Since this chapter rather demanded to be written, it is coming a bit early. Seems I do like Shakti. Although it quickly rather became a 'how do deep dive expeditions go for groups that aren't A) Ottar or B) Top Loki Execs'. Meant it came out a bit long, and I split it into two. So, I do have more ready.
Shakti's stuff feels a bit off center though, even if I want to make her a main character here, so prefer putting something more familiar between so there isn't 15k words focused on her and Ganesha familia. So, we'll likely have a Lili or Ottar chapter next.
Also probably going to try and space things out from now on so only one perspective is Dungeon Diving at a time, spaced by sections with less combat and more fun socials.
The elite Ganesha expedition group moved quickly through the Upper Floors, restricted only by keeping a pace that wouldn't sap their stamina early.
Although, Shakti did find reason to stop while sending the others ahead.
"Already going on an expedition?" Tsubaki asked as she met her outside their little camp of tents. The smith appeared bemused by the unexpected arrival. "I didn't expect you of all people to jump into the Dungeon so quickly, Shakti, even with the hubbub."
"I could say the same to you," Shakti noted, pointedly looking at her fellow Level 5 captain.
It was hard to imagine the reason behind Tsubaki having come into the Dungeon so eagerly, just looking at her. Besides being only this deep, Tsubaki's attire showed a lack of seriousness. The half-dwarf captain of the Hephaestus Familia hadn't even bothered wearing the robe-like top, only covering her top half by binding her breasts.
It revealed plenty, when one took into account Tsubaki's voluptuousness.
Well, it no doubt motivated the low-level members of the Hephaestus familia that were present. Shakti was not unaware of the value of being both beautiful and a first-class adventurer for those in their position. Not that such was likely Tsubaki's reasoning here. It instead illustrated how lacking in tension Tsubaki was in the current activity.
Shakti still eyed the other aspects that caught her experienced eye. Despite looking as young as Shakti herself, Tsubaki wore signs of lacking sleep. A choice for a Level 5 here with a party this size. The sheen on her tan skin wasn't matched by heavy breathing, so not from combat. Hints of ash and metal slag were easy enough to smell to a Level 5's senses.
She came into the Dungeon to smith far beyond the demands of what these floors demand?
There was clearly something missing.
"What can I say?" Tsubaki said, breaking Shakti from her internal musings by making a fist as her sole eye developed a twitch of irritation. "I was called out."
Shakti raised an eyebrow, looked around, and then commented simply, "The 12th floor?"
"Hey, I'm here for them right now," Tsubaki retorted, flicking a rock as if to illustrate. The rock connected with Bad Bat across the chamber, all but making it explode despite the plainness of the act. The adventurers it had stunned with its shriek now able to recover. "…I hate those things."
Shakti merely nodded, but still asked, "Still, camping here?"
The Higher Floors were still an area where one could travel to and from the surface in a day. That didn't even change till the late Middle Floors. It was roughly the 20th floor that required sleeping inside the Dungeon, and it was more convenient to sleep on the 18th floor there. Sleeping on these floors was more training for overnight 'expeditions' when a familia is in that awkward stage of starting on the Middle Floors yet not able to reliably reach Rivira.
"My time will come. This is just me earning the time for the expeditions Foke is preparing, and trying to use it as best I can," Tsubaki explained bluntly. "And if I'm spending time here, I'm making sure they are using every moment of it too."
It made Shakti nod. Deep dive expeditions for a non-exploration familia were quite an ask, but needed for a veteran Level 5. Even before Zeus and Hera fell, it was more efficient to attach oneself to a suitably exploration familia.
Such thoughts naturally made Shakti ask firmly, "Do you want to join us? Our goal is the 59th floor, and I would welcome your aid."
While food was as liable to force them to retreat as broken equipment, Shakti would still consider a second veteran Level 5 as a boon.
"You know, if you had asked me before, I might have agreed," Tsubaki confessed, lips twisted with regret. "But I'm committed now. Not stepping out after I made a speech to my familia. Make sure to contact me next time, however, as I'm likely to need to accompany someone."
Shakti made sure not to frown; her spontaneous attempt at reinforcing her party for greater safety failed.
