The colossal, mountain-like black skeleton, having lost its mana supply, rapidly dissolved into ash, spreading outward across the ground in silent ripples. The surrounding black tombstones also emitted faint cracking sounds before completely collapsing, leaving no trace of their original forms. As the sky full of bone ash settled, all that remained in its place was a massive, deep purple Magic Stone—several sizes larger than those dropped by any normal Level 6 monster—along with that pitch-black greatsword, now shrunken considerably and resting quietly on the ground.
The entire Floor Boss room was devastated, littered with the small Magic Stones and various drop items left behind by the Spartoi, silently bearing witness to the tragic intensity of the battle that had just concluded.
Aiden looked at the loot scattered across the ground, feeling a bit of a headache. I had originally planned to let the system absorb all these Magic Stones directly as soon as the battle ended, but now that Riveria and the others are still present, doing so would obviously be inconvenient. Still, picking up so many fragmented Magic Stones and drop items by myself is going to be far too troublesome.
"I'll help you."
The battle having ended, Riveria and her group walked over. Seeing the loot scattered everywhere, Lefiya immediately volunteered, actively helping Aiden gather the items. Tiona, on the other hand, circled him with sparkling eyes, excitedly asking a barrage of questions. One moment she was touching the armor on his body, and the next she wanted to examine the pitch-black greatsword, acting exactly like an overly curious big cat.
Riveria appeared much more composed. She walked up to Aiden and asked with a serious expression, "Where are your companions? Are you the only one in the Focalors Familia here? Coming to challenge a Floor Boss alone is far too reckless."
Ais remained silent, merely walking quietly over to Udaeus's massive Magic Stone. A thoughtful light flickered in her golden eyes, clearly having learned something from the battle just now.
Seeing her like this, Riveria reached out somewhat helplessly, stroking Ais's soft blonde hair as she scolded with mild exasperation, "Don't copy him. I absolutely forbid you from challenging a Floor Boss alone."
"You're mean, Riveria."
Ais instantly drooped, looking like a puppy that had just been scolded by its owner as she muttered softly.
"...At the very least, you must go with your Familia companions to ensure your safety after the battle."
Seeing Ais's pitiful appearance, Riveria ultimately softened, helplessly adding one last condition. As soon as the words fell, Ais's eyes instantly brightened again, her spirits fully restored.
With the enthusiastic help of Lefiya and the others, the massive pile of loot was quickly cleared away. The group checked their statuses before joining forces to begin the journey back to the surface. Along the way, they stopped at the 18th Floor's safe point to pick up Robin, Tifa, and the rest of the party who had been resting there. Seeing Aiden walking safely alongside the executives of the Loki Familia, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Emerging from the cold, damp Dungeon into the warm sunlight and bustling surface world, the group felt as though a lifetime had passed. It was already afternoon, and the genial sunlight painted all of Orario in a soft, golden hue. However, Aiden quickly noticed that the city seemed a bit different from usual today.
The crowds on the streets were several times denser than normal, practically reaching the point of shoulder-to-shoulder gridlock. It wasn't just adventurers; massive numbers of citizens dressed in various outfits, merchants, and even families with children had flooded the streets. Even more eye-catching were the delicate lanterns painted with moon motifs hanging in strings beneath the eaves of nearly every building.
"What's going on?"
Firefly blinked her unique gradient eyes, looking curiously at the extraordinarily lively streets before them. They had only been in the Dungeon for three to five days; how had the surface suddenly become so festive?
"Ah, I remember now! If I'm not mistaken, today is the Lunar Festival," Lefiya, who was walking beside them, suddenly clapped her hands and exclaimed in sudden realization.
"Lunar Festival?"
Aiden, Firefly, and Castorice looked at Lefiya in confusion.
Lefiya then remembered that the people in front of her had arrived in Orario less than a year ago; it was perfectly normal for them not to know about this ancient festival. She explained with a slightly embarrassed smile, "The Lunar Festival is a celebration that has been passed down ever since the gods descended to the lower world. It's held right on time every year. I heard it's a festival where the moon is worshiped as a deity to pray for protection against monster attacks."
"I see."
Aiden nodded in understanding. So it was a holiday similar to Monsterphilia. He glanced back and saw that both Firefly and Castorice wore expressions of curiosity and anticipation. He couldn't help but smile and suggest, "Since the timing is right, let's all head back to rest up first, and then we can come out together tonight to explore."
"Mhm!"
Firefly immediately agreed with delight.
"Then we'll be heading back first as well. See you tonight," Lefiya and the others waved goodbye to Aiden's group.
After bidding each other farewell, the two parties separated at a street corner, each returning to their respective Familia headquarters.
When night fell, the daytime hustle and bustle not only didn't fade but instead intensified. The entirety of Orario was brilliantly illuminated by countless lanterns, making it as bright as day. The streets and alleys were packed with a bustling crowd. Adventurers had taken off their armor and changed into comfortable casual clothes, while merchants spared no effort in shouting their wares, selling all sorts of peculiar moon-related goods—from moon-shaped pastries to clothing printed with moon patterns, presenting a dazzling array of choices.
The air was filled with the aroma of food and the joyous laughter of the people, painting a vibrant picture of peace.
"Wow, it's so lively! As expected of Orario."
Furina's heterochromatic eyes sparkled, her face full of unconcealed excitement as her little head darted left and right, intensely curious about everything around her.
"Over here, over here! Let's go eat that grilled squid!"
Her eyes suddenly lit up as she spotted a grilled squid stand emitting an enticing aroma. Without any room for argument, she grabbed Aiden's hand and sprinted toward it.
"Hey, slow down!"
Aiden stumbled slightly from her sudden pull, managing a helpless laugh as he hurriedly kept up.
Watching the two figures almost instantly blend into the crowd, Robin, Tifa, and the others walking behind exchanged glances, catching a hint of helpless amusement in each other's eyes.
The stall owner was an experienced middle-aged man. He skillfully flipped the sizzling squid on the iron griddle. The rich aroma of the sauce mixed with the fresh sweetness of the seafood, permeating wildly through the lively air and seducing the taste buds of every passerby.
"Boss, I want the biggest portion!"
Furina held her hand high in the air, afraid that others wouldn't hear her. Her heterochromatic eyes sparkled under the lantern light, shining even brighter than the stars in the sky.
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