Heyo! Its been a long while, workloadcoming here! sorry for the late update, life has been quite busy for me. With my job having more duties now and the fact that its ultra hot here in the Philippines (Yes, I am a filipino, so mabuhay to my filipino brothers and sisters on this site, haha :D) makes writing a tad more difficult as when I arrive home I would rather lay down with my aircon on, instead of working on my fanfiction. So thanks for being super patient with the next chapter for TDM, should note that this chapter is honestly just a filler chapter, where more information is being shared about the on going situation so yeah, next chapter for this story would be more development, hopefully.
But this has to wait as I have regain my energy and spirit to continue writing my other story "RoLC"!, now when will the chapter come out?, not sure but it will be the next story to be updated so look forward to that haha, also may do some major revisions for the previous chapter for "RoLC" as I was quite busy with college at that time so writing that was difficult and I've noticed many grammar issues and all of that so it may be subjected for a rewrite in the future.
Anyways thank you as always and I hope you enjoy the chapter!
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INSIDE THE GUILD
-RECEPTION COUNTER-
"This is much more serious than I thought," Riveria exclaimed, her expression a mix of disturbance and shock as she covered her mouth with her right hand and gripped her magic staff tightly with the other.
A half-elf with shoulder-length brown hair and emerald-colored eyes, clad in the Guild's standard uniform, simply nodded in response to Riveria's words, wearing a solemn and concerned expression.
Riveria then turned to the half-elf receptionist and asked urgently, "Eina, can you tell me anything about the Guild's plan regarding this?" She sought any information she could gather, her tone filled with urgency.
The half-elf receptionist, known as Eina Tulle, promptly responded to the high elf princess, saying, "As far as I know, there are ongoing plans to convene a Denatus to discuss the current events with the other Gods." She explained with a clear and composed tone.
A Few Minutes ago
Right after the group left Riveria behind, she swiftly made her way to the Guild's counter, determined to inquire about meeting with Royman to provide him with full details of what had occurred down below.
This was crucial in order to investigate any similar anomalies that may occur to other adventurers as they ventured into the dungeon.
However, it might have been already too late, for with Riveria's keen observations, she immediately sensed the strange but tense atmosphere pervading the guild.
Upon reaching the counters, she encountered Eina, her closest friend's daughter, who worked as one of the Guild's receptionists. However, Riveria swiftly discerned the worried and concerned expression etched on Eina's face.
Riveria made her way towards Eina, who in turn noticed the high elf approaching. Usually, Eina would greet Riviera with a respectful tone of voice, but this time, she immediately inquired about the injured person and what had happened to them inside the dungeon in a hurried tone of voice.
Observing this rare expression on Eina's face and the fact that she went straight to business without pause, Riveria promptly relayed the events that had transpired to her, detailing what had happened to their familia.
Her tone was hushed as she attempted to prevent nearby individuals from overhearing their conversation, yet it also bore a trace of frustration. Riveria was still reeling from the events that had transpired under her watch.
Upon concluding her account of the events, Riveria observed Eina's reaction closely. She noticed that Eina's expression shifted to one of complexity, with eyes reflecting a mixture of frustration and sadness, as if this were a recurring occurrence.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Riveria probed Eina about the events that had transpired since her familia entered the dungeon three weeks ago. It became increasingly clear that something significant had occurred during their expedition.
Upon hearing the urgent inquiry from the high elf princess, Eina, though hesitant at first, decided to tell Riveria about the recent events that unfolded after they delved into the lower levels of the dungeon. Her voice carried a note of concern as she detailed the recent occurrences.
Now, this action would definitely go against her superiors' orders regarding the sharing of information like this. But, at this point, it was pretty obvious that many had already realized that something was going on.
Besides, Eina was pretty sure that it would be beneficial for them to inform one of the strongest familias, which had just returned, about the ongoing situation.
As Eina explained the events, Riveria's expression shifted from urgency to absolute shock. Her eyes widened and her pupils trembled as she processed the information she was hearing.
Back to the present situation
Riveria nodded in understanding as Eina detailed the guild's current plans. However, a sense of unease settled within her. She couldn't shake the feeling that the guild's response might not be sufficient for the gravity of the situation they faced, grappling with an unknown threat.
If Eina's account was accurate, it suggested that the dungeon was undergoing a significant transformation, influencing not only the behavior but potentially the intelligence of the monsters within.
Up to this point, the incidents reported primarily occurred on the upper levels of the dungeon, involving creatures such as goblins, kobolds, war shadows, and other common inhabitants of those floors.
Consequently, these changes led to numerous injuries and even fatalities among inexperienced and low-level adventurers, with some seasoned veterans also falling victim to the altered behavior of the dungeon's monsters.
Should this trend persist, Riveria harbored no doubt that the evolving conditions might soon extend to the monsters inhabiting the middle and lower floors of the dungeon. Such a development would present an entirely new and perilous scenario, demanding a comprehensive reassessment of their understanding of the dungeon's workings.
Undoubtedly, such a comprehensive reassessment would demand years of meticulous study and observation once again in order to fully comprehend the extent of the changes within the dungeon's ecosystem.
Riveria inquired, her brows furrowing slightly "So I am to assume that Royman is in his office right now?" She directed her question to Eina, her expression thoughtful and contemplative.
Eina nodded in response to Riveria's inquiry, her expression calm as she relayed the information. "That's correct," she confirmed. "Currently, Sir Royman is in his office, organizing the reports and related documents to this situation. He has requested not to be disturbed unless it's extremely important." Her tone was solemn, reflecting the seriousness of the situation they were facing.
