Chapter 5: One man slaughters! Poor floor owner.
The path to the deepest part of the Seventeenth Floor was dark and long, and two teams of fully armed adventurers were steadily advancing into this abyss.
Their target was clear: the floor boss of the Seventeenth Floor, Goliath.
Because they were led by an LV4 advanced adventurer, the team's overall atmosphere was relaxed, with sounds of monster clearing and laughter as they collected their spoils.
"You guys just don't know! Yesterday, someone actually dared to say I was heartless?"
A rough voice echoed through the tunnel, belonging to Old Bill, who looked indignant.
"Those bastards don't even bother to find out who else is willing to deal with floor bosses for rookies!"
"Let's be frank, if he hadn't blocked your path to wealth, would an old geezer like you organize people to deal with Goliath?"
The adventurers in the team had known Old Bill for a long time and mercilessly exposed his motives.
"Not only that, after all, the drop materials from the floor boss are also very attractive."
Hearing his companions repeatedly tease him, Old Bill's oxeyes widened, and he was about to speak, ready to display the demeanor of a Zaun king.
"Ooh—aow!"
However, a loud roar came from the depths of the rocky cave, its sound waves shaking dust from the walls.
The adventurers, who had been chatting and laughing, now looked solemn, instinctively gripping their weapons and looking warily at the advanced adventurer at the front of the team.
"Captain, was that just...?"
The captain frowned, speculating.
"It sounds like Goliath's voice, but..."
Old Bill, standing nearby, suddenly slapped his thigh, his face showing an urgent, anxious expression.
"It must be those treacherous merchants from the Eighteenth Floor who made the first move! Those impatient dogs!"
After Old Bill's words, the rest of the team also gradually became agitated.
The two leading captains, realizing that things had changed, quickly urged everyone to quicken their pace and run towards the huge rocky cave where the floor boss was located.
Floor bosses, officially called Labyrinth Solitary Kings by the Guild, are super-large monsters that appear only after a certain period of time.
They not only have a size far exceeding that of monsters on the same floor but are also specialized in certain aspects, with strength so great that adventurers of the same level are deterred.
And the floor boss deep in the Seventeenth Floor, Goliath, is a durability-specialized giant, whose defense alone is comparable to LV5.
Normally, even with a well-coordinated team to subjugate it, it would take a considerable amount of time.
Now, a group of greedy merchants would only disrupt everyone's plans and increase the difficulty of the subjugation.
But when they breathlessly rushed into the rocky cave, the expected multi-team melee did not occur.
What they saw was a breathtaking scene of only one adventurer clashing with the floor boss.
...
The scene was a mess, the once-flat ground shattered.
Amidst the swirling dust, the floor boss, easily eight or nine meters tall, was in a sorry state, letting out a roar like a trapped beast.
Its two proud, thick arms hung limply, swinging mechanically with its body.
Covered in blood and deep, bone-deep wounds, the overflowing blood gradually stained the ground red, yet it still struggled with eyes full of ferocity.
The giant charged again with a do-or-die momentum, but the adventurer dodged it nimbly, moving around its body with ghostly footwork.
His movements were as elegant as a bullfighter stirring the crowd's emotions.
With a rumble, Goliath, overshooting its charge, crashed into the rock wall, the aftershock making the onlookers stumble.
At the same time, the adventurer, longsword in hand, reappeared, adding two more wounds to the opponent's broad back.
Very deep, but not fatal.
"Ooh—aow!"
The roar echoed through the rocky cave again.
However, unlike last time, Old Bill and the others felt a hint of pity in the floor boss's voice?
"So... so strong, the opponent is completely toying with the floor boss!"
"Disabling Goliath's attack methods but not killing it? Which family's advanced adventurer is messing around?"
"Strange, I don't remember anyone like that. An adventurer who can solo a floor boss must at least be a seasoned LV4, right?"
After hearing Old Bill and the others' speculations, the two captains exchanged glances, a bitter smile on their faces.
