Danmachi story Poll update and teasers (Patreon)

Aight, hope y'all having a good day.

So, Danmachi won the polls and I did talk about several MCs that could work for the story. So, rather than choosing one since I like all three ideas.

I'll just let you all decide with these 3 teasers or mini chaps. I added the names of the mc in the title for each teaser so no one gets confused.

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Emiya Alter (He's real and another version of Emiya just more... Broken. I added pictures in case some don't know him)

-Orario-

It lived a miserable life, captured and used for entertainment. Born from the dungeon itself, its sole purpose was to kill or die by the hands of humans.

In a way, she was helping it fulfill its purpose.

Then again, to a certain goddess, that hardly mattered as she gently touched the face of the monster called Silverback. Its wrathful crimson eyes glaring at her, wanting to tear her body limb from limb. A stare that would result in nothing but pure horror in low level adventures.

She wanted to see the look on that boy's face, those troubled eyes and, above all, the courage hidden within them. Even if he were to die here, she would simply follow his soul as it ascended to heaven and embrace it, fully making it hers and hers alone. A soul so pure, so transparent, without a hint of corruption or blemish, that merely being near it made her heart beat faster.

She wanted him… more than anything else in this world that had gotten dull.

She wanted to discover what more that soul could offer, to watch it grow into something formidable unseen by the masses and see just how far its potential could take it.

Freya sat within her room, watching the events unfold through her own Discerning Eye as the plans she had made for the boy reached their latest stage.

Countless challenges had been arranged for him, with this current trial involving a chase by the very same silverback she charmed. Though accompanied by his goddess, Bell could expect no help from her while the restrictions placed upon the gods remained in effect. Just as she had hoped, the boy had been forced to struggle beneath the pursuit of such a monster, dragging his goddess along as he desperately tried to lose his pursuer. Yet the effort proved pointless. At his current level, simply running away could never save him. Sooner or later, he would have to fight, and once that moment arrived, she would finally get to see his soul shine brighter than any other she had witnessed in this city.

Unfortunately, that plan had been ruined.

“No,” unable to do anything, the goddess watched in horror as her worst fears took place before her. That of a figure also observing the scene, just like her but standing on top of the building.

As Bell confronted the monster with a dagger clutched tightly in his hand, a gunshot echoed across the area.

Bang!

From the safety of her room, Freya watched as a massive hole appeared in the center of the silverback's head. Its eyes froze in place, its enormous body losing all strength before crumbling to the ground. The monster released Bell in the process, sending the boy toward the ground, only for a pair of powerful arms to catch him at the last second.

"Humph, you have a talent for getting yourself in trouble, kid. This is the second time you've been chased around by a monster in less than a month. Didn't you get chased by a Minotaur not that long ago?"

A demon… no, a plague had arrived where it should not have existed. Ruining the beautiful image and souring her mood beyond measure.

"A-Ah... it's you!"

The innocence in those eyes had instantly changed. The anger, despair, and stubborn determination that had filled them during the chase disappeared, replaced by unmistakable admiration as Bell stared at the man who had just saved him. Across the area, Freya's hands clenched tightly. “Get away from him!” The beautiful scene she had been waiting for had been ruined, and beside her precious, pure soul, something she found thoroughly unpleasant had appeared instead.

But they could not hear her voice, and it would be impossible to run over in time to save him. Regret filled her heart, yet she could not take her eyes away. The aberration smiled, trying to put on a kind face when she knew the monster that existed behind that fake mask.

"Be careful, Bell. Apparently, there are more monsters managing to escape from the Western region, and you were about to run straight into this maze. Do you have any idea what this place is? You could get lost inside and never come back out."

"I did not have any choice," the white haired young boy replied, still trying to catch his breath. "But I'm thankful for you saving me again! It's like I've gotten a guardian angel lately, hehehe!”

She never saw him make such a face before, not even towards that goddess of his. Yet this monster got to receive it first, showing no care whatsoever.

