Chapter 433: Joint Expedition

Raising her silver staff high, the elf mage Riveria unleashed her annihilation magic.

Rea Laevateinn!

A grand inferno. From the ground—from within that colossal magic circle—countless pillars of fire erupted into the sky. Accompanied by a deafening roar, the scorching flames continuously fired outward in a radial pattern, flawlessly avoiding all allied units.

The massive pillars of fire, looking as though they could easily touch the ceiling of this cavernous space, didn’t merely pierce the Fomors; they completely devoured their bodies. Within the endless flames of calamity, the monsters vanished one by one. Their dying screams overlapped, only to be entirely drowned out by the roaring inferno.

A wide-area annihilation spell. Over a hundred monsters were swept completely clean in a matter of seconds. Searing air and dancing sparks filled the space, wrapping the world in an endless, suffocating heat.

The adventurers quietly lowered their weapons. Everyone’s faces were involuntarily painted with a flush of red, brought on by both the extreme temperatures and sheer awe.

The residual power of Riveria’s magic hadn’t entirely dissipated, and the air still hung heavy with scorching heat and the charred scent of monsters turned to ash. But on that newly cleared battlefield, a vibrant, bustling scene was quickly taking shape.

The grinding of metal, the hearty chatter of dwarves, and the clatter of adventurers organizing their gear wove together. Some were driving iron pegs into the hard rock to pitch tents, others were sprinting back and forth carrying heavy equipment, and messengers jogged between squads to relay the commander’s orders. It was a medium-sized yet highly organized campsite.

The Loki and Focalors Familias, humans and demi-humans alike, mingled effortlessly, familiarly going about their post-battle routines. Amidst this busy, harmonious scene, a lock of dazzling blonde hair drifted in the wind. A light blue outfit tightly wrapped the girl’s slender yet resilient body, leaving her smooth, delicate skin exposed. Her dignified, exquisite face possessed a peerless silhouette that was clearly visible even from a distance. Her eyes, filled with a translucent radiance, perfectly matched the gold of her hair.

It was a beauty so absolute it captivated everyone regardless of gender, capable of stealing the gaze of anyone who laid eyes upon her—a visage that would never pale in comparison to legendary spirits or the goddesses of heaven.

“Sword Princess” Ais Wallenstein, carrying her signature air of mystery, stood there blankly. Her older sister, Tione, stood nearby with her arms crossed, watching the spectacle with great interest and zero intention of helping. Ais was spacing out as usual, her golden eyes unfocused, lost in thought.

Tifa was carefully assisting Robin in cleaning and categorizing the materials dropped by the monsters, while Firefly, who had expended a massive amount of stamina fighting on the front lines, sat quietly resting beside Castorice.

Under the Dungeon’s eternally dim lighting, the entire picture felt incredibly harmonious yet wonderfully busy. Though they were still mid-Expedition and had just survived a grueling battle—one that could easily be compared to scaling a treacherous mountain—the adventurers’ faces were flushed with irrepressible excitement and a sense of accomplishment. In the best way possible, the camp was permeated by a rare, relaxed atmosphere that only comes after a massive victory.

Aiden took in the sight of the adventurers amicably setting up camp before stepping forward. A number of tents had already been pitched, and wooden crates for transporting supplies were piled haphazardly to the side. Weaving through the scattered equipment, his previously cluttered view suddenly opened up as he reached the perimeter of the campsite.

Unfolding before him was a breathtaking landscape that seemed entirely disconnected from the concept of “underground.” Robin, carrying a stack of folded tarps, stepped lightly past him, distributing them to the logistics crew handling the tents. Not far away, a petite girl with pink twin-tails and a small pink pegasus was darting between the wounded. The toy-like spray bottle in her hand released a gentle mist over gruesome wounds, stopping bleeding and closing flesh at a visible rate.

Tifa, her hair tied in a sharp ponytail, worked alongside the Amazon sisters to inventory the expended supplies, their movements crisp and highly efficient.

“Looks like everyone’s getting along wonderfully. Everything’s going smoothly so far.” Finn stood on a high rock overlooking the camp. Seeing his comrades happily collaborating with the Focalors Familia, a satisfied smile graced his face.

“Well, we have you guys to thank. With our numbers, who knows how long it would have taken to reach the Deep Floors this safely,” Aiden said sincerely, leaning against the rock face beside Finn and casually tossing a newly acquired Magic Stone up and down.

It was the truth. While the Focalors Familia currently boasted several Level 5 First-Class Adventurers and an extravagantly stacked roster, their low headcount was a fatal flaw. The monsters in the Deep Floors weren’t just overwhelmingly strong; their numbers were on a completely different scale compared to the upper levels. A random encounter here involved monsters numbering in the hundreds. No matter how strong they were, they would eventually run out of stamina. Joining the Loki Familia’s elite expedition team distributed that pressure immensely.

“No need for that. Your inclusion has brought us an undeniable spike in combat power.” Finn waved a hand and chuckled. “Besides, with the ‘Saint of Battle Rhythm’s’ skill, we’re the ones taking advantage of you.”

The Focalors Familia wasn’t just ‘not weak’—they were terrifyingly strong. With them here, this expedition was vastly easier than any before. Especially considering Robin’s rare skill that amplified experience point acquisition for the entire party. Finn could already foresee how many Loki Familia members would find the catalyst to level up after this run. It was a massive boon for his entire Familia.

“Alright, you two can stop mutually flattering each other. If you have that much time, you’d be better off discussing our next plan of action,” Riveria interrupted, walking over at some point to break up their harmonious mutual flattery.

Finn and Aiden exchanged a glance, both breaking into synchronized smiles.

On the other side of the camp, a completely different, chaotic scene was unfolding. Tiona was once again arguing with Bete over some trivial matter, while Lefiya stood caught in the middle, her face flushed red as she tried—and miserably failed—to break up the fight.

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