Su Hai, standing still with unwavering composure, tightened his grip on the Sun Blade with his left hand while his right hand held the hilt. His body lowered slightly into a combat stance, and his eyes sharpened with intense focus.
Yellow streaks of lightning crackled around him, illuminating the passage. The sharp, crackling sound echoed through the air, reaching Lilyluca Arde's ears.
Witnessing this extraordinary scene, Lilyluca couldn't hide her astonishment as she gazed at Su Hai's figure, which now seemed larger than life.
In an instant, Su Hai unsheathed his blade and swung it through the air. Thunderous bolts of yellow lightning erupted forward, tearing through the corridor and engulfing the advancing goblins.
The air crackled with electricity as the goblins were instantly charred into blackened husks. Their bodies collapsed to the ground, consumed by flames, leaving behind magic crystals of various shapes and sizes that clattered onto the stone floor.
Lilyluca, still hidden beneath her white cloak, stood with her mouth slightly open in shock. Her mind raced to process the overwhelming power she had just witnessed.
"Lily, I'll leave the rest to you."
Su Hai sheathed his blade with a casual motion and turned back toward Lilyluca with a smile, as if the feat he had just performed was nothing more than a simple exercise.
"Ah—y-yes! Right away, Su Hai-sama!"
Startled from her daze, Lilyluca quickly regained her composure. She glanced at Su Hai with a mixture of awe and apprehension before taking out a large sack and swiftly gathering the scattered magic crystals.
"So strong… If he finds out, I'm as good as dead!"
As she hurriedly collected the crystals, Lilyluca's heart pounded with fear. The thought of trying to steal the Sun Blade from such a powerful adventurer now seemed utterly suicidal.
However, a faint sense of relief accompanied her fear. Unlike most adventurers who treated supporters like disposable tools, Su Hai's kind demeanor made her feel slightly more at ease.
"Su Hai-sama, I've collected all the magic crystals. We can move on."
After a few moments, Lilyluca returned to Su Hai's side with her sack full of magic crystals. Her posture was more respectful, and her gaze more cautious.
Having witnessed Su Hai's strength firsthand, her natural wariness toward adventurers intensified. Years of mistreatment and betrayal had taught her never to trust anyone easily—especially someone as powerful as Su Hai.
"Don't worry. You must be tired as well. Let's take a short break before moving forward," Su Hai said gently, his tone soft and understanding.
Noticing Lilyluca's heightened tension, Su Hai sighed inwardly. He understood the hardships she had endured, and her cautious behavior was a natural result of her past experiences.
Lilyluca's body tensed at his words, and for a brief moment, a flicker of warmth appeared in her eyes. Yet, just as quickly, her walls of mistrust returned.
Still, outwardly, she nodded and obediently sat down at the side of the corridor to rest.
After resting for about fifteen minutes, the two resumed their journey, descending deeper into the dungeon.
On each subsequent floor, Su Hai made quick work of the monsters they encountered, barely breaking a sweat. In no time, they reached the familiar 15th floor.
"Lily, I need to handle something here, so I won't be going any further."
"Head over to that safe area and wait for me. I might not be able to protect you once I start."
Su Hai pointed toward a raised platform near the edge of the large cavern, the same location where Ais Wallenstein and the Loki Familia had observed him during his last visit.
"Rider, I'm counting on you to keep an eye on the girl."
Su Hai glanced subtly to his left and sent a mental message.
From the shadows, Medusa—also known as Rider—watched the scene with a hint of amusement in her violet eyes. Hidden from sight, she stood ready to act at a moment's notice.
"Heh… I don't really want to, but since it's the little master's request, I suppose I have no choice."
"Don't worry—I'll protect your little lover."
She added the last part with a teasing tone, clearly enjoying the opportunity to fluster Su Hai.
Ignoring Rider's playful jab, Su Hai focused his attention back on Lilyluca.
"Understood, Su Hai-sama."
Although she had no idea what Su Hai intended to do, Lilyluca wisely chose not to ask. She simply adjusted the massive backpack on her shoulders and made her way toward the designated safe zone.
Su Hai waited until she was safely out of harm's way before activating his Enhancement Magic. White lines of energy appeared across his body, enhancing his strength, speed, and reflexes to their limits.
With a powerful stomp, he sent a resounding shockwave through the cavern, causing the ground beneath him to crack and echo throughout the 15th floor.
The noise reverberated through the dungeon, attracting the attention of countless monsters. Their heightened senses picked up the disturbance instantly, and waves of creatures began converging toward Su Hai's location.
Su Hai remained calm, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he awaited the oncoming horde.
"What the hell is he doing? Does he have a death wish?!"
From her vantage point, Lilyluca watched in horror as more and more monsters poured into the cavern.
"I need to get out of here before he dies and leaves me as bait!"
Her instincts screamed at her to run—to flee before she got caught in the inevitable bloodbath. Yet, despite her fear, something held her back.
"But… Su Hai-sama doesn't seem like the reckless type. Could he actually have a plan…?"
Conflicted, Lilyluca clutched the straps of her backpack tightly, torn between self-preservation and the faint glimmer of hope that Su Hai might somehow survive the approaching onslaught.
As the first wave of monsters drew near, Su Hai took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Bring it on… Let's see how far I can push my limits today!"
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