"The final Level 6 is here!"
Loki suddenly let out a monkey-like screech, startling Eiji.
"Give it to me now."
Eiji rolled his eyes and snatched the parchment from Loki's hands.
==========
[Eiji Nangou]
[LV·5]
[Strength: SS·1134 → SSS·1409]
[Endurance: SS·1014 → SSS·1334]
[Dexterity: SSS·1278 → SSS·1499]
[Agility: SSS·1723 → SSS 1999]
[Magic: C·666 → B·733]
==========
"Ready to level up?"
Loki rubbed her hands together eagerly.
"Level up!"
Eiji answered without hesitation.
Not a trace of doubt or hesitation.
"Alrighty then!"
Loki immediately got to work, etching special symbols onto his back.
There might still be a tiny bit of room for improvement, but there was no point being greedy over such narrow margins. Tonight was the decisive battle against Evilus—every bit of strength counted before then!
"Done!"
The update was completed in no time.
==========
[Eiji Nangou]
[LV·6]
[Strength: I·0]
[Endurance: I·0]
[Dexterity: I·0]
[Agility: I·0]
[Magic: I·0]
[Development Abilities: Hunter (H), Spirit Healing (H), Swordsman (A), Escape (I)]
[Magic: None]
[Skills: Ten Years of Sharpening a Sword, Sword Heart's Valor, Charm]
==========
"Damn it, take this!"
Tione roared as she threw a punch.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Eiji swiftly dodged and glared at her.
"You leveling up so fast makes the rest of us look like trash!"
Tione cried indignantly. "I told you I'd beat you up if you leveled up too quickly! Otherwise, I won't feel better!"
"Let me punch you first!"
Finn's fist came down, knocking Tione to the ground.
"T-the Captain hit me! Spare the rod and spoil the child—the Captain must really love me!"
"...You've gotten even scarier, Tione."
Finn chuckled, dismissing Tione's delusions.
He looked Eiji up and down, his eyes filled with nothing but satisfaction.
"Just as expected. You said you'd level up in three or four days, and here you are."
"I look forward to the day you surpass us old-timers!"
Finn sighed with mixed emotions.
Unconsciously, that fragile little Level 1 from back then had leapt to become an upper-class adventurer no less capable than himself.
Never before had Finn felt so strongly that his decision to recruit Eiji had been the right one.
"Hey, I'm not old!"
Riveria stomped into the courtyard, her eyes narrowing sharply.
She was only a hundred years old!
Still young!
Still capable!
"Haha, I never said you were old, Riveria."
Finn laughed heartily.
Then his gaze swept over everyone before finally settling on Eiji.
"We'll hold the celebration party after the decisive battle. Sound good?"
"Fine by me."
A fierce determination burned in everyone's eyes.
Tonight was the night to end it all!
Whether it was the Familia's grudges or the crisis facing the Dungeon—this battle would settle everything!
...
Night finally arrived.
As night fell, countless large magic stone lamps illuminated the streets of Daedalus, turning the area as bright as day.
Guild employees set up barricades to keep civilians out of the district while numerous adventurers roamed the alleys. The sound of cargo wagons rolling over cobblestones echoed continuously.
"Speaking of which, what exactly is the Guild planning?"
"They said there's danger lurking, but who knows? The Guild's secrecy policy isn't exactly new."
"Since the pay for this mission is good, might as well take it. If anything goes wrong, the big Familia will handle it anyway!"
Conversations like these could be heard everywhere among ordinary adventurers.
"Hey, isn't that Hermes Familia? The one with that 'All-Rounder' member!"
"Whoa! That's Hephaestus Familia! Those are all high-class blacksmiths!"
Amidst the commotion, two Familias arrived one after another.
Leading the left group was a girl with slightly wavy aqua-blue short hair, wearing a white cloak. Her delicate face was framed by square glasses, giving her a scholarly air.
The leader of the other group was a half-dwarf woman in a tube top, carrying a greatsword over her shoulder with a radiant smile. Behind her followed a group of master craftsmen with formidable auras.
"Ganesha Familia! Ganesha Familia is here too! The faction known for having the largest numbers!"
"Is that Dionysus Familia over there? Since when did they have over a hundred members?"
The third arriving Familia boasted the largest numbers in all of Orario. Hundreds of members waved their banners while a stern blue-haired woman stood at the forefront, her presence chillingly sharp.
Meanwhile, a black-haired elf in white sacred robes also led her group forward.
Unlike the blue-haired woman who was surrounded by admirers, every member of Dionysus Familia cast cold glances at their captain—the White Priestess Filvis. They all kept their distance, creating a cursed-like empty space around her in the crowded plaza.
"Loki Familia is here!"
Someone in the crowd screamed excitedly.
From a distance, a jester's banner was the first to catch everyone's attention.
Following closely were the diminutive leader wielding golden and silver spears, the elven royalty in emerald sacred robes, and Orario's strongest dwarf warrior.
Behind them came the heretical Amazon sisters, the dazzling Sword Princess... and the God Slayer whose fame had surpassed even the gods throughout Orario.
"That's the Handsome Aurora..."
"Seeing is believing..."
For a moment, the entire plaza fell silent as countless eyes turned toward this dreamlike procession.
This was the strongest team Orario—no, the entire world—could muster.
Magnificent, powerful, flawless!
"Almost all the notable Familias are here."
Eiji adjusted his hood, scanning the numerous Familias in the plaza.
Many familiar faces stood among them.
"Fuhahaha! Finn spent days negotiating this! Ah, we haven't seen such a grand gathering since the last battle against the evil gods of Evilus!"
Loki bounced out from behind the group with her usual irreverent grin.
"Though Freya Familia still hasn't shown up, along with a few others."
Finn sighed regretfully.
If the Freya Familia could also lend their strength, then this dungeon conquest would truly be secured.
Among others, the newly promoted upper-tier familia—Hestia Familia—seemed to be absent due to urgent matters.
"Speaking of which, Loki, are you really okay with just running over here like this?"
Eiji turned around, his eyes filled with undisguised disdain.
That look was clearly regarding her as nothing but deadweight.
"What's with that look! I'm absolutely essential for conquering the dungeon!"
Loki flew into a rage upon seeing this.