Author's Note:

Hello!

Here is the Interlude I promised to break up the story about. It's split into three short sections, each one outlining the struggles of other characters that happened in the background.

Please enjoy, there's nothing essential in here except some minor foreshadowing and introduction to floors that I hope to write more on soon.

Interlude 3: Stories of the Strong

Part 1: A Lack of Competition

Ulfric Brögsson snorted as the remains of the Spartoi crumbled around him. The Level 4 monsters had thought that surrounding him would work. He had cut them down mercilessly, requiring only a few blows for each. Every swing from his large blade was imbued with so much power, that even monsters as powerful as the Spartoi were vanquished easily.

"That's the Captain for you," laughed Berget heartily. The second-in-command in Freya familia was a hearty dwarf. Many of the members didn't understand what Freya saw in her, why she would let a dwarf such as her join.

Ulfric had been of a similar mind for a while. Her presence was irksome, the boisterous laughter annoying. Now, he understood; the laughter was simply a guise under which she presented herself to the world. There was no other person that Ulfric would rather have beside him in a fight. Berget was downright bloodthirsty and mercilessly tore apart the enemies in front of her using any tactic.

"Have the others cleaned up?" Ulfric asked instead.

"Should be soon," Berget grunted in reply. "A Peluda showed up."

Grunting his understanding, Ulfric snapped the magic stones underfoot, considering them beneath his effort to collect. Only drop items were important.

Gazing around the 37th floor, he hadn't realized how much he had missed this place. Descending in a party simply to grow stronger. After his promotion to head of Freya familia, Ulfric had stopped climbing, stopped getting stronger. All so that he could protect and aid Freya. Now, once again, he had descended into the dark catacombs of the deep levels in order to get stronger, only because Freya ordered it so.

As he stared at the last of the circle walls before him, Ulfric found his heart somewhat listless. He knew that continuing to amass strength was an important task in ensuring Freya's rightful place on top of the world. However, Ulfric found it hard to muster the motivation in order to keep fighting.

There was no one stronger than him.

Not in Orario or anywhere else in the world.

If he was the strongest, why get stronger?

"Something the matter?" Berget asked, "upset you didn't get to kill a Peluda? I'm sure there will be…"

"No," Ulfric interrupted, his deep baritone breaking the dwarf woman's fake falsetto. "Berget, do you believe you will hit level four soon?"

"Curious about my status are you?" She chuckled drily, the smile not reaching her eyes. "I wouldn't normally share, but one reason I accepted was that I hope to hit it off of this adventure."

"We may have to go deeper for that."

"And try to get past Udaeus? Are you joking?"

"…" Ulfric didn't reply, only a twitch in his cheek betraying his annoyance. As usual he made sure his pure silver tail didn't move a hair. To be stopped by Udaeus, the first of the four kings. It was infuriating, and yet, Ulfric couldn't muster up the determination to call some mindless monster his rival.

To strive to improve simply because there were monsters that existed with strength that exceeded his own. Ulfric wanted a true rival. A person that he could look forward to fighting. Someone that got his blood pumping with excitement at the simple prospect of meeting. Someone whose blood he would end up spilling as the battle fury engulfed him, proving for the final time whom the stronger between them was.

This time, Ulfric made another sign of irritation, noticed by Berget as well. Ulfric's hand clenched in irritation. His previous rival had been stolen from him. The old captain of Freya familia. Although Ulfric knew that there had existed others the world had considered stronger, he firmly believed that the man he'd looked up to was the most powerful warrior in the world.

A warrior that Ulfric had planned on dethroning with his own two hands in order to win his place beside Freya and rule on high as the most powerful warrior in the world.

Idol and Rival stolen from him over a year ago, Ulfric now felt… listless. Yes, that was the word. Tsking at his own incompetence, Ulfric turned to face his returning familia members.

The five of them were the cream of the crop when it came to adventurers. Each one an expert of their craft and a seasoned level three adventurer. Half-elf triplets, Sora, Skyler, and Aeris, were inseparable, they never fought apart. As a trio, they had the best coordination in all of Orario. Even Ulfric had occasional doubts about whether he could defeat all three of them by himself. Beside them was Jorin, the Hume Bunny had been exiled from his tribe as a child due to his black ears. Matching a set of coal black eyes, Ulfric had never heard the man speak. Lastly, and strongest of the five was Gilten, the dark elf, strongest magic caster in Orario. His sly wit often confused the others, dropping hints they never picked up until days later. Ulfric still didn't fully understand how the man's magic worked, its properties confusing even after having witnessed it dozens of times. Also, he suspected that he had another spell that he'd never used, an ultimate trump card. For whom or what, he was saving it, Ulfric couldn't guess.

"Did a Peluda really take that much time?"

"Now now," Gilten replied slyly, "surely our benevolent captain wouldn't want one of us to get shot by it and succumb to the poison."

"You should learn a spell that can cure it then," Ulfric grumbled back, turning away from them.

"He's been grumpy lately," Berget sighed to them. "I think it's old age setting in."

"Naa," Skyler denied, the only man among the three half-elves, his eyes sparkling a deep pure blue colour, "he's grumpy that Freya's finally found a new favorite."

The inadvisable words darkened the mood among the party. If Freya had commanded, they would gladly slaughter each other for her favour. The whole familia stuck together on the stipend that Freya didn't permit killing other familia members.

"Where are you going?" Sora asked Ulfric curiously, unconcerned about the change in mood, her twin red eyes piercing into his back. "That's the Throne room past there. Udaeus doesn't take kindly to those who tread on his domain."

"What if I told you Freya organized this party and commanded us to kill it?"

