Danmachi, Ch 161-165

Chapter 161 — Challenge: “Amphisbaena”

Thirty minutes later, Tiona and Tione met at the entrance.

Their weapons and limbs were smeared with blood, yet both sisters looked relaxed. After clearing out the Dark Faction troublemakers who had planned to interfere, the upcoming battle against the Floor Boss felt much lighter.

“All done?”

Tione glanced at Tiona’s Urga. Faint streaks of red still lingered on the blade—blood that hadn’t been completely shaken off.

“Of course it’s done.”

Tiona flexed her arm with a grin, showing off her muscles as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Ignoring her, Tione turned her gaze toward Tsuna.

"You should thank Tsuna for covering for you. Otherwise, with your fighting style, the whole floor would've been in chaos by now."

Tiona’s proud smile stiffened. She puffed out her cheeks and glared at her sister.

“Tione, can you not ruin my mood when I’m feeling good?”

“That’s not ruining it. I’m just stating facts.”

“Ugh!”

The two sisters faced off again, puffing up in irritation. Tsuna could only shake his head helplessly—these two were always bickering.

"Tione, how's your side?"

"Perfectly handled!"

The moment Tsuna spoke, Tione dropped her squabble with Tiona and turned to him with a gleam of focus.

“The firestones scattered near the entrance and exit have all been dealt with.”

“The ambushers there were taken care of too.”

“No one escaped, and all the planted firestones have been removed.”

"Good work, Tione."

Tsuna nodded slightly at her report, not stingy with his praise.

Tione's face immediately brightened into a smile.

"Tiona, Tione—next comes your battle."

Tsuna's lips curved in a faint smile before his expression grew solemn. A Floor Boss subjugation was never something to take lightly.

The sisters’ faces hardened as well.

"Given the current state of the Great Fall, you'll be at a disadvantage against Amphisbaena."

"In water, that dragon holds a tremendous edge—an advantage we Adventurers simply don't have."

Tsuna's tone was serious as he laid out their situation.

"But you two also have advantages of your own."

He pointed at the rings on their hands.

Tiona and Tione glanced down at the rings they wore. The tense air eased slightly.

“That’s right. We’ve got something that dragon doesn’t.”

“Not just the rings—our gear too. All custom-made by Tsuna himself.”

Tiona raised her hand with excitement, showing off the ring, while Tione tugged on her shoulder strap with pride.

No matter how dangerous Amphisbaena was, they had Tsuna's support behind them. That was a strength no Floor Boss could match.

Seeing their confidence reignite, Tsuna's own tension finally eased.

"Then, I'll summon it."

“And that will mark the start of your challenge.”

“Right!”

Both sisters nodded in unison.

Tsuna activated the preparations he'd long since completed.

A deafening boom erupted above the waterfall. What had been a gentle stream moments ago suddenly swelled into a roaring cascade.

The water level below rose sharply—more than two meters high—leaving only scattered rocks poking above the surface. The stage was set.

From the depths, a pair of crimson eyes snapped open. Each eye was as large as a man, glaring ferociously at Tiona and Tione, as if ready to swallow them whole.

Boom!

The next moment, the surface exploded like a detonated charge. Torrents of water crashed over the few rocky footholds.

Tiona and Tione leapt up in time—each to one side—gripping the walls with their hands to barely avoid being swept away.

“This thing’s giving us a warning before it’s even shown itself.”

Tiona’s eyes locked onto Amphisbaena, both heads now breaking the surface.

“Stay calm, Tiona.”

“This is the toughest opponent we’ve faced yet.”

Tione dared not let her guard down. Without any terrain advantage, facing Amphisbaena was a grave handicap.

But precisely because of that, this was their challenge to claim.

As they spoke, a flicker of azure flame shimmered across the water.

“!?”

“Move!”

Tione shouted, springing away from the wall.

A jet of blue fire shot from the surface, striking the cliffside. The solid rock instantly glowed red-hot, melting into droplets that sizzled as they fell into the water.

