Chapter 3
Medusa, the Queen of Monsters
As Riveria and Bell parted ways, an unsettling rumor began to circulate through the streets of Orario. Whispers of a new threat, a monster unlike any other, sent shivers down the spines of even the most seasoned adventurers.
Bell, his curiosity piqued, found himself drawn to the Hostess of Fertility, where adventurers often gathered to share stories and information. As he entered the bustling tavern, he caught snippets of hushed conversations, each one more troubling than the last.
"They say she's the queen of all monsters," a grizzled adventurer muttered, his face etched with worry. "Medusa, they call her."
Bell's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the name. He had heard tales of Medusa and the Gorgons before, but they had always seemed like mere legends, stories told to frighten children. They were an extremely rare and deadly monster form, only three have ever been recorded in history.
He made his way to the bar, where Syr, the kindhearted waitress, was busy serving drinks. She noticed his troubled expression and leaned in, her voice low.
"You've heard about Medusa, haven't you?" she asked, her eyes wide with concern.
Bell nodded, his throat suddenly dry. "Is it true? Is she real?"
Syr glanced around, as if afraid of being overheard. "I'm afraid so. Adventurers have been coming back from the Dungeon with stories of a monster with the power to turn people to stone with just a glance."
Bell felt a chill run down his spine. If Medusa was real, then the Dungeon had just become even more dangerous than before.
As he left the Hostess of Fertility, his mind reeling with the implications of this new threat, he found himself face to face with Riveria. The elven mage's expression was grave, her eyes filled with concern.
"Bell Cranel," she said, her voice low. "I see you've heard the news."
Bell nodded, his heart heavy. "Medusa. Is it true?"
Riveria sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. "I'm afraid so. The Guild has confirmed the reports. Medusa is real, and she poses a significant threat to Orario."
Bell clenched his fists, a determination burning within him. "What can we do? How can we stop her?"
Riveria met his gaze, her eyes searching his. "That, Bell Cranel, is a question we must all ask ourselves. Medusa is unlike any monster we've faced before. It will take the combined efforts of all the adventurers in Orario to even stand a chance against her."
As they stood there, the weight of the situation hanging heavy between them, Bell knew that his path as an adventurer had just become even more perilous. But with Riveria's guidance and the support of his friends and allies, he was determined to face this new challenge head-on, no matter the cost.
Bell learns that Medusa was one of the Xenos, and had a similar past to Wiene's.
As the news of Medusa's emergence spread through Orario like wildfire, Bell found himself consumed by a sense of unease. The idea of a monster so powerful, so terrifying, sent shivers down his spine. He knew he had to learn more, to understand the nature of this new threat.
In his search for answers, Bell turned to Eina, his trusted advisor at the Guild. Her face was etched with concern as she listened to his questions, her brows furrowed in thought.
"Bell," she began, her voice low and serious. "There's something you should know about Medusa."
Bell leaned forward, his heart pounding in his chest. "What is it?"
Eina took a deep breath, as if steeling herself for the revelation. "Medusa... she was once one of the Xenos."
Bell's eyes widened in shock, his mind reeling. "The Xenos? But how? I thought they were all like Wiene, gentle and misunderstood."
Eina shook her head sadly. "Not all of them. Some, like Medusa, succumbed to the darkness within them." She paused, her gaze distant. "From what we know, Medusa's story is similar to Wiene's. She was once a peaceful creature, living in harmony with the other Xenos. But something changed, something twisted her into the monster she is now."
Bell felt a weight settle in his chest, a mixture of pity and dread. "What happened to her?"
Eina sighed, her shoulders sagging. "We don't know for certain. Some say she was betrayed by those she trusted, others believe she was corrupted by an ancient evil. Whatever the case, she's no longer the being she once was."
Bell's mind raced, trying to reconcile this new information with what he knew of the Xenos. He thought of Wiene, of her gentle nature and kind heart. The idea that a creature like her could become something as monstrous as Medusa was almost too much to bear.
