The Dungeon's inner structure was a maze, complicated, varied, and ever-changing.
Unlike the first seventeen floors, beginning with the first Safe Zone, the 18th Floor, the Dungeon's environment shifted from mere "cave chambers" into natural mountain terrain.
Yes, even the "White Mist Withered Woods" on the 10th Floor was, at its core, just a larger cavern.
So, when the expedition set out again, the dozens in their party had to first make their way toward the towering World Tree at the very center of the 18th Floor.
Because the staircase down to the next level lay directly beneath that massive trunk, hidden among its sprawling roots.
At that moment,
"According to the grouping arrangement I made earlier, we'll form squads of three to four. Except for those escorting the supply convoy, everyone else will split up and proceed as directed."
"Yes."
"Understood."
Beneath the World Tree, after clearing a wave of monsters that had scurried up from below, Finn issued his orders.
From here on, the entire expedition would advance toward the ultimate goal, the 24th Floor, in a formation like stars encircling the moon, with the supply convoy as the center.
Truthfully, were it not for the need to train those Level 2 and Level 3 adventurers, the ones the dwarven veteran Gareth bluntly called "saplings", their progress would have been far faster.
But rushing ahead without training them would be shortsighted.
On one hand, novices without expedition experience were only more likely to make mistakes the deeper they went.
On the other hand, if they didn't use this chance to nurture them, what then?
Mortal adventurers, even the long-lived elves, could not endure like the gods.
The "Three Commanders" had to think not of today, but of decades, centuries, into the future.
At the very least, by the time they themselves stepped back, the Loki Familia would still have the strength to endure.
In this, their farsighted development policy already far surpassed other factions.
And all of it was thanks to a certain Kansai-accented, narrow-eyed goddess who always hid more than she let on.
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"So, we're in the same squad, Lumine-san, and you too, Aether."
"P-please take care of me."
Unsurprisingly, Aether and Lumine hadn't been separated.
Alongside them, Finn assigned Lefiya Viridis, a Level 3 elf mage, and Lulune Louie, a newly promoted Level 2 healer.
The latter, a red-eyed girl with waist-length black hair braided into a plait behind her, a white headband resting over her bangs.
She was a year older than fifteen-year-old Lefiya, though a centimeter shorter than her 156 cm height.
Both were shy, introverted types.
Lefiya, at least, had already spent the past three days with Lumine and was used to her.
Lulune, however, wasn't part of Ais's "inner circle." She did occasionally chat with Lefiya, though.
"Let's all relax and get along," Aether said, knowing Lumine could handle socializing but stepping in anyway. "With a mage and a healer, our squad will have much more flexibility."
It was a polite formality.
The truth is… Lefiya's still a bundle of potential that hasn't bloomed. A mage with great firepower, sure, but if she freezes in fear and breaks her chant, that could be fatal.
As for Lulune… I don't know her well, but I do know she's a support-focused healer. And this is her first expedition. I can't expect much combat strength from her.
So when necessary, I'll use "Genshin Descent." It's not something I can, or should, hide, and it'll let me test how much my "Starry Abyss" skill has improved its mana recovery.
While Aether silently planned, Lumine was already chatting breezily with Lefiya and Lulune, drawing out nervous smiles and helping them relax.
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By the way, Finn's "stars around the moon" formation resembled the Survey Corps' formation from Attack on Titan's early arcs.
A dispersed arrangement that both trained the saplings and provided wide-area coverage, ensuring maximum safety for the supply convoy.
Aether's four-man squad had been assigned to the "left mid-wing."
Finn's reasoning was clear: the [Twin Stars] siblings were highly mobile, Lefiya offered strong ranged support, and Lulune could provide healing to nearby squads.
Meanwhile, Bert and Ais had been stationed closer to the convoy's flank, the two most mobile top-tier adventurers in the Familia, ready to respond to emergencies at a moment's notice.
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Whoosh~
As the squads filed down the staircase beneath the World Tree, threading through its colossal roots, they finally stepped onto the 19th Floor.
The view opened wide before them, revealing the breathtaking sight of a vast underground jungle.
The Great Tree Labyrinth.
This terrain stretched across several floors below.
If the first seventeen floors had been a miner's cavescape, this was survival in the jungle.
The 18th Floor had been a gentle appetizer.
Now, they were in harsher lands.
Bzzz~ Bzzz~ Bzzz~
The high-pitched hum of beating wings cut through the air, the sound source racing down toward the expedition.
In an instant, dozens of adventurers, including Aether, looked up.
"It's a Swallowtail Dragonfly."
"Watch out for its poison."
"Mages, archers, prepare!"
From nearby squads, commands rang out. Adventurers moved, readying spells and arrows.
Yet Finn, the other commanders, and even Level 4s like Raul, Anakitty, and Alicia… did nothing.
They were testing the saplings.
"Lefiya?"
Just as Aether expected, the elf girl was trembling violently, her chant breaking before it began. If not for Lulune steadying her, she would have collapsed outright.
Teeth chattering… she won't be able to cast at all.
Though, ironically, maybe that's for the best this time.
Scanning the field, Aether raised his eyes again to the incoming threat.
All this for just one Swallowtail Dragonfly? At least five mages are already chanting… what an overreaction. It'll interfere with other attacks and waste energy needlessly.
So, while others panicked, he and Lumine remained calm, stepping to shield Lefiya and Lulune.
In a fight where overkill is certain, there's no need to pile on. Better to protect the rear and prevent accidents.
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