Chapter 234 – Growth

Chapter 234

Growth

Date : Day 23 of Deepwinter 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Freedom Party continued their dungeon dive through the fourth floor of Akela Dungeon.

The second day brought their mapping progress to twenty-eight percent. By the third day, they had mapped forty percent of the floor.

Day after day, they continued their slow advance through the labyrinth.

The fourth floor was unlike the previous floors they had explored. Its main obstacle was not the number of monsters, nor the strength of its enemies, but the countless traps scattered throughout its corridors.

Pitfalls, tripwires, pressure plates, and hidden mechanisms constantly interrupted their progress.

Elise remained at the front, carefully detecting and dismantling traps with her Trap Dismantling Skill. Whenever they encountered a pitfall that could not be safely dismantled, Arianna would use Boulder Throw to trigger it from a distance.

It was a tedious process.

Even when the corridors were empty, they could never simply lower their guard and walk forward carelessly.

And then there were the Goblin Avengers.

At first, the encounters had demanded their full concentration. The monsters' pain redirection and explosive retaliation had made every battle dangerous, especially if someone forgot to maintain their distance or failed to stop the monster from advancing.

However, by the third day, Freedom Party had established a steady rhythm.

They understood their roles. Hyoren and Jackey would stop the Goblin Avenger from reaching them, using their shields, weapons, and throwing attacks to restrict its movements. Arianna would weaken its armor with her offensive magic, while Elise would aim for its exposed weak points.

Whenever something went wrong, they adapted. A missed throw or a blocked spell no longer meant the battle would fall apart. They had learned to compensate for one another, changing their approach when necessary.

They still treated every Goblin Avenger as a dangerous opponent. Its strength had not diminished, and neither had the threat of its abilities.

But as long as everyone remained focused, neither the pain redirection nor the final explosion could catch them off guard so easily anymore.

The greater challenge remained the traps.

They slowed the party's progress day after day, forcing them to remain vigilant even during the quietest stretches of the labyrinth.

Nevertheless, Freedom Party persevered.

And on the eighth day, they finally reached the end of the floor. Beyond the last stretch of corridors stood an end chamber. At the far end of the room was a towering archway, its runic writing pulsed with pale blue glow. It was the gate to the Floor Guardian's chamber.

Eight days of navigating the labyrinth, dismantling traps, and fighting Goblin Avengers had brought them here. Every corridor had been explored, every intersection recorded, and every dead end accounted for.

Elise's Mapping Skill had completed its work.

They now possessed a complete understanding of the fourth floor's layout.

The labyrinthine trap floor had tested their patience and concentration in ways the previous floors had not. Yet those challenges had also given them valuable experience and strengthened their coordination as a party.

For a moment, the four adventurers simply stared at it. Then a collective cheer erupted from Freedom Party.

Hyoren let out a long sigh.

The past eight days had been exhausting. Hyoren looked toward the towering gate before turning to his companions.

“Alright, everyone. We set up camp here. We'll rest, eat, and get a good night's sleep.”

He gave them a small smile.

“Tomorrow morning, we'll see what this floor's Guardian has in store for us.”

Jackey rested his Bloody Axe on his shoulder.

“Finally, Guardian Chamber! I hate this floor! It's so damn boring with nothing but traps, traps, and more traps! There are not enough skulkers to whack!”

His tabby cat ears twitched in annoyance, as though he still couldn't believe how much time they had spent walking through empty corridors.

Elise lowered her Moonveil Bow.

She tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind one of her pointed ears before letting out a gentle giggle.

“Fufu. This floor really was different from the first three. Our main enemy wasn't even the monsters. It was the traps themselves.”

Arianna smiled.

“Indeed. The long, uneventful corridors could easily lull us into complacency, only for a Goblin Avenger to appear when we least expected it.”

She glanced toward the gate.

“It was certainly a challenging floor, though in a rather different way.”

Hyoren nodded in agreement.

He then reached beneath his undershirt and retrieved his pocket watch, which hung from the necklace chain around his neck.

He opened it.

17:54.

Hyoren studied the time for a moment before closing the watch with a soft click. He returned it beneath his shirt, and the necklace chain settled against his chest.