"What can we do?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Eina met his gaze, her eyes filled with a fierce determination. "We fight, Bell. We fight to protect Orario, to protect the innocent. And maybe, just maybe, we can find a way to save Medusa from herself."
Bell nodded, his resolve hardening. He knew the path ahead would be difficult, fraught with danger and uncertainty. But with the support of his friends and allies, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. For the sake of Orario, for the sake of the Xenos, he would not back down.
Grave news from the Dungeon had spread like wildfire through the streets of Orario. Adventurers, once eager to explore the depths, now found themselves paralyzed by fear. The whispers of Medusa's growing power sent shivers down their spines.
Bell Cranel, his brow furrowed with concern, sought out Riveria once more, desperate for answers.
"Lady Riveria," he began, his voice tinged with urgency. "What's happening in the Dungeon? How has Medusa become so powerful?"
Riveria's expression was grave as she met his gaze. "The reports are troubling, Bell Cranel. It seems Medusa has found a way to amplify her abilities, turning the Dungeon itself into her lair."
Bell's eyes widened in alarm. "Amplify her abilities? How is that possible?"
Riveria's lips pressed into a thin line. "From what we've gathered, Medusa has somehow tapped into the very essence of the Dungeon, harnessing its ancient power to fuel her own."
Bell felt a chill run down his spine. "But how? The Dungeon has always been a place of adventure and discovery, not a source of power for monsters."
Riveria's gaze darkened. "It appears Medusa has discovered a way to corrupt the Dungeon, twisting its very nature to serve her own sinister purposes."
Bell's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white. "We have to stop her. We can't let her turn the Dungeon into her own personal stronghold."
Riveria nodded solemnly. "I agree, Bell Cranel. But this will not be an easy task. Medusa's power has grown exponentially, and she commands an army of snake-like monsters. We have called them the Gorgon-Spawn, as it is believed they have originated from Medusa herself, and not the dungeon."
"From Medusa herself?" Bell said incredulously.
"Correct, Bell Cranel. A monster that can spawn more monsters. Her blood can generate a limitless supply of soldiers."
Bell's brow furrowed in determination. "Then we'll need to rally the best adventurers in Orario. Together, we can find a way to reclaim the Dungeon and stop Medusa's reign of terror."
Riveria's expression softened, and she placed a hand on Bell's shoulder. "I admire your courage, Bell Cranel. But you must understand the gravity of the situation. Medusa is a foe unlike any we've faced before."
Bell met her gaze, his eyes burning with resolve. "I'm ready, Lady Riveria. Whatever it takes, I'll do whatever I can to protect Orario and the Dungeon."
Riveria nodded, a glimmer of pride shining in her eyes. "Then we must act quickly. Gather the strongest among us and prepare for a battle unlike any other."
As they parted ways, Bell's mind raced with the implications of Medusa's newfound power. The Dungeon, once a place of adventure and discovery, had become a twisted, dangerous realm, under the control of a monstrous being. He knew that the fate of Orario, and perhaps the entire world, now rested on the shoulders of the city's bravest adventurers.
The Familias are summoned to the Guild to be briefed on Medusa, and learn she has built an impregnable castle in the depths of the Dungeon. The monsters now serve her, poisoned by her venom. And she is preparing to attack Orario.
The Guild's grand hall was filled to the brim with adventurers from every Familia in Orario. The air was thick with tension and anticipation as they waited for the urgent briefing to begin. Bell Cranel, standing alongside his fellow Hestia Familia members, felt a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach.
As the Guild's representatives took their places at the front of the hall, a hush fell over the gathered crowd. Eina Tulle, her face etched with worry, stepped forward to address the assembled Familias.
"Adventurers of Orario," she began, her voice carrying through the hall. "We have called you here today because of a grave threat to our city and the Dungeon itself."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, adventurers exchanging nervous glances and hushed whispers.
Eina continued, her tone somber. "As many of you have heard, a powerful new monster known as Medusa has emerged from the depths of the Dungeon. But what you may not know is the extent of her influence and the danger she poses to us all."
The hall fell silent, every eye fixed on Eina as she revealed the shocking truth.
