"I'm relieved to see you all safe."
In the central tent, Finn sat at the head, with Ais, Gareth, and others standing on either side.
The arrival of Eiji and his two companions ant all eight key mbers were now gathered. Finn greeted them with a warm smile.
Also present was Hephaestus Familia's captain, Miss Tsubaki.
"Now that everyone's here, let's begin the eting."
Finn's gaze swept across the room, signaling the start of the discussion as all attention focused on him.
"To summarize—thanks to everyone's efforts, we've successfully broken the record left behind by the great god's Familia. For this, I must express my deepest gratitude!"
As the Familia's captain, Finn bowed his head sincerely.
"Especially you, Eiji. Without you, I truly don't know how we would have managed this ti."
Had it not been for Eiji's last-minute heroics, none of them would have returned to the 50th floor unscathed.
Finn's expression was filled with emotion.
"Because of your existence, my ambitions remain alive. This is my gratitude—at least don't refuse it."
At these words, Eiji, who had been about to respond modestly, chose to stay silent.
Every adventurer had their own dreams.
Finn was no exception. In fact, precisely because he was a world-renowned adventurer, his ambitions were particularly grand.
"I understand how you feel, but don't get so sentintal!"
Gareth grumbled in dissatisfaction, rubbing his arms as if physically uncomfortable.
"We're family—no need for formalities, Captain~"
"Tione."
"Yes, Captain~! I'm here!"
"That was well said. Please don't say it again."
"Understood..."
Finn chuckled as he gently pushed Tione back into place.
"For the Familia, I believe it's only natural."
Eiji spoke with utmost seriousness. "After all, everyone has helped a lot before. I'm not a fool—this is what I should do... Of course, if you really want to thank , Finn, and feel that the last loot distribution wasn't quite fair, giving an extra 10 or 20 percent wouldn't be unwelco!"
To be honest, he was rather short on funds!
Though he still had so money left, most of it had been borrowed from Tiona. Granted, it was originally money Eiji had given her, and Tiona had generously said he didn't need to return it. But once given, it was like spilled water—asking for it back would be awkward and hard on his pride.
A few hundred million more would be perfect!
Riveria and the others nearby shot him subtle looks.
While avoiding excessive sentintality was fine, this was a bit too rcenary.
"The last batch of funds was all pooled into the Familia treasury. If possible, I can give you 100 million from my personal savings."
Finn carefully calculated his private stash.
His smile remained warm, but inwardly, his heart was bleeding.
His personal funds had always been ager—most of his earnings went to the Familia. After counting, he only had about 100 million saved up. Now, he might have to tighten his belt for a while.
"Alright, let's move on to the main topic."
As Finn's expression turned serious, the atmosphere in the tent shifted accordingly.
"Regarding that female-type monster we encountered on the 59th floor... I believe it was just an avatar."
"What?"
The mont these words were spoken, it was like detonating a bomb.
Tiona, Bete, and the others were visibly shocked.
"That powerful thing was just an avatar?"
That was at least a Level 7 monster!
How could sothing like that just be an avatar? Does that even make sense?
"What's your evidence?"
"Didn't a female-type monster also appear on the 18th floor?"
Finn was referring to the monster Eiji had defeated on the 18th floor last ti.
Back then, he had used three supersonic sword projectile attacks—equivalent to simultaneous strikes from three Level 6 adventurers—instantly killing the roughly Level 5 monster.
"That female-type monster was born through the parasitic Jewel Fetus, identical to this one. The only difference is that this ti, the female-type monster parasitizing the Death Blossom devoured an enormous amount of magic stones, completing its 'tamorphosis,' gaining a complete form, and becoming several tis stronger."
Thinking about it carefully, it made sense.
The monsters that appeared both tis were clearly the sa.
The evidence was that both had repeatedly scread the na "Aria."
"So, both female-type monsters were created through the parasitic Jewel Fetus... and both were just avatars?"
Eiji glanced at Ais beside him.
The girl had fallen completely silent, likely having realized this as well.
Riveria also looked at her, her expression growing inexplicably complex.
"So, what you're saying is... the real enemy is hiding sowhere below the 60th floor?"
Bete's face twisted with irritation.
"Most likely. After all, it even received reinforcents from monsters below the 60th floor."
Finn confird his speculation.
From this perspective, the true Corrupted Spirit must still be lurking deeper in the Dungeon. The crisis was far from over.
"What about the Irregulars? Could they also be the Corrupted Spirit's doing?"
"Given that they can also grow stronger by consuming Rainbow Magic Stones, it's highly possible."
"To think that a Spirit, originally sent by the gods to protect the earth, would..."
Riveria seed unable to hold back her distress.
Spirits could be considered a type of elf, but they were far nobler and more powerful than ordinary elves, as they embodied the will of the gods—divine incarnations.
In the eyes of elves, Spirits were beings of such purity that they brought honor to their kind.
"Ever since the gods descended a thousand years ago, Spirits have gradually disappeared from the surface. This is probably the last remaining Spirit on earth."
Finn glanced at Ais.
His eyes flickered slightly before he continued.
"Most likely, it entered the Dungeon and was unfortunately devoured by monsters, transforming into that corrupted and grotesque form."
The reason it released Jewel Fetuses and created Irregulars was probably to return to the surface.
This explanation made many things fall into place.
"However, the Corrupted Spirit probably can't easily reach the surface. The biggest problem right now should still be the remnants of the Evilus, right?"
Eiji thought back to their original mission and couldn't help but voice his confusion.
"But we didn't find any trace of the Evilus' remnants this ti? The only suspicious one was that masked person, but they vanished in an instant."
The masked figure in the purple cloak fled with astonishing speed, vanishing without a trace before anyone could notice, leaving no clue as to his purpose for appearing.
"This is exactly what I was about to say."
Finn paused, his expression turning grim as if he'd touched upon so forbidden subject.
"Consider this—what would happen if soone brought those portable orb fetuses to the surface and accelerated their growth into mature forms capable of casting grand-scale magic?"
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