“Okay. It's already late. Let's rest here and fight the Guardian tomorrow, when we're fully rested.”

Jackey's expression immediately brightened.

“YES! I'm hungry and sleepy! I want to eat! And Sleep! WOHOO!”

His tail swayed enthusiastically behind him.

Everyone laughed.

With their decision made, Freedom Party immediately began preparing their camp.

Their movements were familiar by now.

They erected their tents, arranged their belongings, and activated the Sanctuary. The magical tool responded with a soft glow as its protective barrier expanded around their chosen campsite. The familiar dome settled into place, separating them from the cold, silent corridors beyond.

***

After a long and grueling day of mapping and fighting, Elise's hearty stew was more than just a meal.

It was comfort.

The warm aroma filled their small campsite, bringing a welcome sense of familiarity to the otherwise cold and lifeless dungeon. The simple food warmed their bodies as they sat together beneath the Sanctuary's protective dome.

They ate in relative silence.

There was no need for lengthy conversation. Their exhaustion was plain to see, but so was their satisfaction.

The fourth floor had tested their patience, challenged their concentration, and forced them to adapt to a different kind of danger.

Yet they had overcome it.

One by one, the members of Freedom Party finished their dinner. The hearty meal Elise had prepared had done its job, filling their stomachs and easing some of the fatigue that had accumulated over the past eight days of dungeon diving.

Even Jackey had finished his second serving. He leaned back with a satisfied expression, his tabby cat ears twitching lazily as he enjoyed the last few moments of rest.

After the meal, Elise had distributed cups of tea to everyone. Hyoren took a final sip from his cup before setting it down on the ground. The warmth lingered pleasantly in his stomach as he looked around at his companions.

Everyone had finished eating. It was time to discuss what awaited them tomorrow.

“Okay. Tomorrow, we're going to fight the Fourth Floor Guardian.”

Hyoren tapped his chin thoughtfully, recalling the pattern they had observed throughout Akela Dungeon.

“Based on what we've encountered so far, there's a good chance it'll be a horde-type Guardian, just like the Goblin Ruler and its thousands of goblins.”

Jackey's ears immediately perked up. His previously relaxed posture straightened, and a broad grin spread across his face.

“YES! So there'll be plenty of skulkers to whack! WOHOO!”

His excitement was so obvious that the others couldn't help smiling at him.

Elise took a gentle sip of tea before setting her cup down.

“Fufu. It's good to see you're so enthusiastic, Jackey. But we should still prepare ourselves for anything. The pattern might change, after all. We've learned by now that dungeons are always unpredictable.”

Her tone remained warm, but there was a note of caution behind her smile. They had already experienced enough surprises in Akela Dungeon to know better than to assume the next Guardian would behave exactly as expected.

Arianna shifted in her seat, adjusting the folds of her purple robe. She nodded in agreement with Elise before raising one hand to emphasize her point.

“Mentor is right. And even if the pattern holds, it will still be a difficult fight. Every Guardian we've encountered so far has presented a different challenge.”

She raised a finger as she began listing their previous opponents.

“The first-floor Guardian, Goblin Berserker, possessed absurd regeneration. The second-floor Guardian, Goblin Ruler, commanded an army of more than fifteen hundred goblins. And the third-floor Guardian, Goblin Rider, demonstrated remarkable coordination with its mount.”

Arianna paused briefly, her light-blue eyes growing more serious as she recalled the enormous Blancorn charging across the battlefield.

“Not to mention Blancorn's unstoppable charge and its anti-magic ability. Those two alone made the encounter considerably more difficult.”

Hyoren nodded. Arianna had summarized their previous Guardian fights accurately. Each one had forced Freedom Party to adapt their tactics rather than rely entirely on the methods that had worked before.

“That's right. We shouldn't become complacent just because we've gotten stronger.”

He glanced around the table, making sure everyone understood the importance of staying alert.

“Whatever the Fourth Floor Guardian turns out to be, we need to approach it carefully.”

Jackey crossed his arms over his chest, his confidence undiminished by the reminder. His tail swayed behind his chair as he gave Hyoren a firm nod.

“Understood, Big Bro! But I know Freedom Party is strong! WOHOO!”

