With the demise of the 'Corrupted Spirit clone,' the expedition that had ventured as far as the fifty-ninth floor came to an end. The expedition team was utterly exhausted, and even the main members had sustained significant damage to their armor. Except for their weapons, which possessed indestructible qualities, nearly everything else had been destroyed by the insect fluids. The remnants of their tattered clothing created a bizarre atmosphere, especially given the extensive physical and mental strain the team had endured. They had depleted their reserves of magical potions, and no one could predict what they might encounter in the next unexplored area.
For the sake of safety, returning now was the wisest choice. After such a 'reckless' adventure, considering their safety was paramount. Even at this point, their bodies had only recovered enough to allow minimal movement. In this state, continuing the expedition would be akin to a death sentence. Moreover, the fifty-ninth floor was already the upper limit for the Loki Familia's Expeditionary Team.
While the reason was unclear, the conditions on this floor were drastically different from the records left by the Zeus Familia, creating a sense of urgency among everyone. It was essential to report the situation as soon as possible. Perhaps, some unknown changes had occurred within the dungeon. Since the Corrupted Spirit clone had taken over the fifty-ninth floor, there were no other monsters, aside from a few insects, allowing everyone to avoid further battles.
Fortunately, the fifty-eighth floor was in a dormant phase, and the eliminated Valgang Dragon had not yet resurrected, allowing the scouting team to easily regroup with the others who had remained behind. Upon hearing about the battle they had endured, almost everyone expressed regret. Missing out on witnessing such a legendary battle was too disappointing.
"But really, you showed off quite a bit this time, didn't you?" Tsubaki teased, throwing an arm around Yami's shoulders with a grin. Hearing of Yami's exploits brought her more joy than crafting excellent equipment herself.
"I'm not trying to show off," Yami replied.
"Oh, please, stop pretending! I know you better than that," Tsubaki shot back, giving him a disapproving look. "I bet you're secretly enjoying this. Don't act all modest now!"
"And besides, you saved everyone again. That's a big deal. Be proud of it. Loki-sama won't forget what you've done for them." Her voice softened as she spoke.
…
As they continued their journey, the absence of Valgang Dragon made it easier for everyone to traverse the 'Dragon Pot' and quickly reach the safe zone on the fiftieth floor. Once there, everyone could finally relax.
"Alright, everyone, you've done great. Let's rest up here!" Finn announced, clapping his hands. His relaxed tone helped ease the tension everyone was feeling.
Upon hearing this, the stress everyone had been holding in finally dissipated. Most of them collapsed to the ground to rest, while others gathered to discuss the events of the expedition, including the 'Corrupted Spirit clone' and the new types of storage items they had encountered. Naturally, the topic of Yami's formidable strength came up frequently. The monster that had left them all feeling helpless couldn't last a few rounds against him and was swiftly defeated. This stark contrast left everyone in the Loki Familia in awe, their respect for Yami almost palpable.
Despite being the center of attention, Yami didn't seem particularly concerned about it. Since his strength had improved significantly, he no longer worried about others knowing the extent of his abilities, nor did he conceal his capacity to travel to other worlds. The gods themselves wouldn't break the rules they had established, and even Oraunos wouldn't allow it. Thus, even with everyone aware of Yami's capabilities, the other Familia members and gods could only look on with envy, powerless to do anything about it. If they wished to travel to another world, they would need Yami's permission.
"Hey, Yami, I heard that during your battle with that giant 'Spirit,' you conjured a lot of advanced weapons," Tsubaki's voice piped up as Yami sat down. "Some are even beyond first-level armaments. Is that true? Can you show them to me?"
Being a forging fanatic, Tsubaki was initially drawn to the materials found on Valgang Dragon. Now, learning about the impressive weapons Yami had at his disposal piqued her curiosity even more. As the head of Hephaestus's Familia, she couldn't contain her excitement. If it weren't for the crowd around them, she might have already made a move to 'inspect' them!
"Who told you about that?" Yami asked, slightly exasperated by the sudden attention. He glanced over to where Tiona and Ais were standing. As soon as Tiona noticed his gaze, she quickly looked away, whistling innocently, trying to distance herself from the situation.
Realizing what had happened, Yami sighed and explained. "To be precise, those weapons aren't mine per se. They're projections created with magic. Although the templates are exact replicas of the original weapons, they aren't the real deal. Under normal circumstances, they can last up to three days if not used, after which the magical energy within them depletes, and they vanish. So, if you're thinking of using them for research, I'm afraid that won't be possible. You should give up on that idea."
Yami glanced at her with a slight frown as he explained. Having known Tsubaki for some time, Yami understood her character well. She was a mirror image of Goddess Hephaestus—unable to resist the allure of a good weapon. Knowing her motives, Yami was upfront about the limitations of his projections. Currently, he possessed only two true treasures: the Sword of Promised Victory and Avalon. While he could project other weapons, their lifespan was limited.
"Ah, is that so? What a shame!" Tsubaki said, visibly disappointed. However, her mood quickly brightened as she continued, "Even if they don't last long, I'd still like to examine them. So, Yami, could you provide me with some weapons to study once we're back at the Familia's base?" Her eyes shone with a mix of anticipation and eagerness.
Yami sighed, knowing Tsubaki wouldn't relent. "If that's what you want, Captain, then sure, I don't see why not. In fact, I can give you a few to study right now, no need to wait until we're back on the surface." As he spoke, Yami slowly raised his hand.
"Trace—on!" he chanted softly.