A shocked silence ran through the party. Even seasoned as they were, they knew a suicide order when they heard one. The strongest party in Orario would be decimated by the floor boss if the seven of them tried to take it on. That was the simple, unchangeable fact.

"Haha…" Aeris laughed quietly, her blue eye tracking Ulfric while her red one searched for the way out, "let's save Udaeus until you hit level five, alright?"

"…Fine." Accepting in the judgement of his party, Ulfric turned his back and strode away. Repelled by the Throne room, Ulfric swore silently to himself that this would be the last this happened. Never again would such a pathetic monster turn him away.

Ulfric stood straight-backed, yet relaxed as he lounged at Freya's side, watching her consume supper.

"Is something wrong?" Freya queried, turning her silver eyes to her favorite child. "You've been awfully quiet since you returned."

"You had a level one as your guard while I was gone…" Ulfric internally raged that the words had slipped out. He had modelled himself after his fallen rival, yet every time he felt like he failed to do it perfectly. Time after time, he made some mistake, some slip up and revealed too much.

"Yes, I enjoy his company," Freya answered honestly, taking a sip of her expensive grape wine. The ruby surface reflecting the late afternoon light. "Does that bother you?"

"He can not protect you. I should have left one of the others behind to guard you."

Freya leaned her head back and let out pealing laughter. The sound like crystal bells could steal a man's heart as easily as her gaze. "Oh my, you are precious. Protecting me, is that what you think you are doing?"

"…Yes, Lady Freya."

Sighing, Freya went back to her food. "I don't need protection. None of the children can kill me and none of the deities are stupid enough to try."

"But the rumours of the group called 'Evils'," Ulfric mumbled in defence. "We can't be too careful."

"I don't think we have to worry about an attack on me," Freya assured Ulfric, patting his hand. "Also, you're off tomorrow as well, so go train at home with the rest of the familia. Seeing their leader there may inspire some confidence in them."

"As you wish… Lady Freya." Bowing his head, Ulfric could do nothing but listen to the will of his goddess. A being he held above all others in his life.

"Before that though…" Freya spoke, as if just remembering something. "Are you having trouble working up the motivation to get stronger?"

"…" For a brief second, Ulfric considered lying. The embarrassing details were unfit for his goddess' ears. However, as she aura continued to push for an answer, Ulfric slowly revealed everything.

"No rival, huh?" Freya bit her lip lightly, as she was lost in thought. "And monsters don't do it for you. I suppose that makes sense, after all they simply spawn again after a period of time."

"…"

"Spar with the familia tomorrow, they may surprise you. Although, I will say this, if you can't find the motivation soon, you will quickly find yourself out of a job."

Accepting the ominous warning silently, Ulfric merely bowed his head once and went back to watching over her.

Ulfric slashed once and then again. Each one without hesitation or mercy. The target before him would be killed if they failed to deflect even one. Another slash, another cry of metal on metal.

He stayed silent, not speaking, and let his swordplay convey how he felt about his opponent's performance. Berget's face across from him was a snarl of anger, her usual happy smile beaten into the ground minutes ago by his expert swordplay. The spear that she twirled in her hands was bent and broken, the metal haft struggling to endure the punishment it had received.

"Don't get cocky you overgrown Werewolf!" Roaring her displeasure, Berget attempted to knock the bade aside and rush in.

Letting himself smile slightly in answer, Ulfric had been waiting for this. For when Berget abandoned her shoddy weapon skills and truly began to fight. Allowing himself to get baited in, Ulrfic dropped his blade and punched at Berget.

Raising her arm, the meaty forearm caught the blow. Grunting from the effort, Berget attempted to reply with her own.

Backing out of her range, Ulfric began to pummel her body with a hail of blows, his superior reach giving him a distinct advantage. Inside he could finally feel it. The thrill of the fight beginning to rise inside him. Beating someone in a straight up brawl.

"You and your damn long arms," Swearing at him, Berget hit the ground.

Unable to see the attack, Ulfric fell to the ground as she swept his legs. Grunting from impact, he instinctively raised his arms to block the predictable follow-up attack to the head.

"Gah!" Emitting a noise of pain, Ulfric looked stunned at his midsection where Berget had buried a hidden knife. Scowling at his own ineptitude, he kicked at her, forcing her off his body. This was Berget he was fighting, not a standard warrior.

Throwing himself back to his feet, Ulfric growled at the knife stuck inside him. Giving it a hesitant pull, he was unsurprised to find that the blade was serrated, it wouldn't be coming out easily. No doubt it was poisoned with something hideous as well.

"Looks like I win this round," Berget chuckled nastily. "If you surrender now, I'll even tell you how to get cure the poison!"

The onlookers watched stunned. Most had never seen this side of their sub-commander before. Flicking his gaze over them, Ulfric finally got what he desired. The true feeling of bloodlust that he'd thought had deserted him.

"That's alright…"

"That's alright?"

"I'll figure out what it is when you cure yourself!" Roaring, Ulfric tore the blade out in one swift motion, the serrated edges causing an explosion of pain in his gut.

Seeing red, the pain in his gut disappeared as Ulfric jumped forward, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. Bringing the knife down at Berget's chest, she deflected it at the last possible second with the back of her hand, a trail of blood flying through the air.

"Raaaa!" Roaring with lost emotion, Ulfric brought his fist down second, the unexpected attack surpassing Berget's reactions. Colliding solidly with her cheek, Ulfric smiled manically at the crunching noise. Following through, he pushed his overwhelming strength through her face, launching her entire body into the air.

