My notes are at the end. So please, hold off. I know I owe you all an explanation. Also, BACK FROM VACATION!

...

The Sword Princess wasted no time accepting the quest, but she needed to report back to the Manor. After all, she went in when she wasn't supposed to. Using her natural speed as a level five, she was back on the surface within the hour.

Startling multiple adventurers—and most of Orario—on the way, she entered the Manor with ease. She marched herself up to Finn's office, avoiding her brother's room, and knocked on the door. "Enter," she heard the voice of her Captain on the other side. She entered with gusto.

"Is Udaeus slated to spawn soon?" she asked with seemingly no context. This is for him, and I need to be stronger. Just hold on…

Finn looked up from his work, Riveria looked over to her pseudo-daughter with a raised eyebrow. Gareth was the only one to not look up, but his quill stopped its movement. "Care to tell me why you're asking, Ais?"

She paused...not really thinking that far ahead, but she needed to know so that she can be stronger. That woman was responsible, and she beat both Axton and herself with moderate effort. "I had to head into the Dungeon to save an adventurer at the request of a Guild receptionist. I will explain after...I just need to know." I'm sorry I went in, but I was not going to let him be killed.

"You went into the Dungeon...to save someone?" Finn said slowly, having heard her, but he had to confirm it.

She nodded, "Against your orders, yes...but I had a different reason to go down there and it wasn't because of him. I...I only want-"

"You want to level…" Riveria said, trailing off, already think of where the young girl's head is at. "This is about that woman." Ais's mouth opened and closed before she pursed her lips, nodding once. Her eyes shined with determination, looking her maternal figure right in the eye. "You aren't planning on going alone, are you?"

"Now, Riveria-"

"Let her finish, Finn, it's rare for the lass to be this direct," Gareth whispered, not really, to Finn. The Pallum had to admit, Gareth did have a point. Ais does not ask for things often, so he reluctantly agreed to listen.

"I need to kill Udaeus to level, so I can combat that woman, I need to get him back." she bowed at the waist, "Please let me gain the strength to help him!"

The three executives all stared at the girl wide-eyed. Never before has she been this...forward about it. Normally, she would be all for getting strength. This time, however, she wants to get the strength for someone close to her, someone she couldn't live without. He is her only blood-related family alive, their mother notwithstanding.

"I'll go," a voice said, making Ais snap her head up in shock. She fully expected them to deny her. She was asking for permission before begging for forgiveness. If they had rejected her, she would have left on her own. The High Elf stood, "Someone needs to watch out for her and I don't see you two knuckleheads volunteering."

Finn, for once, did not have a retort for that. They did kinda pawn responsibility off on her years ago, and despite the multiple verbal spats they get in, they do care for one another. "Fine…" he acquiesced. "We'll head down now, but let us make it quick."

Then, the Sword Princess did something that only Axton had seen up until now.

She smiled wide, showing off her true beauty.

Riveria beamed with a hint of smugness, and she was the first to embrace Ais, "That's the smile I've been trying for years for you to show me!" Obviously, the girl didn't expect that and was a little dizzy after the High Elf set her down.

After everyone got over their shock, they left immediately. As much as it pained Ais to not stop on the twenty-fourth floor, she knew what she had to do.

When she returned to the surface in record time, looking banged up, scuffed, having given a lap pillow to a certain rabbit because he overused his magic—which Ais mentally questioned when he got it. He ran away again...and then she demanded a status update from Loki…

As a result, Orario had a brand new level six. Now, she had a rendezvous to make on the eighteenth floor. Thankfully, Ais explained what had transpired on the tenth floor. All that was left were the plans to be made.

However, those plans never survived first contact. That's just a rule.


As Finn, Riveria, Gareth, and Ais were preparing, Lefiya and Bete met with Loki. It turns out, Dionysus and his Captain, the level three Filvis Challia, arrived at Twilight Manor to discuss some things. She was an elf with long black hair and red eyes. She wore a frilled white dress with a white coat with light blue edges over it. The gloves that covered her hands were not uncommon with elves, and Lefiya was happy that she was with one of her kin.

Bete had met this elf before, just right after his and Loki's adventure in the sewers. They had a nice chat and learned a few things, but those were small details...probably.

"So, we're to join the group on the eighteenth floor," Dionysus said, his prim and proper tone plus his smooth silver tongue made for a suave God. He looked to Loki and to the two children flanking her. "Are you alright with that, my Captain?"

"If that is your will, Lord Dionysus," the calm-spoken elf said. "When will we be leaving?"

Loki checked an imaginary watch, "You may want to head down now." Bete and Lefiya turned to see the four aforementioned people leave the Manor. "Aizu, just because you're now level six doesn't mean you have gotten used to your strength, I'd advise caution."

