Danmachi, Ch 236-240

### Chapter 236 - Give the Craftsmen an Extra Day Off

After the Adventurers gained some Rest Space, Tsuna’s Puppet appeared soon after.

“Tsuna!”

Tione came bounding up to the Puppet with her usual energy.

“Is your real body all right?”

“I’m fine.”

The Puppet’s low, calm voice answered as it shook its head.

“The Enhanced Species didn’t affect me much.”

Its gaze flickered toward Tione, who froze for a moment before understanding immediately.

There was something more to the story—but clearly, this wasn’t the place to talk about it.

Finn understood as well, so he simply cut in smoothly.

“First, open the entrance to the Rest Space. Let everyone rest. We all need time to recover. Weapons aside, there are plenty of wounds that still need treatment. This time, we’ll rest an extra day.”

“Captain! We don’t need to rest an extra day!”

The Adventurers who were being told to rest were the first to object. They felt fine—still in top shape—and believed keeping their momentum was best. Resting longer might dull their edge.

“I’d let you continue if you want,” Finn replied mildly, “but maybe look at your weapons before you say that.”

At his words, everyone instinctively glanced down at the weapons and gear lying on the ground.

After an entire day of intense combat, the blades were etched with fine cracks, their condition dismal. Their armor was in even worse shape—battered and chipped after shielding them from countless monster attacks. The sight alone told how hard their gear had worked to keep them alive.

With equipment this damaged, continuing the expedition would be reckless. They’d be walking into the Dungeon just to feed the monsters.

“I know you’re all still fired up,” Finn said, his tone calm but firm. “But you need to think about the condition of both yourselves and your weapons. Your injuries can be healed with potions. But those weapons and armors? They need craftsmen to repair them. You should think about their workload, too.”

That reminder instantly brought to mind the image of the craftsmen they’d seen that morning—dark circles under their eyes, looking like they were on the verge of collapse. If those poor souls saw the even more battered equipment they’d have to repair tonight, they’d probably drop dead on the spot.

A few Adventurers winced. They could almost see the craftsmen glaring at them, surrounded by a dark, murderous aura.

Indeed, no matter how excited they were, they had to consider whether the craftsmen could possibly restore all that broken equipment overnight.

Giving the smiths an extra day to repair everything wasn’t unreasonable. After all, the deeper levels of the Dungeon—especially beyond the 40th floor—would demand far more from their weapons. Ordinary blades would struggle to harm the monsters there. Shields and bows would become essential, and the quantity needed would be significant.

That meant more forging, more work, and more strain for the craftsmen.

With that realization, the Adventurers abandoned the idea of diving back in tomorrow. It was better to give the craftsmen time—to prepare and to rest.

If they pushed the craftsmen too hard, the resulting burnout would only disrupt their entire expedition later.

“Yeah… better to rest another day. I don’t even want to imagine what kind of look those smiths will give me after seeing what I did to my gear today.”

“Same here… I can already feel their resentment from here.”

Once the atmosphere had softened, Finn exchanged a look with the Puppet.

At his signal, the Puppet opened the entrance to the Rest Space.

The Adventurers picked up their weapons and stepped through one after another.

After a full day of battle, they needed the rest. And with the extended break to give the craftsmen time to recover, they could afford to relax a little. There was no need to waste expensive healing potions either—simple herbs would do for now. A day’s rest would be enough for most of their wounds to close.

Adventurers were natural hoarders; they knew how to ration their supplies.

When the last of the party had entered the Rest Space, the strongest members of each Familia exchanged glances. The Puppet then shifted the remaining few into an Alternate Dimension.

Finn and the others turned their attention toward Tsuna, who now sat calmly within that separate space.

Bete spoke first.

“Tsuna, you mentioned before that someone was targeting you. What did you mean by that?”

…Targeted?

Finn’s expression darkened, his gaze sharpening as it settled on Tsuna.

“The Dark Faction seems to have set their sights on me,” Tsuna said bluntly. “Those bastards have started probing again.”

“Again?”

Tiona’s eyes widened, her voice rising in disbelief.

