Chapter Summaries

The Loki Familia and the Hephaestus Familia assembled to begin an expedition to the unexplored 59th Floor, while Riezel revealed that his newly forged weapon was too dangerous to use casually. As the expedition set off, the goddess of beauty watched Riezel and anticipated his possible encounter with a brave warrior.

• Tsubaki and around twenty Hephaestus Familia smiths joined the Loki Familia's expedition party at the Tower of Babel.
• Tsubaki and Ais asked to see Riezel's weapon forged with Divine Craftsmanship, but he explained that it was dangerous and promised Hephaestus not to use it lightly.
• Finn announced that the expedition's objective was to reach the unexplored 59th Floor and ordered everyone to move out.
• The expedition members answered Finn with a battle cry, and Riezel sensed someone watching him from the Tower of Babel's highest floor.
• The goddess of beauty watched Riezel and wondered whether he would encounter a brave warrior in the Dungeon, trusting Ottar to keep him safe.

The Loki Familia’s vanguard advanced through the Dungeon’s 7th Floor while discussing the expedition and the possibility of abnormal Dungeon activity. Riezel sensed something stirring, leaving the group facing a possible abnormal situation.

• The Loki Familia divided its expedition into a vanguard led by Finn and a follow-up force led by Gareth, with Tsubaki’s smiths among the latter.
• Tiona and Bete bickered as the vanguard easily fought through swarms of Killer Ants, until Riveria and Finn told them to settle down.
• Riezel and Ais discussed whether the Dungeon’s Floor Masters had respawned, and Riveria explained that the Guild had confirmed none of the four major Floor Masters should appear.
• Finn reminded the group that Floor Master respawn intervals were estimates and that the Dungeon could produce abnormal situations, as it had when Udaios appeared early before Ais.
• Riezel stopped as a transparent gleam flashed through his eyes and sensed something stirring, asking, “Has it come?”

Riezel raced to the 9th Floor after learning that a Middle Floors monster was attacking Beginner Adventurers, then found Ottar blocking the way. After revealing that he understood the trial Ottar had arranged for Bell, Riezel challenged him and began a battle between Orario’s two strongest adventurers.

• Bete sensed injured adventurers approaching, and they told the Loki Familia that a Large Species monster from the Middle Floors was attacking people on the 9th Floor.
• Finn sent Riezel, Ais, and Bete ahead while instructing the others to follow and the adventurers to report the abnormal situation to the Guild.
• Riezel raced through the Dungeon, healed an injured Pallum girl who pleaded with him to save Lord Bell, and continued toward the monster.
• Ottar stopped Riezel on the 9th Floor and ordered him not to pass, while Riezel revealed that he knew about the trial arranged for Bell.
• Riezel and Ottar drew their weapons and prepared to settle their rivalry in battle.

Bete and Ais raced across the 9th Floor after Riezel, then encountered him battling Ottar. Riezel’s attacks failed to break through Ottar’s Absolute Defense, and the chapter ended as Riezel began casting a spell for the next stage of their fight.

• Bete and Ais followed the scent of Riezel and unusual monsters, passing an unharmed but unconscious Pallum girl on the way.
• Bete and Ais sensed the Bringer of Calamity just before Riezel and Ottar burst through the Dungeon walls and began fighting.
• Riezel attacked Ottar with Wind Breathing techniques while Ottar deflected every strike with his Absolute Defense.
• Ottar praised Riezel’s strength and fighting skill, noting that he had forced the Lv.5 adventurer to threaten him.
• Riezel called the battle a warm-up, charged toward Ottar, and began casting a spell as a golden Magic Circle spread beneath him.

Riezel unleashed powerful magic against Ottar, who endured the attacks and broke free from a blizzard. The chapter ended with Riezel casting another spell as he was driven backward by Ottar’s strike.

• Ottar recognized the threat of Riezel’s magic, but blocked Arcing Ray with his greatsword, which shattered in the collision.
• Ottar charged Riezel to interrupt his next spell, but Riezel deflected Ottar’s sword strike while completing a rapid chant.
• Riezel cast Fimbul's Winter, engulfing Ottar and freezing the maze corridor as Ais and Bete fled the blizzards.
• Ottar shattered the ice around himself and charged Riezel, knocking him backward with a sword strike.
• Riezel cast Volley Fire Javelins while flying backward, sending a rain of flames across the battlefield and shaking the 9th Floor.

Ais and Bete watched Riezel's devastating fight with Ottar, then Finn's Loki Familia arrived and prepared to help. Hedin, Hogni, and the Gulliver Brothers blocked their way, leaving the First Class Adventurers of the two Familias facing off while Riezel and Ottar continued battling in the Sea of Fire.

