At the end of the slope, a wider passageway connects.
Before Lin Yuan reached the exit, a monster over three meters tall flew backward from the front. The monster's back slammed into the rock wall, its thick carapace cracked, and then a long sword pierced through its chest.
The one wielding the sword was a blonde girl.
She drew her longsword, and the monster fell to the ground, turning into black ash. Without checking the fallen magic stone, the girl immediately turned to her right, blocking the massive arm of another monster that was swinging down.
There were also a dozen or so adventurers around.
Dwarves stood guard in the center of the passage, wielding giant axes, while elven True Magic rained down from behind. Two Amazonian maidens flanked the surging monsters, while the larger group, protecting backpacks laden with supplies, retreated in an orderly fashion along the passage.
Lin Yuan only glanced at them for a moment before confirming that they were not being chased by monsters.
This team is actively controlling the battle line, blocking each wave of monsters in positions that won't affect the rear.
A monster crawled over the top of the cave, dodging the group in front, and pounced on the young adventurers at the back of the group who were responsible for carrying supplies.
Lin Yuan raised his hand.
The distance between the monster and the ground suddenly shortened. Before it could even touch its target, its entire body crashed down, sliced in half by the black and silver spatial blade that followed.
The people behind them stopped at the same time.
There's someone on the left!
The warning had barely sounded when a long spear was already aimed at the passage where Lin Yuan was located.
The gun was held by a short, blond man. He didn't lower his guard just because Lin Yuan had helped the team earlier; he quickly scanned Nameless, the travel bag, and the empty road behind Lin Yuan.
"Don't attack yet," the blond man said. "Clear out the remaining monsters."
The team resumed operations.
Lin Yuan did not approach rashly. He stood at the exit of the passage, watching the blonde girl face the last few monsters alone.
Her sword was fast, but it wasn't just about speed. With each step, she preemptively occupied a position that the monster couldn't defend against at the same time, and the blade always moved along the shortest path between the carapace and the joints.
The last monster had just raised its arm when the sword flashed and pierced its throat.
The battle ended cleanly and efficiently.
Several adventurers began collecting the magic stones. The man with the gun walked towards Lin Yuan, with the elf and the dwarf standing on either side of him, while the blonde girl remained a short distance away, carrying her unsheathed longsword.
"I'm Finn," the blond man said, introducing himself. "Thank you for helping our team earlier. What's your name?"
Lin Yuan.
Where are your troops?
"No team."
Finn glanced at the path Lin Yuan had come from. "You came up from below alone?"
"I don't know what's up or down here, nor do I know how far down you're talking about is." Lin Yuan didn't hide the fact that he was lost. "I woke up in the cave at the back."
"Awake?" the elf standing beside him asked. "You don't remember how you got into the Dungeon?"
"I remember, but it's a bit complicated to explain."
The elf frowned slightly. Finn, however, did not press further, instead focusing his gaze on Nameless.
"What you just used wasn't the sword's inherent power."
"It's my True Magic."
" True Magic that doesn't require chanting?"
"Unnecessary."
A brief silence fell between the three of them.
Lin Yuan could sense that the surrounding adventurers' attention had shifted from the monster to him. No one immediately showed hostility, but they maintained a position where they could fight at any time.
The blonde girl suddenly took a step forward.
" Ais," the elf called to her.
"I'll just try it once."
Ais looked at the Nameless at Lin Yuan's waist. "Is it okay?"
"Try what?"
"Your sword."
As soon as she finished speaking, she was already standing in front of Lin Yuan.
The golden longsword wasn't aimed at a vital spot, but rather slashed towards Nameless's scabbard from the right. Lin Yuan pushed open the guard with his thumb, and Nameless, half-drawn from its sheath, blocked the blade.
Before the clanging of metal had even faded, Ais had already changed direction. The blade slid down along Nameless, and at the same time, her body turned to Lin Yuan's right.
Lin Yuan released the sword hilt, and his right hand reached under the longsword to grab her wrist that was holding the sword.
Ais immediately retreated.
She took two steps back, but Lin Yuan followed, closing the distance between them. Nameless was fully drawn, the sword's edge resting on her shoulder.
Ais's longsword was also pressed against Lin Yuan's chest.
They both stopped at the same time.
Lin Yuan glanced at the tip of the sword in front of his chest and then withdrew the Nameless. Ais also lowered her longsword, her golden eyes still fixed on his footsteps.
"That wasn't speed," she said.
"It's distance."
"Can we do it again?"
"Once we leave," Finn said, ending the probing for Lin Yuan. "We're on our way back; it's not suitable for us to stay any longer."
He looked at Lin Yuan again.
"No matter how you entered the Dungeon, it's dangerous for you to continue wandering around alone. You can come back to the surface with us for now, and then explain the situation to the guild."
Lin Yuan didn't answer immediately, "What kind of guild are you talking about?"
The doubt in Finn's eyes became even more pronounced.
"An organization that manages adventurers and Dungeon affairs. You've never heard of the Orario Guild before?"
"No."
"So, which Familia do you belong to?"
Lin Yuan glanced at Finn, then looked around at the adventurers waiting for answers to their questions.
This wasn't the first time he'd heard the word from them, but he still didn't know its meaning.
What is Familia?