“I’ll have to start charging you at this rate. Half a million valis for each save.”

The young boy grew pale like a ghost. “H-Half a what!? I could buy a small house with that much!”

“This is extortion!”

Both Bell and his goddess looked at him in disbelief at that price.

The man, who also shared the same white hair though shaven for the most part, just gave him a dry gaze. “Is your life worth less than a house?”

“U-Umm… no, but I would like to repay the favor some other way! Please! My Familia hardly makes enough money to get by as it is…”

“Don't listen to him, Bell! He's just messing with us!”

“B-But Goddess, he saved our lives…”

“Urgh!” She could not offer any protest against that. “I suppose… since you weren't hurt then… but still!”

A smirk crossed the man's dark face as a golden scar-like pattern could be seen on his neck as he looked over the boy. "At this point, you might end up being forever indebted to me. Truthfully, I know that you have nothing worthwhile on you, kid, and I don't think that brat goddess has anything worthwhile either. Aside from that body, though, I'm not interested, and you can do better too."

"Don't call me a brat goddess! I am Hestia! Hestia, you jerk! And what did you say at the end!?" Hestia shouted from near the corpse of the fallen Silverback, glaring back at the man holding Bell.

"Humph, same thing."

His attention shifted downward, catching sight of Bell's flushed face. The boy seemed to realize something only after noticing where he was, and the man's expression turned faintly puzzled.

"What's with your reaction?"

"N-Nothing… you're still holding me…"

The realization only made the situation more awkward. With an eye roll, the man released his grip, allowing the boy to drop onto his back.

"Ouch!"

"You just had to make it weird."

Moving toward the fallen monster, he reached down and lifted its enormous body with ease before glancing back at him.

"Keep your eyes open."

The boy quickly pushed himself back onto his feet, rubbing the spot where he had landed. "Yes! Thank you again for saving me, again. I don't know how I can repay the favor, but if it's five hundred thousand then—”

“I was kidding,” The man merely waved him off, already turning his attention back toward the monster he had lifted. "Just treat me to another meal at the Inn we last visited. See you next time.”

The entire interaction displayed before Freya only made her anger grow the longer she watched. Irritation turned into rage, and rage finally reached the point where she could no longer stand another second of it. With a furious shout, she grabbed the closest item, that being a small crystal sculpture resembling her Familia's crest and hurled it against the wall.

“DAMN YOU!”

Unable to bear seeing that scene any longer, she turned away and stepped onto the balcony, taking in the cooler air in an attempt to calm her nerves. “Hah… hah… hah…” No matter how many times she witnessed it, the sight still repulsed her. She could not let that thing get close to him. She could not let it get close to Bell. Something had to be done before it was too late.

Narrowing her eyes, she gritted her teeth as a presence appeared behind her. "I told you not to approach him!"

"I was just in the area and saw the commotion. Wanted to take a look and saw that he needed my help again." The man's dry tone carried no concern for the anger directed at him.

Freya spun around, her restraint finally snapping. "You know damn well what I mean!"

The same man who had been speaking with Bell now stood before her, his face fully visible under the candle light, a completely shaven head, and golden lines stretching across some parts of his body like a shattered cup that someone had pieced his body back together and glued it into place. His appearance alone proved unsettling, but that meant almost nothing compared to what disturbed her most.

It was the soul within him.

Where Bell's soul appeared transparent, pure, innocent, and filled with seemingly limitless potential, this man's soul resembled a dark void, a swamp overflowing with corrupting taints and blasphemous impurities. Rotten beyond measure, impossible to change or heal even with the combined efforts of all gods.

An all-consuming darkness seemed to fill every part of it, broken so thoroughly that she could not even begin to understand what she was looking at. Calling such a thing human felt like an insult to the very word. Even standing near him made goosebumps spread across her body, while her stomach churned with the urge to empty itself despite being a goddess.

Every instinct screamed at her to burn this creature to ashes, to erase the nightmare standing before her from this world.

