"What's wrong, Ais? You seem a bit down."
On the safe floor, Yami was lazily sitting on a stone, holding a bowl of broth. He noticed the girl beside him, though still as silent as ever, seemed to have something more on her mind. With a sweep of his keen senses, Yami realized that Ais' mood had shifted significantly, which piqued his curiosity.
"It's nothing, Master," Ais responded softly, holding her own bowl of broth and slowly shaking her head. "I had planned to defeat Udaeus to achieve greatness, but now it seems impossible."
She continued, her voice growing quieter. "There's still a long time before Udaeus reappears. Even after this expedition, it likely won't happen."
"So that's what's bothering you?" Yami immediately found the situation amusing after understanding the cause. He had thought it might be something serious, like concern over the expedition's outcome. But it turned out she was merely unhappy about not being able to face a powerful opponent on equal terms.
Typical Ais!
At this stage, only a formidable floor boss like Udaeus could provide Ais with enough of a challenge to gain substantial experience. After all, monsters equivalent to Level 6 wouldn't appear until at least the sixtieth floor. While a swarm of Level 5 monsters might suffice in quantity, Ais wasn't at the point where she could handle such large numbers.
Udaeus would have been the perfect target.
"Don't be upset. You can always wait for Udaeus to respawn and then take on the dungeon again," Yami suggested. "But, I think once this expedition is over, you'll be ready to level up. You want to get stronger, don't you?"
Yami's words, however, had little effect. Though Ais didn't show much outward reaction, her voice was filled with determination. With her character, other people's persuasion would likely be in vain. This was the same girl who, at a young age, dared to venture into the dungeon alone, defeating powerful enemies and achieving great things.
If there was no way to satisfy her, she might even sneak off on her own.
What a stubborn personality she has, Yami thought with a sigh.
"Really, I've told you before: even if you want to get stronger, you need to relax a bit." he added. "But fine, we'll keep an eye out along the way. Maybe we'll find some powerful targets. If not, I'll take you to a deeper floor. So be prepared~"
Yami's words made Ais' eyes light up. She had always wanted to explore the deeper floors. If she could gain the experience needed for an upgrade during this period, it would be perfect.
"Thank you, Master!"
"Don't mention it," Yami replied, ruffling Ais' hair in a show of mild frustration. But Ais didn't mind. In fact, the light touch made her close her eyes and enjoy the moment.
At least now, Ais seemed back to her old self.
After a few hours of rest, the group set out again under Finn's command. As they entered the fifty-first floor, the pressure began to mount. A large number of monsters, almost all on par with Level 5 adventurers, charged toward the team from all directions. Even the well-equipped adventurers of the Loki Familia felt the strain.
The weaker adventurers had already been left behind on the fiftieth floor. Bringing them to lower levels would only make them a burden. Only the strongest adventurers and the blacksmiths of the Hephaestus Familia, responsible for repairing equipment, remained.
After safely navigating the fifty-first floor, the team paused at the passage leading to the next floor. Standing at the forefront, Finn turned to face the group, his expression serious.
"We've finally reached this point again!" Finn began. "Although most of you are familiar with what's ahead from our last expedition, it's worth reminding everyone. Beyond here, there's no place to rest!"
"We'll face relentless monster attacks and the bombardment of the 'Valgang Dragon.' It will be extremely dangerous. But I promise, I'll do everything in my power to bring everyone back to the surface safely."
"So let's give it our all, for the glory of the Loki Familia! Let's go!"
"OOOHHHHHH!!!"
A roar of approval echoed through the group. Fueled by adrenaline and a burning sense of purpose, they surged forward, with Bete leading the charge into the fifty-second floor like a spearhead. The rest followed closely, alert and on edge.
Before long, a swarm of monsters appeared from all directions, accompanied by the ground's ominous rumbling, which grew more intense with each passing moment.
The worst had arrived.
"Damn, have we been spotted already?" Finn muttered. "Bete, keep leading the way, but everyone else, don't linger. Don't get bogged down fighting these monsters—move through the floors as quickly as possible!"
"Understood!"
Despite the chaotic battlefield, Finn's voice cut through, commanding and clear. Bete's expression grew tense as he picked up the pace, ignoring the monsters before him. The others fended off the creatures, not aiming to kill but merely to push them out of the way, ensuring the team could advance.
Yami wasn't idle either, gradually lending a hand. However, he didn't go all out—if he did, the monsters would pose no threat at all. This was the Loki Familia's expedition, after all; he was just a mercenary. Stealing the spotlight wouldn't be appropriate.
So instead, Yami used his spatial abilities to discreetly remove any particularly dangerous threats when the Loki Familia members were too occupied to handle them.
The team's route kept changing to avoid the attacks. But still, a massive hole opened up in the ground, sending a scorching pillar of fire through the floor and ceiling. The intense heat and crimson flames warped the very air around them.
"One hit from that, and you're done for!" one of the Hephaestus Familia members gasped. Sweat beaded on his forehead, whether from nervousness or the sheer heat was unclear. The fear in their eyes, however, was unmistakable.
"If you don't want to die, keep running!" Tsubaki ordered. "Also, stay close to Yami. It'll increase your chances of survival, understand?"
"Yes, Captain!"
Having experienced this once before, Tsubaki wasn't as shocked as the first time. Though still awe-struck by the scene, she had the presence of mind to look out for her companions and issue commands.
