Marcus and Mrazivý both looked towards their beast companions in surprise.
While Inten was still looking the same, it was clear that Blitz and Eirwen had undergone profound changes.
To start, Blitz had a far longer, bushier tail than before and his legs now had what looked like dragon scales going up them until the first joint.
His aura had also completely changed, and it was clear he had become a legendary grade beast.
Eirwen similar seemed to have evolved and had gotten much larger. His plumage was now no longer a pure white but had a pattern of dark blue feathers around his chest and extending to his wings.
It only took just a single look to know that the two of them had increased their powers greatly by evolving to the next grade.
'I wonder what he is now.' Marcus thought as he opened up his status and went to the page detailing his beast companions.
There he found that Blitz was now level fifty-nine and had evolved into a being called a Kirin.
Racking his brain Marcus felt he had heard of this creature before, and quickly recalled reading about it before on Earth.
However, the depictions he remembered of a Kirin were normally more horse-like, but he supposed that sometimes they were also depicted as stags.
'Still these stats are quite different from when we started. It seems that his evolution has put him at the peak of what a legendary grade beast is and more like a quasi-mythic grade beast.'
After quickly looking over Blitz's status, he turned his attention to the three beast companions that had approached.
"You certainly have gotten big Eirwen, and I can tell how much stronger you are now. When we get back, we will have to test out your new powers." Mrazivý said to her beast companion with a glint in her eyes.
Up to this point since they had joined together as companions Eirwen had not been able to really accompany Mrazivý since her exponential growth after evolving, but now he had closed the gap somewhat thanks to reaching the legendary grade.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAs Mrazivý greeted her beast companion, Marcus went up to both Inten and Blitz and congratulated them on getting through the trails of the special dungeon and coming back stronger.
"You in particular, Blitz, have made quite the progress. I can tell that you have become much more powerful now." Marcus said as he pet Blitz on the neck.
'You know I have gotten much stronger as well. I finally obtained one of those unique skills.' Inten said with his telepathy as he jumped onto Marcus' shoulder.
It was obvious that he wanted some attention as well and was feeling a bit jealous since Blitz was standing out for his evolution to a Kirin.
"Oh, pray tell, what kind of unique skill did you get?" Marcus asked.
Proudly Inten told him what it was, and like most unique skills it was quite powerful.
Marcus was stunned once again by how absurd the unique skills everyone had received from the special dungeon were.
The one Inten had gotten was called Magic Eater and allowed him to absorb any mana-based attack and use the energy for himself.
It was similar in a way to the mana thief skill, but in many regards far better.
Instead of simply draining away at the mana of people within a certain area, Inten could basically nullify any attack sent at him that used mana.
Hit by a high tier spell, he could just eat the mana used to cast it and destroy the attack completely.
The only limitation to this unique skill was the capacity of mana Inten could absorb in this way which was three times his own mana pool.
With this extra power he could unleash powerful mana attacks or simply keep it in reserve to fuel for his own abilities.
And to add to the versatility of the unique skill, it could even dispel spells cast on allies by eating the mana fueling them.
Things like the psychic magic that had once been used on Mrazivý to control her during the kingdom's tournament, or even Lyra's spell that implanted horrifying illusions into a person's mind could be broken by Inten's unique skill.
'His defense against magic is now practically impenetrable. And with his already high physical defense from his race abilities and normal skills, only soul-based attacks really are going to have any effect on him now.' Marcus thought as he analyzed Inten's unique skill.
Once they had finish up with their initial greeting and discussion of Inten, Blitz, and Eirwen's greatest gains, they began sharing their experiences of the trails the special dungeon had put them all through.
"Seems like we all had some difficult times, but I am glad we have all gotten through it. Now all we have to do is wait till James' group arrives." Marcus said, leaning back in his seat and relaxing.
More days went by while those that had already finished floors eleven through twenty waited for the last group composed of James, Fallon, Quillon, and Lyra to arrive.
During this time many of them had actually left the dungeon to go outside and test out their new powers together.