Unwilling to let it end there, Ulfric ran to catch the soaring body. Bringing the dagger above his head in a two-handed blow, Ulfric planted the knife in her midsection with a massive overhand strike, sending her body crunching into the ground, the two halved almost meeting as Berget folded over herself from the force.

"Hrnggg…" Groaning pathetically, Berget's eyes were unfocused.

Shaking his head at her, Ulfric turned his back. The fight was over. As it ended, so did the bloodlust he'd just managed to get back. This wouldn't be enough. He needed more.

"Who is next?"

"Next?" Gilten asked with a hollow laugh. "You can't be serious, you have a massive hole in your gut."

Ulfric merely glared at him, hoping one of them would be foolish enough to challenge him. Weakened as he was, they may actually put up a fight.

Just as Ulfric was losing hope, a figure stepped forward, Jorin. Drawing his twin swords, he waited for Ulfric to retrieve his massive blade.

Smiling at the man who was brave enough to fight him, Ulfric waited for him to make the first move. Blade in hand, Ulfric knew this would be a good fight. Jorin was an expert of ability. By utilizing his speed, he should be easily able to work his way around Ulfric's wounded frame.

True to his expectations, Jorin shot off to the side, swords trailing behind him like the tails of a comet. Darting in and out of Ulfric's range, Jorin never entered a formal attacking stance.

Keeping his eye on him, Ulfric had seen this tactic in action and refused to end the same way as Jorin's past victims. He used the trailing swords to confuse his enemies. By running as he was, it allowed him to expand his vision and take in every detail. Often as not, anyone stupid enough to face Jorin down dies by a million cuts, each one dealt by the tip of one of the curved blades, a nick they didn't even notice as he darted past them.

Swinging the great blade in a wide arc, Ulfric interrupted Jorin's running path, stopping the Hume Bunny from continuing his ever-encroaching circle.

"You should know that won't work."

As expected, Jorin said nothing in reply, his eyes of coal merely staring back, no emotion in them. Darting forward again, Jorin kept the same tactic going. Each step bringing him closer to Ulfric's massive frame.

"That won't work!" Getting tired with the annoying fighting style, Ulfric raged, slamming the blade of his sword into the ground. The shockwave emanated for feet, ripples that could knock a seasoned adventurer off balance.

As if expecting it, Jorin changed directions at the same time, his new course carrying him opposite the swing and past it. Darting past Ulfric, the captain was unable to lift his planted legs that he'd used to create the shockwave.

"Grr…" Growling, he whirled on his familia member. Looking quickly down at his leg, the wound left was insignificant, but it was there. Jorin's strategy was working. It bought time as Ulfric's injuries continued to slow him.

Changing tactics, Ulfric rushed to meet Jorin, intercepting the man's path of approach. Carving a massive horizontal slice, any adventurer would be forced to block it or stop and jump backwards out of it. In doing so, lock themselves into unavoidable combat.

Defeating expectations once again, Jorin flattened himself against the ground, while running. Passing easily under the blade, Ulfric whirled to follow up, but Jorin was already gone, another wound inflicted.

"You should know better than to irritate me, Jorin…"

Despite the bold words, Ulfric realized he didn't really have a strategy to deal with this. It was the problem that ever other person who had come up against him faced. When Jorin was faster, it had no answers.

Taking a step towards him, Ulfric stumbled, his free hand clutching his stomach. Grimacing from the pain and weakness that emanated from the still gushing wound.

Got you!

A slight smile twisting his lips, Ulfric released his stomach, hand blurring out to catch the approaching blade as Jorin slid past once again. Never a man to let his opponent's weaknesses stop him.

Finger and thumb closing around the sides of the blade, Ulfric pulled, yanking Jorin off course and to the ground. In a contest of strength there was still no competition.

Whirling around, Ulfric's mighty blow was aimed to split Jorin from shoulder to hip. Only a blade hastily raised in defense stopped that. Unable to keep up with the power, his body was blown across the ground rolling multiple times until he came to rest over five metres away.

Ulfric waited patiently waiting for the decision. After a few second pause, Jorin met his eyes and nodded, an act of forfeit. Accepting it with his own, Ulfric acknowledged the man's skill in order to drive him to such lengths.

"Let's call it there then, shall we?" Gilten laughed, waving away the awestruck spectators. "Don't want our Captain and second-in-command dying on us, do we?"

Grunting, Ulfric wasn't pleased with the decision, but he was mollified for now. After all, he had realized something fighting here. He may be the strongest, but it wasn't by enough. Glancing at the triplets a mutual understanding linked them. They could have taken him. They knew it and so did Ulfric. It took every last bit of combat experience Ulfric had accrued not to shudder as he beheld the six eyed beast that the triplets formed. Their three blue eyes and three red eyes stared unnervingly at him without blinking.

Turning away, Ulfric accepted an elixir from Gilten. Downing it one gulp, he analyzed the strange elf. Strngely, as he analyzed him, Ulfric got that same feeling. Like a battle against him would be far harder than it should be.

"Status isn't everything…" Ulfric found himself murmuring.

"What was that?"

"…Nothing."

Remembering old advice that he'd once received, Ulfric made sure that he'd never forget the wisdom again. He may have the strongest status for now, but Freya had warned him that the outsiders would grow at an unparralled rate, surpassing him before the year was out potentially.

Even if that was true, Ulfric refused to allow them to be stronger, even if they reached a higher level.

Mind made up, Ulfric headed first for his room. After that, he was returning to the dungeon. His skills needed work.

Part 2: The Weakest of the Strong

Phineas sighed as he leaned against the dungeon wall. Eyes looking up, his vision was mostly obscured by the rich canopy of the twenty-fourth floor. Adventuring this deep solo, even as a level three was dangerous.