Zzzzz!

Steam hissed violently as the molten rock hit the surface, forming a thick mist of scalding vapor that blanketed the arena.

The water dragon crouched atop the surface, unaffected—the white steam shielding it instead of harming it.

Its armored scales easily resisted the heat’s corrosion.

Twin golden slits scanned warily around it, searching for any sign of the Adventurers.

Splash, splash, splash—

Footsteps rippled across the surface. Instantly alert, Amphisbaena’s right head turned toward the sound and spewed a cloud of Red Mist.

The footsteps in that direction grew heavier, slower.

Then, the left head gathered another burst of azure flame and unleashed it toward the sound.

The flame’s shockwave blew away the mist, revealing—nothing.

“!?”

The dragon’s twin pupils contracted. The left head couldn’t halt its attack, continuing to fire blindly.

Meanwhile, the right head scanned frantically, searching for the two humans.

There!

Above!

The right head looked up just in time to see a human descending rapidly, twin blades raised high.

The left head jerked upward, blue fire sweeping erratically through the air.

But the sudden shift threw its aim off completely.

And at that moment, footsteps splashed from directly ahead.

Tione charged across the water, her left arm seared and useless, her right gripping her kukri tight.

Berserk—activate!

Backdraft—activate!

"Can't move now, can you?"

Her kukri cut straight for the left head's throat—the very instant when Amphisbaena's own fire left its weak point exposed.

Chapter 162 — Subjugation Complete

After changing its attack angle, the dragon’s left head had lost all stability—and all chance to stop.

Seizing the moment, Tione lunged forward, gripping her kukri in one hand and aiming straight for the water dragon's most lethal weak point during its attack.

Shkk!

Even with only one hand, the kukri plunged deep into the throat of the left head.

Instantly, unbearable heat began to radiate through the metal.

Tione didn’t continue forcing it in. Instead, she released her grip.

“Get in there!”

Her knee shot up, slamming hard against the hilt.

The kukri, which had been halfway embedded, drove fully into the dragon's throat. The twin-headed monster roared in agony, its flames flaring out wildly, even spilling from the wound itself.

The blue fire turned against its master, scorching its own flesh. The left head’s wound widened further until the stream of fire abruptly cut off.

That was Tiona’s cue.

While Tione took the brunt of the water dragon’s wrath, Tiona, who had faced the earlier blast head-on, seized her chance.

Her hands were red and blistered, yet she refused to let go of her massive twin-bladed Urga. All her strength had been reserved for this one strike.

Harnessing her downward momentum, she spun midair, channeling every ounce of power she had.

“Raaaah!!!”

Her body’s rotation carried Urga into a full-force swing that cleaved down at the joint where both dragon heads met—

The third weak point, alongside the throat and eyes.

Because that joint needed to remain flexible, it wasn’t shielded by the same thick scales, leaving it horribly exposed.

Crack!

Urga’s blade sank deep into the junction, and a surge of blood burst forth.

This time, the attack was truly fatal.

“ROOOOOAAAR!!!”

Overwhelmed by pain, the dragon convulsed violently, trying to shake loose both the embedded blade and the human clinging to it.

But Urga had cut too deep. The dragon’s spasms only caused its muscles to clamp tighter around the weapon, locking it in place.

Tiona, hanging from the embedded blade, couldn’t strike again. Both hands clenched the hilt as her feet braced against the shifting scales, struggling not to be thrown off.

She had to hold on.

“Tione!”

“On it!”

Tione sprinted across the water, golden flames erupting beneath her feet. The burst propelled her upward, carrying her straight toward her sister.

Those flames coiled around her legs as she spun and kicked, her heel smashing into Urga’s exposed edge.

CLANG!

The strike reverberated like thunder. The force surged through the blade, and Tiona pulled back at the same moment.

Shhkk!

Urga sliced through the junction, tearing open a massive wound between the two heads.