His declaration was so energetic that laughter soon filled their small campsite.

Arianna covered her mouth with one hand, letting out a refined little laugh. Elise giggled softly, while Hyoren could only shake his head with an amused smile.

Jackey really never seemed to run out of energy when it came to expressing his confidence.

Hyoren chuckled along with them before reaching into his storage bag. He took out his Guild Card and turned it over in his hand, checking the information displayed on its surface.

His smile gradually turned wry as he considered their progress over the past eight days.

“But yeah, Fourth Floor has been pretty terrible for training and making money.”

He raised his head from the Guild Card and looked at the others.

“We haven't gained much experience or collected many magic stones. The monsters are simply too sparse.”

Hyoren then turned toward Elise, his expression becoming a little more playful.

“Although, perhaps Elise has grown quite a bit more than the rest of us on this floor. Haha.”

Elise smiled softly and took out her own Guild Card. She glanced over its information, considering her progress before looking back at Hyoren.

“Truly, I think my progress has been about the same as everyone else's.”

She gave a small shake of her head before continuing.

“But you're right about the overall result. We've spent eight days exploring this floor, yet we've defeated only sixty-seven monsters in total. That's bound to have a significant impact on both our earnings and our experience gains.”

The numbers made the problem rather obvious. Compared with their previous expedition, where they had fought enormous hordes of goblins and earned a considerable amount of money, the fourth floor had offered very little in return for their time.

Most of their effort had gone toward navigating the labyrinth and dealing with its numerous traps. Even the Goblin Avengers, troublesome as they were, appeared only occasionally.

Jackey nodded enthusiastically. His tabby cat ears stood upright, as though Elise had just provided the evidence he had been waiting for.

“See? My hatred of this floor is completely justified!”

His serious expression only made his complaint funnier.

The others burst into laughter again. Jackey seemed perfectly satisfied with himself, apparently pleased that someone had finally acknowledged his grievances against the fourth floor.

Arianna lowered her hand from her mouth, still wearing a faint smile.

“But such is the life of an adventurer, isn't it? Sometimes we earn a great deal of money, and sometimes we earn very little. Perhaps this is simply our turn to have a less profitable expedition, especially after how much we earned on the previous floor.”

Her words carried the calm acceptance of someone who understood that adventuring was never a matter of receiving rewards every time they took a risk.

***

Hyoren smiled and nodded.

“Arianna is right. We earned more than a hundred million Kres on the Third Floor, and we all gained quite a few levels as well.”

He glanced at each of his companions.

“Things balance out in the end.”

Hyoren then turned his Guild Card over, revealing its back. He poured a small amount of Aethell into the card, causing the surface to glow faintly as his private information appeared.

He studied the familiar numbers for a moment before chuckling to himself.

Elise noticed his expression. Her emerald eyes shifted from her teacup to Hyoren's face, and she tilted her head slightly.

“Fufu. What's so funny, Hyoren?”

Hyoren's smile widened a little.

“Why don't you see for yourself?”

He held out his Guild Card so the others could read the information displayed on it.

Level : 20

Experience to next level up : 27,540/31,610

Status :

Strength : 24

Vitality : 24

Dexterity : 17

Agility : 17

Magic : 20

Skills :

Forest Walking Lvl 1

Spear Mastery Lvl 5

Throwing Lvl 3

Magic Manipulation Lvl 4

Instinct Lvl 3

Dissection Lvl 1

Magic Blade Lvl 5

Light Magic Lvl 5

Strong Legs Lvl 3

Sword Mastery Lvl 5

Shield Mastery Lvl 6

Dark Magic Lvl 4

Magic Eyes : Diagnostic Sight Lvl 2

Dual Wield Lvl 1

Indomitable Lvl 1

Spell Learned :

Basic Light Magic : Healing Light, Accel Zone, Lumen Severance.

Basic Dark Magic : Enchant Maledict, Shadow Bloom.

Active Skill :

Spear : Piercing Thrust, Meteor Thrust

Sword : Quick Slash, Sweeping Slash

Shield : Provoke, Shield Bash, Shield Stance

Throwing : Precision Throw

Unique Skill : Berserker

Blessing : Divine Protection of Twin Goddesses

Elise leaned forward slightly, reading through the information. Her eyes moved down the list of skills, then returned to the level displayed at the top.

