The following day, the sun slowly crept over the horizon.
The day of the expedition had finally arrived!
Yami woke up early and, after bidding farewell to Goddess Hephaestus, made his way to the agreed meeting point with Tsubaki and the other blacksmiths.
When they arrived, the Loki Familia was already assembled.
A large number of supporters were busy carrying both large and small bags, a clear sign of how seriously they took this expedition.
They were likely all determined to persevere, refusing to accept failure!
"Mr. Yami, Tsubaki, you're here!"
Upon seeing the Hephaestus Familia arrive, Finn, who was busy organizing his team, stepped forward to greet them.
This wasn't the first time the two parties had worked together, so there was no awkwardness between them.
Besides, Yami's strength far exceeded even the top adventurers among them.
No matter the situation, opposing this man was out of the question!
"Good morning, Captain Finn. You're quite the early bird!"
"Please guide us well during this expedition!"
Seeing Tsubaki signal to him, Yami didn't hesitate and stepped forward to speak with Finn.
Though it wasn't explicitly stated, both Goddess Hephaestus and Tsubaki had come to view Yami as their pillar of support.
Yami had gradually become accustomed to this role.
Even though he wasn't one to stand out, sometimes the environment shapes a person!
"Mr. Yami, you're too kind. We're grateful for your willingness to assist us.
"Let's not waste any more time; it's time to move out!"
With that, everyone stopped making small talk.
The group was ready, and the members of the Loki Familia, now solemn, focused their attention on Finn.
"Everyone, let's move out!"
With Finn's order, the entire army began their march.
Thanks to the experience of previous expeditions, things went much smoother this time.
The large force was divided into three groups, led by Finn, Gareth, and Riveria respectively, entering the dungeon from different passages.
As expected, Yami was assigned to the mage team led by Riveria.
Although the upper levels of the dungeon posed little danger, being on an expedition team meant remaining vigilant at all times.
In fact, most adventurers adhered to this practice.
However, there are always exceptions.
Finally getting a chance to be near Yami, the exuberant Amazoness, Tiona, wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by.
Ever since entering the dungeon, the lively Amazoness had been clinging to Yami's right arm, chattering away as they walked.
She was so close that Yami could even catch the scent of her fragrance.
However, the experience wasn't as pleasant as one might imagine.
The main issue was that Tiona's enthusiasm was overwhelming, making the situation a bit uncomfortable.
But since they were all his 'little apprentices,' it wouldn't be right to ignore her completely, so Yami could only respond with a helpless smile.
In the end, Riveria couldn't stand it any longer and stepped in to help him out.
Only then did Yami be freed from the 'dire straits.'
Naturally, they encountered many monsters along the way, but with the warriors from the Loki Familia present, the monsters, despite their large numbers, were no match for the advancing group.
"How are you doing, Ais? Have you been training hard?"
After freeing himself from one lively apprentice, Yami naturally couldn't neglect his more reserved one.
Besides, he had high hopes for Ais.
Though Ais's talent wasn't earth-shattering, it was certainly not lacking. With diligent training and hard work, she could very well become the strongest in Orario.
Even the mighty Ottar would eventually be surpassed by her.
"Master, I've been working hard."
As a girl of few words, Ais probably only showed her emotions in front of Yami.
"I asked Loki to update my status, and I've reached the basic requirements for an upgrade. My dexterity, agility, and magic stats are all very high, but I still need a great feat to trigger the level up."
"So, I plan to use this expedition to see if I can achieve that."
She explained her goal without holding back.
Yami, who was standing close, clearly noticed the excitement in the girl's eyes.
It was clear that Ais had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Before Yami's appearance, her progress in leveling up had almost stagnated. No matter how hard she trained, the results were minimal.
This often left her feeling impatient and even led her into dangerous situations.
The lack of progress frustrated Ais, who desperately wanted to grow stronger, to the point where she recklessly sought out other means of improvement, regardless of the risks.
But now, her efforts seemed to be paying off.
"Congratulations, Ais."
