This time, Sophia was alert. After a brief silence, she replied calmly,

“I simply rarely go out. Otherwise, which noble lady would venture into a dungeon—and possess the power of a Seventh-tier mage?”

“I don’t consider myself inferior to those pampered debutantes raised in noble houses, waiting only to be married off.”

As she spoke, a faint trace of disdain flickered across her face.

Sally studied Sophia for a long moment, but a subtle mist veiling the latter’s features blocked her view. Eventually, Sally looked away with a soft “Mm.”

Tanos rarely appeared on the first floor; the King of Tanos had only sparse outposts on the second.

Thus, the Lion Warband ignored the first-floor monsters entirely and sped toward the second level.

They had to complete the mission before sunset.

Once night fell, dungeon monsters would go berserk—their numbers and strength surging dramatically.

For safety and success, Raging Lion had to lead them to secure the King of Tanos’s horn swiftly.

“The entrance to the second floor is ahead! Stay sharp once we cross!” Raging Lion called to his teammates.

Weapons raised, the group answered with a unified shout.

Raging Lion took the lead, guiding the warriors forward to scout.

The mages and remaining fighters followed one by one after his “clear” signal.

Just as Sophia was about to step through—sudden chaos erupted!

*Gurgle… GURGLE!!!*

Disgusting sounds swarmed from all directions. Sophia turned to see several green-skinned goblins charging.

“Damn it!”

Only three or four warriors stood ready. They met the goblin rush head-on, barely holding the first wave with hard-won experience.

Mages reacted instantly, raising staves. Arcane chants spilled forth, and spells of fire, ice, and lightning slammed into the horde.

Several goblins’ heads exploded in sprays of green blood, splattering the front-line warriors.

But this was only the beginning.

More goblins surged forward, their guttural cries echoing through the cramped cavern.

“Run! Get to the second floor!” a warrior yelled to the mages behind him.

In that split-second distraction, goblins swarmed him, burying him beneath their weight.

Just as he fell, a massive fireball roared in, blasting the pile apart.

Sophia glanced over—the fireball, noticeably stronger than the others, came from Windsor, the girl who’d spoken to her earlier.

Clearly, she was a Fourth-tier fire mage.

The warrior scrambled up. With no time to thank her, he charged back into the fray.

Despite magical support, the goblin tide overwhelmed the thin defense.

A hulking goblin wielding a bone club broke through and swung down at a mage.

Caught off guard, the mage was crushed into pulp.

The brute lunged for the next mage—

—but Windsor shoved the target aside at the last second.

They tumbled together, crashing hard against a stone pillar.

Only then did Sophia act.

A soft aqua-blue glow shimmered. A massive water orb materialized, engulfing the goblin and drowning it silently.

She hadn’t planned to intervene. Every revealed ounce of power heightened her danger.

Yet she had.

She sighed softly, fingers brushing her staff.

Seeing the sole Seventh-tier mage step in, the group’s tension eased slightly.

Sophia began chanting. Her voice rose—clear, resonant, commanding.

A roaring torrent of water erupted from midair, crashing down on the goblin horde.

The front ranks were pulverized; others were hurled backward.

“Go! Now!” Sophia shouted.

The moment she finished, a shove knocked her sideways.

The very mage Windsor had saved scrambled past her and dove into the second-floor entrance.

Drained from the high-tier spell, Sophia stumbled and fell.

No one looked back.

They scrambled through the entrance, desperate to escape the goblin tide.

Sophia watched the crowded threshold in silence. Her aqua-blue eyes darkened.

Windsor hurried over and helped her up. “Sister Sophia… are you alright?”

Sophia blinked, lips pressing together. She shook her head.

Once the last member vanished below, only Sophia and Windsor remained.

“You go first,” Sophia murmured, gently guiding Windsor toward the entrance.

Windsor shot her a worried glance but didn’t argue, quickening her steps downward.

*Sigh…*

As Sophia turned to follow—

*Gurgle.*

A green-skinned figure dropped from the cavern ceiling, pinning her to the ground.

*Thud—*

Her head cracked against stone. Pain flashed white behind her eyes.

Instinctively, she jerked her head aside as a blade whistled past.

Vision clearing, she saw a bone knife embedded where her skull had been.

*Gurgle…*

The goblin grinned, yanking the knife free for another strike.

Sophia frowned, dodging again. Beneath her robe, her hand slipped toward her chest.

A cold flash.

The goblin’s head hit the floor with a *clang*, green blood splattering her black robes.

She rose slowly, tucked the dagger away, and brushed dust from her sleeves.

“Miss Sophia! Are you hurt?”

She turned. Sally, the elf vice-captain, approached with her longbow slung, concern in her gaze.

Sophia met her eyes—cool, silent—and walked past without a word.

Sally spread her hands with a sigh. “The captain sent me back fearing you were in danger. Don’t be so cold. Honestly… not cute at all.”