While Alex's group decided to take a short break after Alex and Artemia match, in another location, on Maria's and the other side, a battle was taking place.
The four were fighting against a group of tree monsters called Treant. They were surrounded by Treants, a forest filled with only them.
Dodging a Treant vine, Sakuya accelerated for a moment to arrive at the tree monster and cut it into multiple pieces.
Not too far from her, Maria froze two Treants into Ice status before breaking them with the flick of her fingers.
Luna also killed another Treant; however, the one who killed more Treants was Gracier; because her element happens to be the nemesis of the tree monsters, she slaughtered them in great numbers.
''Seriously, this floor seems to have been made especially for little Alexandra. I'm so jealous; who would have thought that the little lass would be an air breath from Rank 7 so soon? We must become Rank 8 before leaving, or else it will be too shameful.''
While killing another, Treant, Sakuya said. Maria didn't say anything; she just moved between another two Treants for them to become frozen.
Flick! Crack!
''My goal is to surpass Alex. I don't mind Gracier catching up.'' Maria announced before looking at Gracier; the latter happened to be looking in her direction.
''If she can, that is,'' Maria added before disappearing.
Sakuya and Luna look at each other before bursting into laughter.
On the other side, as if to respond to Maria's provocation, beautiful flame wings appeared in Gracier's back before she took the air and rained down arrows on the escaping Treants, the forest (mainly composed of Treants) was sent ablaze, like the Goddess of Fire, Gracier stood in the air and overlooked her masterpiece.
Sakuya and Luna jumped out of the blazing forest.
''Give me a break. Who would have thought the little lass would set the whole forest ablaze. I guess Maria's words must have provoked her.''
''It's you who started it.'' Luna rebuked Sakuya, who smiled in response.
After killing many Treants, Maria was forced to leave the burning forest as she started to feel uncomfortable; being an Ice element user, she doesn't like hot places too much.
Before leaving, she glanced at the floating Gracier. Heterochromia eyes clashed against blue eyes.
''It's your win and congratulations.''
''Thank you, Big sister Maria,'' Gracier responded.
A half-hour later, the Treant's forest was no more; what was left was a scorching barren wasteland.
The girls set up their tents on a lone hill overlooking the now barren forest.
After filling her stomach with food, Gracier decided to check her status and at the same time use his SP; she already had plans for it.
『[Gracier Alexandra Touch]
「 Rank 7」
Level 62
Class: Fire Empress
Age: 14
Female
Race: High Half-Elf
Experience Value: 5200/17100
Magic Power: 1810 (+25) ➤ 1835/1835
Magic: Fire Magic
Attack: 805 (+25 (+50 BP) ➤ 880
Defense: 520 (+25) ➤ 545
Agility: 420 (+25) ➤ 445
Intelligence: 410 (+25) ➤ 435
Luck: 420 (+25) ➤ 445
BP: 0
SP: 0
Gift: Ignia's Bracelet
Skills: [Cooking Level 4] [Sewing Level 3] [Fireball Level 5] [Fire Arrows Level 4] [Meteor (???)] [Fire Snake Level 4] [Flame Shield Level 5] [Presence Detection Level 5] [Chantless Magic Level 8] [Fire Lotus Level 5] [Archery Level 5 (+10 SP) ➤ Archery Level Max] [Blaze Steps Level 5] [Golden Arrows Level 1] (New)
Special Ability: [Dragon Eye Level 10 Max] [Flame Wings Level 3] [Dragon's Breath Level Level 2]
Titles: [Avenger] [Child of Fire] [The Awakened] [The Diligent]』
Gracier was pleasantly surprised to discover that she got a new ability after putting all of her SP to max her Archery skill.
Clicking on the Golden Arrows description, Gracier opened her mouth in surprise.
[Golden Arrows: Special flame arrows possessing destructive power.
Level 1: One arrow will multiple into ten and strike the target, can track and lock onto any target.
Range: Five meters
Consume 500 MP]
'While it consumes too much MP even without testing it, I know it's strong. I wonder if at level 10 it will mean that one arrow will become a hundred arrows?'
While Gracier was busy thinking about her new skill, the others observed her reaction, and judging from her reaction, they knew Gracier got a new skill.
''I wonder what skill our little princess got?"
Looking at Gracier, Sakuya asked.
''You will find out when she uses it.''
Luna said this. Maria was silent.
''Let's get going. Let's not waste too much time here.''
After hearing Maria's words, the group left, Gracier decided to test her Golden Arrows on the next floor.
Few minutes after the group left, another group entered; it was Leonardo's group.
Seeing the scorched earth and barren wasteland, Damien's mood soured; he ordered his group to camp here for today.
•••••
On the other side, Maria entered the next floor; they were surprised to find water everywhere.
''I have a bad feeling about this floor,'' Gracier said.
''Me too, let's-"
Before Luna could finish her words, the lake in front of them rumbled before a gigantic figure came out from the depth of water; it was eight meters tall Octopus.
Numerous tentacles were shot toward the girl; a green barrier appeared before Sakuya stopping one of the tentacles aimed at her before the tentacle was cut to pieces by her Katana.
Gracier burned the incoming tentacle while Luna smashed apart the one coming toward her; Maria was the one that didn't do anything; she dodged as she knew that simply cutting off the tentacles wouldn't help as this type of monster possesses high regenerative ability.
And as expected, those tentacles that were destroyed were restored in the blink of an eye.
''No way.''
As it was her first time facing such a monster, Gracier was surprised; Luna frowned while Sakuya cursed.
''Damn! It's why I hate this monster.''
''You girls step back; this is my stage.''
Maria's voice stopped the girls in their tracks, without asking anything they jumped back, they stood on the stairs that lead to the upper floor.
Cracking her neck while at the same time dodging the octopus tentacles, Maria shouted.
''Spirit possession.''
Boom!
A huge Aura burst from Maria's body, instantly creating mist on the lake's surface; the image of Ice phoenix appeared behind Maria freezing the octopus (because of fear).
Maria's turned white, like a queen, she declared.
''Absolute Zero.''
Under the startled eyes of the other girls, the whole lake got frozen, the octopus with it; however, the monster could still be seen struggling to escape from the ice freezing it.
''I knew you wouldn't die with such half complete ability. Then here I come.'' Maria declared before disappearing into a mist.
When she reappeared again, she was on the other side of the lake behind the octopus.
''Thousand Ice cuts.''
Shing!
Maria sheathed her sword, and at the same time, the frozen octopus was sliced into thousand pieces before turning into ice. This time the octopus could never regenerate no matter how high its regenerative ability was. The monster was frozen on the molecular level.
''I did it,'' Maria said before falling on the frozen lake.
Thud!
''Seriously, you are so competitive.'' Luna, who appeared beside Maria, couldn't help but say this.
Sakuya and Gracier joined them.
''Big sister was so cool that I want to fight her.'' Gracier declared.
Luna and Sakuya looked at each other before bursting into laughter.
While the girls were laughing, waiting for Maria to wakes up, Alex's group stepped onto the 25th floor. Strangely, they were about to experience the same situation as the girls when they entered this floor.