Yami's words were filled with genuine congratulations. "But you're now a Level 5 adventurer, and achieving the great feat required for an upgrade won't be easy."
"Do you have a specific target in mind?"
"Yes, I want to challenge Udaeus alone, just like you did, Master!"
When she said this, Ais's voice was full of determination.
It was the same resolve she had shown in the original story.
Hearing this, Yami nodded in understanding, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"Do what you feel is right, Ais. I'll support you unconditionally. I hope you can push past your limits."
"I will, Master!"
"In addition, after this expedition, I hope to have a match with you, Master."
Her big, watery eyes looked up at him with such intensity that it would be hard for anyone to refuse.
Yami was no exception.
"Of course, I'd be happy to. I also want to see how much you've grown, Ais.
"However, setting me as your ultimate goal might be too ambitious. Perhaps I can find a more suitable opponent for you~"
As Yami thought of Artoria, who was currently enjoying life in the Pirate World, his smile grew brighter.
Or perhaps it would be better to have Cú Chulainn fight her instead.
After all, Ais and Cú Chulainn shared similar traits—they both excelled in speed and dexterity, making them natural rivals.
True strength is forged through various battles, so Ais couldn't limit herself to just sparring with Yami. Facing other powerful opponents was just as important.
"I'm looking forward to it, Master!"
As they continued their soft conversation, they pressed on.
The journey through the upper levels had been quite smooth, but along the way, they encountered an unexpected presence.
A strong physique, an imposing aura, and a massive sword strapped to his back—each of these features unmistakably identified the man before them.
He was a member of the Fraya Familia and the only Level 7 adventurer in all of Orario!
The 'King' Ottar!!!
After the Zeus and Hera Familias had faded from prominence, Ottar became known as Orario's ultimate weapon, a testament to his overwhelming strength.
To be honest, this was Yami's first time seeing the man in person.
Ottar might have attended previous banquets, but Yami hadn't paid him much attention back then.
Now, standing face to face, Yami's eyes betrayed a hint of surprise.
Through his World Penetration ability, Yami instantly perceived Ottar's body structure.
The density of Ottar's muscles far surpassed that of other adventurers, showcasing the immense power contained within him.
Even compared to Finn, Gareth, and Riveria of the Loki Familia, Ottar's physical prowess was unmatched, justifying his title as the ultimate weapon.
At least, that was the case before Yami appeared on the scene.
However, everyone was curious as to why Ottar had appeared here.
Riveria slowly raised her arm, signaling the large group to halt instantly, all eyes warily fixed on the figure standing in the middle of the passage.
"Ottar, you're blocking our path. What do you want?"
Despite her typically serious demeanor, Riveria didn't hesitate when faced with a potential threat.
As one of the leaders of the Loki Familia, she naturally took on the responsibility of protecting the younger adventurers whenever Finn and Gareth weren't around.
But even she didn't let her guard down.
If Ottar were to launch an attack, they would be completely defenseless.
At such close range, Ottar could easily charge into their midst before they even had a chance to chant their spells, making him the deadliest threat to mages.
So, Riveria's vigilance was more than justified.
Fortunately, it didn't seem like Ottar was here to cause trouble.
Though he showed little reaction to Riveria's questioning, he eventually replied calmly:
"Don't misunderstand, Nine Hell. I'm not here for you."
"There's no need to be so tense. I just happen to have some business on the upper floors."
"And besides, we both know that starting a fight here would be foolish, right?"
Ottar's gaze swept over the group.
When his eyes landed on Yami, his pupils noticeably contracted, and his expression became slightly strange before quickly returning to normal.
However, this subtle change did not escape Yami's notice.
But Yami didn't react, pretending not to have noticed anything.
As for Ottar's words, both Yami and Riveria fully agreed.
Though the Freya Familia held the advantage in terms of both top-tier combat power and overall strength, that didn't guarantee their victory in a fight.
Unlike the united Loki Familia, the internal dynamics of the Freya Familia were quite complicated.
