Adventure That Began Anew

Beneath the Tower of Babel, before the entrance to the Dungeon.

Many adventurers who planned to explore the Dungeon had gathered here. Some were waiting for their teammates to arrive, while others were recruiting supporters.

The various needs of the adventurers made the place especially lively.

But at a certain moment, the noisy and bustling plaza suddenly fell silent. Many adventurers stopped talking and stared blankly ahead.

There, the famous Loki Familia was setting out in full force.

"Look, it's the Loki Familia! Brave, Heavy Master, the Nine-Headed Demon Princess—even the Sword Princess is here."

"Not only that. It looks like all the high-level adventurers in the Loki Familia have arrived."

"Could they be going on an expedition? But I don't see any supplies prepared for one."

Amid the discussions of the surrounding crowd, the Loki Familia's formation approached them head-on and walked straight toward the passage leading into the Dungeon.

When they saw the Loki Familia's formation, many adventurers moved aside in unison.

Although the Loki Familia had not told them to make way, they simply did not dare stand in front of them.

That was the deterrent power of one of Orario's strongest familias.

"They're quite impressive. The adventurers from other familias look at us like mice seeing a cat."

Shirou Emiya, who was venturing deep into the Dungeon with the main force for the first time, could not help sighing. He had never experienced a scene like this before.

"This is the right Orario grants us, but it is also our duty."

"Whenever something dangerous happens, we will be the Guild's first choice. We will stand at the forefront of danger and face Orario's enemies."

After Finn, who was walking on one side, heard Shirou Emiya's sigh, he quietly moved to his side and explained it to him.

Finn was undoubtedly extremely satisfied with Shirou Emiya.

In his heart, Shirou Emiya was the best candidate to inherit the position of familia captain in the future.

Therefore, whenever he had the chance, he would guide him through subtle influence.

After hearing Finn's explanation, Shirou Emiya nodded thoughtfully.

Others might not know, but he did. In the future, the Dark Faction would appear once more, and the Loki Familia would fight them again.

All of that was unavoidable.

Seeing that Shirou Emiya had gained something from his words, Finn said no more and quietly returned to his place.

After all, teaching was something that had to be done little by little. Besides, it was not yet time for him to retire.

After entering the Dungeon, the Loki Familia's formation continued forward like a hot knife through butter.

Before these high-level adventurers, the upper floors were no different from the surface. The group seemed to be taking a leisurely outing.

Even after reaching the Middle Floors, the Loki Familia's pace showed no sign of slowing.

Although some adventurers in the Loki Familia struggled in the Middle Floors, Finn had arranged for them to stay beside the powerful adventurers beforehand.

As a result, the Loki Familia soon arrived at the Dungeon's 17th Floor.

At the end of the passage connecting the 17th and 18th Floors, a huge chamber appeared before the Loki Familia.

But they did not continue forward, because the protagonist here was no longer them, but the youth in the center of the formation.

Stepping out from the group, Shirou Emiya strolled through the passage, now devoid of monsters, and entered the chamber belonging to the Floor Master, Goliath, waiting for its revival.

Gazing at the Great Wall of Sighs on one side of the chamber, Shirou Emiya's eyes were filled with fighting spirit.

Last time, he sincerely did not want to encounter the Floor Master. This time, however, he had come looking for it himself.

He had only one month.

Yet in that single month, he had grown tremendously.

And now was the moment to display that growth.

"It's coming!"

As soon as Shirou Emiya finished speaking, the Great Wall of Sighs opposite him began to tremble violently. Then, a huge figure tore itself free from the wall and appeared before Shirou Emiya.

"Roar!"

The enormous monster threw back its head and bellowed the moment it appeared.

Unlike the other monsters, this was a true monster.

Its enormous body was visibly dozens of meters tall, and every inch of its sturdy frame was filled with power.

This was Goliath, the Floor Master of the Dungeon's 17th Floor.

"Projection, begin."

As his magic power circulated, the two Divine Weapons, Gan Jiang Mo Ye, appeared in Shirou Emiya's hands.

Clutching the swords, Shirou Emiya walked toward the monster before him.

"According to the information within the familia, the Floor Master Goliath is rated at LV.4. But if we only consider endurance, Goliath can even reach the level of LV.5."

"I wonder if my attacks can inflict lethal damage on it."

With a thought, the two short swords in Shirou Emiya's hands began to extend continuously, eventually transforming into two greatswords.

At that moment, Shirou Emiya finally unleashed his full speed and charged forward.

"Roar!"

Seeing the creature charging toward it like an insect, the enraged Goliath clenched its iron fist and smashed it toward Shirou Emiya.

Carrying tremendous force, the heavy iron fist slammed into the ground, instantly crushing it into a deep depression.

Its terrifying strength was obvious from this alone.

But the punch did not touch Shirou Emiya. With the aid of Mind's Eye, Shirou Emiya's perception had been greatly enhanced.

Before his opponent even attacked, Shirou Emiya had already "read" its movements.

He then dodged it perfectly.

Leaping into the air, Shirou Emiya stretched his body freely in midair before landing firmly on Goliath's arm.

He then raced up Goliath's arm, heading straight for its head.

But Goliath reacted quickly. Before Shirou Emiya could reach its head, its other hand had already swung over, sweeping along its own arm toward him.

With no choice, seeing that he could not continue forward, Shirou Emiya struck down fiercely at the arm beneath his feet before leaping into the air once more.

As Shirou Emiya fell headfirst toward the ground, he projected his Black Longbow in midair.

"Projection, begin!"

"Fake Sword!"

The strange sword, born for piercing and without a blade, transformed into an arrow once more and was nocked on the longbow.

"Illusionary Collapse!"

Accompanied by the faint twang of the bowstring, the arrow carrying immense magical power shot toward Goliath.

BOOM!

A violent explosion rang out through the chamber, and endless flames danced through the air.

Falling from above, Shirou Emiya landed steadily on the ground and gazed at the monster surrounded by smoke.

There was not the slightest trace of relaxation on his face.

He knew very well that the previous attack could not defeat this enemy.

What he wanted to know now was the extent of Goliath's injuries. Only then could he plan the battle that followed.

"Roar!"

Another deafening roar echoed through the entire chamber. As Goliath swung its arm, the lingering smoke instantly dispersed.

When he saw the figure that had reappeared, Shirou Emiya's pupils contracted sharply.

Although the opponent was blackened all over, with even some areas pitted and battered, Shirou Emiya could tell that its combat ability had barely been affected.

"What monstrous endurance! Is this the strength of a high-level adventurer?"

His magic power circulated even faster, and more than a dozen sword armaments appeared around Shirou Emiya.

"Don't let your guard down, Goliath. The battle has only just begun!"

A delighted smile appeared at the corners of Shirou Emiya's mouth. This was the kind of battle that made one's blood boil.