Danmachi: Strongest Familia

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Deep within the dungeon, Riveria led the expedition team closer to the surface. The group appeared weary, their faces drawn from carrying loads of magic stones and monster materials to the brink of their strength.

After nearly thirty floors of relentless movement, all while keeping alert for lurking monsters, the strain was evident. It was, in some ways, more grueling than even their encounter with Balor.

But the end was near. They could now see the entrance to the 18th floor, and the familiar scenery brought a palpable sense of relief. Once they reached the safe zone, Riveria finally signaled the group to stop and catch their breath.

Their destination was Orario, where they would sell their materials for a fair price. Riveria had no intention of letting their hard-earned profits be diminished by local brokers on the 18th floor, who paid far less.

"Not much time to rest. Let's be quick and aim to reach Orario before dusk," Riveria urged.

Despite their fatigue, no one complained. The thought of home gave them renewed energy. They set up a simple camp in the forest, determined not to spend a single coin in Rivera's market.

"Eina, come with me. Let's check on Goliath and see if he's respawned. We'll need to deal with him quickly if so."

Leaving the others to manage the campsite, Riveria and Eina made their way to the 17th floor. It had been some time since they had passed through, and there was no telling if the Goliath had respawn.

For someone as powerful as Eina, backed by the Sol Familia, such a foe was little more than a training exercise. Facing a floor boss of Goliath's size was an effective way for Eina to gain experience and bolster her growing reputation as a mage.

Riveria had begun treating Eina as her successor, given her talent. Even though there were now other skilled mages in the Familia, Eina held a unique status, a hidden connection with Sol that made her stand apart. Not to mention, Eina was like family to Riveria—practically a younger sister.

When the two arrived on the 17th floor, they were immediately confronted by the hulking form of Goliath as he charged toward them with thunderous steps.

The ground trembled beneath his massive strides, yet Riveria and Eina stood calm, unfazed by the sight of the towering monster.

Eina began chanting steadily, while Riveria positioned herself a safe distance away, observing closely.

With a burst of magical energy, flames engulfed Goliath's form, the wind amplifying the blaze until the stench of seared flesh filled the air.

Despite his burning body, Goliath continued his charge toward Eina, leaving a fiery trail with each thunderous step. His screams of pain echoed throughout the chamber, and the entire 17th floor seemed to shake with his fury.

To their surprise, Goliath's charred skin began regenerating with a new, obsidian-like layer, and his aura intensified. With a violent swing of his arms, he dispelled the flames surrounding him.

"Is this…an upgrade?" Riveria murmured, taken aback.

Neither of them had encountered this transformation before. Goliath, now even stronger, had recovered almost all visible injuries, smashing a nearby boulder with a swipe of his enormous hand. The debris flew directly toward Eina.

Reacting swiftly, Eina unleashed a breath of flames that devoured most of the incoming rubble. Yet, one or two fragments evaded her attack, picking up additional force from the flames as they hurtled toward her.

The reduced number of projectiles had intensified their potency, a mixed blessing for the moment. Eina, despite her draconic resilience, knew she couldn't withstand too many direct hits from a boss of Goliath's level.

Dodging the stones, she took cover behind a large rock, just as another barrage sent sparks flying as they crashed against her makeshift shield.

Then, Goliath's wide mouth opened, gathering an intense concentration of energy. Within seconds, a spherical energy blast formed, poised to strike. It was too late to stop it.

The energy cannon tore through the ground, carving a deep scar as it hurtled toward Eina's hiding spot. The blast overwhelmed her defenses, striking her directly and hurling her backward.

Eina's body collided with a distant rock wall, and as she landed, rubble cascaded over her, partially burying her beneath its weight.

"Damn it—get lost!" She managed to shove aside some of the debris, but as she emerged, she found herself face-to-face with Goliath's imposing form.

He loomed over her. The flames that had burned him before only seemed to have fueled his anger. As a creature of the dungeon, Goliath existed solely to battle, and now, with vengeance on his mind, he aimed to punish Eina for her audacity.

From her vantage point, Riveria felt a pang of concern but resisted the urge to intervene. Eina hadn't signaled for help, and this was her battle. Riveria would only step in if her life was genuinely in peril.

Yet, watching Eina struggle against the LV5 boss, Riveria couldn't help but question if she'd pushed the little girl too hard. Eina was immensely talented, but at LV4, she was still at a disadvantage against a foe of this magnitude.

"Move, body!" Eina gritted out, forcing herself to stand despite the sharp pain in her back and the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

As Goliath's enormous hand raised above her, casting a dark shadow, Eina felt a cold fear settle in. The sensation of death loomed close.