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"Magnificent! You made defeating the Amphisbaena look so easy!"
After the Amphisbaena's subjugation, Finn and the other observing adventurers approached, showering Mika and his companions with praise.
"There's nothing to praise. The Amphisbaena's defeat was inevitable," Mika stated matter-of-factly, withdrawing his spear from the monster's magic stone. He watched as the massive stone crumbled into dust.
Although officially a Level 4, Mika's combat strength rivaled that of a Level 6.
Wielding the "Gáe Buidhe" a weapon specifically designed to counter dungeon monsters, and supported by Airmid and the others, Mika couldn't fathom a scenario where they would fail.
"He's got a point," Finn chuckled.
"In terms of pure strength, Mika is already on par with us."
Finn's words sent a ripple of shock through the assembled adventurers.
While Riveria and the others were surprised, it wasn't entirely unexpected. They had witnessed Mika's prowess in battle firsthand.
However, Shakti and the others were utterly astonished.
To be compared to Finn, a first-tier adventurer, was an incredibly high accolade.
"I believe I still fall short compared to you," Mika responded humbly.
While his words were modest, they weren't fully inaccurate.
In Orario, a peculiar phenomenon existed among the strongest adventurers: they possessed combat abilities that surpassed their official levels.
This was a consequence of the Falna system.
Every adventurer who had risen to the ranks of first-tier through countless life-or-death battles possessed unique, almost superhuman abilities.
And among these individuals, those considered geniuses wielded even more extraordinary powers.
They were, in essence, walking cheat codes.
Therefore, high-level adventurers were not directly comparable to monsters of the same level.
Take Bell Cranel, the future protagonist, for example.
At Level 1, he defeated a Level 2 Minotaur, achieving the feat necessary to reach Level 2.
This phenomenon was typically observed only at lower levels.
At higher levels, even if a Level 5 adventurer defeated a regular monster with the potential to reach Level 6, it wouldn't be considered a feat worthy of leveling up.
For them, it was simply business as usual.
Only the dungeon's Irregulars posed a true challenge to these exceptionally powerful adventurers.
Similarly, in this current expedition, although their stated goal was a group level-up, it was merely a formality.
Finn and the others knew that even if they defeated Balor, Ottar, already a Level 6, was unlikely to level up.
The only ones likely to advance were the six Level 5 adventurers.
Likewise, in the future Udaeus campaign, it wouldn't be the five veterans who leveled up, but rather Mika, Shakti, and Tsubaki.
That was why Shakti and the others were so taken aback by Finn's assessment of Mika.
It implied that Mika possessed the ability to fight two levels above his own.
In the current Orario, that made him one of the most formidable adventurers!
"Don't be so modest!" Gareth chuckled, clapping Mika on the shoulder. Riveria smiled warmly beside him.
They weren't envious of Mika's ability to fight above his level.
After all, their Familia boasted a similar prodigy: Ais Wallenstein.
With her magic, "Ariel," and her skill, "Avenger," Ais could effortlessly defeat monsters above her level.
Even as a Level 5, she was already a match for Finn and the other Level 6 adventurers during dungeon expeditions, sometimes even surpassing them.
Of course, this applied specifically to dungeon expeditions.
Ais's "Avenger" skill only activated against monsters.
Upon reaching Level 6, she would officially become the strongest member of the Loki Familia.
It was because of Ais's existence that Finn and the others could interact with Mika so casually.
Alise and her companions, however, gazed at Mika with stars in their eyes, filled with admiration.
As they showered him with praise and envious remarks, Ottar's voice interrupted their conversation.
"Now that the Amphisbaena is dealt with, let's move on."
Unlike the affable demeanor of the Loki Familia's three executives, the four members of the Freya Familia were noticeably aloof.
This was characteristic of the Freya Familia.
As members of the beautiful goddess Freya's Familia, every member was subjected to her "blessing," her favor.
However, to maintain that favor, they had to constantly prove their worth.
this favor often fell upon the four executives of the Freya Familia, including Ottar.
And each of them desired that favor exclusively for themselves.
Consequently, the members of the Freya Familia, while united in their devotion to Freya, were often solitary figures.
In this Familia, everyone except oneself was a rival in love.
Therefore, they often appeared aloof and distant to outsiders.
"I agree," Finn said, responding to Ottar's suggestion with a smile.
"With Airmid's magic, I doubt any of you need rest. Let's continue to the 29th floor before taking a break."
"Understood!"
Everyone quickly reorganized and prepared to resume their journey.
They adjusted their heavy packs and readied themselves for the trek ahead.
"Let's move out!" Finn commanded.
The joint expedition force once again ventured deeper into the dungeon.
This time, Mika and the others noticed a significant increase in their pace.
"I thought those four would remain indifferent," Gareth chuckled, observing Ottar and his companions leading the way.
The reason for their increased speed was simple: the four vanguard adventurers had become motivated.
And the source of their motivation was Mika's display of power.
Even though their faces remained impassive, a fire burned within them.
After all, unlike the Loki Familia, the Freya Familia didn't possess a comparable genius like Ais.
"Who could remain indifferent after witnessing such talent?" Riveria murmured, her gaze following Mika as he navigated the dungeon's depths.
"the new generation will soon surpass us the old..."
---
"Hey, hey, hey! Hold on a minute! I'm not ready to admit defeat to old age just yet!" Gareth retorted with a playful grin, responding to Riveria.
Riveria rolled her eyes in response.
Admit defeat to old age?
She was still young!
"Don't put words in my mouth! I wasn't lamenting about getting old!"
