Souta successfully implanted a parasitic essence eater inside Isabella's body. This parasite will boost her strength and increased her durability. Also, she was likely to survive a dangerous situation with the help of the parasite's regenerative ability.
"It's finished..."
Isabella opened her eyes and felt the changes in her body. She felt that her limbs had increased but she could hardly control it. It will take some time before she could control her parasite just like a part of her body.
At this moment, everyone had parasites in their body except for Yenxia, the little goblin. It will maximize their strength to the next level.
Then, they escorted Yenxia to the lower floors to train alone. They couldn't bring her to the lower floors as the danger kept increasing and it was bad for her as the difference in her power level and the monster was so huge. The monster on the 80th floor and below could easily end her life.
That's why Souta didn't bring her. It was a different matter if she was a second evolution monster but first evolution... It was too weak.
After Yenxia was gone, the group went to clear the 80th floor. The monster that they've faced on this floor was too dangerous. It was full of C-rank and B-rank monsters.
They fought thousands of C-rank and hundreds of B-ranks. In just a single day, it was hard to clear this floor as hundreds of B-ranks already give them trouble. Also, all of them were fighters and there's no support or healer class in their party.
They didn't need a healer because of their parasites but support. They needed it as the support class could buff their strength and debuff the enemy's strength.
But facing hundreds of B-ranks with only seven people was hard. It was like facing all the commanders of the Great Astley Empire. If not for their parasites some of them would suffer heavy injuries.
In the battle, Souta, Yuko, and Doranjan took most of the B-rank monsters. The three of them fought more than ten B-rank monsters on their own. It was the maximum number that they could fight with their base form.
On the second day of clearing the 80th floor. The group wiped out more than half of the monsters on this floor and they continued to find the path towards the lower floors. It was another tiring day for the group but the gains that they've received through battles were high.
They could feel it. They could feel that they were improving by fighting powerful opponents nonstop.
On the third day, the group found the entrance on the 81st floor but they couldn't pass through it easily as ten A-ranks were guarding it.
Ten A-rank were already hard but there were also dozens of B-ranks around the vicinity.
Souta didn't simply want to pass through the entrance and went to the 81st floor. He wanted to hunt the ten A-ranks as the exp that he will receive from killing them was greater than killing hundreds of B-ranks.
That's why they fought it fiercely to the point that Franklin, Torkez, and Isabella used everything that they've got and collapsed on the group.
Franklin, Torkez, and Alice were A-rank experts. Plus, they had parasites so their based strength was higher than the normal A-rank but it still gave them trouble fighting A-rank and dozens of B-ranks at the same time.
It took them one hour before they've killed all the monsters.
"Huff... Huff... That was exciting..."
Franklin said while breathing heavily. He was lying on the ground while looking at the ceiling of the floor. He didn't have the strength to fight anymore.
"It's hard and the monsters in this huge labyrinth are already enough to take down the Great Astley Empire..."
Torkez muttered as he glanced at everyone to see their conditions.
"We'll rest for now since we've cleared this floor. After we rest, we'll quickly go to the 81st floor and see what awaits for us."
Souta said to them as he leaned his back on the trunk of a huge tree. This was a living labyrinth so it was different than normal dungeons and they couldn't gather any treasure in this place except for the stone that came out from the monsters that they've killed and the natural ingredients of this place.
"On this floor, there are ten A-ranks. The next floor should be harder than this one and we'll probably face more A-rank in the rest of the floors. Also, the C-rank monsters will be gone too and maybe the common monsters below are as strong as B-ranks."
Alice said with a sigh.
"Yeah, you're right. Fortunately, these monsters aren't real monsters that could use best feram. They are just a bunch of creatures made of energy by the god that created this living labyrinth."
Souta smiled as he closed his eyes and pondered to himself if they could clear this living labyrinth and get the god's legacy.
On the next day, the group went to the 81st floor. This floor was entirely different than the rest of the floor above as it was a huge maze. The walls of the maze were so tough that they couldn't even put a scratch on it.
Doranjan and Yuko even used their [Bestrou]. But it only caused an explosion that harmed their comrades instead of breaking the walls.
'It's futile. You mortals wouldn't be able to damage something made by god's powers unless you're at god level too.' Saya said inside Souta's mind.
Gods were immortal beings and they were way above mortals in every aspect by a huge margin. They couldn't die and that's their well-known trait. Well, there were two reasons why gods died. One was they were killed by another god and two was they choose to leave this world. By 'leaving this world' means that they will choose to end their life and used their life force and energy to create a living labyrinth to passed all the things that they've known to the next generation.
Gods could simply pass their knowledge to the country that they've created but not all gods were like that. There were rogue gods who were alone and didn't have anyone with them. Those gods choose to create their labyrinth and gave their legacy to the one who will clear their labyrinth.
That's the one thing Souta couldn't understand with the gods. Creating a living labyrinth was simply a suicide that will end their life. Maybe, they were too old that they've got bored of this world so they just simply end their life.
'It's not as simple as you think. There's a reason why they choose to create a living labyrinth at the cost of their lives. You're not even at the realm of god so it's too early for you to think about the cause of living labyrinth.' Saya said to him.
"You really know a lot of things. How about you share those things to me?" Souta smiled while he replying to her words.
'One at a time. Too much information will only overwhelm you. If you reach the level of the god, a monster lord in your case, then I will teach you the ways of that level.' Saya giggled as she knew that Souta really wanted to know about it but she couldn't. 'You should focus on the things that I'm teaching you first. We will go to that level in the future. You will know the nature of the living labyrinth and the inner consciousness is different than what mortal said.'
'Is this different from monster lords?' Souta asked her with a curious expression.
'Fundamentally, the monster lords and gods are the same but in terms of attributes a monster lord is cut above a god.' Saya paused before she added, 'According to the study, a monster lord's power comes from its trait and evolution path. It will decide everything while gods come from the accumulation of the knowledge and skills they had as mortals. The ascension also what they called apotheosis is like an evolution of monsters to monster lords. After mortals broke all the shackles that are binding their bodies, they will not easily reach godhood. They had to follow certain steps and those steps are what stopping the Hero-rank or Ten-shackled realm from becoming a god. But it's different from monsters.
'Monster broke their shackles every time they evolved. And when they finally evolved into the sixth evolution, the monster lord stage, all the shackles within their bodies are gone. This is the reason why monsters had more potential than humans and demis. Since I'm not a monster, I can't help you with your ascension and my knowledge is limited.'
Souta grew silent as he contemplated what he should do once he go back to the Great World Imperium. He was curious about the information about monster lord since he was taking that path.
'God's continent... There are many monster lords in that place like the World Serpent, World Wolf, Monkey King, Yamato no Orochi, The Four Divine Beast, and various dragon lords. Or you could go back to the Forest of Eternal Light since you are acquainted with Destruction Queen, Raeshka.' Saya said to him.