Chapter 899 Clearing The Monsters

"Is that the ruined Firelink Shrine? So, this is what it was used for. Let's move!"

Once everyone had gathered, they decided not to set off immediately but instead planned to return to Orario. Their supply of magic swords and other resources had dwindled significantly, so a trip back to restock was necessary.

Moreover, their souls had been significantly strengthened during this expedition, and it seemed they were on the cusp of leveling up.

Facing the Lord of Cinder, a being bound to be extraordinarily powerful, without adequate preparation would be unwise.

With that, the members of the Loki Familia packed up their belongings and prepared to leave. Since the road outside was blocked by monsters, they had to clear the way.

This provided an opportunity to check out the surrounding situation while preparing for their return.

Upon learning of the Loki Familia's plans to head back to Orario, other adventurers who also wanted to return quickly gathered. Following the Loki Familia was the safest option, even though other groups had also formed so-called escort teams to make the journey.

Despite the relative safety of these escort groups, casualties were still common. The Loki Familia had never joined these groups, but their reputation and strength made traveling with them significantly safer. Naturally, when the Loki Familia set off, others scrambled to follow.

A large group soon formed, moving forward in a grand procession. However, the Loki Familia wasn't one to let others take advantage of their protection for free, and they demanded a fee for their services.

This didn't surprise the adventurers at all. Without hesitation, they paid up. Everyone understood that while the Loki Familia was generally benevolent, they weren't naive. They would often help injured individuals during dungeon runs, but offering protection to a group required compensation.

The Loki Familia had no qualms about earning some extra cash, especially since they couldn't stand idly by if someone under their watch was attacked on the way back. While they would provide assistance, having a little financial incentive certainly didn't hurt.

"Wow, there really are a lot of monsters. I thought the rumors about the massive monster gathering here were exaggerated!"

When the Loki Familia first ventured into the world of Dark Souls, the monster density hadn't been this high. It was only thanks to the guidance of others that they knew where to go.

Over time, however, the dungeon seemed to have unleashed monsters en masse, completely blocking the pathways. While they had heard of such situations before, few had actually witnessed it.

Only Bete and the guards had some idea of what to expect, but generally, even less experienced adventurers could handle such scenarios. Their presence was mostly a precaution.

"Lefiya, Riveria, clear these monsters out!" Finn commanded, uninterested in wasting time on small fry. He gestured toward the advancing creatures, signaling the two mages to take action.

Although the situation outside had devolved into chaos, the monsters, regardless of whether they were at Level 5 or 6, were no match for the Loki Familia.

With a wave of their hands, Riveria and Lefiya unleashed devastating spells. Their unmatched prowess in crowd control was on full display. Each took charge of one side, and their massive area-of-effect magic obliterated every monster on the entire floor.

"My God… just how strong are the Loki Familia members? These monsters included Level 5 ones, and they were wiped out so effortlessly!"

The adventurers following the group were dumbfounded. The sheer power of Riveria and Lefiya's magic left everyone, particularly the other mages who had been preparing to help, completely stunned!

Their jaws hung open in disbelief, their faces a mixture of awe and shock. The might of their magic was beyond words, it was nothing short of extraordinary.

The terrifying magic swept through the entire floor like a storm, utterly overwhelming. Once Riveria and Lefiya had finished clearing the area, the group naturally pressed onward.

Currently, it wasn't just this floor, but nearly twenty floors above, including the eighteenth floor, had been overrun by monsters. The eighteenth floor, which is originally a relatively safe zone with few monsters, had served as a temporary refuge. It was developed painstakingly by various Familias, with goods sold at significantly marked-up prices.

Even the magic stones fetched a lower price there compared to Orario, though transportation costs likely played a role.

No one had much to say about it, but due to the monster uprising, the floor had been entirely abandoned.

"What a waste. Oh, right, wasn't Bors furious about all this? Turns out the entire eighteenth floor was affected the same way!"

Everyone shook their heads in regret. A great deal of effort and resources had gone into developing the eighteenth floor, only for it to now lie in ruins.

Yet, with the opportunities for growth in the new world, adventurers had shifted their focus. After all, the potential for advancement in abilities was far greater now.

In this new world, traditional stat bottlenecks could be overcome by acquiring souls. With this newfound avenue for growth, the role of the dungeon had diminished to some extent.

That said, certain materials from the dungeon, like magic stones, still held value. However, adventurers were increasingly inclined to hunt otherworldly creatures to obtain souls for personal enhancement rather than deal with dungeon monsters.

Glancing briefly at the abandoned eighteenth floor, the group continued upward. Upon reaching the seventeenth floor, they encountered a recently respawned Goliath.

With its power capped at Level 4, the group barely paid it any attention. In the end, Tiona lazily loosed an arrow, striking its magic stone dead center and instantly vanquishing the monster.

The Goliath vanished in a flash of light.

The scene was almost laughable, as what was once a fearsome floor boss had been reduced to an afterthought. For adventurers of the Loki Familia's caliber, dispatching a floor boss was now mere child's play.

Those watching from the sidelines were stunned into silence. Normally, only members of powerful Familias could deal with floor bosses directly, while others resorted to bypassing them. Yet here, the Goliath had been defeated with a single shot. It was downright humiliating for the monster.

Some even empathized with the Goliath. Putting themselves in its place, they couldn't help but think: If I were the Goliath, I'd probably be furious too.

From there, the journey was uneventful. Though they encountered a significant number of monsters, Riveria and Lefiya handled them effortlessly.

A single spell from either of them was enough to wipe out an entire floor's worth of enemies. Thus, the group exited the dungeon with little effort.

"This isn't my first time venturing with the Loki Familia, but they really treat it like a casual outing."

One adventurer remarked, "Their mages are absolutely terrifying. Just one spell is enough to clear out every monster on a floor."

News of the Loki Familia's incredible prowess spread rapidly upon their return to Orario. The entire city buzzed with tales of their power.

These rumors only deepened the growing curiosity. People began to wonder: What kind of treasures or secrets exist in that other world to allow the Loki Familia to grow so strong, so quickly?