After being half-forced into joining the subjugation party for the "Enhanced Species," they were left with only five hours to rest.
Roy and the others took that time very seriously.
Daphne and Cassandra went into the tent to sleep, while Roy and Ryuu took turns keeping watch by the campfire.
When Roy woke up to смен shifts—
"You seem to value that child Cassandra quite a lot." The elven girl stirred the fire with a branch. Though she and Cassandra were about the same age, the difference in experience between them was worlds apart.
In Ryuu's eyes, the timid and shy Cassandra was still very much a child.
Roy smiled. "She has a talent unlike ordinary people. It might help us overcome a crisis."
Ryuu glanced at him in surprise. Having walked this far together, how could she not understand him? There were very few things Roy truly valued.
Roy didn't explain further. Cassandra's prophecies carried a kind of curse power. Even if he told Ryuu, she wouldn't believe it—
—and it might even backfire.
Ryuu stood up and walked toward the tent. Suddenly, she paused, lips pressed together, and said softly, "No matter what happens, I will protect you."
After saying that, she entered the tent to rest.
Roy heard her whisper and smiled. "What a reliable senior of the Familia."
The Eighteenth Floor had no monsters—nor even small animals. The silence was almost unsettling, but for Roy, it was the perfect environment to think.
He recalled the day he ran into Ottar on the street. He couldn't help but suspect that this incident might be related to that madwoman Freya. After all, she had once subjugated an Enhanced Species—she must know quite a lot about such monsters.
Raising an Enhanced Species wasn't difficult.
The question was—to what extent did she intend to push things?
As Roy pondered, time passed quickly. The agreed time with Bors was approaching.
Cassandra suddenly ran out of the tent, flustered. "Mr. Roy, I had a dream!"
Roy's eyes lit up. It seemed the expensive heavenly silkworm silk pillow had not been wasted.
"Don't panic. Tell me slowly."
He soothed the blue-haired girl, guiding her to sit down and handing her a cup of sweet milk tea.
Roy's calm demeanor quickly affected her. Holding the warm cup, Cassandra took small sips, gradually calming down.
Roy asked gently, "What did you dream about?"
Now that she had settled down, Cassandra became shy instead. Under Roy's encouraging gaze, she finally mustered the courage and recited like a poem:
"O phantom in the water, are you singing? No, I am weeping. Then why do you harm others? Is it because of your wounds? Perhaps I am alone—"
"…"
Roy's expression was identical to that "old man, phone, subway" meme.
Her ability to foresee the future through dreams manifested as poetic verses accompanied by vague imagery. Roy didn't understand a single thing.
Truly abstract.
Support in every way—except actual help!
The more he listened, the more irritated he felt, as though someone were chattering incessantly in his ear. A wave of disgust rose within him. His heart grew restless and angry. He even felt the urge to slap her.
At that moment, his Development Ability "Adventure" activated!
It was as though the entire world brightened. A goddess of flawless form descended from the heavens, her true face obscured, and gently kissed Roy on the forehead.
That intangible fortune surged dramatically. Roy's eyes cleared, his mind became lucid.
Recalling his emotional shift just now, cold sweat broke out across his back. If not for the "Adventure" ability, even he wouldn't have been immune to the curse power embedded in Cassandra's prophetic dream.
What a terrifying skill.
Roy began analyzing the fragments of her poem.
"In other words, you saw an environment filled with a large amount of water?"
Cassandra's eyes lit up. She nodded vigorously.
"You saw a monster that sings—or cries? And she's alone?"
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm!" Cassandra nodded repeatedly, her eyes full of emotion as she looked at Roy. After so many years, someone was finally believing in her prophetic dreams.
Roy's brows furrowed deeply.
The Twenty-Fourth Floor—the "Great Tree Labyrinth"—was a moss-covered cavern maze. There were no aquatic monsters there.
Based on Cassandra's description—
The incident would occur at the "Great Falls," where Floors 25, 26, and 27 connected. The likely cause of disaster was a mermaid—monsters known for their singing.
"Mr. Roy… let's not go down there. I saw so many people die. The river was dyed red with blood." Cassandra grabbed his sleeve, fear evident on her small face.
The old Cassandra would never have dared say such words. After being "trained" by Miss Ryuu, she had gained a bit of confidence—at least when facing Roy.
No one else would believe her prophecies.
One shout from someone, and this timid, introverted girl would instantly revert to her old self.
"Running away won't change anything," Roy shook his head. You can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against one forever. Could he avoid entering the Dungeon for the rest of his life?
He would snap off the claw Freya had extended. Trying to take Ryuu away from him? It wouldn't be that easy.
"But—"
Cassandra trembled. Distorted and abstract images flashed in her mind. As the illusion faded, a dragon would roar.
"Since you know disaster is coming, will you just watch it happen?" Roy whispered like a devil.
Under Roy's subtle manipulation, the conflict on Cassandra's face gradually faded. She bit her lip.
"Think carefully," Roy continued. "There must be a sign in your dream about saving everyone."
Cassandra's eyes widened. She saw flames descending from the sky and murmured,
"Heavenly fire will burn everything to ashes!"
Their rest time ended. Roy and the others packed up the tent—leaving it behind would only invite theft.
They joined Bors's subjugation party.
One Level 4 (Ryuu), six Level 3s—technically seven, since Roy didn't reveal his true level—and forty-five Level 2 adventurers.
With this lineup, they could practically walk sideways through the first twenty-four floors. Even reaching the thirtieth floor wouldn't be a problem.
Bors shouted loudly, "Brats, we're moving out!"
"Ooooh—!"
The group marched in unison toward the massive tree at the center. At its roots was a hollow leading to the Nineteenth Floor.
They had good reason to dare challenge an Enhanced Species.
Everyone knew that Enhanced Species grew stronger by devouring monster magic stones.
The later such a monster was discovered, the more dangerous it became. This one had been spotted only half a month ago. Its real ability should be at least Level 3, and at most no higher than Level 4.
This subjugation party had more than enough combat power.
After all, the adventurers capable of reaching Rivira were all seasoned veterans—many of whom had slain the Seventeenth Floor Boss, Goliath, more than once.
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