Since Ais landed the final blow, the dragon dropped the golden hide Riveria and Finn wanted. The single hide could cover the cost of their equipment alone, that's how precious it was. It wasn't all Finn and Riveria wanted though. Challenging the dragon was an opportunity to train Ais, Tiona, and Lefiya for the future. Their potential was limitless. Throwing them into the heat of the battle was the best method to train them.

  Asahi helped Ais with a few pats as he looked over to the spring. He could sense traces of Life Element in the water. He was confident in sensing life forms without using the Life Sense skill now.??

  "Let's grab the water while we're here.

  Asahi lifted the whole spring water with his telekinesis and poured it into a giant bucket he bought from Klyscha. The group watched in shock as the water floated by itself and dropped into the giant bucket.

  "Done.''

  "You never cease to amaze me…" Riveria said.

  "Yes, Mom," he teased.

  Riveria sighed. It looked like the nickname would stick to her for the rest of her life. She hadn't even had her first love, yet a man barely a fifth of her age was calling her 'Mom' like no tomorrow.

  "Anything else here?" Asahi asked, receiving a simple head shake from Riveria. "We're leaving then."

  ***

  Asahi's party regrouped with Finn's party, who seemed to have slain countless numbers of black rhinos during Asahi's fight with Cadmus Dragon. Asahi poured the loot into the loot. As everyone looked ready, Asahi took the correct path, which led him to the tunnel leading to the next floor.

  "Wait."

  Finn stopped everyone at once and explained the horror of the next floor. Asahi curiously listened to Finn's story of the Valgang Dragons, who would shoot explosive flame beams from the bottom of the 58th floor. Every step could lead someone into the maws of the dragons.

  Of course, the new danger wasn't the least bit scary to Asahi.

  "Stay in my barrier until we pass."

  It was all he said before he jumped down the tunnel. Alise gave a cheeky smile to Finn before she followed Asahi. Ryuu sighed as she followed Alise.

  "Riveria," Finn said.

  The High elf understood his gesture and gripped her staff. "Assemble, breath of the land—my name is Alf."

  Everyone in the party, including Asahi was enveloped in the jade glow of her protection, radiating a warmth. Her support increased both magic and physical attack resistance as well as provided a slight healing effect. It was one of the nine magics she was famous for, leading to the 'Nine Hell' alias the gods gave her.

  Everyone jumped down the tunnel except for Lefiya. She stood still, her heart beating faster and faster. The anxiety of facing the random attacks of the dragon was all over her face.

  "Lefiya!" Riveria called from the floor below.

  Lefiya balled up her fists and hopped down. The floor was far below her estimation. Seeing the ground coming closer, a shriek left her throat. She chanted a protection spell in panic, forgetting Riveria's protection was already on her.

  "You clumsy elf," Asahi muttered and slowed her down with his telekinesis.

  Taking Ais's hand, the elf stood up and bowed her head to Asahi. "T-Thank you."

  "No worries. Be careful."

  Asahi stopped to observe the floor. The 52nd floor didn't look or feel any different. That said, he could feel the surge of fire element bubbling hundreds of meters below the floor. He wrapped everyone in the Storm Fort barrier of Baal. Just as he stepped forward, his instincts rang lightly.

  Flames erupted from the earth, followed by a crimson shock wave. The wind barrier tanked the crimson blast without much of a scratch. It wasn't a normal barrier after all. He had imbued extra mana into each, making them extra sturdy at the cost of agility. Most people wouldn't be able to move with the heavy air pressure around them, especially Bete, whose wind barrier was a little heavier.

  Asahi floated a meter above the ground and peered into hole. The giant fireball had punched through floor after floor, leaving pure destruction in its wake. A monster destroyed the dungeon to this extent without spawning a Juggernaut.

  'The dragons got Dungeon-chan's permission.'

  From deep within the abyss, a pair of crimson eyes gazed up at him. The dragon hissed, flashing its sharp fangs. Asahi was tempted to charge up the Gae Bolg and explode the arrogant monster's head.

  'There might be another horde on one of these floors.'

  He couldn't forgo the delicious XP and jump straight into the 58th floor.

  He waved at the group. "Time for a speedrun!"

  He made a beeline for the next corridor. An array of monsters obstructed his path. A snake who tongue tossed flickering lightning, a bull-sized silver worm, and scorpions with venomous tails. His spear slayed everything that stood in his way.

  [—You have leveled up!]

  [—'Spear Mastery' ranked up to B.]

  'Finally!'

  He swiped the spear, cleaning the blood on its tip. Another explosion happened behind him, and shaved the mana off Riveria's wind barrier. Asahi took a moment to refresh the barriers on them before he continued the journey. Soon, he found himself on the 53rd floor, which had the same set of rules and dangers.

  Kill the monsters while dodging the flares.

  Asahi forgot how many times he had to pull Lefiya out of the hole created by the fireballs. He cleared floors after floors, reaching level 35 in the process. The hieroglyphs on his back felt heavier and heavier as they accumulated the Excelia of stronger monsters. His stats were going to skyrocket after this, he just knew it. He also couldn't help but curse the lack of monsters in the current floors.

  Cursing Dungeon-chan in his heart, he cleared the 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th floors in less than seven hours. The speed left Finn's party in shock.

  They arrived at the 58th floor