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In that fleeting moment, every trace of fear evaporated from Lefiya's heart. She threw herself into the fray, her voice weaving rapid chants that echoed through the Dungeon. When the final monster crumbled into wisps of black smoke, the elven girl felt her strength drain away. Her legs buckled, and she stumbled backward only to collapse into a warm, reassuring embrace she'd never known before.
"Well done," Yuto said, his tone laced with approval as he scooped Lefiya into his arms. Holding her in a princess carry, he strode forward with effortless confidence.
"Y-you rascal!" Lefiya sputtered, her pale cheeks flaring red from the overwhelming masculine aura enveloping her. Yet, the memory of Yuto tossing her mercilessly into a swarm of monsters surged back, igniting a mix of embarrassment and fury. She puffed out her cheeks, her small fists pounding his chest in a flurry. "You big jerk! What if those monsters had gobbled me up?!"
"Didn't I say I'd patch you up if that happened?" Yuto quipped, unfazed by her onslaught. Her punches barely registered against his sturdy frame. With a grin, he bared his chest, daring her to hit harder. "Is that all you've got? Too weak!"
"You… Are you a Minotaur or something? Why's your skin so tough?!" Lefiya huffed, her hands aching from the futile effort. Seeing no sign of discomfort on his smug face, she dropped her gaze and let out an exasperated whine.
"You're underestimating me," Yuto chuckled. "It's not just my skin that's tough." His arms tightened around her lithe, stocking-clad form, savoring the silky texture of her white thigh-highs. A spark of mischief lit his eyes. "Since you're here, how about joining me for a speedrun?"
"Eh? Speedrun?" Lefiya blinked up at him, her flushed face a mix of curiosity and confusion at the unfamiliar term.
"Blasting through to the middle floors and hitting Level 3 in one day," he explained nonchalantly.
"What?!" Her head whipped around, shock painting her features. Before she could muster a retort, Yuto whisked her away, moving like a whirlwind through the Dungeon's depths.
Floor 18… Floor 19… Floor 20… Floor 24…
His relentless advance left Lefiya gaping, her cute little mouth stretched wide in disbelief. Only now did it sink in that he wasn't joking. Yuto truly possessed the terrifying prowess to speedrun the Dungeon.
…..
Meanwhile, back at the Loki Familia's base, Ais, Tiona, and Tione finally clocked Lefiya's absence.
"Even Lefiya doesn't sleep in this late," Tiona mused, sprawled lazily across the table.
"She's usually so diligent," Tione agreed, her dark skin contrasting with her thoughtful frown. "And she'd never miss breakfast with Ais."
"Where could she be?" Ais murmured, her golden eyes narrowing. The gears in her mind turned, recalling how Lefiya had locked herself away after their last failed expedition, stewing in self-blame. A realization clicked. "Lefiya's been beating herself up over that failure. She might've gone to the Dungeon alone."
"So, the little elf ran off to train by herself at the crack of dawn?" Tiona's brow furrowed.
"Let's check her room first," Tione suggested, taking charge. She marched to Lefiya's door and kicked it open, revealing an empty space. The trio's expressions shifted; concern etched deep.
"This is bad," Tione sighed. "We need to head to the Dungeon. She's such a handful."
"Mm," Ais nodded, resolve hardening her gaze.
…..
Deep within the Dungeon, Yuto and Lefiya pressed onward.
"Which floor are we on now?" Lefiya asked, still cradled in his arms like a prized treasure.
With the Gate of Babylon raining treasures and the Sea of Life clearing their path, Yuto felt untouchable. Monsters fell in droves, yet their journey was oddly tranquil. He lounged atop the broad back of a modified beast, chatting casually with Lefiya, who squirmed in vain to break free from his hold. Every attempt was met with a subtle, teasing restraint, keeping her nestled against him.
Up close, Yuto found Lefiya more captivating than he'd imagined. Her silky hair slipped through his fingers like a dream, her sapphire eyes sparkled like gems, and her slender waist and long, stocking-wrapped legs radiated an alluring charm. Each time she stole a shy glance at him, only to bury her face in his chest, his pulse quickened, his hands growing bolder.
"Hey, what're you doing?!" Lefiya yelped, her heart hammering against her ribs. The unfamiliar warmth stirred a sweet, dizzying sensation she couldn't name. As an elf from the open-minded Viridis Forest, she lacked the haughty disdain of her kin, her kind nature making her a rare social butterfly among the Loki Familia. Yet, this closeness was uncharted territory for her.
Feeling an unprecedented sense of safety, her misty blue eyes softened, her tense muscles unwinding. Even her toes curled adorably in her little red shoes. "We're almost at the middle floors' final challenge," Yuto murmured, ignoring her flustered protests. His touch lingered, coaxing a faint, ambiguous shimmer into her gaze.
Floor 24's mightiest guardian loomed ahead: the Gem Tree, a crystalline sentinel of the wooden treasure hoard. Like Cadmus, the dragon guarding Camo's Spring on Floor 51, a beast so fierce it took multiple Level 5 adventurers to fell, this monster was no trifling foe.
The cavern quaked, roars splitting the air. From the dense forest emerged a crimson colossus standing six to seven meters tall, its raw power unrivaled in the Great Tree Labyrinth. It swung its massive arms, shattering earth, walls, and trees in a deafening rampage, leaving the terrain a scarred, chaotic mess.
Yuto, unfazed, cradled Lefiya as he danced through the fray, dodging the beast's thunderous blows with fluid grace. Then, in a blur of silver, his blade flashed like a dragon's dance.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Sword light carved through the monster's flesh, his speed and skill unleashing devastating strikes.
"Eek!" Lefiya squeaked, torn between helping and gawking. Before she could decide, Yuto had already disemboweled the beast, its hulking form collapsing in defeat.
"Primordial Runes!" he intoned, tracing symbols in the air with a single hand. Glowing runes flared to life, and a torrent of fire erupted, scorching the forest into a molten inferno. Under the might of ancient magecraft, every monster on the floor burned to cinders.
In that blazing moment, Yuto felt the surge; he'd reached Level 3, a feat born of soloing foes far beyond his rank, the fastest path to strength for any adventurer.
As the flames subsided, Ais, Tiona, and Tione arrived, their eyes wide with awe. They stood transfixed, gazing at Yuto and Lefiya amidst the ashes, a scene straight out of legend, the rise of a hero from a bygone age.
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