''Based on the information the WAA gathered about the dungeon, the right path would eventually lead to a dead end, so as long as we kept turning left, we would eventually encounter a descending staircase along with the floor''s guardian…'' Shye pondered as he removed the ck blood staining his greatswords.


    To date, they''ve encountered only two types of monstrous creatures on the first floor: Voidlurkers, purple ape-like beings that typically hide in void pockets, and Shadow Creepers, ck, monstrous creatures resembling praying mantises with crab-like ws and bony wings.


    This brought slightfort to their hearts as it confirmed that the information given to them by the WAA was urate.


    "Crowley."


    Dalton''s brutish voice sounded from behind him, prompting him to turn his head, ncing nonchntly at the shielder, who had a rather awkward expression on his face.


    "What?"


    "I apologize for underestimating you earlier. From now on, I will fully heed yourmands."


    "Hmph. Fine, apology epted. Just don''t make the same mistake with the other champions from my region. And you need to pay closer attention to my instructions; sometimes you go in too deep."


    "Y-Yeah, understood."


    Shye was naturally happy to be acknowledged. However, he couldn''t show his emotions too much.


    He was the party leader, after all.


    It was evident that Walter and Freeze wanted to do the same.


    Unfortunately, their pride didn''t allow them to.@@novelbin@@


    Still, It was clear they would follow Shye''s everymand from now on, enabling Shye to adopt an even more aggressive and efficient approach.


    …Continuing their journey inside the chillingly dark pathways of the Horza idde Mana Dungeon, the WAA extermination party didn''t encounter any monstrous creatures for a while.


    Instead, after about forty minutes, they noticed something glowing golden at the end of the pathway they were walking along.


    "Everyone, wait here. Rai Hou,e with me and help me check out this golden glow."


    "Got it."


    Shye decided that it might be too unsafe and inefficient for others to advance with them.


    After all, it was highly likely that the golden thing at the end of the pathway was a trap.


    Since he was confident in his and Rai Hou''s ability to survive for a while, Shye decided it would be best for the two of them to scout ahead and investigate. Their teammates could assistter if something went wrong.


    Advancing vigntly, Shye whispered:


    "Rai Hou, some monstrous creatures have the ability to evade my skill''s detection. Don''t just watch for traps; be cautious of ambushers too."


    Hearing Shye''s words, the Yon Augenn champion''s face turned even more serious.


    However, as they got closer to the golden glow, their stern expressions gradually eased.


    "It''s the staircase leading down to the second floor!" The duo eximed in unison, a smile on their faces.


    Unfortunately, their delight was short-lived as Shye''s mana pulse soon detected a huge creature hanging upside down right above them.


    "Crowley, above!"


    "Yeah."


    Rai Hou''s senses utterly impressed Shye. He didn''t have the same detection skill as Shye, yet, he somehow knew that there was something above them.


    This was the Yon Augenn champion''s talent, the very thing that made him drowsy most of the time.


    Rai Hou could immediately detect if someone or something had targeted him, and if he was close enough, he could even tell where the bastard would be attacking from.


    His talent, called [Dark Sense], had an effective radius of two kilometers, making it nearly impossible to ambush Rai Hou unless someone could hide in a spatial or void pocket.


    He was basically one of the most slippery archers one could find.


    Assassins typically rely on their stealth tactics to surprise archers and kill them in one go.


    Unfortunately, the likelihood of assassination tactics seeding against the Yon Augenn champion was extremely low, even with the aid of a diversion, because the champion''s talent could detect any aggressive intent, again, except for those hidden in spatial and void pockets.


    His talent,bined with his exceptional dueling skills, keen sense of positioning, remarkable uracy, and high damage output, made him one of the best archers in the highlypetitive Yon Augenn region.


    Furthermore, despite his youth, he showed immense promise.


    If all goes well, Rai Hou could be one of the region''s hero candidates.


    This talent automatically activates whenever he is not in a safe location, however, continuously draining his mental energy.


    This resulted in him feeling drowsy whenever he was in a safe area like the WAA headquarters.


    …Feeling the upside-down monstrous creature''s vicious descent, Shye and Rai Hou jumped backward at the same time, narrowly avoiding a ferocious dive attack.


    "Main force! We need assistance!" Shye eximed, turning to the Yon Augenn champion. "Rai Hou! Support me from the back, I''ll buy us time!"


    Shye wanted to use appraisal.


    However, he wouldn''t be able to read the status window even if he did so, as the monstrous creature''s attention was on him. Explore more stories with empire


    It would be better to do it once his party members arrived.


    Realizing that the creature''s w, infused with a ck aura, was hurtling towards his neck at an incredible speed, Shye knew he had no choice but to defend himself in a direct confrontation.


    "Tch."


    He gripped his greatswords tighter, brandishing them diagonally upwards to repel the creature''s w.


    ''Power sh! Boost! Boost! Boost!''


    Naturally, since Shye was unaware of the monster''s strength, he decided it would be best to use all three charges of his boost to increase his chances of winning, or at least surviving the sh of brute force.


    Winds howled as the vague silhouette of the w and the enormous greatswords ferociously headed toward the other, aiming to overpower their opponent.


    Soon after, they collided, producing a cacophony of loud metallic noises and dull thuds that echoed across the dark pathways.


    "Puhahk!"


    Shye spat out blood.


    As he expected, based on the monstrous creature''s muscr physique, it had immense strength, and it was the correct decision to use all three charges of [Boost].


    However, the creature wasn''t unscathed.


    Its entire right arm felt numb and its palm bled with ck blood.


    Still, it couldn''t believe that a mere human, a young one at that, could stand up to its strength.


    Hence, it felt threatened.


    The creature knew that humans always attack in small groups of seven people.


    This expectation quickly came through as multiple footsteps and voices echoed across the biting darkness.


    "Crowley, we''re here!"


    "Heal!"


    "Illumina!"


    Walter''s golden sphere ascended seven meters into the air once more, illuminating the entire area and revealing the form of the monstrous creature they were facing.


    "W-What the hell is that thing..."