As a powerful, combat-oriented deity, it was perfectly normal for Artemis to carry a weapon.
She harbored no killing intent, her movements gentle and precise. With a single flash of the blade, a small section of the lustrous, glowing "Unicorn's Horn" was effortlessly severed.
"Aiden, come with me. We are returning this child to its herd," Artemis said, first handing the precious piece of horn to the swiftly approaching Airmid before turning to Aiden.
Aiden didn't hesitate. He quickly tracked down a passing traveling merchant nearby and paid a premium price for a sturdy horse.
Beneath the setting sun of the grassy plains, Artemis leapt gracefully onto the back of the unicorn, sitting proudly as if she were a queen inspecting her domain. Aiden followed closely behind on his horse. Together, their silhouettes stretched long in the twilight before finally vanishing into the horizon.
Clutching the still-warm piece of unicorn horn, Hyacine, Airmid, and the others began their journey back to Orario.
33rd Floor of the Dungeon.
This was the absolute limit of the Lower Levels—a vast, expansive desert ruled by dead silence and blistering heat.
There were no winding labyrinthine tunnels here. Only an endless sea of golden sand, rolling dunes, and the occasional twisted, monster-like cactus dotting the landscape. Above them, a massive red crystal hung from the ceiling like a cursed sun, radiating eternal, scorching light and waves of oppressive heat.
Here, the loose quicksand would rapidly drain an adventurer's stamina. Monsters lurking beneath the dunes would erupt from the earth without warning, and magic-driven mirages would warp all sense of direction, leading even veteran explorers astray until their lives withered away.
This was the domain of Level 4 adventurers.
Yet at this moment, the tranquility of this sea of death was violently shattered.
Having leveled up to Level 2, Firefly was no longer the frail girl who constantly needed protection.
"—Transform."
Following the low chant, the emerald transformation device in her hand flared to life. Crimson flames erupted from beneath her feet, entirely swallowing her form. When the fire dispersed, hovering mid-air was a mechanical warrior clad in silver-white armor standing over two meters tall—SAM.
"Target confirmed."
SAM's glowing teal visor locked onto the massive creature slithering at breakneck speeds through the sands below.
Thanks to Jeanne's [True Name Discernment], the monster's identity had long since been confirmed: A Consecrated Flying Serpent. Latent Abilities estimated at Level 4, capable of manipulating fierce winds. It was an entirely new, unprecedented monster species in the Dungeon.
SAM adjusted her posture in mid-air, executing a textbook Rider Kick. Crimson flames violently ignited around her crossed legs before instantly engulfing her entire body. She transformed into a blazing meteor trailing a long fiery tail, plummeting toward the massive green serpent with apocalyptic momentum.
Sensing the fatal threat bearing down from above, the Consecrated Flying Serpent let out a piercing screech. Its colossal body coiled tightly, and its massive tail—harder than tempered steel—whipped upwards, generating a localized vacuum. Cyan air currents spiraled around the tail, forming a visible, rapidly compressing tornado that violently lashed out at the falling fireball.
Before the physical strike even landed, the shockwave and oppressive pressure arrived. The terrifying heat generated by SAM's descent warped the surrounding air, the atmosphere shrieking under the extreme pressure.
In the very next instant, the flame-wreathed Rider Kick and the wind-enveloped serpent tail collided explosively in the dead center of the desert.
At the point of impact, blinding light and blistering heat erupted from an infinitesimal singularity. Then came the ear-shattering roar that threatened to tear the world apart.
A devastating shockwave rippled out in concentric circles, ravaging everything in its path. The golden sea of sand was forcibly launched dozens of meters into the air like a tidal wave, only to be shredded into a torrential curtain of dust by the violent gales. Crimson flames and cyan wind blades frenziedly clashed and annihilated one another. The extreme heat instantly scorched and melted countless grains of sand, which rapidly cooled into shimmering glass crystals, creating a localized storm of destructive glass shrapnel.
At the epicenter of the collision, a massive crater rapidly formed, the surrounding dunes utterly flattened.
Even as the residual shockwaves from the impact continued to ripple outward, the tempest of sand and fire raged unabated across the desert.
"When the duty is faithfully fulfilled, the scales will achieve balance. The fortress of order, the crown of integrity, the light that shatters evil. In the name of the Goddess, like a shooting star streaking across the sky, leaving a trail of stardust upon the earth—Justice flows endlessly!"
"[Astrea Record]."
A cold, resolute voice pierced through the howling winds and explosive booms.
It was Ryuu.
Following her chant, a divine radiance flared across her body. In the next instant, crimson flames ignited from her limbs, enveloping her like the most devout of sacrifices.
Yes, this was none other than Alise's magic—[Agaris Alves].
A considerable amount of time had passed since Goddess Astrea's return. When Ryuu, the former "Gale", updated her status, her bottomless potential had finally, explosively surfaced. Not only had she broken through her bottleneck and advanced to Level 5, but the massive reservoir of accumulated excelia pushed her stats significantly further into her new level. Reaching Level 6 was no longer a distant pipe dream.
More importantly, through her reminiscence of the past and her prayers for the future, she had awakened an entirely new magic.
This particular outing was a small-scale joint expedition between the Focalors Familia and the Astrea Familia. Daphne and Cassandra remained behind to guard the base, while Alise and Ryuu joined the Vanguard.
They had crushed everything in their path, advancing straight to the final zone of the Lower Levels—the 33rd floor.
───
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