Understanding finally dawned on her face.

“Ah, now I see why you were laughing. Fufu. Your level hasn't changed at all.”

Jackey burst into laughter, his tabby cat ears bouncing with every chuckle.

“HAHAHA! Big Bro's status barely changed! Eight days of dungeon diving, and you're still Level 20!”

Hyoren could only smile wryly at the remark. He had already expected this reaction, which was precisely why he had found the result amusing in the first place.

Arianna, however, examined the Guild Card more carefully. She raised one finger as she noticed something her Beastkin companion had overlooked.

“Now, now, Jackey. You're overlooking something important. Leader's Throwing skill has increased...”

She paused, then covered her mouth with one hand as a mischievous smile appeared on her face.

“Besides, he gained 1,206 experience points. Ohoho. That means he only needs a little over four thousand more to reach the next level.”

Her refined laughter joined the others' amusement.

Hyoren shook his head, looking thoroughly exasperated.

“Truly... this floor is terrible.”

Despite his complaint, he couldn't help smiling. 

He turned toward the silver-haired elf sitting beside him.

“How about you, Elise? Let's see how much you've gained.”

Elise nodded and took out her Guild Card. She poured Aethell into it, revealing her own information before holding it where everyone could see.

Level : 22

Experience to next level up : 32,650/38,248

Status :

Strength : 15

Vitality : 15

Dexterity : 33

Agility : 32

Magic : 17

Skills :

Bow Mastery Lvl 7

Forest Walking Lvl 4

Silent Step Lvl 6

Tracking Lvl 7

Sword Mastery Lvl 2

Dissection Lvl 3

Mapping Lvl 4

Poison Mastery Lvl 4

Trap Dismantling Lvl 4

Aethell Sense Lvl 2

Enchant Magic : Sacred Wind Lvl 2

Active Skill :

Bow : Charge Arrow, Double Shot, Tracking Shot

Sword : Quick Slash

Unique Skill : -

Blessing : Blessing of the Verdant Mother

Elise looked over her status for a moment before giving a small, resigned smile.

“I didn't level up either, Hyoren. The 1,206 experience points weren't enough to push me to the next level.”

Hyoren leaned forward to examine her Guild Card more closely. Unlike his own status, however, Elise's skill list showed several changes.

“But you've raised four of your skills.”

He pointed toward the relevant entries.

“Silent Step, Tracking, Mapping, and Trap Dismantling. All four have increased in level.”

Elise followed his finger, then looked at the list again. Seeing the improvements gathered together like that made the result a little more satisfying.

Before she could respond, Jackey raised a fist and laughed.

“HAHAHA! Elise whacked so many traps that her skills grew a lot! Maybe the traps should be afraid of her now!”

Everyone laughed at his explanation.

Elise's shoulders shook with a soft giggle, while Arianna covered her mouth with one hand. Even Hyoren couldn't keep a straight face.

Then Arianna leaned forward, her light-blue eyes fixed on the Guild Card.

“Wait a moment, Leader. There's something else. Mentor's Trap Dismantling skill has increased by two levels, not just one.”

Hyoren looked again, his expression changing as he checked the entry more carefully.

“You're right. Before we entered the dungeon, it was only Level 2. Now it's Level 4.”

His gaze shifted toward Elise, who was still holding her Guild Card. The improvement made sense when he considered how much time she had spent detecting, examining, and dismantling traps throughout the Fourth Floor.

Elise tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind one of her pointed ears. Her emerald eyes curved gently as she smiled.

“Fufufu. This floor really does have an absurd number of traps. I've had to detect and dismantle so many of them over the past eight days.”

She glanced toward Jackey, her smile growing a little warmer.

“And just as Jackey said, I've been 'whacking' traps all this time.”

That was enough to set everyone laughing again.

With the others still smiling, Jackey reached into his own storage bag and pulled out his Guild Card.

“Okay! My turn!”

He poured Aethell into the card and held it up for everyone to see.

