If the members of the two great Familias had still harbored even the slightest doubt about Genichi's earlier bragging, then after seeing the speed at which his shadows hunted monsters with their own eyes, that last trace of doubt vanished completely.
Those shadows did not merely possess strength equal to Level 6 Genichi. They could even use magic.
Yes. Magic.
When a Level 5 wyvern dove out from deep within the passage, one of the shadows raised its hand. Lightning-wreathed flames gathered in its palm, and in the next instant that bolt of fire struck the wyvern square in the head, blowing it apart.
Genichi stood at the front of the party, leisurely watching the shadows harvest monsters, occasionally bending down to pick up fallen magic stones.
"How can your shadows use magic?"
Finn finally could not hold back any longer.
Genichi glanced back at him, the corner of his mouth tilting upward.
"Because any magic I can use, they can use too."
He paused, then added, "The shadows created by Shadow King have the same status and skills I do, including magic."
Everyone sucked in a breath.
They had all his abilities?
Then did that not mean every single one of those shadows was a Level 6 Genichi?
With more than a dozen Level 6 Genichis attacking at once, no wonder the monsters could not even get close.
It was basically the status gain of more than a dozen people being concentrated onto a single person.
Was this the secret behind his absurd growth speed?
Watching Genichi's enviable monster-clearing speed, the adventurers of both Familias sank into a long silence.
From the forty-third floor all the way to the fiftieth, neither Familia had made a single move.
Every monster was killed by Genichi's shadows before it could get anywhere near them.
And so they simply followed behind Genichi at an almost leisurely pace, making their way all the way to the fiftieth floor without the slightest obstruction.
The safe point on the fiftieth floor was a secure rest area.
The party stopped there for a brief break.
Genichi stood at the edge of the rest point, looking down into the deep, dark passage below.
The entrance to the fifty-first floor lay just ahead.
He turned around and looked at the members of the two Familias.
"I've got an idea. I'm just not sure whether you people have the guts to try it."
Finn raised a brow.
"What kind of idea? Let's hear it."
Genichi pointed downward.
"Going down one floor at a time is way too slow. So we can use a cannon dragon to blast through the floors, then just jump straight down."
A cannon dragon?
Everyone froze.
Cannon dragons were monsters from the fifty-eighth floor, capable of spewing dragon breath powerful enough to punch through multiple floors.
Once you stepped onto the fifty-second floor, you could get sniped by them.
So Genichi was suggesting using a cannon dragon's attack to blow through the floor, then dropping straight down from the fifty-second?
How many floors would that skip?
The members of both Familias fell silent.
It was insane.
There was no question that Genichi's idea was utterly insane.
And yet, looking at him, they had to admit that it was also the fastest option.
If it worked, it would save an enormous amount of time.
With the Six Spirit Rings liable to explode at any moment, time was life.
"Are you sure you can pull it off?"
Finn asked.
"Absolutely."
Genichi answered bluntly. "And if you're worried, I can go first."
Finn fell silent.
He looked at Ottar.
After a brief pause, the strongest man in Orario gave a small nod.
"That works."
His voice was low and brief, but everyone understood what it meant. Ottar agreed.
"Then let Riveria cast defensive magic on you."
Finn said, "At the very least, it'll increase your chances of making it out alive."
Genichi shook his head.
"That won't be necessary. I can handle it myself."
Handle it himself?
Everyone exchanged glances.
How exactly was he going to protect himself?
Then, before their disbelieving eyes, Genichi began chanting and started layering defensive magic onto himself.
"Gather, sighs of the earth - my name is Alf!"
As Genichi chanted, light swiftly wrapped around his entire body.
That was -
Riveria's eyes widened.
It was her magic.
Fairy Force.
One of her defensive spells, a cloak of light that protected its target by raising both physical and magical resistance. Like an enchantment-type spell, its effects lasted for a period of time and could even slightly heal bodily injuries.
But how could Genichi use it?
Riveria opened her mouth as though to say something, only to realize no words would come out.
But Genichi's display was not over yet.
"Sun of the unrelenting sky, let all things flee your touch - bloom, Laurel Armor."
Daphne's spell, Laurels, one that strengthened endurance while also greatly enhancing agility, with the effect scaling in proportion to the caster's magic.
"Burn, burn, burn - release all the power of flame!"
That was Alise's support magic, one that wrapped the hands, feet, and blade in flame, sharply boosting speed and close-combat ability.
"Awaken."
Blue wind coiled around Genichi's body, forming a swirling gale that enveloped him completely.
Ais's Ariel.
That was Ais's magic, a wind enchantment that wrapped around her body, enhancing attack, defense, speed, and short-distance flight.
Genichi stood within layers of multicolored radiance, his body wrapped over and over in protective magic until he looked like a walking mass of light.
He glanced back at the group.
"Well then, I'm off. As for the rest of you, try to keep up."
With that, he turned and stepped onto the fifty-first floor.
Behind him, the members of the two Familias had gone utterly silent.
A silence like death.
Only after a long while did someone finally speak.
"How does he know so many spells?"
Hedin Selland's voice trembled slightly.
"The second one... if I remember right, that's Daphne's spell from the Apollo Familia..."
One of the Loki Familia members murmured.
"And the third should be Alise's Red Hamply from the Astraea Familia, right?"
Another member spoke up.
"And then there was Ais's Ariel..."
Finn looked at Ais.
Ais said nothing. She only stared quietly in the direction where Genichi had disappeared, her eyes full of puzzled light.
Riveria took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
"A monster..."
Someone muttered that word under their breath.
No one objected.
Because it went without saying.
That boy really was a monster.
And now that monster, together with more than a dozen shadows as strong as himself, was diving toward the deepest reaches of the Dungeon.
"We should move too."
Ottar finally spoke, his voice as low as ever.
"Don't keep him waiting."
The others nodded and began preparing to move forward.
But in every one of their hearts, a seed had been planted.
(End of Chapter)
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