Chapter 8 - Where is it?
Bell finally woke up finding himself on Ais's lap again. Of course, everyone was checking them out and Ais was blushing a little with the inquisitive glances. However, Bell has grown a bit and simply thanked Ais for taking care of him. However, Ais was not about to let him off easily and reminded him "You have not answered my question..." Being ever the tactful leader, Finn choked and said they need to get moving...
The group ran into another colosseum on the 47th floor. This time, Mikoto was able to detect the large number of monsters from a good distance, but Ais and Bell still went off to check. While waiting for their return, Bete commented that Ais and Bell seem to enjoy Aerial a lot. Soon after, Bell and Ais confirmed a large colosseum room also with barbarians, spartoi and obsidian soldiers. Ais noted that she also saw a few flame rocks. With these 'traditional monsters', the team used a similar strategy. Bell and Ais again attacked using Aerial/firebolt as they approached the room. The other fighters guarded the left and the right, while Mikoto used Dio Grail to protect their rear. They again moved steadily into the room while Bell and Ais continued to fire off Aerial/firebolt. As Leifya got done with concurrent chanting, she cleared the room again leaving obsidian soldiers and some flame rocks behind. Bete, Tiona and Tione did jump on a few monsters that got near, but the team efficiently traversed the room to the exit. At which point, Bell and Ais kept blasting away to keep the monsters from following the group. This routine seems to be pretty straight-forward. Aside from a few other encounters with similar monsters, the team got to the 48th floor without more delay. There still has not been a single signs of a virga or violas, making Finn really think. The 48th floor was not much different. There was another colosseum with similar monsters. There were also a large herd of goat monsters but Leifya took care of that after the fighters cut down a good number.
The team then headed to the 49th floor, which is one large room that the Balor roams. This was a much anticipated battle that Finn have been preparing the team for. With weapons drawn and spells ready, they entered. However, there was no sign of the floor boss. Finn is now very perplexed "No Balor, no sign of any virga, no violas, what is going on?" Tione added "Neither the Ganesha familia nor the Freya familia has made a trip to the deep levels since the war. Udaeus and the goliath were there, but no Balor?" To scout around, Ais and Bell took off in Aerial to check around the room, but reported back confirming that the level was only filled with the typical monsters. No floor boss is apparently there.
While this made Finn really nervous, he decided not to push their luck and headed to the 50th floor where monsters do not spawn. This was also a good time for lunch . When they reached the 50th floor, it did not seem to be much different than when the Lokia familia last visited. During lunch, Finn prepared everyone for the labyrinths and the valgang dragons on the 51st to 59th floors.
After lunch, the group continued to talk about the strange turn of events. Udaeus yes. Balor no. Violas no. Virgas no. Finally, Finn came to a hypothesis - Instead of adventurers coming down the dungeon, could someone be attacking the powerful monsters from the deep levels? Thus, the 37th floor and 18th floor required too much traveling to be worth the effort? Realizing the potential implications, Bell and Ais immediately looked at each other...
At the same time, Hestia is still trying to see what is going on from the heavens. She also misses Jagamarukuns...