This information was an eye-opener for both God and the child but withheld their reactions. "Are we heading down in groups, or all at once?" With Finn's tactics on their side, there were many ways for this to go down.

"Groups," the Pallum responded, looking over his familia members and the two guests. "Bete, Lefiya, and Miss Challia, you will be the scouting group. The rest of us will meet on the eighteenth floor before we move as one towards the twenty-fourth. Recent reports from the Ganesha Familia say that the monsters are growing restless. It is entirely possible that it may delay us."

"As long as these weaklings won't slow me down, then fine. Let's go…" he said before walking off. Filvis was next and then Lefiya. The two elves were walking side-by-side. Lefiya, of course, was curious.

She wanted to know her fellow kin. Some elves don't see elves of other forests as kin while on the flip side, in the eyes of other elves, they are all kin as the forests they were born in meant nothing—exceptions being High Elves. Sounds confusing, right? It shouldn't be.

"Bete, what did you see down there?" Lefiya asked. Normally, she would be quiet or be speaking to their new companion, but the walk to the Dungeon was awkward and it was up to Lefiya to not make it so.

Deciding for once to not be an absolute ass, and since he did want the Prince back alive, "Lots of monsters migrating from the northern pantry to the southern pantry, and if there isn't enough food…"

"They could migrate to the upper floors causing multiple deaths of innocent adventurers," a voice said, to which both members of Loki Familia looked to Filvis who stared and walked past them. "Let us keep moving, shall we?"

Bete reached out for Filvis's shoulder, "Now wait a minute."

Reacting with inhuman speed, she hit his hand away with the flat of her blade, "Do not touch me!" Bete was momentarily stunned before that turned into anger.

"Now listen here, you little weak ass-"

"Mister Bete!" Lefiya said, standing in front of the angry puppy. "You must understand that majority of elves do not like being touched. I am only one of the exceptions, but Miss Filvis is the other side of this. Please, I do not wish for my kin and my familia to fight on such matters when we should be focusing on getting Axton back."

Bete narrowed his eyes at the elf, then sneered before walking past them both, heading in the Dungeon. Most spectators breathed a sigh of relief that nothing happened. They made a mental note to thank the Thousand Elf for stopping them. Then they paled at realizing they were with the Banshee.

The party killer. The plague. Many names suited her, and she accepted them without so much as a fight. There was a reason why she usually traveled alone, and why she was always at Lord Dionysus's side.


In the Dungeon, on the twenty-fourth floor, there was still a person looking at the pillar, but their body was covered in bruises, colored in the darkest blues to a disgusting green, and even a pale yellow. Beneath the skin were broken bones. There was only so much that can be held back, but it was even worse because of the demented smile they had on their face. The problem was not because of the smile, it was because if they stopped smiling, it hurt. Their cheeks and face felt like how a butcher uses that spiked hammer to pound the meat.

"After all this, you refuse to submit," Revis said, mostly bored but actually mildly impressed that he's managed to stay sane after the beatings. Even being restrained again, he made no fights. "Spawn."

Golden-Onyx eyes cracked open and they were focused. The eyes have not lost their will to survive. He's well aware of how bleak it was. "I…won't...answer to…that."

This is how their conversations have been. She speaks his nickname, and he cheekily responds. "Has he still not broken from all this?" A man wearing what looked like a deer skull entered the room, seeing him strung up like a lamb waiting for slaughter.

"Stay out of this, Olivas, this Spawn is my prey, just like Aria is mine as well," Revis growled at the man.

At the mention of his sister, the vines groaned, yet the smile was still in place. What could be taken as a sign of struggle was really a sign of his anger. "My sister...is not your...prey."

"We haven't killed him why?" the man, 'Olivas' asked.

Revis shrugged, looking back at the spawn, before punching him in the gut. A trail of blood leaked down his chin and some even got on her face. Yet, the smile persisted, if faltering slightly. "That is a question for Ein." At this point, Ein had left and gone back to her Master to prepare the next phase of the plan. Their goals were far beyond a mortal's understanding.

If I die, I just hope she won't go into a frenzy. She's not pulling her blows either. I can feel my bones scraping against my skin. If I even moved wrong then it could spell disaster, internal bleeding. Axton is only rambling in his thoughts just to keep his sanity. He could feel it slipping but his skill kept a lock on someone he wanted to protect.

"Did his eyes change?" Deer Mask asked.

"I didn't see it," Revis scoffed, not even remotely caring.