Tsubaki quickly she turned it back on Shakti with a smirk, continuing, "And don't think I missed that you didn't answer me earlier. Jumping into the Dungeon yourself, no? I might have been faster, but you're leading a deep dive."
Shakti didn't allow her thoughts to show, instead pointing out stoically, "We did have that expedition planned for three weeks ago, so we had a great deal in storage. We were fortunate to avoid the…frenzy arising."
"Heh, I am guessing that the guys I left behind are dealing with a load and a half right about now," Tsubaki commented with a chuckle.
"You would be right."
Tsubaki continued thinking though, finally musing aloud, "Just three weeks, eh. Since you passed on the Udaeus to me…Feels longer."
"That…" Shakti said, hesitating before sighing. "Yes, yes it does."
So much different in under a month. She couldn't have imagined that she'd be leading an expedition to the 59th floor back then. There were a whole array of priorities that would have discounted this as a possibility. No one had overly protested then either that she had passed off the quest to kill the Udaeus. There wasn't a need to rush.
And now she was here.
Shakti couldn't say she was entirely pleased. She had no ill-will towards Ottar and even felt pleased that Orario had a stronger Mightiest, but the disturbance to the status quo wasn't something she could look highly upon. For adventurers, the fruits of ambition were earned by climbing over the bodies of those lacking the luck or talent to grab it themselves.
She feared who she would be forced to step over this time.
…only failures to prevent it no matter how desperately she wished had worn away her belief that this time would be any different.
If only the Great Feud was the last time she'd ever have to…
"I must go. I shouldn't allow them to go too far ahead of me," Shakti said as she turned, firming herself to force herself to keep moving. She started away from her fellow. "I shall leave you to your own familia activities, Tsubaki."
"Yeah, thanks…" Tsubaki said, although she clearly trailed off. She called out again though before Shakti could round a corner, "Hey, Shakti!"
She only reluctantly stopped and looked back.
"I really don't like the look of you right now, but can't stop you. So…" Tsubaki remarked aloud, looking Shakti over with a doubting gaze. She wiped it away as she continued with a bright smile, "Good luck, and be safe. I rather figure you're being pushed to try to level up, so let's have a drink when you get back. Think both of us could use a chance to vent."
It went against her current mood, but she finally nodded and remarked while turning to leave, "Lord Ganesha will owe me enough that I'll bring some wine from his good stash."
"I'm a mead gal, but I won't turn that down!"
After that quick aside with her fellow captain that was one of the few remaining of Shakti's age group, the group moved without delay.
They naturally made excellent time. Without the usual wagons of more serious expeditions setting the pace, they were limited only by how far they were willing to push. To forgo breaks or not. Made it far closer to a simpler resource-finding group dive than the usual deep dive.
Shakti wasn't sure yet if restricting themselves to these numbers was wise, but it did have benefits.
The floors flowed by. Entire regions of the Dungeon. With their group, little could directly hinder them. The Large Tree Labyrinth was sped through, only hindered by its size and winding terrain. The Water City was scaled even quicker, their group jumping down floor by floor over needing to utilize the passageways of the usual adventurers there. The 28th floor safe spot was ignored, and they entered the Dense Forest Ravine. Here at least they had to at least partially worry about the monsters, but Shakti and Ilta served plenty well at eliminating them fast enough that their speed slowed more from caution than necessity.
It was finally on the 36th floor that they stopped for a night, utilizing the fruits of this area to subsist on and leave their supplies untouched.
The next day proved harder. The floors to the 50th were more troublesome by far than all the ones before. Even moving fast and ignoring any monsters that didn't require fighting, they could not proceed without needing to go through entire hordes. The sheer numbers of these floors made total avoidance impossible.
So, Shakti had some of the others present join her and Ilta in clearing the way. A chance to stretch their muscles and warm up. These were typically the floors that first and second-tier adventurer tiers topped out at in smaller and more makeshift expeditions anyways, so everyone was used to these enemies.
In the Volcano Wilderness floors, that stopped being the case. Entire armies of monsters started to block the way. More than willing to spend countless of their lives if it allowed them to drag even one adventurer down to tear them apart. The floors that often even full expeditions usually found themselves outnumbered in.