As she spoke, Eina couldn't help but recall the seriousness etched on Royman's face as he issued out orders. "It was also the first time for me to see such a serious expression from that guy," she mused quietly to herself, as It was a stark departure from his usual demeanor, which often reflected panic or distress from similar situations.
Absorbing Eina's explanation, Riveria released a small sigh through pursed lips, her expression retaining its seriousness. Internally, she deliberated, "Should I still request to meet with him?... No, it's best not to bother him so that he can concentrate properly." She weighed her options carefully, contemplating the most prudent course of action to take.
Riveria then asked Eina, "I see. Would it be alright for me to leave it to you to report to him about what has happened?" Her tone remained patient as she addressed the half-elf receptionist.
Eina immediately nodded in response to Riveria's request, her expression resolute as she replied, "Ofcourse, leave it to me." Her tone conveyed confidence, reassuring Riveria that the matter would be handled efficiently.
Hearing Eina's reply, Riviera smiled softly at the receptionist, saying, "Thank you, Eina." as she expressed her gratitude.
In response, Eina simply nodded to Riveria and reassured her, saying, "It's the least I can do for you, Riveria-sama." as she gave a small bow towards the elven princess
After a few more words, Riveria bid farewell to Eina. With her immediate concerns addressed, she decided to head to the Dian Cecht Hospital to check on Line's condition, feeling a sense of accomplishment in achieving her objective to a certain degree.
As Riviera walked away from the counter, she couldn't help but reflect on the current situation. "This situation is much more dangerous than I originally speculated, and I fear that this may only be the start of it" she thought, analyzing the whole scenario with a sense of growing concern.
Surveying the whole situation, Riveria couldn't shake the feeling that things would only grow more dangerous from this point onward.
After all, why would the dungeon wait for them to adjust to the changes that it was currently creating?
Riveria sighed heavily and muttered to herself, "Hopefully Finn and Gareth arrive soon. They need to know what's going on." She continued to mull over the situation, her thoughts consumed by its urgency.
Little did she know, her quiet request was about to be granted sooner than expected.
"Hmm? Oh Riveria, your right here?" asked a familiar voice from behind the elven princess, filled with curiosity and surprised.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Riveria turned her head towards the source and laid her eyes on two familiar figures leading a group of adventurers.
One figure has the appearance of a child, with medium-length scruffy blonde hair and blue eyes, carrying a long spear. While the other figure, with long brown hair and a beard to match, had piercing brown eyes and wielded a large two-headed axe.
It was Finn Deimne, the captain of the familia, accompanied by Gareth Landrock, one of the senior members. Behind them trailed the rest of the Loki familia members who were part of the expedition.
Their timing was surprisingly perfect; she hadn't expected to meet them right after her discussion with Eina. However, Riveria saw this as an opportunity to inform them about the situation, which she considered quite fortunate.
"Finn, Gareth, your timing is perfect. I have a lot of important information to share with you guys," she explained, her expression serious as she addressed them.
Seeing Riviera's expression, Finn, Gareth, and the rest of the Loki familia with them understood that something major was happening. After all, they too had noticed the odd atmosphere around the Guild.
"I'm guessing what ye have to tell us also involves da odd atmosphere of the guild and da strange side looks that some of these guys here are giving us, ain't it?" Gareth asked, stroking his beard as he glanced around the guild, noting the off behavior and atmosphere.
It would normally be understandable for them to be getting stared at by other adventurers. After all, they are famous throughout the city for a reason. But right now, the looks that they are receiving are... different.
Riviera nodded firmly, though her expression darkened. Finn couldn't help but notice her tightened grip on her staff, indicating to him that something had happened to the group Riveria was leading.
That would explain why she was still within the guild until now, and the expression and aura she was giving off.
Riviera then opened her mouth and explained, "It is related to what is going on around us, but there is something more pressing than that," she said calmly, though her concern and frustration were evident.
Finn immediately wanted to know what was going on and what had happened to Riveria's group upon hearing her explanation. However, he knew that he couldn't ask here, as there were too many eyes and ears.
"I see. Though I would like you to tell us now, I believe it's best if you tell us outside instead of here," Finn explained, his eyes scanning the onlookers around them.
Though he already suspects that whatever Riveria would tell them regarding their familia had already started to spread, evident by the hushed whispers and looks around them.
"Right, then please follow me," Riviera explained, beckoning the group to follow her outside of the guild so that she could explain what was happening right now.
Thus, Finn, Gareth, and the rest of the Loki familia group followed Riviera, unaware of the startling revelation about the increasing changes in the dungeon's monsters, and how one of their members was seriously injured as a result.
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OUTSIDE OF THE TWILIGHT MANOR
"Phew, we're almost home, you guys!" Raul exclaimed loudly as he saw the familiar building and gate within a few meters ahead of the group, causing everyone to feel somewhat relaxed and at ease as they were finally almost home.
However, they still vividly remembered what had happened to them within the dungeon, causing the group to remain quite frustrated and concerned about their friend.
"Alright, everyone! Let's hurry it up, we need to let Loki know what happened ASAP!" Tione shouted, her tone firm and commanding as she addressed the entire group about their next step, causing everyone within the group to nod their heads in agreement.
The group increased their walking pace as they headed to their destination. Normally, members like the Hiryute sisters could easily reach the Twilight Manor within minutes if they ran without holding back. However, after what happened to Line, everyone including the Hiryute sisters was somewhat cautious, even if they were back on the surface.
Showing how this incident had deeply affected the members of the Loki Familia, particularly the younger members and those who hadn't experienced these types of incidents.
The impact was profound even on members like Raul Nord, who had experienced the Dark Age of Orario firsthand. As it had been quite some time since such a serious incident had occurred within their familia.
