In the Dungeon, as the floors deepen, the area of the Dungeon also progressively expands. This is because the overall structure of the Dungeon is conical. The uppermost floors are even smaller than the central plaza of Babel, but by the time you reach the thirtieth or fortieth floors, the Dungeon is already about the size of Orario. The deeper regions are even larger than Orario.
The reason the Loki Familia splits into two groups is because the upper floors are simply too crowded. Not to mention the size, some passages can only accommodate one person at a time. Coupled with the supplies needed for an expedition, not splitting up would lead to extreme congestion.
Therefore, large Familias like the Loki Familia always advance in groups when going on a Dungeon expedition, then consolidate on the safe 18th floor.
The bustling group walked through a narrow passage; this was the second team to which Shirou currently belonged. Unlike the first team, which consisted of the main force of the Loki Familia, the second team was composed entirely of Level 2 adventurers.
Raul, Anchi, Cruz, Elvie, and Alicia, all Level 4, were members of the second team. Shirou was familiar with all of them. As the backbone of the Loki Familia, Shirou frequently interacted with them. However, the most important person in the second team was not them, but a human girl named Lene. Her level was only Level 2, but she was an extremely rare existence in the Loki Familia who possessed healing magic.
A healer!
Who could be more important than her?
After all, the quantity of medicine during an expedition is limited, while a healer's healing capacity is infinite.
Can you even compare them?
"Mr. Emiya, please take care of me."
Lene greeted him a little shyly. As someone who had become the secret crush of many girls in the Familia, standing next to Shirou made Lene feel a lot of pressure.
Seeing Lene's nervousness, Shirou thought she might be worried about the safety of the expedition.
So he patted her shoulder and gently comforted her, "Don't be nervous, Lene, I'll protect your safety."
Looking at Shirou comforting her, Lene felt a little melancholic.
Although her level was only Level 2, due to her healing magic, she had accompanied the Loki Familia on countless expeditions.
"Mr. Emiya, aren't you the newbie here?"
"As a senior, I'm being comforted by a newbie?"
"Is this what they call Academic Collapse?"
Looking at the gentle Shirou, Lene wanted to say something but didn't know what to say. In the end, she could only nod helplessly and softly said, "Mm!"
Seeing this scene, Anchi, Raul, and the others, who had been eavesdropping, couldn't help but chuckle.
---
Dungeon Floor 13.
Once again accompanying the main force to the middle floors, Shirou once again experienced the power of a group.
The middle floors, usually full of dangers, were now as easy as a pleasant stroll.
The team, all Level 2 and above, swept through all the monsters along the way, crushing every enemy with overwhelming force.
Walking in the middle of the group, Shirou, as a rear guard, had little to do beyond firing a few ordinary arrows.
After all, the front-line and mid-line members of the team were simply too strong.
Almost all of them were Level 4 and Level 3, making it incredibly easy for them to face Level 2 enemies.
"So this is the strategy for group combat? It feels completely different from party mode."
Every single task was handled by someone, and everyone was interconnected, which made it so easy for the team to deal with these monsters.
Soon, the second group, led by Gareth, arrived at the 18th floor and rendezvoused with the first group.
Looking at the light emitted by the Sky Crystal, Shirou couldn't help but exclaim, "The Dungeon is truly amazing!"
It was just a Dungeon, but here on the 18th floor, the crystal on the ceiling served as the sun.
And these crystals would even darken at night, making it seem like a real world.
"Haha, this is just the beginning, little guy. The Dungeon has many more wonders!"
Hearing Shirou's exclamation, Gareth patted his shoulder and said with a smile.
At this, Shirou couldn't help but blush.
On this expedition, he was the only newcomer, meaning everyone here had more experience than him.
"Why do I feel like a country bumpkin from the sticks?"
No longer speaking, Shirou took the time to survey the 18th floor. The last time he came alone, he didn't have time to examine it closely.
Now that he had the chance, he definitely wanted to observe it carefully.
Lush forests everywhere and various crystals — that was Shirou's first impression of the 18th floor.
"As expected of a fantastical otherworld!"
After a brief rest and preparation, the Loki Familia, clad in Fire Spirit Weave, was ready to go.
According to the Loki Familia's plan, the first day's goal was to reach the 24th floor, rest at the passage entrance to the 25th floor, and then continue advancing on the second day.
After that, they would continue to advance at a pace of five or six floors per day until they reached the safe 50th floor.
"Loki Familia, move out!"
After regrouping, Shirou, as a rear guard, moved to the middle of the team, joining the mages in providing magic attacks.
After all, Shirou's Broken Phantasm was also quite powerful as a magic attack.
Although Broken Phantasm couldn't inflict fatal damage against Level 5 durability, against monsters below Level 5, he could handle them with ease.
Besides being a rear guard, he could also serve as a mid-guard, protecting the mages around him.
After all, his combat skills were also formidable.
As the party advanced, the Loki Familia quickly reached the 19th floor. Here, everything — the ceiling, the surrounding walls, and even the ground — was made of tree bark.
According to Guild records, the 19th to 24th floors are known as the Great Tree Labyrinth.
Various plants grew along the path leading to the depths, and lush moss emitted faint blue or green light, making everything here appear exceptionally mysterious.
Only then could Shirou truly appreciate the magnificent and wondrous nature of this Dungeon.
All sorts of plants and flora grew here, making the Great Tree Labyrinth a natural treasure trove.
Many ingredients for elixirs found on the market came from this very place.
At the same time, the monsters here were also very troublesome.
Firebirds that spewed flames, mimetic trap-type monsters like Bloody Hive and Fatal Hornet. There were also troublesome monsters like Dark Poison Mushroom and Green Tree Dragon. And the most noteworthy were the Poison Maggots. These monsters posed no threat individually, but once they gathered in groups, they became extremely tricky.
Therefore, almost all adventurers who came here had to be extremely cautious to prevent attacks from various monsters.
But that only applied to ordinary adventurers; they were the Loki Familia on an expedition.
"Bete, Tiona, these monsters are for you front-liners!"
"Hmph, I've been waiting!"
Bete, with his usual foul mouth, charged forward, followed closely by Tiona, who usually bickered with him.
The battle began.
-----More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter