Just as the words left his mouth—
Before they could even celebrate—
The cavern walls around them suddenly cracked open.
One after another, monsters emerged, their scarlet eyes glowing ominously.
Normally, the number of monsters on each floor of the Dungeon was fixed.
They wouldn't exceed a certain limit.
When that number decreased, new monsters would break through the walls to replenish them.
The interval between these monster births varied depending on the floor.
But even at most—it was around a day.
Some monsters didn't respawn immediately and required a cooldown period.
For example:
The 17th floor's Floor Boss, Goliath, had a 7-day respawn.
Amphisbaena on the 27th floor only appeared once a month.
And the Labyrinth King Udaeus on the 37th floor showed up only once every three months.
Hardened Mice, Mad Beetles, Dragonflies, and Hellhounds poured out from the walls.
"GROOOAAHH!"
"RAAAAARGHH…!"
Snarling and howling, the monsters bared their fangs and charged.
There were over twenty of them.
"Watch closely," Raven's eyes sharpened.
He raised his staff high and shouted:
"——Crimson Bloom!"
In an instant, a blazing red light erupted from his body.
The Thousand-Feathered Staff ignited in the eternal blaze of crimson lotus fire—
And brilliant flames danced across his limbs like enchantments.
That noble, pure fire surged and circled Raven's arms and legs.
"That's… Red Lotus Bloom's magic?" Alfia's eyes widened slightly.
Raven's sharp gaze locked onto the monster swarm.
In the blink of an eye, he launched forward with explosive speed.
BOOM!
His flame-coated boots slammed into the ground.
A second later—
Destruction bloomed.
His body became a red-lotus projectile, tearing through the horde.
The flames from his feet roared like thrusters, propelling him forward like a comet.
"So fast…!" Metelia gasped. Her eyes couldn't follow him.
All she could see was a radiant crimson streak flashing through the air.
That speed…
It was like a scarlet bolt of lightning.
Every swing of Raven's flaming lance caused eruptions of fire—
Reducing monsters to ash with a single blow.
They couldn't even react.
They couldn't even see him clearly.
Another burst forward—he appeared right before a Hellhound.
"——Gospel."
A soft chant echoed—
BOOM!
A shockwave exploded outward, turning the monster into cinders.
"…What was that?" the [Empress] watched, stunned.
The last Dragonfly monster, realizing it was doomed, tried to flee.
Its wings buzzed frantically in a desperate retreat.
Raven raised his arm calmly and locked onto it.
"——Flame Lightning!"
A bolt of flame in the shape of lightning blasted through the air—
And struck the fleeing monster mid-flight.
BOOM!
A bright explosion flared.
Orange sparks scattered, and a single magic stone fell from above.
With only a few swift attacks, all monsters were wiped out.
Raven let out a quiet breath.
Damn, that felt good.
Being able to use his followers' magic so fluidly was exhilarating.
And now—
He wasn't limited to wide-area annihilation spells.
He wasn't just a mage anymore.
That was too plain.
He'd become—
A magic lancer.
A stylish one.
Even Lefiya, the [Thousand Spirits], became a magic swordswoman eventually.
Could he afford to fall behind?
"No way. So cool!" Karyssia clapped in admiration.
Raven dispersed the flames around his body and smiled.
"From now on, your magic is also my magic."
"That's part of my new skill's effects."
Alfia's eyes widened in disbelief.
This skill…
Was completely broken.
As Metelia picked up the magic stones, she asked curiously:
"Lord Raven, why is your Flame Lightning so much stronger than mine?"
"—Because I've got two divine-grade skills," he replied casually.
"Plus passive buffs from my staff."
"Obviously, the spell's output will be on a whole other level."
After explaining, Raven turned his gaze toward the long tunnel ahead.
"To the 18th floor."
Once Metelia had collected the last stone, the group departed the cavern.
Worth mentioning…
During the earlier fight, a rare item had unexpectedly dropped:
The carapace of a Hardened Mouse.
The creature looked like a pangolin.
But its armor—
Was absurdly tough.
A top-tier material for crafting shields or protective gear.
---
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