To gain the favor of the "Goddess of Beauty" Freya, those powerful but troubled individuals fought among themselves almost daily.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were ready to rip each other's heads off.
Even in the dungeon, they usually acted alone, rarely forming teams.
Thus, in a full-scale war, the outcome would be uncertain.
Regardless of who emerged victorious, both sides would likely suffer significant losses, leaving them vulnerable to other Familias.
Moreover, there was still an unpredictable factor in their midst.
Ottar was confident in his own strength but not confident enough to believe he could defeat Yami.
So, picking a fight at this moment was out of the question.
After considering this, Riveria slowly relaxed her guard.
"Since there's nothing else, we'll be on our way."
With that, Riveria signaled to Tiona, who nodded in understanding and led the group forward.
Ottar stepped slightly aside, allowing them to pass.
But his eyes still lingered on Yami, scanning him with a vague intensity.
This almost eerie behavior made Yami's scalp tingle, prompting him to quicken his pace.
As they moved on, Yami's Observation Haki continued to monitor the surrounding area.
The small white figure he sensed was all too familiar.
"Bell?"
"No wonder Ottar's here—it's to secretly protect this guy."
"But I wonder which Familia this rabbit has joined. Judging by the situation, it doesn't seem to be the Hestia Familia. Sure enough, my presence has caused some unseen changes."
After understanding the situation, Yami couldn't help but sigh.
But the next moment, he chuckled softly.
"It seems this has nothing to do with me, so I'll leave it be."
"Besides, given Ottar's attention, it's clear that Freya has already set her sights on this little guy. If he didn't join the Hestia Familia, he might not be as fortunate as in the original story.
"Even with Hermes keeping an eye on him, he'd still likely end up in Freya's hands."
"Being embraced by that 'terrifying' goddess—just the thought is enough to send chills down one's spine!"
Reflecting on that possibility, Yami really wondered.
Could Bell Cranel's small frame truly withstand the overwhelming affection of Freya?
The answer would likely be no!
Given Freya's intense love for Bell, she wouldn't hold back.
The young hero, who so many gods had high hopes for, might not even have the chance to emerge. If old Zeus knew, he'd probably be furious enough to spit blood!
"But that has nothing to do with me. As long as it doesn't interfere with my plans, I'll let him be!"
"Now, let's focus on this upcoming expedition!"
With that thought in mind, Yami withdrew his observation.
---
The Fiftieth Floor of the Dungeon.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
The three teams successfully regrouped near the Great Tree Labyrinth and began their assault on the dungeon.
By the time they reached this floor, even the most powerful adventurers couldn't help but feel the immense pressure.
Monsters comparable to first-level adventurers attacked from all directions.
However, under Finn's steady command, the group managed to hold their ground and push forward.
At this point, Yami set aside his usual laziness and began focusing on the surrounding monsters, ensuring the members of the Hephaestus Familia remained unharmed.
After all, while they excelled at forging, they were less skilled in battle.
Without Yami's protection, even in the middle of the team, they would still be at significant risk.
If any of them suffered due to this support mission, both Tsubaki and Goddess Hephaestus would undoubtedly feel sad.
So, to prevent such an outcome, Yami decided to take things a bit more seriously.
Fortunately, nothing too catastrophic happened.
There were a few instances of intense monster waves, but under Finn's competent leadership, the team managed to handle them with relative ease.
At this moment, the group was taking a well-deserved rest.
As the fires were lit and food was prepared, it was time for the Hephaestus Familia to shine.
Unlike their previous expedition, the increased manpower made the task of maintaining equipment far less daunting.
And with Yami's skills continuing to improve, he handled the task effortlessly.
After a few hours, all the equipment was serviced.
Once they had enjoyed a hearty meal, the adventurers gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing, completely relaxed.
The atmosphere was lively and festive.
In fact, this was a common sight during expeditions.
Though the dungeon was vast, it was still a maze filled with danger at every turn.
Even the strongest adventurers could feel the tension creeping in.
So, moments of release were necessary.
Otherwise, they risked driving themselves mad.