A Bad Omen
Anyone could easily tell at a glance that the two teams Finn sent out were not evenly matched in strength.
The first group has two Lv.6 members, while the second group has no Lv.6 members at all, only three Lv.5 members. No matter how you look at it, the members of the first group are stronger.
This doesn't make sense.
Logically speaking, even if a Lv.6 needs to be assigned to the camp, the most appropriate consideration would be to include one Lv.6 in each of the two dispatched teams, so that the combat strength of the two teams can be balanced.
However, the task of carrying out this adventurer's request is not about logic and combat balance, but about whether the objective can be achieved.
To complete the adventurer's quest, you need to obtain the water from Cadmus Spring. To obtain the water, you must consider facing the Strong Dragon Cadmus. Therefore, when forming a party, the first thing to consider is how to defeat the Strong Dragon and take the water from the spring it guards.
However, to defeat Strong Dragon whose strength even surpasses that of Udaeus, the lord of the 37th Floor, relying solely on a Lv.6 fighter would be far too risky.
Udaeus itself is classified as Lv.6. Even if Cadmus is stronger than it, it would be best to send multiple Lv.6 units to conquer it in order to ensure that the final outcome is safe and sound.
Therefore, Finn was right to pair himself with Gareth in the same team.
However, this does make the combat strength of the second group somewhat worrying.
The Strong Dragon can only be safely defeated by deploying multiple Lv.6s, but the second group has to rely on three Lv.5s to defeat it, which is far too risky.
Even with Ais in the team, there is still a considerable risk in trying to defeat the Strong Dragon using only magic without unlocking her own skills.
Besides the unreliable combat strength, the lineup itself is also a cause for concern.
Look at the talented people in this team!
Ais, a berserker who only knows how to hack and slash, and a complete airhead.
Tiona, an innocent and carefree little angel who never thinks about anything, transforms into an unparalleled berserker once she gets into battle.
Tione, seemingly calm and collected, is actually more ferocious than the two mentioned above. Once enraged, he will immediately lose control.
Is it really okay for these three people to form a team?
Of course there's a problem!
So----
Leo.
Finn looked at the silent boy sitting next to Ais.
"I'm counting on you for the second group."
These words immediately moved everyone present.
"What? You want to add Leo to our team?"
Tiona's eyes lit up, and she became visibly excited.
"----Why did you ask him for a favor?"
Tione, however, became sullen, seemingly dissatisfied with her beloved's distrust of her and her trust in others instead.
Ais also turned to look at Leo, her eyes slightly brightening.
Finn's voice rang out once again.
"I've added Leo to your team; his firepower should be enough to make up for the gap in combat strength between you and the first group."
Leo's normal firepower is already at level Lv.5, and if he goes all out, he can further increase his firepower, unleashing power comparable to or even exceeding level Lv.6.
With this power combined with three battle-hardened first-class adventurers, they should have no trouble dealing with the Strong Dragon Cadmus.
Meanwhile, Leo will also be the decision-maker of the second group. With him around, at least Ais will follow instructions and won't act recklessly. As long as Tione doesn't lose control, she won't disobey the instructions of the decision-maker chosen by Finn. As for Tiona, she is already full of curiosity and expectations for Leo. Given her attitude towards Leo, she probably won't ignore Leo words.
"Is there a problem, Leo?"
Finn asked a question, drawing everyone's attention to Leo.
No one seemed to have any objections to Finn's decision; even Bete Loga just pursed his lips and said nothing.
Leo has proven his abilities, and there is absolutely no problem in including him in the ranks of first-class adventurers.
If he can unleash the firepower of Lv.6, and with Ais's abilities being no less than Lv.6 after activating magic, then the second group will essentially have two Lv.6 combatants.
In this way, dealing with the Strong Dragon will be foolproof.
To this, Leo calmly responded, meeting everyone's gaze.
"I'm fine."
Perfect timing! I can take this opportunity to personally see the things that will cause the entire clan a lot of headaches in the future.
In case anything goes wrong, I can offer some advice based on the situation, so that my clan doesn't suffer too much loss when facing that thing.
Thinking of this, Leo looked at Riveria, wondering if he should give her some advice.
But then I wouldn't be able to explain why I knew that information.
This is a real headache!
"That's good." Finn smiled slightly upon seeing Leo's response and continued, "As for the supporters for the second group, let Lefiya Viridis take on that role."
"Huh?" Lefiya Viridis, who had been lost in thought about Leo and Ais being paired together, was startled when she was suddenly called upon. She stammered, "Me? Me?"
