Since the Floor Boss on the seventeenth floor—Goliath—had already respawned, Alise decided it was best to rest first. They'd pushed this far without incident, but if they wanted zero mistakes, everyone needed to recover their stamina.
In the past, whenever they entered the eighteenth floor, it was usually because the boss had already been cleared by one of the major Familias. But this time, Alise intended to do things differently.
They picked a zone where monsters were produced frequently, then deliberately damaged part of the surrounding walls—forcing the Dungeon to spend energy repairing damage rather than mass-producing monsters. After setting up alert devices, everyone finally loosened the tension a little… though even then, sentries were still assigned.
This wasn't "being paranoid."
Every step was written in blood—lessons carved into history by people who didn't survive resting in the Dungeon.
During the break, Lyla checked their supplies. Seeing that not a single healing potion had been used, she smiled and shot Xien a glance.
They really were living the luxury life now—a combat healer. If things stayed like this, future potion costs would drop dramatically.
More than that: not only had team safety improved by a huge margin, but their overall clearance efficiency had climbed as well. Normally, reaching this floor meant they'd probably have to sleep inside the Dungeon.
This time, it took only most of a day.
As everyone gathered to rest, conversation immediately erupted.
"Is this really Xien's first time in the Dungeon?" someone asked. "This performance… honestly, it's hard to believe."
Asta, rubbing an arm that had already recovered perfectly, couldn't help admiring him. Even though she was Level 3, the "newbie" Xien still felt terrifyingly impressive.
As the frontline tank, Asta normally kept recovery potions close at hand whenever they delved—not because she feared death, but because she understood the truth:
If she fell, the backline would be exposed.
She was the team's last wall.
But this time, despite the danger being just as real… she hadn't even had the chance to use a potion.
"Yeah," Iska agreed. "Leaving aside his combat power—his heals are always on time. It feels like the pressure just… dropped."
This expedition had been pure bliss for her. It had been a long time since she'd been able to fight without constantly worrying about consequences.
"And he cooks so well too!" someone else declared. "Alright, it's decided—Xien is my little brother from now on—"
"Hey, Nize, no stealing him early… But now that you mention it, I really am getting hungry."
"Hahaha…"
Even though they were talking about him, Xien didn't feel uncomfortable at all. Instead, he laughed right along with them. With these "big sisters," each with their own personality, Xien felt genuinely happy.
"Perfect," Xien said, grinning. "Since everyone likes my cooking, I'll show you what I can do. Lyla, could you help me set up a campfire?"
"Hm? Sure thing, little bro Xien."
The moment she was called "big sis," the prum Lyla perked right up. Catching the look in his eyes, she knew he was serious. She didn't know what he was planning, but she moved immediately.
She'd already realized it:
This kid was really good at surprising them.
"For real?"
Expectations rose across the group. What kind of surprise was their little brother about to pull out this time?
Xien washed the edible ingredients he'd collected along the way, then produced the seasonings he'd prepared. As time passed, a simple self-heating pot—an improvised "hotpot"—took shape in his hands almost like magic.
Before long, a rich aroma surged through the air, flooding everyone's noses and stabbing directly at their appetites. Without realizing it, they started swallowing hard.
Seeing that, Xien smiled.
Once the heat was right, he took out the flat, biscuit-like Dungeon rations. Using his short sword, he sliced one open from the side, stuffed it with the cooked filling, added a special sauce… and capped it with the other half.
A Dungeon-style stuffed flatbread was born.
As the saying went: there's no such thing as bad ingredients—only bad cooks.
The Dungeon actually had plenty of edible materials, and some were genuinely delicious. With his "manual," and a few quick tastings, Xien could already think of multiple pairing methods.
Under everyone's eager gaze, he handed them out one by one. The members who could barely wait took huge bites.
"Mm. Good."
The flavor hit their tongues like an explosion.
For an instant, they forgot they were in the Dungeon at all—like they'd been transported back to the Familia's home base.
It was hard to believe the bread in their hands was the same dry, unpleasant ration they used to dread. Paired with juicy filling, the dryness became a perfect contrast.
Ridiculously good.
Watching their blissed-out expressions, Xien's smile deepened.
Not done yet.
He poured the hot soup into bowls and distributed it too. One bite of food, one sip of steaming broth—pure heavenly comfort.
"Ah… I can't imagine what we'll do if we lose Xien," someone groaned.
"Seriously. I want to eat this every day."
In that moment, the entire team was conquered—through a very special route.
"Damn… you've got skills," even Alise muttered in admiration.
Orario hadn't seen someone with this kind of personality and ability in a long time.
Half an hour later, everyone was refreshed and fully revived. They advanced toward Floor 17—the Floor Boss domain.
The Floor Boss Goliath was a giant-class monster, widely considered the first true "divine punishment" most adventurers would ever face.
Nearly ten meters tall.
Overwhelming power.
Shocking speed.
An absolute tyrant that made lower-class adventurers tremble just hearing the name.
Anyone who overcame it head-on in Orario inevitably became famous.
And this time, Alise wanted to try.
With a complete team, she wanted to claim an adventure that belonged to Astraea Familia alone.
"That's the situation," Alise said. "Any objections?"
They exchanged confident looks.
How could they object?
Even Xien was openly excited.
To raise your sword toward a stronger foe—just imagining it was enough to make his blood boil.
After working together all the way down, they'd already accepted Xien's place in the team. Their confidence surged to a peak.
A single Floor Boss? Watch us clear it in one run.
So they did it.
Burning with momentum, they swept aside monsters along the way, until finally they arrived at a place known as—
The Wall of Sighs.
A vast natural white rock wall loomed ahead. At its center near the bottom was a hollow opening—the passage to the next safe floor, Floor 18.