The sound of ripping vines and screaming monsters stole all of the attention, the lamb's included. Is that…

An orb was brought out from the man's robes, "This is an interesting development." In the image was all of the upper echelon of Loki Familia, members of Hermes Familia, and an elf next to Lefiya. Finn, Riveria, Gareth...you came. Bete? I thought you wouldn't care. Lefiya… he felt his heart seize at her worried expression, even if it was really directed at Bete and the elven companion next to them. Please be cautious when entering. We have no idea who our enemy is. He pleaded with them through the screen, not that they could feel it.

Once the image was set on Ais, did Revis react, "Separate Aria from the rest. She's mine, and bring the Spawn, I want him to watch as I kill her." He took exception to that as a faint cut appeared on her face, right below her right eye.

"No...touch…" he said. Lay a hand on her, I swear I will kill you.

"Quiet, Spawn…" Revis growled before wrapping a hand around his neck, squeezing.

The damn smile never left, even as he spat blood on her. Good luck...sister.

Axton Wallenstein was not going to be useful for this fight, but he would have an interesting turn of events come the middle of it all.


Once everyone assembled on the eighteenth floor, Ais had run off to who knows where.

Where she ran off to was a bar located on the farther end of Rivira. The tavern that the figure mentioned was where she would meet with her 'floor buddies'. Of course, when she entered, there was a specific code phrase she was supposed to say. Considering it was her favorite snack, it shouldn't be that hard.

The tavern was how one would expect. Dusty, grimy, and wooden, except for the foundation. Ais approached the bartender who was wiping out a glass with a rag. "One Green tea-flavored Jagamarukun."

The bartender paused, giving the Sword Princess a once over, in a respectful way. Ais turned in a specific direction and glared at seemingly nothing. The bartender didn't notice but waved her back as a secret door opened behind the bar. Not really, it was just a normal door.

Ais entered and the room was dark, even for her fresh level six senses. She didn't just gain a demi-human's ability to see in the dark. That'd be too far for a fantasy…

Then the lights flashed on, temporarily blinding the Sword Princess, "Well well well, Mister skeleton, it seems we're finally meeting" They turned around. "Ah, Sword Princess!"

"Wait...I remember you…"

"When he said we were getting backup, this is not—no offense—who I had in mind." The girl said, revealed to be Lulune, the chienthrope from the Hermes Familia that held the fetus orb after Hashana's death.

"Sword Princess, it's an honor to meet you, if only it was under better circumstances," another voice said. Ais turned to see Perseus, or Asfi Al Andromeda, enter. "We are aware that the Sword Prince is also in distress," she pushed up her glasses, "Apologies, my name is Asfi Al Andromeda, Captain of the Hermes Familia."

"I recognize you. I use a lot of your magic items…" Ais said, the mention of her brother stung, but thanks to her aloof nature, she wasn't able to show it. One such item that she uses was a feather pen that can send a message to anyone, and it didn't require ink. That resided in a pouch on her person. Thanks to a development ability that Asfi has called Mystery—oftentimes labeled Enigma—these items exist. While Ais and Axton excel in the combat field, Asfi excels in the magic items field, excluding magic swords.

"Course you'd know our dear Asfi," Lulune said, beaming with pride. Ais noticed that all the people in the bar that were acting nonchalant were now serious. The blonde bristled under the stares and her hands fell to the blades at her sides. Both Desperate and Requiem were attached to the Princess's hips.

"You're on this quest too? Ais asked instead, her hands not leaving the blades.

"Because of a certain greedy chienthrope," ignoring the whine from said person, "we have been tasked to finding out what is going on."

"And was it-"

"The mysterious person shrouded in black robes and no visible features? Yes, Sword Princess," Asfi said, her arms crossed, pointedly looking at Ais. "He threatened to expose our familia secrets."

Ais was aware that the Hermes Familia has a lot of secrets, and Hermes himself liked being in the middle of the hierarchy. Releasing her hands off of the hilts of both her and her brother's weapon, she took a deep breath, "Do you have multiple pieces of paper? The rest of the forces are close by."

Asfi paused at this, "There's more?"

"Finn, Riveria, and Gareth have joined in, so have Bete and Lefiya. I do need to explain why I ran, so the faster I can tell them, the better."

Someone in the back, "Well shit, that makes our job easy." Asfi for once did not get a headache because of a complication. In fact, this complication was a boon for her.

"So about that paper?" Ais questioned with her aloof stare.

A few seconds passed.

"Why doesn't she have a piece of paper in her hand?!" Lulune shouted. Ais pulled out her magic feather pen, which had no name, and when she got the paper, her message was simple. Her location, who was here, and what the objective was. As brief as it was, she did need to explain more than a few things.

