"Coo, coo, coo~"
"Hm? Pigeons... in the Deep Levels?"
Inside a small cavern on the 37th Floor, Lefiya sat in what could only be called a state of true, restless unease.
Her lips pressed together as she lowered her head shyly, clutching tighter at the Spartoi Hide Cloak wrapped around her.
Ugh... why does he always have to joke about these things...
Normally, materials like this, monster drops used to make adventuring gear, were carefully treated before being worn.
But now... she had no luxury to demand that.
As an elf, she certainly lacked the boldness of an Amazon.
Thankfully, the Spartoi was a bone-type monster: no blood, no stench, no corpse miasma. Its hide was almost inorganic in feel.
All in all, it was a blessing in disguise.
At least she wasn't stuck wrapping herself in something reeking of death.
Just then,
"Hungry?"
Aether tilted his head toward her, speaking casually.
"You were badly hurt earlier. Most of your skin was corroded by the Worm Well's stomach acid. Even with Diona's treatment, you still burned through a lot of stamina."
"Eat a little."
From the small satchel at his waist, the one he used when he couldn't count on Paimon, Aether pulled a small bundle and tossed it lightly toward her.
Lefiya instinctively reached to catch it, too quickly.
The cloak slipped, leaving her flustered and scrambling once more.
Fortunately, Aether didn't turn around.
He stayed by the cave's entrance, on watch.
With a sigh of relief, Lefiya finally peeked into the bundle.
Inside were simple preserved rations, much like compressed biscuits. Bland, but long-lasting and lifesaving in the Dungeon.
Most adventurers carried them. After all, a single bite at the right time could mean survival.
She herself had carried some... until her equipment had been melted away inside the serpent's belly.
Thinking of that, she flushed scarlet.
I still don't dare ask... how exactly did he save me when I was unconscious? No... I'm pretty sure when I first woke up, I had already been completely seen... right...?
I'll never get married now...
Tears welled in the little elf girl's eyes as her imagination ran wild.
Without realizing, she whispered under her breath:
"Ais... I'm sorry!"
From the entrance, Aether turned, blinking in confusion.
He found Lefiya pecking at the ration like a chick, nibbling in tiny bites.
"Eating... and apologizing to Ais... how are those connected?"
He pictured the golden-haired, golden-eyed, expressionless swordswoman, utterly lost at Lefiya's logic.
Forget it. Not worth trying to understand.
Instead, he shifted topics.
"Night's fallen on the surface already."
While she ate, Aether crossed his arms and thought.
"Right now, my (main body) mana recovery rate is at 33.6 times the normal level. Enough to sustain three Archon Avatars at once.
As for Lumine..."
He closed his eyes, focusing on the Archon System only he could access.
Opening the map interface, a three-dimensional display, he quickly locked onto Player Two's position.
At this pace... it'll take a few more hours for her to catch up.
Satisfied with the estimate, he leaned forward to peer outside the cave.
Truth be told, a hideout like this might be safe in the Middle Floors.
But here in the Deep Levels, monsters could easily sniff them out.
The only reason they hadn't been attacked yet was because one of his Archon Avatars was deliberately drawing aggro nearby.
Previously, with his recovery rate only at 16.8 times, he couldn't sustain two Avatars constantly.
But he could prolong their duration significantly.
Diona's presence served as their protective shield.
Cat Shield best shield. Absolutely essential.
As for the one pulling enemies away, of course it was Xiao.
Armed with hundreds of Grilled Chicken-Mushroom Skewers, his burst could be spammed freely.
Now, with night on the surface, Aether no longer needed to ration mana so tightly.
He had already calculated the timing: thanks to Xiao's activity, background EXP farming had leveled both Razor and Xingqiu close to Lv.20.
They'll graduate from Phase One soon...
Aether mused,
Once this expedition ends, my (main body) stats will soar. Then... when I finish accumulating, what Heroic Deed should I challenge? Just slaying a Minotaur won't cut it...
His brainstorming was interrupted by,
CRACK!
The rock wall beside them trembled.
Aether's senses sharpened instantly.
THUD, THUD!
From his Enemy Detection, a huge red arrow blazed in his vision.
Already prepared, he dove out of the cave in a frantic dog-paddle motion.
At the same time, Diona transferred her Cat Shield onto him by retreating, their teamwork seamless.
Did he just abandon Lefiya?!
Of course not.
BOOM!
The small cavern collapsed in an instant.
Through the rubble burst a massive Worm Well, thrashing and roaring like a Starcraft Zerg tunneling beast.
From a safe distance, Aether glanced over,
"Uwaaahhh!"
Lefiya's cry rang out.
She was slung over the shoulder of a boy almost her height, spear in hand, Xiao, recalled just in time to teleport her away.
"Don't move."
His tone was cold, eyes locked on the gigantic monster.
"Another oversized monster..."
Aether, safe at the edge, asked calmly,
"Want to play Jonah again?"¹
Xiao didn't even blink.
"I refuse."
=============
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