The next morning, I was standing in front of the Tower of Babel near the dungeon entrance. Waiting for Ryuu and others since I will be going to the dungeon with them, starting from today.
I could already see that a lot of adventurers were making their way into the dungeon so early. Small stall owners selling maps and potions to the passersby. A few supporters are looking and asking around to find a client. That reminds me, I have not seen Lili yet. Maybe she has not become a supporter yet? To be honest, I am kind of relieved of that, since I have not thought of anything I can do to solve her situation.
Maybe I will guide Finn toward Lili when I find her. Since he wants to rebuild his so-called racial honor, there is a chance he will solve Lili's problem as well. He is a smart one after all.
"Yoo! Arin!" The sudden shout of my name brought me out of my thoughts. I look up to see Alise waving her hand with a big smile on her face, coming towards me. Alongside her were the rest of her familia members.
I stood up straight, as I was leaning on the tower walls. As they came closer, I was able to see Ryuu in her combat uniform.
"Hello, Alise, Ryuu, and everyone as well. How have you been?" I asked them.
"We are good, and Congratulations on your level up." Said Alise cheerfully.
"Hello, Arin-san, and congratulations on your level up as well," Ryuu said in a gentle voice.
"Hi, we have not properly met yet, have we?" said Lyra as she stepped forward. "Hmmm…. I can see why Lion became smitten with you," she continued, intending to tease Ryuu, which she succeeded in doing as Ryuu became red on her face.
"I-I am not smitten with anyone!" Ryuu said in embarrassment.
"Ehh, but you were holding him so affectionately on that day, I saw it." Neze, the werewolf girl, with dark skin, said. Further intending to tease Ryuu further.
"Th-That was because Arin-san was exhausted!"
"Calm down, Ryuu. We were just joking. Why are you getting all red? Or did you seriously fall for him?" Lyra said again with a grin that screamed 'Gotcha'.
But I find it weird that Kaguya was silent all this time. I looked in her direction, and our gaze met. She quickly turned her face away. I guess she remembers how the last time I made fun of her.
Mah, she will go back to normal soon.
"Okay, everyone, let's calm down. We have a dungeon to conquer today." Everyone stopped joking around to hear her words. "Now follow my lead."
"Okay, Captain, Lion, stop blushing and get a move on, you useless elf." Looks like Kaguya has gone back to her usual target instead of me.
"I am not blushing!" Ryuu said. "And I am not useless!" Seeing Ryuu all red, I can see why they always target her. She is just so adorable.
.
.
.
With Alise and other's we quickly passed through the first 11 floors. Our target was Rivira town on the 18th floor. And I was able to observe that the strength of Astraea familia was not a joke, I have already seen Alise and Ryuu fight, but the other were also in their own league.
As we moved deeper into the dungeon, I could feel the familiar weight of my new blade at my side. The 12th floor had a drastically different atmosphere from the upper levels. The light from above had become reminiscent of morning mist, and thick fog rolled through the corridors, making visibility limited. I had to stay closer to the group than usual, watching how they moved with practiced ease through the misty stone passages lined with twisted trees that seemed to reach out like gnarled fingers.
"Formation!" Alise's voice cut through the tension ahead of me. I watched as she drew her rapier, the blade catching the dungeon's dim light. "Kaguya, Ryuu - flanks. Lyra, Neze - support. Arin, take care of the monsters from our back."
I nodded, gripping my sword hilt. This was my first time fighting alongside them, except Alise and Ryuu, as a proper team member, and I didn't want to mess it up.
The Orcs came first - massive, green-skinned brutes that were far more dangerous than anything I'd faced in the upper floors. But I was amazed at how quickly the Astraea Familia responded. These weren't the weak monsters from the first few floors; these were Large Category monsters that could easily overwhelm a Level 1 adventurer.
Alise moved like lightning, her rapier becoming a blur of silver as she engaged the first Orc. Her blade cut through the thick mist, and she pierced through the creature's tough hide in what seemed like a single motion. Her technique was flawless - each thrust finding weak points in the Orc's natural armor.
On my left, Kaguya was poetry in motion. I'd never seen her fight before, but watching her in actual combat was mesmerizing. Her kimono flowed around her as she drew her katana, and each cut was ceremonial in its perfection, finding vital points with surgical precision.
In the sky of a now distant forest. Infinite stars scattered in the endless night sky. Respond to my foolish voice, give me now divine protection of starfire. Give the mercy of light to the one that abandoned you.