For a creature without the terrifying regeneration of a mutated Goliath, such an injury was fatal.

And in that instant, another weakness was exposed—

The Magic Stone hidden within its body!

Tiona’s hands trembled violently from the impact, nearly going numb.

Tione’s leg screamed in pain; if not for the sacred bandages wrapped around her foot, the blade’s edge would’ve sliced it open.

Both were barely standing—but neither missed the flicker of fear in the dragon’s eyes.

Now was not the time to falter.

Their gazes met. No words were needed.

Tiona released Urga, leaping high off the dragon’s back. She spun midair, bringing her heel down toward the exposed Magic Stone.

At the same moment, Tione cocked her fist back and hurled a full-powered punch straight at the same target.

Bang!

The combined impact made the Magic Stone tremble violently, stunning the dragon where it hovered on the brink of retreat.

BOOM!

The red flame in the rings on both sisters’ left hands ignited simultaneously.

Scarlet fire wrapped their limbs, fusing pure destructive force into their final strike.

Crack!

A sharp sound echoed. The Magic Stone splintered—its shriek cutting through the roar of the falls.

Boom!

In the blink of an eye, the once-mighty water dragon turned to ash-gray, its body disintegrating with the shattering core.

The explosion flung Tiona and Tione backward.

But before they could hit the raging waters, a thin film of liquid caught them midair.

A translucent barrier surrounded them, and in the next heartbeat, they were pulled into an Alternate Dimension.

Lying in the water membrane beneath the pale sky, the sisters looked up to see Tsuna smiling down at them.

"Congratulations. You've successfully defeated Amphisbaena."

At that moment, he looked every bit the mission coordinator giving a victory report.

The sisters wanted to jump up and throw their arms around him—but their bodies refused to move. All they could do was reach out toward him.

“Tsuna, hug me,” Tiona murmured.

“Tsuna, please… give me a victory hug,” Tione added softly.

Their thoughts, their hearts, even their wishes—completely identical.

“Together, then?”

Tsuna sighed helplessly, giving in to their shared request.

The sisters exchanged a glance and nodded.

With a small shake of his head, Tsuna crouched down, gently wrapping both of them in his arms. One in each arm, he stroked their hair tenderly and whispered into their ears:

"You've both done well."

The sisters let go of all tension, resting their heads on his shoulders, basking in the quiet joy of victory.

After a long moment, Tsuna summoned the Healing Rabbit—wearing its little red-cross hat, looking like a plush toy come to life.

An invisible barrier enveloped the three of them.

Tiona and Tione had both sustained severe burns from Amphisbaena’s blue flames—Tione’s left arm, Tiona’s both hands.

But under the Healing Rabbit’s magic, even those grievous wounds healed almost absurdly fast.

The charred flesh split open, revealing soft new skin regenerating at a visible rate.

The effect was incredible, even if the process felt… a little rough.

Chapter 163 — Tiona: Tione, You Like Tsuna Too?

After completing their treatment in the Alternate Dimension, Tiona and Tione remained nestled in Tsuna's arms, each resting their head against one of his shoulders.

Neither of the sisters seemed inclined to move away.

Tsuna didn't stop them either. They had just finished their battle against the Floor Boss—though their bodies were healed, the exhaustion that weighed on their hearts and minds couldn't be washed away so easily.

Since neither of them showed any sign of letting go, Tsuna decided not to move either.

Still, there were matters outside that required attention.

Through the eyes of a Puppet, Tsuna observed the current state of the Great Fall beyond the Alternate Dimension.

The surge of cascading water had nearly filled the waterfall's lowest basin.

"Looks like the blast gave it too much of a shock."

Tsuna felt no real guilt over the situation. After all, few people ever ventured to the Great Fall during the Floor Boss's spawning period.

Especially after the Dark Faction had swept through and cleared out the twenties.

Aside from monsters, the only people likely to be found here were those same Dark Faction Adventurers—and since Tiona and Tione had already wiped them out before challenging the Floor Boss, their fates weren’t worth worrying about.

