That night, instead of returning to the church's basement, everyone stayed in a hotel in the city center.
After showering, Ying Ping and Hestia embraced and slept.
The night passed without a word.
The morning sun streamed through the hotel window the next day, and Ying Ping had already completed his "Daily Strongman" training.
He stretched his limbs, looked at his LV11 status panel, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Time to go."
Pushing open the door, the four beautiful girls were already ready to go.
Chisato Nishikigi said with great enthusiasm, "Master, we're going to the Dungeon today, right? I can't wait to defeat some monsters!"
Takina checked her bow and arrows: "Status good, I can fight at any time."
Ilena yawned lazily: "Haaah~ Don't you think it's a bit too early to wake up~"
Kokkoro stood obediently beside Ying Ping: "Master, we're going to test our team coordination today, right?"
Ying Ping nodded: "Yes, today you all are the main force."
... [In the Dungeon of another world, with her flowing grey hair, whose beauty and talent shine so brightly that even the gods cannot look away, who could this beautiful girl be?]
[That's right, it's me.]
Ilena followed behind Ying Ping and the others, silently muttering to herself.
Stepping into the thirteenth floor of the Dungeon, the environment suddenly changed.
The air was filled with a sulfur-like smell, dark red moss crawled on the rock walls, and hot bubbles occasionally emerged from the ground.
Although there was no mist to obscure the view here, the environment was even more dangerous than the upper levels.
From this floor until the 24th floor, it is suitable for LV2 adventurers and is also known as the 'First Dead Line'.
[Thirteenth Floor Quest Triggered]
[Kill Hellhound (0 / 400)]
[Kill Vampire Worm (0 / 400)]
[Kill Giant-toothed Lion-Tiger (0 / 400)]
[From now on, monsters killed by followers will also grant experience, including quest kill counts.]
[All kills reward: Magic "Inherent Time Control"]
[Effect: While consuming magic power, your speed can be doubled.]
"Good, that's more like it."
"It seems I won't need to take the last hit on every monster from now on."
Ying Ping's mouth curved into a smile.
This rule change by the system was very favorable to him now.
"Whoa, Hellhound? That name sounds fierce~"
Chisato whistled.
Takina had already drawn her longbow: "Everyone, be alert. Three targets are approaching 50 meters ahead."
Sure enough, three giant dogs, their bodies burning with flames, rushed out from behind the rock wall, molten saliva dripping from their fangs.
[Hellhound LV3]
[Characteristics: Fire Resistance, Burn Attack]
"Let me!"
Chisato rolled forward, firing her crossbow in quick succession.
"Swish swish swish!"
Three crossbow bolts accurately hit the Hellhounds' eyes.
"Ow—"
The three Hellhounds whimpered, then fell and turned into black ashes, bursting forth with magic stones.
[Killed Hellhound (3 / 400)]
[Rewarded 150 experience points]
"Indeed... if they attack, the kill count is now attributed to me, and I also gain experience."
"Well done, Chisato!"
Ying Ping nodded approvingly. "Ilena, please use your telekinesis magic to bring the magic stones over."
"I understand."
Ilena raised her small hand, and her magic staff appeared with a 'whoosh', a point of light blooming at its tip.
"Buzz~"
To everyone's slightly astonished gaze, the three magic stones automatically lined up and flew straight towards them.
"Wow, Miss Ilena's magic is so convenient! I can't do that!"
Kokkoro's eyes widened, and she clapped her small hands excitedly.
"Hmmph, it's alright, after all, I am a genius witch~"
Ilena smiled as she handed the magic stones to Ying Ping, then couldn't help but proudly puff out her chest.
"That's right, this is teamwork. Everyone, keep up the good work!"
Ying Ping couldn't help but stroke Ilena's grey hair, which immediately made her face blush.
Soon, they encountered new enemies—
"Rumble!"
Five giant worms, entirely blood-red with barbed mouthparts, burrowed out of a crack in the ground.
[Vampire Worm LV3]
[Characteristics: Burrowing, Bloodsucking]
"Ugh, such disgusting bugs..."
Ilena frowned, waving her staff lightly: "Wind Blade!"
"Pfft!"
Dozens of sharp wind blades whistled out, slicing the worms into several pieces.
[Killed Vampire Worm (5 / 400)]
"Everyone, watch out behind you!"
Chisato shouted, and her crossbow quickly fired a volley of arrows!
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!!"
[Killed Vampire Worm (10 / 400)]
"Hoo—Snipe!"
Takina calmly aimed at a distant target, pulling her bowstring fully taut.
"Boom!"
An arrow wrapped in blue light flew out like a laser, instantly piercing through and skewering a row of vampire worms!
[Killed Vampire Worm (18 / 400)]
"Whoa—impressive."
"As expected of an LV11 archer..."
Ying Ping whistled, looking at Takina Inoue with new eyes.
Kokkoro was always in charge of support, with Holy Light Barrier and healing magic always ensuring the safety of her teammates.
With the exquisite cooperation of this five-person team, consisting of four LV11s and one LV10 (Kokkoro).
The monsters on this floor were no match at all, appearing only to line up and be killed.
Ying Ping occasionally roamed the edge of the battlefield, only dealing with the occasional stragglers who broke through the defense line.
"Roar—!"
Suddenly, the roar of a Giant-toothed Lion-Tiger echoed through the thirteenth floor of the Dungeon, shaking loose stones from the rock walls.
More than a dozen lion-tigers, each the size of a small mountain, surged from all directions.
