Great Tree Labyrinth

As they descended deeper into the Dungeon, its area grew larger with each floor.

This was because the Dungeon's overall structure was conical.

The uppermost floors were not even as large as the central plaza of the Tower of Babel, but by the time they reached the thirties and forties, the Dungeon was already about as large as Orario.

The regions farther below were even larger than Orario.

The reason the Loki Familia had split into two groups was that the upper floors were simply too crowded. Not to mention the size of the area, some passages were only wide enough for one person to pass through.

On top of that, the supplies required for the expedition would make things extremely cramped if they did not split up.

Therefore, large familias like the Loki Familia always advanced in groups when embarking on Dungeon expeditions, then regrouped on the 18th Floor, the safe floor.

The bustling group moved through a narrow passage. This was the second party to which Shirou Emiya currently belonged.

Unlike the first party, which consisted of the Loki Familia's main force, the second party was made up entirely of Level 2 adventurers.

The Level 4 Raul, Anki, Cruz, Elvi, and Alicia were all members of the second party.

Shirou Emiya was acquainted with all of them.

After all, they were the backbone of the Loki Familia, and Shirou Emiya often interacted with them.

However, the most important person in the second party was not any of them, but a human girl named Line.

She was only Level 2, but she was one of the Loki Familia's extremely rare members who possessed Healing Magic.

A healer!

If she was not important, then who was?

After all, the amount of medicine they could bring on an expedition was limited, while a healer's healing power was limitless.

How could the two compare?

"Mr. Emiya, please take care of me."

Line greeted him somewhat shyly. As she stood beside Shirou Emiya, who had already become the object of secret admiration for many girls in the familia, Line felt an incredible amount of pressure.

Looking at the nervous Line, Shirou Emiya assumed that she was worried about the expedition's safety.

So he patted her shoulder and comforted her gently. "Don't be nervous, Line. I'll keep you safe."

Looking at Shirou Emiya as he comforted her, Line felt somewhat depressed.

Although she was only Level 2, she had already accompanied the Loki Familia on countless expeditions because of her Healing Magic.

Mr. Emiya, you're the newcomer here!

I'm your senior, yet I'm being comforted by a newcomer?

Is this some kind of academic collapse?

Looking at Shirou Emiya's gentle expression, Line opened and closed her mouth, unsure of what to say.

In the end, she could only nod helplessly and answer softly, "Mm!"

Seeing this, Anki, Raul, and the others, who had been eavesdropping from the side, could not help but snicker.

The Dungeon's Thirteenth Floor.

Once again following the main force toward the middle floors, Shirou Emiya experienced the power of a group.

The middle floors, which were normally filled with danger, now felt as easy as an outing.

The party, with every member at Level 2 or above, bulldozed through every monster along the way, crushing all their enemies with overwhelming force.

Walking in the middle of the party as a rear guard, Shirou Emiya had nothing to do after firing a few ordinary arrows.

After all, the party's vanguard and middle guards were far too strong.

Nearly all of them were Level 4s and Level 3s, and facing Level 2 enemies was effortless for them.

"I see. So this is how team battles are fought? It feels completely different from fighting as a small party."

Every link was handled by someone. Everyone's actions complemented one another, and that was why the group could deal with these monsters so easily.

Before long, the second group, led by Gareth, reached the 18th Floor and reunited with the first group.

Looking at the light emitted by the Sky Crystal, Shirou Emiya could not help sighing. "The Dungeon really is amazing!"

It was clearly only a Dungeon, yet here on the 18th Floor, the crystals on the ceiling took the place of the sun.

Moreover, these crystals would turn black at night, making this place seem like a genuine world.

"Haha, that's nothing, kid. The Dungeon has plenty more wonders in store!"

Hearing Shirou Emiya's exclamation, Gareth patted him on the shoulder and said with a laugh.

Shirou Emiya's face reddened at that.

He was the only newcomer on this expedition, which meant that everyone here had more experience than he did.

Why do I sound like some bumpkin who just came in from the countryside?

Shirou Emiya stopped talking and quickly surveyed the 18th Floor. The last time he had come here alone, he had not had time to examine it carefully.

Now that he had the chance, he naturally had to observe it properly.

His first impression of the 18th Floor was that it was covered in lush forests and all kinds of crystals.

As expected of a fantasy-filled otherworld.

After a brief rest and preparations, the Loki Familia, clad in Fire-Spirit Woven Cloth, was ready to move.

According to the Loki Familia's plan, their goal for the first day was to reach the 24th Floor, rest at the entrance to the passage leading to the 25th Floor, and continue onward the next day.

After that, they would continue advancing at a pace of five or six floors per day until they reached the safe floor on the 50th Floor.

"Loki Familia, move out!"

After regrouping and reorganizing, Shirou Emiya, serving as a rear guard, moved to the middle of the formation and joined the mages in launching magical attacks from the rear.

After all, Shirou Emiya's Illusionary Collapse was also extremely powerful as a magical attack.

Although Illusionary Collapse could not inflict fatal damage against the durability of a Level 5, monsters below Level 5 were easy prey for him.

In addition to serving as a rear guard, he could also act as a middle guard and protect the mages beside him.

After all, his combat skills were formidable as well.

As the party advanced, the Loki Familia soon reached the 19th Floor. Here, whether it was the ceiling, the surrounding walls, or the ground, everything was made of tree bark.

According to the Guild's records, the 19th through 24th Floors were known as the Great Tree Labyrinth.

Various plants grew along the passage leading deeper inside. Lush moss emitted pale blue or green light, making everything here seem especially mysterious.

Only now could Shirou Emiya truly feel the splendor and wonder of this Dungeon.

All kinds of grasses and plants grew here, turning the Great Tree Labyrinth into a natural treasure trove.

Many of the materials used to make Elixirs on the market came from here.

At the same time, the monsters here were extremely troublesome.

There were firebirds that breathed flames, as well as the mimic-type trap monster Bloody Beehive and the Deadly Wasps.

There were also troublesome monsters such as the Dark Poison Mushroom and the Green Tree Dragon.

The one that especially required caution was the Poisonous Demon Maggot. Individually, this monster posed no threat at all, but once they gathered in large numbers, they became extremely troublesome.

Therefore, almost all adventurers who came here had to be cautious—extremely cautious—to guard against attacks from all kinds of monsters.

But those were merely ordinary adventurers. They were the Loki Familia on an expedition!

"Bete, Tiona, leave these monsters to you vanguards!"

"Hmph, I've been waiting for this!"

After his usual trash talk, Bete charged forward, and Tiona, who usually did not get along with him, followed close behind.

The battle began just like that.