"Hey, hey, hey, that's the 58th floor we're talking about! You're seriously not even a little worried?"
---------------------------------------
Finn and Riveria didn't seem worried at all about their companions battling desperately on the 58th floor, instead, their faces were full of smiles and confidence.
This left Tsubaki dumbfounded.
"A mere Lv.5 dragon-type, even if was a Lv.6, it's no match for those guys. The fact that the 'across the floor' bombardment has already stopped is the best proof."
"... Since you're not worried, I guess I have nothing more to say."
"Tsubaki, once we reach the 58th floor, we'll still need your help, so conserve your strength."
"Ah, weapon maintenance, right? I know!"
"Finn, more of them!"
At the very front, Ais calmly reminded everyone again.
"That's... a new species? And it's ignoring its own kind, charging directly at us? Something's wrong!"
"Look, there's someone among the monster horde!!!"
"What?"
Everyone's expressions shifted, their eyes narrowing as they spotted, behind the mass of multicolored worms, a towering figure wrapped in cloak and half-mask.
"This guy... just like the red-haired woman Revis, he's a beast tamer? Seems they're in league together."
Ais narrowed her eyes, recalling that fleeting figure from their last retreat on the 24th floor. She understood.
'That mysterious person is the one who withdrew with Revis after reclaiming the orb.'
"What do we do, Finn!"
The pallum leader's mind raced, and in the very next instant, he gave his order.
"Turn right! That passage is wide."
"Understood!"
Meanwhile, as he watched the adventurers quickly approach, the masked man made a hand gesture and, in a rasping voice that could belong to neither man nor woman, commanded the monsters!
"Attack!"
--?
In the next moment, the worm horde all aimed at the adventurer party in unison, releasing a barrage of corrosive liquid!
"Hey, hey, hey, what kind of sick joke is this? A coordinated corrosive volley?!"
At the last second, the adventurers stumbled into the side passage.
Behind them, walls, ceiling, and floor melted completely, leaving behind a stinking purple mire that hissed and bubbled ominously. Tsubaki, Bete and the others all felt their scalps tingle at the sight.
"On your feet! Keep moving!" Finn, with the mask of a commander, calmly directed his allies.
"So, it failed, you predicted my move ahead of time. I guess that's to be expected of Braver Finn. But... deep within the dungeon, what can you really do?"
Seeing his enemies escape his ambush, the masked figure waved their hand. The worms gave chase, while they leapt onto the back of the largest one.
"You've walked into the trap. The entire Loki Familia will die here."
...
"Captain, that guy really is commanding the multicolored worms, like an army..."
"Yeah... this is a bit troublesome."
Finn licked his thumb as he ran, squinting.
"But since my thumb isn't aching, it means we won't be facing a true life-or-death crisis this time. The path ahead is already clear."
Riveria, calm as ever, voiced their opponent's intent. "They want to stop us from reaching the 59th floor."
"Exactly. They must know well enough, just those new species alone can't wipe us out. All they can do is drain our supplies. Once our weapons and provisions run out, we won't be able to explore any further. Honestly, it's a clever plan."
"But... they've overlooked some key details, haven't they?" Finn looked back at the pursuing monsters and the masked figure with a knowing smile.
"They've completely underestimated the strength of the Loki Familia as we are now!"
"Riveria, prepare bombardment magic and keep it on standby."
"Understood."
But before Finn's words had fully left his mouth, another anomaly appeared ahead!
"Up front, blockade!"
"They've surrounded us!"
"Could it be... this guy can also memorize the labyrinth map as clearly as the captain???"
From every side, worm monsters poured in. Slightly panicked, Lefiya cried out reports nonstop.
"Brrrrrrr..."
Without even roaring, the worm-type monsters unleashed another corrosive volley, turning the front passage into a death zone.
Whether giant snakes, massive scorpions, or thunder snakes, powerful monsters of the 53rd floor and below, all were corroded away under the strengthened worms' barrage, their bodies melting with hissing sounds and the stench of rot.
"Don't even think of running, adventurers!"
"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM, !"
As Finn's group changed direction again, the masked man unleashed yet another batch of new-type monsters.
"That guy's herding us, forcing us into a dead end to wipe us all out!"
"Hah, not bad tactics. For monsters to be running us Loki Familia ragged like this, that's a first."
Finn even nodded in approval, praising his opponent instead.
"..." Tsubaki twitched at the corners of her mouth, glancing around at the swarm of new-type monsters enclosing them from all sides, her forehead breaking into a cold sweat.
"Hey Finn, at this rate we're done for! You're the Braver, so think of something already!"
"Don't panic, Tsubaki. Just trust Finn."
Riveria soothed her with words, while at the same time... the crystal on her staff had already turned to the color of white.
Chaotic, rapid footsteps echoed through the passages, monster roars closing in from all directions.
The lone adventurer party bore immense pressure.
As commander, Finn kept perfectly calm.
In his mind, he unfurled the full map of the 58th floor, instantly pinpointed his allies' positions, and absorbed every detail of the surrounding terrain. Then his narrowed blue eyes snapped wide open.
"Ais, Bete, first fork ahead, turn left!"
"Understood!"
Following the two, the party quickly turned into the fork. Ahead lay a vast, straight, super-wide passage.
Running down this broad path, the whole party remained silent, trusting their leader, they needed only follow orders.
But as they passed halfway down the passage, more monsters appeared in front, blocking the way.
"Stop, turn around, prepare to engage the monsters coming up behind us!"