His stats told the story clearly.
By the end of Floor 6, he had reached Level 18. Strength climbing to 35, Agility to 32, Vitality to 36, and Intelligence to 40.
Skills developed through constant use. Tactical Command reached Rank D, providing fifteen percent better party coordination when he gave orders, which significantly enhances the effectiveness of the team's strategies during battles.
Equipment has been upgraded to the highest level of quality. A Dragon-Forged Longsword that works well with ice.
Guardian's Chainmail gives him resistances all over the place. The boots of Swift Movement enhanced his mobility.
It's everything he needed to be a noble warrior.
The new floors also significantly changed the dynamics of their relationships.
Instead of always calling him "rookie," Marshal started calling him "Lucian" sometimes. She asked for his tactical opinion rather than simply giving commands.
They fought together as equals instead of as teachers and struggling students.
Her bond rose to 2.5 Hearts, and real respect took the place of forced service.
Glacielle's pride in how far he had come was clear to everyone. She watched him with clear admiration, and the physical contact grew naturally.
Holding hands while walking between floors. Touching shoulders during breaks, her instincts to protect got stronger.
"I won't let anything hurt you, my master," she said more than once, and he believed every word.
Her bond grew beyond the system's normal maximum, going beyond mechanical limits into something more real.
...
The doors to the boss chamber on Floor 7 were even more impressive than those on Floor 3. Inside was the Crystal Warden, a huge crystalline golem with a Level 25 rating.
A pure tactical challenge with no room for mistakes.
Before they went in, Marshal said, "This one is all yours, Lucian."
"I'll only step in if you're about to die. Show me what you've learned in the last week."
This was the ultimate test of everything the dungeon had taught him.
When the boss came to life, Lucian didn't charge in without thinking. He spent two full minutes just watching how the attacks worked, figuring them out, and planning how to get to them.
Marshal nodded in approval with patience.
The Crystal Warden reflected all magic but was vulnerable to physical damage. Minions were the weak points that, when destroyed, damaged the main body.
"Glacielle, freeze the minions in place!" Lucian starts giving orders. "Marshal, break them up with thermal shock! I'll attack the boss when he's weak!"
Then everything went perfectly. The boss changed tactics in the middle of the fight and called in more minions to defeat them.
Without getting frozen up, Lucian changed his plans and called for area-of-effect bursts and strategic kiting.
Lucian had briefly synchronized with both warriors at the same time when the Warden fell. The three power surges lasted only a few seconds, but they were long enough for a coordinated finishing blow that broke the crystalline core.
[Boss Defeated: Crystal Warden]
[Lucian Level 18 → 20]
[Glacielle Level 17 → 19]
After that, Marshal walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder for the first time. Physical contact she had never initiated before.
"Today... you've proven to me that you've fought like a REAL commander would do," she said simply. "You're a rookie no more but a proud leader."
"I'm proud that I can trust you from now on, my master." Marshal then bowed at him. "From now on, I pledge my allegiance to you only."
She really meant the title and allegiance this time, not the sarcasm or obligation of before.
Lucian gulped, and he could hear his own scream behind his head. He finally did it.
That son of a bitch fucking did it!
[Bond Level Increased: Marshal 2.5 → 3.5 Hearts - Major Milestone]
[Relationship Status: Loyal Lieutenant]
In a rare show of affection, Glacielle wrapped her arms around him. "I knew you could do it!"
"You're the best, Master!" She laughed for the first time, and it made Lucian blush right away.
"Well, uh, I—" His words got interrupted when she kissed him on the cheek without thinking, and then she stepped back, realized what she did, and blushed.
"A-Ahh! I'm sorry!" Glacielle lowered her head. "I acted recklessly and lost my composure."
"That was a rude act from me...!"
"Don't apologize like that, Glacielle." Lucian giggled and then gently pulled her back. "I actually liked how you did that to me."
"Master..."
They looked at each other for a long time before Marshal cleared her throat. "Ehem!"
"I'm still here, you know...?" Marshal then sighed. "Better save it for camp and privacy."
"Ahh!" Both Lucian and Glacielle flinched, then they apologized right away to Marshal.
They all laughed together for the first time since they met.
...
Floors 8 and 9 were the last steps before the final challenge.
Enemies are now level 28, where they had to solve complicated puzzles that tested everything they had learned. Environmental traps could kill them in seconds if they weren't careful.
Lucian chose to prove himself on Floor 8 by fighting a Dragon Phantom. He chose to fight the Level 28 mini-dragon construct by himself while his warriors watched.
Ten minutes of hard fighting with everything he knew. Winning was based on skill, not luck or borrowed power.
Synchronization with Marshal got a lot better. Before, he could only handle ten percent of her power, which almost broke him.
With the Dragon Breathing foundation, he could handle twenty-five percent of her power. He held it for a full minute without falling down.
Progress that can be seen, measured, and proven.
Glacielle showed him the best way to use their bond. Frost Bond Resonance was only possible because their bond had grown so strong.
Their combined ice magic froze a whole room full of enemies in one deadly attack.
When Floor 9 was completed, Lucian reached Level 24.
Glacielle achieved Level 23 as well.
The boss dropped items, and the treasure chests provided him with a full set of epic-tier gear. His gold had increased to over 15,000 coins, along with mastery of various fighting skills.
The boss room on Floor 10 was the biggest one yet.
In the middle was a statue of an old dragon that was at least forty feet tall. As they approached, the statue activated with a grinding sound and a surge of magic.
Ancient Dragon Guardian. Level 35. The culmination of every lesson from every previous floor.
Lucian calmly assessed the situation, even though there was a gap. "We've practiced for this, and now... we're ready!"
Marshal and Glacielle believed everything he said. There was no doubt in either warrior's face.
The fight was huge in scale. There are several phases, each of which tests a different part of their growth.
There were elemental attacks that required precise dodging and countering. The summoned phase brings back mini-bosses that players have already defeated.
The enraged phase combines all the elements into an overwhelming attack.
Lucian called for defensive formations to ride out the storm. He gave out targets quickly during the add phases.
When the Guardian charged up for its final attack, he saw the opening.
"ALL-OUT ASSAULT NOW!"
Final attack with all resources used. The huge structure froze because of Glacielle's Frost Bond Resonance.
Marshal's Solar Execution broke through defenses that were already weak. Lucian's synchronized final blow hit the core.
The Ancient Dragon Guardian fell.
[DUNGEON COMPLETE: RUINS OF SEARING FANG CONQUERED]
[MASSIVE EXPERIENCE GAINED]
[Lucian Level 24 → 27]
[Glacielle Level 23 → 26]
The rewards were overwhelming.
Ten thousand gold.
Legendary Equipment Box allowing choice of one legendary-tier item.
Master's Proof Token certifying dungeon completion.
Permanent twenty point increase to all stats.
A new skill called Dungeon Conqueror providing ten percent bonuses in all future dungeons.
Then the special message showed up.
[SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT: First Dungeon Conquered]
[Prophecy Progress: Significant advancement detected]
[Master has proven dedication to growth through sustained effort]
[Warriors have witnessed genuine commitment to improvement]
[SPECIAL REWARD GRANTED: Emergency Summon Orb RESTORED]
[You may summon Third Warrior]
[Guaranteed SSS-Rank Summon Available]
[Note: This summon will complement your current party composition]