• Ais and Bete escaped Riezel's Flame Downpour and watched the ruins burn as Riezel continued fighting Ottar.
• Finn, Riveria, Tiona, Tione, and the others arrived, and Ais explained that she did not know why Riezel was fighting Ottar.
• Tiona tried to rush into the Sea of Fire to help Riezel, and Finn agreed to move forward with the Loki Familia.
• Hedin and Hogni appeared and barred the Loki Familia's path, warning them to stay out of the fight.
• The Gulliver Brothers joined Hedin and Hogni, and the assembled Loki and Freya Familia adventurers faced one another.

The Loki Familia and Freya Familia faced off while Riezel fought Ottar alone in the Sea of Fire. Finn judged that Riezel had not yet reached Ottar’s level, and Ottar’s roar signaled a change in their battle.

• Hedin warned Finn that fighting the Freya Familia would end the Loki Familia’s expedition, while Finn refused to watch a companion be brutalized.
• Hedin and the Pallum warriors recognized Riezel’s skill and explained that Ottar was there to train a rabbit, with Riezel and the Loki Familia merely incidental.
• Bete and Tione nearly attacked the Pallum warriors, but Riveria restrained them because the Loki Familia was still on an expedition.
• Finn assessed Ottar’s near-limit Lv.7 abilities and his Absolute Defense, concluding that Riezel was not yet ready to challenge him.
• Ottar roared in the Sea of Fire, drawing everyone’s attention as the battle shifted.

Riezel and Ottar continued their battle as Ottar’s defense and counterattacks showed why he was Orario’s strongest, while both recognized that the other still had more power in reserve. Just as the Loki and Freya Familias were about to clash, a wounded young adventurer burst into the battlefield fighting a Minotaur.

• Ottar blocked Riezel’s Flame Downpour and drove him back with relentless greatsword attacks.
• Ottar urged Riezel to use his full strength, but Riezel challenged Ottar to reveal his own magic and skill.
• Riezel attacked with Wind Breathing techniques, but Ottar defended against every strike.
• Finn ordered Ais to reach Riezel as the Loki and Freya Familias prepared to fight.
• A wall collapsed and a young, wounded adventurer entered the battlefield while fighting a Minotaur.
• The young adventurer cast Flame Volt and blasted the Minotaur.

Bell Cranel fought a weapon-wielding Minotaur while the First Class Adventurers watched, and the Freya Familia protected his trial from interference. After Bell won, the adventurer who had reached Lv.2 in just over a month drew the attention of the gods as a second Monster Rookie.

• Bell Cranel repeatedly struck the Minotaur with Incantationless Flame Thunder and fought its greatsword with his Black Short Blade, drawing the First Class Adventurers' attention.
• Ais and the Loki Familia saw Bell's desperate battle as reminiscent of Riezel's fight against the Crocodile Dragon, while Hedin, Hogni, and the Dwarf Quadruplets prevented anyone from interfering.
• Finn recognized that Hedin and the Freya Familia were measuring Bell's capacity, and Tione suspected Bell was the injured human they had brought around the city.
• Riezel and Ottar stopped their duel because Ottar chose to obey Freya's will and protect Bell's trial, and Riezel recognized Bell as the protagonist of the original story.
• Bell defeated the Minotaur, and the First Class Adventurers witnessed the emergence of a gifted Lv.2 rookie who would be called a second Monster Rookie.

On the 44th Floor, Ais, Bete, Tiona, and Tione furiously fought Blazing Demon Rocks after being inspired by the battles they had witnessed four days earlier. Finn recalled meeting Bell Cranel and watched as Bell tested his newly acquired magic, Flame Volt.

• Bete, Tiona, and Tione charged into the Blazing Demon Rock horde, while Ais slaughtered another group nearby.
• Gareth complained that Ais and the others had been fighting nonstop since the 19th Floor, leaving the rest of the expedition little chance to battle.
• Finn explained that Ais and the others had been driven to fight after witnessing Riezel battle Ottar and Bell defeat a powerful Minotaur.
• Finn recalled Hedin warning him to stay away from Bell Cranel, whom he had called someone chosen by the goddess.
• Bell Cranel tested his new magic by releasing a lightning-shaped flame and calling out, "Flame Volt!"

Riezel tested Flame Volt in the Deep Floors and found that his abilities made the rapid-fire spell devastatingly powerful and easy to channel through a weapon. He reflected on his interrupted fight with Brute and resolved to continue the expedition as planned, despite what awaited on the 59th Floor.