In truth, the flooding caused by the explosion hadn’t resulted in any serious loss.

Tsuna looked upward toward the waterfall.

“The water’s already calming. It won’t be long before the flow above returns to normal.”

“The part that was blasted open seems to be repairing itself—probably the Dungeon’s doing.”

“The remaining water pooling at the bottom will drain down to the lower floors soon enough. This place will be back to normal before long.”

Having confirmed that, Tsuna stopped thinking about it.

His gaze locked onto the massive Magic Stone that hadn’t been swept away by the torrent. Everything else had vanished without a trace.

“What a waste.”

Materials from a Floor Boss were incredibly valuable—even a few of its scales could fetch a high price.

Considering how much it cost to maintain Tiona’s Urga, saving up some extra valis certainly wouldn’t hurt.

But since everything else had been washed away, there was nothing more to do.

He collected the remaining Magic Stone into the Alternate Dimension.

Once he confirmed that the Great Fall was stable, Tsuna commanded his Puppet to head home.

The objectives of this Dungeon expedition were all accomplished—he had successfully eliminated one of the Dark Faction’s main leaders hiding in the shadows and even captured Arachnia, Valletta Grede. That alone was a major achievement.

However, handing her over would be troublesome.

Especially since revealing the ambush that took place in the Dungeon would expose too much information.

That would be a serious problem for maintaining the Loki Familia’s secrecy about their true strength.

Retrieving his consciousness from the Puppet, Tsuna refocused on himself. Tiona and Tione were still resting quietly against him.

Taking the chance, he couldn’t help asking the question that had been lingering in his mind.

“Tione, do you… like me?”

The question froze Tione in place.

Beside her, Tiona’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at her sister.

“Eh? Tione—you do too?”

That single line stunned Tione all over again. She blinked at Tiona, dazed.

“W–why did you react so fast?”

“Huh? What do you mean, ‘so fast’? Oh—you mean me admitting I like Tsuna?”

Tiona tilted her head, looking genuinely confused at Tione’s astonishment.

“We’re Amazons, aren’t we? Liking someone isn’t something we hide. Pursuing what we want boldly—that’s the Amazon way.”

“That’s what Lady Kali always said.”

“Kali… said that?”

Tione couldn’t recall that infuriating goddess ever saying such a thing. Back then, all she remembered was the daily struggle just to stay alive—romance wasn’t even a luxury she could imagine.

Tiona, on the other hand, had always been close to Kali, spending time listening to her stories and lessons. She’d probably heard those words directly from the goddess herself.

Tiona looked back at her sister, her voice tinged with surprise.

“But you, Tione—you used to like the Captain, didn’t you?”

“That was before!” Tione said quickly, emphasizing the point.

“Amazons always follow their instincts—we naturally submit to the strongest man.”

“The one we like has to be stronger than us.”

Her feelings for Finn Deimne had been just that—an instinctive attraction born from an Amazon’s nature. He had defeated her when they first met, and for Amazons, submission to the victor easily became the seed of affection.

“That’s true,” Tiona agreed from the side. Amazons really were that straightforward.

Unlike other races, they had no concept of shyness in love. Amazon girls were bold, passionate, and utterly fearless when it came to chasing what they wanted.

Conquering an Amazon through strength was the simplest way to win her heart—though that was easier said than done. Few could best an Amazon in combat.

“Tione liking me… I only realized it recently,” Tsuna said quietly.

“Unless I’m completely imagining things, when a girl asks a guy for a hug on her own, it usually means something.”

He trusted his instincts. That gesture from Tione hadn’t been casual—it had carried the weight of her feelings.

"And I already knew you used to like Finn," he continued.

"So when you reacted that way, I figured it out. Just to be sure, I even went to Miss Loki to confirm it."

“Eh?”

Tione’s face flushed hot. Hearing him say that made her realize just how direct her own actions had been.

