DH : [43] Female Powerhouse (Patreon)

Meanwhile, a group of adventurers was making their way through the 11th floor. They chatted and laughed as they walked, seemingly unconcerned about the monsters appearing around them.

This was an all-female team. Interestingly enough, Aiden recognized most of the members. Not from encounters in the anime, but from meetings in Orario.

Though all members were female, they were renowned in Orario, and even the world, not for their beauty, but for their strength.

The only member Aiden hadn't met before had environmentally friendly hair, a flawless face, a tall figure, and wielded a gorgeous staff. She was none other than Riveria Ljos Alf, known as the Strongest Mage in the City.

Then there was the golden-haired girl, exquisite in every feature, and exceptional in demeanor. Clad in silver-white armor and wielding a light sword, she was agile and precise in every strike. None could match her prowess with the sword, making her the famed ace of the Loki Familia... Sword Princess Ais Wallenstein.

Next were a pair of raven-haired girls with rare black hair in Orario. Their attire was revealing, showcasing their muscular wheat-colored skin. They were none other than the renowned Amazon sisters of the Loki Familia: Tiona Hiryute and Tione Hiryute.

Though twins, their figures were drastically different. Tione boasted a perfect mature figure, with prominent armor and a trench deep enough to lose oneself in. Meanwhile, her younger sister Tiona, despite her tender age, already possessed a personal airstrip, enviable by many.

Then there was the cute elf girl, Lefiya Viridis, carrying a backpack and exuding a charming girl-next-door vibe. She wore a pink dress, with the front part shortened for mobility, revealing her long legs clad in white stockings. Though Lefiya played a support role in the team, she was actually a Level 3 mage, holding the title of Thousand Elves.

This group of five was none other than the Loki Familia's Female Powerhouse.

"Hey, Riveria, how much longer until we return to Orario?" Tiona, who had been camping in the dungeon for over half a month, was eager to return.

Yes, camping.

It was well known that when night fell, both the frequency and strength of monsters in the dungeon increased by a notch. This was why most adventurers chose to explore the dungeon during the day and return to rest at night.

But higher-level adventurers were different. Their time spent in the dungeon differed from lower-level adventurers; they usually stayed for days at a time.

After all, there were no elevators in the dungeon; one could only descend one floor at a time. Lower-level monsters couldn't provide experience points for higher-level adventurers, so they had to venture deeper. And the higher the floor, the more time it took to traverse.

To avoid wasting time commuting every time they entered the dungeon, higher-level adventurers had gotten used to camping in the dungeon.

After all, the night brought forth more ferocious and frequent monster spawns, making the dungeon even more dangerous. This was mainly a concern for lower-level adventurers; for prepared and experienced higher-level adventurers, the danger existed but was minimal.

Moreover, there was the 18th floor, where monsters never appeared, and ample resources were available.

On the 18th floor, adventurers could not only rest well but also didn't need to be constantly vigilant against potential monster encounters.

"We're almost at the 10th floor, but it'll still take some time to return to Orario." Riveria replied with a smile to Tiona's rhetorical question.

"Tiona, are you being dense? How many times have we traveled to and from the dungeon? You ask this question every time." Tione was slightly exasperated by her overly lively sister.

"Tione, you're the dense one!" Tiona retorted.

As they entered the 10th floor, they found themselves in a unique environment with dense gray-white mist and vast gray-white plains. The roars of minotaurs echoed through the mist, reaching the ears of the Loki Familia.

ROOOOOAR

A spirited roar reverberated throughout the 10th floor.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Accompanying the spirited roar, a continuous clang of metal echoed on the 10th floor.

"Hey, what creature's roar is that?" Tiona, bored out of her mind, perked up instantly.

"Silly, isn't that the roar of an Infant Dragon?" Tione glanced at her sister and then turned to the strongest member of their group, Riveria, for confirmation.

"It should be the roar of an Infant Dragon." Riveria nodded, holding her staff.

"Then someone must be in battle, right, Ais-san?" Lefiya, the cute elf girl dressed in pink, piped up.

"Mm." Ais replied succinctly, as usual.

"But with that kind of noise, could someone be directly engaging with an Infant Dragon?" Tiona grinned with interest. "Well then, let's go take a look. It's on the way anyway."

With that, Tiona led the way into the thick fog.

"What a fool!" Tione couldn't help but feel exasperated with her sister as the group followed suit.

As the sound drew closer, the rest of the four soon caught sight of Tiona standing there, her face filled with astonishment.

Following Tiona's gaze, the rest of the three, apart from Riveria, wore equally surprised expressions.

"Is this some kind of joke?! How is this possible?" Tiona exclaimed in disbelief. "Wasn't he just Level 1? How can he be facing off against an Infant Dragon all by himself? And in a direct confrontation like this?"

"It's only been a month, hasn't it?" Tione also expressed disbelief.

"It's him." Ais, who always seemed aloof but was now showing a hint of emotion, watched Aiden's fighting figure with a slight fluctuation in her mood.

"Do you know him?" Riveria, noticing Ais's change in demeanor, inquired.

"He's the guy who made a bet with Loki that day!" Tiona is still clearly astonished.

"He's the one who bet that he'd surpass Ais-san and reach Level 2 within a year, Aiden Sparda!" Lefiya, who admired Ais, kept her focus on her idol.

"So, this is Aiden, the one who made the bet with Loki?" Riveria furrowed her brows as she watched Aiden, who stood alone facing the Infant Dragon head-on.