• Riezel learned Flame Volt quickly and blasted Blazing Demon Rocks apart with pillar-thick bolts of Flame Thunder.
• Riezel concluded that his Magic parameter, skills, and Development Abilities compensated for Flame Volt’s low base power, while its speed and sustained fire made it highly practical.
• Riezel channeled Flame Volt through Fool's Sword and considered combining it with Flame Spirit Burning Gauze, Sun Breathing, and Hermit to increase its power.
• Riezel recalled Brute challenging him to prove himself worthy of the goddess’s favor and regretted that their fight had ended before he could gain the last high-grade Experience Points he needed.
• Riezel decided he would descend below the 50th Floor with the Familia and proceed as planned toward the 59th Floor, hoping Finn and the others could endure what awaited them.

The Loki Familia and Hephaestus Familia reached the safe 50th Floor, established a camp, and distributed Magic Swords in preparation for the dangerous lower floors. After dinner, Finn announced the expedition to the unreached 59th Floor and began selecting the elite group that would go.

• The Loki Familia arrived at the 50th Floor and set up camp with the Hephaestus Familia’s smiths.
• Riezel and Lefiya distributed Magic Swords, giving most of them to rear guards and support members; Bete took several short sword types to use with Flosveltr.
• The groups gathered around the campfire for a meal while Finn kept the mood light.
• Finn announced that the expedition would begin its conquest below the 50th Floor and said most members would stay behind to guard the camp and supplies.
• Finn began calling the names of the elite members who would accompany him to the 59th Floor.

Finn organized the expedition to the 59th Floor, assigning the strongest adventurers to the main force and the remaining camp defenders to Navi and Kaus. Riezel warned Finn that the strange people and Jewel Fetus might appear in the Dragon Pot, and Finn agreed to let Riezel handle them while the expedition continued toward the 59th Floor.

• Finn selected himself, Riveria, Gareth, Riezel, Ais, Bete, Tiona, and Tione as the main combat force, with Raul, Aki, Alicia, and Lefiya as supporters and Tsubaki as weaponsmith.
• Finn entrusted the camp's defense to Navi and Kaus, then ordered the expedition party to depart for the 59th Floor the following morning.
• After the camp settled for the night, Riezel told Finn he expected to encounter the strange people who controlled the Colorful Monsters.
• Finn explained that the Dragon Pot's monsters and long-range attacks would leave the party little opportunity to investigate the strange people or the Jewel Fetus.
• Riezel proposed that Finn's group continue through the Dragon Pot while he dealt with the strange people, and Finn agreed.

Revis hunted monsters to grow stronger, refusing the White-Robed Man’s plan to ambush the Loki Familia and capture Aria during their expedition. The next morning, Finn led the fully armed expedition party into the 51st Floor, beginning their advance toward the Dragon Pot.

• Revis devoured countless magic stones but said she still could not defeat Riezel and refused to join the White-Robed Man’s ambush plan.
• The White-Robed Man learned from Erini that the Loki Familia would pass through the Dragon Pot on their way to the 59th Floor and decided to act alone.
• The following morning, Finn’s expedition party finished its meal and gathered at the passage to the 51st Floor.
• Riezel comforted the nervous Lefiya, while Ais reassured her and Gareth encouraged the less experienced adventurers.
• Finn assigned the expedition’s formation and ordered Riezel and Riveria to cast protective magic once the party reached the Dragon Pot.
• Finn commanded the party to move out, and the Loki Familia expedition entered the 51st Floor.

The Loki Familia expedition fought through the Worm Monsters on the 51st Floor using Tsubaki’s indestructible weapons and the coordinated magic of Riezel and Ais. With Riezel and Riveria’s speed-enhancing magic, the party rushed through the entrance to the 52nd Floor.

• Finn ordered Bete, Tiona, and Tione to attack the Worm Monsters while Raul supplied them with Tsubaki-forged indestructible weapons.
• Tiona, Tione, and Bete cut through the Worm Monsters without their weapons being damaged by the corrosive liquid.
• Riezel and Ais synchronized their wind magic and sword technique to block the monsters’ corrosive lances and shred the rear ranks.
• The expedition continued along the route, with Bete spotting the entrance to the 52nd Floor.
• Riezel and Riveria cast speed-enhancing magic, and the party rushed through the entrance onto the 52nd Floor.

Riezel and the Loki Familia raced through the monsterless 52nd Floor as Cannon Dragon bombardments tore open the ground and Evil Wyverns emerged from below. As Riveria and Riezel prepared their magic, a figure appeared ahead, and Riezel told Finn he would stay behind as planned.