As the group neared the familia manor, they spotted a familiar red-haired woman standing at the gate, flanked by two lightly armored guards wielding spears. It seemed as though they were waiting specifically for the group's return.
It made sense; after all, the two lightly armored guards were likely stationed at the entrance of the familia home, giving them a clear view of the approaching group and would have alerted the others to their return by now.
Upon seeing the group approaching towards the familia home, the red-haired woman wasted no time, as she sprinted toward them at full speed.
The red-haired woman kept sprinting towards the group, and as she drew closer, she shouted in a booming voice that resonated with everyone nearby. "You guys! You're back!" she exclaimed, as she ran towards them.
The group had already recognized the figure even before she dashed toward them and shouted to them; it was their patron Goddess, Loki.
Now normally, in situations like these, as their Goddess sprinted toward them, Loki would immediately swoop in with a dive, specifically targeting the female members of the group. In order to grope their chests and other lewd acts that she usually displays towards them.
After all, their Goddess was quite well-known for her playful and flirtatious if not perverted nature, towards any female that catches her attention. It was to the point that many of the familia members had grown accustomed to it, and knew how to properly react.
Though certainly, newcomers to the familia would still need time to acclimate to Loki's playful nature and understand her strange if not perverted quirks.
To everyone's surprise however, Loki didn't follow her usual playful antics. Instead, when she arrived in front of the group, she went straight to Raul and placed both hands on his shoulders, her expression serious. "Tell me! Did you guys encounter anything dangerous in the dungeon!?" she demanded urgently.
Initially taken aback by Loki's unexpected approach, Raul swiftly regained his composure and cleared his throat. "Ye-Yeah, something major happened to us," he explained with a serious but sad look towards Loki.
Upon hearing Raul's response and seeing his expression, Loki's grip tightened slightly on his shoulders, prompting him to flinch from the discomfort. Loki then released her hands on Raul's shoulders, her gaze quickly scanning the group for several seconds.
After several moments, Loki let out a long audible sigh, covering her eyes with one arm as she shook her head from side to side. She quietly muttered to herself, "Shit, so it happened to us as well, huh?"
Tione, who was nearby, was about to ask Loki what was wrong, but stopped as Loki suddenly let out a single loud clap with her hands.
*CLAP* "Alright, once we get inside the Twilight Manor, I need you all to explain to me what has happened within the dungeon," she explained calmly, but her expression was serious, portraying a sense of urgency about the information.
Causing everyone within the group that returned to their familia home to nod their heads, as they knew that Loki was dead serious about this.
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INSIDE TWILIGHT MANOR
Within the large dining hall of the Twilight Manor, Raul's group gathered along with Loki, as it was the only space spacious enough to accommodate everyone.
Raul, along with Tiona and Tione seated on one of the many tables of the room, recounted to Loki everything that had transpired, detailing their encounters with the peculiar caterpillar-like monsters on the 51st and 50th floors, as well as their unsettling run-in with the strange minotaurs on the 17th floor.
They also described Line's severe injury at the hands of the minotaurs, explaining how she had to be urgently taken to the Dian Cecht Hospital by Bete and Ais for emergency treatment.
Loki, on the other hand, remained completely silent throughout the explanation of the events. However, it was evident to many of the members present that she was growing increasingly upset as the details unfolded.
As the details of the events unfolded, the familia members could vaguely discern a visible dark aura surrounding their Goddess, slowly growing more intense with each passing moment. It flared up particularly as Loki learned that one of her children had been severely injured.
Once the trio finished recounting their story, the room fell into complete silence as everyone awaited their Goddess's response.
Several seconds passed in the silent dining hall before Loki let out a long, frustrated sigh. She looked down at herself with a downcast and frustrated expression. As if something she had been worried about had come to pass.
It was then that Tione finally voiced what had been on everyone's mind since their return to the surface. "Loki… this isn't the only incident that's occurred, is it?" she asked, her gaze fixed on their Goddess with a questioning intensity.
For many of the seasoned adventurers within the group, the signs had been evident for some time, though they hadn't had the chance to properly investigate. Now, witnessing Loki's reaction, their suspicions were confirmed.
As her children began to piece together the situation, Loki realized it was time to divulge the full story of what had transpired in the three weeks since they embarked on their dungeon expedition.
Loki straightened her back, her tone firm as she addressed Tione's inquiry. "Yeah, this is not the first time such incidents have occurred. In fact, there have been many similar cases over the past week," she explained, resting her chin on her hands on the table with a serious expression.
"Eh!? Wait a minute!, you're telling us that this has been happening for a week!" Tiona shouted in complete shock. The rest of the group mirrored her reaction, their eyes widening and mouths opening in disbelief.
Loki simply nodded in confirmation to Tione's outburst before continuing, "Pretty much. What you described about the minotaurs' behavior is similar to other rumors that have been going around" she explained in a clear tone.
The Goddess's words delivered a shocking reality to the returning group, making them all realize how drastically things had changed during their time in the dungeon.
"H-How did this happen?" Lefiya nervously inquired, her hands trembling as she clutched her magic staff. Her confusion was evident as she tried to comprehend how everything had changed so drastically in such a short time.
Loki turned her attention towards Lefiya, her expression grave. "That's the thing, Lefiya... we have absolutely no clue," she admitted somberly, her thoughts drifting back to the day when everything changed as she recounted the events.
ONE WEEK PRIOR
-OFFICE OF THE TWILIGHT MANOR-
Seated on one of the couches in the office, Loki lounges with her feet propped up on the table, a bottle of wine in hand. *Sigh* "Maaaaaan, I'm so boooooored!" she complained with a sigh.