That was when the upper echelon of Loki Familia entered the bar. Finn's tone was one not to be trifled with, "Ais, explain." Those who knew Braver well understood. So, she did. Once the explanation was over, he nodded. "Okay, so next time you get a quest, notify us as soon as possible." Ais had the decency to be embarrassed.

Riveria turned to the Hermes Familia, "Thank you for waiting a little longer."

Asfi quickly shook off the shock of having five more first-class adventurers join the fray. "I have heard that the Sword Prince is down there."

"Yeah," Bete said, looking indifferent. "He's on the twenty-fourth, the source of this mess. Just make sure you all don't slow me down." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked away. He eyed the bar and thought about coming here when he needed to be alone. It's actually perfect.

Gareth saw Bete's eyes go to the bar but focused on Perseus, "Any word on the young lad?"

"No, we haven't seen any signs, but he has to be down there. Pot had felt wind magic being used. Pock then confirmed it, calling it sibling intuition," Asfi said, noticing the look that Pock had when looking at Finn.

"Axton used Ariel around those orbs?" Ais said, her mind flashing to the Demi-Spirit creature that appeared a few days ago. Her mind went to the worst possible scenario, something Riveria noticed.

Thunk!

Ais was now holding her head with an adorable pout to anyone witnessing, and the Hermes Familia saw Mama Riveria coming out as she said, "Do not ever think like that again, do you understand me, Ais Wallenstein?" The High Elf knew what her thoughts were going towards, however, she was not innocent herself. It was more to bring herself out of them, not that she'd ever admit it.

Oh shit, full name, everyone simultaneously thought. They wisely pretended to not hear the conversation.

"Yes, Riveria," Ais said with her persisting pout. That really hurt! Little Ais screamed, but to be fair, it was the hardest she's ever hit her.

"Alright, Finn," Asfi addressed the Prum, his child-like stature turned right to the number one magic item maker in Orario, "Here's what we have planned and I'll need your brain for this."

The Pallum smirked, "Fire away, Perseus, show me what you got."


Traveling through the Great Tree Labyrinth was a breeze, but everyone was on edge. Ais was with the Hermes Familia in the most forward of the Vanguard—consisting of Asfi, Pot, Pock, Lulune, Jose, and Elilly. Finn and Riveria were in the furthest back backline, the High Elf for obvious reasons and Finn to give orders. Lefiya was in the second group of three with Filvis and Bete.

Most of everyone else will be staying on entrances of the twenty-fifth and twenty-third floors. Gareth would be on the former of those two entrances. The remaining members will be on the twenty-third. All in all, there were over two dozen adventures, give or take one or two in the area.

Best of all, almost one-fourth of them were first-class. "So, it feels like we've been working together a lot, Princess," Lulune said, making conversation.

"We have," the blonde agreed. She was stopped when she heard the sounds of many monsters moving. "Up ahead, a lot of movement."

Lulune twitched her ears and heard nothing, "Wow, your sense must be pretty sharp."

"Lead the way, Sword Princess," Asfi said, allowing Ais to take the lead. When she passed, she whispered something that only they heard, "We will get him back. After all, Royalty isn't Royalty without the two of you. I don't want Lone Royal to stick."

With a determined nod, Ais pushed forward and made it to the section with a Monster Party. Pock and Pot were the first to comment, "That's a lot of monsters…"

This will work, better now than later. "I'll handle this," she said, before detaching Requiem from her side, handing it to Asfi, the most trustworthy of the bunch, only by a small margin. "I want that back when I'm done." Added for unintentional flare, she drew Desperate from her sheath and leaped down into the middle of the Monster Party and began slashing, cutting, and piercing.

Asfi observed for a moment, ignoring her Familia members' comments. So that's what you're doing this for. Clever girl, Miss Wallenstein.

Lulune spoke up, "Shouldn't we help her?"

"We'd be more of a detriment than a help," Pot said bluntly.

The observers watched the spectacle, even as the next group arrived. Lefiya, Bete, and Filvis had heard—mostly Bete—the sounds of combat and once the werewolf identified who it was, he scoffed. "Still going as hard as ever." He then noticed Asfi holding Axton's weapon, knowing that it would impede her movements...he had to give it to her, she knew at least that. One of the reasons he respects Ais, despite his shitty attitude. Axton as well. Bete only respected a few people, counted on one hand. Everyone else was weak in his eyes.

Filvis took notice and watched her fight, even if she couldn't see Ais, she knew that this was without her magic, otherwise it would be a little windier. Lefiya was slightly fangirling, but her attention was on the pantry entrance.

Once Ais returned, retrieving Requiem, Asfi spoke, "You used that to make adjustments. You leveled again, right?" The Captain of the Hermes Familia was merely speculating, but it checked out. She had received a report that Udaeus was recently—stressing recently—killed. Now, she had a firm answer.

