The thirty-minute preparation passed quickly.
The expedition team was ready. Finn led them to the entrance of the 59th floor.
"Let's go."
He stepped forward, and the others followed behind him.
Everyone was tense, uneasy.
They all knew this was the real trial ahead—an obstacle that would determine their path forward. If they failed here, there wouldn't be a future to worry about.
They had to stay completely focused.
Their strategy was a swift assault.
End the battle as quickly as possible—neutralize every threat within the opening strike.
...
The underground prayer chamber beneath Ouranos was perpetually dim.
Normally, only Ouranos would be present, maintaining control over the Dungeon's unrest. Only his prayers could hold the Dungeon in check.
But now, in the faintly lit chamber—illuminated only by five braziers—a floating image projected mid-air, displaying the expedition team.
This time, Ouranos wasn't alone. Three other gods had been invited to witness the expedition's foray into the unknown.
"It's finally starting."
Ganesha could feel their tension just from the image. He understood why the children of Loki were on edge.
The 59th floor was uncharted territory. Anything could happen down there.
On top of that, the Guild had received information that the Spirit's forces were on the move. There was a real chance the Spirits had taken hold of part of the unexplored realm.
"Ah, it's finally begun."
Freya couldn't help but sigh softly.
For her, the point of this expedition wasn't to watch the Loki Familia—it was to observe that child and how they would act.
Freya was certain that child wouldn't join a regular expedition. Even if Spirits were involved, that alone wouldn't draw him out.
He would never act without purpose.
That was a principle Freya knew better than anyone.
Which is why she was sure—this expedition would reveal that child's next move.
'Show me... what are you planning to do this time?'
A faint smile played at Freya's lips, reflecting her anticipation.
...
The long staircase finally ended.
Light from the 59th floor ceiling spilled over everyone's faces.
Stepping out, they took in the scenery of the new floor.
"Looks like the 24th floor."
Lefiya observed their surroundings. All around them stretched dense forest, and in the distance, towering mushroom trees loomed—giving the place the feel of a rainforest.
It was a familiar sight for adventurers. The giant tree maze starting from the 21st floor looked much the same.
But unlike that maze, which was dominated by massive trees, there were fewer towering trunks here, lending the area a more rainforest-like atmosphere.
"There really has been a change."
Finn had suspected something was off when he didn't feel the biting chill at the 59th floor's entrance.
If the intel from the Zeus Familia was accurate, this floor should've been a frozen wasteland.
But there'd been no sign of cold air rising from the entrance—that alone had struck Finn as unusual.
Now, seeing the terrain before him, all he felt was a deep and creeping chill in his heart.
The greater the changes on this floor, the more fearsome the Spirit that had claimed it must be.
Mentally bracing himself, Finn focused and began listening closely.
"Ah..."
A faint, low sound reached his ears, and in an instant, Finn pinpointed its source.
Bete, Riveria, and Lefiya—all with keen hearing—picked it up too.
"Finn."
"Yeah, I've got the location."
His voice was heavy as his gaze locked onto a point deep within the rainforest ahead.
"Ais, keep carrying Haruhime."
"Haruhime, start preparing your magic."
"Understood."
Finn led the way, leaping off the high ledge at the entrance.
The cliff wasn't very steep, and even Lefiya could find footholds to descend swiftly.
As they landed, Haruhime, still on Ais's back, began to chant.
"Kokonoe. Beloved snow. Beloved crimson. Beloved white light. Please let me be beside you - this love I have found at the end of two thousand nights...."
With her chant, a golden tail appeared behind her.
"My name is Magic Fox. Former destroyer. My name is Ancient Song. Former dreamer. For you who beat your wings like a bird, I shall allow the nine spirits to dwell in me."
The golden tails multiplied, growing one by one until five tails shimmered behind her.
Golden lights clustered around Haruhime, making her presence feel sacred.
"Echo, song of gold, sacred poem of Tamamo. White face, golden fur, king of nine tails...."
"Oh, tails of the auspicious beast, consume all, grant all wishes—"
"Grow!"
"That power and that vessel. Breadth of wealth and breadth of wishes. Until the bell tolls, bring forth glory and illusion.."
"Grow!"
"Confine divine offerings within this body. This golden light bestowed from above. Into the hammer and into the ground, may it bestow good fortune upon you.."
"Grow!"
Thin red threads of light gathered above Haruhime's head, coalescing into a halo.
"Uchide no Kozuchi!"
With her call, the halo overhead scattered into shimmering red-gold motes that floated down onto her golden tails, dyeing them the same radiant hue.
"Dance!"
As the chant ended, the red-gold tails turned into circles of light that drifted over the heads of the five fighters.
Finn, Gareth, and Bete at the front, followed by Riveria and Ais behind them.
The glowing rings descended like divine blessings, striking each of them and flooding their bodies with a power utterly unlike anything they'd ever known.
"You have five minutes. Please fight your hardest. I'll take my leave now."
To avoid becoming a burden, Haruhime pulled a dagger from her spatial pouch and thrust it toward her heart.
In the next moment, the blade sank into a straw doll, and the Haruhime carried on Ais's back vanished.
Ais glanced at the falling dagger and straw doll, caught them both midair, and slipped them into her pouch.
Then, she drew her weapon—the Desperate.
"Ah... ahhh..."
The strange cries were growing louder.
Riveria, slightly behind the others, came to a halt.
There was no need to advance any further—this was the ideal position to cast from.
She pulled out a Rune Stone marked "Special Enhancement" and activated it.
At the same time, she began chanting her spell.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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