Chapter 30: First Expedition Begins

Seeing the glow of Athena examining my status out of the corner of my eyes I patiently waited until she was done.

Two weeks have come and gone. Today we leave for our very first expedition as a familia.

Our destination, the 18th floor Rivira.

The first milestone many adventurers strive for, as they progress deeper into the dungeon.

Which is exactly what me and the others are dead set on doing.

Going deeper, and exploring the dungeon even more than we already have.

We all want to see and experience what's down there with our own eyes. Despite the danger. I especially want to see what's down there.

In fact I have decided something.

My goal is to reach the farthest depths of the dungeon, and become the strongest along the way. Nothing else to it.

"Ok, we're done Morax." Athena said.

I then saw the faint glow coming off my back fade.

Once it did so I slipped back on my shirt, and then Athena handed me my status sheet. A smile on her face as she did so.

"Congratulations. Looks like you've obtained a new skill." She explained.

Looking at my status sheet I saw she is right.

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Name: Morax Lapis

Level: Two

Strength: G230>G268

Endurance: G210>G244

Dexterity: G200>G226

Agility: G234>G271

Magic: G266>F303

Magic:

Geo Force: Allows the user to create and manipulate earth constructs such as weapons. The more complex the constructs are the faster Mind is drained.

Chant: Ground and soil, heed my command and come forth!

Slot 2: ?

Slot 3: ?

Skills:

Geo Archon: Increases the effect and power of any earth-based magic. It also doubles the user's strength and agility stats anytime they are in combat within rocky terrain. This allows one to be able to sense people within a 50 meter radius upon rocky terrain, but only if they are part of one's familia.

Gaia's Embrace: When inside of rocky terrain the user's mind and physical stamina is actively but slowly restored faster than normal.

Developmental Abilities:

Hunter: Rank I

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"Nice." I said.

Not only are all my stats increasing at a good pace, but my magic stat has reached F rank which will be very helpful on the expedition, along with the new skill [Gaia's Embrace] which will help me grow even faster.

Once I got a good look at my status sheet I handed it to Athena who disposed of it. After she did so she stood up from her bed and gave me a hug, which I reciprocated.

"Stay safe, and make sure all of you come back alive." Athena told me.

"We will try." I told her. Since promising anything is just too cruel.

Even though I will make damn sure we all do comeback alive.

The hug between Athena and I lasted for a few more seconds before we broke apart.

Once we did so I left her room and went to my own. Entering I secured my salamander cloak around my body, got my weapons, as well as my back filled with supplies that will cover me for the next two weeks.

Since that's how long we plan for this first expedition to be.

After double-checking that I had everything I went downstairs and found the others waiting for me. There status's having already been checked, since as the captain I volunteered to go last.

"Ready guys?" I asked them.

They all nodded.

"Ok, then. Let's move out." I said.

I then walked up to the front door and took the first step outside. The others following behind me.

Once we were all out Reina closed the door.

Since she will be leaving at our home for the next two weeks with Athena while we are in the dungeon.

Our allies the Astraea familia will also come by every day to check up on Athena and deter anyone from breaking into our home while we are gone.

I need to remember to thank those girl when we return.

We made our way to the dungeon and didn't run into any trouble.

Arriving at Babel Tower we entered then took the descending staircase into the dungeon.

Clearing the first 12 floors without any issue at all.

Reaching the 13th floor in no time, our expedition officially began.

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Dodging the claw strikes of the hellhound in front of me I stabbed it straight through the gut with my spear, the monster dying in the next second.

As it turned into smoke its magic crystal hit the ground. Along with a drop item. A hellhound fang.

The first one we've gotten since we entered the thirteenth floor yesterday.

"Got a drop item over here guys." I said.

"Great, get it later and get your ass over here and help us!" Gaul shouted at me.

He and Rogue and currently facing off against several hellhounds that are keeping them at bay by breathing fire in their direction.

Though thanks to their salamander wool cloaks neither of them has been cooked to death yet.

Raising my left hand in the direction the hellhounds baring down on Gaul and Rogue I began to chant.

{Ground that we walk upon, heed my command and come forth!}

[Geo Force]

Completing my magic several earth spikes appeared from the ground and skewered the hellhounds, stopping their fire-breathing assault on my companions.

Once this happened Rogue and Gaul quickly moved in and made short work of their enemies.

While they did this I quickly checked on the others, and saw they were doing alright.

Leonmitchelli is covering Ryner as I asked her too.

While Ryuu and Millhiore are working to clear the monsters that are appearing in the rear of us.

As per the formation I set up yesterday.

Eventually the others finished off the monsters, and once they did we went to work collecting magic stones and drop items.

Once we had secured enough we assembled together and I took out a map detailing the middle floors that we purchased weeks ago in preparation for this expedition.

Unfurling it I pointed to where we were currently situated.

"Ok, so from the looks of things we keep on this path and we will reach floor 14 in just another hour or so." I said. "Before we move on anyone injured, or does anyone need a break?"

"What I need is some magic." Gaul grumbled. Holding his lightly singed tail in his hands as he did so.

Yeah, ever since we entered the middle floors the hellhounds have been using their fire breathe attacks on Gaul non-stop. Which is currently a really bad match-up for him since he is a close-range fighter and doesn't have any magic or long-range weapon to deal with the disadvantage.

Of course most of the others are in the same boat as well, but we use weapons while Gaul actually uses his hands and feet to fight. Making things a bit more dangerous for him.

Though I'm sure once he grows used to the middle floors that won't be a problem at all.

"Ok, so it looks like everyone is good to go." I said. Ignoring Gauls' grumbling. "Let's move out then."

The others nodded.

Once they did so we continued walking down the path, on our way to the 14th floor for the very first time.