The number of monsters here was unparralled by the higher floors. More than that though, this area of the dungeon had numerous monsters with the ability to apply status effects: poison, paralysis, burns, rashes, the list was endless.

Despite that, even as Phineas gripped his spear tighter, he wanted to keep going. Into the water capital and the realms beyond. To fight the truly strong monsters that would put up a challenge.

As a fire bird flew into view, Phineas could no longer contain the blast of rage that filled him. Throwing his spear, he was after it in an instant, darting to where the monster would fall as his spear took it in a wing.

Locking eyes, with him, the bird tried to generate the fire for which it was named. Not giving it the chance, Phineas retrieved the spear and decapitated it, the head of his spear the perfect length for such a feat.

Twirling it a couple times for style, Phineas buried it in the bird's chest. Confirming the shatter of the stone, Phineas looked off into the distance where the ramp to the twenty-fifth floor lay. Despite hanging around this section most of the day, Phineas had yet to see anyone use it.

The familias still confident enough to descend into the water capital were few and far between in this day and age. It aggravated Phineas that he was one of them. Only brave enough to descend with the familia backing him.

In a time with few heroes, and people looking anywhere for someone to place their hopes in, Phineas was humiliated. He longed to replace the old fallen leader of Loki familia. To claim the title of braver and ascend to new heights.

After this previous disgrace however, Phineas felt lost. The other two captains had done it. They'd moved onto level four. Phineas was left behind at level three while the others steadily caught up. It would probably be a matter of months before Mirel and Droyman were readying to level up as well. After that, he'd need to worry about the newcomers. Asuna and Lind were surprisingly close to level three after such a short time.

"!?"

Senses tingling, Phineas swung around, alerted him that someone had arrived.

"Ulfric…" Breathing out the man's name, Phineas tensed his legs to run. He could not defeat this foe that had suddenly appeared before him.

"Phineas, you are bold to come here alone. Or perhaps stupid."

The beast of a man took one step toward Phineas. The small prum found himself shaking with the impeding realization that he was about to die. The spear skills that he prided himself on would do nothing here.

"Hmm…" Ulfric murmured, stopping only a few feet away. "The day that I kill you is not now. You have far to go before you match Finn." Leaving the words there, he turned and left as suddenly as he'd shown up.

"…I know," Murmuring at the werewolf's faded back, Phineas slid to the floor. Bowing his head, he felt no joy at having survived the encounter. Ulfric's words had been a slap to the face. Phineas wasn't even worth challenging to a duel. He wasn't ready yet to get sacrificed to his blade.

"Damn it, I'm such an idiot!"

Cursing himself, Phineas started the long journey back to the surface. Another day wasted, another day with no discernable growth to his status. Phineas didn't need an update, he knew. His stats had reached their limits, C's to A's, not even a sole S to comfort him.

"I need to level up!"

Confirming his beliefs, Phineas set off for Twilight Manor. He needed to talk to Loki, find out what it was he was missing. Why he couldn't break through the barrier placed before him.

The status sheet was as disappointing as Phineas imagined it would be. And yet, there was hope there. It was reflected in the two-point increase in his agility stat. Bringing it up from 898 to an even 900. An S. His first one.

"Say Loki… What am I lacking as an adventurer? Why did I fall behind the others?"

"Hmm? You asking me that?" Loki asked in disbelief. "I thought I was a clueless goddess that should keep her head out of adventurers' business?"

Wincing, Phineas hated those words that he'd spoken so long ago at this point. He had been young and naïve at that time, assuming that a trickster goddess would simply interfere with his growth. Joining only because it was the home of Braver.

"Please Loki… I have to catch up."

"Catch up?" She scoffed, leaning back in her chair. Examining her fingernails, she paid no mind to Phineas. "You know how many thousands of wannabes there are in this city saying that exact same shit?"

"B-but I'm not one of them!" Phineas protested. "I already reached level three, I mean…" Trailing off, Phineas couldn't endure the scathing look of skepticism on Loki's face.

"Do you know why the 'average' level of adventurers never surpasses level one? Even at the height of Zeus and Hera's power, the average level only barely approached two."

Shaking her head at Phineas, Loki's eyes grew dazed as memories of those days filled her. A small smile appearing as she thought of all the wonderful children that she'd been able to guide, and watch grow.

"Anyway, it's because they die of course." The heartless reality falling easily from Loki's lips. "If they didn't though, you'd find out that almost any Joe-blow from across the street has the potential to hit level two or three. Getting there requires patience, and a good head in order to properly manage dangers. Getting past that, requires solid skills and an untapped potential."

"You're saying I have no potential then as an adventurer!?" Phineas bit back angrily. Hating how true the words sounded.

"I never said that," Loki rejected easily, putting her hands up as a sign of her innocence. "Not I, nor that boobs-for-brains Freya, not even Ouranos himself gets to decide if you have potential or not. The only one that can figure that out is you. If you have the determination to put your life on the line in order to keep moving forward."

Clasping her hands together, Loki leaned forward and stared directly into Phineas' eyes. Her usual slits opening for one of the first times Phineas had ever seen.

"You see that S in that status? You know how many adventurers would be bouncing off the wall to get one in their status? You see one and you start moping about having no potential." Tsking lightly, Loki shook her head at him. "Finn never complained about the hurdles in his path."

"!"

Stunned by her words, Phineas nodded his head in acceptance.

"Thank you for time, goddess Loki."

"Ha, hiyah!"

Planting his spear into the side of a Mammoth Fool, Phineas used it as leverage to spin kick the deadly hornet attempting to dive him.

