The 24th Floor.
A massive hive spat out viscous fluid as a swarm of giant wasp-like monsters crawled out from within. These were "Blood Nests," rare 7-meter-long trap monsters that lived alongside deadly wasps. The nest itself acted as a living golden pinecone, infinitely spawning Death Wasps from the dungeon walls.
Roland wove through the swarm, dodging venomous stingers while his blade flashed, leaving a trail of monster remains. As he broke through, he saw Ais moving gracefully through the crowd, her rapier parrying stingers with ease before piercing vital points.
"Ais, try that move I taught you!" Roland shouted.
"Awaken!" Ais chanted. A burst of wind blew back the attackers. She pressed her hand against Desperate (her sword), and emerald gales wrapped around the blade.
"Hah!" With a sharp cry, she swung upward. A crescent of emerald wind sliced across ten meters, tearing the massive Blood Nest in half.
After three days of training, Ais could finally use the wind generated by [Ariel] to fire long-range wind blades. Without the nest spawning more wasps, the remaining monsters were easily dealt with.
Roland walked over, congratulating her. "Well done, Ais. The power of your wind blade is increasing. Next, try to fire two at once with the same power. Keep practicing, and your 'Wind' will grow even stronger."
Sensing her own growth, Ais gave a rare, slight smile. "Thank you, Roland. I will work harder to kill those monsters."
"Don't push yourself too hard," Roland teased, patting her head. "Or Riveria will come after me. Remember to balance work and rest, okay?"
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Danmachi : Mage's Infinite Journey (168 Chapters – Ongoing)
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Since the incident with the Black Wyvern and her talk with Riveria, Ais was no longer the "Doll Princess" who only thought of hunting. She was starting to show her childish side, and spending time with Roland's carefree personality was clearly rubbing off on her.
Ais puffed out her cheeks. "Roland, you're becoming as naggy as Riveria."
Roland poked her cheek. "Hey, are you tired of adventuring with me already? I'm heartbroken."
Ais grabbed his finger and made a mock-serious face. "That's right. Roland is too weak. I'm going to abandon you and adventure with... Gareth instead."
She swung his hand back and forth as they moved through the 24th floor. Suddenly, a heavy breathing sound echoed. Roland pulled Ais behind a massive tree. Peeking out, he saw a green dragon, similar in size to a baby dragon but with horns and powerful wings, standing guard.
The Green Dragon—the strongest monster on the 24th floor, guarding the Treasure Tree, Roland thought.
Ais looked at him, whispering, "Should we go? It'll be over quickly."
Ais had the skills to destroy dragons, but Roland drew his sword and asked if he could take this one. Ais nodded obediently. "If it gets dangerous, I'll help you immediately."
"Stay here, I'll be done soon." He patted her head and stepped out.
The Green Dragon roared as it spotted the intruder. Its wings, though small compared to its body, beat with incredible power, lifting it into the air. A Green Dragon was considered to have the potential of a Level 4 adventurer. Between its hard scales, sharp teeth, and flight, it was a nightmare for most.
The dragon lunged. Roland dodged the massive maw and swung his sword, but the dragon's reflexes were far superior to the baby dragons of the upper floors. It flapped its wings to dodge and countered with a tail sweep.
Roland leapt onto a tree branch, using the tension of the wood to catapult himself forward like an arrow.
Bang!
In mid-air, Roland's sword traced a sharp arc, striking the most fragile part of the dragon's wing. The dragon shrieked and crashed to the ground. However, it quickly regained its footing, its eyes burning with rage.
Roland sprinted across the uneven terrain, dodging a bite and piercing the dragon's cheek. He moved fluidly, sliding his blade between the scales to open a deep wound. Like a gymnast, he flipped onto the dragon's back, driving his sword in to anchor himself.
Ignoring the beast's thrashing, he ran up its spine. With a flash of white light, he plunged his sword into its skull and twisted. With a wet shluck sound, the dragon's head was nearly severed. As it jerked in its final death throes, it snapped its own neck. The massive body slumped to the ground with a heavy thud.