Chapter 73 – Finn's Astonishment
In a matter of moments, the surrounding Shadowkhan forces had been completely cleared out.
Finn stood motionless, not advancing a single step further.
He knew—Akira would appear soon.
Soft, rustling echoes slipped through the darkness.
From every direction, shadows began to emerge. Some were familiar—the Ninja Khan, easily recognizable by their sleek forms—but others were entirely new. Each one carried the same ominous feature: a pair of glowing crimson eyes, glaring in silence.
"H-Hey… you've got to be kidding me… There's this many of them?! I thought he could only summon a few dozen, maybe a hundred at most!"
Tiona's voice cracked with disbelief as she scanned the area.
At a glance, there were at least four distinct types of Shadowkhan—each kind boasting somewhere between forty and fifty troops. That meant… at least two hundred soldiers in total.
Before their expedition, Akira could barely summon a dozen at best.
And now—just a handful of days later—his forces had multiplied exponentially.
Surrounded by these looming shadows, even the seasoned veterans of Loki Familia began to tense.
Finn gave a subtle glance toward Riveria. No words were needed. The message was clear:
If they attack, unleash your magic instantly. Wipe them out before they get a chance to move.
Years of fighting together had forged a deep understanding between them. Riveria didn't hesitate.
She quietly began gathering Mind, her magic energy, ready to cast at a moment's notice.
Though she hadn't spoken a single chant yet, the moment she sensed hostility, she would unleash it without pause.
The rest of the team instinctively shifted, closing in to form a tight formation around Riveria and Lefiya, placing the two mages at the center of a defensive circle.
It was common knowledge: magic users were most vulnerable during incantation. They had to be protected—no exceptions.
Then, it happened.
A low rumble echoed across the clearing.
To one side of the encircling Shadowkhan, the creatures all stepped back in perfect unison—Sumo Khan, Razor Khan, Ninja Khan—clearing a narrow path.
From within that corridor of living shadows, a single figure walked forward, calm and steady.
Shin Akira had arrived.
The moment he noticed the sudden disappearance of several Sumo Khan, followed by the detection of a high-tier adventurer party cutting through his forces, he'd already figured it out:
They were up against elite-level adventurers.
And now, seeing them for himself—it made perfect sense.
This was Loki Familia.
Among them stood three Level 6 adventurers and four Level 5s. Even with his strengthened Shadowkhan, Akira knew they weren't on equal footing… not yet.
"Long time no see, Shin Akira. Two weeks away, and your progress is terrifying."
Finn Deimne stepped forward, greeting him with a friendly smile.
No weapons in hand. No hostile aura. Just a composed captain showing goodwill.
Akira had to admit—the tiny Pallum wasn't someone to be taken lightly.
"It's only a slight improvement," he replied casually.
With a subtle wave of his hand, every Shadowkhan around them dispersed into smoke, retreating back into the shadows from whence they came.
Finn watched the sight with quiet astonishment.
Akira had only been in Orario for a month. And already… his strength had reached this level?
He didn't need a formal status update—there was no way this guy was still Level 1.
Not unless death had lost all meaning.
The 39th Floor wasn't a place someone could just stroll into. If a Level 1 tried, they'd be shredded within seconds.
"That's far more than a 'slight' improvement. I've been observing—your Shadowkhan formations have front-liners, support units, even air scouts. Honestly, it's more like you've assembled an actual army."
"Nothing worth bragging about. You just got back from an expedition?"
"Yeah, we did. And right after coming up, we run into you down here. Really, Akira… what kind of monster are you? It's only been a month and you're already walking around the 39th Floor. If you keep this up, you'll surpass all of us within six months."
"Who knows?" Akira replied, his tone flat.
But Finn's eyes narrowed slightly.
He'd meant it as a joke.
Akira's lack of denial said something loud and clear—he actually believed it.
That in six months, he could reach or exceed the level of Loki Familia itself.
And with how things had gone over the past few weeks, Finn wasn't so sure he could dismiss the possibility anymore.
"…Sorry if this is too forward, Shin Akira, but—what level are you now?"
"Level 4."
Akira answered without hesitation.
He had no reason to lie. In fact, he was already nearly ready to level up again.
It had only been two weeks since reaching Level 4, and he'd been grinding in the Dungeon almost nonstop.
"W-What?! Level 4?!"
Finn's voice cracked, eyes wide with genuine disbelief.
He'd only been in Orario for a month… and he was already Level 4?
That was a three-level climb in just thirty days.
Even if he was a god reincarnated, that was absolutely insane.
Finn had spent years climbing from Level 1 to 4—hundreds of battles, countless brushes with death.
Akira simply smiled at the stunned Pallum.
He almost laughed, thinking, If you knew I beat Ottar two weeks ago, you'd probably faint on the spot.
"…Honestly, I don't even know what to say anymore."
It took Finn a long moment to recompose himself.
His gaze toward Akira had changed. There was no longer doubt—only a complex storm of awe, caution, and something deeper.
Akira wasn't just talented.
He was something otherworldly.
"Hi~"
A soft, almost hesitant voice cut through the tension.
Ais Wallenstein had stepped forward, offering a gentle greeting.
"…Hello, Ais."
Akira replied politely, but there was no warmth behind it—just manners.
Unlike many other transmigrators or isekai'd souls who often found themselves enchanted by Ais's doll-like beauty, Akira wasn't swayed.
He was more drawn to mature, dignified figures like Hephaestus…
Or tiny, curvy ones like Hestia, who came with their own unique advantages.
Yes—as a man, he had preferences. And those preferences leaned… substantial.
The other members of Loki Familia had now gathered as well.
At the front stood Riveria and Gareth.
As an elf, Riveria's senses were razor-sharp. And what she sensed from Akira now…
It was like comparing the sky and the sea to how he'd been just two weeks ago.
She wasn't even sure this was the same person anymore.
"…You've grown stronger. Incredibly stronger."
Suddenly, Ais stepped forward again—eyes sharp and focused.
She stared at Akira intently, unblinking.
She could feel it.
He had become something dangerous.
So fast… it didn't make sense. How was it even possible?
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