Level : 21

Experience to next level up : 31,604/34,771

Status :

Strength : 25

Vitality : 16

Dexterity : 19

Agility : 22

Magic : 7

Skills :

Axe Mastery Lvl 5

Throwing Lvl 4

Dual Wielding Lvl 5

Keen Instinct Lvl 6

Dissection Lvl 1

Strong Legs Lvl 4

Evasion Lvl 3

Physical Enhancement Lvl 2

Active Skill :

Axe: Power Slash, Rotating Slash

Dual Wield : Cross Slash, Whirlwind Slash

Throwing : Precision Throw, Trick Throw

Unique Skill : -

Blessing : -

Jackey stared at the information for several seconds. His tabby cat ears slowly flattened against his head.

“Nooooo! I didn't level up either! I hate this floor!”

His loud complaint made the others burst into laughter once more.

Jackey slumped slightly in his seat, looking as though the dungeon itself had personally offended him. 

Hyoren smiled as he studied the Beastkin's status.

“At least one of your skills has increased in level, Jackey. And you've also gained a new active skill.”

He looked up from the Guild Card.

“It's quite a useful one, too.”

Jackey's ears immediately perked up again. His disappointment disappeared almost as quickly as it had arrived.

“YES! I love this new skill!”

He leaned forward enthusiastically, eager to explain why he was pleased with the result.

“With Trick Throw, I can throw Blackmaw Tomahawk and make it bounce toward my target! I don't have to hit it with the first throw!”

The skill had already proven useful during their repeated encounters with Goblin Avengers. By throwing his axe along a suitable path, Jackey could make it bounce into his target, allowing him to strike enemies even when a direct throw wasn't possible.

Since learning the skill, he had rarely missed his intended target during those fights. That improvement had made their encounters with the troublesome monsters safer and more manageable.

Arianna smiled as she listened.

“It is a useful skill indeed. Especially when the enemy is difficult to approach directly.”

Elise nodded in agreement, though her expression became a little more serious as she addressed Jackey.

“It's certainly useful, Jackey, but don't become complacent. Trick Throw allows you to hit a target even when you throw without aiming directly at it. However, if you rely on the skill too much, you won't improve your own throwing technique.”

She spoke gently, without scolding him. After spending so many days fighting beside Jackey, she knew how much he enjoyed throwing his axes and how excited he could become whenever he learned something new.

“Keep practicing your aim, even when the skill makes things easier.”

Hyoren nodded.

“Elise is right. A skill can help you overcome a difficult situation, but you still need to understand how to use it properly. Even with Trick Throw, you should aim carefully whenever you have the opportunity.”

Jackey straightened his back immediately. He raised one hand to his forehead in a crisp salute, his expression suddenly serious.

“Roger that, Big Bro! Elise!”

His sudden formality caught everyone off guard.

Arianna giggled behind her hand, Elise laughed softly, and Hyoren shook his head with an amused smile. Jackey lowered his hand, looking rather pleased with himself despite having just received a lecture.

With Jackey's status check finished, Arianna reached into her purple storage bag and took out her own Guild Card.

“Then I suppose I'm the last one.”

She poured Aethell into the card, revealing her information before presenting it to the group.

Level : 20

Experience to next level up : 2,885/31,610

Status :

Strength : 6

Vitality : 16

Dexterity : 8

Agility : 19

Magic : 44

Skills :

Magic Manipulation Lvl 8

Aethell Sense Lvl 4

Runic Theory Lvl 5

Magic Conversion Lvl 7

Earth Magic Lvl 10 (MAX)

Fire Magic Lvl 8

Wind Magic Lvl 6

Water Magic Lvl 6

Advanced Earth Magic Lvl 1

Terraforma Magic Lvl 1

Lava Magic Lvl 2

Spell Learned :

Basic Earth Magic : Stone Bullet, Boulder Throw, Earth Wall, Earth Spikes, Sand Storm.

Basic Fire Magic : Fire Javelin, Fire Ball, Combustion, Ring of Flame.

Basic Wind Magic : Wind Arrow, Wind Slicer, Wind Barrier.

Basic Water Magic : Water Needle, Mist Fog, Water Cutter.

Advanced Earth Magic : Earth Hammer.

Terraforma Magic : Earth Fissure.

Lava Magic : Lava Surge.

