Danmachi: The Focalors Familia — Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Blue Magic Butterfly

As they stepped out of the narrow passage, the claustrophobic stone gave way to an impossibly vast cavern. Even in the deeper floors of the Dungeon, they had never encountered a space quite this immense.

At the very center stood a colossal pillar of green quartz, rising like a towering ancient tree. It stretched straight upward, its crystalline canopy merging flawlessly with the dark ceiling and the cavern walls behind it. The surface of the quartz bulged and twisted, mimicking the rough bark of a millennium-old oak, transforming the entire structure into a majestic tree forged of solid crystal. A soft, luminescent green light spilled from its core, bathing the entire cavern in a gentle glow. Transparent sap seeped continuously from the crevices in the crystal bark, dripping down to gather at the roots in a wide, pristine pool of spring water.

A dense swarm of monsters had gathered to feed. Killer Ants and massive purple moths clung tightly to the trunk, greedily lapping up the oozing liquid. Near the edge of the spring, several Needle Rabbits stretched their necks, dipping their tongues into the water to quench their thirst.

After a certain period, the creatures born from the Dungeon naturally hungered. While some monsters hunted Adventurers or engaged in brutal territorial slaughter, the vast majority relied on this special, nutrient-rich sap provided by the Dungeon—their mother—to survive. For the monsters, this sprawling cavern was a sanctuary, a fountain of life. It was the Dungeon’s Food Storehouse, and it truly lived up to the name.

“There should be Blue Magic Butterflies here,” Robin murmured, her voice barely a whisper.

Rather than wandering blindly through the expansive seventh floor like searching for a needle in a haystack, she had suggested coming directly to the Food Storehouse to wait for their prey. Naturally, an average Adventurer would never dare approach this place, given the sheer density of the monster horde.

“Let’s hide first. The monsters here aren’t particularly strong, but getting surrounded would still be a massive headache.”

Aside from the tunnel they had just exited, over a dozen complex passages fed into the cavern. At any moment, fresh waves of monsters could pour out from the darkness. Noah even spotted a few Hilichurls and bouncing Slimes mingling by the water. It was clear that these unique creatures, born from his own skills, had fully integrated into the Dungeon’s ecosystem. Even though these new species only spawned when he entered the Dungeon, they didn’t vanish when he left. Instead, much like the native monsters, they continued to roam the maze until they were slain by other Adventurers.

Robin retrieved several pieces of specially crafted camouflage cloth from her pack, distributing them to the group. The magical fabric perfectly mimicked the color and texture of the surrounding rock. The four of them draped the cloaks over their shoulders and pressed their backs against a recessed section of the cavern wall. Down by the spring, the monsters continued their frantic foraging, completely oblivious to the intruders.

“I didn’t expect the scenery here to be so beautiful,” Tifa breathed, peering through a small gap in her camouflage.

A warm, emerald radiance illuminated the cavern, casting long, dancing shadows. The light blooming from the great crystal tree was breathtakingly clear and pure. Beneath its roots, the spring water shimmered like liquid moonlight, its tranquil surface rippling gently. Clusters of white grass with glowing blue stems blossomed along the water’s edge. Occasionally, a Needle Rabbit would push aside the glowing foliage to peek around, while overhead, purple moths rested on the quartz, their wings dyed a dreamlike hue by the ambient light. The soft splashing of water echoed as a group of Hilichurls waded silently through the shallows toward the tree.

“Keep your eyes open. Our target is here,” Noah whispered, gently tapping Tifa’s shoulder. He gestured toward the far side of the cavern.

Startled from her reverie, Tifa gave a slight jolt before following his gaze. Hovering in the air near the edge of the Food Storehouse was a small cluster of blue butterflies. They were every bit as stunning as the cavern itself. Their physical structure was far more delicate than the crude purple moths, boasting four crystalline, vibrantly colored wings. As they fluttered through the air, they left behind stunning trails of azure light.

The Blue Magic Butterfly possessed almost zero combat ability, but in exchange, the shimmering blue scales that fell from their wings held potent healing properties for monsters.

“It’s too risky to make a move here. Let’s wait until they leave the cavern, then we pursue,” Robin advised, keeping her tone low and measured.

“Agreed,” Noah, Hyacine, and Tifa nodded in unison.

The Food Storehouse was a death trap for an ambush. The moment they alerted the feeding horde, they would be swarmed from all sides. While their current strength meant they weren’t in any real danger, a prolonged fight would be an exhausting waste of time. Upper-floor monsters offered negligible experience, and their drop items were mostly worthless. It simply wasn’t worth the energy.

The four of them waited in absolute silence. A short while later, the Blue Magic Butterflies, having had their fill of the glowing sap, fluttered away, drifting lazily down one of the adjacent tunnels.

Noah and the others immediately shed their camouflage cloaks and trailed after them, their footsteps completely silent. Deep within a secluded passage, far from the bustling Food Storehouse, they finally blocked the butterflies’ escape route.

The very instant the Blue Magic Butterflies sensed the impending danger, Noah moved. He didn’t even bother channeling his magic. Relying entirely on the raw speed and explosive power of a Level 2 Adventurer, he lunged forward. The Fire Spirit longsword in his grip carved through the damp air, leaving behind a series of blinding silver flashes.

In the wake of his blade, the beautiful creatures instantly dissolved into plumes of black ash. Several pairs of pristine, shimmering wings and a handful of Magic Stones clattered against the stone floor.

They quickly gathered their spoils—a total of seven pairs of Blue Magic Butterfly wings. Aside from the portion promised to Naaza, Hyacine carefully packed away a few pairs for herself. As an exceptional healer and a skilled potion brewer, these rare materials would be very useful for her ongoing research.

With their first commission successfully completed, the day’s true work had only just begun. The group didn’t linger in the quiet tunnel, immediately pressing onward toward the lower floors of the Dungeon.

Past the seventh floor, the architecture of the maze underwent a drastic shift. As they descended through the eighth and ninth floors, the cold stone walls turned a deep, earthy brown, thickly carpeted in damp moss. The ground beneath their boots softened into a layer of short, resilient grass, while the towering ceiling glowed with a brilliant phosphorescence that lit the tunnels as brightly as the surface world at noon.

The ecosystem shifted as well. Alongside the familiar Hilichurls and Slimes, they began encountering roving packs of Orcs. These massive, pig-headed beasts boasted terrifying physical strength, though their movements were sluggish and predictable.

Noah and Tifa operated like two perfectly honed blades, effortlessly carving through the beast formations with lethal precision. From the rear, Robin calmly monitored the flow of battle, occasionally unleashing the concussive sound waves of her Wingbeat of the White Sound to disrupt the enemy ranks. Beside her, Hyacine stood ready, weaving the gentle, restorative power of wind magic to keep her companions’ stamina at its peak.