“Don’t tell me those idiots didn’t learn their lesson last time!?”

“No.”

Tsuna shook his head slightly.

“This time, they did learn. They’re not like Valletta—they won’t come knocking on my door anymore. Until they understand my abilities—or can find a way to counter my spatial powers—they won’t be stupid enough to approach me directly.”

“They can’t risk it,” he continued. “They don’t know the limits of my space manipulation. They can’t afford to gamble.”

“So instead,” Tsuna said, his tone growing colder, “they sent an external Puppet—a fragment split from a Spirit embryo.”

“A Spirit!?”

Everyone’s voices rose in unison. Ais’s eyes went wide.

“How could a Spirit end up working with the Dark Faction?”

Bete blurted out the question that was on everyone’s mind.

In history and scripture alike, Spirits were known as extensions of the Gods—divine entities sent to aid mortals. How could one possibly associate with those seeking to overthrow the world?

“A proper Spirit wouldn’t,” Tsuna replied evenly. “But the one I’m talking about was corrupted. It was swallowed by a Dungeon monster—and then turned the tables, devouring the monster from within. What resulted was a Spirit Embryo tainted by the Dungeon’s malice toward Gods and mortals alike—a Reversal of the Spirit’s true nature. That kind of creature would align itself with the Dark Faction.”

As he spoke, Tsuna projected an image before them—a vision of the Spirit Embryo.

It resembled an unformed human fetus, glowing faintly green. Its face was soft, almost peaceful—until its eyes suddenly snapped open.

Gone was any hint of serenity. The infant’s gaze was filled only with loathing—pure, universal hatred for all creation.

The room fell silent. Everyone understood at once why such a being would side with the Dark Faction.

That thing was far too evil.

### Chapter 237 – The Purge Plan Against the Darkness

“Spirit Embryo… a fragment of a Spirit…”

Everyone murmured the name softly, eyes fixed on the projection of that fetus-like creature, its gaze overflowing with malice.

Yes—this was no divine being. It was a monster.

To Finn and the others, the Spirit Embryo was something entirely unlike the Spirits they knew.

“Tsuna, what do we need to be careful about?” Finn asked, pointing toward the projection. “I mean this Spirit Embryo in particular.”

“What you need to pay attention to,” Tsuna replied, “is its unique trait—it has a high degree of corrosiveness toward both monsters and humans.”

With a snap of his fingers, the image shifted. The projection now showed the Spirit Embryo infecting a stone giant.

They watched as the translucent membrane surrounding the embryo ruptured. The moment it touched the stone giant, its body sank in like water being absorbed into the rock. Veins spread rapidly from the point of contact, merging the Spirit Embryo into the stone giant’s body—and soon, the giant began to change.

The once roughly shaped form grew more defined, gradually taking on a feminine outline.

“When the Spirit Embryo completes its corrosion,” Tsuna explained, “it manifests a form resembling its original Spirit nature from within the host. Of course, the creature it corrodes also affects that external appearance.”

He paused, his tone turning grave.

“But there’s something even more dangerous—it can infect humans too. Its first target was me. If it had succeeded, I would’ve been completely consumed, losing all sense of self. That’s what everyone needs to remember. If you see it lunge toward someone, don’t touch it. Its corrosion works on all living things.”

Tsuna’s emphasis on “corrosion” carried weight. The thing’s invasive power was terrifying—its speed, even more so. Once it made contact, escape was almost impossible.

“That said,” he continued, “you don’t have to panic. It’s slow. Unless you’re immobilized, it’s not easy for it to reach you.”

“The only rule is simple—don’t touch it.”

“Of course,” he added, “that’s not the real issue. The real problem is that the Spirits hidden in the Dungeon have started working with the Dark Faction.”

That statement alone chilled everyone present.

“The Spirits collaborating with the Dark Faction’s Gods… that’s the real threat,” Finn said grimly, eyes locked on the projection of the Spirit Embryo. He raised his hand, pointing at the image.

“Tsuna, how much damage can something like this cause?”

“The one I faced was at least stronger than a normal Level 3—though not quite a Level 4,” Tsuna answered after a moment’s thought.