Finally, nearly a week after Inten's group had arrived, James and his team appeared on the teleportation circle.
"Took you long enough. What kept all of you up?" Mrazivý asked her brother.
As Mrazivý brought this up everyone in James' group grimaced as they remembered the trial that had taken them a very long time to complete.
"Not right now. We will explain it later, but for now I do not think any of us want to talk about it." Lyra said.
Swiftly the four of them shuffled into the waiting room that was now at peak capacity and they all sat down to share their stories and get up to date on what skills and other advances they had made.
"Looks like across the board our levels have gotten higher. This place really does know how to hammer out our weak points and force us to get over them." Marcus said when they had finished up discussing the most important gains they had all gotten.
Before they had entered James was the highest level among them at level seventy, but now he had made it to level seventy-three. Fallon was the next highest at seventy-one, followed by Mrazivý who was at level seventy thanks to the powerful natural treasure she had gotten.
Following her was Lyra at level sixty-seven, then Quillon immediately behind her at sixty-six.
After that was Marcus who had gotten to level sixty-four, and Inten the last in the sixties at level sixty-one.
Everyone else had made it up to at least fifty with Blitz being at fifty-nine, and Eirwen having reached level fifty-seven.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAmong Lilia's group she had the highest level at fifty-four, followed by Aurelia and Zareen with fifty-three, and Alaric trailing just behind at fifty-two.
Finally, as usual Roxene had the lowest level due to her needing an exorbitant amount of experience points to level up due to the fact she was the highest class of mythic grade beast.
Still, she had managed to reach level fifty and her power still was greater than all the other beast companions bar Fallon who was more than twenty levels higher.
"Overall, this has been very productive but now we need to decide whether we are going to continue or head back. I know that some of us have duties they need to attend to." Quillon said as he glanced between James and Lyra.
Both of the wore complicated expression at this.
James had his obligations as the leader of the sky knights, and Lyra had an entire domain that she was in charge of.
Even leaving things alone for as long as they had would put strain on their subordinates to keep things going. Especially in the wake of all that had happened recently.
With the royal family members crashing Marcus and Mrazivý's engagement party and summoning a horde of demons James was on high alert patrolling for any signs of his brother and uncle who had escaped after failing in their objective.
Lyra on the other hand was still in the middle of reconstructing her kingdom and getting it prepared to join Borealia in the years to come.
Both of them had highly demanding positions and would need to get back to them.
However, surprisingly they both voiced their opinion that they wished to continue on and go through the next ten floors during this small window of opportunity when they had the time.
"The demon attack and the recent failed invasion from the empire to the east has shown me that I need more power to protect my kingdom and family. There is no better place than here for me to do that." James said.
"I also need to be stronger. Tralenstein may be mostly at peace right now, but tensions are still high along the borders to the south. Boreas' display of power has kept them at bay, but it is clear they have not fully given up on taking a piece of my kingdom. Anyway, having more power is pretty much always useful. I do not want to be too weak to not be able to protect those I care about again."
With Lyra and James staying resolute in their goal to continue onm it was decided that after a quick rest of a few days they would head into the next set of floors.
During this time, they worked together to practice their new capabilities, and Marcus who was the only one that could easily leave and come back headed to the nearest city and procured a large number of supplies for everyone.
Soon enough the day came for them to all go their separate ways and take on floors twenty-one to thirty by themselves.
"I will be going in first. Make sure that you all stay sharp and fight your hardest to get through these next trials. I expect to see everyone on the other side and hope not to have to regenerate any missing appendages this time." Marcus said with a smile on his face.
"Same to you. You may be the toughest one of all of us, but sometimes I think you forget you are not invincible. Make sure you do not get yourselves killed. I could not stand it to be a widow before we even get married" Mrazivý said to Marcus right before he stepped on the teleportation circle.
A familiar glow quickly enveloped his body, and he was warped away to the next floor. Where he would learn, fight, and struggle to gain more power to better be prepared for the chaotic future his life on Mirrion entailed.