“Hah, I understand.” A chuckle escaped him as he marched toward her, forcing her to take a step backward.

"Don't approach me."

She warned him, yet he ignored it and continued forward.

"You are quite a troublemaker, I just cannot understand your actions. The boy is pretty simple, innocent and is just trying to make ends meet while supporting that little chipmunk goddess. Yet here you are, making his life miserable for no reason."

"You don't know what you're saying and don't you dare speak as if you understand my actions! You're the one ruining the boy! You're the one ruining something so precious!" Her glare hardened, fury burning through every word. “A wretched existence like yours brings nothing but ruin!”

“I know.”

He did not deny it.

Nothing in his expression changed. His approach continued without hesitation, forcing her to activate her power as her eyes began to glow. "S-Stay away!"

For the briefest moment, he froze. Then a shrug dismissed the effect, and his advance resumed as though nothing had happened. That only deepened her hatred toward him. Nothing she did seemed capable of stopping him, and even her divine power could not force him to obey.

Of course it wouldn't… that blackened void could not hold anything remotely resembling love.

Before long, both of his hands settled against the cement railing behind her, blocking off the space on either side. With nowhere left to retreat, she found herself trapped between the railing and his body. His face hovered close enough that she could see her own reflection in his eyes, making the sight even more unsettling.

"I'm sure that I look like some horrible monster that needs to die. It makes sense. If you want me to stay away from him, then all you need to do is just throw me away, as I am your weapon. I could even hunt him down, to push him until he's half dead just so you can be satisfied."

His breath practically caressed her face, despite the sheer disgust her mind felt, her body couldn't help but shiver. Her heartbeat growing into a feverish gallop, some rouge filling her face with her traitorous legs refusing to budge even.

It felt as if dark tendrils of a filthy soul entangled around her, leaving no area untouched, caressing and playing with her flesh as if she were its own personal toy.

Still, she knew he would never cross that line.

Even then, her mind would not stop recreating several images that continued to make the woman sick to her stomach.

"And it's your choice. If you don't want me to approach him, then don't try to cause trouble for him. He's none of my business, truthfully, but I do have a sense of pity." His words only made the situation more infuriating, because both of them knew exactly why she could not simply give him the order he wanted. “Discard me, lock me away, throw me inside the dungeon and force me to fight for all eternity. You have the authority to do so and I will follow.”

The first option remained impossible, and he knew damn well that she could not make such a command. As for the rest… still, no, allowing him anywhere near Bell remained just as unacceptable. If his presence somehow stained the boy, if it changed him into anything even remotely similar to the creature standing before her, then she would burn this entire city to the ground rather than allow it to happen.

A hand lifted toward her face, fingers catching her chin and forcing her head upward until their eyes met again.

The sensation of his touch felt almost electric. Her entire body reacted as though an avalanche had swept over her, followed by the crushing force of a tsunami. Every instinct demanded that she get away, yet once again her body just refused to move.

"If you want me gone, I can also do that. Just say the word and I'll disappear."

What irked her more than anything was that all of his words were no lie. Not empty promises, if ordered, he would even go on a killing spree across Orario.

A heartless executor.

That possibility immediately forced her to consider what would happen afterward. If he left her side, he would have the perfect opportunity to return to Bell and Hestia, exactly what she could not permit. Her fingers tightened around his collar and her other hand onto his wrist, rage still burning inside her, but the decision had already been made.

"You are staying with me." She whispered harshly, each one difficult to accept. “Don't you dare even for a second think you can leave or force me to throw you away.”

Freya despised the sacrifice she had to make, but if keeping him close meant protecting Bell, preserving the boy's purity, and preventing this beast from approaching him again, then she would endure it.

"As long as I draw breath, you will not ruin him, Archer."

The fact that he also refused to Yes… yes, she was doing this for Bell… for Bell. There was no other reason.

The man hummed softly before a smile spread across his face.

"I have quite a difficult goddess, don't I?”

Her grasp on him tightened, refusing to let go anytime soon. Glaring at him with hate filled eyes.