“But the one I encountered had a symbiotic relationship with the Spirit Embryo. More accurately, that Enhanced Species seemed to be part of the Dark Faction’s plan to infiltrate our Expedition, looking for someone unfamiliar among us. It wasn’t particularly strong, so it’s possible there are more powerful Spirit Embryos out there.”

He pointed at himself.

“The Dark Faction suffered heavy losses against me before. Now, they’re trying to find and eliminate me for good.”

That much was obvious to everyone. The Dark Faction’s methods hadn’t changed in the slightest over the years. Finn’s voice hardened as he stated their intent plainly.

“Those bastards…”

Tione clenched her fists, while Tiona’s expression darkened.

“Tione, Tiona—calm down.”

Tsuna stepped forward and took both their hands, his presence steadying their restless emotions. The sisters took a breath, regaining control—though they held tightly to his hands, unable to hide their worry.

“The Dark Faction just suffered two defeats,” Tsuna continued. “One against Astraea, and one against you two. Their current losses mean they won’t act rashly anytime soon. This time, instead of moving directly, they used a Spirit to attack me. That alone shows how weakened they are.”

“To wipe out the Dark Faction’s main force completely,” he went on, “we need to rip them out from the roots. Since they’re collaborating with Spirits, and both of their recent ambushes were staged inside the Dungeon, it’s clear their hidden bases must be there.”

“Finn, Gareth,” Tsuna said, turning to them, “last time you went to the Great Falls without weapons. They must’ve thought you were trying to lure them out—that’s why they stayed hidden. The reason for that…”

“The secret entrance concealed behind the Great Falls,” Finn interjected.

“Exactly. The Great Falls must hide a passage. And there are likely more, deeper still—like the ambush Astraea’s girls faced in the Large Tree Labyrinth. The Dark Faction has been digging tunnels beneath the Dungeon for years. I’m sure their network is far more extensive than we imagine.”

“If we want to wipe them out for good, we have to strike at these hidden access points connected to the Dungeon.”

“But of course,” Tsuna added, “considering how long they’ve been operating down there, those places will be filled with traps. Charging in recklessly would be suicide.”

He wanted nothing more than to launch a full-scale purge against them, but their current strength and preparation were still insufficient.

To annihilate the Dark Faction, they’d need to seal off every route of escape and crush them in one strike—while ensuring their own safety against retaliation.

A detailed investigation would be essential.

The purge had to be total. Once they acted, they needed to break the Dark Faction’s spine completely—so that they’d never recover, never strike back.

“Besides requesting official support, we’ll also need to gather strength,” Tsuna said, his eyes sharp as he met Finn’s gaze.

“If we’re going to conduct a full annihilation, we’ll need coordinated strikes across multiple fronts. I can’t do that alone.”

“Annihilation war… yeah, that’s the best approach,” Finn agreed with a nod.

Tsuna’s plan was the right one. Against a coalition of the Dark Faction and corrupted Spirits, they couldn’t afford to leave even a single survivor. Once they identified every entrance to their hideouts, they’d hit all of them at once—exterminate them entirely.

“We’ll have to fine-tune the details,” Finn added, “but I agree with your direction. It’s the right path.”

Both men understood: accumulating strength and pinpointing the Dark Faction’s hideouts would take time.

“Tsuna,” Finn asked, “did you handle everything outside?”

“Yeah. No problem. The Enhanced Species and the Spirit Embryo are both dealt with. The Dark Faction won’t notice a thing.”

“Good.”

Having decided on their course, Finn knew what came next. They would strike hard and without warning—one perfect blow before the enemy ever realized it was coming. No chance for the Dark Faction or the Spirits to fight back.

### Chapter 238 – I Need a Hug

After ending their talk about the Alternate Dimension, everyone returned to the Rest Space.

Tiona and Tione followed Tsuna back to his room.

Tiona immediately voiced her worries, looping her arms around Tsuna’s neck and pressing her cheek against his affectionately.

"Tsuna, Spirits are said to possess incredible magic power—legend says they’re second only to the Gods. Being targeted by something like that sounds like big trouble, doesn’t it?"