Landing lightly on the pliant ground, Phineas ripped his spear back out and finished off the reeling hornet. Moving smoothly through the stances, Phineas continued to dismantle the small monster party that had spawned around him. Spear whirling around his head, Phineas summersaulted away as the Mammoth fool turned and tried to impale him, catching instead an unexpecting lizardman.

Whipping around, Phineas stabbed his spear backwards, straight into an approaching Dark Fungi. Leaving it to crumble into ash, Phineas began to work on the remaining few monsters.

The injured Mammoth fool, a pair of lizardman, and a final deadly hornet. Together, the four level two monsters were a force to be reckoned with. Especially the large-class Mammoth enemy typically took an entire party to take down.

Unfortunately for the monsters, Phineas wasn't a regular adventurer. Dashing, he exceeded the lizardmen's reactions, getting behind them. Once there, a sweep of his spear sent them to the ground. Barely pausing for a smirk, Phineas propelled himself straight up, his heightened status carrying him easily 15 ft in the air.

As expected, the deadly hornet passed beneath his feet, confused as to where its target had gone. Practically invisible to the disorganized monsters, Phineas landed lightly and began the slaughter.

Running the deadly hornet through before it could retreat to the canopy again, Phineas chained it easily into blows against the lizardmen who were just finishing recovering from falling to the ground.

Retreating half a step, Phineas returned to his posture as he evaluated the enraged Mammoth. The beast stood more than 3-metres at the shoulder and normal attacks simply scratched it. The general strategy was to use fire magic on them and burn them alive as their defense became their downfall.

As Phineas darted away from another blow with ease, he didn't have any fire with which to bring it down. "Guess I'll just stab you until you stop moving!"

Decision made; Phineas began unravelling the beast. Despite its large size, the creature could not keep up with the Prum's small frame and agile movements. Darting around it, Phineas inflicted blow after blow unto the creature.

Eventually the trumpets of anger turned to fear as its stamina waned. With death approaching rapidly, Phineas backed off, preparing for the final hit.

"Now, now," A voice chided. Freezing, Phineas searched for the person as they jumped down from the canopy. Large blade flashing, the head of the Mammoth was completely separated from the body. Stiffening, the raw ferocity, and power in the blow informed Phineas that this person was a level 3, their statuses extremely close in raw power provided. "That is how you kill one of these."

"I didn't need your help, Amazoness," Phineas growled back, still primed for a fight. He wouldn't put it beyond one of them to randomly attack. Amazons in general, and particularly the Berbera were feared throughout the city.

"Looked that way to me," the woman shrugged as she stood up. Even Phineas, as a devout Prum who had never once ever considered pursuing a relationship outside of his species had to admit, she was gorgeous. Her tall frame was lined with curves that most men would kill to spend a night touching. Phineas could tell that those long legs, hidden behind violet dancing pants were weapons in their own right.

"I'll ask once, did Ishtar send you?"

"Oh?" The berbera asked with an alluring tilt of her head. "Why do you think I belong to Ishtar?"

"I'm not an idiot woman! That get-up, that power, you're Antianeira!"

"Hmm, and here I thought the last leader was a little slow."

"The last leader?" Phineas asked suspiciously. It wasn't a name that he'd heard before.

"Oh?" The Amazon chuckled nastily, "you haven't heard? That's what everyone is calling you. The Last Leader. A name that only pretends to be heroic, perfect for someone like you. The last Loki familia leader to stay at level three. Is the shame of that what drove you into the dungeon?"

"Shut up!" Phineas barked back, the words striking a chord. "I haven't heard anything about you hitting level four either."

"Me? Well… who knows…"

Prickling at the insulting words, Phineas was able to hold himself back. He couldn't allow himself to get baited into a fight here. If she was withholding information of a level up, then she'd wipe the floor with him.

"Ah," Antianeira speaks softly, "I see now, it's that cowardice that prevents you from reaching the higher levels. Well, later."

Gritting his teeth, Phineas felt the wave of hot anger return, stronger than ever. Not just at her, but himself as well. She hadn't even tried to take the drops from the Mammoth Fool that she'd killed. No doubt the large-class beast would have a sizable stone and potentially an expensive drop as well.

As he approached the dead beast, her words rang continually in his ears. The Last Leader. It fit him so well. While Phineas had studiously memorized formations and proper strategies for dealing with terrain and floor bosses and was often relied on to organize his familia for them, he was left behind in everything else. Skill, power, leadership. Even the younger members in the familia constantly referred to the two Loki familia leaders.

They'd learn soon as enough. As soon the fourth graced them with her presence. Then they'd say there's three leaders as phineas was left further behind. Thinking on the missing monster, Phineas shivered and turned his gaze once again to where the entrance of the twenty-fifth floor was. Quickly breaking any remaining magic stones, he began to walk in that direction.

Apologizing silently to Loki, Phineas entered the New World. The determination filling him lead him to seal a promise into his heart. He wouldn't return to surface. Not until he was sure that his next status update would read level four. If he wasn't sure, then he wouldn't return. He would remain until he drowned in the monstrous horde.

Part 3: The Strongest Seducer

Aisha kept her head bowed, body shaking as she attempted to control the fear within her. Her Goddess' anger was something she could no longer endure. Not since that day.

"Aisha, you disappointment me once again…"

"I'm sorry, Lady Ishtar. My duties as head of the familia don't allow me enough time to properly seek a level-up."

"Quiet!" Ishtar demanded. "I've had enough of your excuses. Soon, we will be the only prominent familia without a level four captain. More than that, we need our familia as strong as possible in the coming months."

"My lady… Do you really think Hermes is going to come through on his end?" Aisha knew it was a risk, but the question had to be asked.