But when he mentioned asking Loki, she froze again, eyes wide.

“You went to Loki to confirm it?”

“Yeah. She said my reaction was kind of slow. Apparently, a lot of people in the Familia already know you like me.”

“!?”

Tione’s face turned bright red.

Chapter 164 — Lady Loki Isn’t That Bad, Right?

After returning to the Familia, Tione immediately went to find Loki and asked her about what Tsuna had mentioned earlier.

"Ah, it’s pretty obvious. Every time I see the way you look at Tsuna—with those lovestruck, bashful eyes—I can tell you’re in heat."

"W–What!? That’s going too far!"

The moment Loki used the word heat, Tione practically exploded, her reaction so sharp it was almost reflexive.

"And you think that wasn’t an overreaction?"

Loki recalled Tione’s usual demeanor. To say she was “in heat” might have been a bit crude—but honestly, it wasn’t that far off.

"The way you look at Tsuna is almost the same as how you used to look at Finn."

"There’s… still some difference!"

The firmer Loki’s tone became, the smaller Tione’s voice grew.

Because if Loki’s description was accurate, then what exactly had her own reactions been? Even she wasn’t sure anymore.

"Yeah, there’s a bit of a difference," Loki admitted. "You don’t stare at Tsuna quite as intensely—but those soft, longing eyes of yours? They’re even deadlier than being upfront."

A direct expression of interest could be brushed off as an Amazon’s nature, but that kind of tender, lovestruck gaze—that wasn’t something you could explain away as mere instinct.

“Mmph…”

Tione could only let out a strangled noise, completely silenced by Loki’s words.

If I told her what’s really going on between me and Tsuna, would she lose her mind?

Watching Tione’s current state, Loki couldn’t help but imagine how she’d react if she revealed the truth.

Blank stare. Shock. Denial. Outrage. Total disbelief.

Just the thought made Loki grin—Tione's reaction would probably be priceless. She almost wanted to do it just to see that look.

But… maybe it's better if I don't.

"What!?"

"You proposed to Loki—or something like it—and she actually accepted!? And because of you, she decided to go easy on Tione and Tiona!?"

Finn Deimne and Gareth Landrock both looked as if the world had just collapsed around them.

They exchanged glances, each seeing the same disbelief mirrored in the other’s eyes.

It wasn’t just that they couldn’t comprehend Loki accepting Tsuna’s unintentional proposal—they couldn’t comprehend Loki’s entire decision-making process at all.

"Loki actually went that far for you," Gareth muttered, his tone somewhere between awe and confusion.

He walked over and patted Tsuna’s shoulder sympathetically.

"Kid, if you’ve caught the attention of someone like Loki, you might as well just accept your fate."

"Loki’s not that bad, honestly. She’s just a pervert who likes girls and doesn’t have much of a figure. Compared to everything else she’s done, those aren’t real problems."

"Agreed," Finn added, nodding thoughtfully as he clasped his hands under his chin.

"Loki’s a greedy goddess, but if she’s willing to change for you—that says everything about how she feels."

"So if you’ve got the chance, don’t hesitate. Just go for it."

Even Finn, who’d always been critical of Loki’s eccentric behavior, couldn’t deny it. Judging from her actions lately, this time Loki wasn’t playing around.

Tsuna looked at the two of them strangely. Why did they talk about Loki like she was some kind of monster?

He felt the need to clarify.

"Finn, Gareth—I don't think Miss Loki's a bad person."

"You’re serious?"

Both men immediately dropped their teasing tone, staring at him with genuine surprise.

Their reaction left Tsuna puzzled.

"Why are you both so shocked? Aside from… you know, her figure, Miss Loki isn't that bad, right?"

He wasn’t wrong.

Neither Finn nor Gareth actually thought Loki was a terrible goddess. In fact, she was one of the better ones—steady when it mattered most.

But outside of serious situations, Loki had always been… well, Loki: mischievous, unpredictable, and endlessly troublesome—

Wait.