There was a reason only three familias of Orario had currently broken through these floors. The cost in equipment of fighting so many hordes of tough monsters. The risk of encirclement. The attrition that could easily leave scores of Level 3's and 4's wounded and exhausted. Everything about these floors were a grind.
To reach the 50th floor safe point was what made an Exploration Familia currently receive the S-rank designation.
Here they needed total focus and proper coordination.
Lacking the usual numbers of Level 3 that helped form lines to hold them back, Shakti knew they couldn't do their usual strategies. By the same token, however, they didn't have to either. They didn't have the wagons that usually necessitated proper defensive lines.
"Form three lines; rush assault," she ordered as they ran towards a group of monsters that were strategically positioned to force combat for anyone to advance.
She didn't need to say anymore to get them moving. Veter and Ligand slipped their packs off, handing them to Dench, and moved to form the front line with Shakti and Ilta. Veter already chanting. The second line of six formed, Greant on one flank and Ladako on the other to protect the burdened Level 4's in the center. The remaining six formed the third line, but this time Ryana and Anaise – the final two Level 5's – were in the center.
Shakti had no more time to consider anything but the battle as they crashed right into the mass of enemies.
Her own spear swung out with all her strength, removing the heads of three Fomoire and releasing a shockwave that stumbled the ones behind them. Her shoulder impacted the corpse in front, throwing it back and allowing her to push through. Her spear thrust right into the neck of the one behind, and used it as leverage to jump. Her foot connected with the head of another as she vaulted into the air, her body twisted and her spear lashing out at full speed. The monsters in reach fell as their heads and shoulders were sliced and pierced, and she landed inside a circle of dead monsters. She continued to dash forward, continuing to cut through every enemy in her way.
She wasn't alone. Ilta plowed through the enemies before her, more than willing to match the Fomoire and Flame Rocks strength to strength. The crumbled and shattered bodies also showed it worked well enough for her.
Ligand and Veter completed the tip of the spear. Ligand's heavy armor and massively oversized axe left him even more a blunt force than Ilta, and these monsters couldn't stand up before him. Veter's enhancement spell had also finished, lengthening his spear head by several feet with a blade of wind so every swing of his spear cut a wide circle.
The second line pushed into the hole behind them. Greant's heavy shield bashing back the enemies that came in once Veter passed to get close to the wider second line, and Ladako's spear did the same on the other side while reaping the life of any monster left unfinished by Ligand's bullrush.
The third line found few enemies, instead looking to provide ranged support. Ryana's bow supporting while their two mages looked to assess if they would need to launch magic. The fourth working as protection.
The formation allowed them to punch through the enemy. Moving forward faster than the monsters could close in behind them. A race to see if they would break through the enemy rear before the monsters caught up to their own.
It was far from unexpected when two-thirds of the way through the sheer mass of monsters succeeded in slowing them down enough for the warning to come from behind.
"Captain!"
"Anaise," she called without hesitation.
The sole real Level 5 mage among the Ganesha familia was on top of it, clearly having spotted it and already working on the chant.
The others in the rear line moved to protect her too.
"-Breath of winter's might confine.
In icy bounds, they shall serve their time.
Frigid Petrification!"
The closing in wave of monsters found themselves faced with a burst of ice reaching out to them. They could only brace or desperately swing at the magic. The magic swallowed them regardless.
The flash of magic died down after but several seconds, revealing Anaise's work. The monsters roared in anger and frustration. Well, some of them. Some had their mouths sealed. Those that didn't still found their movements sealed by the ice that had crept up their bodies to form ice that bound them as firmly as any cage and chain.
The Level 4 monsters shrieked and strained against their bindings, but the ice held and the mass of bound monsters turned into an obstacle for the ones coming up from behind.
Shakti did not even look back, only striking more fiercely the monsters before them as she yelled out, "Do not relent! Forward!"
The successful magic attack covering their rear and the sight of Shakti striding forward reenergized the other members, and the enemy failed to hold them before they broke through.
Their party continued moving forward, leaving the furious monsters futilely pursuing.
The encounter repeated no small number of times.
Sometimes they managed to push through without needing a spell…and occasionally they had harder fights.
