Noticing Lefiya's obviously improved mood, and also smelling that aroma in the air, Charles consciously moved closer.
He looked at the mountain-like pile of meat beside the iron pot and gulped. "Zephyr, this stuff... Isn't it a bit too much to cook?"
After frying the last piece of Infant Dragon meat, Zephyr looked at his final result with great satisfaction. "Actually, it's fine, not that much. If it really comes down to it, we can just treat it as snacks during the exploration."
Kate, who had just walked over, nearly lost her composure when she heard Zephyr's shocking statement.
It was understandable for Adventurers to have big appetites. After all, they needed to undergo high-intensity exercise in the Dungeon. However, she had never seen anyone who could eat so muchm
Zephyr's appetite was more than enough to match the five of them combined, and the key was that his stomach showed no change after eating, his figure remaining lean. Once that food was stuffed into his stomach, it was like falling into a bottomless pit, as if he could never be full.
Kate had once calculated silently—based on Zephyr's daily food intake, the cost of ingredients alone would be enough to support a five-person party.
If it weren't for the fact that he obtained his ingredients entirely from the Dungeon, bankruptcy would be just a matter of time at this rate of consumption, but she knew that some things involved an Adventurer's core information, so she chose not to ask.
Kate noticed Lefiya's obviously improved mood and looked at Zephyr. "What did Lefiya say to you just now? It felt like... she suddenly became happy?"
"It's nothing. I just left the Soma Familia and Lefiya asked me if I had any interest in joining the Loki Familia. In that situation, I felt there was no reason to refuse Lefiya."
"?"
After hearing the explanation, Charles's expression was stunned at first, but after recalling Zephyr's outrageous rate of improvement, it gradually turned into a sense of resignation.
He looked at Zephyr again. "The Loki Familia, huh... You're really lucky. I wanted to try my luck back then too, but sensei said I had no chance at all."
Kate frowned slightly, and said, "Maybe it's not luck but strength."
Charles shrugged without refuting her. He nodded earnestly. "I'm actually looking forward to it too. When we return to Orario later, I wonder if I'll be able to hear stories about Zephyr."
Zephyr changed the subject, "Let's eat first."
Charles grinned. "I must eat more. Once I leave here, I won't have a chance to eat the cuisine you cook anymore."
After a rather pleasant lunch break ended, while Lili was helping to pack up, Zephyr didn't hide anything.
After simplifying the content, he smiled and said, "Lili, we've found our next destination."
"Okay."
It didn't matter where they went. As long as she could follow Zephyr, that was enough.
Lili hadn't considered where she would return to, but she knew that a future with Zephyr was the only future she wanted.
—
After the party had a simple rest, they headed to the 13th Floor.
Compared to the upper floors, the environment of the middle floors hadn't changed much. It was still primitive corridors, just more spacious, and the temperature was lower.
The fluorescent fruits on the rock walls had completely disappeared. They were replaced by some kind of moss that emitted a faint, deep blue light, sparsely attached to the crevices of the walls, providing dim illumination.
The air was more humid and the width of the corridor had expanded nearly threefold. The corridors in the upper areas could mostly only accommodate three or four people walking side by side, whereas in the middle floors, even if six or seven people formed a formation, there was still plenty of space on both sides.
Zephyr already understood what this width meant. The size of the monsters they would encounter from now on would definitely increase. They needed wider corridors to accommodate their range of movement.
He hadn't thought that he would be able to explore this far as an Adventurer, and most importantly, in such a short time.
Just a few days ago, he was just a Supporter—helping transport supplies, picking up Magic Stones, cleaning up the battlefield debris, without even the ability to fight monsters head-on.
Let alone reaching this point, if he had encountered a Dungeon Lizard, one slight mistake would have meant a disaster.
And now—the 13th Floor.
Looking at the brand-new floor, he couldn't help but feel some emotion, but it was mostly filled with anticipation for his own future.
After arriving in the brand-new area, the fresh environment inevitably aroused the curiosity of Charles, Kate, and the others.
Noticing the relaxed atmosphere, Lili recalled the encounters that had happened before and warned, "Exploring the middle floors, the danger level will increase significantly. The monsters encountered here are all very dangerous."
"Especially the Hellhound. It has caused many Level 2 Adventurer parties to be completely wiped out here. You all need to be extra careful."
Hearing this, the expressions of Charles, Kate, and the others gradually became serious.
The first half had been too easy—ordinary monsters that could be solved with a wave of a hand. As the exploration time grew longer, it created a certain illusion, as if Dungeon exploration was such a simple matter.
But Lili's warning pulled everyone back to reality. In the middle floors, even Level 2 Adventurer parties could be wiped out. Besides, in their party, only Lefiya and Charles were Level 2, and the rest were all Level 1.
Charles tightened his grip on the handle of his axe, completely shedding his playful demeanor, and replaced it with the alertness an Adventurer should have when facing the unknown.
Kate was equally prepared for battle.
Lefiya walked to the back of the team. Upon hearing Lili's safety warning, she gripped her staff even tighter.
The team continued to advance, their footsteps echoing in the wide corridor.
After about two hundred steps, ahead in the distance, faint, extremely hard-to-catch footsteps appeared, becoming increasingly distinct as the distance closed.
They were definitely not Adventurers, they were monsters!
The sound of claws scratching the rocky ground was rapid and dense, accompanied by a low wheezing.
"Monsters are here." Lefiya whispered, but the tension in her eyes was effectively eased when she noticed Zephyr.
"Get ready for battle."
Kate glared fiercely at Charles, as if saying, if you continue to be reckless, I will whip you.
Zephyr, who was acting as the team's vanguard, also paused his steps, his gaze fixed on the darkness ahead, and the system prompt appeared as expected.
But this time, it was not the familiar capture mission, but a type of encounter similar to a Gourmet Sharing Mission.
[Gourmet Hunter's Advanced Trial!]
[Mission Introduction: As a novice Gourmet Hunter, you have gradually embarked on your own gourmet path, having undergone countless difficult trials. Your culinary skills and strength have both undergone a transformation.]
[Mission Requirements: Please capture 10 different types of Gourmet Creatures, cook them into dishes, and share them with your partners.]
[Reward Title: Apprentice Gourmet Hunter]
[Reward: Unknown]
Unknown reward...
The previous Gourmet Sharing Mission brought the talent [Rapid Absorption], which was of massive help.
What about this time?
Zephyr looked at the several Hellhounds that appeared before him, with pitch-black skin and extremely ferocious appearances.
The Hellhounds surged out from the crossroad at the front of the passage, spreading out in a fan shape, blocking the team's path forward.
Their build was close to that of a calf, their limbs thick and powerful, and the monsters' skin appeared charred black, covered with cracked patterns on the surface.
Just by getting close, heat waves surged from the direction of the Hellhounds, dispelling the cold environment of the passage.
As the monster at the very front opened its mouth, an orange-red glow lit up deep in its throat. This was definitely a sign of charging up before a fire breath.
For monsters skilled in group combat in narrow Dungeon corridors, if they kept spraying fire, it would be difficult for ordinary Adventurers to dodge.
Dragon Scales could withstand external attacks, but high-temperature roasting—that would likely be similar to the lizard tail he had eaten himself.
Would he be roasted alive?
Zephyr looked at those Hellhounds, his face gradually becoming serious. "Fighting this kind of monster, we absolutely cannot waste time.