Finn suddenly paused mid-thought.

That chaotic, meddlesome Loki—that image had formed before Tsuna joined the Loki Familia.

After he joined, Loki’s behavior had become strangely stable. She still visited Tsuna often, but her antics had drastically decreased.

Come to think of it, Loki had stopped harassing the girls in the Familia around the same time.

I see… so it’s not that Loki lost interest in women—it’s that she’s focused all that energy on Tsuna.

Only now did Finn understand why Loki had been acting so normal lately.

No wonder she accepted that “proposal” from him—even if he didn’t mean it that way.

Then again… maybe he wasn’t completely unaware either.

Finn glanced at Tsuna again, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He never imagined anyone would genuinely consider staying with a god.

Everyone knew gods were eternal, while mortals lived mere decades—a blink of an eye to them.

Tragedy was inevitable. And yet, there were always those who still reached for eternity.

But… maybe he’s different.

Finn chuckled quietly. There was nothing wrong with this pairing.

If Tsuna’s presence helped Loki remain calm and grounded, then perhaps it was even a blessing.

As for Tiona and Tione—Loki had already made her decision. The rest of them were just bystanders.

"Tione, though… she’s just like I thought," Gareth said with a grin. "Young folks around the same age always end up getting along. Figures."

He wasn’t particularly surprised about Tione and Tiona.

Young people connected easily; it was natural. The generation gap between them and the older members was bound to cause differences in thinking. And knowing Finn, he probably wouldn’t allow his own descendants to marry outside the Pallum race anyway.

"Hey, Gareth," Finn said, smirking. "We’re still pretty young ourselves. The real old-timer is someone else."

"Oh? You sure you want to say that out loud, Finn? Aren’t you afraid Riveria will hear you?"

"Not at all."

He didn’t even hesitate.

"Tell me, which of us would dare walk up to Riveria and say she’s old to her face?"

"...Hahaha! You’ve got a point!"

Gareth burst out laughing.

After all, reminding a long-lived elf of her age was just about the fastest way to get yourself killed.

Chapter 165 – Challenge Against Balor and the Expedition

“‘Arachnia’. Never thought that lunatic would go as far as ambushing Tiona and Tione inside the Dungeon.”

Finn looked up at Valletta, suspended in the air, and couldn’t help the faint sigh that escaped his eyes.

Three years ago, that old rival of his had caused them no end of trouble.

If not for Valletta standing in their way back then, the Dark Faction might have been wiped out completely three years ago.

But Valletta herself was simply too insane—sometimes, it was impossible to predict what she would do.

Her actions were wild, her methods absurd, and her recklessness was the very reason the Dark Faction had managed to retreat intact back then.

Unfortunately for her, this time she had fallen into Tsuna's hands.

“Tiona and Tione exposed their thoughts and movements too clearly. Add to that the fact that the last two operations were done by the two of them alone, it’s no surprise they were targeted by the Dark Faction.”

“Just like the girls of the Astraea Familia.”

Those words immediately drew the attention of Finn and Gareth. Acts that deliberately targeted the city’s younger generation were nothing short of despicable.

“The Dark Faction has always aimed their attacks at Orario’s future—the promising Adventurers of tomorrow. Especially now, after three years of silence.”

Finn rested his chin on the back of his gloved hand, thinking deeply as he analyzed aloud.

“They call it revenge, but I believe it’s more about preparing for their eventual return to Orario.”

“They really don’t know when to give up,” Gareth said with a weary sigh.

The Dark Faction was a coalition founded by gods—deities who sought to plunge the world into darkness.

Their ultimate goal had always been to assault the center of the world: Orario.

They wished to destroy the city’s defenses, unleash the monsters sealed beneath it, and return the world to a primordial state of chaos.

Gareth truly couldn’t understand why any god would want that.

Perhaps the only answer was that gods could be unbelievably selfish.

“They have their own purposes,” Finn said quietly. “But what really matters in the end is strength and conviction.”