Unique Skill : -

Blessing : -

Arianna studied the information for a moment. Her expression softened, but a trace of disappointment remained in her light-blue eyes.

“Sadly, I haven't gained a level, nor have any of my skills increased.”

She lowered her Guild Card slightly, looking at the others.

“After everything we've done on this floor, I was hoping to see at least a little more progress.”

Jackey moved closer to her. With a gentle motion, he removed her wide-brimmed hat and patted her crimson hair.

“Don't worry, Arianna! You're still growing, even if it doesn't show in your status!”

His reassurance was straightforward and sincere. He wasn't particularly concerned about numbers on a Guild Card when he could see the improvement in his partner with his own eyes.

Hyoren smiled and nodded in agreement.

“Jackey is right. Your coordination with Elise has been getting better every time we fight a Goblin Avenger.”

He remembered the many battles they had fought over the past several days. Arianna's spells had become more closely coordinated with the others' attacks, allowing the party to strike at openings that would have been difficult to exploit before.

Elise reached over and gently touched Arianna's arm.

“Everyone is right. Don't be discouraged just because your status hasn't changed. I've noticed your spells are getting faster, and your aim has improved as well. You're also becoming better at deciding when to cast a spell so that it matches the movements of the other members.”

She gave Arianna a reassuring smile.

“Those things matter just as much as the numbers on your Guild Card.”

Hyoren nodded again, his expression calm and sincere.

“Sometimes, growth can't be quantified by a Guild Card. Arianna, we can all see how much you've improved. You're growing alongside us, even if your status doesn't reflect every little change.”

Arianna looked around, taking in the reassuring expressions of her companions. Her light-blue eyes shone with gratitude, and the disappointment that had lingered in her expression gradually faded.

“Thank you, everyone.”

She held her Guild Card close to her chest before straightening her posture.

“I'll keep striving to become better, whether it's through my own experience or the growth shown in my status. I won't let any of you down!”

Hyoren met her gaze with a warm smile.

“You've never let us down, Arianna.”

For a moment, the campsite grew quiet. The words were simple, but there was no hesitation in Hyoren's voice. Elise smiled at Arianna, while Jackey gave her shoulder a reassuring pat before returning her hat.

The warmth between the four companions settled over the campsite, easing the frustration they had felt over their slow progress on the fourth floor.

After that, the conversation gradually wandered away from their Guild Cards. They chatted about their progress through the labyrinth, recalled some of the more troublesome traps they had encountered, and talked briefly about the Guardian waiting beyond the gate.

Their cups of tea were slowly emptied as the discussion continued. The earlier status check had served its purpose, and with the plan for tomorrow settled, there was little reason to keep discussing the same things.

Eventually, Hyoren looked around at his companions and clapped his hands once to gather their attention.

“Okay, everyone. We should get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day.”

Jackey rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms above his head. The prospect of finally fighting another Guardian seemed to have restored his enthusiasm completely.

“That's right! Tomorrow, we're going to whack the Fourth Floor Guardian!”

He sprang to his feet, then turned toward Arianna and offered her a hand. After helping her stand, he waved toward Hyoren and Elise.

“Good night, Big Bro! Good night, Elise!”

Arianna adjusted her robe and gave the pair a graceful, slight bow.

“Allow me to bid you both good night, Leader. Mentor.”

Hyoren and Elise returned their farewells with smiles and waves.

“Good night, you two. Get some proper rest.”

“Good night. We'll see you in the morning.”

Jackey and Arianna then headed toward their tent together, leaving Hyoren and Elise to prepare for their own rest.

The campsite gradually settled into silence as the four members of Freedom Party returned to their respective tents. 

***

The following morning, the four members of Freedom Party awoke feeling physically refreshed. After a full night's rest, the fatigue accumulated over eight days of dungeon exploration had eased considerably.

They gathered for a simple, cold breakfast inside their Sanctuary barrier. Unlike the previous evening, however, the conversation was noticeably quieter. Everyone knew what awaited them today.

Today, they would face the Guardian.

After finishing their breakfast, they quickly packed their belongings and prepared their equipment. Hyoren checked his weapons and shield, Elise secured her Moonveil Bow and quiver, Jackey checked both of his axes, and Arianna made sure her Quadraflux Weaver was ready.

