Ren didn't say a word. A slap would've kept this clown in line, but he had no intention of doing that. Otherwise, coming to the nineteenth floor would be meaningless.
In an instant, Ren disappeared from sight. The Apollo Familia members panicked. They had Level 2 and even Level 3 adventurers, so they shouldn't have been unable to catch a single Level 2—unless their true strength had been exaggerated.
"Ais, did you see that?" Tiona was shocked. She could hardly catch sight of him, as if he had broken the level system of Orario altogether.
"Mm." Ais nodded, her expression serious. She had only glimpsed his figure. Being Level 5 herself, she thought it would be reasonable if he were Level 4, as his stats would justify it. But he was only Level 2 and yet this strong? That was absurd.
"His figure… disappeared…" Lefiya's words trailed off when she saw a body collapse in front of him.
A Level 4 Apollo Familia adventurer had been killed in an instant, defeated with a single strike. Ren's figure appeared, untainted by blood, highlighting the terrifying strength he possessed.
"Don't act recklessly. Lord Apollo will not forgive you." Seeing a Level 4 adventurer so easily slain, the others lost all arrogance and quickly became cautious.
"Do you know why I came to this floor? Presumably, it's for your god's plan. You haven't told anyone, right? In other words, besides your god, no one knows what's happening here." Ren said, then began his slaughter. With shared memories, he adapted to such situations very quickly.
Afterward, the group couldn't even scream before they all met their end. Ren sheathed his sword and looked toward the four others. "Not coming out?"
Four of them emerged, with Riveria speaking first. "We saw someone following you and thought to help, but it seems my assistance isn't needed."
Ais stared at Ren, not out of envy for his power, but shock at how quickly his emotions shifted. Picking up and putting down a sword seemed like two different people.
Lefiya looked frightened. Seeing so many adventurers slaughtered made it hard not to be concerned.
"Heading back. Bit of a disappointment." Ren walked toward the lower floor entrance, planning to return the same way he came.
"Since you're here, why not team up with us and explore deeper?" Tiona offered.
"Sure." Ren accepted gladly.
The five of them moved deeper. The monsters here were already extremely strong, which was why few dared expeditions. Such floors drained immense amounts of mana, and the long journey exhausted their supplies.
They encountered a group of steel ants, each nearly a meter long, moving in swarms. The once-dark dungeon grew even more oppressive.
"Lefiya, can you still manage?" Ren asked the elf girl. Against groups like this, magic was often the most effective tool.
"I've got it. Cover me." Lefiya began chanting immediately.
"Really did it." Riveria felt relieved and began providing cover. Her original purpose for coming was to see the boy who helped Lefiya grow. Now that she had actually seen him, she felt genuinely happy.
Ais transformed into the Wind Spirit, moving among the monsters and drawing their attention.
"Speed enhancement, mana enhancement." Ren cast two spells at once—one on Ais and one on Lefiya.
"You can use magic, and you don't even need to chant?" Tiona was very curious. The more the boy revealed, the more intrigued she became.
"This magic…" Ais was stunned. Then her speed surged again. Even Tiona couldn't see her movements. Her speed was unmatched.
"This magic is effective even on Lv5 Adventurers!" Riveria was shocked. Forget Ren's level for a moment. She was already thinking about inviting him to join the expedition team. With him around, the team's strength would increase tremendously.
With Ais no longer a target, the ants turned their attacks toward the others. Riveria had to slow down to fight, attracting their attention.
At that moment, a magic circle appeared on the ground. It was three times larger than usual. Combined with her natural magical talent, the spell's power reached an astonishing level.
"Ais!" Lefiya shouted.
Ais, sensing it instinctively, quickly withdrew from the battlefield. At the same time, the magic exploded, still fire magic, creating a mushroom cloud of flames in the dungeon.
All the ants were engulfed. Lefiya sat on the ground in disbelief. "Is this for real? Does my magic have this kind of power?"
"Truly remarkable." Riveria's expression turned serious. She fully understood the significance of such enhancement magic. If it leaked, all the Familias would go mad trying to obtain it.
Soon, the enhancement faded. Ais could clearly feel her power diminishing, but the long-awaited path to growth was no longer stagnant.
She had experienced strength beyond what she could currently achieve. Feeling this greater power, she began to grow. Even someone as stoic as her was moved at this moment.
She wanted to experience this feeling again. She wanted to hold onto it and become stronger. She just didn't know how to ask for it.
Her thoughts were confirmed. Ren was pleased. He could easily master the sword techniques of his pirate and overlord selves from memory, and he could even use this kind of magic.
But with that came a sense of emptiness. He had no more goals. He sheathed his sword and returned to his usual lazy demeanor.
"Hey, Ren, you're improving way too fast." Tiona patted his shoulder.
"Sometimes, having too much talent can be lonely." Ren shook his head with a sigh, looking like she just wouldn't understand.
"Hehe, little brother, you know saying that will get you beaten easily, right? Although… it's not a bad line." Tiona laughed heartily.
"Do we continue?" Riveria looked at them. After all, they were here to watch the people below.
"No, I want to experience this alone. Being in a team affects my growth." Ren thought for a moment and decided not to join them. Once the information was transparent, his secrets would be easy to expose.
"I see, then we'll split up." Riveria didn't insist.
Ais remained silent, only staring at his back. She really needed that magic of his.
"Hey, everyone's gone, and we won't mention Lefiya. But being influenced so much by others… Ais, what's going on with you? You actually like him?" Tiona suddenly felt cheated. Why did she even drag Ais along?
"His magic let me touch the threshold. I want to feel it a few more times." Ais spoke softly, her lips barely moving.
"That extreme?!" Tiona's mouth dropped open. She felt Loki must have been hit in the head by a donkey. Refusing such an adventurer to join? Once the news spreads, the gods of Orario would probably fight fiercely over him.
"Speaking of which, my magic's power has increased several times." Lefiya was equally shocked. This was extremely abnormal.
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