Lifting the glass bottle of wine above her head, Loki allowed the sunlight from the nearby window to illuminate its contents, revealing the leftover wine inside. She lightly twirled the bottle around, her gaze fixed upon it as if seeking some form of entertainment.
After several seconds of contemplation, Loki swiftly brought the bottle to her lips and drank the remaining contents in one gulp, downing the entire bottle in one go.
Having emptied the bottle completely, Loki separated her mouth from it and ensured not a drop remained before casually placing it on the floor…with the rest of the empty wine bottles.
Polishing off another bottle from her collection, Loki gazed out the window, pondering, "It's already been two weeks since Finn and the rest left for the expedition. If everything's on track, they should've reached the 40th floor by now."
Recalling Finn's calculations from their meeting before their departure to surpass Zeus's record within the dungeon, Loki could only hope that everything was proceeding according to plan for her children.
"Heh, you can do it, you guys. Shatter that old perverted bastard's familia record, and show all of Orario that we are the strongest familia!" Loki smirks to herself as she thought confidently about her familia's abilities within the dungeon.
Loki then stood up from the couch, stretching her arms above her head after being in that position for a long while. After finishing her short stretches, she then looked down towards the group of empty bottles on the floor next to her.
*Whistle* "To think I've finished the last batch of my wine in the morning. If Riveria was here, she would scold me for hours for even finishing it, hehe," Loki quietly muttered to herself with a smirk, thinking about the motherly figure of her familia and the most likely reaction she would have to Loki's wine consumption.
In Loki's opinion however, she couldn't help it. After all, nothing interesting had occurred during the past week, with the only usual fare of Gods and Goddesses gossiping with each other and playing pranks to their children.
Thus, she decided to do the next best thing to cure her boredom: drink some good old wine from her collection!
But since she had pretty much emptied her entire stock, with the only exception of very, and she means very, rare and expensive wines that she saves for special occasions, she pretty much finished everything.
Left with only two options now, Loki debated whether to start doing her duties as a proper Goddess for her familia or to simply sneak out again and buy some more wine to restock once more.
…..She picked the latter option
"Hehe, it should be alright, after all, it will only be a quick trip to the wine shop. They wouldn't realize that I was even gone," she thought, a mischievous smile forming on her lips as she decided on what she should do next.
But just as Loki made that decision
Knock Knock
A knock echoed from the door, interrupting the trickster Goddess's plans and causing her to slightly pout. Nevertheless, she still answered the door loudly, saying, "Ya can come in!"
The door swung open, allowing one of her familia's members to enter the office. It was a young female adventurer, relatively new to the familia. She greeted Loki respectfully before stating, "Loki-sama, I have news from the dungeon to report."
Upon hearing this, Loki raised an eyebrow and inquired, "Hooh? What's going on?" She spoke with a curious tone, directing her attention towards her child.
One of the many tasks Loki typically assigns to her children, especially those unable to join the expeditions to the deeper floors of the dungeon, is information gathering.
It's a common tactic for many familias, especially those with the resources and manpower to spare. After all, knowledge is power, and having vital information in advance always provides an advantage.
Hearing her Goddess's inquiry, the female familia member replied, albeit with slight hesitation and an uncertain tone of voice, "Actually Loki-sama, we're not entirely sure about the accuracy of this information," she explained.
Loki then responded to her child's uncertainty with reassurance, saying, "Well, that's how information usually is, so there's no harm in reporting it," in a relaxed tone to ease her child's uncertainty.
Feeling reassured by her Goddess's words, the female familia member relaxed and even felt a bit more confident, a small smile forming on her face.
Observing her child's response, Loki nodded in satisfaction, glad to have eased her nerves. With her usual tone, she inquired, "Now then, what do ya have to report?" Her eyes filled with interest as she awaited the information.
Quickly recalling her reason for coming here, the female adventurer promptly delved into her report on the dungeon, recalling the information she had gathered for Loki.
Several minutes passed and the female familia member concluded her report on the dungeon. Loki, upon hearing the details, realized why her child had been uncertain, as she too, was taken aback by the unexpected information.
Loki furrowed her brow in deep thought as she processed the information. "Reported sightings of Goblins carrying makeshift bows and riding hellhounds, Kobolds carrying rounded shields and spears? That is something I never heard before, let alone something that shouldn't even be possible," she mused, her expression reflecting her contemplation of the unusual reports.
According to her child, there had been increasing reports of strange monster sightings being relayed to the guild today. However, thus far, there had been no accidents or, strangely enough, even close encounters with them as the reports indicated that the sightings were usually at a distance.
Initially, the guild dismissed these reports as the imaginings of low-level adventurers, especially since no physical proof was presented. However, as the sightings began to multiply, with numerous adventurers reporting similar encounters, the guild deemed it necessary to launch an investigation soon regarding it.
It was during this period of investigation that rumors began to circulate beyond the confines of the guild. It was then that Loki's child came across this peculiar piece of information.
After all, without physical evidence, even she would find it difficult to believe such changes were occurring. But as the trickster Goddess of the Heavens, her instincts were telling her something else at that moment.
That something big was going to happen.
Realizing her instincts were pointing in that direction, Loki clicked her tongue loudly in annoyance. An expression of frustration formed on her face as she frustratedly thought, "Shit, if this is really happening, of course it would be when Finn and the others are on their expedition."
With that in mind, Loki needed to quickly verify the information directly from the Guild itself. Looking out of the window towards where the tower stood, with a determined expression, she knew she needed to get more information of what was really going on.
GUILD HEADQUARTERS
Arriving at the Guild, Loki observed that everything appeared normal at first glance, resembling any typical day for adventurers or guild personnel. However, she sensed a slight shift in the mood among the people present.
