Aiden instantly thought of his special skill—[Abyss Gazed Back].
This skill induced the Dungeon to absorb his memories, thereby birthing monsters that shouldn't exist in this world.
If the Ley Line Blossom had also been influenced by this skill, and rather than merely recreating the Dungeon's own memories, it had begun extracting material from his "otherworldly soul's" memories to birth a "phantom"... then it made perfect sense.
Then... solid ice, dancing, a blue-haired woman...
Countless figures flashed through Aiden's mind.
His mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Dungeon, you really are a little genius, aren't you?!
Although he was about seventy to eighty percent sure of his guess, Aiden didn't jump to absolute conclusions.
After all, what if it was some other blue-haired, ice-element older sister type that fit the description?
But one thing was certain: on this expedition, they would most likely encounter a Ley Line Blossom and face a fierce battle against a powerful phantom of unknown strength born from it.
The description "sealing off the floor in ice" was no joke.
Thinking of this, Aiden looked up and interrupted the group's discussion.
"Alright, let's stop crowding around Cassandra."
He clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Whether the dream is real or fake, it never hurts to be extra prepared. Since the prophecy mentioned 'ice', we need to treat it seriously."
He looked at Tifa. "Tifa, before we set off, go to the Hephaestus Familia's shop and see if there's any cold-resistance gear we can buy."
Then he turned to Hyacine. "Hyacine, prepare more thawing potions, just in case."
Finally, he looked at a deeply moved Cassandra and smiled gently. "Cassandra, thank you for your prophecy. It's very important to us. Don't mind them, just focus on doing what you need to do."
Even though his companions still wore expressions that said The Captain is just being gentle and considerate, completely disregarding the prophecy itself, Aiden had already begun making practical preparations based on this vague intelligence.
Standing beside him, Jeanne silently gripped her banner tighter, her eyes reflecting a solemnity identical to Aiden's.
Only Aiden and Jeanne knew the truth.
Since the silhouette of a Ley Line Blossom appeared in Cassandra's prophetic dream, they would almost certainly come face-to-face with the crisis in her dream.
Fortunately, Cassandra's prophecies were not an unshakable iron law.
The future she glimpsed was a river that could be diverted, not a predetermined destiny.
Otherwise, that heavy despair would be enough to crush anyone.
. . .
With Astrea at the center, the Focalors Familia formed a tight formation. Starting from the first floor of the Dungeon, they pushed downward with the momentum of a thunderbolt.
The monsters along the way didn't even have time to see their faces clearly before being reduced to scattering black ash by their fierce attacks.
The party advanced with irresistible force, plunging straight to the 17th Floor.
"I wonder if the Floor Boss has respawned," Daphne lowered her voice, a barely detectable tension in her words. "It won't be that absurdly strong monster from last time again, will it?"
She cautiously peeked half her head out from behind a rock, sweeping her gaze vigilantly ahead.
The air carried the dry smell of dust mixed with sulfur, a stark contrast to the damp environment of the upper floors.
Aside from the occasional sound of dripping water in the distance, there was no other movement.
"Let's go."
After confirming their surroundings were safe, Aiden gave the order.
He also hoped the Floor Boss this time would be the standard spawn. If they encountered that unforgettable "Dead End Butcher" again, it would mean a bitter battle, and they might even be completely blocked here.
After all, this time they didn't have the powerful reinforcements of the Loki Familia conveniently passing by.
The group immediately adjusted their breathing and lightened their footsteps to the absolute minimum.
Hugging the cold rock wall and keeping their center of gravity low, they moved quickly and silently toward the entrance of the 18th Floor like a pack of cheetahs prowling in the shadows.
However, the Dungeon didn't seem to intend on letting them pass so easily.
An ear-piercing cracking sound abruptly echoed sharply in the empty tunnel. The hard rock wall ruptured without any warning.
The sudden, deafening noise made Cassandra's nerves jump violently. She shivered in fright, nearly screaming out loud.
"Run!" Robin's command rang out simultaneously, her voice calm and decisive.
The party's reaction was as fast as lightning.