Tsuna paused to think. He couldn’t lie to Tiona about this one.

"It really is troublesome. The one I encountered today was a Spirit Embryo—a being partially absorbed by an Enhanced Species. Because those monsters have the trait of Cannibalism, I didn’t end up facing a full Level 4 Golem. Otherwise, things would’ve been far more complicated."

He emphasized his point.

"When I say ‘troublesome,’ I mean that I couldn’t have dealt with that Enhanced Species easily, nor could I have quickly controlled the situation. If I’d slipped, the Spirit might’ve captured my information."

"So… your information hasn’t been exposed yet?" Tiona asked, eyes wide in surprise.

"It hasn’t," Tsuna replied with a shake of his head.

"The moment I realized the Enhanced Species was targeting only me, I knew someone was pulling the strings. So my first move was to hide every trace of information—using monsters to block all data and signals. I made sure nothing that happened here could be leaked outside."

"But you still killed the Golem, didn’t you?"

Tiona frowned. Even if the information was blocked, once the Golem and its Spirit Embryo were destroyed, wouldn’t that alone give everything away?

"Yeah, how could you possibly hide the fact that both of them died?" Tione added, clearly troubled.

"Normally, you’d be right. But my case is… a little different."

Tsuna smiled faintly. A cup suddenly appeared in his hand. He loosened his grip, letting it fall and shatter across the floor. Then, in his other hand, a pocket watch appeared. He clicked the button, and before their eyes, the shattered fragments began to move in reverse—reassembling themselves until the cup was whole again, resting in his palm as if nothing had happened.

The sight was like a magic trick. Tiona and Tione both froze, staring in disbelief.

"T-That’s… time reversal!"

Tione’s face showed pure shock. She had seen it with her own eyes—the reversal of time. The broken cup had truly returned to its original state.

She quickly caught on.

"So, you used this same method to restore the Golem and the Spirit Embryo?"

"Exactly."

"But doesn’t that count as trespassing into the Gods’ domain? Tsuna, won’t they notice you?"

Reversing time—bringing the dead back to life—was undoubtedly meddling in the divine realm. If Tsuna had revived both the Golem and the Spirit Embryo, that meant he had interfered with life and death itself.

That realization made Tione even more anxious.

Being targeted by the Dark Faction or the Spirits was bad enough. But being noticed by the Gods themselves? That would be far worse.

Tsuna, however, only chuckled.

"Tione, the Gods can’t extend their reach into the Dungeon. The Golem was a monster, and the Spirit Embryo wasn’t a complete lifeform—it doesn’t even fall under the Dungeon’s control. I’ve sealed every possible channel of information. Tell me, who’s going to come after me?"

Tione blinked, then thought it through carefully. He was right.

The Golem would be categorized under Dungeon monsters.

The Spirit Embryo would be considered part of the Spirits’ domain.

No matter how you looked at it, none of it pointed back to the Gods. Even if manipulating time violated divine law, as long as the Gods never confirmed it, Tsuna would remain untouched.

"Phew… You nearly scared me to death."

Now that it all made sense, Tione finally relaxed.

"If anyone found out about this and spread it around, you’d be in huge trouble."

True enough. If what Tione said ever came to pass, Tsuna would be in serious danger.

But Tsuna had already accounted for that.

"That’s why I blocked all information flow. The barrier outside doesn’t just stop transmission—it also distorts perception. I made sure no one was watching before taking action."

"I reversed the deaths of the Golem and the Spirit Embryo, restoring everything to its prior state. The Spirit Embryo is still sealed inside the Golem’s Magic Stone. Everything is exactly as it was before—an illusion within an illusion."

"Even if the Spirits suspect something, the fact remains that the Embryo hasn’t activated. Without clear evidence, they’ll only harbor doubts, not certainty."

Every detail had been accounted for in Tsuna’s plan.

As long as they were merely suspicious, they would still need to verify it—and that, he wasn’t worried about. The only consequence was that he’d need to be more cautious when entering the Dungeon again. Until the Spirit threat was fully resolved, his Puppets would have to lead the way. A hassle, but manageable.