As was often the case with the Dungeon, the way everything piled on at once did not feel coincidental.
Shakti's senses detected it, and she called out, "Upper left."
Seeing the attack coming up on them, Shakti used a spin of her spear to knock the Fomoire before her back. She then used the space to dart forward, slipping between several of the clumsy Flame Rocks. She started spinning her spear again, prepared to deflect the assault of rocks that were coming at them.
Only her high Dexterity allowed her the sharpness of vision to notice their glow, dropping her spear and ducking before them. They passed so close she felt the air as they skimmed her face. She also felt the intense heat.
"Moltor strike incoming!"
Everyone knew what that meant, but not everyone was fast enough with the late warning. Ilta and Veter dodged, but Ligand moved to take the broiling rocks projectiles before they hit the second line. Clanging of them on his armor rang out and he was thrown down. His armor was dented, but held. Ilta had to move in, kicking away the monsters that tried to pile on him though. Despite the attempt to, a sparse several got through. Disc, Tamanna, and Udar all took stray shots, falling and grasping at the burned impact wounds. Dench dodged.
"Close ranks," Shakti said as she jumped back, turning towards the monsters that had attacked.
A Moltor. The larger and stronger version of a Flame Rock. Thankfully also rarer, usually operating around lava streams or the adamantite deposits on these floors. Their route from stair to stair should have avoided any, but that was the Dungeon. Something going wrong was part the course for why not even the best equipped expedition might be forced to turn back from their goal.
In this case, while one of the stronger monsters on these floors, the Moltor was more threatening for the way they often damaged melee weapons used on them.
"Gah!" Greant's deep voice called out.
Ducking a Flame Rock and destroying two monsters in a single transition, Shakti glanced and saw he had been thrown back by a-
"Irregular Fomoire!" Greant called even as he held up the heavily dented shield. The two Level 4's armored the same as him were thrown back by a second blow of the irregular, and were far slower to get up. Greant's quick recovery allowed him to cover them when the goat-monster tried to slam a clubm down on them, even if he was forced to a knee. "Fucking strong one!"
And when the man with the heaviest defense of their Level 5's said that, he clearly meant it.
"Block it," Shakti commanded simply, now working with the front lines to hold back the new push of the monsters. "Don't let our right flank collapse! Hold till we recover. Anaise! Crem! Block off the rear and left!"
"Got it," Greant said, standing and now merely holding onto his shield with both hands as he endured blow after blow. Even when the shield started to look more like bent metal than anything. He managed to endure though till his two comrades moved to either side of him, the three holding and reinforcing each other.
Greant's skill – Buttress Barricade. When part of a shield wall, it increased not only his only defense but also those in said shield wall. Not of much use as an individual adventurer, but great in units. He led the subunit of the Ganesha familia of heavily armored shield-bearers. The one that took the 'shields of Orario' claim of the familia more literally, and so chose the blunt name of 'The Shields'. The two with him had been brought because three was the smallest number the skill could activate with.
He would hold that flank till his armor broke.
He would not manage to beat back the Iregular though.
"Ligand, help Greant," she ordered.
She then looked at the rest of the grouping. The injured had already downed potions to try and recover, but they needed time. Ladako and Ryana were managing to drive enemies back long enough for their two mages to chant.
"Frigid Petrification."
"Ashen Growth!"
Anaise this time used her spell to freeze enemies on the left flank, once again obstructing the ones coming from behind.
Crem blocked the rear in turn. Her spell led to a wood erupting from the ground in spikes. Flam Rocks chipped and Fomoire roared as their legs, groins, and stomachs were pierced. Few fell outright, however, with how spread out the spell was. Yet, that same nature ensured they formed a proper barrier that the monsters struggled to get past.
A cry went out as one of their Level 4's moved amidst the wooden spikes, punching a Fomoire in the face with an erthen gauntlet that knocked it back. A longsword in one hand also moved to start warding them odd. Udar also reinforced, arm still wounded from the Moltor attack but using his other to wield his whip. His Taming DA heightening the reluctance of any of the wounded monsters to press forward.
Once again, the stabilization of the situation was complicated as purple needles shot down at their group and then screeches came.
"Peluda!"
