"Fortunately, no major incidents occurred this time, so our plans remain unchanged—we will continue to explore uncharted territory."
Finn concluded the briefing. "However, before heading to the 59th Floor, we have an adventurer request to fulfill."
Adventurer requests were commissions issued by organizations like the Guild, merchant associations, or other Familias. Completing them would yield generous rewards from the client.
This time, the request came from the Dian Cecht Familia. Given their frequent collaborations with Loki Familia, refusing was out of the question. The task was to retrieve a certain amount of water from the Cadmus Spring on the 51st Floor.
Finn ultimately decided to split a select group of elites into two teams. One consisted of Finn, Gareth, Bete, and Raul, while the other included Ais, Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya.
Riveria did not participate.
She had expended a significant amount of mental energy during the breakthrough on the 49th Floor and was now recovering. Moreover, to prepare for the upcoming exploration of the 59th Floor, she needed ample rest.
"Riveria will stay behind to guard the base."
"Can't be helped."
These matters had nothing to do with weaklings like Eiji, who was only Level 2.
In fact, even the upcoming exploration of the 59th Floor would involve only a handful of elite executives. The remaining members would stay behind on the 50th Floor.
Starting from the 51st Floor, the difficulty of exploration would increase dramatically, with monsters of Level 5 and above appearing. The danger level would rise exponentially, and aside from essential supporters and mobile artillery like Lefiya, almost no low-level adventurers would be brought along.
For all intents and purposes, Eiji's expedition journey ended here. His focus now should be on maximizing his proficiency during the return trip.
After dinner, everyone dispersed.
The patrol group circled the base, while Finn, Ais, and the others prepared to depart, heading toward the 51st Floor through the flat-shaped cavern. Those who remained, like Eiji, returned to rest.
"Hmm..."
Eiji stood at the edge of the base, gazing at the distant passage.
Inside that flat-shaped cavern was the slope leading to the 51st Floor, where Finn and the others had descended not long ago.
"What are you doing here?"
A cool, distinctly elven voice came from behind.
Riveria, clad in her green magic robe, approached Eiji's side.
Seeing that Eiji showed no intention of returning to his tent to rest, Riveria took the initiative to walk over.
"I have a bad feeling."
"A bad feeling?"
Riveria reacted to Eiji's words.
From Lefiya, she had learned that the reason they had uncovered Ishtar Familia's plot last time was due to Eiji's premonition. During this expedition, Eiji had also predicted monster appearances multiple times.
Finn had praised his danger intuition highly, even suggesting he had the makings of a future captain—because Finn himself possessed a similar ability to sense crises, which had allowed him to avoid countless dangers.
Thus, Riveria took Eiji's ominous premonition very seriously.
"Are you referring to Finn and the others?"
"Hard to say. I just sense danger approaching from below."
Danger approaching? Coming up?
Could it be monsters migrating from the lower floors?
While the 50th Floor was a safe zone, just as the northern wetlands of the 18th Floor were teeming with monsters from the 19th, it was possible for creatures from the 51st to wander up here.
"Everyone, assemble! Prepare defensive formations!"
Without hesitation, Riveria turned toward the camp and issued a sharp command.
The camp members reacted swiftly, emerging from their tents with tense expressions and retrieving their weapons from their packs. They quickly formed up at the front of the camp, arranging themselves into defensive positions.
Their reaction was as fast as well-trained soldiers—because everyone knew that in the Dungeon's depths, a lethal threat could emerge at any moment.
"With our current numbers, facing a horde of high-level monsters would be nearly impossible to handle."
Riveria returned to the center of the formation, surrounded by the group. She scanned the team, composed mostly of Level 3s and Level 4s, her expression tinged with concern.
Due to the request, nearly all the executives had left. There wasn't a single Level 5 here. Against a swarm of Level 4 monsters, a single breach could mean casualties.
"How about preparing a spell in advance?"
"...That might be the only option. You give me the signal."
After a brief consideration, Riveria decided to follow Eiji's suggestion.
She raised her beloved staff—a sturdy shaft embedded with nine magic jewels, one of the highest-tier staves in the mortal world, capable of maximizing spell potency. Its name was Magna Alfs.
Forged by artisans of the magical nation Altena, it was even suitable for use as a blunt weapon. Rumour had it that even with Loki haggling the price down, it still cost a staggering 340 million Valis.
Eiji emptied his mind as much as possible, ignoring minor noises and light interference, focusing his judgment entirely on his intuition.
He could clearly sense an extremely dangerous threat rapidly approaching the 50th Floor.
"Begin chanting!"
Eiji suddenly shouted.
"—O heralds of the end, O pale snow. As twilight falls, let the tempest roar!"
Without hesitation, Riveria immediately began reciting her spell.
This was a different spell from the one she had used on the 49th Floor. Eiji didn't recognize it, but he trusted Riveria's judgment. Given her mastery, the chant should take about a minute to complete.
A dazzling golden magic circle spread beneath Riveria's feet, illuminating the dim surroundings.
"Huh?"
Eiji's eyes suddenly sharpened, surprise flashing across his face.
"The danger is approaching rapidly—it's speeding up! Be careful, prepare for impact!"
"Understood!"
After Riveria began chanting, the sensed crisis abruptly accelerated, reaching its peak in mere moments.
Then, the monsters appeared before everyone's eyes.
"What... is that?"
"A... caterpillar...?"
It was a massive creature.
Its body was yellowish-green, with soft, flabby skin covered in vivid, colourful stripes—clearly a sign of potent toxicity.
Its lower half had countless short legs, while its upper half rose like a small mountain, with thin, flat appendages extending outward.
The moment it emerged from the flat cavern, the giant caterpillar monster immediately turned its gaze toward them, as if drawn by something. Then, it reared up and began swiftly slithering forward.
One after another, more caterpillar monsters appeared behind it, their densely packed formation sending chills down everyone's spines.
"Doesn't look that strong?"
"The pressure's nowhere near a Formor's!"
"We can handle this!"
Though they were giant-class monsters, the high-level adventurers of Loki Familia weren't particularly intimidated. Who among them hadn't slain hundreds of giant monsters? The underwhelming presence of these green caterpillars wasn't enough to instill fear.
Just as they spoke, the front lines made contact with the caterpillar monsters.
"Wait, don't recklessly engage—"
"Gyaaahhh!!"
Before Eiji could finish, agonized screams erupted from the front.
***
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