The Young Demon Lord and her Maid-Knight

As they approached the staircase leading to the second floor, the group paused to catch their breath and regroup. The flickering torches along the walls cast a warm but eerie glow over their faces.

Gilion turned to the group, his voice steady and authoritative. "Alright, team. We've done well so far, but let's take stock. Jimmy, give us the count. How many goblins have we killed, and what's the loot situation?"

Jimmy, still crouched and catching his breath, nodded. "We've taken down 33 fighters and 5 shamans. As for loot, we've collected 12 small mana crystals. It's a bit more than last time, but since we've got an extra person this run, we're slightly behind in loot per head. That said, this floor is almost identical to last time, so I'm guessing it'll stay that way until we hit the 10th floor."

Gilion stroked his chin thoughtfully, nodding. "That makes sense. If the pattern holds, the next floor should be similar to this one, and the third floor as well. Once we hit the fourth floor, we'll be entering the forest-type section of the dungeon. We'll make camp there before proceeding further."

Maia, who had been half-listening, turned to glance at Lilith and gave her a playful wink. Lilith smirked and winked back, appreciating the camaraderie.

Gilion's sharp gaze caught the exchange, and his brow furrowed. "Maia, pay attention," he barked, his tone firm.

"Yes, sir!" Maia replied quickly, straightening her posture and suppressing a grin.

"Good," Gilion said, turning back to the staircase. "Let's move out."

The group fell into formation, their boots echoing against the stone steps as they descended into the next level of the dungeon. The air grew slightly cooler, the faint hum of magic resonating through the walls, hinting at the challenges awaiting them below.

As they had suspected, the second and third floors were much like Jimmy had foretold—similar layouts and familiar enemies. The group moved through them efficiently, cutting down goblins and collecting mana crystals without much difficulty.

When they finally descended to the fourth floor, the environment shifted dramatically. The stone corridors gave way to a dense, lush forest, the air damp with humidity. The faint glow of bioluminescent plants illuminated the area, casting an ethereal light over the moss-covered ground.

Gilion raised a hand to halt the group, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Hold up, everyone. Look over there," he said, pointing to a small clearing nestled among the thick foliage. "That's a perfect spot to set up camp."

Jimmy pulled out a small device enchanted to measure time, glancing at it before nodding. "We've been moving at a nice pace—about 14 hours so far. We're ahead of schedule, but it's a good time to rest. No need to push ourselves too hard."

Gilion nodded in agreement, his tone approving. "Exactly. A rested team is a strong team. Let's get the camp set up here. Jimmy, scout the perimeter for safety. Maia, Lilith, help gather materials for a fire. Jess, Stella, start preparing rations."

The group sprang into action, each member falling into their respective roles. Lilith followed Maia as they ventured a short distance into the forest to gather dry wood and other kindling.

"This place is beautiful, isn't it?" Maia said, looking up at the glowing canopy overhead.

Lilith nodded, her eyes scanning the area for anything unusual. "It is. But it's strange too. It feels alive, almost as if the dungeon itself is watching us."

Maia chuckled. "That's the magic of these places. They're not just dungeons—they're ecosystems. Still, let's not get too comfortable. Forest floors like this usually hide tougher creatures."

"Noted," Lilith replied, gripping her weapon a little tighter as they worked.

By the time they returned to the clearing, Jimmy had secured the perimeter, and the others had laid out simple bedrolls and supplies. Soon, a small fire crackled in the center of the camp, casting a warm glow that pushed back the encroaching darkness of the forest floor.

Gilion sat down heavily, his shield propped up beside him. "Alright, everyone, eat up and rest. We'll need our strength for tomorrow. The deeper we go, the tougher it gets."

The group nodded, their camaraderie evident as they shared stories and jokes over their simple meal. Lilith listened, occasionally chiming in, but her mind was already wandering ahead, wondering what challenges awaited them deeper in the dungeon.

As Lilith pondered the challenges that lay ahead, she absently voiced a question, "Who will stand guard for the first watch?"

Gilion chuckled, leaning back against his shield with an easy smile. "Don't worry about that," he said, glancing over at Jimmy.

Jimmy grinned and reached into his magic storage box, pulling out a small, glowing orb that emitted a faint, rhythmic hum. The sound was strange—both calming and unnerving at the same time. "This little beauty will do the job for us," he said, holding it up for the group to see.

Lilith raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it?"

"It's a monster ward," Jimmy explained. "Dropped by a dungeon boss a while back. As long as we stay in one spot, this thing creates a field that makes dungeon monsters think there's nothing here. They'll avoid us entirely."

"That's… impressive," Lilith admitted, examining the orb closely. The faint light it gave off pulsed like a heartbeat.

Jimmy nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty useful, but there's a catch. If you try to move with it, it does the opposite—it attracts monsters. The dungeon thinks you're an intruder and sends everything it's got at you."

"Sounds like a double-edged sword," Lilith remarked, crossing her arms.

"Pretty much," Gilion chimed in. "But if you're smart about where you set up camp, it's a lifesaver. Lets us all get some proper rest without worrying about being ambushed."

Satisfied, Lilith sat down by the fire, watching as Jimmy placed the orb in the center of their camp. It emitted a gentle glow that mingled with the firelight, creating a cozy and oddly secure atmosphere in the middle of the vast and mysterious dungeon.

"Alright," Gilion said, stretching. "Eat, rest, and sleep. Tomorrow, we tackle the deeper floors."

The group murmured their agreement, settling in for the night. Lilith lay back on her bedroll, her thoughts shifting from the challenges ahead to the curious nature of the dungeon and its strange, magical artifacts.

After two days in the dungeon, the group finally stood at the imposing entrance to the 10th floor's boss chamber. The air was thick with tension, though the group's camaraderie kept their spirits high.

Gilion took a deep breath and addressed the team. "Good job, everyone. I know we're tired, but we made it. This is the big one—the 10th floor boss. Thanks to the rest we got yesterday, we should be ready to handle whatever's behind that door."

He turned his attention to Lilith, his voice steady and reassuring. "Since it's your first time, let me explain. The boss here can be one of three things:

A Goblin King with his minions—a battle of numbers.A giant flower monster—like the ones we encountered in the forest on the 4th floor, only much stronger.A giant wolf pack—similar to what we faced in the rocky mountain area on the 8th and 9th floors, but led by an alpha."

Gilion gestured to the large, rune-engraved doors ahead. "We'll know instantly which one it is as soon as we enter."

Lilith nodded, absorbing the information. She had been impressed with how well the group functioned as a team, making this journey surprisingly smooth. For a rookie to dungeon runs, their guidance had made all the difference. "Understood," she said, her mana saber glowing faintly at her side.

As the group pushed open the heavy doors, a sudden shift in atmosphere greeted them. Beyond the threshold lay a small, crude village—a goblin settlement, complete with ramshackle huts and scattered fire pits.

Gilion's voice rang out. "It's the Goblin King! Get ready!"

The team immediately fell into formation, their earlier discussions and plans now second nature. "Remember, Lilith," Gilion added, "once we've defeated the boss, a small stone will appear in the center of the room. It'll give us two options: continue to the next floor or teleport back to the entrance."

Jimmy chimed in, smirking. "And let me tell you, after two days in here, teleporting back will feel like heaven."

Lilith grinned, her confidence bolstered by the team's preparation and trust. She steadied her grip on her weapon, her eyes scanning the village. "Let's finish this."

With a collective cheer, the group advanced into the village, ready to face the Goblin King and his minions in their final test for this floor.