"And Falcon Bats," Ladako quietly murmured as she jumped, cutting down one of the large bat-monsters as it swooped down to try and snatch up Crem.
Peluda. Wingless dragons that roamed anywhere from the 37th floor to the 49th, but rare. Poisonous, and unleashed spines that delivered the poison. This one was crawling on the rocky roof of the massive chamber, its purple, lizard-like form far enough it would be hard to anyone but the most ranged attacks to strike back.
Falcon Bats. Another rare monster, and usually loners. They attacked in the darkest areas of these floors, trying to snatch and carry off individual adventurers from groups or formation. Usually then dropped them in the midst of enemy hordes. The screeches indicated
What Shakti should have expected.
The Moltor finally arrived before the front line too, it's three-meter form looming over them and its mere presence heating the air.
Even better.
Shakti moved forward, spear behind her back as she instead punched the Moltor hard enough it was sent stumbling back.
She merely shook out her now-burned hand, uncaring of the pain.
She then ordered calmly, despite the new challenges, "Everyone, engage! Crem, Ryana, we need those Falcon Bats and Peluda brought down. Anaise, keep on covering our flanks. I'll handle this one, then we advance again. Tamanna!"
She heard Tamanna's chant end.
"Duality Shelter!"
Blue and red lights surrounded Shakti in a protective embrace. She needed nothing else before darting forward. The Moltor swung its jagged, sword-like arm at her, but she easily dodged and jumped. A kick landed on its head, and was followed by a barrage of punches. She swung her body to avoid its burning hand grasping her, using it to knee the monster.
Each blow chipped more off its body, but the refusal to use her spear at risk of damaging it was clearly going to make bringing it down no easy task.
Hearing the fighting behind her and the continued attempts of surrounding monsters to close in on them, Shakti sighed.
And started chanting.
"The Mirror Turns. Reflections abound."
The Moltor was shattered beneath her fists.
The Fomoire Irregular lost its head.
The Peluda's poison failed and it fell from the ceiling.
The Falcon Bats were caught and brought down.
The Ganesha familia pushed through.
So, able to prioritize traveling over pure annihilation of the monsters in their way like most expeditions, the 44th floor soon became the 49th
"This is the 49th floor? The Moytura?"
Or what they believed was the 49th floor.
It certainly was different, however. They had been here enough times. The usually flat ground had been transformed. A great canyon the most prominent new landmark, but also no small number of craters, rents in the ground, and boulders formed when torn and tossed from the ground.
"Is this from the battle between Balor and the King?" Ilta asked, moving to touch one of the new boulders in a tone too overwhelmed to be awed.
"It must be. What else could have caused this?"
"But shouldn't the Dungeon have repaired it by now?"
"Can the Dungeon even be damaged beyond repair?"
Shakti just let the talks happen, instead commenting, "There's something else."
That made everyone look at her before trying to find what she meant.
Greant was the one to notice, pointing out, "There's barely any monsters."
The 49th floor was always a hassle to get through. Even without Balor – and the Ganesha familia had never tried to finish it off themselves, for good reason – the floor often served to host a great deal of monsters. While monsters didn't spawn there when the Balor was present, monsters instead arriving from above and below, they did between Balor's spawnings. The wide, flat floor also created the perfect area for those numbers to be brought to bear. One almost never managed to get through it without needing to wipe out entire hordes of monster wholesale.
Of all the floors, it was the 49th that Shakti feared they might be bogged down after failing to pierce through.
Yet, her eyes only picked up stray monsters scattered over the massive landscape.
"They must have moved in from the 48th floor," she mused aloud. The floor unrepaired from the great battle that tore through it, and no monsters spawning? Either was notable, but both clearly meant something was occurring. "We'll need to inform the Guild when we return."
"At least better for us, right sis?" Ilta remarked with a grin.
Shakti nodded at that point, announcing, "We'll make for the 50th floor safe point to rest."
The 49th floor proved the easiest to clear, counter to expectations.
The 50th floor. The safe point that yet only the top 3 familia in Orario had reached since the disastrous losses against the One-Eyed Black Dragon. Its rivers and gray trees signaled some small protection for them to set up camp.