"…"

Wincing under the deadly anger, Aisha knew she'd overstepped her bounds. Not hitting level four had put Ishtar in a bad mood. Broaching this subject had been a mistake.

"Killing stones are rare objects…" Ishtar murmured, in what appeared to be agreement. As she stood up though, Aisha knew what was coming. "It really is such a shame… that someone broke our first one."

"Ah…" Breathing heavily, Aisha's eyes rolled up as Ishtar's breath tickled her ear. The overpowering charm of a goddess of beauty rendering even an adventurer as strong as her helpless.

"Do I need to teach you another lesson…?"

"N-no, please Lady Ishtar… I have duties to attend to…"

"Are you sure?" The goddess asked, a wicked smile playing along her lips. "Are they so important that you can't spare an hour of your time to play with your goddess?"

"P-please, not again!" Aisha's cries were useless as Ishtar's hands stroked her body. "AHH!" Moaning from the pleasure, all other sensations disappeared beneath the charm.

"You were saying?" Ishtar chuckled seductively into Aisha's ear as she pressed her sizable breasts against Aisha's flawless tan skin.

"…More…" The hoarse croak emitting a second later than Ishtar wanted.

"Again," the goddess commanded pressing more of her charm into Aisha's body.

Shaking from the all-too-familiar sensation, Aisha's back bent as she tried to fight the torturous words that threatened to come from her throat.

"…"

"What was that?" Ishtar insisted, nibbling playfully on her ear.

"More… Please… Take me… I'm yours."

"That's better," Ishtar insisted. "However, in light of your recent failures, I'll have to use the knife, I hope that isn't a problem."

Aisha's eyes went wide with fear as her goddess muttered the word she last wanted to hear. The charm wasn't enough for Ishtar. She added torture on top of it. Making her subject beg for more pain.

I can't survive it again.

"N-no… Please…" Aisha whimpered. The tears she refused to cry in front of this demon masquerading as a goddess threatening to spill over. Only now was she appreciating how naïve that promise to herself had been. Compared to a goddess of beauty, she truly was nothing.

Do it for her…

The voice ringing in Aisha's head reminded her of another promise she'd made. One that she still had to make good on. A certain idiot that Aisha hated. An idiot that she couldn't help but fall in love with.

All I need now is an idiot hero willing to bet on her.

Closing her eyes, Aisha firmed up her resolve and attempted withstand another lesson. Another punishment as her goddess laid into her with all of her charm bared, their naked bodies entangling on the floor.

Before long, whatever promises she may have made, or resolves she had held firm were washed away like pebbles before an oncoming tsunami.

"Time for the knife, yes?"

"Yes, goddess Ishtar! Hurt me, please!"

"Good… that's good…"

"AHHHH!" Crying out in pain, the charm fled as pain racked Aisha's body, the knife tearing deeply into her side. Removing it, Ishtar lovingly ran her hand over the opening, fingers caked with salt.

Breaking entirely, Aisha's body twitched as both Pain and pleasure reached levels that no one was supposed to experience.

Yet, the experience was only beginning. As the minutes bled into hours, a lone tear trailed down Aisha's cheek.

"Into the dungeon again Aisha?" Samira asked from where she loafs around on a sofa. "Also, you missed last night, Ishtar's commanded us to get more money lately. You know you're our best when it comes to drawing in men."

"I was… occupied."

"Oh…" Picking up on the meaning, Samira's face twisted in a wince of regret.

"Also, gather the other's, I'm not going in solo today."

"Hmm?" Samira asked in confusion, hopping to her feet. "What is this is? A hit on someone? An impromptu raid for money?"

"Neither," Aisha winced allowing the weakness to show through. "Lady Ishtar is… insistent that someone hits level four."

"Why?" Samira scoffs in wonder. "We have the most level threes of any familia in Orario. There's not a single familia that could fight us as is. Once the ceremony is done, we will be literally unstoppable."

"I forgot to ask," Aisha responded drily. "You have half an hour, tell the other elites."

"…fine." Samira sighed getting up slowly. "I was just getting bored."

Shaking her head, Aisha held in the sigh as she watched her second-in-command walk languorously away. Another show of weakness would be unforgivable.

As the silver-haired Amazon left the room, Aisha went to gather the others. Seven in total, all of them level three. Each one raised from birth to be a warrior, masters of countless weapons and tactics. On top of that, Amazons trained their bodies to be weapons in their own right.

In short order, the party had been assembled, one of the strongest in Orario. Casting her gaze over them, Aisha assumed that Samira had told them something due to the lack of confusion in their gazes. Due to the late nights most of them worked, the early morning was when they slept and recovered. Now, each one of the six Aisha locked eyes with looked focused and ready.

"This will be a two-day Adventure. We're getting to the twenty-seventh floor today, farming for awhile and returning tomorrow in time to take customers, questions?"

"Oh, I have one!" A small girl asked, bouncing excitedly.

"Yes, Lena?" Aisha queried, never having been able to crush the excitement from this happy-go-lucky amazon.

"Then tomorrow night… Want to hunt together? It's been forever since we've done anything…"

"…Sure." Aisha accepted after a second. She'd never say it aloud, but the act of hunting men in the night and bringing them to Belit Babitty to seduce their possessions off them was losing its appeal to Aisha. When she'd been younger, she couldn't imagine a different way of life.

Now though, after having experienced firsthand from Ishtar what it meant to be charmed by a force one couldn't resist, Aisha had begun to doubt her own actions. Whether the men truly were grateful for the experiences she gave them, even as they cried out for more.

"Let's go."

