completely offset by his own Sword Soul template.
Moreover, using the 18th-floor safe zone as a base.
"Traveling light, a two-day round trip to the 24th floor shouldn't be too difficult, as long as I can get the drop from a 24th-floor monster."
"The Familia expedition can pretty much come to an end!"
Even in an unexplored, unfamiliar area, relying on his own powerful stats-and-mechanics, Liam felt it was very doable.
As the temporary camp finished cooking, his body very timely felt hungry.
Compared to the usual dry rations, this meal was significantly more sumptuous. He could even see the rare trace of vegetables.
"So sumptuous?"
Liam's gaze swept over the meal before him, his eyes finally scanning the surroundings, clearly locking onto Yamato Mikoto.
The one with the highest culinary skill present was her.
"It's just that the conditions here allow for cooking, so I prepared some hometown dishes." Being watched by Liam.
The young woman averted her gaze, her face inexplicably blushing.
She didn't know Liam's taste, so she made some hometown dishes she was good at. Some of the ingredients were even bought from Rivira.
As for the cost, she was definitely ripped off.
Mikoto felt it was worth it. There was no other way to repay Liam for his help and rescue, so she would play to her strengths.
Provide a better resting environment when they reached a safe floor.
Noticing Liam's relaxed expression, the young woman stammered, "I just don't know if the taste will suit your palate."
"Thank you."
"At the very least, judging from its appearance, the taste definitely can't be bad!"
The most respectful act towards a cook was to enjoy the sumptuous meal. Besides, Mikoto's cooking skills were truly not bad.
Replenishing his stamina, after a simple rest to adjust his state.
Liam decisively led the team to that new area.
"The Great Tree Labyrinth."
The environment was drastically different from the cave passages of the first half of the journey.
The first thing they encountered were mushroom monsters continuously spreading poison spores. In the face of his crushing stats, the monsters' strength.
Posed no increase in difficulty to deal with.
And using the large-area DPS skill "Drawing Sword," he could easily kill them. Maintaining a state of half-exploration, half-conquest.
The team's advancement speed wasn't particularly fast, prioritizing stability.
Without a support member who could provide healing, even if his stamina recovery was sufficient, due to the possible traps around.
Liam still didn't use "Thrusting Smash" to push through the map.
Upon smoothly passing the 19th floor, the Sword Soul class template's level was approaching 32. He continued to explore deeper.
20th Floor.
Encountered Spear Dragonfly monsters, moving in groups, with relatively fast attack speed, but still ineffective against sword aura slashes.
21st Floor.
A Giant Fool with crimson skin (literal meaning), nearly 8 meters tall, undoubtedly the largest monster in the middle levels.
Essentially a tough-skinned, stationary target dummy.
He couldn't solve it with "Drawing Sword." Utilizing the Sword Soul's advantage of agile and fast attack speed, he won easily.
22nd Floor.
Death Hornets, Hobgoblins (an upgrade from ordinary Goblins), Lizardmen…
Paired with Mikoto's "Futsunomitama" gravity magic, no monster could block the path of Liam's team.
23rd Floor…
The exploration process was very fulfilling. Besides his ability scores being trained, Liam also smoothly raised his Sword Soul template to level 34.
After dealing with a swarm of Death Hornets, he looked at the labyrinth passage leading to the 24th floor and decisively headed towards the end point of the Familia expedition.
"These past few days of exploration end here!"
(End of this chapter)
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