"We'll take a full day here, both to rest and do our preparation," Shakti announced sternly after the camp was set up. Her eyes swept the group as she gave orders. "Ilta, you stay here and watch the passage to the 51st floor. I'll lead the tamers back to the 49th floor."
The groupings was quickly made as everyone started on their work.
Eventually, despite her own tendency to handle as much as reasonable on expeditions, Shakti found herself moving to take a break.
Walking the stairs down to the 50th floor, she ran the distance through the gray trees and hilly terrain towards where they set up camp. She soon landed and surveyed the camp that had been set up. It wasn't much, compared to their usual. They had discarded bringing tents to save space, so there were just minimal bedrolls. Yet, trees had been cut for seating and everything organized. A pot was also already cooking something that was releasing an enticing aroma.
They usually relied on hardtack and other rations, but not even Shakti desired to cut out luxury foods for spots like this when they had the time and safety.
Morale was important…and Shakti despised hardtack.
Mind turning to food, Shakti walked into the camp and was soon noticed with Ligand calling with a wave of his hand, "Captain! Come take a load off. You've been working twelve hours straight since we arrived here."
"Yes, the food is still warm," Tamanna added too, already scooping a serving into a bowl before holding it out.
Shakti's sharp senses already told her it smelled great. The Level 4 supporter of their group has the Mixing DA, and so handled their food. The smell alongside the sight of the golden-haired chienthrope eager for Shakti to take the food only added to the temptation.
Some might be a bit perturbed with that since she also handled their potion-making and materials harvesting, but not Shakti.
The transfer from the Dian Cecht familia due to a desire for more dungeon exploration had always been an extremely valuable gain.
"I appreciate it," Shakti replied, taking it happily and sitting down.
In the Dungeon and its demands or not, a bowl of good food was a bowl of good food.
After several bites where they left her in peace, it was eventually Shakti who broke the silence by asking, "Where is everyone else?"
Humoring her since he knew she could guess or sense herself, Ligand merely jovially explained, "Big Sister Ilta is part of the group at the stairs to the 51st floor, as expected."
"Still odd you call her that," Tamanna muttered in amusement.
"Hey, she always demands it," the man replied back, merely shrugging. "If she wants an old man like me doing so, no skin off my back."
"Still odd."
Shakti merely chuckled. As stated, Ligand was notably older than the familia vice-captain. Over forty, he had well over a decade on Ilta. He was an agreeable man though, and humored the whims of Ilta. If anything, it amused Shakti too.
Ligand was a big man with a scary appearance from a scar over one cheek, and for some reason that made him calling a younger woman Big Sister formally as he did ironic.
Lord Ganesha agreed, although the way he laughed as he did so seemed to imply that there was some reason only the gods knew behind it.
Tamanna spoke up now though, explaining, "Anaise is sleeping, to recover Mind. She told Crem to as well, but…"
"I can hear her with Zens," Shakti cut her off, shrugging. She took a few more bites, then asked bluntly, "Are those two?"
That made Ligand chuckle and he answered jokingly, "No. Not at all. That's just you again, captain."
Shakti refused to let her reaction to that accusation show on her face, instead noting how he was polishing his armor and commented, "How is the armor holding up?"
"Well enough. Probably going to need heavy repairs by the end of this expedition, but best at least make it as clean as possible," he answered, scuffing out a burn mark. "Makes the wifey and kids worry less. Well, the former. The little ones get excited and often ask about every mark."
"They can do that," Shakti said, remembering her own memories of sitting at her parents' knees and asking about their adventures.
It felt a lifetime ago.
…Ligand was not one she could allow to die here.
In her thoughts – and what thoughts she refused to have – her bowl of food was finished and she felt compelled to stand and say, "I'll see if I have anymore luck with Crem. She needs to rest like Anaise."
A monster's cry rang out to break her stated intent though, her head whipping around and she commented, "From the stairs to the 51st floor?"
"Since I know that look, go check it out," Ligand told her, standing himself and patting his trousers off. "I'll talk to Crem and Zens. Stop their training."
Nodding, Shakti was off.
It proved unnecessary. It was just Ilta. Well, the cry came from a Black Rhino of the deeper floors, but Ilta was clearly behind it. It was already well worn down, and the amazon continued dancing around it while punishing it for every attempt to strike her with another blow from her fists.