Without much more talk, Pot began chanting a spell to open up the door. This door, you may ask? It was covered in green vines, harder than most metals, save for a few tough ones, adamantine, and mythril being the two. Bete made an observation, "Besides the obvious, it's made of the same material as those creatures, stay on guard." Vanargand sniffed the area, his irises dilating, "He's here alright, but…"

Ais pressed him, "But…?"

He turned with a sharp look and slightly regretful eyes, not that anyone noticed, "I smell a lot of blood."

That wasn't what she wanted to hear, but Ais kept her cool, if only for the moment. "Understood." Her hand tightened on her weapon. Little Ais was bouncing nervously, wanting nothing more than to be reunited with her brother. Asfi's earlier words were coming back. "Let's go."

Pot opened the door and the first group entered, Ais a little more interested than the rest. As soon as Pot and Pock stepped inside, the door 'slammed' shut, the vines regrowing abnormally fast. "What the hell?!" Bete's voice could be heard from the outside.

"Be on your guard," Asfi warned. "We are in unknown territory and when it's the Dungeon, everything is our weak point." Ais stuck close to the group while she tried looking for him. The room itself was squishy, like stepping in mud squishy. It would definitely be a hindrance in a fight, and yet Ais still felt...unnerved. Although she didn't show it, she felt a chill.

The same chill as before. Unbridled killing intent, directed at her.

The members of the Hermes Familia stuck close but far enough apart where if someone swings a weapon, no one would be caught in the crossfire. As they trekked further inside, they all missed the shadow watching them, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal their bait. The shadow laughed silently to itself, Eat your heart out...Aria.


Bete's group of three were angrily waiting outside. Even after Lefiya cast a concentrated blast of Fusillade Fallarica and even Riveria's Rea Laevateinn had no effect on it. Even though Bete did see the vines disintegrate, new ones sprouted in their place immediately.

"What's the hold-up?" Finn's voice carried over the hill.

Bete snarled, and it wasn't directed at Finn, "Damn door's locked and only one group of us is inside. What, you thought we were lounging around, having a nice day?"

Lefiya turned to her mentor, "I have been using fire magic on the door but to no great effect. I fear...that I am not strong enough."

"You are," a soft-spoken voice said. It wasn't Riveria who said it.

"Miss Filvis…" she said with awe.

The red-eyed elf looked Lefiya in the eyes, "You have untapped potential, even with Lady Riveria helping you. You will surpass her, but she can only guide you so far," she turned to the High Elf Princess, "I mean no offense."

The reply was one she's used multiple times when elves speak to her, "We're all adventurers here, Filvis, no need for formalities."

"But I-"

"No need and you're right." Lefiya's eyes widened at the admittance from her mentor. While it would boost her pride in this situation, time is of the essence. "I can only teach you so much before I...not a word Finn...release you from the nest." The Pallum did not comment, and he wasn't going to. He instead went to Bete's side while the trio of elves spoke.

"What did you smell?" Finn asked, wanting a situation report.

The werewolf of Loki Familia grimaced, "Blood, and lots of it. Whatever happened...Ais better not go off the deep end if…"

"Say no more...Riveria?" The blond turned to his Vice-Captain.

Breaking away from her conversation about Concurrent Chanting, "We do have a plan. Lefiya, use Elf Ring to cast Rae Laevateinn again, but I will join you this time. Bete, Finn, when we cast, you will have to be quick to slip inside, am I clear. Judging from what I've heard, it regenerates at a fast pace. Am I clear?"

"Yes Lady Riveria/Okay/Whatever hag," the four people chimed in. Both Lefiya and Riveria took their respective places, a half a dozen meders apart before their voices tuned to one another, ""The flame will soon be released. Creeping war, unavoidable destruction."" Master an Apprentice, their voices in sync.

Filvis was smiling slightly on the outside, but internally, she was upset, knowing what lied beyond here...in both senses. It hurt far more than she would ever let on. Finn smiled in pride at two of the strongest magic users in the Loki Familia.

""The horn of battle sounds aloud, the cruelty of conflict will envelop all. Come, crimson flames, the ruthless inferno."" No one moved, even as Finn and Bete got into a ready position. While Bete is fast, Finn is no slouch in his agility.

""You are the avatar of hellfire. Sweep completely, bring a close to the great war. Burn them through, Sword of Surtr - my name is Alf.""

**Rae Laevateinn!**

"Go now!" Riveria shouted as soon as the flames encroached the door. Bete and Finn took off and barreled through the plant door and as soon as they turned, the door was shut. They were officially cut off until they could leave.

