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After another intense fight with a horde of [Goblin Elites], the hero's team was just about to start moving ahead again when they were hit by an unexpected announcement.

[Team 'Crimson Witches' have entered the final floor of the 'Goblin's Den'!]

For a moment, most of them couldn't help but doubt their eyes and ears.

"Did someone just… overtake us?"

"Impossible!"

Their disbelief wasn't unwarranted. After all, even if certain other teams had been able to 'outshine' them before, the members of 'Radiant Light' were still the first team to make it to floor two. As widely acknowledged talents, most of them refused to believe that they could 'lose' to others so easily.

"Just what kind of shortcut did that stupid team luck into?" Risa couldn't help but curse.

It hadn't been that long since they started treating this 'game' seriously, and not just as something they did because Darryl found it interesting. But that didn't mean she was okay with being 'stepped on' by others.

Most of her teammates also shared the same thoughts, and even their usually 'slow' tank was quick to nod in agreement.

"I've looked into that team before, they're fairly decent. Above average, even. However, compared to us, they're nothing special." Oak sneered. "But with their luck so far… it's really not impossible for them to just stumble across some lucky shortcut to bypass all the fights."

While the rest of his team was arguing, Darryl frowned impatiently. "There's no point in speculating about these things and wasting time. Follow me!"

The mere fact that he took the lead again instead of letting his team 'independently practice' as he had before, however, showed how disturbed he really was.

At this point, he didn't care anymore about his team's path being far more difficult than he initially expected.

Darryl knew better than anyone else the importance of conquering this dungeon. And just the thought of someone else doing it before him put him in a bad mood.

After all, while Emilia might be one of his underlings, she hadn't yet joined the 'Radiant Light' officially. Moreover, the 'progress announcement' before would also soon become public knowledge. At that time, even if most people were wise enough to realize it must have been because of luck, some fools would undoubtedly wonder if the 'Crimson Witches' were somehow better than his 'Radiant Light'.

If such a thing really happened… Darryl knew he would be forced to do things he usually would prefer not to, including things that would harm his own underlings.

The hero frowned impatiently. 'Let's just hope that Emilia is smart enough to figure out the hidden meaning behind my message earlier. Otherwise…'

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Meanwhile, Emilia and her team were staring at the giant black door in front of them while silently preparing their hearts.

After all, even if they'd had almost no difficulty getting through the second floor, this would be their first real 'boss fight' in Arcadia, and they didn't dare underestimate it.

This was especially true for Emilia, who knew very well just how 'excited' the boss must be to see them. Even if she'd done her best to prepare the rest of her team for the encounter, she didn't dare to be overconfident.

Cynthia coughed. "Relax. Compared to the devastated state that they should have been in under normal circumstances, your team's excellent condition should allow them to perform just as well as the hero's."

Although there was some truth in her partner's words, the crimson-haired elf only hummed lightly. 'They might be better in terms of level and in-game skills, but it's a fact that the hero's party suffered a lot in this fight, and all of them are excellent in their own way.'

The raven-haired girl sighed. "That's true, but don't forget, most of their loss in that fight came from the fact that they expected being able to rest after fighting with the two 'mini-boss' enemies, and didn't imagine that the boss chamber in front of them would open on its own."

In fact, with the boss being able to observe almost any event in the dungeon that he wanted, it was only to be expected that he would be watching the fight taking place right outside his door. And while he was restricted from entering the second or first floors, nothing prevented him from taking a walk in other rooms on the same floor.

To be able to take down the boss even after facing such an 'ambush' showed just how capable the hero's team could be when they were all serious, but Cynthia didn't believe Emilia would do any worse.

'Well, thank you for the encouragement, anyway.' The crimson-haired girl couldn't help but smile. "Let's go!"

Danielle and the others obviously didn't have any objections, and followed Emilia cautiously.

"The big doors probably mean there are 'boss' monsters on this floor, so we have to be careful." Robin warned.

Danielle nodded. "Going by how those 'Goblin Elites' fought, there probably won't be many enemies, but they should be pretty tough."

The drill-haired girl motioned for Robin to push open the door. And as its burdened hinges creaked open, everyone tightly gripped their weapons anxiously.

"Here it comes."

"Be ready!"

The giant door seemed to gain some momentum on its own as it continued opening all the way, and even slammed into the thick dungeon walls with a bang. Then, the dark chamber in front of them was slowly lit up with torches.

What faced them was not the charge of some giant boss monster, but a giant horde of goblins with jagged yet sharp dagger-like teeth exposed in their hideous grins, and saliva dripping from their maws.

It looked as if the monsters had been waiting for and looking forward to the arrival of some delicious buffet, and although none of them made a sound, even Danielle felt her heart shudder momentarily in terror.

They might have been able to 'easily' handle a few goblins, but what was facing them were hundreds of [Goblin Elites]… could they really do it? Was it too late to retreat or log out?

In fact, they could still do it since the combat hadn't yet 'started'.

Unfortunately, just as the thought crossed Danielle's mind, one of the two 'extra large' goblins in the horde slammed its staff on the ground, and a giant fiery barrier instantly sprang up to surround them.

And then, unexpectedly, the other 'giant' goblin spoke, though his words filled Danielle with both apprehension and disgust.

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