"That's right." Finn looked directly at Lefiya Viridis and said, "Your magical abilities are not much worse Leo's, and you even far surpass him in the number of spells you can cast. You're perfectly qualified to be a support member in the second group."
"This is a good opportunity. You'll eventually inherit Riveria's position, so go and broaden your horizons with Ais and the others."
Upon hearing this, Lefiya Viridis panicked a little, but seeing Leo looking at her, she gritted her teeth and agreed.
"I understand! I will try my best!"
Although Lefiya Viridis felt she was not qualified to take over Riveria's job at all, and was extremely nervous at the thought of going with Ais and the others to the 51st Floor to fight the Strong Dragon Cadmus, when she thought of Leo's performance along the way, and the scene of him single-handedly killing the floor master Goliath, a courage that refused to admit defeat suddenly grew in her heart.
She didn't want to admit that she was inferior to Leo, and she didn't want to be left behind by this man.
Therefore, even though she was a little flustered and nervous, Lefiya Viridis decided to be brave for once.
"Then, let each team set off with sufficient supplies."
Finn clapped his hands and made his conclusion.
"The rest of you, remember to follow Riveria's instructions and defend the base."
With a chorus of responses, the crowd dispersed on the spot.
Leo watched Riveria's retreating figure until he finally followed her.
"Riveria."
Leo, who called out to the other person, unusually did not use honorifics this time, which surprised Riveria as she turned around.
"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
"Yes, Commander!"
Riveria seemed to sense something from Leo's unusually serious expression and asked a question.
"----It's nothing." Leo considered his words for a moment before saying, "I just wanted to remind you that after we leave, it would be best to increase security and send more people to keep an eye on the area."
"I have a bad feeling; I have a feeling something's going to happen here."
Upon hearing this, Riveria's eyes narrowed, and her gaze toward Leo became somewhat meaningful.
A bad feeling—this statement doesn't sound very reliable at all, and anyone else would definitely think Leo is worrying unnecessarily.
But Riveria wouldn't think that way.
There was no way around it; the leader of this clan was also a person with very strong intuition. Whenever something big was about to happen, the Prum leader would feel a throbbing pain in his thumb, which would then give him a bad premonition.
Having spent so many years by the side of that kind of commander, Riveria had grown accustomed to that way of speaking and attitude.
So, after thinking for a moment, she nodded without asking any further questions.
"Since you've put it that way, let's do it your way."
Anyway, increased security isn't necessarily a bad thing; at most, it just means that the number of people on guard, patrolling, and keeping watch at night will be closer together.
It's better to believe it's true than not to believe it's not. In Riveria's view, someone like Leo must have some unusual qualities, and perhaps he really can foresee something.
She wasn't some unruly princess who wouldn't listen to advice; since someone had given her that advice, she would do it.
As Riveria temporary teacher who had taught Leo for a period of time, Leo still trusted him.
And so, under Riveria's arrangement, the camp's security visibly tightened, and Leo, Finn, and the others, carrying supplies, set off for the 51st Floor.
They descended the giant rock, walked for a while through the gray forest, and then headed west towards the 50th Floor.
At the far end there, on the western wall, there is a large, dark hole.
This large hole is the passageway connecting the 50th Floor and 51st Floor. Inside, it forms a steep slope, almost like a cliff. For an ordinary person to jump down would be certain death, but everyone present was blessed with Falna, and the lowest level was Lv.3, a second-level adventurer. This height was naturally no challenge for them.
"Then let's go down too."
Shortly after Finn and the others jumped down, Leo drew the Emerald Staff from his left hip and spoke.
"Alright! Let's go all out!"
"It's a real pity that the commander couldn't witness my heroic battle."
Tiona and Tione both drew their weapons, one beaming with a bright smile, the other sighing.
"It's okay—I can do it—"
Lefiya Viridis, carrying a supporter's backpack, was still muttering to herself, trying to mentally prepare herself.
Ais looked at Leo, nodded to Leo, and jumped down first.
The members of the second group immediately jumped into the large hole and arrived at the ultra-deep realm— the 51st Floor.
The structure of the 51st Floor is like a maze. The walls, floors and ceilings are all flat as if they were designed. The square underground natural passages form several corners and crossroads, which will make people who enter lose their way. The overall material is neither stone nor soil, but presents a deep graphite color, which is intricate and oppressive.
The five-person team that arrived here immediately faced a challenger.
"Gahhhhhhhhhhhh----!"
Accompanied by a deep, monstrous roar, a massive black shadow surged forth.