Higashikata Renjiro
Level: Lv.1
Status:
Strength (e-439 → e-461)
Endurance (f-352 → f-373)
Dexterity (d-512 → d-539)
Agility (d-520 → d-567)
Magic (s-998 → s-999)
Skills: Starry Abyss, Crown of Insight
Magic: Paimon Time, Genshin Descent, Starfire's Flowing Light
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The moment Lumine completed her mission deep within the Dungeon, she used the teleport anchor placed earlier and safely returned to the top floor of the Tower of Babel.
Aether immediately dispelled Starfire's Flowing Light, returning fully to his original body.
Afterward, when Freya's divine blood dripped down, and the parchment containing the updated Falna was handed to him, Aether didn't even bother looking at the slight increases in the first four attributes.
His attention was focused entirely on the most important change,
Magic.
And finally,
"The last one point is complete."
A satisfied smile appeared on Aether's face.
To be honest, pursuing perfection like this was partly due to his own obsessive personality.
But the truth was, whether one reached the peak or not often came down to the smallest difference.
Aether understood himself well. From the beginning, he knew his natural talent was limited. He never imagined he could be like that red-eyed rabbit boy, likely the reincarnation of an ancient hero, who broke past mortal limits in such a short time.
It was only thanks to the Genshin System that he had even reached s-999 magic.
Without Starry Abyss constantly restoring mana, and without the sustained drain of Paimon Time, Genshin Descent, and Starfire's Flowing Light, just look at the other four stats.
Despite nonstop fighting above his level, despite going twice into the Deep Floors while still Lv.1 (and his avatars only Lv.2),
Even with all that,
His total physical growth beyond magic hadn't even reached 2000 points.
It was easy to imagine,
Without the system, if Aether were just a normal adventurer…
Even if he survived safely,
He would have blended into the masses of mediocrity.
But reality didn't deal in "what if."
And the reality was, Aether had a path that reached further and faster than most.
Which meant,
"I also have to pick a much harder Great Achievement to match."
Originally, since defeating the pseudo-Lv.4 Lambton Snake didn't count as an achievement, Aether had set his target on the Floor Boss near the 17th Floor, the Goliath.
But its hatching period was still far away.
Time waits for no one.
"There are two possible solutions."
First: Ask a certain troublemaking god to release their divine power in the Middle Floors.
That would trigger the Dungeon to spawn a Strengthened Floor Boss, a far stronger variant.
It would absolutely qualify as a Great Achievement.
But doing that knowingly… was the same as treating every adventurer in Orario as expendable.
Aether wasn't willing to cross that line.
So,
Second: "Go deeper and hunt the second Floor Boss."
Not long ago, while active in the Deep Floors, Lumine confirmed the existence of the Third Floor Boss, Udaeus on the 37th Floor's Throne Room.
But Aether absolutely couldn't handle that one.
Potential Level: Lv.6.
In the original timeline, even the Sword Princess Ais Wallenstein, empowered by her Revenge Princess skill, had to battle for hours to earn her rise from Lv.5 to Lv.6.
Aether had no reason to aim that high just to get himself killed.
So between Udaeus and Goliath,
"Once I finish preparations, I'll head to the 27th Floor to hunt the Amphisbaena, Amphisbaena."
"Potential Level: Lv.5. The only Floor Boss that roams."
"If I can kill it, I'll definitely earn my Great Achievement and rise to Level 2."
And to add,
"Honestly, with my current strength, even defeating Goliath in a straight-up solo fight might not count as a Great Achievement anymore."
Aether could feel that much.
After explaining his plan to Freya, so she wouldn't be caught off guard, she asked just one thing:
"Do you want me to send escorts to support you?"
When she heard he planned to solo the Amphisbaena, her eyes lit up with unmistakable anticipation.
And her offer was kind,
But,
"No need."
Aether shook his head.
"If I fail, I can just teleport back. A high-level escort won't change that."
"Besides…"
His voice lowered, serious.
"I have trump cards I don't want too many outsiders to see. Not even Familia executives."
A clean refusal,
Yet phrased in a way that also flattered Freya's position.
She understood perfectly,
And enjoyed it anyway.
"Then I'll wait right here for your triumphant return."
"Of course…"
Freya narrowed her eyes, deliberately using a tone like teasing a child.
"If my little brother comes back beaten and crying, I suppose big sister could comfort you… very thoroughly."
"Whether you win or lose, there will be a special reward waiting."
Aether was instantly silent.
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