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Chapter 40: Blazing Axe Mitachurl
It had been long enough that the adventurers had figured out some patterns. They knew that as long as they waited for a specific "trigger" to appear, the Dungeon would start spawning large numbers of new monsters. Although most people didn't know what exactly this trigger was, it didn't stop them from camping in the Dungeon like vultures waiting for carrion.
Riveria and the others, entering shortly after, saw this scene and felt even more certain of their guess. Among the adventurers who entered the Dungeon around the same time as them, one must be the instigator possessing the rare skill. Unfortunately, there were simply too many people entering the Dungeon. It was a mixed bag, and they couldn't investigate everyone one by one. Locking onto the target would be very troublesome. However, they didn't necessarily have to find that person. After all, the variables this person triggered were a good thing for all of Orario; there was no need to cling to the matter desperately. As for the "search" order Loki had issued purely for amusement, they tacitly chose to ignore it. If they found him, great; if not, they wouldn't force it.
Fighting their way from the 1st Floor to the 12th, the Focalors Familia was unstoppable. Aiden was already very familiar with the various monsters that appeared, which caused the experience boost provided by his [Trailblazer] skill to decrease. However, thanks to Robin's skill [Tonal Resonance], his overall experience gain speed didn't drop too much. Compared to Aiden's near-bugged skill focused on self-improvement, Robin's ability felt more like the core of the entire Familia's growth. Whether it was the rank-up magic that could instantly turn the tide of battle or the team experience buff, both were indispensable. Without Robin, given Aiden's growth speed, Tifa and Hyacine would soon be left far behind, unable to conquer the Dungeon with him. But with Robin present, their growth speed wouldn't lag too much, allowing the team to continuously become stronger as a whole unit.
In the Mist Labyrinth on the 12th Floor, aside from the Dungeon's original monsters, they spent most of their time dealing with Level 1 Samachurls and Hilichurl Guards. Only occasionally did they encounter the Level 2 monster adventurers called the "Grand Prize"—the Kairagi. This humanoid monster, clad in tattered samurai armor, could easily be mistaken for a down-and-out adventurer if not for the thick monster aura radiating from it. Fortunately, adventurers naturally maintained vigilance and distance, preventing any "first-encounter kills" caused by its appearance.
The coordination between the four was already seamless. Aiden held the longsword as the main attacker, while Tifa, agile and athletic, assisted from the flanks. Robin and Hyacine held the rear steadily; the former occasionally released highly penetrating sound waves, while the latter provided assists with precise wind blades, ready to provide healing and support to the companions in front at any time. Although it wasn't a textbook-perfect team composition, it was already quite good.
After killing a large number of monsters along the way, including several Level 2 Kairagi, Lady Luck smiled upon them once again. One of the Kairagi dissipated into black smoke, leaving behind a feather ornament flickering with a faint light.
[Adventurer's Tail Feather].
Aiden equipped it and immediately felt a surge of power flowing into his body. He could sense that his strength had increased. At the same time, when this second Artifact resonated with the [Adventurer's Flower] on his body, an even more surging power was activated. The two-piece set effect not only boosted his vitality and durability again, but also significantly sped up his recovery speed after injuries. Such an ability score boost might not have much effect on high-level adventurers, but for an adventurer still at Level 1, it was almost equivalent to forcefully raising several ability scores by a whole rank.
Just as the surprise brought by the Artifact had yet to fully settle, Aiden's heart skipped a beat. An indescribable malice surged toward him. This malice was so clear, so... impatient, that the Falna on his back began to burn slightly. This was the premonition of the skill [Abyss Gazed Back] being triggered to the extreme.
"Robin, Tifa, Hyacine, be careful."
Aiden's gaze instantly narrowed. His relaxed expression vanished, replaced by unprecedented gravity. "The 'Grand Gift' the Dungeon prepared for me is coming."
Hearing Aiden's warning, Robin, Tifa, and Hyacine immediately raised their vigilance, tightening their grips on their weapons. They all knew that because of Aiden's special skill, he seemed able to feel the Dungeon's gaze. And every time the Dungeon's gaze focused on Aiden, it meant nothing good was about to happen.
Just then, hundreds of meters away from them, a muffled boom pierced through the dense fog. A solid rock wall burst open without warning. Amidst splashing debris, a massive figure, suffocating in its presence, broke free from the rock's constraints and slowly walked out. Because the fog was simply too thick, Aiden didn't see the birth of this monster immediately.
Not far from that rock wall, another adventurer party had just finished a battle. They were members of the Takemikazuchi Familia.
"Phew... finally dealt with it."
Yamato Mikoto exhaled softly, sheathing her katana. At their feet, a thick-skinned Green Orc turned into black smoke, leaving only a glimmering Magic Stone.
"Chigusa, quickly recover the Magic Stone."
"Yes, Lady Mikoto!"
Hitachi Chigusa, acting as the Supporter, hurriedly trotted over, squatting down to pick up the loot. She was a girl who looked somewhat introverted and frail, her black hair covering half of her cheek, seeming out of place in the blood-and-fire profession of an adventurer.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch the Magic Stone, a gigantic shadow silently engulfed her. A sense of danger stemming from biological instinct, like countless steel needles, instantly pricked her entire body. Chigusa's body went stiff, beads of cold sweat seeping from her forehead.
Time seemed to slow down countless times in this moment. She could feel the scorching breath smelling of sulfur behind her, and hear the heavy panting like a bellows. Trembling, she used all her strength to slowly turn her head back. What appeared in her eyes was a terrifying body enough to scare any low-level adventurer out of their wits.
It was a gigantic humanoid monster over three meters tall. Its bronze skin was knotted with explosive muscles, filled with primitive and savage power. Its eyes were pure crimson, burning with violence and madness, with dark, ominous patterns spreading around them. Two thick, long tusks protruded fiercely from its lower jaw, and scorching breath sprayed from its mouth from time to time. Its body was covered in crude but heavy bone armor, and its hands tightly gripped a massive battle axe taller than a person, the blade burning with unextinguishable magical flames.
A Blazing Axe Mitachurl!
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