Their sharp fangs gleamed coldly, and their scarlet beast eyes locked onto Ying Ping and his party.
[Giant-toothed Lion-Tiger LV3+]
[Characteristics: Strength Enhancement, Group Hunting]
"We're surrounded, huh."
Ying Ping looked around, a smile playing on his lips.
"Master, please leave this level to us!"
Kokkoro gripped her staff, and a holy light condensed at its tip.
"Of course."
Ying Ping nodded. "Let me see the power of your teamwork."
"Understood!"
Chisato Nishikigi was the first to charge out, her figure weaving through the lion-tiger pack like a phantom.
Wielding a short crossbow, her arrows accurately targeted the lion-tigers' eyes and other vital points.
"Swish swish swish—!"
Three lion-tigers wailed and fell, but more beasts pounced.
"Hmph, don't even think about getting close!"
Takina stood on a towering rock behind them, her longbow drawn taut, arrows raining down like a deluge.
Each arrow carried a fierce whistling sound, piercing through the lion-tigers' heads or hearts.
"Sniper • Rapid Fire!"
"Boom boom boom—!"
The shockwaves from the exploding arrows scattered the lion-tiger pack.
"Wind Barrier!"
Ilena waved her staff, and a transparent wall of wind repelled the lion-tigers attempting a sneak attack.
A slight smile played on her lips as she gently waved her staff again.
"Next up is—Fire Tornado!"
"Whoosh—!"
Blazing flames intertwined with a whirlwind, forming a massive fire tornado that engulfed several lion-tigers, burning them to cinders.
"Well done, Ilena!"
Ying Ping gave a thumbs-up in praise.
"Hehe, a piece of cake~"
Ilena proudly tossed her long hair.
However, the number of lion-tigers was simply too great, and a few cunning large ones circled to the team's flank, pouncing fiercely on Kokkoro, who was casting a spell.
"Kokkoro-chan, be careful!"
Chisato shouted.
"Holy Light Protection!"
Kokkoro remained calm, striking her staff heavily against the ground.
A dazzling light screen instantly unfolded, and the lion-tigers' sharp claws scraped against it, producing an ear-piercing sound.
"It's time to counterattack—Divine Impact!"
"Buzz!"
The light screen exploded, and holy energy spread like a tidal wave, sending all the surrounding lion-tigers flying.
"My goodness, Almighty Push! Magic is truly cheating!"
Ying Ping exclaimed, standing in the center, calmly observing the battle: "Chisato, three more have broken through the defense on the left!
"Received!"
Chisato rolled, firing her crossbow in quick succession.
Three crossbow bolts accurately struck the lion-tigers' eyes, causing them to wail and fall, turning into dust.
"Takina, eight o'clock on the back right!"
"Understood."
Takina turned and drew her bow, a charged shot piercing through the chests of four lion-tigers.
Ilena's spells came one after another: "Wind Blade! Water Bullet!"
Magical light intertwined in the cave, scattering the lion-tiger pack.
"Master, they're coming from the front!"
Kokkoro exclaimed.
Five exceptionally large Lion Kings broke through the magical bombardment and charged straight towards them!
Ying Ping's lips curved slightly: "Is it finally my turn to act?"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
He didn't draw his sword; he merely used his scabbard to directly smash the heads of three lion-tigers, blood and magic stones splattering.
[Killed Giant-toothed Lion-Tiger (55/400)]
[Killed Giant-toothed Lion-Tiger (58/400)]
...System notifications kept refreshing, but the lion-tiger pack continued to surge in endlessly.
"This will never end at this rate!"
Takina frowned.
"Then let's finish it all at once!"
Ying Ping leaped back to the center of the team and loudly declared: "Ilena, wind magic! Takina, arrow rain! Chisato, cover Kokkoro!"
"Understood!"
"Got it!"
Everyone responded in unison.
Ilena raised her staff high, and the wind howled: "Eye of the Hurricane!"
A massive whirlwind swept all the lion-tigers into the air, rendering them immobile.
Takina seized the opportunity, her bowstring vibrating: "Arrow Rain • Divine Punishment!"
Countless arrows rained down like a storm, each one precisely hitting a vital point of the lion-tigers.
"Final blow!"
Chisato and Kokkoro attacked simultaneously.
"Explosive Arrow!"
"Holy Light Judgment!"
"Boom!"
In a blinding flash of light, the remaining lion-tigers all turned to ash, and magic stones rained down.
[Killed Giant-toothed Lion-Tiger (108/400)]
...The battle lasted for a full three hours.
When all 1200 monsters were killed, the system notification sounded:
[Quest Completed]
[Reward Obtained: Magic "Inherent Time Control"]
[Magic Effect: Consumes 1 magic point per second, can accelerate body speed to 2 times; the more magic consumed, the faster the body accelerates]
[Note: The body's load has its limits, please use this magic with caution]
Ying Ping felt the newly added magic flow within him, a smile playing on his lips: "It was truly perfect teamwork from the start, everyone worked hard."
Chisato wiped away sweat: "Phew~ That was a satisfying fight!"
Takina put away her longbow: "Teamwork efficiency is 20% higher than expected."
Ilena leaned lazily against the rock wall, admiring her nails and saying, "So, are we going deeper into the dungeon next? Well, I don't really care~"
Ying Ping shook his head: "No, today we were just getting used to working together, so we'll stop here. Tomorrow..."
He grinned: "It's time to use that mysterious key to open the special trial."