Dismissing the idle thoughts, they did no good to dwell on. Aisha couldn't change the past. She was who she was. As the new leader of Ishtar familia, Aisha had one job, ensure her goddess' whims became reality.

"The twenty-seventh…" Samira breathed out slowly. "It's been awhile since I've descended into the Water Capital. Do we know the status on Amphisbaena?"

"Still dead from Loki familia's last raid. If I wanted to kill it, I'd have brought that idiot fox."

Reference to the trump card and source of indecision in Ishtar familia sent an awkward silence through the elites of Ishtar familia. Not even Amazons raised from birth to fight could appreciate the situation that their goddess had thrust them into. To many times the subject had brought their familia into endless squabbling between members, coming to blows often, lives almost lost more than once.

Aisha knew that in this group there were people of many different opinions. Lena, for all her tough talk was actually quite soft. She couldn't stand the thought of killing an innocent. Samira on the other hand, didn't really mind. Death was an inevitability of war. This one would be used to great effect.

"The Berbera are on the move…"

"Think they're hunting a guy?"

"No raids were planned for today, right?"

"Idiot! They don't have the supporters necessary for that, besides, what exactly would they be raiding?"

Tsking, Aisha ignored the pointless talk of the adventurers they passed. News of this would spread through the city quickly. It had been a long time since the elite Berbera had ventured into the dungeon as a whole unit. Almost as long as it had been since Freya's elites had done so. Until they had done that very thing just last week.

Thinking over it, Aisha realized that the timing overlapped heavily with Ishtar's demands that she hit level four. Considering the possibility, if all of Freya's elites hit four, or worst-case scenario, if their maniac leader hit level five…

Then we'd need one to fight him.

Agreeing with Ishtar's assumption, that in a one on one, none of them could take Ulfric. Yet, why would that matter? After the ceremony the familia would be in a completely different dimension. A level five would walk over a recently levelled four, but three of them? Four? If things went according to plan, Ishtar would have access to thirteen level four's. A force that could take on most of Orario at the same time.

Shaking her head once again at her paranoid goddess, Aisha continued the monotonous trek through the upper floors. As usual, the girls had struck up conversations with each other. The conversation naturally revolved around men as the similarity they all shared. As part of Ishtar familia, they were all expected to act as prostitutes in their spare time to bring in extra cash.

Aisha listened with half an ear, as one of the girls began making light of one man who before starting had been bragging about his excessive libido yet had failed after just two rounds. They all laughed bawdily at the story, and Aisha agreed to a certain extent. Men that were all talk were the worst. It had been forever since Aisha had found one that got her excited.

"We stopping on the eighteenth?" Samira suggested.

"Oh, let's!" Lena added on excitedly, "I picked up a bunch of drop items and want to get rid of them before returning."

"Fine," Aisha agreed with a sigh. "twenty minutes in RIvira and we're gone. That means no looking for men!"

"Awww…" Quite a few of them sighed. "The isolation makes them so desperate though…"

"You know, I once got 20,000 valis from a guy in Rivira because he was just that lonely!"

Conversation sliding quickly back into their other jobs, Aisha could only shake her head sadly as they broke out into the late evening light of the eighteenth. Despite it just cresting noon on the surface, the giant crystal that lit up the floor here was preparing to darken for a few hours, the cycle shorter than a surface day.

"Hiyah!" Crying violently, Aisha brought her large podao down upon the head of the Merman leader. Without even a chance to defend itself, the creature collapsed into ash as Aisha's giant wooden weapon split it in half.

"Nice!" Samira complimented her, tearing into the rest of the pack. Disorientated by the loss of their leader, the merman made easy prey under the gray-haired amazon's deadly punches.

"Don't forget about me!" Soaring over their heads, Lena ran along the wall to where a light crystal entered from the adjoining corridor. Whipping out a pair of knives, Lena broke it in half against the floor before the crystal could begin emitting the feared light rays for which it was named.

"Good fight ladies!" Aisha praised them as she examined the now empty room, filled only with ash as they extracted the stones that remained intact. While it certainly hurt with their income, Aisha couldn't help herself when she entered battle mode. Her blade didn't like to be contained.

"You know, we'd be making a lot more if you'd chill out with that blade of yours Aisha," one of the amazon's predictably commented.

Shrugging, Aisha responded easily. "You can't help yourself when you find a man you like, I can't help myself when I want to kill a monster."

"Bah," they spat teasingly, shaking their heads in wonder at Aisha. They'd never say it out loud, but each one of them had a deep-seated respect for their gorgeous leader. Every single one of them had been helped by her at some point or other.

"Now, let's keep going…" Trailing off, Aisha left the last half of her words unspoken. Ishtar will be extremely displeased with just this much.

Hours later, the group stared up in wonder as a light mist coated their bodies. Standing in an arc, they beheld the great falls in their entirety. Visible only from the base of the plunge pool on the twenty-seventh floor. Even standing outside of the water, more than 50 metres from where the water struck, the noise was still deafening. The great height would be fatal to any who fell off.

Turning around with pursed lips, Aisha ripped her eyes from the entrancing sight that she'd seen times beyond count at this point. Instead, she sought out what should also be near by. Finding it quickly, Aisha debated whether they should bother taking the narrow path. It would lead a couple hundred more metres before finally reaching the ramp down to the twenty-eighth floor and beyond.

Aisha felt like that was the area she'd need to enter to get the results Ishtar desired, the only problem was that she couldn't do it in the timeframe she'd been given. Stuck at an impasse, Aisha followed her familia around, hunting monsters for the rest of the day.

