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Morning of the seventh day of the expedition.
A total of thirteen members of the assault team stood in the center of the camp, fully equipped and ready to depart.
"This is the shipment we agreed on beforehand!"
Miss Tsubaki gave a meaningful look.
The top-tier blacksmiths around her immediately took out weapons wrapped in white cloth from their luggage.
Excluding Ais, Riveria, and Ryoji, a total of five weapons were placed before the First-Class Adventurers.
"That is…!"
"The legendary indestructible armaments!"
The surrounding Familia members instantly grew excited, looking toward the five weapons with admiration in their eyes.
Without a doubt, those were among the finest weapons in the world. Being able to wield such equipment was one of the lifelong dreams of Adventurers.
"Go ahead and open them!"
Finn, Gareth, Bete, Tiona, and Tione each stepped forward and removed the white cloth covering the weapons before them.
Dazzling, crystal-clear silver light burst forth from beneath the cloth.
"These are the Roland Series specially custom-made for each of you, perfectly tailored to suit your individual needs!"
Tsubaki puffed out her chest proudly.
She had personally forged them.
And in all of Orario, only she was capable of creating this set of equipment!
Finn received a spear, Gareth a massive battle axe, Bete a pair of dual swords, Tiona a greatsword, and Tione a halberd.
Each Ultimate-Class weapon radiated an incomparably sharp silver brilliance.
"So this is a Durandal Weapon? It feels so light!"
Tiona happily gripped the greatsword, continuously swinging it and producing bursts of whistling wind.
The First-Class Adventurers each tested the feel of their Durandal Weapons, while the surrounding members praised them endlessly.
"Durandal Weapons… are they the same as Ais's Desperate?"
Ryoji curiously asked the two beside him.
"Do they really have that special indestructible effect attached to them?"
"That's right." Ais nodded lightly.
"Durandal Weapons are forged from the hardest metal in the world, Orichalcum."
Riveria, displaying the extensive knowledge expected of Elven royalty, carefully explained things to Ryoji.
"This metal is extraordinarily durable and is known as the hardest-grade metal. Even Gareth's monstrous strength cannot destroy it. When further refined through the craftsmanship of an exceptional blacksmith, its durability can be said to rank among the highest in the world."
"Ais's beloved sword, Desperate, is also made from Orichalcum."
So that's how it was.
Normally, as long as an Adventurer raised one or two of the five basic ability values to D-Rank, they would already meet the minimum requirements for a level up.
But Adventurers who pursued true strength usually chose to push themselves to their limits before leveling up.
For example, Bete would raise his Agility to S-Rank, Finn would raise his Dexterity to S-Rank, while Riveria specialized in S-Rank Magic Power.
As for Gareth, being a Dwarf who excelled most at raw strength, every time he leveled up he would first temper both his Strength and Endurance to the highest S-Rank possible.
In other words, among Lv.6 adventurers, no one could surpass Gareth in either power or defense.
If someone could, then they would definitely be a Lv.7 expert,
For example, the city's strongest adventurer, the Boaz captain of the Freya Familia,
Ottar.
If even Gareth couldn't destroy this metal, then it truly deserved to be called incredibly durable.
This was probably also preparation against those green caterpillar-type monsters capable of spraying corrosive liquid with a "weapon destruction" property.
"I just wonder which is harder, this or my Spiritual Item."
Ryoji muttered inwardly.
But that thought only flashed through his mind for an instant. This was hardly the occasion to test something like that.
"By the way… these weapons must be insanely expensive, right?"
"Each one costs over a hundred million."
"Hiss, ! Our Familia hasn't gone bankrupt, has it?"
"Thanks to you, no."
Riveria looked at him with a smiling expression.
Ryoji blanked out for a moment before suddenly realizing what she meant.
Thus, after that incident where the toad woman attacked Ryoji on her own initiative, Finn and the others ruthlessly extorted a massive sum from the Ishtar Familia, amounting to a full billion valis.
Out of that, one hundred million was given to Ryoji, while the remaining nine hundred million was confiscated by Finn for Familia use.
Then, roughly seven hundred million of it was spent commissioning Tsubaki to forge the Durandal-series weapons.
So in the end, they actually still made a profit.
Damn it.
Back then, asking for only ten percent was way too little!
Ryoji's face darkened.
"By the way, Miss Tsubaki will also be setting out with us."
"Oh?"
"Even though Durandal Weapons can't be destroyed, they can still become dull, so she needs to maintain them. That's also why she only handed the weapons over now, after reaching this point."
"She's Lv.5, right? Then we couldn't ask for more."
"Exactly."
While Ryoji and Riveria chatted back and forth,
The atmosphere in the camp gradually changed as well.
The Familia members all stared at the weapons in the hands of the First-Class Adventurers, while the jester banner standing at the center of the camp fluttered proudly in the wind.
", Move out."
The Pallum commander gave the order.
Amid the cheers and encouragement of the members and blacksmiths staying behind at the temporary base, the Loki Familia elite squad departed from camp, leaping down from the massive rock platform and sprinting at high speed toward the gray forest in the distance.
Eight First-Class Adventurers.
Five Supporters.
One blacksmith.
A party of fourteen in total advanced to challenge a region that not even the great god Familias had ever reached before!
...
"Seriously, why is Bete the vanguard instead of Ryoji?"
As the group traveled through the forest, Tiona, carrying her indestructible greatsword over her shoulder, complained noisily.
"Shut up already, stupid Amazoness!"
Bete, wearing silver boots, wielding indestructible dual swords, and carrying several magic swords at his waist, roared back irritably upon hearing that.
According to the formation Finn had established,
Bete and Tiona served as the vanguard.
Ryoji and Ais were responsible for the flanks.
Riveria and Gareth took the rear.
At the very center were Finn, Tione, and Tsubaki.
Every position was assigned at least one Supporter, ready at any moment to provide potions or replace weapons.
This formation could be said to fully maximize the Loki Familia's highest-end combat strength. In Finn's mind, it was the ideal opening formation for conquering the 51st Floor.
"Lefiya, nervous?"
"I-I'm okay…"
"That's good. Don't forget, always maintain a calm heart."
"Yes, Riveria-sama!"
Riveria watched over the visibly tense Lefiya. Seeing her consciously regulating her breathing, she couldn't help smiling slightly.
"That's enough chatting. Everyone, prepare for battle!"
The squad passed through the gray forest and arrived at the massive flat opening at the northernmost side. From the entrance, they could see a steep passage resembling a cliff, and at the far end, several pairs of crimson monster eyes were already visible.
"Everyone, charge!"
Finn barked out the order.
The entire squad surged down the steep passage like a storm.
The instant Bete and Tiona rushed in, they smashed apart every monster blocking their way.
At the same time, the Dungeon itself let out a furious roar.
Countless monsters gathered from all directions, transforming into a raging tide of monsters attempting to halt the Adventurers' reckless advance!
(End of Chapter)