• Riezel cast Ramul, boosting the party’s Agility, while Riveria cast Veil of Breath as they entered the 52nd Floor.
• Finn ordered everyone to run toward the 58th Floor, and Riezel and Ais heard the roar of a Monster King before Cannon Dragon blasts erupted through the floor.
• More bombardments opened fiery holes in the ground, and Evil Wyverns flew up to attack the fleeing party.
• Finn ordered Gareth and Ais to hold off the wyverns while the rest advanced, then directed Riezel and Riveria to chant their magic.
• Gareth and Ais intercepted the wyverns, but Riezel stopped chanting, saw a figure ahead, and told Finn he would stay there according to the original plan.

The Loki Familia was trapped between a flood of corrosive liquid and Cannon Dragon attacks until Riezel froze and shattered the flood, then wounded the White-Robed Man. Riveria cleared a path with her magic, and the expedition pressed onward, leaving Riezel facing the furious, injured enemy.

• The White-Robed Man appeared on the 52nd Floor, called Ais “Aria,” and unleashed an army of Worm Monsters that sent a torrent of Corrosive Liquid toward the Loki Familia.
• Finn refused to retreat because Cannon Dragons were attacking from behind, and Gareth was scorched by one of their blasts.
• Riezel cast Fimbulwinter to freeze the corrosive torrent, then used Flame Volt to shatter the ice and open a path.
• Riezel struck the White-Robed Man across the throat and evaded the Worm Monsters’ Corrosive Liquid attacks.
• Riveria unleashed High-Level: Sword of Victory, destroying the flying dragons and scattering the Worm Monsters so the expedition could advance.
• Riezel remained behind to confront the wounded White-Robed Man, calling him underwhelming as the rest of the party continued onward.

Finn ordered Riezel to stay behind and hold off the Monstrous Humans while the Loki Familia pressed on toward the 59th Floor, where another enemy might be waiting. Left alone on the 52nd Floor, Riezel fought the White-Robed Man and a growing army of Colorful Monsters, welcoming the battle as a chance to gain more high-grade Experience Points.

• Ais tried to turn back for Riezel, but Finn stopped her and explained that their plan required Riezel to hold off the Monstrous Humans while the raid party advanced.
• Finn warned that the other Monstrous Human might be waiting on the 59th Floor and urged the group to keep its strength together; Ais and the others reluctantly continued toward the 53rd Floor.
• Gareth, Riveria, Tiona, Tione, Tsubaki, and Bete reassured the party that Riezel could survive, and Finn ordered everyone to advance at full speed.
• Riezel fought alone through the Worm Monsters, evading their corrosive liquid as he slaughtered them.
• The White-Robed Man summoned Giant Worms, Man-eating Flowers, and a Giant Flower to form a new army, and Riezel welcomed the larger fight.

Riezel fought off the White-Robed Man’s monsters and survived the Cannon Dragon’s blast before overwhelming the White-Robed Man in close combat. He then revealed that he knew the man’s connection to the Filthy Fairy, leaving the Monstrous Human stunned.

• The White-Robed Man used the Giant Flower to produce more Man-eating Flowers while the monsters attacked Riezel, who blasted through them with Flame Volt.
• The Cannon Dragon struck Riezel with a fiery snipe, but Riezel emerged unharmed and attacked the White-Robed Man.
• The White-Robed Man blocked Riezel’s strikes with Crimson Gauntlets, but Riezel wounded him with Wind Breathing techniques before the Giant Flower’s charge knocked them apart.
• The White-Robed Man accused Riezel of interfering with the woman he pursued, and Riezel called him the Filthy Fairy’s dog, causing him to freeze.

Riezel explained how the Filthy Fairy created the Monstrous Humans and Colorful Monsters, and revealed that Erini and the Dark Faction had allied with them to destroy Orario. He also exposed Aria as Ais’s fairy-blooded mother and identified the White-Robed Man as Olivas, whose helmet broke away to reveal his face.

• Riezel explained that the Filthy Fairy had been a fairy devoured by Dungeon monsters in ancient times, then driven mad and ruled by destructive desires.
• Riezel said the Filthy Fairy created Colorful Magic Stones, Monstrous Humans, Colorful Monsters, and Jewel Fetuses as part of a plan to destroy Orario and the Tower of Babel.
• Riezel revealed that Erini and the remnants of the Dark Faction had allied with the Monstrous Humans, while seeking a fairy for the Filthy Fairy to devour.
• Riezel identified Aria as a fairy and Ais’s mother, explaining that Ais’s extraordinary Wind came from Aria’s Great Fairy power.
• Riezel named the White-Robed Man as Olivas, a former Dark Faction member who died in the Dungeon and was remade as a Monstrous Human.
• Olivas broke free of his frozen state, staggered back in horror, and lost his cracked white bone helmet, revealing his white-haired face.