The four-man cell reached the Babel plaza early in the morning. Lower-level adventurers watched them with envy. Only Familias recognized by the Guild were granted "Expedition" status, a privilege reserved for the elite.
The team was armed to the teeth with high-end gear from the Hephaestus Familia. Cassandra carried a Sacred Crystal Staff worth 1.2 million Valis, while Roy was decked out in his Wind Chaser Boots, steel gauntlets, and Demon King's Armor.
To maintain appearances, Roy had Daphne carry a large, but lighter, backpack to mimic a supporter. Once they entered the Dungeon, he tucked the real heavy lifting into his ring.
They tore through the upper floors. Monsters were cleared the moment they appeared. To this team, the upper levels were nothing more than a stroll.
They swept through the floors with ease, effortlessly clearing groups of Shadow Rays and Killer Ants—monsters often feared as "rookie killers."
"How are you two holding up? Getting used to it?" Roy glanced back at Daphne and Cassandra.
In the Apollo Familia, they had reached the 17th floor before, but as rookies, they had been shielded and rarely had the chance to fight. Daphne replied confidently, "Piece of cake!" Cassandra nodded in agreement.
With their stats trained to the absolute limit, they radiated confidence. However, in Ryuu's eyes, their movements were still full of openings, and she offered sharp pointers as they moved. Ryuu took the vanguard, Roy held the middle, and Daphne stayed back to protect Cassandra. Most monsters were handled by Roy and Ryuu before they could even get close to the rear.
The quartet traversed the long stone maze and reached the 17th floor. Although the Floor Boss, Goliath, had already been defeated by another group, the floor was far from peaceful.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As if sensing their arrival, the walls cracked open. A massive horde of Minotaurs emerged—muscular, two-meter-tall beasts. These monsters, which usually appear below the 15th floor, are each equivalent to a Level 2 adventurer.
To make matters worse, they had triggered a "Monster Party." Dozens of Minotaurs fixed their bloodshot eyes on the group. Roy narrowed his eyes and chuckled. "Looks like our luck isn't exactly great today."
Daphne and Cassandra had never seen such a terrifying sight; their faces turned pale. These weren't the weak zombies they had practiced on. The three girls reflexively looked at Roy.
"If an emergency happens, you take command!" Ryuu had told him before the expedition.
Roy actually preferred being in the front to sharpen his combat skills, but the two newcomers lacked experience, and the stoic Ryuu seemed content to remain the "muscle" of the team. Under Ryuu's stern gaze, Roy had no choice but to accept the role of strategist.
------------------------------------------------
My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Starting with an Elf (260 Chapters, Ongoing)
------------------------------------------------
"Miss Ryuu, handle the front but stay within range! I'll take the rear. Daphne, be ready to cycle in and out. Cassandra, prep your magic. We push for the 18th-floor passage—don't let them pin us down!" Roy's commands were rapid-fire, delivered with absolute clarity in under two seconds.
Ryuu, Daphne, and Cassandra moved instantly. In the Dungeon, a team can only have one voice; hesitation or questioning, even from a higher-ranked adventurer, leads to total annihilation. Ryuu knew the newcomers trusted Roy more than her, and she also wanted to test his leadership. Even if he made a mistake, she was confident she could salvage the situation on these middle floors.
Zzap! Zzap!
Roy dashed to the back. Golden lightning surged in his hands, condensing into two massive axes. With a violent swing, he cleaved an approaching Minotaur clean in half. Their thick muscle and bone offered no resistance; they were cut like paper. Within moments, seven or eight Minotaurs were reduced to ash and magic stones.
Compared to adventurers, Level 2 monsters were much easier to predict. Roy refrained from using his legendary Elven Holy Sword—it would be like using a cannon to kill a mosquito, providing no real training value.
The road ahead grew crowded with Minotaurs and Needle Rabbits, but the team pushed toward the 18th floor. Ryuu was like an unstoppable force, while Roy periodically rotated Daphne into the fray for a few seconds to build her stamina.
"O light of heaven... mercy that saves my shallow self... Heal Sight!"
Cassandra unleashed her magic. A wide-area recovery spell washed over them, mending the scratches and minor wounds on Roy, Ryuu, and Daphne. Roy gave her an approving nod; having a healer made everything significantly easier. While he had elixirs, finding the time to drink one while surrounded by dozens of monsters was nearly impossible.
After over an hour of relentless slaughter, the passage to the 18th floor finally came into view.
"Miss Ryuu!" Roy shouted. "Use Luminous Wind! Let's clear the path in one go!"