Without hesitation, Tifa lunged forward and smoothly hoisted Astrea onto her back.
Although the goddess possessed considerable combat power, her stamina in a straight sprint that tested explosive power and endurance clearly couldn't be compared to that of an adventurer.
As a larger section of the wall exploded, a massive arm covered in grayish-brown, wrinkled skin thrust out violently. The swirling crushed stone shot outward like cannonballs.
Immediately after, a hideous, primal face belonging to a giant squeezed its way out of the shattered hole.
That signature, brutish appearance was none other than the standard Floor Boss of the 17th Floor—the Goliath.
"So it's just the Goliath. Made me worry for nothing."
The moment he clearly saw the enemy, Aiden's taut nerves actually relaxed, and he even chuckled lightly. "Stop running. I'm going to go hack it down."
To him, as long as the opponent wasn't that "Dead End Butcher" that left him with his hands tied, everything was under control.
He immediately stopped, grabbing the hilt of the sword at his waist with a backhand grip. Amidst a clear, ringing metallic hum, the longsword was unsheathed.
Following a short, forceful chant, scorching flames wrapped around his body like living, coiling serpents, instantly enveloping him in fire.
Tifa gently set Astrea down in a relatively safe alcove. Rolling her wrists, her knuckles popping with a series of crisp cracks, she entered a combat stance with sharp eyes.
Watching the tall, straight back of the boy embraced by flames, a flash of entrancement passed through Astrea's emerald eyes.
Those roaring flames, that resolute figure without a trace of hesitation... it made her feel as if she were looking into the past, seeing that red-haired girl who was as dazzling as the sun, similarly dancing in the flames.
"ROAR—!!!"
The Goliath let out a deafening roar. Clenching its massive arm into a fist, it smashed down toward Aiden like a falling meteorite, the sheer force tearing through the air with a shriek.
Before the fist even arrived, the intense sound waves and shockwaves reached them first, blowing everyone's clothes wildly.
Faced with a blow capable of grinding rocks into powder, Aiden didn't retreat; he advanced.
Swinging his longsword upward, the blade accurately glided up the side of the giant's massive fist.
The friction between the blade and the giant's hard skin produced a blinding shower of sparks.
Using this counter-force, his entire body spun at high speed like a top, turning into a crimson streak of light. Following an unbelievable trajectory, he clung to the Goliath's thick arm, slashing his way upward.
From the wrist to the shoulder, a spiral wound deep enough to expose bone was instantly formed.
Blood spewed from the countless fine cuts along the Goliath's right arm like a burst dam.
The intense pain caused it to let out a miserable shriek. Instinctively, its empty left hand swung viciously toward the tiny figure clinging to its body.
At the same time, the walls, floor, and even the ceiling of the entire tunnel began to tremble violently and shatter.
The Dungeon's will was fully activated. Countless monsters were birthed from the cracks.
The brutish charges of Minotaurs, the bizarre shrieks of Hilichurls, the cold glint of unsheathed Kairagi katanas, and the sulfurous breath spewed by Hellhounds... various monsters surged out like a tidal wave, completely surrounding Tifa and the others.
"With the holy banner as my witness, and my faith as the pact!"
Jeanne stepped forward, planting her holy banner heavily into the ground as she chanted a divine incantation.
A soft yet resilient golden curtain of light instantly unfurled, forming a hemispherical barrier that firmly protected Astrea, Robin, Hyacine, and Cassandra within.
At the front, Daphne's rapier and Tifa's iron fists transformed into the most efficient killing machines.
Daphne's movements were elusive; every thrust precisely pierced a monster's vital point. Tifa's martial arts were grand and sweeping; every punch and kick contained explosive power, kicking the encroaching Minotaurs until their bones shattered.
During this, Robin's sonic attacks and Hyacine's wind blades occasionally flew out from the rear, accurately clearing away any stragglers attempting to ambush them, providing perfect cover for the two fighting at the front.
----
Support this fanfict by leaving Positive Review, Comments, and Power Stones.
For Advance Chapters:
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations