Beyond the Large Tree Labyrinth and the Great Falls lay the safety zone of Floor 28.
The greatest obstacle within the Great Falls—the Amphisbaena—had already been sent into a respawn cooldown a week ago by Bete, allowing the Expedition Team to advance at a much faster pace.
The trio of Level 2 Adventurers had also undergone thorough testing in real combat. The results proved the viability of this formation, and it would likely become the Familia's standard configuration for future Expeditions.
With a small, three-person unit, coordination was far easier. They could train and grow together, making it an ideal model for fostering growth within the Familia itself.
Aside from the standard three-man teams, there were also specialized units created to deal with specific types of monsters—like the young dragon that had appeared on Floor 13. Ordinary parties couldn't handle such a threat, so instead of forcing a small team into a desperate struggle, they adopted a more effective strategy tailored to each situation. The results spoke for themselves—the method proved highly practical.
This constant gathering of information from unknown floors allowed the Familia to build a more systematic understanding of monster behaviors, developing efficient counter-strategies for each unique weakness. As a result, the barrier to defeating monsters dropped, and the Adventurers gained a wider array of methods for combat.
This new, coordinated style of Dungeon strategy was something the Loki Familia had never attempted before. Yet their first try had already yielded such impressive results—it was a joy to witness.
When they finally reached the safety zone on Floor 28, the entire group was visibly elated.
Who wouldn't be, after seeing the fruits of their hard work?
All that relentless training in the Training Space and Challenge Space hadn't been in vain. Every ounce of effort had turned into real experience and strength that now pulsed through their bodies. Though they had seen progress before, this Joint Expedition had finally brought all of it to the surface.
"Excellent. That's enough for today's progress. Tsuna."
As Finn's command fell, a Puppet named Dye appeared before them. This time, however, it was slightly different—rather than remaining silent as usual, it spoke in a cold, deep voice:
"The craftsmen within the Rest Space have already prepared for weapon maintenance and the resharpening of arrowheads. As for food, preparations must begin now. The craftsmen aren't skilled at cooking."
"Eh? Tsuna, so your Puppet can talk?"
Tiona leaned forward in surprise, her eyes lighting up. This was her first time hearing Tsuna's Puppet speak. Unlike Tsuna's calm, gentle tone, the Puppet's voice was low and emotionless, completely distinct from its master's.
"During infiltration or covert operations, sound only increases the risk of detection. When unnecessary, I keep the Puppets silent. But the ability to speak was there from the start."
The Puppet had always been capable of speech; it simply had no need to use it until now.
It stomped lightly, and the ground beneath its feet split open like a zipper. Pulling it down revealed an opening—a passage into another space.
"No more talking. Let's head into the Rest Space."
"Understood. Everyone, enter the Rest Space in groups. Once inside, disarm and hand your weapons and equipment to the Hephaestus craftsmen for maintenance. Those skilled in cooking, please start preparing dinner. The rest of you, after disarming, head to your rooms and rest."
This was the first time their Joint Expedition had used this type of rest protocol, so Finn took extra care with the arrangements. After this initial run, future Expeditions could operate more smoothly, with each Adventurer handling the tasks that suited them best.
The Adventurers entered the Rest Space in groups of three.
Unlike the so-called "safe floors," which were never truly secure—since monsters could still respawn, albeit in smaller numbers—the Rest Space was entirely devoid of spawn points. It was filled with clean air and a comforting, peaceful atmosphere.
They emerged onto an open field of grass in front of a massive treehouse. Beside it stood an impressive brick forge—large and expertly built. Members of the Hephaestus Familia were bustling around, carrying materials and equipment, their faces alight with excitement.
"Oh! You're finally here!"
As the Adventurers paused in surprise, a bold, cheerful female voice called out. A woman in white robes and a crimson skirt strode toward them, a black eyepatch covering her left eye.
It was Tsubaki Collbrande.
She gave the returning Adventurers a quick once-over. Their presence was sharp, their expressions still tense from battle, and their armor bore the wear of intense combat. Clearly, they had been through a fierce fight.
Confirming this, Tsubaki turned and shouted toward the forge:
"Alright, you lot! The Adventurers are back from the front! Time to collect their weapons and gear!"
At her command, the craftsmen working inside the forge all came rushing out.
"Hey! Bring those weapons and armor here!"
"That's right! Not just weapons—get all the retrieved arrows, too! Set everything down, you can rest after that!"
The craftsmen were uncharacteristically enthusiastic.
Of course, their excitement wasn't simply because of the work itself. The new forge facilities were everything a craftsman could dream of—perfect furnaces, pristine workspaces, and the finest tools. The environment alone filled them with energy, eager to dive into their craft.
The Adventurers, on the other hand, were completely bewildered. Before they even realized it, their weapons and armor had been stripped away. They could only watch as groups of craftsmen clutched their gear, laughing maniacally—
"Kehehehehe!"
—and dashing into the forge with expressions that looked far more like villains than blacksmiths.