And in front of that wall lay a huge open area, almost as if the Dungeon had intentionally designed a stage for the Boss's entrance and battle.
A perfect arena for a decisive fight.
Unlike the chaotic caverns of the middle floors, this chamber was a clean, rectangular hall. From the large circular entrance where they stood to the deepest end, it was about two hundred meters.
If you judged only by length, it might be larger than a grain warehouse.
Roughly one hundred meters wide, and from ground to ceiling perhaps under twenty meters.
A massive hall of coarse stone blocks—except the left-side wall was different.
Its surface was so smooth you'd doubt your own eyes, like it had been polished by hand. No bumps at all. Like countless stonemasons had shaped it. There were no seams—one continuous wall stretching from one end to the other, devouring the entire field of view.
"Alright," Alise said. "Everyone—let's go."
Keeping formation and vigilance, they moved forward step by step.
When they reached the center of the open ground—
The anomaly began.
The earth trembled.
Cracks spread across the wall above the entrance.
A soul-shaking roar echoed through the entire floor.
And then—behind falling, crumbling rock—
A massive humanoid face appeared.
Xien froze as the tyrant emerged from the wall itself.
That endless hatred in its eyes.
That height that forced you to look up.
That crushing pressure only a colossal monster could radiate.
It was more overwhelming than any game cutscene.
Like he'd brushed against an ancient fear—terror of being ruled by giants.
His brain heated. Adrenaline spiked.
And then—driven by training—his body pulled in a deep breath on instinct.
Oxygen flooded in.
The numbness in his limbs faded.
His hands obeyed again.
He tightened his grip on his weapon.
His heart hammered—angry, refusing to submit.
And the fire inside him ignited completely.
"We're going in!" Alise shouted.
"Yes!"
No further words were needed.
With the red-haired captain pointing her sword and issuing the command, the team called Astraea began to move—an engine of justice. Their blades aimed straight at the tyrant.
The two young mage girls beside Xien were already chanting.
Asta, the vanguard, had moved in front of the three before he even noticed—her duty was protecting Xien and the backline.
Everyone else charged.
They surpassed fear.
They all knew exactly what to do.
Even knowing the enemy was that strong…
Even knowing that for Level 2–3 adventurers, victory looked like a distant mirage…
They still followed that figure forward.
Not blind foolishness—
But absolute will, fused together, to overcome the impossible.
The Boss roared again.
Fists fell like rain toward the frontline—heavy impacts smashing down in rapid succession.
The movements were almost too fast to see.
Completely unlike what a giant should be able to do.
"Evade—then restrain!" someone called.
Their battle-worn bodies barely tracked the first wave. With Alise's prior warnings, they scattered and leapt away, avoiding the opening barrage.
No hesitation.
The frontline struck immediately—pouring their strongest attacks into the giant arm as it paused to gather power again, or into the legs that supported its massive frame.
The agility.
The timing.
The precision.
Xien—knocked to the ground by shockwaves from the first exchange—stared in disbelief.
So this was what "team strength" looked like.
Earlier fights hadn't been shocking enough for him to truly feel it.
But now, under a Floor Boss's demolition-grade assault… watching them respond with composure—
It hit him like a sledgehammer.
And yet—
It was still a Floor Boss.
Against such a massive threat, their attacks looked thin.
Even at full strength, the damage they dealt was limited.
Its hide was like the highest-tier armor. Blades bounced off hard enough to numb their hands.
Then the chanting finished.
A surge of fire and lightning magic struck at the perfect moment—interrupting a critical motion and saving teammates who hadn't fully escaped the danger zone.
Under this monstrous pressure, it looked like they were barely holding on.
But that wasn't the truth.
They were combining everything—knowledge, strength, awareness—breaking down the Boss's power one piece at a time.
Searching for a path to victory inside darkness where no road was visible.
Still…
The gap in raw numbers was real.
A reality that couldn't be crossed easily.
Even the wind pressure alone from the Boss's swings was hard to endure.
Before long, injuries accumulated across the team.
But even then, they never stopped attacking.
Because they believed—
He's behind us.
Xien stood up.
This wasn't the moment to become extra baggage.
Everyone had protected him—so well that even the two mage girls had instinctively placed themselves between him and the Boss.
So now he had to protect them—his way.
Looking at all those wounded figures—
He had to do something.
His body burned. Blood boiled.
His mind became frighteningly clear.
And with a silent roar in his heart, he raised his hand.
Life force danced at his fingertips.
Everyone felt their bodies lighten.
A natural emerald glow rose around them.
Stamina. Fatigue. Wounds.
Restored—rapidly, violently, within moments.
A smile tugged at Xien's lips.
Maybe the enemy was still a wall too high.
But now everyone knew:
The law of victory had already been written.
With recovery on their side, they held an absolute advantage.
They didn't need to overthink anything anymore.
What they needed now was simple—
Blow that monster's head apart.
"Everyone," Alise's voice rang out, fierce and bright, "our little brother has already shown his 'justice.' Are we going to let him outshine us?"
"No way!" the team roared in unison.
They would never accept losing to their adorable junior in sheer will.
First time in the Dungeon.
First time facing a Floor Boss's oppressive terror—
And he'd perfectly done his job.
So as seniors, they had to do even better.
Bodies—move.
Don't let the newbie look down on you!
"Then," Alise said, blade lifting, "show our little brother—what it means to be Astraea Familia!"
"Understood!"
In that moment, morale reached a peak.
Everyone unleashed their trump cards.
Their bodies were being wrung dry. The edge of their limits sharpened into clarity.
And what they had to do was simple:
Bet everything—
And cross that line.
....
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