"As long as you’re confident," Tione said, seeing the calm assurance in Tsuna’s expression, her nerves eased.

"Seriously though, you need to take it easy sometimes, Tsuna. My heart can’t handle this kind of stress."

"Yeah, seriously!"

Tiona, slower to react, quickly chimed in.

"Just trust me," Tsuna replied with a small grin.

Both sisters puffed their cheeks at his teasing tone.

"Of course we trust you."

"But the kind of monster tools you pull out all the time are terrifying."

Tione had trusted Tsuna’s ability long before she realized her feelings for him. His power had always been extraordinary—beyond reason. But that same power often touched forbidden realms, the kind of power even Gods feared.

Like space.

Like time.

Now that her heart had steadied, Tione’s playful side surfaced. To soothe what tension still lingered, she spread her arms toward him.

"So, I need a warm hug—to calm my heart."

"Of course."

Tsuna blinked, then smiled softly as he pulled Tione into his arms.

### Chapter 239 – Tsubaki: I’ll Come Back Later

Maybe it was because things with Tsubaki had finally turned physical, but Tsuna had grown much more at ease when facing Tiona and Tione.

Tione’s heart was completely tied to him—her worries came from the kind of love one holds for someone precious.

Tiona’s affection, on the other hand, was far purer. Compared to Tione’s more subtle expressions, Tiona’s feelings were open and direct. Treating him like family—that was her way of showing love.

And Tsuna, of course, genuinely cared for both of them.

Perhaps it was because they had met early on, but he truly liked their honesty and cuteness.

Knock, knock, knock!

The sound of knocking snapped Tsuna out of the lingering scent of the two sisters.

The door opened, and Tsubaki stepped inside. She was the only one with a key to his room.

"Yo~ Still lost in the tender warmth of Tiona and Tione’s embrace?"

A teasing smile curved Tsubaki’s lips.

"No, I’m just… a little happy," Tsuna said with a faint laugh. "It means a lot, knowing they were that worried about me."

"Isn’t that only natural? They care about you—really care about you. Of course, so do I."

Tsubaki crossed the room in long strides until she stood before him. Her tone was light, but her eyes gleamed warmly as she answered his sentiment in her own way—leaning forward and planting a quick kiss on his lips.

"Well? Did you feel your big sister’s love?"

Tsuna paused, then smiled, nodding.

"Yeah, I definitely felt it."

Tsubaki laughed, sitting down beside him. She gently pinched his youthful cheek and leaned close to his ear.

"I heard all about your little show outside today. You took down an Enhanced Species with one blast, didn’t you?"

"It spread through the Familia that fast?"

"Those Adventurers were just talking about you. You beat a monster far stronger than a normal Golem—and in such a flashy way that everyone’s gossiping. You can’t expect them to keep quiet after that~"

Tsubaki had overheard the Adventurers’ chatter herself. Even if some parts were exaggerated, if even a fraction of what they said was true, the scene must have been spectacular.

"It’s not like I wanted to fight that way," Tsuna explained. "It was the only option—I couldn’t match its raw strength, so I had to get creative."

He then explained the situation with the Enhanced Species and the Spirit Embryo hidden within it.

"Pfft!"

Tsubaki couldn’t hold back a laugh.

"You really are unlucky—getting targeted by those spiteful bastards so soon."

Her tone mixed sympathy with amusement, as though she pitied him and mocked the scheming creatures both.

"But you’re amazing too. Even with just fragments of information, you’ve got them so scared they’re scrambling to take you down."

"I’d guess it’s partly because of what happened last time with Valletta’s ambush."

"Ah, Arachnia… She’s just as unlucky."

Tsubaki remembered the last time Valletta had tried to ambush Tiona and Tione, only to end up captured by Tsuna instead. Valletta had clearly been confident in her plan to seize the twins—but she hadn’t accounted for one unpredictable variable: Tsuna’s sudden appearance.

Tsubaki knew he’d only gone because the sisters had called for him. If not for that, Valletta probably would have succeeded.

But fate hadn’t been on her side.