LV4?
Both of them were LV4 adventurers who had been promoted for some years, but if they were to solo Goliath, it would be tantamount to suicide.
Not to mention that the opponent wasn't just gaining the upper hand; he was completely toying with Goliath like a wild bull.
...
At the center of the battlefield, Goliath's attacks grew weaker and weaker.
The ferocity spurred by pain was destined not to last, and with its blood almost drained, even its roars seemed weak.
Heavy footsteps approached, and the giant leaped with its last bit of strength, intending to turn the tide with its size advantage.
The shadow above Arthur gradually expanded, but it only made him shake his head and grumble again.
"How could such an attack possibly hit? Do the monsters in the Dungeon not have brains?"
Magic power surged, Arthur accelerated by stepping on a gust of wind, his body instantly transforming into an afterimage and disappearing, leaving only Goliath heavily fallen into a pile of rubble.
Dust flew, a gust of wind whistled past, and Arthur returned.
He stopped at the back of Goliath's head, felt that the monster was already exhausted and unable to fight, and then casually plunged his sword into its skull.
Bang!
The massive giant turned into ashes and dissipated, leaving only a Magic Stone taller than a person, which dropped to the ground with a crisp clinking sound.
Arthur casually dismissed his longsword and examined the ridiculously large Magic Stone in front of him, but the corner of his eye swept over Old Bill and the others standing at a distance, watching.
Due to the Guild's rules, adventurers were not allowed to steal kills, but if no one found out, that was another matter.
"Which Familia are you from?"
Arthur's voice remained calm, breaking the eerie silence in the rocky cave.
After hearing Arthur's question, Old Bill and the others quickly greeted him with smiling faces.
"To answer you, sir, we are members of the Vanir Familia."
Arthur nodded knowingly, then took out two Minotaur Magic Stones from his pocket and pointed behind Old Bill and the others.
"I'd like to buy a length of rope from you. Is this enough?"
Old Bill's eyes darted around, and he quickly waved his hand, smiling cheerfully.
"It's just some miscellaneous items, how can we charge you, sir?"
Without waiting for Arthur to refuse, he turned around and nimbly pulled out a length of rope, throwing it over from a distance.
Arthur took the rope, seemingly defenselessly turning to pack up Goliath's Magic Stone.
Old Bill, on the other hand, subtly exchanged glances with the two captains, and the group, with great discretion, bypassed the central area and continued towards the Eighteenth Floor.
...
Twilight Manor.
Arthur pushed open the living room door once again.
It was rare; this time, Loki wasn't drinking.
Because she was sprawled out on the conference table, snoring loudly.
"Heh... hehe... Ais-tan, let me quickly see if you're developing healthily."
"Fuwu~"
"Ew~"
Both the person and the beast showed disdain, and it was easy to imagine what they were both dreaming about.
Arthur stepped forward, grabbed the heavily drunk Loki, and shook her back and forth like a rag doll.
"Hey, it's not dark yet, wake up. This isn't the time for daydreaming."
"Who! Which fellow dares to disrespect a god!"
Loki, half-asleep, flailed her arms and legs, and after barely opening her blurry eyes and seeing who was in front of her, she let out a big yawn.
"You're back much earlier today than yesterday. Didn't you say you were going to check out the Eighteenth Floor?"
Arthur smiled and shook his head, explaining.
"I killed a large group of Minotaurs and a floor boss. Too many Magic Stones, so I came back early to exchange them for money."
After speaking, he untied two bulging money bags from his lower back, displaying the golden falna inside.
"You're bored staying at the base camp yourself. I'll treat you to steak for lunch."
Loki suddenly looked up, her previously hazy expression instantly clearing, her eyes gleaming.
If you're talking about that, I'm not sleepy anymore.
"Alright! You're on the right track! Lead the way!"
"Wait!"
Loki's leg, which had just started to move, suddenly stopped, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"What did you just say you killed, alone!?"