"Did you have to bring that up?"
"Hey, Ryana asked," Ilta replied in something of a whine, dropping at Shakti's rebuke. Not that it prevented another shot on the Black Rhino. "Plus, Greant is guarding the stairs."
Shakti raised an eyebrow, and looked at the other person present before asking, "Is that correct, Ryana?"
"It is, Lady Shakti."
"Understood," Shakti said with a nod.
"Hey, why is it fine for her?!" Ilta protested, even if even she stopped caring when another strike came for her to counter.
Although, it was also obvious. Ryana was another Level 5. While her lack of any skills or spells made her underwhelming to most, she was also reliable. Besides the fact that she was the only bow-user in the upper ranks, she was also arguably the best tamer of the Ganesha familia. Not a frontline combatant, by any means, but reliable.
"I'll take over here," she said as she moved towards the monster, whip coming and soon drawing its attention. "Hoping to get a few tamed before we start the final preparations, captain. If I have trouble, I'll send to you for help."
"Do so."
Ryana was arguably the better tamer in their base state, but when Shakti used Darpana Avimutta…
Ilta provided a nice distraction, whining as she put her hands behind her head, "And there goes my entertainment…Hey, hey. Sis~"
"I shall not spar with you," Shakti answered instantly, making her companion groan. She sent her a look before adding, "You do seem unusually worked up though."
"Why wouldn't I be?" Ilta answered the unspoken question, throwing a few punches into the air before her. "This is for you to level up, but what next? Not saying it's me, but the future is there. Eventually I'm going to be looking at it too.'
"It might be better to not look so far ahead," Shakti warned. Ilta had leveled up three years ago, but Shakti had been more focused on raising the familia's Level 3 and 4's up than any of the familia's Level 5's. The familia had gained numerous first-class adventurers in the last few years, but few have progressed much since. "Best to focus on mastering yourself over seeking to be more."
Shakti wasn't even sure if Anurakti Varada would work anymore at this point for Ilta; the growth of the Level 5's seemed to imply not.
"Bah, I know the self-discipline is your thing, sis, but some of us are dreams," Ilta responded energetically though, bouncing on her feet. "Maybe not soon, but I'm still thinking of it. I wonder how I'll be able to level up. Maybe if I fight one of the Hiryute Sisters?"
"You'd lose," Shakti told her bluntly.
"Gah, you aren't supposed to say it out loud, sis," Ilta whined, although she then growled. "And I don't care either. Sometimes you just got to punch someone in a face. If you aren't amazons, you just don't get it."
Shakti merely hummed noncommittally.
Ilta would almost certainly lose. While one of the more starkly talented of their familia, it had to be acknowledged. Eight years ago, she had only been Level 2 at eighteen when Shakti and Adi had defeated the then-outlaw to win her over to serving her probation with the Ganesha familia. While Shakti had come to love and rely on – despite their dynamic – one of the last people Adi had recruited in the years since and had this been able to raise her up to the second strongest member of the familia, it was only right to be cautious when she was compared next to one of Loki's bunch.
If Ilta wanted to though, a defeat was not something Shakti worried overly much about.
"Either way, I'm going to try it some day," Ilta declared, throwing her hands out and grinning. "Might even get a new outfit to commemorate it!"
"Leveling up or punching one of the Hiryute Sisters in the face?"
"Either works!"
"Will the new outfit at least cover more?" Shakti asked, even if it was more joking than anything. Shown by casting her eyes at her companion's body. Eyes pointedly lingering on the fact that the minimal amount possible was covered.
"Even less!" Ilta replied instantly, matching the tease and returning it twice fold.
"…how is that even possible?"
The casual talk was interrupted by a new voice speaking up, "Oh, talking about leveling up?"
The speaker also stepped into view. Dench, one of the Level 4's. The blonde chienthrope was still wearing his medium armor, although he had removed his helmet to show blonde hair. He was grinning at them too.
At least, he was till Ilta shot forward while crying angrily, "Eavesdropping! And don't act like it's the leveling up that interested you!"
