"Mooh!"
While Lili silently complained, a Minotaur on Blake's right suddenly howled angrily, swinging its giant stone axe towards him.
Whoosh——!
Facing this strike, Blake remained unfazed. He skillfully avoided the attack by staying just close enough to the swinging axe and, with a slight turn of his wrist, thrust his iron sword toward the Minotaur's throat, drawing a streak of blood.
Boom—Boom—!
With two muffled sounds, the two Minotaurs that Blake hit in the vital spots exploded into ashes.
"Indeed, this sword doesn't feel right. It took a little more force to pierce the Minotaur's throat. Well, it's just something I picked up off the street, can't expect too much from it."
Frowning at the iron sword that was dripping blood, Blake exhaled lightly and then dashed towards another Minotaur.
In just a minute, the ten powerful Minotaurs were all killed with a single strike. Due to its slow movement from the effects of his Perceptual Distortion skills, tis already mediocre speed became even more pitiful.
"As expected of Blake, still as precise as ever, and the speed of your sword is amazing."
Seeing the battle end, Tiona couldn't help but marvel.
With physical attributes only comparable to a level 2 adventurer, she couldn't understand how Blake could have sword speed that rivaled Ais's.
"Blake's sword isn't that great, otherwise, it would have been faster." Ais stared at Blake's sword, speaking with a hint of detachment. "Would you like me to give you a sword?"
"Oh, that's not a bad idea. The sword Ais used before is still well preserved, and there are quite a few good ones."
Tione also chimed in with a smile.
"This sword was just something I picked up temporarily, I'm just making do with it. Actually, I have my own sword, and it's being enhanced by Goddess Hephaestus."
Upon hearing this, Blake smiled lightly. He understood Ais's good intentions, but he really didn't need a sword. Whether it was the Frost Whisper with Hephaestus or Excalibur that he had yet extract, both were powerful weapons.
"Sigh! Goddess Hephaestus!"
As soon as Blake spoke, Tiona, Tione, and Lili all gasped in shock, staring at him in disbelief. This goddess was well known throughout Orario. Her family's forged weapons and armor were all top-quality.
And this was only the work of her familia's blacksmiths. As for her personally, apart from the outstanding members of her familia, no one had the privilege of having her forge something.
After all, she was a goddess, famous for her forging skills even in the heavens.
Now, Blake had just said his sword was being enhanced by Hephaestus herself, which made them all stunned.
"How did you manage to get Goddess Hephaestus herself to help you? Even Loki had to beg Hephaestus for a sword for Ais, and she was refused. Blake, you're really becoming more mysterious by the day."
Tiona couldn't stop her chatter, firing off a series of questions.
"Blake, how can we be like you..."
Ais also looked at Blake with her golden eyes, which shimmered with a hint of curiosity and awe.
"Uh...."
Looking at the various reactions of the girls, Blake scratched his face. Though he had known about Hephaestus' great power, he hadn't expected it to be to this extent.
What if I said that Hephaestus offered to forge a sword for me, but I turned her down...?
The thought flashed through Blake's mind, but he quickly discarded it.
After all, they were already envious and shocked enough. If he said that out loud, these two excited Amazon sisters might chase him down to "talk" about it.
Cough, "Well, I should be going now."
Not choosing to provoke them further, Blake lightly cleared his throat and said, indifferent.
"Eh? Going back? Aren't you going to check out the 18th-floor safe zone? The floor master, Goliath, was just defeated recently, it won't take long to refresh. The sky is getting late, and it might be a bit..."
Upon hearing this, Tiona exclaimed in surprise.
The safe floor.
This is one of the more well-known, monster-free specific floors in the Dungeon.
Because every floor in the Dungeon must be reached by walking, the further down the Dungeon adventurers want to go, the more time it will take.
As a result, high-level adventurers often spend at least a day in the Dungeon, and sometimes staying for a month or more is not uncommon.
In such cases, the safe floor plays a big role.
At least, on these floors, high-level adventurers can rest and store their items, preventing them from being burdened by carrying them constantly.
Therefore, many high-level adventurers heading to lower floors use the safe floors as their base.
The 18th floor is the first safe floor in the Dungeon. Rather than heading straight back to the surface, it's better to rest for the night and head back tomorrow.
This is why Tiona suggested it.
"No, if I go back late, Hestia will worry about me."
In response, Blake's expression softened.
"But…"
"Tiona, Blake just became an adventurer. If he doesn't return, Hestia-sama will indeed be worried."
Tiona was about to say something more when Ais suddenly interrupted her words.
"Alright, then we'll see each other next time."
"Lili, let's go back."
Blake smiled at Ais and nodded in thanks before bidding them farewell and then without hesitation, walked back the way they came.
Ah, what a pity.
Looking at their retreating figures, Tiona muttered. She had wanted to continue uncovering the mysteries surrounding Blake, to dig out his secrets.
"Let's go, the captain has probably been waiting for a while."
Ais also glanced at Blake and Lili before walking forward, leaving the Amazon sisters to follow with a hint of regret.
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