“In that sense, we won’t lose to them.”

Tsuna shook his head slightly. Discussing a god’s whims was a foolish thing to do.

The way gods thought was utterly different from humans.

Trying to reason with them through mortal logic would never lead to any meaningful answer.

Sometimes, even their affection and protection could turn into a kind of ‘wound.’

So the simplest solution—was to confront them with strength.

The gods’ powers were sealed in the mortal realm; their wars could only be fought through their Familia.

To Tsuna, it was better described as a “war of proxies.”

“Yeah.”

The pressure in Finn’s chest eased slightly. In the end, everything would be decided by the difference in strength and conviction.

“In the end, strength will determine everything.”

“Simple and clear,” Gareth agreed. “And perhaps the fairest kind of contest there is.”

A clash of strength would eventually decide whose ideals prevailed.

There was no need for empty arguments—only the power to make one’s beliefs reality.

And within the Loki Familia, nothing inspired more passion now than the pursuit of strength.

Thanks to Tsuna’s help, the Familia’s enthusiasm for growth had reached unprecedented levels.

Their overall progress had already surpassed anything Finn had imagined.

“They still haven’t reached their limits,” Tsuna said. “There’s room to grow.”

The Training Space and Challenge Space remained vital grounds for improving their basic Status and combat experience. Once more than eighty percent of the Familia reached their peak, the next step would be to begin the Expedition.

An Expedition wasn’t just to explore deeper levels—it was also the path to earning Excellia.

For most, diving into the Dungeon alone in search of promotion was an incredibly dangerous endeavor.

What had happened to Tiona and Tione was proof of that.

Finn was already considering how to organize the Familia’s next plan to obtain Excellia.

The Expedition was the perfect opportunity.

“Indeed. The kids have been improving faster than expected,” Gareth said with a grin.

“Not just them. Even our own progress has been faster than I thought.” Finn nodded. In truth, his own growth had been remarkable.

Unfortunately, there was a problem.

“The only Floor Boss suitable for us to challenge right now is Balor.”

“Facing it alone would be suicide. We might need a coordinated three-person challenge.”

Finn had already weighed their current capabilities.

Even though all three of them were Level 6, Balor’s estimated level was 7—an entire tier above.

Challenging it solo would be nothing short of suicidal.

A three-man assault was the only viable option.

“Three-person coordination, huh?”

Gareth rubbed his beard thoughtfully. “Not a bad idea. But even then, it won’t be easy.”

“If we’re going to face that monster, we’ll need to push our Status to the absolute limit—and learn to wield that power properly.”

He raised his hand, tapping the ring on his finger.

“This power isn’t ordinary magic.”

“In fact, it doesn’t even require an incantation. It’s our greatest weapon moving forward.”

Finn nodded. “Exactly. Before challenging Balor, we’ll have to master this power.”

After experiencing the forces of Sun, Storm, and Rain, Finn understood that the power Tsuna had given them was the key to their next breakthrough.

If they could harness the Dying Will Flame effectively, its potential might even surpass their magic.

“But that’s going to take time,” Gareth added.

“For now, we can’t afford to think about challenging Balor.” Finn exhaled, calming the flicker of excitement that had risen.

A Floor Boss battle was still a distant goal.

Only when they had perfected their Status and mastered their new strength could they even consider taking on a Level 7 opponent.

That wasn’t something they could prepare for overnight.

And besides—time wasn’t exactly on their side.

“No time?” Tsuna looked at Finn, puzzled.

“The Expedition,” Finn reminded him with a wry smile. “You just mentioned it yourself.”

A full-scale Expedition wasn’t something that could be prepared in a month or two.

“Even before, the preparations took half a year. Thanks to your help, that time will be shorter—but still not by much.”

“Even so, we’ll need plenty of time to prepare equipment, weapons, potions, and other supplies.”

He looked over at Tsuna and smiled faintly. “So if we start now, we should just about make it in time.”