"Bete, can you smell anyone else, or is it dominating your senses?" the Pallum had to ask, if only for assurance. Resting his spear on his shoulder, he regarded the man.

The werewolf took one large sniff, then subsequently smaller once. His eyes narrowed and he took off. Finn caught up easily. "That bitchy chick is here." Upon entering the room, in which they didn't encounter monsters, they saw the Hermes Familia with one less person.

"Status?" Finn called. Asfi turned as she saw Braver and Vanargand enter, but it turned out to be a mistake as she was then stabbed for her momentary lapse in attention. "Bete, take out the stragglers, I will assist with the wounded. Go." A grunt was his reply.

Lulune was the first to react, despite her scared shitless state, "T-The...T-The Sword Princess found the Prince...but that...t-that woman was waiting. S-She u-used him as b-bait."

"You've been separated?" Finn asked, getting a nod from the chienthrope. "What did he look like?"

"Dead man walking," she replied hollowly, Finn's thumb throbbed at her response. Something was going to go wrong. Not as a guess…

...it was a guarantee.


Rewinding the clock by a few crucial moments.

Ais had taken soft, small steps, but it was just a feeling. A feeling that she was close, and she was not going to like how right she was. Just as Pot was going to blaze a new path, did the door, well, plant-based door, open and it revealed a sight that Ais wished to purge from her mind.

She withheld her external reaction, but internally, she was seething. What did she do to you, Axton?

His smile was the first thing he noticed, which sent the wrong message. When his eyes focused it dropped and a visible wince could be felt, but Ais heard something in his face move in an unpleasurable way, "No...it's...trap…"

"Axton…" So much emotion was poured into that one word. Ais didn't even know she was crying, relieved that he was...alive...but angry at the person who did this. She already knew who too.

"Sword Princess!" someone shouted before a wall of ivy appeared and cut them off. Ais was alone with Axton, but now she was without backup. Even with both weapons on, she knew that she would make them pay.

"Why...did you…"

"I wasn't going to leave you," Ais said, reaching to touch her brother's cheek, "not when you're the only family I have left."

A tear went down Axton's bruised cheek, trailing on Ais's finger. The moment was shattered too soon, "So you've finally shown yourself, Aria."

The personality switch was instantaneous as Desperate was drawn from her sheath. Requiem was set next to Axton on his sacrificial post, where the vines dug into his skin. Ais wouldn't know of his true injuries or scarring until later. "What is this place and what have you done to my brother?"

A stone-faced Revis came into the light, only showing half of her face. Honestly, the lighting gave her that appearance, and her outfit had changed. Instead of the barebones outfit she had one, it was more of an actual outfit, red boots with a yellow band around the top and bottom, ending below her knees, a shirt/blouse that wrapped around her entire torso, exposing her thighs. On her chest, most of her cleavage was exposed, a yellow cross top supported her. Armored gauntlet rested on her wrists, and a tattered mark floated off behind her. "Wouldn't you like to know, Aria? This Spawn certainly is resistant. Let's see if you can save him, shall we?" The woman reached down into the floor and pulled out a sword, red and black in design, red veins coiled up the hilt to the lower half of the blade.

"You're mistaken, my name is not Aria. She was our mother," Ais said, referencing her and Axton.

"Well, even if that were true…" Within seconds, Revis was on Ais, intent on killing her, making him watch. Axton could really only make out a blurry visage of his sister and Revis.

Ais quickly met her blade with her own. Revis noticed immediately the difference in strength, "You leveled, didn't you?"

The blonde beauty allowed herself a smug smile, "I won't need my wind if that was the case."

"We'll see about that!" Revis charged again. She brought her blade low and swiped up. Ais nimbly leaned back and a couple of hairs were sliced away. Ais brought up her blade and went for her exposed side from her swing. Judging from the way she holds it, it's a two-handed sword, but it could be used as a one-handed weapon. Their clash went back and forth, neither gaining nor losing ground.

Both combatants had pushed each other out of the main room into a side hallway during the fight, leaving Axton alone with his weapon.

Both Ais and Revis continued to clash, punching when able, landing a kick against their bodies, sending the other back, only for them to bounce back and continue their melee. Revis scowled at Ais, "So, you really did level...hmmm."

"What did you do to my brother?"

Revis smirked, "Oh? Concerned with that spawn, are you? I'm sure I've broken him...given him mental scars that will haunt him for the rest of his miserable life. We certainly had some fun." Clashing their blades more, Revis put her hand on the flat of the blade and pushed down, making Ais give a celch, and with that celch came the kilomeder. It sounds better the actual way.

