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Chapter 99: Blue Papilio
Stepping out of the passageway, they were greeted by a staggeringly massive cavern. Even in the deeper floors, they had never seen a Large Room this expansive.
The first thing to catch their eyes was an enormous green quartz pillar standing in the dead center of the space. The gigantic crystal column grew straight upward like a towering tree, reaching the dark ceiling and melding into the back wall. Its bulging crystalline formations and twisted surface resembled ancient tree bark, making the entire pillar look like a gargantuan tree made of quartz.
The soft, emerald light flooding the cavern was radiating from this crystal tree.
A clear liquid constantly seeped from the crevices in the crystal, dripping down to form a large, pristine pool of spring water at the roots.
Swarms of Killer Ants and Purple Moths covered the tree trunk, eagerly licking the liquid, while several Needle Rabbits lapped at the spring water.
After a certain period, the monsters born from the Dungeon would naturally experience hunger. Though it was said that some monsters hunted adventurers for food or engaged in brutal cannibalism, the vast majority relied on this special liquid provided by the Dungeon to survive. For the monsters, this vast room was their source of nourishment and fountain of life.
The Dungeon's "Pantry" lived up to its reputation.
"There should be Blue Papilios here," Robin whispered quietly. Rather than blindly searching the massive 7th floor like looking for a needle in a haystack, her strategy was to simply camp out at this Pantry. Of course, normal adventurers would never dare approach this place, given the massive swarm of monsters gathered here.
"Let's hide for now. Even though these monsters are weak, getting swarmed would be annoying."
Besides the route they had taken, this colossal cavern was connected to over a dozen winding tunnels, with groups of monsters continuously pouring out of them. Aiden even spotted a few Hilichurls and bouncing Slimes in the mix. It was obvious that the unique monsters spawned by his skill had fully integrated into the Dungeon's natural ecosystem. While these new monsters only spawned when he entered the Dungeon, they didn't magically vanish when he left; they survived in the labyrinth alongside the native monsters until some other adventurer killed them.
Robin pulled several special camouflage cloaks from her pack and handed them out. These magic items perfectly blended in with the color and texture of the walls. The four draped the cloaks over themselves and pressed tightly against a recessed rock face. The feeding monsters remained completely oblivious to their presence.
"I had no idea it was so beautiful here," Tifa breathed softly, peering through a slit in her cloak.
The vast cavern was illuminated by a warm, gentle green glow. The light radiating from the giant crystal tree was stunningly clear and pristine. The spring water beneath it shimmered quietly, as if reflecting moonlight. Along the banks of the spring, several white flowers with blue stems bloomed. Needle Rabbits occasionally poked their heads out from the foliage, while above them, Purple Moths rested against the glowing quartz, their wings dyed a dreamy hue by the emerald light.
The sound of splashing water came from a group of Hilichurls silently wading through the spring toward the crystal tree.
"Stop sightseeing, our targets are here."
Aiden gently tapped Tifa's shoulder and gestured forward. Startled from her reverie, Tifa jumped slightly and quickly followed his intense gaze.
A small cluster of blue butterflies drifted gracefully into the Pantry. They were just as breathtaking as the cavern itself. Their bodies were even more delicate than the Purple Moths, and their four translucent wings were exquisitely vibrant. The trails of blue they painted across the air were truly a sight to behold.
Blue Papilios possessed almost no combat ability, but in exchange, the blue scales shed from their wings had the power to heal monster wounds.1
"We can't attack here. We'll wait for them to leave the Pantry and follow them," Robin whispered.
"Got it," Aiden, Hyacine, and Tifa agreed, nodding.
This was definitely not the place to start a fight. If they spooked the feeding horde, they'd be instantly surrounded. They wouldn't lose, but it would be a massive headache. Upper-floor monsters gave them zero experience, and their drops were practically worthless, so fighting a mob wasn't worth the stamina.
The four waited patiently.
A while later, having had their fill, the Blue Papilios fluttered away, lazily drifting down one of the tunnels. Aiden and the team immediately stowed their cloaks and tailed them in absolute silence.
They cut off the Blue Papilios in a secluded tunnel far from the Pantry. The moment the butterflies sensed danger, Aiden blurred into a streak of motion. Without even using magic, he relied purely on his Level 2 speed and strength to swing his "Fire Spirit" sword, tracing swift arcs of silver through the air.
With a few flashes of his blade, the beautiful butterfly monsters dissolved into black ash, leaving several intact wings and magic stones on the ground.
They quickly scooped up the loot: seven pairs of Blue Papilio wings. Aside from the amount promised to Naaza, Hyacine kept a few pairs for herself. As an exceptional healer who also brewed potions, these rare materials would be incredibly useful for her research.
With their first quest down, the real work for the day was just beginning.
The group didn't linger, pushing straight down into the deeper floors. Past the 7th floor, the Dungeon's scenery continued to shift. From the 8th to the 9th floors, the walls turned into moss-covered brown rock, the ground resembled a short meadow, and the phosphorescent ceiling glowed as bright as day.
Here, they ran into Hilichurls, Slimes, and packs of Orcs. These pig-headed monsters possessed immense strength but moved sluggishly. Aiden and Tifa tore through the Orc formations like twin daggers. Robin hung back, calmly observing the flow of battle and providing support with the sonic blasts of her Pinion's Aria. Meanwhile, Hyacine stayed on high alert, ready to use her wind-infused healing to restore her teammates at a moment's notice.
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