Once everything was in order, Freedom Party left their campsite and made their way toward the Guardian Chamber.

Before long, they stood before the familiar gate.

Hyoren stopped in front of the archway. He took a moment to steady his breathing, then placed his hand upon it. His dark eyes remained fixed on the gate as he cleared his mind of unnecessary thoughts.

They had faced three Guardians already. Each had presented a different challenge, and each had forced them to adapt. Whatever awaited them on the other side, he would face it together with his companions.

As soon as Hyoren touched the gate, a familiar voice echoed directly inside their minds.

Gidol's mocking laughter followed, carrying the same unpleasant tone they had heard before.

Oh, the little pretend heroes are back for more punishment! You think this one will be easy? Think again! Xixixi... Go inside and get turned into my puppets!

Hyoren remained composed, paying little attention to the Demon God's taunting. 

In the next instant, the world around them dissolved into light.

When their vision cleared, Freedom Party found themselves standing inside the Fourth Floor Guardian Chamber.

The room was vast, with a mostly rectangular layout and a flat stone floor stretching across the chamber. Its dimensions were considerably larger than those of the Third Floor Guardian Chamber, though it still fell short of the enormous Second Floor chamber where they had fought the Goblin Ruler and its army of fifteen hundred goblins.

Hyoren briefly surveyed their surroundings before turning his attention toward the far end of the room.

That was when he saw their opponents.

There were five goblins waiting on the other side of the chamber.

Only five…?

At the center stood a tall goblin with a body shape approaching that of a human. It wore a purple robe with a hood that concealed part of its face. In one hand, it held a tall wooden staff, its upper end crowned by a pitch-black orb.

Standing on either side of the robed goblin were two smaller figures carrying crude staffs. Their bodies were adorned with various trinkets made from bones and other materials, which hung from their clothing and rattled faintly whenever they moved.

In front of the three staff-wielding goblins stood two more goblins equipped with tower shields. Their broad shields covered much of their bodies, forming a protective barrier between the party and the spellcasters behind them.

Hyoren blinked in surprise.

“Only five enemies? I thought the Guardian of this floor would be another horde-type opponent.”

From the pattern of odd and even numbered floors, they had expected a large group of monsters. The Goblin Ruler had commanded a thousand five hundred of goblins on the Second Floor. So they assumed this Fourth Floor would have a horde of monsters too.

A group of five was an unexpectedly small number.

Arianna furrowed her eyebrows as she studied the enemy formation.

“Has the pattern finally been broken?”

Her gaze lingered on the three goblins carrying staffs. As a mage herself, she naturally paid particular attention to the figures standing behind the shield bearers.

Elise narrowed her emerald eyes. Unlike Hyoren and Arianna, she recognized some of the goblins immediately.

“The ones carrying shields are definitely Goblin Shielders. We encountered them on the Second Floor.”

She adjusted her grip on Moonveil Bow, keeping the weapon ready while continuing to examine the enemy formation.

“And those two carrying crude staffs should be Goblin Shamans. They're normal variants, not dungeon-exclusive ones. Their appearance matches the description in the Guild's Monster Encyclopedia.”

Her eyes then shifted toward the taller goblin in the middle.

“But that one in the purple robe is unfamiliar. It looks like another new variant.”

The discovery made her expression more cautious. They had already learned that a monster's appearance and name could offer clues about its abilities, but dungeon-exclusive variants often possessed unusual traits that were difficult to predict without firsthand experience.

Jackey, meanwhile, had noticed something entirely different.

His tabby cat ears perked up, and a mischievous grin spread across his face as he looked at the goblin wearing the purple robe. He glanced toward Arianna, who was dressed in her usual purple mage's attire.

“The purple robe looks just like you, Arianna! HAHAHA! Is that goblin also attending the academy? Did it develop an obsession with purple just like you?”

Arianna turned toward him with a soft smile. Rather than taking offense, she seemed more amused by his comparison.

“Ohohoho. Not every mage wears purple, Jackey. I'm simply comfortable wearing it.”

She gently adjusted the edge of her robe, as though to emphasize her point.

“Besides, I think my taste in clothing is considerably better than that goblin's.”