Revis kneed Ais on her left side, making the Sword Princess wince and Revis capitalized on that. The red-haired creature forced her weapon onto her, making her kneel, "Just think if he resisted the conversion, who's to say he will after we kill you in front of his very eyes, Aria? That spawn will be broken beyond repair if he isn't already," she said with a snide smirk.

There was no time to think about her words. She had to think fast. Using the downward momentum that Revis applied, she used Desperate to make the blade slide off hers before Ais landed a significant blow to the woman, a cut across her abdomen. With that, she flipped backward to hold her ground. I'm not severely injured, but I will be sore after this. A glance around the room showed that she lost sight of her brother. I will be back for you.

"You think you've got the advantage?" Revis snarled as the wound Ais just inflicted regenerated in front of her eyes. This put her on the back foot.

In her usual aloof manner, "What are you?"

"A nightmare come true," Revis hissed as she ran at her. The emerald eyes dilated into slits, making her look more monster than human. Ais wasn't going to resort to all-out using her wind. When Revis tried to pull the same trick twice, Ais took her chance. She wasn't as good as Axton, but she used her wind on her leg and kicked Revis in the torso and sent her flying back. The wall burst open and the blonde beauty followed, intent on ending the fight quickly.

When she entered the room, Revis was on one knee looking hatefully at Ais. The room itself was where the main center of the pantry was. The red crystal that represented the middle had a vine wrapped all the way around it, and in the middle...no...it was the Seed. Another one?!

"Miss Ais!" Lefiya. The voice snapped her out of it, and it brought relief that they were alive.

"Hmph, looks like I have to clean up your mess," a man with pale white hair and eyes to match Revis said.

"Olivas, no, she's mine," Revis said.

"Olivas?" Ais asked cluelessly.

Asfi, holding a hand on her lower right side, above her hip, spat out blood, "Olivas Act, a member of Evilus, thought to have been killed on the twenty-seventh-floor disaster a few years back." Ais noticed the red-eyed elf gritting her teeth.

Olivas, wearing black armored combat boots and a few straps over his chest, exclaimed, "Yes, I did indeed die that day, but 'she' thought me to be perfect."

Finn, having stayed back relaying orders—also giving a potion to Asfi, an elixir, to heal her wounds, as she was the most serious of them all. While Pot, Puck, Lulune, Jose, and Elilly were all looking better than their captain.

Bete was angry, "You got anything else for us?" The wolf was itching to smash this guy's face in.

"Viska, take them down!" A roar was his answer as a larger version of a Viola came crashing down, using its vines to lash out. Ais easily dodged from her perch and stuck down the offending vines.

*Tempest!*

Ais finally activated her wind for the first time that day, and with her newly leveled status, it felt even more powerful than before, something Revis noticed with narrowed eyes. The wind-covered blonde beauty launched herself at Viska and sliced it in half with ease.

Finn commented, "It seems Olivas still underestimates his opponents. Lefiya, start chanting, Bete cover her, everyone else, prepare for battle." Even he himself got his spear in a ready position.

"Unleashed streak of light, bow limbs of the holy tree. You are an expert of the bow. Shoot, sniper of the fairies. Penetrate, arrow of absolute accuracy…" Lefiya chanted, her voice a short melody.

A Viola had other plans, having snuck around most, if not all, the Orario adventurers. It lunged at Lefiya. "Become a shield, holy grail of crushing evil."

*Dio Grail!*

A shield appeared in front of Lefiya, and just behind that shield was Filvis Challia. "Now, Lefiya!"

With a nod, Lefiya managed to hold onto her magic energy and aimed for her target. She already knew what Olivas was capable of, but as Finn stated and hinted at…

...underestimating someone leads to their own failure.

*Arcs Ray!*

The beam of light came from five floating green magic circles, flashing in front of her. Filvis moved out of the way as the beam headed straight for Olivas and Bete, who was occupying him.

"Foolish girl, you saw what happened las-"

"Shut the fuck up, old man!" Bete shouted from above, his Flosvirt in view. The magic from Lefiya curved up right before Olivas, and Bete growled again, "Eat this, you crazy bastard!" The feral wolf brought his now flame-coated leg down to deliver a mid-air roundhouse kick to the man's head.

Olivas brought up his arms and blocked the attack, but everyone in fights seems to forget about physics and how they work. Just because someone blocked an attack doesn't mean force is no longer a factor. With the blowback of the kick now taking effect, Olivas skidded across the floor before impacting on a pillar.

"Impossible…" he muttered. Revis soon joined him at his side, having been fighting Aria for some time after Viska's demise. "Perfect, with you here, we must withdraw, she needs me alive. We must complete her righteous ta-UGH!"