With two familia guards behind her, Loki made her way through the crowd of adventurers to reach the Guild's receptionist area, intent on inquiring about the information she had received. As she walked, she discreetly listened to several adventurers' conversations, hoping to gather more information along the way.
"Hey, did you hear? Apparently, some people saw a group of goblins riding hellhounds on the 13th floor," a male adventurer with a hood and two daggers at his waist told his companion beside him.
"What? That's impossible! There's no way monsters like those have the intelligence to even do something like that!" his companion replied with a raised eyebrow, rebutting the possibility of such an event.
At another group of adventurers nearby, a Pallum adventurer with a crossbow exclaimed to her companions, "I'm telling you! I'm pretty sure I saw a group of Kobolds carrying round shields, stone spears, and even bows!"
Her companion, a Hume bunny, replied, "Okay, there's no way you're not pulling my leg here. It's impossible for Kobolds to use a round shield and spear combo, let alone a bow," denying the existence of Kobolds using those types of weapons.
As Loki gets closer to the receptionist area, she can hear various conversations regarding strange sightings of different monster behaviors within the dungeon. However, the most consistent thing she heard from all of this was that most of these sightings were mainly from the upper floors.
"Kobolds, Goblins, Hellhounds, Needle Rabbits, Purple Moths, Orcs, and War Shadows, huh? If what all of them are saying is true and accurate, then these are frightening developments," Loki thought as she observed and listened to the many conversations around her, gathering any usable information that she could get.
While the monsters mentioned may not pose much of a threat to her familia anymore, it would still be a major issue for the future growth of many adventurers that may join in the future.
In addition, the information that she was gathering was only speculative at best. However, she could at least sense that these people were telling the truth, or at least something that they think is true.
This only stimulated the need to ask the Guild regarding this information, and if she couldn't get it from them, then she could always go to the big boss himself down below the Guild to get answers.
Finally arriving at the receptionist area, she looked around to find a free receptionist (Ideally a female receptionist would be great) around the area.
Spotting one that had just become free, Loki was about to approach the receptionist with a friendly smile.
Until Suddenly…
"HELP! PLEASE HELP US!"
A loud female shout echoed through the halls of the Guild, drawing everyone's attention toward the entrance of the dungeon. There, they found a heavily injured female Amazon adventurer who had several arrows on her back but was still supporting an injured and unconscious female elf.
Those nearby rushed toward the duo to offer support, while nearby Guild personnel grabbed medical kits to provide emergency treatment for the injured pair.
Seeing this scene unfold, Loki also rushed toward the scene, much to her guards' dismay, as it was fairly close to the dungeon entrance.
Arriving at the injured adventurers, there was already a small group of people forming around them, clearly wondering what had happened. Of course, there were also members of the Guild and sensible adventurers among them, telling everyone to give space.
The Guild personnel were all trained to have proper first aid skills in order to provide assistance for events like these. However, before they could even begin, the female Amazon adventurer suddenly grabbed one of the Guild members' arms, stopping them.
"Hey, what are you-!?" The Guild member reacted in surprise to the sudden strong grip on their arm. But before they could say anything else to the Amazon, she spoke, her voice strained with urgency.
"Wait! There *huff* are still *huff* more people down *huff* there, *Huff* that need help!" The injured Amazon responded loudly, struggling to speak as she visibly grew paler by the minute.
Hearing this, several of the adventurers who were closest to the entrance immediately rushed to check it out and soon spotted numerous people around the stairs of the dungeon. All of them seemed to be struggling to move or even speak at this moment.
"Hey! We need assistance over here!" shouted an adventurer from the front before rushing down towards the fallen group, followed closely by several others to provide assistance.
Seeing that help was on its way to the fallen group, the female Amazon finally gave in and immediately lost consciousness, prompting the Guild staff to start providing first aid.
The once orderly Guild hall had now transformed into a makeshift medical camp, as many of the members of the fallen group were either unconscious or barely conscious, unable to speak coherently.
Observing the swift change in the situation, Loki hesitated about proceeding with her original plan. Given the current circumstances, it might prove challenging to inquire about the information she sought.
As Loki weighed her options, she carefully considered all the information and variables she had gathered or observed since her arrival. However, as she pondered silently, her attention was drawn to a conversation between a Guild personnel and one of the injured adventurers nearby.
"Hey! You're going to be alright! But what the hell happened!?" The Guild personnel inquired, their tone concerned and their expression anxious. After all, it was the Guild's duty to gather detailed information regarding events like these that caused mass casualties.
The injured adventurer, covered in an array of cuts and bruises all over their body, coughed out some blood. Weakly removing the blood from his mouth, he replied, "Jack Bird," in a feeble tone of voice.
"A Jack Bird did this!?" The Guild personnel replied in shock, their eyes widening in surprise at the mention of the monster responsible.
Jack Bird, a rare and extremely fast monster with no fighting capabilities, possesses an incredibly rare and expensive drop: the Jack Bird's Golden Egg. This item, guaranteed to be dropped when the monster is killed, is worth one million valis.
When a Jack Bird is spotted, it usually causes a whole fiasco on the entire floor, as many adventurers chase after this monster.
Thus, it was surprising to hear that a Jack Bird, of all monsters, had done something like this. In fact, the Guild personnel were pretty sure that this might be the first instance of a Jack Bird ever fighting with adventurers.
However, the injured adventurer slowly shook their head from side to side and explained, "*Huff* No... the Jack Bird was the bait... the lure *huff* to gather us to a single *huff* spot *cough* *cough* for an ambush." The adventurer struggled to speak as the various wounds took a toll on them.
"What? What do you mean?" The Guild personnel replied, their confusion evident in their voice.