Jackey grinned even wider.

“Hehe. I know! I was only joking!”

Elise giggled at their exchange, while Hyoren let out a quiet chuckle. Even in front of a Guardian Chamber, Jackey somehow managed to find something to joke about.

Once their brief amusement settled, Hyoren activated his Magic Eyes: Diagnostic Sight and focused on the goblin in the center.

Information appeared before his eyes.

Goblin Caster - Level 20

Weak Point : Brain (Head), Heart (Left Chest).

State : Healthy.

Hyoren's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the result.

Goblin Caster, huh…?

The name suited its appearance. Unlike the crude staffs carried by the two smaller goblins, the Caster's weapon looked more carefully made, and its purple robe gave it a distinctly different appearance from the other goblins.

It certainly looks like a mage… Something similar to Arianna…

He kept that thought to himself for the moment and turned toward his companions.

“The one in the middle is called Goblin Caster, everyone.”

All three of his companions shifted their attention toward him.

Hyoren continued examining the other goblins, starting with the two figures standing beside the Caster. His Magic Eyes revealed the next set of information.

Goblin Shaman - Level 16

Weak Point : Brain (Head), Heart (Left Chest).

State : Healthy.

Hyoren gave a small nod.

Goblin Shaman... Just as Elise said…

His eyes then moved to the two goblins holding tower shields.

Goblin Shielder - Level 16

Weak Point : Brain (Head), Heart (Left Chest).

State : Healthy.

The information confirmed their identities. The two shield bearers were indeed the same type of goblin they had encountered on the Second Floor.

Hyoren studied the formation again, taking note of how the five enemies had positioned themselves. The two Shielders stood in front, while the Shaman and Caster remained behind them.

It was a simple arrangement, but the purpose was obvious.

Hyoren looked toward his companions.

“Only five enemies, and we already know how four of them behave. But the Caster is an unknown factor.”

Elise nodded, her gaze remaining fixed on the enemy formation.

“We know what to expect from the Shielders and Shamans. The Caster is the only one we haven't encountered before.”

Arianna tightened her grip on the Quadraflux Weaver. Her expression had become more serious as she considered the possible combination of abilities the enemy formation could possess.

“The Shamans can support the others with their spells. They can also use barrier magic, so we shouldn't underestimate them just because they're normal variants.”

Hyoren nodded slowly.

“And the two Shielders will protect the spellcasters. They'll make it difficult for us to reach the Caster directly.”

He watched the enemy formation for another moment, considering their options. If they attacked carelessly, the Shielders could block their approach while the spellcasters behind them bombarded the party with magic.

The Caster was clearly the centerpiece of the formation. Its higher level, more elaborate equipment, and position behind the other goblins suggested that it was likely the most dangerous of the five.

“So, if we can, we should prioritize the Caster.”

Hyoren looked at each of his companions as he explained his reasoning.

“It might be a glass cannon. If it can use high-tier spells but has poor defensive abilities, that would explain why it has four protectors guarding it.”

It was only a hypothesis, of course. They had no way of knowing whether the Caster truly possessed powerful offensive magic or whether its defensive capabilities were as limited as Hyoren suspected.

Still, it was a reasonable possibility, and they would need to keep it in mind as the battle unfolded.

Jackey twirled his axes, his grin returning as his excitement grew. The discussion had given him a better understanding of their opponents, but he was clearly eager to stop talking and start fighting.

“Enough talking, please, Big Bro! I can't wait to whack that Caster! WOHOO!”

Hyoren chuckled at the Beastkin's enthusiasm.

“Alright, let's go, everyone. Ready to fight the Guardian?”

Elise answered with a simple nod, her Moonveil Bow already in hand. Her expression was calm, but her eyes remained alert as she studied the enemy formation one last time.

Jackey leaned forward, ready to charge the moment Hyoren gave the signal.

Arianna held her Quadraflux Weaver firmly, her light-blue eyes focused on the purple-robed goblin.

“Ready, Leader.”

Hyoren gave them one final look before turning toward the five goblins waiting across the chamber.

Their fourth Guardian battle was about to begin.

With their weapons ready and their minds focused, Freedom Party advanced to meet the fourth-floor Guardian.