And given Tsuna’s abilities—unique among all Adventurers in Orario—no one could stand against him, especially those who relied on underhanded tactics.

So yes, Valletta had been extremely unlucky.

"That’s exactly why I said those people are vindictive. They never forget a loss. Those shadowy types will wait patiently, then strike when you least expect it."

Tsubaki scoffed at the Dark Faction’s underhanded ways.

Still, she knew better than anyone that once they had someone in their sights, they would stop at nothing. Even Tsuna’s spatial abilities might not be untouchable forever. She offered a firm warning.

"Tsuna, don’t underestimate them. They’re a bunch of rats, but they move frighteningly fast. They’ll tailor plans around your powers—so next time, don’t be surprised if they’ve already found a way to counter your space magic."

"Hmph. If that’s how they want to play, then I don’t mind showing them a few fun little tricks of my own."

Tsuna clearly took her warning seriously—but his tone also carried an unmistakable edge. If they wanted a game, he’d make sure they learned what being targeted truly meant.

Tsubaki could already imagine it. Whatever "fun little tricks" Tsuna had in mind, they definitely weren’t anything the Dark Faction would want to experience. If it came to that, their organization would probably end up in ruins again.

"Tsuna, how’s the situation at the forge?" he asked suddenly, realizing Tsubaki had likely heard the gossip from the smiths stationed there.

"My smiths are about to lose their minds," she said with a sigh. "In just one day, all the weapons and gear they repaired are falling apart again. It’s even worse than before. But that’s just how things are down in the deeper floors—those monsters are brutal. You can’t really blame the Adventurers for it."

Not everyone could afford high-grade or Unbreakable weapons.

"This Joint Expedition is really just a test run, a way to gauge the situation in the deeper floors. It’s normal for things to be a mess at first. Next time, before the expedition, I’ll make sure they forge extra sets—sturdier, more durable weapons for rotation."

"I’m sure the smiths who want to make a name for themselves will love that," Tsuna said. "They’ll finally get a chance to craft without worrying about material costs."

Tsubaki chuckled. "Exactly. Give them a challenge like that, and they’ll jump at it."

"Finn gave them an extra day off," Tsuna added.

"An extra day?" Tsubaki blinked, then laughed. "In that case, I’d better go remind them not to stay up all night again. If they keep burning themselves out, half of them will go insane by morning."

She could already picture their despairing faces as they stared at the pile of broken weapons. Sighing softly, she leaned forward and kissed Tsuna’s lips once more before standing up.

"I’ll head over now. I’ll come back later tonight."

*Chapter 240 — Are We Going to Challenge “Udaeus”?*

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With Tsubaki’s reminder, the despairing smiths who had been drowning in their endless work were finally pulled back one by one.

At the very least, the repair time had been extended from a single night to an entire extra day. And one full day was more than enough to mend even the most battered weapons and armor—no longer would they face the hopelessness of “never finishing in time.”

Thanks to that extra day, the craftsmen didn’t have to stay up all night again. They could rest early once darkness fell, and after a full night’s recovery, throw themselves into repair work tomorrow in their best condition.

“Everyone’s really starting to push themselves,” Alise said softly.

Through this expedition, she’d witnessed firsthand the unrelenting effort and fighting spirit of the Loki Familia’s adventurers. That collective determination was contagious—she could feel it stirring within her as well.

“Kaguya, let’s go train too!”

“Calm down.”

Hearing Alise’s impulsive declaration, Gojono Kaguya sighed helplessly. Sometimes Alise’s passion completely took over her brain, and when that happened, Kaguya had to rein her in—or Alise would end up doing something outrageous.

“Don’t just get swept up by the atmosphere around you,” Kaguya warned. “Remember, we’re on a Joint Expedition. This isn’t like when you’re in the Training Space or Challenge Space—you can’t just act on impulse.”

“And don’t forget—you’re the Captain of the Astraea Familia now. You still remember what happened the last three times we were in the Dungeon, don’t you? You don’t want a repeat of that, right?”

“!?”

Alise’s expression changed instantly. The ambush from the Dark Faction last time had left a deep scar. It was her decision during that expedition that had nearly driven their Familia into disaster.