"Not this time," she stated with a sadistic smile as her hand plunged into his chest, making everyone pause in shock. The Violas were long since defeated, as Finn being one of the only two level sixes present, was taking them on with ease.

Olivas coughed up blood that splattered on her right eye, but she didn't flinch. If anything, her smile got even wider, "I need more power if I am to defeat Aria. You will do nicely."

"B-But why?" Olivas genuinely wanted to know, even as the adventurers kept their guard up. This could all be an elaborate trap, but Finn and his thumb didn't think so.

"You think she looks like a Goddess? You must have been a bigger fool than I ever imagined." Her fingers gripped her prize, "Good riddance, Olivas." Her hand shot out of his chest, with an item in hand. Olivas then crumbled on the floor, convulsing before his body broke in a mixture of blood and ash. After tearing out his magic stone, confirming to Ais that he was some sort of hybrid, Revis swallowed the stone, making her eyes gain a mysterious gleam, "Even this does not give me the strength I need to defeat you, Aria."

Finn tensed, unbeknownst to everyone else. Does she know of their past? His thumb clearly showed its view, throbbing uncontrollably. This needed to be discussed as soon as...his attention shifted.

At that moment, the walls started to collapse, Asfi was the first to say, "Everyone let's move! The pillar is cracking!"

Every adventurer book it, except for four, all members of the Loki Familia. "Aria, head to level fifty-nine, your answer you so desperately seek lies there."

"Why should I believe you?" Ais said, watching as the room was literally falling apart.

Revis smirked, "You don't have to, but it would be a joy to watch." A piece of debris fell in between them, and Revis's presence faded. Is there...Axton!

"Where is he, Finn?" Ais said as she looked towards her Captain. When he didn't respond, he looked over to where he was put up.

Finn bit his thumb...and Ais looked horrified, so much so that Bete had to pick her up. "Let's go, Princess!"

"No...No... Bete, put me down!" Rationally, Ais should easily break out of his grip, but now with her being Ais and not the Sword Princess, she wasn't thinking clearly.

Lefiya spoke up, feeling her heart clench, "Miss Ais…please…"

"Axton!" Ais shouted, feeling so much anger at herself. "Please, I have to-"

Finn shouted over them as he ushered Lefiya away from a piece of loose debris, "I told you that we will find him. I am not going back on my word, now go!" he ordered forcefully.

That place where Axton was, he was gone…

...and so was Requiem.


"How much...further...?" a boy asked himself, covered in wounds. Axton Wallenstein was outside on the twenty-fourth floor, having used the fight as a distraction to leave. A miracle really...but that leaves the question: Was it the smartest move?

It really wasn't. He knew that internally but he was still severely injured. Axton was barely walking out of there with his life. Had anything else happened, she would have thrown herself over the edge and that was something he'd rather not see.

Moving on, if Axton knew Finn as well as he does, then he would have someone waiting at the entrance, "Still I-" he started coughing. It sounded like he was dying, and he still very well could. As he coughed, he covered his mouth, but a red liquid still flowed between his fingers…he expected the Dungeon to bear down on him any moment, for a last hurrah. No, I cannot think like that. I still have a long life...I just can't give up.

Requiem dragged on the ground behind him. He was thankful to be reunited with his weapon, but Revis laid it on him. He couldn't look at it right now, because all he felt was failure. Maybe he needed it.

"Must make it…" his voice was still terrible, and the blood that spewed from his mouth didn't help his severe, yet critical, condition. I won't let this stop me…I have to prove myself.

And he would. He would prove to himself and to the Gods themselves that the Sword Prince is and always will be equal to the Sword Princess.

...

So, the first section before the line break is me writing myself out of a corner. I was going to do an omake, but I realized that it would be just canon, like straight out of the anime and books. So, I decided against it.

The fights. I know. I know I left out a lot, but I had my focus, and I went with it. Olivas was only briefly mentioned—I stress this, I believe he was—in the anime for like ten minutes and I think he had a chunk in volume 3 of SO. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong.

Bete overpowering Ais, I know it seems like bullshit, but she's not worried about her strength, she's worried about her brother she had left behind, when she wanted to save him.

Lefiya not being a focus for this chapter. She will be. Filvis will be a close friend, but not a love interest for her. Possible one-sided love? Maybe. Will that change things...does a butterfly fly? (Yes, it will, but the impact of it will be uncertain.)

What my plan is. Axton has his own thing to do. The beginning of the next chapter will display my plans unless I edit it out. My boy, my OC, my little child that is Axton Wallenstein will suffer. There is a meme about authors and their OCs backstories...and actions during a set period. That's me.

Thank you for your patience, even if none of you complained. I appreciate it nonetheless.