In a flash, two treasures materialized in his hands: a spear belonging to Cu Chulainn and a dagger owned by Medea.
"Here, take these. I've infused them with extra magic power, so they should last about five days if you don't use them. That should give you plenty of time to study them."
"Do you need me to explain anything about them?"
"Yes, please!" Tsubaki responded eagerly, her eyes never leaving Yami.
From the moment the Rule Breaker and the Gáe Bolg appeared, her gaze was fixated on the two magnificent treasures as if they were glued to them. "I can't take my eyes off them," she said with a fiery intensity that made Yami slightly uneasy.
Seeing her expression, Yami sighed and began a concise explanation. He described them as unique weapons with functionalities akin to magic swords. When Tsubaki learned that, as long as she had enough magic power, these treasures could be used repeatedly, her face lit up even brighter.
Without hesitation, she eagerly snatched the two treasures and dashed off to study them on her own.
"Her enthusiasm is something else!" Yami remarked.
"Wow, Master, I didn't know you could perform such amazing magic!" Tiona teased playfully, catching Yami's attention.
Yami turned around to see Tiona's mischievous grin. Annoyed, he reached out with his right hand and lightly tapped her on the head, making a dull thumping sound.
"Ouch!" Tiona yelped, rubbing her head.
"If you put as much effort into improving your strength as you do into being curious, I'd be truly grateful." Yami chided. "Look at Ais, she's already mastered the two Haki, but you haven't even started. It's a bit embarrassing."
"Don't go around telling people you're my apprentice; I can't afford the embarrassment."
Despite his reproachful tone, Tiona wasn't embarrassed at all. She stuck out her tongue playfully and wrapped her arm around Yami's.
"Oh, Master, it's not like I'm not trying." Tiona sighed. "It's really hard to grasp the two Haki. I just can't seem to get it! I don't have Ais's talent, so it's natural that I'm slower."
"Why don't you think of a way, Master? Is there any way to help me understand it faster?"
Tiona's earnest plea softened Yami's heart. She was right, after all. Although the two Haki is a common skill in the Grand Line of the Pirate World, it's still only mastered by a select few. Many people meet the physical requirements but still can't grasp it. Tiona had only been training for a short time, so it was understandable that she hadn't made much progress. The main issue was that she hadn't been putting in enough effort, which slowed her progress.
"Alright, once this expedition is over, you should have some free time, right?" Yami asked.
Both Ais and Tiona were taken aback by Yami's question. The two girls seemed to realize something and quickly nodded.
"Yes, I heard from Finn that after this expedition, there will be a long rest period. There won't be any new expeditions planned for a while!"
"Good, then I'll take you to a place where you can learn Haki more effectively. But you'll have to leave Orario for a bit, so you should discuss it with the other members of your Familia first."
Yami nodded, having made up his mind.
"That's great! I'll go talk to Finn and the others right away!" Tiona exclaimed, dashing off to find Finn and the rest of the team.
Now, only Yami and Ais remained. The blonde girl looked at her master, and after a moment of silence, she spoke softly. "Master, when will you take me to accumulate the great achievements you mentioned?"
"Ais, aren't you tired yet?" Yami asked.
"No, the previous battle with the Corrupted Spirit clone didn't help me much, so I haven't accumulated enough achievements. I want to level up." Ais replied, her determination evident.
"I could take you to deeper floors, but even at Level 6, those ordinary monsters might not be enough to help you accumulate significant achievements," Yami explained. "After all, ordinary monsters aren't as strong as Udaeus."
"But don't worry, the place I plan to take you next has plenty of powerful humans, so you won't be short of battles. You can gather the great achievements you need to level up there. And in the process, you can also master the use of the two Haki. What do you think?"
The combat power of the Pirate World is on par with Orario, at least in terms of humans. Including the gods' powers would be a different story. Even though the gods of Orario don't always act like deities, their true strength is still formidable. Simply put, this is a world with a low baseline but a high ceiling.
"I trust you, Master. When do we leave?" Ais asked.
"If you don't have anything else to do, we can leave tomorrow," Yami replied.
Hearing this, Ais nodded and didn't press the matter further.
Once the team finished regrouping, they began packing their gear and preparing for the return journey. Although the journey back was relatively easy, everyone remained cautious, mindful of the terrifying new monster they had encountered on the fifty-ninth floor. No one knew if something unexpected would happen later.
The floor master, Balor, on the forty-ninth floor hadn't respawned, so they avoided another intense battle. Similarly, aside from encountering some regular monsters, they didn't face any unusual situations during their return, which allowed everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.
However, when they reached the seventeenth floor, they were suddenly ambushed by a large number of Minotaurs. Almost as soon as the expedition team stepped onto the floor, the Minotaurs attacked. Despite the clear difference in strength, these creatures stubbornly roared and charged forward.
Seeing this, Finn quickly organized the team to confront the enemy. But compared to the monsters on the deeper floors, these Minotaurs were too weak. Most of the adventurers took the opportunity to practice their skills on these low-level monsters rather than eliminating them immediately.
As a result, the Minotaurs were quickly defeated, and the surviving ones fled toward the upper floors.
"This is bad. We can't let these monsters escape to the upper floors; it'll cause too much trouble. Everyone, spread out and hunt them down!" Finn ordered.
Hearing this, Yami's expression turned thoughtful. "This feels oddly familiar. Is this the plot's inertia at work? Even with my intervention, this kind of scenario still plays out, pushing the hero and heroine to meet. But it's a shame there won't be any such opportunities this time."
With that thought, before anyone else could act, Yami moved swiftly.