The injured adventurer then locked eyes with the Guild personnel, his expression deadly serious as he uttered, "The monsters *huff* they were the ones who ambushed us! They were waiting for us to arrive like a pack of hunters waiting for their prey! *cough!* *cough!*" His expression grew intense as the memory of that moment replayed in his mind.
Loki widened her eyes in shock upon hearing this revelation. Unlike the others, this one clearly showed a significant shift in the monsters' behavior, suggesting heightened intelligence.
Using a Jack Bird, a monster that every adventurer would covet with greed, as bait to lure them into a trap? That was something she never would have thought would happen within the dungeon.
This made Loki worried. Her children were currently in the deeper floors, and if what was happening up here was also happening down there, Loki wasn't sure what to do.
She could only hope that everything was still going as planned and that they had not encountered anything difficult in their expedition. As she looked towards the entrance of the dungeon, only a single thought occupied her mind during this situation.
"Just what is the dungeon planning?"
FLASHBACK END
"After some time, several members from the Ganesha and Dian Cecht familias finally came over to assist and provide order at that moment," Loki explained as she continued to recount the events of that day to those who had returned.
"The Guild also took this moment to issue a gag order to everyone in the hall, citing the need to prevent unnecessary panic due to lack of sufficient information at that time," Loki said, rolling her eyes to express her clear disdain for that order.
Then a look of sarcasm formed on Loki's expression as she said "Though in the end, ya can tell that it didn't even work as rumors regarding those events have already spread" she explained with a criticizing smile
Everyone in the room nodded their heads in agreement with Loki's criticism toward the Guild. It was quite apparent that rumors regarding the situation had already spread within the city, and possibly even beyond its borders judging by the atmosphere that they have noticed around them. So whatever effort the Guild had made to prevent the spread seemed futile now, essentially wasted in the eyes of everyone present.
Rual then turned to his Goddess and asked, "So, what's the next plan?" Wondering what the Guild will do next.
Loki responded to Raul with a clear tone, saying, "In about two days, a Denatus will finally convene to discuss the ongoing situation, which, in my opinion, is long overdue!" Her tone took on a slightly complaining note towards the end of her explanation as she hit the table with her fist.
The trickster Goddess couldn't understand why it took a considerable amount of time for a Denatus to finally convene, especially considering the escalating situation and increasing number of victims.
She knew she wasn't the only deity questioning the delay, as other Gods and Goddesses were also raising their voices regarding the current situation.
Loki suspects something else was going on behind the scenes, but she couldn't confirm it herself. Thus, it was only speculation—for now, anyway.
After finishing her small rant, Loki looked around and could still see that many of them still had questions they wanted to ask, which was understandable. But Loki has an urgent matter to attend to now.
Which was checking on Line's condition.
Now even though she could still feel her connection with her child, Loki still wanted to see for herself how Line was doing.
Loki then rose from her seat and addressed everyone. "Alright, I know many of you still have questions, but I need to go and check on Line's condition. So we'll continue this discussion later," she explained, outlining her plan to them.
Upon hearing this, several members of the group, like Tiona and Lefiya, were about to ask Loki if they could accompany her to see Line. However, before any of them could voice their suggestion, Loki interrupted them.
"Ah, by the way," Loki interjected, her tone flat, "I can't bring any of you with me to the Dian Cecht hospital." This statement caught everyone by surprise.
"Ehhhhh!? Why not, Loki!" Tione complained loudly to her Goddess, with several others displaying a protesting expression.
However, the trickster Goddess did not back down from the protesting looks. "Well, first, I need y'all to get some rest, as something tells me the next few days are going to be busy as hell," she explained as she walked past the group, with everyone's eyes still following her.
Continuing her talk, Loki put her hands into her pants pockets and looked behind the group. "Secondly," she began, "there ain't gonna be enough room, as there's not much space left inside now," she said with a serious tone of voice.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
OUTSIDE OF DIAN CECHT HOSPITAL
"Hmm, ya can really tell how bad the situation is by the atmosphere alone!" Gareth exclaimed as he observed their surroundings while walking closer to the hospital.
"Indeed, the change in the monsters' behavior, which led to a suspected improvement in their intelligence, is something that no one anticipated," Finn responded to Gareth's exclamation.
Currently, Gareth, Riveria, and Finn were walking towards the Dian Cecht hospital to check on Line's condition.
After Riveria recounted everything that had happened so far, Finn instructed the second group from the familia to return home, while the trio would proceed to check on Line's condition.
Finn and Gareth were shocked, to say the least, by the current events that had transpired during their time in the expedition. However, their primary concern lay with Line's condition, especially after hearing that she had been hit by a stone javelin.
"Maybe... Maybe if I had reacted faster during that moment," Riviera lamented, blaming herself for what had befallen Line.
"Don't blame yourself, Riviera. That was something that none of us would have ever expected to encounter," Finn explained to his vice-captain, attempting to reason with her and quell her self-blame.
"But, Finn," Riveria countered, "aren't we their seniors? Isn't it to be expected that we should always be ready, even if the threat is something we had never encountered before?" She looked towards Finn as she expresses her opinion
Finn contemplated for several moments in silence, acknowledging Riveria's valid point, something he was well aware of. However, it also meant he knew what to say to the shaken high elf.
He then told Riveria with a calm and collected face "We can't always predict everything, we can only do our best to prevent such accidents from happening, but if something does happen, then we shouldn't blame ourselves, but strive to improve even more to protect them" he explained his thoughts as he tightly clenches his fist
Upon hearing Finn's words, Riveria fell silent for several seconds. Eventually, a small smile graced her expression as she turned towards the pallum and said, "Thanks, Finn," bowing her head lightly as a gesture of appreciation.
