The Hydra's massive body stiffened violently, the light of life rapidly fading from its vicious eyes.
With a weak, dying wail, it sank limply into the rushing currents. Its death throes triggered yet another startling miniature tsunami.
Meanwhile, Aiden rode the crest of that towering wave like a world-class surfer. Treading on the surging tide with effortless grace, he eventually landed firmly on the opposite shore, right in front of the group.
The entire sequence—from the ambush, to the counter-kill, to his stylish return—was executed flawlessly, brimming with the aesthetics of violence and an undeniable cool factor.
"Honestly, do you never read the room? You just can't help showing off," Robin scolded, rolling her eyes playfully at his casual demeanor.
Though her words carried a hint of reprimand, the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her true feelings.
Aiden laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek.
He had to admit, that final "wave-riding" stunt definitely had a bit of showing off mixed in.
After all, being in the presence of so many cute girls, the subconscious urge to show off was practically written into a man's DNA.
"It was very handsome, that last move."
Even the traditionally poised Goddess Astrea looked at Aiden with an amused smile, not stingy with her praise.
"I-It was alright, I guess."
The corner of Aiden's eye twitched.
Looking cool was one thing, but being called out for doing it on purpose was a little embarrassing.
"Ahem, let's look at the loot first."
He quickly changed the subject, sliding the heavy backpack off his shoulders.
At the mention of loot, everyone's attention was instantly drawn in.
When Aiden unzipped the backpack and dumped its contents onto the ground, a small patch of dazzling brilliance instantly illuminated the dim cavern.
"Whoa... so much Dungeon Coral, and... Dungeon Pearls!" Hyacine was the first to marvel.
"Wait, hold on a second." Robin crouched down, carefully counting the radiant treasures, evaluating them with a professional eye that rivaled the Guild's appraisers. "I'd say just this batch alone could sell for three million Valis!?"
"If we find a merchant with a good reputation and haggle properly, we should be able to bump it up to three and a half million Valis," Tifa leaned in, excitedly adding her own input.
Three million... three and a half million Valis.
Hearing that number, Aiden's eyes lit up like two Magic Stones.
Was this the true value of the deep floors? Just a single casual adventure, gathering a single type of item, could net an astronomical sum of Valis that they couldn't possibly earn after a month of backbreaking labor in the upper floors.
Aiden clearly remembered from the Guild's data that an ordinary Level 1 lower-tier adventurer, exhausting themselves for a full day in the upper floors, usually earned less than ten thousand Valis.
Looking at the brilliant coral and pearls in the bag, it wasn't just Aiden—Robin, Hyacine, Tifa, and Jeanne all wore expressions of heartfelt joy.
With this massive influx of funds, the Focalors Familia's financial gap would quickly be filled.
"The quality of this Dungeon Coral is exceptionally high. If you bring it to Cecil, she should be able to forge some truly outstanding equipment with it," Astrea said, leaning in with keen interest.
"Yes, if it's Miss Cecil, she'll definitely be able to give our gear a comprehensive, massive upgrade," Robin nodded emphatically.
While Tsubaki Collbrande of the Hephaestus Familia was the most famous, she wasn't the Focalors Familia's exclusive blacksmith; it was impossible for her to custom-tailor equipment specifically for them.
But Cecil Brakelisa, the Captain of the Astrea Familia, was perfectly capable of forging exclusive gear tailored to each of their individual traits.
. . .
An expedition was a massive gamble.
In their subsequent exploration, they experienced the true complexity and treachery of the Water Capital.
Compared to the majestic cavern from before, the labyrinth sections embedded within the cliffs were like a hollowed-out high-rise building.
Intersecting staircases and steep inclines were everywhere. After descending for what felt like ages, they would immediately have to endure a grueling climb back up. It forced everyone to intimately experience the brutal reality of multi-layered, three-dimensional pathways—something they had never encountered before.
The exploration was fraught with unexpected situations.
Sometimes, their path would be completely blocked by massive geysers erupting from the ground, the boiling steam hot enough to inflict instant burns. Other times, after bypassing a dead end, they would crash headfirst into a monster nest, triggering an arduous Monster Banquet.
There was even a moment when Cassandra, paralyzed by her fear of heights, absolutely refused to cross a crystal bridge suspended over a tributary of the Great Fall, forcing the entire team to take yet another detour.
Even the highly capable Tifa had her arm securely restrained by the suckers of a giant underwater octopus during a skirmish, nearly getting dragged into the rapids...
Though the situations were constantly shifting, they remained grounded. Relying on their tacit teamwork and formidable strength, they steadily conquered the official route of the 25th Floor, step by step.
Currently, they found themselves in the northern labyrinth zone of the floor.
If they followed the water current straight south, they would eventually circle back to the massive open cavern housing the Great Fall.
Robin analyzed the map in her hands, which looked as complex as a 3D architectural blueprint. According to her, they hadn't even covered half of the official route yet.
It seemed they still had a very long way to go before reaching the corridor leading to the lower floors.
After completing their third brief rest of the day, the team discussed and decided to push forward just a little further. If they didn't make any new discoveries, they would turn back and retreat to the 24th Floor.
Thus, they resumed their exploration.
White crystals sprouting from the ground emitted a faint glow. As they walked down a particularly dim tunnel—
"Are those... Magic Stones?"
Aiden, leading the vanguard, suddenly stopped in his tracks, a trace of vigilance in his voice.
Following his gaze, the group saw a large quantity of faintly glowing Magic Stones scattered across the ground a short distance ahead. A rough count put them at several dozen at least.
Seeing this sight, everyone's hearts tightened as they immediately raised their guard.
Dropped Magic Stones in the Dungeon only meant one thing—a considerable battle had just taken place here.
Aiden stepped forward, crouching down to pick up one of the stones. It felt cold to the touch.
Robin, however, ignored the Magic Stones. Her gaze swept over the entire scene.
She walked over to a crystal wall, extending a slender finger to gently trace a deep slash mark.
----
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