As a result, the space around Yami became noticeably more crowded.
"Oi, don't crowd me!"
"Don't worry, just keep a little distance, and I'll still be able to protect you. So relax," Yami reassured them, quickly speaking up to avoid being swarmed. As the group settled down, he sighed in relief.
While the Hephaestus Familia found some relief, the Loki Familia members were far from at ease. The pressure was intense, particularly for Bete, who led the charge. His brows furrowed deeply, and sweat poured from his body. The fire pillars erupting nearby constantly tested his nerves.
After all, he carried the lives of the entire group on his shoulders. A single mistake in predicting the 'Valgang Dragon's' attacks could lead to catastrophic losses among his comrades—a scenario no one wanted to face.
"This is too dangerous, Finn!" Gareth, his face grim, wiped sweat from his brow. As a Level 6 adventurer, Gareth could easily evade the surrounding monsters and fire pillars. But others in the familia weren't so fortunate. With a team this large, it was almost impossible to reach the fifty-eighth floor unscathed, even at their current pace.
It wouldn't be long before the group started to splinter.
"Ais, Tiona, Gareth, you're up next!"
Without any hesitation, Finn's expression tightened as he made a quick decision.
The elder and the younger adventurers understood Finn's meaning immediately. Without a second thought, they nodded and leaped down a crater left by the Valgang Dragon.
"_—Gather, Earth's Breath—by the name of Alf!!!"
With swift and precise movements, Riveria began chanting, her voice steady as she cast a protective barrier over the three of them.
In no time, they disappeared from sight.
The main force continued moving forward, but with the departure of three of their key fighters, the pressure on the front lines intensified, causing their advance to slow significantly.
Thankfully, Riveria's mage team began to showcase their strength at this crucial moment. Chanting as they marched, they unleashed a barrage of magic, clearing a path for the army to proceed.
"Even though I've seen it before, it still amazes me every time." Tsubaki's voice rang out near Yami. "Riveria truly is Orario's most powerful mage—it's incredible!"
Yami nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Riveria's talents are exceptional."
"But Yami," Tsubaki asked, sensing his relaxed demeanor, "aren't you worried about your two apprentices?"
Yami's calm expression stood out amidst the tension. It was rare to see anyone so unconcerned in such a situation, but these two individuals were exceptions. One was confident in her own strength, dismissing any danger, while the other relied on the former's strength, making danger a non-issue.
Yami chuckled. "What's there to worry about? It's just a Valgang Dragon. The threat it poses isn't as great as people think. Ais and Tiona can handle it. Just wait; those flames will die down soon."
As if on cue, the trembling ground returned to normal. The intense heat from the fire pillars subsided, and aside from the ever-present monsters, the roars had vanished.
"See? Told ya—just have faith in them."
"You're right." Tsubaki glanced at him with a mix of annoyance and admiration but didn't press the issue further.
"Everyone, move out before the Valgang Dragon reappears!" Finn's timely command urged everyone to push forward, resuming their previous pace.
The Valgang Dragon's attack had disturbed the monsters on the floor, creating a rare opportunity for the team to advance rapidly.
After a few intense hours, they finally reached the fifty-eighth floor.
"It's the 58th floor!!"
"Finally!!!"
The achievement sparked excitement among the group. This was the first time the Loki Familia had officially made it to the fifty-eighth floor. While the elite force had reached this level before, this was their first large-scale expedition, marking a significant milestone.
"Ais, Tiona, Gareth, how are you holding up?" Finn quickly checked on the trio when they regrouped with the main force. Seeing that they were mostly unharmed, he sighed in relief.
"We're fine, Finn—it was pretty straightforward!" Gareth responded first, though the dwarf's gaze lingered on Ais and Tiona.
"It's a shame you missed it, Finn. The growth of these two las was truly impressive!"
"Really?" Finn's curiosity was piqued, though Ais remained as stoic as ever, and Tiona grinned broadly, her white teeth gleaming.
Seeing no further need to question, Finn nodded. "I'm glad you're all safe. As for Ais and Tiona's growth, we'll see more of that later. For now, let's rest before heading to the fifty-ninth floor!"
Finn's voice wavered slightly with excitement—they were about to set a new record! However, he kept his emotions in check, knowing that advancing to an unknown area while exhausted could spell disaster.
The adventurers, despite their eagerness, began setting up camp, suppressing the excitement that bubbled within them.
Meanwhile, the blacksmiths of the Hephaestus Familia were practically dizzy with joy. After all, reaching the fifty-eighth floor was a rare feat, and the materials from the fallen Valgang Dragons were equally rare. Tsubaki and her team were quick to investigate, hoping to obtain some of the precious drops.
Watching the commotion from a distance, Yami shook his head with a wry smile. "It seems that Tsubaki isn't the only crazy blacksmith. Almost every blacksmith in the Hephaestus Familia is like this! I wonder if they'll all end up falling in love with their weapons."
The thought made his expression turn peculiar. However, his mind soon wandered to more pressing concerns.
"But this is odd... in our last expedition, we faced corrosive bugs on the fifty-first floor and new plant monsters on the fiftieth. But none of that happened this time. Something's off."
Worry began to creep into Yami's thoughts. "There's a certain momentum to events, an inertia. Whatever's coming, we need to stay vigilant. If the situation calls for it, I'll step in."