"Medusa has built an impregnable castle in the deepest levels of the Dungeon, a fortress from which she now commands the monsters that once roamed freely." Eina paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "The creatures of the Dungeon, once diverse and independent, now serve her, poisoned by her venom and bound to her will."
Gasps of disbelief and horror echoed through the hall, adventurers grappling with the implications of Medusa's power.
"A monster that builds castles?"
"B-but, that must mean, it has… it has i-i-intelligence!"
"But that is not all," Eina continued, her voice trembling slightly. "Our sources have confirmed that Medusa is preparing to launch an attack on Orario itself. She seeks to extend her dominion beyond the Dungeon and claim our city as her own."
The hall erupted into chaos, adventurers shouting questions and demands, their voices filled with fear and anger. Bell felt a chill run down his spine, the gravity of the situation settling upon him like a heavy weight.
As the Guild representatives struggled to restore order, Bell's mind raced with the implications of Medusa's plans. The Dungeon, once a place of adventure and glory, had become a twisted realm under her control. And now, the very city he called home was in her crosshairs.
Bell clenched his fists, a fierce determination burning within him. He knew that the path ahead would be fraught with danger and uncertainty, but he refused to let Medusa's evil prevail. As he looked around at the faces of his fellow adventurers, he saw the same resolve mirrored in their eyes.
Together, they would stand against Medusa and her army of poisoned monsters. They would fight to protect Orario and reclaim the Dungeon from her clutches. No matter the cost, they would not let their city fall.
As the Guild's emergency meeting drew to a close, a sense of dread hung heavy in the air. Adventurers murmured amongst themselves, their faces etched with worry and disbelief. Bell Cranel, his heart heavy with the weight of the revelations, found himself seeking solace in the company of his trusted advisor, Eina Tulle.
"Eina," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "Is it true? Has Medusa really enslaved the Xenos?"
Eina's expression was grim as she met Bell's gaze. "I'm afraid so, Bell. Our sources have confirmed that Medusa has taken the Xenos captive and is forcing them to work in her armaments factory."
Bell's eyes widened in horror. "Armaments factory? What kind of weapons is she making?"
Eina's brow furrowed. "From what we've gathered, Medusa has the Xenos mass-producing some sort advanced weaponry made of metal, making the use of some sort of explosive magic. Long hollow barrels that make loud bangs and shoot unseen projectiles. Hollow, metal cylinders that shoot exploding stones like catapults." She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "But that's not the worst of it. These weapons are laced with her venom, making them even more deadly."
Bell felt a wave of nausea wash over him. The thought of the gentle, misunderstood Xenos being forced to create weapons of destruction was almost too much to bear.
"We have to save them," he said, his voice filled with determination. "We can't let Medusa continue to exploit the Xenos like this."
Eina nodded, her expression softening. "I agree, Bell. But it won't be easy. Medusa's fortress is well-defended, and her army grows stronger by the day."
Bell's hands clenched into fists. "I don't care how difficult it is. We have to try. The Xenos are innocent creatures, and they don't deserve to be enslaved by a monster like Medusa."
Eina placed a hand on Bell's shoulder, her touch reassuring. "You're right, Bell. We'll find a way to free the Xenos and put an end to Medusa's tyranny."
As they spoke, a new piece of information reached their ears. Adventurers who had ventured deep into the Dungeon returned with whispers of a name: Ardahara. It was the name Medusa had given to her realm within the Dungeon, a twisted domain where her power reigned supreme.
Bell's heart sank at the news. Medusa's influence had spread far beyond what he had initially feared. Not only had she enslaved the Xenos and corrupted the Dungeon, but she had also claimed a portion of it as her own, a dark reflection of the once-vibrant realm of adventure.
As he and Eina parted ways, Bell's mind raced with the challenges that lay ahead. Freeing the Xenos, reclaiming the Dungeon, and putting an end to Medusa's reign of terror would be no easy feat. But with the support of his friends and allies, he knew that they would find a way to overcome the darkness that threatened to engulf their world.