In this Age of Descent, this fantastical world where gods walk among mortals, adventurers blessed with Falna still needed to slowly accumulate progress in their Basic Abilities.
So within the community of adventurers, there existed a concept not unlike a gamer's term: experience points.
Not digitized like in virtual games, but close enough in meaning: killing monsters = gaining experience.
Because of this, Lefiya immediately understood what Aether had meant when he'd just spoken about "EXP."
But perhaps because of that,
"Aether-san, you're… scary."
The elf girl instinctively took a half-step back.
Really, Lefiya?
Yet she didn't even realize that this little reaction had already lessened her fear of the Forbidden Zone.
Seizing the moment,
"No time for pleasantries."
Aether didn't care if she was scared of him or not. He stepped forward, bent down, and before she could even react, scooped her up in a princess carry.
"Eh, ehhh~!"
No need to guess, her face instantly flushed red.
But Aether had no time to pay attention to that.
"Lefiya, start chanting."
His tone was sharp, urgent.
Through Starfire's Flowing Light's twin-star sensory link, he'd already confirmed that Lumine and Finn's team had just arrived at the southern entrance.
Sure enough,
BOOM!
A massive sound erupted from afar.
The Infinite Chalice's monsters, half of them at least, were drawn away toward Finn's diversion.
Timing perfectly, Aether spread his Wings of Wind, his body shrouded in the pseudo-Domain of the Wind King. Mana flared outward, granting him temporary flight.
The moment he stepped into the Forbidden Zone,
"Lefiya!"
"Yes, sir, ahh!"
Without even considering the narrow, monster-packed bridges, Aether leapt straight off the side.
And then,
Surprised, huh? Grandpa can fly.
No doubt, this instantly bypassed the melee-specialist threats like Spartoi and Chthonic Men.
Though it nearly scared Lefiya half to death.
And then,
SWISH SWISH SWISH!
From deeper inside the 37th Floor, another menace appeared: Peluda Basilisks.
Dangerous beyond measure. They were dragon-type monsters, already among the strongest categories.
Worse, they could fire volleys of venomous quills.
A single basilisk could create a dense barrage. Even Lv.4 adventurers, with their Status Abnormal Resistance, couldn't withstand the poison.
The hard-earned lesson of veterans was clear:
If you get hit, forget antidotes. Unless you've got Dian Cecht Familia's absurdly expensive cure, start cutting the poisoned flesh off.
Now,
[Defensive Measures]
Seeing the deadly barrage streaking toward them midair, Aether quickly summoned Diona. A translucent Cat Shield wrapped around him and Lefiya.
That was insurance.
Then,
WHRRR~
He knew the Peluda Basilisks fired from their backs, like spiny hedgehog-lizards. Their soft underbellies were their weakness.
So Aether deployed Xiao.
SHNK!
A cold gleam, then a spear strike like a dragon's lunge, followed by Lemniscatic Wind Cycling.
SLASH!
One basilisk crumbled to ash.
The next second,
BOOM!
The spot Xiao had stood on was smashed by several Lizardmens wielding Dungeon-born White Rock Axes. The blows split stone with raw power, far beyond normal Lv.4s.
Thankfully, Xiao's specialty was speed and reaction. Teleportation saved him.
Meanwhile,
ROOAR!
Some crazed Spartoi hurled themselves from the bridge in a suicidal leap toward Aether's midair zone.
So you'd rather die, as long as you can take a bite of me… preferably my head, huh?
[Stay back]
Razor manifested, his wolf-spirit flaring. Even without his Elemental Burst – Lightning Fang, the young wolf-boy called forth the Thunder Wolf Spirit, claws raking alongside his greatsword, cutting down the airborne rams' desperate charge.
Truthfully, if he weren't holding Lefiya, Aether would have struck a JoJo pose right there.
Damn, my Stand-user DNA is buzzing right now.
And then,
[Release them, the fire arrows of the fairies. Falling like rain, burn away the savages]
Fusillade Fallarica!!!
The moment Aether recalled Razor from his own fall, Lefiya's wide-area bombardment spell completed.
Magic circles bloomed one after another, pouring down streams of searing flame.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Thunderous roars shook the air.
Feels like this little duo of ours should be called: High-'Aether' Bombing Unit.
Aether chuckled inwardly, still holding Lefiya tight.
Though the girl, blushing and flustered, could only sense his seriousness, not his bad jokes.
But her mixed emotions didn't last.
"Oi! You little pests, stop causing trouble. What are you dawdling for over there?"
The sharp voice came from ahead.
Both Aether and Lefiya turned,
"Lefiya. Big brother."
"Glad you're safe. Hurry up."
Beside Bete, who grumbled in silence, Finn only smiled faintly while Ais focused silently on cutting down more enemies.
Tiona and Tione waved a casual greeting.
As for Lumine,
[Ride the wind]
Even as a Lv.2, she conjured a roaring tornado with her Elemental Burst – Gale Rising, holding the stronger monsters at bay.
"Phew. Made it safely."
Aether landed, said nothing else,
"Cover our retreat!"
"Cover our retreat!"
To others, they looked like siblings carrying Lefiya out together. In truth, it was Finn's planned strategy.
Watching their backs retreating,
"…Should I say, as expected of the Twin Stars?"
Finn gave a wry smile.
"After all these years, this is the first time I've led such an easy rescue mission."
"Well then, the objective's complete. Everyone, withdraw."
His veteran officers, equally strong, grinned as they turned to retreat.
Nearby,
"Oi, wait, you guys, woah!"
Bete, a half-beat too slow, nearly got gored by a Spartoi.
But Tiona spun her twin blades, cutting it down with a single sweep.
"Bete, you're sooo lame. Bleh~"
"Grrr!"
The werewolf's rage nearly boiled over.
Worse, Ais turned her blank gaze his way, tilting her head in innocent puzzlement.
Is Bete… really lame?
"Tch."
Banter and brawls continued as the group fled under the monsters' howls.
Meanwhile, the young adept left behind as rearguard, Xiao, took down another basilisk.
With that, Razor and Xingqiu both leveled up to Lv.20.
At last,
"I've… completed my First Growth Stage."
Recalling Xiao, Aether's mood soared.
=============
129+ Advance Chapters Available on Patreon! Patreon.com/Veltoria
250 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
Add to Library to support