The pallum simply replied with a smile of his own. "It's no problem; I'm just doing my duty as the captain of this familia," he explained.
Finishing their small talk, the trio finally arrived outside of the hospital where Line should be staying. Without hesitation, they opened the doors of the hospital, but they were startled by the scene in front of them.
Dozens of people were crowded near the entrance of the hospital, many of them patients from the hospital, all bandaged up or using medical devices. From their observation, the wounds ranged from cuts to missing limbs.
They also observed numerous beds lining the floor, with several patients either asleep or unconscious. This indicated to the Loki familia trio that the hospital had reached its capacity for patients and had resorted to utilizing any available space to accommodate the injured.
The sight was eerily familiar to them, reminiscent of the Dark Age of Orari when the hospital would overflow with the injured. They had never anticipated witnessing this familiar and unsettling scene again.
Upon witnessing the scene, Gareth commented loudly, "Oh boi, this might be much worse than we thought," his wide eyes reflecting profound worry.
Despite being informed about the situation at hand, they didn't expect it to be this bad. At best, they thought that most of the rooms would almost be full, not something like this.
"We'll need to get more detailed information as soon as possible," Finn explained with a serious look, realizing the extent of the damage and injuries that had occurred.
Navigating through the crowd carefully, the trio looked around to find a member of the Dian Cecht familia. They needed to locate Bete, Ais, and especially Line within the hospital.
But no matter how hard they looked, they could see that many of the Dian Cecht familia members were busy, if not almost overwhelmed, by the number of patients seeking assistance or general help.
As they pondered a possible solution to this dilemma, they heard a familiar voice calling out to them, "Finn, Riviera, Gareth, you're here!" The surprise in the voice was evident. Turning towards the source, they saw Ais standing a few meters away.
"Ais!" they all exclaimed in surprise, hurrying through the crowded area toward the sword princess.
Upon reaching Ais, Riveria quickly asked, "What are you doing here?" with a curious tone.
Ais promptly responded, "I was just about to head out to find you guys and Loki, so that I can tell you guys about Line's condition" explaining carefully to the trio.
"I see. Well, lass, since the three of us are already here, ya should tell us about Line's condition" Gareth asked, his arms crossed, as he looked toward Ais.
Ais nodded solemnly and explained, "Airmid was able to treat Line's injury, and for now, she is in stable condition."
"For now?" Finn replied with a questioning gaze before asking, "You mean that there are still complications regarding Line's condition?" His eyebrow raised in concern, and his expression reflected worry.
Ais nodded before telling them, "Follow me, I'll explain along the way about what Airmid told me and Bete regarding Line's health." She gestured for her familia to follow her to where Line and Bete were staying.
Prompting the trio to follow Ais through the busy corridor of the hospital.
A few minutes later
The group soon arrived at a room, where Ais proceeded to open the door, allowing everyone to enter inside.
Once inside, Finn, Gareth, and Riveria immediately spotted Line lying on a bed, unconscious. Nearby stood two other figures: one was Bete, who stood with arms crossed, simply watching over Line. He turned his head toward their direction after hearing the door open.
The other figure was a woman with long silver hair and purple eyes, seated in a chair beside the unconscious Line. She, too, turned her head in their direction.
The three of them instantly recognized the woman as one of Orario city's two great healers, known by the nickname Silver Saint.
It was Airmid Teasanare, the Dea Saint and head doctor of the Dian Cecht Familia.
Upon seeing them, Bete was the first to comment, saying, "Wow, Ais, that was fast." His eyes slightly widened in surprise, impressed by Ais's ability to bring Finn, Gareth, and Riveria on short notice.
However, Ais shook her head from side to side before responding to Bete, "No, they were already inside by the time I was about to exit," maintaining her usual stoic expression.
At that moment, Airmid chimed in, saying, "Oh, that's convenient," directed at Ais before turning to the others and asking, "Then can I assume that you three are now informed about Line-san's current condition?"
The three of them nodded in unison, with Finn adding, "Yes, Ais informed us about Line's condition and the current issue," his expression serious as he addressed Airmid.
Upon hearing Finn's response, Airmid then explained, "Then I'll keep it brief. Line was fortunate; if the javelin had been a few centimeters lower, her intestines would have been severely damaged," she stated, rising from her chair.
Airmid walked towards them, continuing her explanation. "I treated her to the best of my abilities, and her condition is stable for now. However, there may be underlying conditions that could surface later. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing shortage of several medical herbs and potions, I won't be able to provide the rest of the treatment required," she said, her voice sounding serious, particularly regarding the shortage.
The hospital is currently experiencing a massive shortage of medical herbs and potions due to the rising number of accidents this past week. Although the Dian Cecht Familia had several emergency reserves for situations like this, they have almost depleted at this point.
It was only thanks to the Guild's assistance in this matter that there weren't many deaths due to the lack of resources. However, despite their efforts, the Guild couldn't provide everything, leading to a shortage of certain types of medicines and potions.
Approaching them, Airmid reached into one of her pockets and retrieved a small piece of folded paper. Handing it over to Finn, she explained, "Take this. It's the list of required herbs needed for her treatment. If you have any of them with you, it would be best to bring them here so that we can properly process them."
Quickly scanning the list of required herbs, Finn pocketed the piece of paper. With a thankful bow towards Airmid, he said, "Thank you, Airmid. We'll definitely check if we have any of these in storage and bring them to you," accompanied by a grateful smile.
"It's no problem; I'm just doing my job as the doctor. Now then, if you all don't have any other questions, I'll take my leave as there are many other patients that I need to attend to," Airmid explained. After receiving confirmation that no one else had any further inquiries, she nodded politely and exited the room to attend to her other duties.
