Below Babel.
At the entrance to the Dungeon.
Adventurers gathered densely across the plaza. Some waited for teammates. Others recruited supporters. Voices overlapped, requests flew back and forth, and the space buzzed with constant movement.
It was lively.
Until it wasn't.
At a certain moment, the noise abruptly died down.
Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Heads turned in unison.
There-
The Loki Familia was emerging in full formation.
"Look, it's the Loki Familia!"
"The Brave, the Heavy Warrior, the Nine-Tailed Mage... even the Sword Princess is here."
"That's not all. Aren't all of their high-level adventurers present?"
"An expedition? But they don't look like they're carrying supplies."
Whispers spread rapidly through the crowd.
Amid the murmurs, the Loki Familia advanced without pause, heading straight toward the Dungeon entrance.
Adventurers standing in their path instinctively moved aside.
No words were exchanged.
No warnings were given.
Yet no one dared to block their way.
This was the deterrence of one of Orario's strongest Familias.
"It's pretty impressive."
Shirou looked around, unable to hide his amazement.
"Adventurers from other Familias really do look like mice seeing a cat when they see us."
This was his first time heading deep into the Dungeon as part of such a large group.
He had never experienced a scene like this.
Walking beside him, Finn heard the remark and slowed slightly.
"This is a right granted to us by Orario," Finn said calmly.
"And at the same time, it's our responsibility."
"When danger appears, the Guild will look to us first."
"We will stand at the front."
"We will face Orario's enemies."
Finn's tone was steady.
Matter-of-fact.
He was clearly pleased with Shirou.
In Finn's eyes, Shirou was a prime candidate to become the Familia's future pillar.
Perhaps even its future captain.
So whenever there was an opportunity, Finn would guide him-quietly, subtly.
Shirou listened and nodded.
Others might not realize it, but he did.
In the future, the Dark Faction would return.
And when that happened, the Loki Familia would once again be forced to confront them head-on.
That future was unavoidable.
Seeing that Shirou understood, Finn said nothing more and stepped back into formation.
There was no need to rush.
Education, like growth, came step by step.
Besides-
It wasn't time for him to retire yet.
-
After entering the Dungeon, the Loki Familia advanced with overwhelming momentum.
On the upper floors, the environment posed no challenge at all. To the group, it felt no different from walking on the surface.
They moved as if on an outing.
Even upon entering the middle floors, their pace did not slow.
Some members of the Loki Familia would normally struggle here.
But under Finn's prior arrangements, they were positioned beside powerful adventurers.
Protected.
Supported.
As a result, the group pushed through steadily and efficiently.
Soon, they arrived at the seventeenth floor.
At the end of the passage connecting the seventeenth and eighteenth floors, a massive chamber unfolded before them.
Goliath's Chamber.
However, the Loki Familia did not proceed further.
Because the protagonist of this moment was no longer the Familia as a whole.
It was the young man at the center of the formation.
Shirou stepped forward.
Leaving the group behind, he walked calmly through the monster-free passage and entered the chamber alone.
He stopped at the center.
And waited.
His gaze shifted toward the Great Wall of Lamentation on one side of the chamber.
Fighting spirit burned in his eyes.
Last time, he had sincerely hoped to avoid encountering the Floor Boss.
This time-
He had come specifically for it.
Only a month had passed.
But in that single month, he had grown beyond recognition.
Now was the time to test that growth.
"It's coming."
The moment Shirou spoke, the Great Wall of Lamentation began to tremble violently.
Cracks spread.
Then-
A colossal figure tore itself free from the wall and descended into the chamber.
"Ooooooh-!"
A thunderous roar shook the space as the monster announced its presence.
Unlike ordinary monsters, this was a true monster.
A massive body towering dozens of meters tall.
Muscles like iron.
Power overflowing from every movement.
Goliath.
The Floor Boss of the seventeenth floor.
"Projection, start."
Magic surged.
Kanshou and Bakuya appeared in Shirou's hands.
Gripping them tightly, he began walking toward Goliath.
"According to the Familia's information, Goliath is rated at LV.4."
"But in terms of endurance alone, it reaches LV.5."
Shirou narrowed his eyes.
"Let's see if my attacks can deal fatal damage."
With a thought, the short swords extended.
Their forms lengthened continuously until they became two massive greatswords.
At that instant, Shirou unleashed his full speed.
He charged.
"Ooooooh-!"
Enraged by the insect-like figure rushing toward it, Goliath raised its iron fist and smashed it down.
The blow struck the ground with terrifying force.
The earth collapsed inward, the impact sending shockwaves through the chamber.
The strength was undeniable.
But the punch didn't hit.
With the enhancement from Mind's Eye, Shirou's perception had been elevated to an entirely new level.
Before Goliath even moved, Shirou had already "read" the attack.
He dodged perfectly.
Leaping into the air, Shirou twisted his body freely and landed firmly on Goliath's arm.
Without hesitation, he sprinted upward, racing toward the monster's head.
But Goliath reacted quickly.
Before Shirou could reach his target, the monster's other arm swung over, smashing down along the same limb.
There was no way forward.
Shirou adjusted instantly.
He slashed fiercely at the arm beneath his feet, then kicked off and leapt backward.
As his body fell headfirst through the air, Shirou projected a black longbow.
"Projection, start."
"False Caladbolg."
The blade designed purely for penetration transformed into an arrow and was nocked onto the bowstring.
"Broken Phantasm."
The string twanged softly.
The arrow streaked forward.
Boom.
A violent explosion erupted in the chamber, flames surging outward in a storm.
Shirou landed steadily, his feet planting firmly against the ground.
He stared at the figure shrouded in smoke.
His expression did not relax.
Not even slightly.
That attack wouldn't be enough.
He knew that.
What he needed now was information.
Damage assessment.
Only then could he determine the next step.
"Ooooooh-!"
Another deafening roar echoed.
With a swing of Goliath's arm, the smoke was blown away instantly.
The monster reappeared.
Shirou's pupils contracted.
Its body was blackened with soot.
Its surface was pitted and scarred.
But its movements-
Unaffected.
Its combat capability was almost completely intact.
"What absurd durability..."
Shirou exhaled slowly.
"Is this what high-level adventurer endurance feels like?"
Magic surged through him even faster.
Around his body, more than a dozen sword armaments appeared in midair.
He raised his gaze, locking onto Goliath once more.
"Don't relax just yet."
"The real fight is only starting."
A smile spread across Shirou's face.
Bright.
Genuine.
This-
This was a battle that truly made his blood boil.
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter