Chapter 434: The 50th Floor

Countless grey trees.

The bizarre forest, looking as though it had been blanketed in a thick layer of dust, stretched endlessly toward the distant walls, swallowing everything in its path up to the floor’s edge. Rivers patterned the spaces between the trees like veins on a leaf, their clear waters rushing endlessly without interruption. The phosphorescence glittering across the rocky ceiling was so vast it looked like an artificial starry sky, casting an eternal twilight over the world below.

Their campsite had been built atop a massive rock roughly ten meters high. Aiden stood there, quietly taking in the view. They were currently on the 50th Floor of the Dungeon. Even in this labyrinth city teeming with powerful adventurers and Familias, this was the absolute frontline of exploration. He stood alone, continuously gazing at the landscape that few had ever laid eyes on—a silent, grey forest slumbering beneath the deep earth.

Soft footsteps sounded from behind. Robin walked over slowly, stopping by Aiden’s side and naturally resting her head against his shoulder. He seamlessly wrapped an arm around her slender waist.

“We finally made it to the Deep Floors… So this is the frontline.” Robin sighed softly, a trace of awe in her voice. “It’s completely different from the Lower Levels. The pressure is immense. That ‘Braver’ really is incredible.”

“I think you’re incredible too,” Aiden laughed. “You weren’t the supreme commander, but the flank you managed didn’t suffer a single hiccup. And considering this is your first time down here, Finn was praising you to high heaven behind your back for performing like that.”

Because it was a joint expedition, they had agreed beforehand that Finn, possessing the most experience, would serve as the overall commander. All Focalors members were required to follow his orders and arrangements. Robin had been appointed as one of the subordinate commanders in charge of a specific group of adventurers.

According to Finn’s private assessment, Robin’s performance had been stellar; even if he hadn’t been there, she could have perfectly managed the team. As long as she accumulated enough experience exploring the Deep Floors, handing her the role of supreme commander in the future wouldn’t be an issue at all.

“The Braver thinks too highly of me,” Robin shook her head, though the corners of her mouth unconsciously quirked into a faint smile.

Aiden smiled and didn’t say anything else. He understood Robin too well. She had a habit of hiding her edge and capabilities, especially around him. She liked to pretend she needed his protection, enjoying the feeling of being sheltered.

But in reality, Robin was entirely capable of taking charge. It was no exaggeration to say that the Focalors Familia’s current success was largely her doing. Aiden was often just the muscle they sent out to fight. The true core operating behind the scenes, elevating the “Focalors Familia” name across Orario and the lower world while untangling complex webs of merchants, nobility, and rival Familias, was the seemingly delicate girl in his arms.

After all, when it came to political maneuvering and playing games of hearts and minds with merchants and aristocrats… neither he nor Furina had the talent for it.

—-

Night fell. Several portable Magic Stone Lamps cast a flickering light, illuminating a corner of the camp. Having finished their day’s labor and guard duty, the adventurers finally reached their long-awaited dinner time.

“Thank you all for your hard work fighting through the Great Forest. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, we’ve safely arrived at the 50th Floor. I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you. Thank you,” Finn announced loudly from the center of the camp.

“Breaking through the 49th Floor is always the hardest part, right? Plus, so many Fomors spawned today,” Tiona mumbled incoherently around a mouthful of dried meat.

“Better than having the Floor Boss spawn right on top of us,” Tione added smoothly from the side.

“Haha, let’s not worry about that right now! We might not have booze, but let’s raise a glass anyway! So—”

“Cheers—!!”

Listening to the Amazon sisters, Finn let out a hearty laugh and raised his wooden bowl high. The surrounding adventurers immediately roared in response, raising their own bowls and utensils, creating a warm, lively atmosphere.

Even surrounded by the constant perils of the Dungeon, no one dared to completely abandon their vigilance. But through this rare opportunity to share a meal together, the tightly wound nerves from days of continuous fighting were finally granted a precious moment of relaxation.

At the center of the camp bubbled a massive iron cauldron, billowing hot steam into the air. The adventurers sat on the ground, forming a wide circle around it. Boiling inside was a thick stew made from herbs and berries foraged along the way, mixed with “Meat Fruit”—a bizarre fruit that literally tasted like rich meat.

While the berries and Meat Fruit found in the labyrinth were typically monster food, humans and demi-humans could eat them without issue, making them a crucial food source for expedition teams. Given the inconveniences of the Dungeon, meals were usually reduced to choking down dry, portable rations. Having a hot bowl of soup like this was considered an absolute feast.

Thanks to Finn’s brilliant calculation to boost morale, the expedition members lavishly praised the delicious food they so rarely tasted in the depths, a flush of satisfaction returning to their exhausted faces.

“How are you holding up? How’s your body?” Aiden asked, handing a freshly scooped bowl of hot soup to Firefly who was sitting nearby.

Firefly’s Entropy Loss Syndrome was a constant drain; the moment she entered combat, her life force began to slip away. Even with Hyacine, a top-tier healer, on hand, there was no guarantee her healing output could outpace the consumption. Especially here in the Deep Floors, where the intensity of combat was higher than ever, Aiden couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of worry.

“I’m fine.” Firefly took the bowl from Aiden and took small, delicate sips. The warm steam flushed her pale cheeks a faint pink. Her quiet, well-behaved demeanor was so adorable it could melt anyone’s heart.