"Giant Slayer"
Drake witnessed firsthand just how single-minded Ais could be; Finn had instructed her to observe Drake, and she stared at him without blinking.
Though Ais's unwavering gaze was somewhat unsettling, Drake quickly adjusted.
What was more bothersome was Lefiya's occasional resentful glances from the mage group.
These minor incidents didn't impede the expedition's progress. The expedition soon reached the seventeenth floor, and coincidentally, a Goliath spawned upon their arrival.
The Loki Familia immediately began the floor boss battle.
Under Finn's command, the vanguard engaged the Goliath, halting its advance.
This was a standard Goliath, lacking the terrifying self-healing ability of the black Goliath Drake had defeated.
Several vanguard warriors charged forward, severing the Goliath's left leg tendon, forcing it to kneel.
The rearguard mages began chanting, preparing a powerful bombardment.
The Goliath seemed to sense danger and swung its arm.
"Shieldbearers, intercept it!"
Following Finn's order, adventurers wielding large tower shields stepped forward, blocking the attack.
The Goliath's hand slammed against the shields, but they held firm.
Though the Goliath's estimated level was Level 4, the force of its massive body far exceeded that of a Level 6 adventurer.
Fortunately, the Loki Familia's adventurers were strong; they collectively withstood the blow.
Ais, who had been following Drake, charged forward.
As the Goliath's attack was blocked, she leaped onto its hand, using its arm as leverage to reach its head.
"Tempest!"
As Ais chanted, green air currents enveloped her body.
This was Ais's magic, "Ariel," a wind-attribute enhancement spell. The wind-like magical force significantly increased her speed and attack power.
Massive wounds appeared where Ais ran, spurting blood.
The Goliath roared deafeningly, but by the time it raised its arm, Ais was already near its head.
The Goliath opened its mouth, gathering air. This was one of the Goliath's rare ranged attacks—a projectile of compressed air with immense power.
Ais leaped, narrowly avoiding the air blast. She gracefully rotated in mid-air, plunging her sword into the Goliath's eye.
The Goliath's roar was filled with agony; one hand covered its injured eye, the other glared at the adventurers with murderous intent.
Ais landed, and the others charged.
Tione, wielding two scimitars, and Tiona, wielding a large double-bladed sword, charged from Ais's side.
Tiona severed the Goliath's wrist as it swung down. Tione slashed numerous wounds across the Goliath's chest.
This Labyrinth King, feared by countless adventurers, was treated like a butchered carcass before the Loki Familia.
While Drake could have easily crushed the Goliath, he couldn't replicate the Loki Familia's… efficiency!
The Loki Familia's battle was orderly, as if they'd performed this countless times.
As Ais and the Amazonian sisters continued to damage the Goliath, the rearguard mages completed their chants.
"Vanguard, retreat!" Finn issued the command.
Ais, though reckless, wasn't impulsive; she retreated with the Amazonian sisters without hesitation.
Simultaneously, the mages launched their magical bombardment.
Fire, lightning, ice… various elemental attacks struck the Goliath.
A series of explosions engulfed the Goliath's body.
Magic transcends level limitations, capable of miracles, and the Loki Familia possesses Orario's strongest mage corps.
Even without Riveria's elven mages, their firepower was sufficient to defeat a Level 4 Goliath.
As expected, after the explosions and smoke cleared, the Goliath's body was riddled with holes.
Seconds later, the Goliath exploded into a black mist, leaving behind a large magic stone.
Drake, with his sharp eyes, noticed other items on the ground.
The Goliath's tough hide, a valuable material dropped by the Labyrinth King.
This material wasn't popular among blacksmiths due to its extreme hardness, making processing difficult.
However, adventurers found it useful; it could be easily cut and fashioned into practical equipment.
In the original story, Bell was able to repel the Zaganote with its devastating claws thanks to a scarf made from the black Goliath's hide.
This Goliath was a standard variant; its hide wouldn't possess those properties, but Drake still wanted a piece to study.
He planned to discuss purchasing a piece with the Loki Familia later.
As Drake observed the battlefield, he heard Zard say, "Truly the Giant Slayer, even hunting floor bosses with such skill."
Drake nodded in agreement; the Loki Familia's title was well-deserved.
As one of Orario's two royal families, the Loki Familia has numerous titles.
Besides "Weapon Slayer" and "Destroyer," earned due to their members' tendency to break weapons, they're also called "Giant Slayer" for frequently defeating large monsters, including floor bosses.
After efficiently clearing the battlefield, the group proceeded to the eighteenth floor.
The eighteenth floor's crystal ceiling had dimmed, emitting a night sky-like glow.
Finn immediately ordered the squad to rest, set up tents, and prepare dinner; everyone began to work.
Drake and the other members of the Hephaestus Familia inspected and repaired the adventurers' equipment.
The Loki Familia's equipment demonstrated their concern for their members' safety.
The adventurers' equipment was high-quality, indicating the Familia's investment in its members.
The most severely damaged items were the shields used by the vanguard in the Goliath battle, but only deformed; they needed heating and reforging.
Other equipment only required sharpening or polishing.
Drake sharpened a short sword, examining the sharpened blade in the firelight. Satisfied, he sheathed it, stood up, and stretched.
His assigned task was complete; Drake prepared to rest.
Tomorrow, they would enter the lower and deeper levels; such peaceful rest might not be possible then. But Drake was eager for the challenge!
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