"Urgh…" Groaning, Aisha felt only two things as she dragged her body along the path, blood leaving a thick trail behind her. The first, was pain. A sensation that Aisha had become intimately familiar with. Now, she experienced it in all of its exotic, different forms. The sharp stabbing Nociceptive pain that came from her mangled right leg.

Who knew that a Bloodsaurus could bite hard enough to break bone?

In addition, a permanent aching pain came from her chest, where Aisha's ribs had been crushed from the swinging tail of a Brontosaurus.

Who knew those things could swing that quickly?

On top of that, Aisha felt an inevitable numbing pain. The creeping, cold pain that adventurers knew to fear the most. The other pains were ones that told you that life still pulsed in your veins. This chilling, creeping sensation was the opposite. It only told her that her body was starting to shut down, one appendage at a time.

The other sensation, Aisha felt, was anger. The primitive emotion was the only thing left that allowed her to continue to move along. Her gaze alight with a fiery passion, that such a simple word didn't do it justice. It went beyond rage, hate, or loathing, to a palpable sensation that emitted from her body as an aura.

There were so many people Aisha hated. Ishtar was very near the top of that list. A goddess that Aisha had been born into from her parents, she'd done her best to serve Ishtar, developing amazing fighting skills in order to keep improving her status. Now though, that same goddess had turned all of her effort into a joke and was now saying, it wasn't enough. A large part of Aisha hoped that Freya familia would come and send that bitch from this world.

However, more than Ishtar, Aisha was angry at herself. How she had failed her familia. How she had failed that fox. That stupid, glorious girl, who continued to wait for a hero. Aisha hated that she couldn't be the one to save her. That she needed someone stronger. That she couldn't overcome the charm placed on her. Finally, Aisha hated how she had abandoned her party. She'd killed herself before she could accomplish anything. Moreover, she may have killed them if they didn't have warning of the monsters that were following her.

"Just… Keep moving…"

"HRNGG!"

The loud, overlapping cries of monsters on the scent of blood sounded like a death knell for Aisha. Refusing to give up, the amazon gritted her death and pulled her dying body faster. Must… Warn them.

Currently, her party should be sleeping in a hollow with destroyed walls where monsters won't spawn. With a scent masking item, they were practically invisible to monsters as well. Aisha's head was a flurry of thoughts as the idea of giving up reared its head again.

The decision would be oh so easy. More than that, it would keep them safe. Only she, their useless leader would die here alone. Consumed by monsters. It seemed a fitting fate for one as useless as her. Ishtar was quick to point out that her old leader would never have been so lackadaisical. That… That toad would never have let a precious material break.

As the flames rose higher inside her, the idea was vanquished yet again, as Aisha pushed her ruined body into a gait resembling a jog. Half bent over and leaking blood, Aisha resembled a walking corpse more than a real person. Any clothing or material that had once adorned her body had been shredded away ages ago in the endless fights she'd endured. Not a single item left to her name.

"Just… a little more…"

With one turn left, Aisha felt her last working leg seize. The muscle failing, Aisha toppled to the floor, never to rise again.

"I… failed." Sighing, Aisha let her eyes close against the cool crystal floor of the twenty-seventh. In the end, she decided, this was a fitting end for her. One more failure to add to the list.

'Thank you, Aisha! This Kimono feels exactly as I remember it!"

"No… I don't want to remember her…"

'Eh!? You found real Far Eastern tea? Thank you so much Aisha!'

"Stop it…"

'I know I resisted this line of work… but, looking at how confident you are Aisha, I sometimes think I could get used to it!'

"No… You stupid fox… You faint every time…"

Groaning, Aisha pushed herself onto her elbows, a new well of strength burning within her. Eyes flaming, Aisha began to pull her ruined body along the smooth crystal floor.

"Like hell… Am I…" Panting, Aisha groaned as pain assaulted her body in waves, every bit of it trying to convince her to give up. "Going to give up before I save her!"

Pushing herself to her feet, Aisha began to run again. Uncaringly she jogged, back straight through the injuries.

Her leg bone was shattered?

Who the fuck cares?

Shards of ribs were pressing against her lungs?

Big deal.

It was all inconsequential compared to the girl that Aisha was determined to save. To make up for the girls that never had a chance of being saved. For the girls that never found their heroes. For Aisha, whose life was decided for her.

"So… You actually did it." Breathing the line out, Ishtar reclined on her chaise and took up her pipe once again. The wisps of perfumed smoke rising from the end as the goddess stared with sightless eyes out the window.

Not moving, Aisha remained in place on the floor where she'd had her status updated. The news gave her no joy. When she realized she'd survive the raid due to the efforts of her party, Aisha knew she'd level up. She could sense it.

"I heard about how far you went to do this from Samira…" Ishtar began, "I hadn't thought you were this devoted to me. Maybe our sessions did more good for you than I thought they had. That's good… very good. I'll need a loyal leader to command our troops when I install myself as the queen of Orario."

"Queen?" Murmuring the word, Aisha wasn't sure if she'd heard right.

"That's right," Ishtar laughed. "I've been making deals. While they aren't as strong now as they were supposed to be, Orario is weakened enough that it shouldn't matter."

"…?" Hiding her confusion, Aisha listened to her goddess that seemed content to ramble.

"Initially the deal had been about toppling Freya familia, but I realize I've been thinking too small. Even with Freya out of the way, I'd then have to deal with Loki and the guild if I really wanted to rule the city. Therefore, by combining my forces with those that dwell within Knossos, we can both accomplish our goals."

"…Knossos?" Hesitantly prying into matters of which she'd known nothing, Aisha listened rapt as her goddess explained about information only a handful in the city knew about.

A second dungeon.