CHAPTER 938: CHAPTER 723: THE GREATEST VARIABLE (PART 2)

"In such a situation, we cannot recklessly commit all our forces, otherwise we might very likely fall into the enemy’s trap and suffer a complete loss without subsequent support or rescue."

"We must split into two teams here, the vanguard team to continue advancing and exploring, and the backup team to remain on standby."

Finn immediately made the assignments.

"This time, Grace and I will lead, and all the cadres will follow us. The second army, led by Raul and Angel, will divide half of the elites into the vanguard, with the rest led by Revilia, waiting outside."

Finn was clearly planning to compose the vanguard team with only high-level forces for a strong assault, with those selected being basically second-level adventurers above Lv.3 and first-level adventurer cadres, with only a few healers below Lv.3.

The grassroots members would join the backup team led by Revilia, monitoring movements within the maze and protecting Loki, ready to respond at any moment.

"Looks like we won’t be able to go in."

Loki said regretfully, seemingly curious about this human-built labyrinth, fully showcasing the gods’ desire for the "unknown."

"Stop making a fuss, if anything happens to you, we’re all done for."

Revilia did not oppose Finn’s arrangements, even keeping a close watch on Loki.

As the head god who bestows divine protection, if something happened to Loki, her sealed divine power would surely activate to prolong her life.

And once a god uses divine power in the lower realm, regardless of the reason, they would be judged to have been ejected from the game called the "lower realm" and thus sent back to Heaven.

Once gods are sent back to Heaven, the divine protection behind their followers would lose effect, causing them to lose power, becoming as weak as ordinary humans.

In such a case, unless finding another head god to change faith and awaken the slumbering divine protection, they would never be able to use the abilities displayed on their status values.

With such a critical weakness, the head god naturally becomes the most important protection target.

Of course, Reiger is an exception.

He already discovered that with his [Self-redemption] skill, not only can he autonomously update his status values, but he is also completely immune to physical interference; even if the head god is sent back to Heaven, he would not be affected at all and could still update and use divine protection.

He can even change faith himself, which is to switch allegiance to another faction.

Leaving his current affiliated faction and transferring to another faction, that’s what changing faith is.

Usually, for someone wanting to change faith, they need to first obtain the consent of their current faction’s head god, enabling them to use the Divine Blood to release the binding of protection, then have another faction’s head god drop their Divine Blood to reestablish the contract.

In this way, the person can continue to use the former divine protection and continue to exert past powers.

In other words, changing faith not only requires the acceptance of the new head god but also the consent of the former head god.

There’s only one situation where adventurers holding protection can change faith even if the former head god doesn’t agree.

That is if something happens to the god and they are sent back to Heaven.

At this time, the protection of the followers affiliated to the head god becomes invalid, but it also means they are no longer bound by the former head god, allowing them to choose whichever faction they wish to join and reactivate the status values on their back.

Reiger, however, is different.

Even if Loki gets sent back to Heaven, the skill that grants immunity to physical interference ensures the status values on his back remain effective and will not fail.

Even without the assistance of a head god, having a skill that allows autonomous updating of status values, he can use another head god’s Divine Blood to change faith himself, without requiring the former head god’s consent.

In a sense, Reiger’s protection cannot be regarded as divine protection anymore; it is his own protection.

The only limit to his status values is Divine Blood; whether for updating status values or changing faith, both require corresponding Divine Blood assistance.

But this limitation is hardly a concern.

In this world, Divine Blood is not difficult to obtain; there is even a black market on the 18th floor in the "Maze Paradise" selling unlocking medicines that can unlock status values and updating medicines that can update status values, both made with Divine Blood as the main ingredient.

For the all-knowing, powerless gods in the lower realm, acquiring their blood is not a challenging task.

Reiger always keeps a large bottle of Loki’s Divine Blood in the storage space of his dimensional cube, enough to update status values for hundreds of times.

Thus, Reiger is the only person present who doesn’t need to worry about losing his protection, although he wouldn’t just sit by and let something happen to Loki.

Now, under Finn’s command, everyone quickly formed their teams.

The backup team retreated from the maze under Revilia’s leadership, while the vanguard team was fully armed, with people bringing in spare arms, supplies, and spiritual medicine for recovery items from outside, each supporter carrying heavy backpacks.

Rephia also carried a backpack, following closely behind Reiger and Ais, gripping her wand, fully prepared.

She was also selected to join the vanguard.

Now a Lv.4, Rephia would be replacing Revilia’s role this time, filling in the gap of strong rear magicians in the team, making the girl feel a heavy responsibility.

"It’s okay, you’re capable."

"Yes, Rephia is very powerful."

Reiger and Ais had no doubts about Rephia’s capability, consecutively comforting the stressed elven girl.

It was Theona and Theone who, because of their caring nature, instinctively reminded Rephia.

"Remember to stick close to us, Rephia."

"You’re an important magic guide and supporter, with Revilia absent, you are our most crucial rear support; we will protect you."

The twin sisters from the Amazon spoken in agreement.

"You little ones, remember not to drag me down."

Only Bert sneered coldly.

"Alright, kid, ease up."

Grace, wearing a helmet and clad in armor, gave Bert a heavy pat on the back, nearly knocking the wind out of him.

"Alright, let’s go with this formation."

"Yes, cadres take the front, we’ll advance with this formation while protecting supporter magicians and healers."

Raul and Angel, entrusted with leading the second army members below the level of cadres, discussed the strategy to address various emergencies and unexpected situations and finalized the tactics after obtaining Finn’s approval.

Watching this scene, Reiger silently said in his heart.

"Let’s hope these strategies prove useful."

It’s not surprising he thought so pessimistically.

Only he knows how abnormal the maze ahead truly is.

It is not a true underground city, but in terms of danger, it’s not only as perilous as a real underground city but even exceeds it.

In the original story, the Loki familiar suffered their first casualties on their first entry into this human-built maze.

The Loki familiar, which had not lost anyone even on expeditions, faced injuries and casualties within this human-built maze.

Even Finn nearly died, and the other first-tier adventurers were at great risk, one misstep could lead straight to hell, resulting in death.

Including Ais, who nearly died at the hands of a monster, taken away by that red-haired female monster.

Thinking of this, Reiger couldn’t help but glance at Ais.

"...What’s the matter?"

Noticing Reiger’s gaze, Ais turned her head, softly asking.

"No, nothing."

Reiger shook his head, moving his gaze under Ais’s puzzled eyes, looking toward Finn, Grace, Bert, Theona, Theone, Rephia, Raul, and Angel.

Compared to the original story, the Loki familiar is now much stronger.

"Finn and Grace have already reached Lv.7."

"Angel and Raul have also reached Lv.5."

"Even Rephia has leveled up to Lv.4, Ais’s status values are also much higher than they were at this point in the original, and she has mastered Wind Breath, while the other members are more or less stronger than they were in the original at this point."

Reiger raised his eyes, looking toward the solitary path ahead.

"Let me see if with this lineup, you can still come close to devouring us like in the original trajectory."

The biggest variable in this team let out a small murmur, seemingly dispelling the darkness ahead.

Soon, the vanguard team began to move.

The strategy against the human-built labyrinth officially began.