Danmachi: Strongest Familia

The "Monster Parade" is a rare phenomenon found on levels deeper than the tenth floor—a sudden surge of monsters spawning all at once with the sole purpose of overwhelming adventurers. But the sheer number of creatures facing them now was unexpected, even by those standards.

Lan stood at the center of the Sol familia team, her expression calm despite the looming horde. Though the quantity of monsters was considerable, they were still only on the 15th floor, which limited the strength of their adversaries. With two LV5s among them, their team was relatively safe from harm, barring any unforeseen human interference.

As the familia members prepared to engage in their practiced formation, Kled, already brimming with excitement, charged ahead atop his companion Skaarl, his eagerness disrupting the team's previously meticulous formation. Several other "problem children" quickly followed Kled's lead, abandoning formation and throwing caution to the wind.

Lan and her sister Joan exchanged a helpless glance, finally understanding why Riveria always seemed exasperated when managing new recruits. 

A group of problem children rushed past those fleeing adventurers at the scene. Inspired by the crazy fighting spirit, the fleeing adventurers hesitated, then stopped in their tracks. 

Turning back, they saw Gnar, his face twisted with a wild expression, already clashing head-on with Minotaur.

With a wild grin, Kled swung his double-bladed axe, slicing through the first two hellhounds in his path, which vanished into black mist as their magic stones clattered to the ground, marking the battle's start.

Kled and Skaarl surged into the heart of the beast tide, quickly followed by Gnar and Poppy, who leapt into the fray, undeterred by the relentless surge of monsters.

"Tsk, these rookies really are a handful," Lan muttered, her smile strained. With every reckless charge, they disregarded her orders, and she began questioning the value of their formation drills altogether. 

From within the formation, Tristana provided long-range support, wielding a specialized weapon from Valoran. Though her ammunition, crafted by Ziggs, was limited, it still proved effective against these lower-tier monsters. Eagerly watching her companions battle, Veronica's hand drifted to her sword, impatient to join. Riveria's recent private instructions still echoed in her mind, but the urge to fight won out over caution.

"Forget it! If I'm going to be scolded, it can wait until afterward," she resolved, casting a furtive glance at Lan. Seizing a moment when Lan wasn't watching, she dashed forward into the battlefield.

"Veronica! Really now—!" Lan's exasperation was palpable. One by one, her teammates defied orders. Even her considerable patience was tested as she considered her frustration.

"Joan, you protect the rest—I'm going after her!" Lan called, sprinting to catch up with Veronica.

Her swiftness allowed her to quickly close the distance. Drawing the longbow from her back, she nocked three arrows, releasing them without hesitation. Each arrow flew past Veronica, piercing into the monsters ahead and clearing a path.

Veronica plunged into the monster tide, aided by the gap Lan had just created.

"Who are these people?" murmured one of the fleeing adventurers, who had taken refuge at a safer distance to observe.

Periodically, black mist drifted upward as more monsters fell, punctuated by the constant sound of magic stones clattering to the ground. If only these yordles had a way to wipe out entire hordes at once—they'd have swept through the monsters by now. Even without that, though, their power was unmistakable, and the Monster Parade's numbers were visibly thinning.

Among the watching adventurers, some recognized the two LV5 elves. There had been a stir around Orario when they first arrived, but these fierce newcomers who looked like a pallum seemed just as formidable, their abilities impressive for recent additions.

"Naaaaaaar!" A deafening roar suddenly reverberated through the dungeon, echoing up and down the floors. All eyes turned toward the source to see Gnar, now transformed, his fur glowing an intense red and his eyes blazing with ferocity. Gone was his usual playful demeanor—this was Gnar in his full battle form.

In an instant, Gnar's body swelled, becoming massive, his enormous frame nearly scraping the 15th floor's ceiling. The monsters that had swarmed them now appeared as nothing more than insignificant creatures in his presence.

But the transformation had only begun. Gnar's enormous hands slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves that rippled outward, toppling every monster in his path. One direction was instantly cleared as he grabbed a nearby boulder, spinning around to hurl it into another group of monsters. In his hands, the boulder, several times the size of a Hellwolf, was like a bowling ball, crushing anything it touched.

In mere moments, the once-dense tide of monsters had been severely diminished, and the previously crowded 15th floor was now punctuated with open space. Through the scattered ranks of monsters, Lan could finally see her familia members fighting, each of them full of vitality.

What had she been worried about?

"Let's clear this Monster Parade!" she shouted. Drawing her bow, she fired at such a rapid pace that only afterimages remained. The other members sprang into action as well, and soon the entire 15th floor fell silent.

Any adventurer arriving now might even mistake it for a safe floor.

"You all," Lan said sternly, surveying all the 'problem children', "I told you to follow the plan!"