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Chapter 66: The Middle Floors
Since the Loki Familia possessed enough Lv. 2 and Lv. 3 adventurers, there was no need for Aiden's group to worry about clearing the Domain Instance.
Lefiya waved goodbye to Aiden and the others, then obediently returned to Riveria's side.
Watching the retreating figures of Aiden's group, Loki suddenly leaned in close to Riveria, nudged her with an elbow, and lowered her voice. "Hey, Riveria, I really want to see the Ability Scores on that kid's back..."
Riveria frowned and said in a deep voice, "Loki, don't do anything reckless."
She was genuinely worried that her patron deity's curiosity would override her reason.
Forcibly peeking at someone else's Falna was a taboo act sufficient to forge a blood feud between any two Familias.
Aiden was not only Bete's friend but had also generously shared the intelligence and opportunity of the Domain Instance with them. If Loki truly harbored any untoward thoughts, Riveria would be the first to object.
"Oh, come on, you think too poorly of me. How could I possibly use force?"
Loki snickered, then, with a tone implying she had a brilliant idea, whispered a terrible suggestion.
"I've got a perfect plan. You just take him down directly. Once you get him in bed, won't you be able to see his back openly and honestly?"
The air instantly went silent.
On Riveria's elegant and dignified face, a clear vein slowly popped on her forehead.
In the next second, without hesitation, she clenched her fist and delivered a precise, heavy blow to Loki's head.
Bonk!
With a dull thud, the goddess, who was over a hundred million years old, collapsed on the spot. Her eyes rolled back, and a large bump rose visibly on her forehead, emitting wisps of white smoke. She fell asleep instantly—her constitution was truly something else.
Witnessing this scene, the corner of Finn's eye twitched violently. He silently turned his head, pretending to study the portal.
Bete whistled and looked at the ceiling.
Tiona and Tione exchanged a knowing look—she deserved it.
—————
Aiden and his group remained blissfully unaware of the farce unfolding behind them.
They proceeded along the dim passage and soon arrived before a massive fault line.
This was "The First Line," the boundary point between the Upper Floors and the Middle Floors.
Unlike the relatively gentle slopes of the Upper Floors, before them lay a gigantic spiral staircase winding down into a bottomless abyss.
Cold wind blew constantly from below, carrying a damp, chilly aura distinct from the levels above.
"From here on, it's the Middle Floors."
Aiden stopped and spoke with a serious expression. "Stay sharp. This place and the floors above are two different worlds."
The group nodded and followed Aiden, stepping onto the stairs leading to the 13th Floor.
As they descended deeper, the surrounding light was swallowed bit by bit.
The moment they set foot on the ground of the 13th Floor, the last trace of phosphorescence from the Upper Floors vanished.
Absolute darkness and dead silence enveloped them.
"This place..." Hyacine hugged Little Ica, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
Aiden didn't speak; he simply snapped his fingers.
A small cluster of flames ignited at his fingertips, dispelling the surrounding darkness and illuminating the scene before them.
They were standing at the entrance of a massive cavern.
Here, there were absolutely no traces of the man-made structures found on the Upper Floors.
The walls, floor, and ceiling were all composed of rough, hard, dark brown bedrock.
The air was damp and cold, carrying a thick scent of earth and the rot of some creature. Every breath made one's chest feel stifled.
Countless tunnels spread out before them like a spiderweb—dense and interwoven.
They no longer extended on a flat plane but twisted and spiraled in every direction—up, down, left, right—forming a true three-dimensional labyrinth.
Some tunnel mouths were pitch black and bottomless, like the gaping maws of giant beasts. Others flickered at the end with the ghostly green or pale blue glow of moss, filled with unknown temptation and danger.
Drip... drip...
The sound of water dripping from an unknown source was exceptionally clear in the silent cavern, striking at everyone's heart.
From the distance, the occasional grating scratch-scratch of sharp claws against rock or the muffled growl of some monster would echo repeatedly through the complex tunnels, making it impossible to judge the source or distance.
This was the 13th Floor, the starting point of what adventurers called the "Cave Labyrinth."
Compared to the Upper Floors, the oppressive atmosphere here had increased by more than a single notch.
The feeling of being watched from everywhere, the tension that a monster could burst out from above, below, or any shadowy corner at any moment, kept one's nerves constantly taut.
Tifa silently adjusted her breathing, her gaze scanning every dark corner vigilantly.
Robin gently closed her eyes, using her keen perception to capture every flow of magic power in the air.
"This way." Aiden observed for a moment, then pointed to a relatively wide tunnel on the left with fresh tracks on the ground.
Those were traces left by other adventurers.
This decision was correct.
In the Middle Floors, getting lost was one of the deadliest dangers.
Following the footsteps of predecessors at least guaranteed no major deviation in direction.
They advanced cautiously, their formation naturally shifting.
Aiden took point, while Tifa walked beside Robin and Hyacine, protecting the rear.
"Awooo—"
Just then, a low wolf howl came from a pitch-black tunnel on the left.
Immediately after, several pairs of crimson eyes lit up in the darkness.
Four or five Hellhounds—monsters comparable in size to adult giant wolves, covered in jet-black fur, with magma-like saliva dripping from their mouths—rushed out of the tunnel.
The moment they appeared, they opened their massive maws without hesitation. Several scorching fireballs trailing black smoke whistled toward the group.
"From the depths of my heart lake, ripples of the past arise—"
Aiden's chant was lightning fast.
He didn't use [Everlasting Flames], which consumed a massive amount of weapon durability. Enchantment magic was one of his last resorts.
"—Silentium Eden."
[Silentium Eden] activated.
A layer of invisible magic barrier instantly enveloped him as he took a step forward, shielding everyone behind him.
The fireballs, hot enough to melt rock, slammed into the barrier without making a sound. They vanished silently like mud sinking into the sea; not even a trace of heat penetrated through.
Almost simultaneously, the rocks on the ceiling and walls on both sides suddenly writhed. Seven or eight Almiraj—snow-white rabbits with sharp horns on their heads and blood-red eyes—emerged from the rock walls.
As soon as they appeared, they grabbed crude stone axes and hurled them forcefully down at Tifa and the others.
Almiraj.
Although these monsters looked cute, their axe-throwing motions were merciless, each strike aimed at Robin and Hyacine in the back row.
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