"Oh, really? Then what were you doing?"
"I wasn't doing anything!"
Listening to their bickering, Finn shook his head with a smile. It was as if they were back in the days when the three of them had explored the dungeon together, leveling up side-by-side.
Back then, they argued constantly.
However, as time went on, the bonds they forged through shared life-or-death experiences transcended their differences.
A Pallum, an elf, and a dwarf.
Despite their different races, they had become inseparable, trusting each other with their lives.
As their Familia grew and younger adventurers looked up to them, they became more mindful of their image.
It had been a long time since they had argued like this.
Hearing their familiar banter brought a wave of nostalgia.
However, Finn didn't forget their current situation.
"Alright, enough arguing. You have more important things to focus on, like, you know, fighting!"
"We're approaching the 28th floor. Prepare for battle!"
"Understood!"
Riveria and Gareth immediately ceased their bickering, their expressions turning serious.
They heightened their vigilance, scanning their surroundings for any potential threats.
...
"Sensei and the others have such a great relationship!" Mellie remarked, having eavesdropped on Riveria and Gareth's argument. She shifted her attention back to the front.
"After all, they're companions who have faced life and death together. Their bond is just like ours," Mika replied with a smile, having also listened in on their conversation.
"Our relationship…?"
Mellie's mind immediately conjured images of herself, Mika, and Airmid in the same light as Riveria, Gareth, and Finn.
A blush crept across her face.
"What are you thinking about, Mellie?!"
Mika instantly recognized the direction of her thoughts.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her gently.
"Don't even think about it! If Riveria finds out, she'll expel you from her tutelage!"
"Ah!"
Mika's shaking snapped Mellie out of her reverie.
"I understand! I won't think about it anymore!"
She pushed Mika away, covering her face with her hands, and hurried to the front of the group, likely to avoid Riveria.
"Whose fault is it for making that comparison?" Mika muttered, shaking his head before quickly catching up to her.
...
After resuming their journey, the expedition party quickly reached the safe zone on the 29th floor.
Finally, after a long day of trekking, they could rest.
They quickly set up camp, and following Finn's watch schedule, everyone drifted off to sleep.
Since Mika and his companions had just participated in a boss battle, Finn excused them from watch duty, allowing them to enjoy a well-deserved rest.
After a refreshing night's sleep, they continued their expedition.
Spurred on by Mika's earlier display of power, the three members of the Freya Familia, excluding Ottar, were exceptionally driven, pushing the expedition forward at a rapid pace.
...
They soon reached the 37th floor, where the Irregular Udaeus resided.
According to Finn's plan, all six Level 6 adventurers would participate in the battle against Udaeus, with Finn leading the charge.
Under Finn's command, and with the invaluable support of Airmid and Mellie's abilities, the expedition proceeded smoothly.
Once again, they defeated Udaeus without suffering any casualties.
"What a powerful healing magic..." Gareth murmured in awe, assessing his physical condition.
During the battle, he had been knocked back by Udaeus, crashing heavily against the wall.
He had braced himself for significant injuries.
However, before he could even cough up blood, the healing magic Airmid had cast on him before the battle had completely healed his wounds, allowing him to rejoin the fight immediately.
"I thought I had overestimated her magic's effectiveness, but it seems I underestimated her," Finn remarked, equally impressed.
While Airmid had used her magic to restore their stamina previously, it wasn't the same as healing injuries. They hadn't been able to accurately gauge the full extent of her power.
But now, they had witnessed it firsthand.
It was practically a cheat code!
Airmid's magic was an invaluable asset for Familias like theirs, who frequently embarked on large-scale expeditions.
"It seems we should collaborate more with the Yahweh Familia in the future," Finn declared, his gaze fixed on Airmid, who was conversing with Mika in the distance.
Unlike Finn and his companions, who were marveling at Airmid's healing abilities, Alise and the others were sitting on the ground, still recovering from the battle.
"So this is the deep floors of the dungeon... It's terrifying!" Alise exclaimed, her voice filled with awe and a hint of fear.
Gojouno and Ryu remained silent, reflecting on their harrowing experience.
They had barely survived their encounter with Udaeus. The Irregular's attacks had repeatedly put them in mortal danger.
And their own attacks had barely scratched Udaeus.
Even the usually confident Alise felt a wave of discouragement.
"Don't be disheartened. Your current weakness is only temporary. You're still young. This isn't your battlefield yet," Shakti said, comforting Alise. "While Tsubaki and I performed reasonably well in the previous battle, it was all thanks to Airmid and Mellie's support."
"In the upcoming battle against Balor, we'll be just as helpless as you!"
"After all, not everyone is a freak like him, capable of fighting so recklessly in such a dangerous environment!"
Shakti and the other four adventurers turned their gaze towards Mika.
They had all witnessed his extraordinary performance during the battle.
Even against Udaeus's relentless attacks, Mika hadn't flinched.
With shield and spear in hand, he had effortlessly parried Udaeus's blows, inflicting wound after wound upon the massive Irregular.
They would never forget the image of his flame-wreathed figure.
"Why are you all staring at me?"
Sensing their gazes, Mika turned around, a smile gracing his lips as he waved at Alise and the others.
"Get ready, we'll be moving on soon!"
"We know!"
Alise and her companions shook their heads, abandoning any thoughts of comparing themselves to Mika. With wry smiles, they shouldered their packs.
"We're all second-tier adventurers, but Mika and his companions are already fighting on the front lines, while we're relegated to support roles!"
"I'm so envious!"
...
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