Compared with Roy's previous solo runs, leading a team of over ten high-class adventurers into the dungeon slowed progress considerably.
Monsters couldn't halt their advance, but moving supplies took time.
Two hours longer than before, the teams met on the 18th floor.
After brief regrouping, they headed to the 19th floor.
The passages there were bark-covered, dotted with glowing moss, resembling a maze of trees.
Most monsters were Level 2.
Level 5 adventurers didn't need to act; Level 2 and 3 adventurers handled them to gain Excelia and boost strength.
For Level 5s, middle and lower floor monsters offered little Excelia, but for Level 2s and 3s, it was valuable.
Level 5 adventurers were there for emergencies, stepping in to resolve life-threatening situations.
However, Level 2 adventurers struggled past the lower floors, where Level 3 and even Level 4 monsters appeared, limiting their impact.
On the 28th safe floor, Level 2 adventurers stayed, leaving some supplies and awaiting the expedition's return.
Safe floors served to receive returning members or relay messages if the team didn't return timely, prompting a surface retreat.
With Level 2s stationed, the team slimmed, speeding progress.
They soon entered the deep floors, where the guild required Level 4 strength minimum.
Even Level 5 adventurers couldn't stand idle here.
Monster strength, numbers, and density surpassed middle floors, threatening lives.
Following the map, deeper floors brought more monsters.
Roars echoed as footsteps shook the rocky ground to pieces.
Barbarians, Kelpies, Mermans and lizardman elites—these massive Level 4 elite monsters aimed to trample the Loki Familia.
Hundreds of these blocked the path; without clearing them, progress halted.
"Shield formation, up!" Finn's roar rang across the chaotic battlefield.
Monsters charged, slamming the front line.
Dozens of Level 3 and 4 adventurers raised shields, but the impact nearly broke their vanguard, heels sinking into mud.
"Didn't you say even Udaeus fell to you? Why rely on us to babysit?" Bete sneered at Roy, seven meters away but clearly targeting him.
Roy wasn't idle by choice.
Finn hadn't assigned him tasks.
Finn included Roy for his Space, letting Level 2 and 3 adventurers take middle and lower floor Excelia.
Roy was the team's most relaxed, just following along—surrounded by Ais, Tiona, and Lefiya.
This sparked Bete's ire.
"Vanguard, hold tight formation! Rear, keep attacking! Tiona, Tione, support the right!" Finn ordered.
The Amazon sisters dashed across the battlefield, felling six monsters instantly.
"Bad luck—a monster party," Finn frowned, recognizing an abnormal surge.
Even deep floors didn't spawn this many monsters typically.
"Riveria, how long for wide-area attack magic?" Finn asked.
"Ninety seconds," Riveria nodded, gathering magic and chanting loudly.
"I'll pitch in," Roy said.
"Thanks," Finn nodded.
A high class adventurer's aid would ease the battlefield.
"Proud warriors, snipers of the forest, take up your bows. My name commands you. Notch your arrows to strike down the invaders. Let the blazing bolts of the fairies fall like rain, incinerating all. Fusillade Fallarica!" Roy chanted swiftly.
Hundreds of flame-forged javelins formed overhead, raining on the monster tide like fire.
A massive explosion followed.
Each javelin struck precisely, obliterating monsters.
She hadn't chanted a tenth of her spell, and Roy was done.
Wasn't that Lefiya's signature magic?
"Finn, do I still need to prep magic?" Riveria asked, seeing Roy's blast clear most monsters—about twenty remained.
The battlefield pressure lifted.
Twenty monsters were trivial for them—no need for her wide-area spell.
"Damn, you elf, warn us before blasting magic!" Bete's curses erupted from the smoke, his disheveled figure emerging, singed silver hair and all.
Uninjured but embarrassed, Bete raged at Lefiya.
"I didn't cast it," Lefiya shrank, startled.
"Isn't that your best magic?" Bete knew Lefiya's mob-clearing Fusillade Fallarica from the journey, its Level 5 mage-comparable power justifying her expedition role.
"My magic's not that strong," Lefiya retorted.
"Then who?" Bete glared, demanding answers.
Lefiya looked to Roy for help.
"You?" Bete followed her gaze.
"It was Roy," Finn confirmed.
Bete's face shifted colors—Finn's word was undeniable.
Roy did it on purpose!
Bete saw others unscathed—he alone was hit.
"Sorry, didn't know such powerful magic could affect you," Roy said insincerely.
"Need a potion to recover?"
Bete fumed—who was he underestimating?
Roy was retaliating for his earlier jab, proving his strength.
"I'm not hurt, no potion needed. That magic's too weak to touch me," Bete snorted.
"Next time, warn everyone before wide-area spells. We're a team, not solo."
Bete turned, venting on nearby monsters.
"Looks like Bete got schooled," Riveria smiled, shaking her head.
Bete's hostility toward Roy was obvious, but Roy hadn't cared—until now, putting Bete in his place.
With such conflict, Finn and Riveria stayed silent.
"Too strong! That magic was you, Roy!" Tiona, after handling her monsters, rushed to Roy, grabbing his hand excitedly.
"Now Bete's got nothing to say," Tiona raised her voice for Bete to hear.
Bete paused, then kicked a nearby monster harder, venting.
Read advance chapters at:
200 Stones = 1 chapter
400 Stones = 2 chapter