Ryuu's wind magic crackled around her as she faced off against a Hard Armored - a turtle-like monster with incredibly thick defensive plating. She kept chanting despite being in battl,e and the sheer force of her attack cracked the creature's shell, sending fragments flying through the mist.
Come, wandering wind, the wandering traveler. Cross the sky and run through the wilderness, run faster than anything else. Imbue the light of stardust and destroy the enemy
Luvia!
I could feel the wind pressure even from where I stood, as her magic took out several monsters at once.
Lyra, despite being the smallest among us, moved with incredible agility around a massive Silverback that had emerged from behind one of the twisted trees. The gorilla-like monster was easily twice her size, its silver fur gleaming in the misty light. "Hah! Too slow, big guy!" she taunted, slipping under the Silverback's massive fists with a sly grin and embedding its feet with an explosive knife. Her confidence was infectious, even against such a dangerous opponent.
Neze's werewolf heritage was on full display. Her enhanced senses seemed to pick up attacks before they even began. She moved with bestial grace, her strength and speed incredible to witness.
Then I saw it - an Orc that had broken through their formation, heading straight for me. Its massive club raised high, green skin scarred from countless battles. I was not afraid, though, despite me never coming to this floor. Monsters on this level were not a problem for me.
The Orc charged, and I sidestepped, letting its momentum carry it past me. I brought my blade up in a diagonal slash across its exposed side. The sword cut deep, and the creature roared in pain. As it turned into ash.
"Nice technique, Arin!" Alise called out. I felt embarrassed since I thought I did not do something that praiseworthy, But This is also one of Alise's key strengths, she never hesitates to praise someone.
But the real test came next. Through the thick mist, I heard it before I saw it - a deep, rumbling growl. An Infant Dragon emerged from the fog, its scales gleaming despite their young age. Though called "Infant," it was still a dragon, and at Level 2, it was considered the floor boss of this area.
"Level 2 monster," Kaguya observed with her usual calm. Since with the firepower at our disposal, it was not anything to worry about.
"Do you guys mind if I take this one?" I said, stepping forward.
"Go ahead, since you have bad blood with it," Alise said in support of my decision since she already knows my strength is more than enough.
The Infant Dragon reared back, its claws extended and ready to strike.
The dragon lunged at me with surprising speed, its claws aimed at my chest, but I sidestepped to avoid its attack. My improved agility allowed me to move faster than I ever could before. The infant dragon's strikes seem so slow.
The next attack was an overhead strike. Which I purposely intercepted with my blade. I noticed that the weight of its attack seems so much weaker than it did before, mostly because it was a normal infant dragon while the one I fought before was an irregular one.
I pushed off its attack, pushing the dragon back. After which, I closed the distance quickly, my blade ready. The dragon's scales were tough, but after my level up, it was not that difficult for me to cut them.
My sword found the weak point between its neck scales, sliding deep with a precision that surprised even me. The dragon's roar shook the dungeon walls as it collapsed, its massive form crashing to the ground. And before long turned into ash.
"That was... truly impressive, Arin-san. Your growth has been remarkable." Ryuu said.
I felt my cheeks warm at her praise. "Thank you, Ryuu. I've been training hard." I truly was. Ais does not hold back her punches.
"Yeah!" Alise added with her characteristic grin. "Now that's what I call a proper adventurer!"
Even Kaguya seemed impressed, though she tried to maintain her usual composure. "At least this time you did not dislocate your shoulder."
Neze whistled appreciatively. "Taking down a floor boss solo on your first day with us? Not bad at all."
As we observed our surroundings and saw no monster, we began picking up the magic stones that the monster dropped, while Lyra ignored them and just picked up the dropped items.
.
.
.
"Now, we shall proceed further!" Alise declared enthusiastically.
"Did you not get tired or what, Alise?" I asked, though I wasn't exactly tired either—but she just seemed endlessly energetic.
"Hah? Me, the beautiful captain of the Astraea Familia, Alise Lovell, and tired?" she said, her voice dripping with dramatic narcissism. "Never!"
Then she gave Ryuu a sideways glance and added with a mischievous grin, "Although I think our little Lion here might be tired from blushing too much today~"
Ryuu narrowed her eyes. "Do you want to be left behind, Alise?"
Alise laughed, unbothered. "There it is! The classic Lion glare! You're too cute when you're flustered, you know?"
"Ignore her, Arin-san," Ryuu said with a sigh, already walking ahead. "And let's go."