“Kaguya, it wasn’t all Alise’s fault last time.”

Lyra, unable to bear the sight of Alise’s guilt-ridden face, stood up to speak in her defense.

“I didn’t say it was,” Kaguya replied evenly. “I’m reminding her that we’ve faced death before. We were ambushed, and if not for sheer luck, we’d still be buried in the Dungeon. No—luck wasn’t the only thing that saved us. Don’t forget—it was Lady Astraea who relinquished her divine authority so we could survive.”

Kaguya wasn’t trying to blame Alise.

That previous expedition hadn’t been anyone’s individual mistake. They had followed their plans precisely, without reckless decisions. Every move had been sound, and yet—they’d still fallen into a trap. That was why they needed to be even more cautious now.

Lyra fell silent, because she knew Kaguya was right. On an expedition, vigilance meant survival.

“By the way, you’ve all heard about what happened to Tsuna, right?”

Kaguya shifted the topic, glancing at Alise.

“Mhm.”

They’d all heard the rumors—how Tsuna had encountered an Enhanced Species deep within the Dungeon.

“His luck is truly terrible,” Kaguya said, her tone heavy. “He went alone to seek a chance to Level Up, only to stumble upon an Enhanced Species—a monster rarely seen even in the deep floors.”

The others listened quietly to the strange undertone in her voice.

“Kaguya, are you saying someone set him up?” Alise’s brows furrowed as she emerged from her dark memories, her face growing pale.

“Yes. Enhanced Species are far more aggressive than ordinary monsters. They actively target adventurers. Given how scattered the parties were at the time, there’s no reason it would have gone straight for Tsuna alone.”

Kaguya had heard the accounts circulating among adventurers—Tsuna’s solo battle against the Enhanced Species. From the very start, something about it didn’t add up.

“For something like that to happen… it’s obvious. Someone was targeting him.”

“The Dark Faction.”

The grinding of Alise’s teeth was audible in her voice.

Rage simmered inside her. Her temper could be as volatile as the flames of her magic, and just hearing that name—the Dark Faction—was enough to make it flare. They were the ones who’d nearly annihilated her Familia before.

Kaguya’s eyes gleamed faintly red, a trace of killing intent surfacing. They had been ambushed once already, driven into a corner, nearly wiped out by the Juggernaut those bastards had unleashed. She remembered that debt all too well.

But remembering also made her painfully aware of their weakness.

“Alise,” she said quietly, “the reason I told you to calm down is because we’re still on an expedition. What we need right now is to recover and prepare for tomorrow’s campaign—not burn ourselves out training. Training is preparation before an expedition.”

“Now, we focus on restoring our condition—and achieving the real purpose of our expedition.”

“Purpose?”

Alise blinked, staring at her in confusion.

“Isn’t our goal to see the deeper floors?”

“That’s the objective of the expedition,” Kaguya corrected. “Our purpose is to break past the wall of Level 4.”

She emphasized those last words.

Alise froze, then slowly realized what she meant.

Level 4 was indeed a high rank. In Orario, a Level 4 adventurer was the backbone of any major Familia. But they were only the backbone—not the pinnacle. Level 5 was where the truly elite stood.

In Orario, Level 5 marked the beginning of the first-class adventurers.

“So you’re saying… we’re going to challenge the Floor Boss!?”

Alise’s eyes widened in disbelief.

This woman had just lectured her for wanting to train—and now she was suggesting something far more extreme!

The others were equally stunned, mirroring Alise’s expression.

After a long moment of shock, Alise’s gaze dropped to the ring on her hand. It was an unconscious motion, but as she looked at it, understanding dawned—this wasn’t a hopeless gamble.

She raised her head sharply, meeting Kaguya’s eyes.

“It’s not impossible.”

“If we seize the right opportunity, we can defeat Udaeus. But… not with just the few of us.”

“Exactly.”

Seeing Alise come to the same conclusion, Kaguya nodded. Their thoughts were aligned perfectly.

Just the Astraea Familia alone wouldn’t be enough.