"H-Hey," Dench said, avoiding her blows by a hairsbreadth. Even joking as she was, Ilta was a higher level. "I have sensitive ears, and it's not my fault that you suddenly started joking about probably losing your bra or something before I could interject!"
"I wouldn't lose my bra!" Ilta retorted, blows speeding up and Dench letting out a pained gasp. "And you reveal what you were thinking of!"
Shakti sighed. Honestly, she didn't have much space for Ilta's joking flirtations. Because she suspected that was what she was. While she believed Ilta had something going on with Hashana, it was also undeniable that it was likely dying since Hashana stalled at Level 4 and seemingly had little desire to change that. It meant Dench had a chance, as weird as it was for Shakti to consider.
Dench was in the same age group and former playmate of Adi, and Shakti had always watched out for him due to it.
"Ah, let the boy off, Big Sister," Ligand called out.
"Ah, fine," Ilta said, drawing back while pouting. "Only because Ligand knows how to treat his vice-captain."
Just shaking her head, Shakti asked as she moved and sat back in the camp, "You returned from the 49th floor?"
"Yeah. Veter and Ladako covering," Dench confirmed, rubbing his new bruises even as he sat down too.
"Were you and the vice-captain talking about leveling up though, captain?"
"I want to hear too!"
The two speakers here were Crem and Zens. The two youngest members of the current group. The newest Level 4's too, although that was more a sign of talent than any condemnation.
Zens was a human with black hair, a former farm boy that had come to Orario.
Crem was an elf with ash-brown hair, leaving her forest for several years after a wildfire necessitated some years of recovery.
"We…were," Shakti hesitantly confirmed.
"Ilta was already talking about it," Dench added.
"Not even Lady Shakti?!"
"Hey, we can talk about it too," Ilta protested. "You don't have to be right on the edge like sis."
"Well, that does make this easier for me to say then," Dench said, looking at Shakti. "I am…considering what it might take for me to make Level 5. I know I'm still quite a bit away, probably half a year at least, but…I don't want to stand still."
Dench might be underestimating himself, although it was easy to understand why. He was typically a supporter of the group, but he was a good supporter. A spell allowed him to carry up to five people on a conjured platform, and several skills regarding speed made him something of a maneuver expert. Despite serving as a supporter, he had rather smoothly made it to Level 4 under Shakti's watchful gaze.
Most supporters didn't dare dream of reaching level 5, but it could be possible for him.
"Well, if he is going to say it, I might as well too," Tamanna interjected, laughing awkwardly. "I too am considering it, even if I have a worse chance than Dench."
"I just leveled up too, but I'm going to get there some day too," Zens declared eagerly, grinning broadly with all the confidence of an adventurer who had smoothly advanced since he began.
"If it is under Lady Shakti's gaze, I am sure it is possible," Crem added.
"I'm thinking to go seek out Disc for some advice."
"He is often able to surprise with his advice, despite his looks."
"Did you have to mention his looks? Disc is..."
"Not like he's unaware."
"Still, if we can go-"
"Not now," Shakti cut off sternly. "Need I remind you where we are. This is not a place to add onto your challenges."
""Yes, captain."
Despite her reprimand, the declarations made Shakti smile. It was good to see, at times. She enjoyed being able to help those around her grow stronger, regardless of her talent. That was her talent.
Yet, it also made her feel slightly nauseous.
In the end, her nature only allowed her to lower her head and inform them solemnly, "Worry not. I shall do my utmost to help you all achieve such goals. You need not hurry, I promise."
That had always been Shakti's dearest wish, despite the failures.
"Don't sacrifice yourself too much for them, captain," Ligand offhandedly said, still polishing his armor.
Shakti preferred to pretend not to hear him.
Not sure how Ganesha stuff will be received, was very nervous on putting this out, but might as well try since I've already dived down the rabbit hole of trying to expand and focus on less obvious characters...did feel a bit awkward about needing to make OC Ganesha familia members. This was meant to be about canon characters, after all. Rather hard to elaborate on Shakti in a bubble though.
This Expedition for them should likely be three parts. Next part will be from 50th to 59th floor. Then the final piece is the time on the 59th, however it might go.
Next chapter should either be Ottar or Lili though, as said at the beginning. You can say who you prefer. Dungeon or surface?