The gentle slope extended downward.
Crystals that looked as if they were frozen in ice grew along the sides of the path, and a chill wind blew in from the depths of the cave.
Ryoji, carrying a portable Magic Stone Lamp, walked in front, carefully exploring the path as they made their way to the lower floors.
Behind him was a golden-haired Elf girl holding a short sword, a compact crossbow strapped to her waist, alert to the surroundings. Bringing up the rear was a mage in golden-yellow robes holding a Magic Staff.
This was a three-person party made up of Ryoji, Alicia, and Lefiya.
The slope covered in crystals was precisely the passage leading from the 24th Floor to the 25th Floor. At the end of this passage lies the lower floor domain.
After Ryoji came to her, Alicia had readily agreed to team up with him.
In fact, the reason she hadn't started leveling up like the rest of her companions was that she had been waiting to enter the Dungeon with Ryoji. She knew that now that he had reached Level 3, he would need new party members. So, she had waited patiently for several days, and her patience finally paid off.
On the other hand, Lefiya had no issues either.
According to Riveria, Lefiya's concurrent chanting technique was still far from refined. The most elite mages could simultaneously attack, move, dodge, and defend. Lefiya was still far from achieving that level of skill. So, Riveria had rather decisively entrusted her to Ryoji.
"By the way, Ryoji, has Lefiya been acting a little strange lately? Got any idea why?"
"What do you mean by strange?"
"...It's nothing."
Riveria had looked at him strangely at the time, but after a moment of hesitation, she said no more.
"I hear water up ahead. We're almost there."
Alicia twitched her sharp ears, making full use of her excellent Level 4 hearing.
The end of the slope gradually came into view, accompanied by a faint blue glow and the roar of rushing water.
All three of them wore Water Spirit protective garments that shimmered with blue phosphorescence. They crossed the mouth of the cave directly and emerged at the starting point of the 25th Floor.
In the next moment, the awe-inspiring "Labyrinth of Water" unfolded before them.
The roar of cascading waterfalls created a thunderous symphony.
Crystal ceilings formed countless valleys and cliffs.
Mist rose into the air from splashing water, and in the distance, one could spot harpies and songbirds soaring through the air. Their shrill cries echoed, and their sharp feathers cut through the sky.
But the most spectacular sight was undoubtedly the massive central waterfall.
Its roar was like a chorus of thunderclouds. The sound had traveled hundreds of meters to reach their ears earlier while still on the slope, it was the very same sound of the waterfall crashing downward.
The cerulean waterfall began on the 25th Floor and cascaded like a staircase down through the 26th and 27th Floors. Its height was nearly a kilometer. From a distance, it looked like a grand blue curtain.
"The Cerulean Waterfall… no matter how many times I see it, it's still awe-inspiring."
The three of them stood on a cliff, only a few hundred meters away from the waterfall. Compared to its immense scale, they looked as insignificant as summer insects.
Though they had seen this view twice already during previous expeditions, the massive waterfall, over 400 meters wide, was always breathtaking, leaving a deep impression.
"I've been here many times. Let me lead the way."
Alicia stepped forward voluntarily, taking on the quest of guiding them.
"Be careful. There are many winding walkways and streams here. You need a strong sense of spatial awareness. If you're not careful, you'll easily get lost. So, it's best to stay close and follow my footsteps."
Looking ahead, they could see countless narrow paths surrounding the Cerulean Waterfall, only about two or three meters wide. On one side was a rock wall, and on the other, a bottomless abyss.
These paths twisted and turned, sometimes sloping upward, sometimes downward, looking chaotic like a labyrinth. With the deep caverns below, one misstep could easily mean certain death.
"Clang!"
Just as they were talking, a giant metal crab the size of a person charged straight at them from the front.
Its left claw looked normal, but the right pincer was massive, more like a giant hammer. What made it even more bizarre was that this crab walked vertically!
Ryoji's blade rose and fell in one swift motion. Dodging the crab's right claw, he struck with incredible speed, stabbing cleanly into a gap in the creature's body.
A Level 3 monster, instantly killed!
"Such incredible speed!"
Alicia looked at Ryoji in astonishment, her eyes full of surprise.
"Your speed is practically on par with the top-tier Level 3s. Just how much potential ability value did you accumulate in the first two levels?"
Every time Ryoji leveled up, he broke past his stat limits. The excess ability values became his hidden parameters, making his physical capabilities far superior to the average Level 3.
"Just average," Ryoji replied modestly.
Within the entire Familia, probably only Ais knew about his ability to exceed his limits. Maybe Finn was told by Loki as well, but aside from them, very few people were aware.
It wasn't because he didn't trust his companions, but this was no small matter. If word spread too widely, it would surely cause unnecessary trouble. Adventurers everywhere would clamor for him to reveal the secret behind his breakthroughs.
That's why Loki had specifically warned him: Never casually reveal anything about your ability values.
"Lefiya, watch out!"
As they walked beside a water stream, Alicia suddenly shouted.
"Eh?"
Lefiya had been lost in thought and was caught off guard by the shout.
"SPLASH, !"
A dark shape over 160 centimeters long suddenly burst from the water. Its razor-sharp fangs gleamed with a chilling light under the spray of water as it lunged straight for the distracted Lefiya at the rear.
"SLASH!"
Alicia leaped forward in a flash, slicing the black fish in half with a swift stroke of her short sword.
"You okay, Lefiya?"
Alicia stepped forward, concerned.
"Ah… yeah, I'm fine..."
Lefiya had been startled but managed to steady herself.
"What happened to you? You were the same back on the 24th Floor when we ran into the Deadly Hornet, you almost got stung. You've been really out of it today."
Alicia looked genuinely worried.
She was 25 this year, still considered young for a Elf, but already a big sister figure by human standards. Alicia was kind-hearted and looked after her juniors with real patience.
"N-No, it's nothing! I'll try harder from now on!"
Lefiya instinctively glanced toward Ryoji at the front of the group, then waved her hands at Alicia in flustered denial.
"?"
Ryoji, clueless, threw out a mental question mark.
He glanced at himself, feeling silently exasperated.
Why are you looking at me like that?
I didn't use any charm skill or anything. I'm in the exact same state I was the last time we explored the middle floors together. Don't tell me you've somehow fallen for me?
But weren't you all about Ais?
Just as he was thinking that, Lefiya sneaked another peek at him, only this time, Ryoji caught her in the act.
She panicked and quickly looked away, but the tips of her ears had already turned a noticeable shade of red, and she didn't dare look at him again for quite a while.
…Well then.
It was confirmed.
That reaction? Ryoji had seen it plenty of times before.
There was no mistaking it, a girl in love.
Someone as brilliant as him naturally shone like a beacon wherever he went, drawing in countless moths willing to throw themselves into the flame.
Sigh… this damn charm of mine~
(End of Chapter)
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