After Airmid left the room, the group began conversing, meticulously analyzing the information each of them had acquired. Despite the limited amount, they managed to piece together a coherent picture.
That the dungeon was undergoing an unexpected transformation, leading to drastic changes in the behavior and intelligence of its inhabitants. Consequently, the number of casualties among adventurers was on the rise..
Finn turned to Bete and asked, "Bete, could you do me a favor? There's a good chance Loki may come here to check on Line. I need you to be outside to guide her to this room," Finn explained, his expression thoughtful as he looked at Bete.
Given the current circumstances in the hospital, it made sense for one of them to act as a guide to bring their Goddess to this room. Without assistance, Loki would undoubtedly become lost amidst the busy corridors.
Upon hearing Finn's request, Bete nodded firmly before exiting the room to fulfill Finn's instructions.
As Bete left the room, a short silence descended upon the group, indicating their unanimous decision to await for Bete and Loki. They understood that the trickster Goddess would likely possess additional information to shed light on the unfolding events.
Furthermore, with a Denatus scheduled in a matter of days, they remained optimistic that even more precise information would be forthcoming. This would allow them to effectively ready their familia members for the uncertain future ahead.
Finn, in particular, was already silently drafting potential plans and ideas for the uncertain future ahead. Although he acknowledged that these plans might become obsolete once they acquired more accurate information, it served as a starting point.
But as he was engrossed in his thoughts, he suddenly halted, feeling a sharp, fleeting pain reminiscent of being pricked by a needle on his thumb. He glanced down at his thumb, still sensing the lingering discomfort before it dissipated completely mere seconds later.
His thumb, akin to a physical manifestation of his intuition, throbbed whenever danger was near or still present. This sensation not only served as a warning for him but also aided in devising countermeasures against potential threats.
From his understanding, the intensity of the throbbing pain was proportionate to the level of the threat. Thus, a higher level of pain in his thumb indicated a greater danger. However, since the pain he felt was minimal, it suggested that the threat should be minor.
Right?
He carefully scanned the room, employing all his senses. Initially, he suspected the source of the threat might be within the confines of the room, but found nothing. Letting out a mental sigh, Finn contemplated the possibility that it was simply his imagination, possibly influenced by the recent events.
Nevertheless, whether it was a mere trick or not, Finn couldn't afford to dismiss it. His intuition had consistently proven invaluable to him and his familia. Therefore, he resolved to inform the others so they could prepare accordingly. Even if the threat was minor, they had an injured and unconscious member among them, necessitating caution.
Unbeknownst to Finn however, his keen intuition was not directing him to the confines of this room or beyond, but rather somewhere entirely different—farther and deeper, beyond the reach of mortal or divine sight.
In an area that no familia of Orario city had ever ventured into or explored before.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
? FLOOR OF THE DUNGEON
In the deepest, unexplored floor of the dungeon, rested a single crystal ball atop a stone podium, emitting a faint yet ominous blue glow. Despite the absence of its master, it continued to radiate light, occasionally brightening before gradually dimming once more.
The floor then began to tremble slightly as the corporeal form of the dungeon gradually took shape. Once fully formed, the dungeon began to move, swiftly passing by the glowing crystal ball and advancing towards whatever lay beyond it.
Behind the crystal ball lay four egg-like pods, each adorned with a distinct hue—blue, red, green, and black. Each pod pulsated with its own color, their interiors obscured by a foggy membrane-like appearance, barely revealing what lay within.
Drawing near to the pods, the dungeon extended its "arm," which then split into four long tendrils. Without hesitation, each tendril swiftly attached to the top of one of the pods with remarkable speed.
Suddenly, a crimson glow emanated from the dungeon's "chest" before rapidly surging through and towards its four tendrils, connecting to each of the pods.
As the crimson-colored lines connected with the pods, they all began to rapidly change. The colors of the pods darkened slightly, and they pulsated with an increasingly rapid rhythm.
For several minutes, the dungeon's crimson lines connected with the pods, initiating a rapid transformation. The pods' colors darkened slightly, pulsating with increasing intensity. Eventually, the dungeon smoothly detached its four tendrils from the pods as the crimson lines dissipated. Despite no longer pulsating, the pods retained their darker hues.
Observing the changes, the dungeon mused to itself, "With this energy boost, their materialization should complete within one or two weeks." Its four tendrils merged back into one, resuming its original size.
"However, the chances of abnormal developments during this process have also increased, potentially affecting their personalities and creating undesirable traits," the dungeon muttered to itself as it glanced towards the pods.
"Nevertheless, since the master has already given the green light to expedite this, I will do what I can to prevent such traits from forming," the dungeon continued, its voice sounding determined to fulfill its given task.
Subsequently, the dungeon's corporeal form slowly de-manifested into the ground as it muttered, "Now then, I'll have to continue my other tasks that the master has assigned, especially regarding the other major project, Project: Rotation," before completely disappearing from the area
As the corporeal form of the dungeon vanished, the room fell silent once more, with only the faint humming sound emanating from the crystal ball and the subdued rhythmic beats resonating from the four colored pods breaking the quiet.
Of the four egg-like pods, the blue one emitted slightly louder beats compared to the others, and it began to tremble slightly after each rhythmic throb.
Moments later, as the low beating sounds persisted, a humanoid hand suddenly emerged from within the blue pod. However, it was obstructed by the foggy membrane, causing the hand to glide along inside the pod before slowly retracting and disappearing, obscured by the misty barrier that obstructed most of the view.
Unknown to the Labyrinth city at that moment, new threats were soon to emerge.