Danmachi: The Focalors Familia Starting from the Dungeon

Under the dual effects of the Elixir and the healing magic, the ominous, light-green patterns on Firefly’s neck and cheek finally receded like an ebbing tide, fading away.

”This... is very expensive, isn’t it? I’m sorry...”

Firefly’s voice was weak, her face full of deep apology.

She knew that the price of this potion was an astronomical expense for any Familia.

”It’s fine, it’s just an Elixir.”

Aiden shook his head, a gentle smile appearing on his face. ”With your strength, Firefly, making that money back is only a matter of time. For now, let me, your captain, cover it for you.”

He spoke casually, but he knew full well that Elixirs were outrageously expensive, and he couldn’t just casually dip into the Familia’s shared funds for Firefly alone.

However, this investment was worth it.

Given the potential and power Firefly displayed, he firmly believed she would create value far exceeding the cost of this potion in the future.

Furthermore, he trusted that everyone in the Familia wouldn’t mind.

Whether it was Daphne Lauros or Cassandra Illion, neither was the type to penny-pinch.

Knowing Firefly’s special condition, they absolutely wouldn’t care how expensive an Elixir was. Even if it meant using the Valis they had worked so hard to earn, they would offer it without hesitation.

”I... I understand. I’ll work hard.”

Feeling the concern of her companions, Firefly tightly clenched her fists and spoke with earnest determination.

”You’ve already worked hard, or rather, you’ve overworked yourself.”

Daphne walked over, unable to resist rolling her eyes. ”I’ve truly never seen a rookie like you. Going straight for a Floor Boss , and an Amphisbaena level one at that... it’s too ridiculous.”

Beside her, Cassandra nodded repeatedly in profound agreement. ”Yes... average rookies are still carefully honing their skills on the upper floors right now. Unlike you, Miss Firefly ... not only did you follow us all the way to the Lower Levels , but you faced a Floor Boss head-on... What’s even more unbelievable is that you were the main force in this subjugation, performing far better than a Level 3 adventurer like me.”

”But Darling Firefly’s armament magic is incredibly cool, and genuinely so strong.”

Hyacine gently handed Little Ica over to Firefly.

Firefly carefully took her. The pink little Pegasus seemed to like her very much; instead of rejecting her, it affectionately rubbed against her cheek, continuously radiating a soft, healing glow to restore her depleted stamina.

Aiden agreed as well.

The buff Firefly’s armament magic, Molten Knight , provided to her was probably on par with his fully unleashed Godification State: ”Lord Ravager” —only falling slightly short in terms of various additional secondary effects.

It was precisely because of this powerful magic that Firefly possessed such formidable combat prowess the moment she joined the Focalors Familia.

This power might be insignificant compared to her prime, but in this world, it was enough to secure her a place in the treacherous deep floors of the Dungeon.

Moreover, Firefly would continue to level up and only grow stronger.

The experience points brought by the Falna didn’t just increase her strength; they were the very sustenance of her life.

Those experience points acted as fuel to compensate for the durability drain caused by Entropy Loss Syndrome.

As long as she could keep acquiring experience points—whether through killing monsters or day-after-day rigorous training—Firefly wouldn’t disappear to that damned disease.

The Floor Boss subjugation was officially declared over.

Dragging their exhausted bodies, Aiden’s group finally returned to the long-awaited surface.

When they arrived at the Guild, they were met with a wave of commotion.

The main hall seemed louder today than ever before.

Almost every adventurer present was drawn like iron filings to a magnet, densely gathered around the massive central Notice Board. The clamor, gasps of amazement, and heated discussions merged into a buzzing tidal wave.

”Hey, did you see that? The Loki Familia’s...”

”My god, is it true? Level 6...”

Fragmented phrases drifted into their ears like sparks scattered by the wind.

”Speaking of which, today should be the day of the Denatus, right?”

Robin’s gaze swept over the bustling crowd, her tone calm as she murmured, ”It looks like they’ve announced the newly leveled-up adventurers and their aliases.”

”Yeah, it should be about Ais.”

Aiden nodded.

Ais Wallenstein had leveled up to Level 6.

This news was indeed enough to trigger a minor earthquake across all of Orario.

They didn’t rush over to join the spectacle. Instead, they took their familiar route to the exchange counter on the other side, trading the drop items from their Expedition into heavy pouches of Valis.

Afterward, the group approached the counter of their dedicated advisor—Eina Tulle.

”...You’ve already reached the 27th Floor , and successfully subjugated the Floor Boss , Amphisbaena...”

Eina recorded their progress while gently tapping her forehead with the end of her pen. Her beautiful face was filled with a mix of resignation and sheer awe. ”You guys always manage to bring me surprises beyond imagination...”

”Of course, the biggest surprise is this.”

She closed the ledger and looked at the group with a teasing smile. ”You guys already know the news about the Sword Princess leveling up, right? The entire Guild is practically boiling over.”

”But,” Eina changed the subject, her gaze sweeping over Robin , Tifa, and the others. ”Your level-ups, Miss Robin, actually caused quite a stir of their own, you know.”

She explained that while Ais’s level-up was certainly shocking and enviable, she had been stuck at Level 5 for quite a long time.

In contrast, the rocket-like leveling speed of the rookies in the Focalors Familia seemed far more inconceivable in the eyes of the gods and Guild executives who knew the inside story.

”Speaking of which,” Eina sighed helplessly at this point, ”during this Denatus , there were quite a few Thrill-seeking Gods who were hugely disappointed that you, Aiden , didn’t shoot straight up to Level 5 in one go.”

Hearing this, Aiden couldn’t help but roll his eyes internally.

It had only been a month, give or take, since he had leveled up to Level 4.

It wasn’t that easy. The higher you went, the more astronomical the required experience points became. To level up again would require a considerably long period of accumulation.

It was said that once an adventurer reached Level 5 —entering the true realm of First-Class Adventurers —the leveling speed would experience a sheer cliff drop.

Even someone as strong as Ais had been stuck in the Level 5 realm for almost three years. And that was Ais; other adventurers would only remain stuck there for much longer.

───

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