19th Floor of the Dungeon
It was Roy, Daphne, and Cassandra's first time setting foot on this floor. They watched their surroundings warily, dark green moss covering the walls.
The other adventurers, however, looked completely accustomed to it.
The party continued advancing like an unstoppable war chariot, cutting down every monster in their path and sweeping across the middle floors with ease.
Only the "Killer Wasps," which began appearing from the 22nd floor onward, caused the group considerable trouble.
These wasps possessed black, armor-like shells covered in sharp, jagged edges, their appearance hideous and menacing. Each was about the size of an adult human. Their faces bore massive mandibles like pincers, and from the front of their bodies extended long venomous stingers.
Not only were the mandibles vicious, but the stingers could pierce even heavy armor. A single strike was enough to send a Lv. 2 adventurer to the afterlife. Infamous for their lethality, they inherited the dreaded nickname of the Killer Ants from the middle floors and were known as "High-Class Assassins."
As the strongest combatant in the team, Ryuu did not recklessly charge ahead. She remained by Roy and the other two's side, occasionally helping them clear out monsters.
The other adventurers couldn't help but envy them. A Lv. 4 bodyguard—who wouldn't want that?
Ryuu approached Roy and glanced at Cassandra. "Did you get the information you wanted?"
Since leaving the 18th floor, she had noticed Roy constantly frowning—a rare sight.
Roy scanned the surroundings. The other adventurers were focused on their own battles. He leaned closer to the elf girl's crystal-clear, elongated ear, his warm breath brushing against it.
Ryuu's slender body trembled slightly. She shot him a strange look. On purpose, wasn't he? But what Roy said next made her forget such trivial matters.
Lowering his voice to the barest whisper, Roy said, "Miss Ryuu, if—just if—I asked you to kill these adventurers, would you do it?"
Ryuu's sky-blue eyes contracted. She stared at him in disbelief. What are you even saying?
Clenching her silver teeth, she asked, "Why would you ask that?"
Roy did not answer. If this was Freya's doing, then as a seasoned veteran, he could vaguely guess that goddess's true intent.
She wanted to see whether the elf girl, who had once fallen into darkness, could bloom once more with the light of justice she once carried.
This topic was far too sensitive. Afraid that other adventurers might notice, Ryuu didn't dare press further. She could only glare fiercely at the silent Roy.
As they gradually descended to the 24th floor—
Everyone clearly sensed something was wrong. It was too quiet. Hardly any monsters were in sight.
"Stay sharp, boys!" Bors shouted.
Though the team had been hastily assembled, its quality was undeniable. Aside from Daphne and Cassandra, everyone averaged Lv. 2. They formed a tight formation and advanced cautiously.
When they approached the passage leading to the 25th floor, the "culprit" finally appeared before them.
On the moss-covered wall emerged a massive shadow, no smaller than the Floor Boss Goliath. Its cold, ghostly gaze swept over them all.
"Magic squad, attack!" Bors ordered.
The vanguard kept their eyes fixed on the massive silhouette, while the midline protected the mages. Over a dozen magic users began chanting, and the surrounding magic power thickened in the air.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
When the chanting ended, flames, mud torrents, lightning, and other supernatural attacks rained down upon the enormous shadow, the explosions deafening.
On the 24th floor, no monster could withstand the combined magic of over a dozen Lv. 2 adventurers.
The massive shadow collapsed with a crash, revealing its true form—intertwined, coiling tree roots, beneath which were buried dazzling, multi-colored gemstones.
"What enhanced species? Isn't this just a Jewel Tree?"
Voices of complaint rose within the party, but their eyes gleamed with greed.
As the name suggested, it was a tree body embedded with gemstones—rare and highly valuable material. The combined worth of those gems was no less than several million valis. Even Lv. 3 adventurers would be tempted.
Profit reveals true hearts.
The party, once united in subjugating the enhanced species, instantly fractured. Adventurers rushed forward, scrambling to seize the gemstones beneath the roots.
The fastest was Bors himself, the organizer. He couldn't even blame the others for failing to restrain their greed.
Only Roy's group of four remained vigilant.
"Cover your ears!" Roy shouted.
The others looked confused. Only Daphne and Cassandra, though puzzled, followed his instruction immediately, clamping their hands tightly over their ears.
"La la la la la la la la la~"
Suddenly, a soft and melodious voice echoed through the walls, surrounding them in a full three hundred and sixty degrees, tinged with faint sorrow.
"What is that sound?"
Those still grabbing gems raised their heads warily. After all, they were adventurers.
The voice seemed to carry a bewitching power, burrowing into their ears. The world in their vision warped like rippling water, and their bodies felt as though sensation had vanished.
Their movements froze. Their eyes grew vacant, like puppets on strings.
Even Lv. 3 adventurers were no exception.
Only a small number of adventurers who had chosen the Development Ability "Abnormal Resistance" retained consciousness.
Daphne and Cassandra collapsed to one knee, their bodies weak and faces pale. Thanks to covering their ears in time, they managed to remain conscious.
Roy let out a breath of relief. After advancing to Lv. 3, he was fortunate to have chosen Abnormal Resistance. Aside from slight dizziness, he felt no serious discomfort.
"H-Hey, what's going on?" Bors was among the few still conscious. He stared wide-eyed, gemstones slipping from his hand.
Nearly ninety percent of the subjugation party stiffened, drawing their weapons and aiming them at Roy's group. In the blink of an eye, they were surrounded.
Bright blades gleamed with cold light.
Ryuu's expression changed slightly. She raised her wooden sword—Elf Flowing Light—toward the controlled adventurers. Recalling Roy's earlier words, realization dawned on her. So that was what he meant.
When she looked at Roy, the young man's face remained calm as he raised three fingers.
There were three choices.
One: Abandon these adventurers. With their strength, breaking through here was feasible. Escorting Daphne and Cassandra back to the 18th floor wouldn't be difficult.
Two: Kill every adventurer here.
Three: Charge into the 25th floor and drag out the mermaid monster bewitching everyone. Kill it, and the charm on all of them would automatically be lifted.
However, the 25th floor was beyond their original expedition plan. They had only intended to reach the 24th floor.
The first option was the easiest. The second was the most ruthless. The third was the most difficult—after all, they didn't even know the monster's true status.
Ryuu lowered her head. If it were the old her, she might have chosen the third option. But now she was more rational, instinctively leaning toward the first.
What was wrong with that?
These adventurers had little to do with them anyway. They were merely a temporary party.
Her sky-blue eyes trembled as she looked at Roy, as if asking—Which one do you want me to choose?