Roar!
Roy's appearance also caught the monster's attention. The six eyes on its three heads all focused on Roy, emitting an icy, chilling light. In that instant, Roy's blood ran cold. Turning a corner and finding love shouldn't happen like this!
The monster's low growl sounded familiar to Roy. Then, his pupils contracted. It was the same roar he had heard when he first entered. The terrifying pressure he felt from the creature made Roy's face turn ashen, completely drained of color. Every cell in his body seemed to scream in terror.
Goliath, the Floor Boss of the 17th floor of the Dungeon, wasn't even fit to carry this monster's shoes. This monster was at least Level 7, and Roy even felt he was underestimating it. This was because he had seen the strongest adventurer, "Juggernaut" Ottar, from a distance once.
Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!
The massive monster opened its enormous mouth, revealing sharp fangs. Dark-purple saliva dripped onto the ground, emitting smoke like a strong corrosive agent. Roy dared not make a move. The difference in strength was too vast. He would die—instantly killed!
At that moment, the monster's six eyes focused on the bamboo basket Roy was holding, showing a trace of infatuation.
Roy, whose survival instinct was at maximum, keenly noticed this. He placed the bamboo basket on the ground and pulled off the cloth cover, revealing the honey cake.
Upon seeing the cake, the monster's emotions fluctuated, its gaze firmly fixed.
"Please!"
Roy moved away from the basket, retreating to the wall.
The monster's size suddenly shrank to that of a normal house dog. It pounced on the basket, burying its three heads inside and furiously devouring the cake. Roy breathed a silent sigh of relief. He moved carefully along the wall. Even though its size had shrunk, the sense of danger it gave him had not lessened in the slightest.
To prevent a sneak attack, Roy kept his front facing the monster, slowly retreating backward.
He dared not make a sound with his footsteps.
Once he reached a safe distance, Roy took off running, only regretting that his parents had given him two legs instead of four in this life, not hesitating to use the special effect of the Wind-Chasing Boots.
He didn't stop until he escaped the cave.
Seeing daylight again made Roy realize how wonderful it was to be alive. Provoking that monster wouldn't have been called "adventure"; it would have been true suicidal recklessness!
"I thought you died in there."
The silver-haired goddess's voice rang out again. Roy turned and saw her still sitting on the blue stone.
"So, was it fun?" the silver-haired goddess asked with a smile, like a child who had received a new toy.
Roy's face was pale. Fun? It was terrifying! Even Ottar would probably lose a layer of skin dealing with that monster, let alone him. He had no choice but to agree. "Very fun, very fun!"
Listening to Roy's insincere complaint, the silver-haired goddess's smile widened.
"Goddess-sama, what exactly was that monster? How could such a powerful monster be on the surface?" Roy moved closer. Besides the Black Dragon, it was extremely rare for a surface monster to reach Level 4. A monster of Level 7 or higher was practically non-existent!
"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask," the silver-haired goddess dismissed him with a glance, clearly unwilling to answer.
Roy pouted. Does she really think I don't know?
A canine beast with three heads that loves sweets. The only mythological creature Roy could think of was the Cerberus! He just wasn't sure if it was the actual deity or a monster resembling it.
If it were the real deal, the cave he entered would be terrifying indeed...
Roy felt a shiver of post-fear. He truly was a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger.
Unable to glean any more information from the silver-haired goddess, Roy changed the subject and smiled. "Goddess-sama, could you please return my gauntlet?"
"Trying to abandon the bridge after crossing the river?"
The silver-haired goddess raised an eyebrow, displeased.
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!"
Roy hastily waved his hands. Without that honey cake, he would have been instantly killed by that monster.
As he spoke, Roy stepped forward to massage her back, coaxing her with a smile. "My strength is nothing out here. I'm afraid I can't protect myself. I only beg the Goddess-sama's mercy to bestow back my life-saving gauntlet."
The silver-haired goddess laughed in exasperation. He dared to break into that 'cave,' but now he pretends to be weak. This little sneak was like those market merchants; as long as there was profit, he'd be like a cat sniffing fish.
At that moment, the silver-haired goddess's eyes flickered. "I can give it back to you, but I have one condition."
"Please tell me!"
Roy caught the fleeting look of cunning in her eyes and raised his guard.
The silver-haired goddess spoke coldly. "Go to Orario and annihilate the Freya Familia and the Loki Familia!"
"Me?"
Roy nearly choked on his saliva. He asked carefully, "In five years... three years?"
The silver-haired goddess was definitive. "Now!"
Roy gave a bitter smile. "Goddess-sama, please suggest another condition. I am willing, but powerless."
"Have some ambition, won't you!"
The silver-haired goddess extended her slender, jade-like finger and poked Roy's head in frustration.
The flustered silver-haired goddess didn't even notice that Roy was absolutely confident he could grow enough to annihilate the two world-famous Familias in three years at most. Which adventurer in the entire world would dare say that?
Roy chuckled. "Goddess-sama, this isn't a hot-blooded story where yelling 'Don't underestimate our bonds!' can defeat powerful enemies."
The silver-haired goddess stared at Roy with her blood-red eyes. After a long moment, she sighed helplessly.
"Fine!"
The silver-haired goddess tossed the Steel Gauntlet back to Roy, looking wistful. "If one day you meet a little guy with white hair and red eyes, he's probably around nine or ten now, try your best to lend him a hand."
Upon hearing this, Roy's expression instantly became serious. He stared intently at the silver-haired goddess, his eyes heavy with realization.
From their encounter until now, the silver-haired goddess's words and actions, coupled with this last request, were too revealing. He seemed to realize the true identity of this silver-haired goddess.
Roy's direct gaze made the silver-haired goddess feel uncomfortable. She said testily, "Are you willing or not? Give me a straight answer, stop being wishy-washy!"
Roy said seriously, "Of course, no problem!"
The silver-haired goddess smiled in satisfaction. She still had some confidence in her judgment of people. "Good. Hurry up and leave. If you don't go now, it'll be too late."
"Goddess-sama, take care!"
"Get lost! Don't be a nuisance in front of me!"
The silver-haired goddess waved her hand dismissively. Roy ran down the mountain like an unbridled horse.
Watching Roy run faster than a rabbit, the silver-haired goddess couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, muttering to herself, "Astraea Familia, Bud of Justice, the fastest Leveling adventurer in history. How interesting. We will definitely meet again."
In fact, Roy did not leave immediately.
He hid at the foot of the mountain. Two days later, Roy secretly snuck back up. Sure enough, the eerie cave and the silver-haired goddess had vanished, as if they had never existed.