Ride the Wind!
At the very last moment before the Steel Armguard's barrier vanished, Roy activated the Gale Boots' special effect, raising his Agility to Rank B.
With a sharp burst of wind, his body shot forward like a gale, darting wildly through the cavern.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Amphisbaina's azure flames chased closely behind him. Roy didn't dare slow down.
If even a trace of that inextinguishable blue fire touched him, his condition would plummet—and death would not be far behind.
As expected of a floor boss, Amphisbaina's combat instincts were no weaker than the enhanced species.
Several times, Roy tried to lure its attacks toward the cave entrance so the flames would blast open the blocked passage. But each time he approached that area, Amphisbaina's breath would instead strike the upper walls.
The melting rock only flowed downward, further sealing and thickening the obstruction.
Five minutes later, perhaps because the special fuel produced by its dragon liver had run dry, the azure flames finally ceased.
Roy had been running at full speed for just as long. He panted heavily, sweat pouring down like rain. Without stamina potions, he would not even be able to stand now.
"ROOOAAARRRR—!!"
Both dragon heads roared thunderously, the soundwaves reverberating through the cavern.
Roy's expression changed. He remembered that Amphisbaina possessed the ability to summon monsters.
Sure enough, the cavern walls shattered as large numbers of monsters poured out. Countless shapes also emerged from the depths of the lake—it was the native monsters of the 25th floor.
They filled the area densely, no fewer than those controlled earlier by the enhanced mermaid—and their numbers were still increasing.
Gradually surrounded, Roy's face darkened.
Was this really where he would die?
"—Wind of Light!"
A crisp, melodious voice rang out.
Countless emerald light orbs blasted open the blocked passage. The glowing spheres shot through the cavern and rained down around Roy, annihilating nearby monsters.
That precision—barely missing him—could only belong to one person.
"Mr. Roy!"
A golden figure dashed through the cave entrance. Daphne and Cassandra followed closely behind.
Roy felt no surprise upon seeing the three of them. If she would extend a hand to strangers, there was no way Ryuu would abandon her own teammate.
However, none of the subjugation party adventurers were behind them. A faint sneer curled at Roy's lips.
If he had been alone, he would never have bothered with such thankless trouble. He would have left without hesitation.
Ryuu, sharp-eyed as ever, noticed his expression and quickly explained, "After you defeated the enhanced species, the controlled adventurers lost consciousness. Mr. Bors escorted them back to the 18th floor."
"…Fine."
Roy reluctantly accepted the explanation.
Transporting a large group of unconscious people back through floors 23 to 19—where monsters continuously spawned—was no easy task.
"ROOOAAARRR—!!"
With the passage reopened, and the two of them exchanging words in front of it, Amphisbaina erupted in furious, hysterical roars—forcing everyone's attention back to the true boss.
"Amphisbaina!"
Ryuu's face paled. The Astraea Familia had defeated Amphisbaina several times before.
But that had been when the Familia was at full strength—nine Lv. 4 members and two Lv. 3s on the verge of ranking up. Back then, defeating it had not been difficult.
Now, only she remained—a lone Lv. 4—alongside Roy, a Lv. 3, and two rookies.
"Roy, take Daphne and Cassandra and leave!" Ryuu made her judgment instantly.
Roy frowned. "What about you?"
"I've defeated Amphisbaina before. I know its attack patterns. I can escape it," Ryuu said, forcing herself to appear calm and composed as she once had been.
Roy clicked his tongue. Who was she trying to fool?
Having just fought it himself, Roy understood the terror of this floor boss.
If Ryuu stayed alone, she would die.
Even as they spoke, the dragon head with azure eyes began emitting blue flames again between its sharp fangs—its dragon liver had already replenished its special fuel.
Seeing this, helplessness flickered through Ryuu's sky-blue eyes. The boy was too perceptive.
"Please… take them and go," she said, clutching the hem of Roy's clothes. For the first time, a trace of pleading appeared on her usually steadfast face.
Anger flashed in Roy's eyes.
"Are you that eager to die?"
"I told you—I'll protect you all!"
Her eyes dimmed, but her resolve remained firm. Daphne and Cassandra, both Lv. 1, could not possibly return safely from this floor without protection.
They were the future of the Astraea Familia.
She, an old remnant, should step aside.
Throughout this expedition, she had deliberately nurtured Roy's leadership and trained the two rookies, helping them grow as quickly as possible.
If everything had gone smoothly, she would have continued walking beside Roy.
But if disaster struck, she would rather sacrifice herself to preserve the Familia's new generation.
Seeing the two pillars of the team arguing, Daphne and Cassandra stood frozen, at a loss.
With Amphisbaina's threat looming, Roy did not continue the quarrel.
He drew a deep breath and said firmly, "No. We're going to defeat Amphisbaina."
Ryuu stared at him in shock.
"What are you saying? With our strength, defeating Amphisbaina is impossible!"
Even when facing the enhanced mermaid controlling dozens of adventurers, she had not panicked like this.
The gap between Lv. 4 and Lv. 5 was enormous—even she would be crushed with ease.
"That's enough, Miss Ryuu. I am the commander of this expedition."
Roy's stern rebuke stunned her. Since they had met, he had never spoken to her in such a harsh tone.
"If you don't want to fight, you can leave."
He pointed toward the cavern exit.
He glanced at Daphne and Cassandra as well. "The same goes for you. But I will stay. Until Amphisbaina is defeated."
He raised his voice, echoing through the cavern.
"With this victory, we'll tell the entire world—the Astraea Familia still exists. Its justice still exists!"
His powerful declaration drowned out even Amphisbaina's heavy breathing.
As if sensing Roy's resolve, Amphisbaina did not attack the passage.
It understood.
This human would stay—and fight it to the death.
"Come on!"
Mad excitement blazed in Roy's eyes as he stared at the colossal two-headed dragon—the Floor Boss of the Water Capital, Amphisbaina.
The long-dormant ability—Adventure—activated.
Roy's overall abilities, recovery rate, luck, and various other attributes surged rapidly upward.
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