‘For Bell's sake,’ she reminded herself again.

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Berserker Heracles

-Orario, Dungeon-

“Hah… hah… hah…”

A certain white-haired boy sprinted through the dark path leading toward the upper floors, his feet pounding against the Dungeon floor as he pushed himself harder. Under normal circumstances, attempting a journey like this so early in his adventurer career would have bordered on suicide, especially when he still had so much to learn and so many stronger adventurers could have overwhelmed him with ease. Today, however, everything felt different. The usual caution that would have stopped him from charging deeper into danger had been drowned out by the sheer number of adventurers racing in the same direction, all apparently responding to the same emergency.

"Scram! Get out of the way!" someone shouted as groups of adventurers rushed past him, ranging from Level Twos and Threes to fighters whose equipment and movements marked them as far more experienced. The entire hallway had turned into a river of people, with members of different Familias established throughout Orario pushing toward the same destination. 

Some faces looked passingly familiar from his time in the city, while others belonged to adventurers Bell had never seen before. The sheer number of people surrounding him made the rookie adventurer feel like an ant caught in the middle of a swarm, except this swarm carried swords, shields, magic staves, and enough weapons to turn the Dungeon into a battlefield.

"That's my armor!" a man suddenly shouted, drawing Bell's attention to the adventurer running beside him. "Hey, you there, you're wearing my armor! As much as I'm happy to see that I have a satisfied customer, are you sure you want to head this way?" His eyes dropped toward the armor Bell wore before returning to the young adventurer's face, a mixture of concern and disbelief showing clearly.

“I'm just following the crowd since they've rallied everyone up." He said, confused by that statement.

"You look like a Level One adventurer. This is an emergency, and when those happen, it's not small creatures they fight. It's probably best if you go back! I don't want to lose my customer!" The red-haired man gestured toward the rushing mass ahead, where weapons and armor could already be seen among the moving figures.

"What are you doing here then, since you're a blacksmith?"

"I'll be taking on the role of repairing armor for anyone in need. Everyone from the Hephaestus Familia is here to provide support!" He barely finished before the ground beneath their feet gave a violent tremor, forcing both men to adjust their footing. Several powerful impacts thundered through the Dungeon in rapid succession, each collision carrying enough force to make the walls vibrate. 

““▂▂▃▃▄▄▃▄▄▄▄▅!!!!!”

Then came a monstrous roar that echoed through the corridors, its sheer volume making the hairs on Bell's arms rise.

"Holy shit, that sounds scary!" His expression tightened as another distant impact rattled the floor.

"B-But there are other adventurers like me going as well…"

"Well, it's because, for some reason, there's a swarm of weaker and powerful monsters also heading toward the same spot! Adventurers like you are going too, so nobody really knows what the hell is happening. But I still wouldn't recommend it." 

More booms shook the Dungeon before either of them could say anything else. Dust drifted from above, and cracks began spreading along sections of the walls as another impact struck somewhere farther ahead. "Even the monsters are going there?"

"I don't know what it is, but I'm just as confused as you ar—Careful!" The warning came just as a joint pillar and a massive boulder broke loose and rushed toward them. A hard shove sent Bell stumbling sideways, barely giving him enough room to avoid being crushed as the debris tore past. 

CRASH! 

The pillar smashed into the ground farther down the passage, scattering chunks of stone across the floor.

Several people behind them did not manage to get out of the way. Bell heard screams beneath the roar of falling rubble, followed by the sickening sound of bodies being crushed. Something warm splashed across his face. His eyes widened as he instinctively touched his cheek and looked at his fingers, only to find blood smeared across them. The red-haired man grabbed him and dragged him away from the collapsing section before more debris could fall on top of them.

"Get out!"

Still shaken, Bell moved with him, but his attention suddenly caught on something farther ahead. The rushing adventurers had opened a view into an enormous floor, one so wide that it reminded him of the central square in Orario. His breath caught at the sight. Almost hundreds of bodies belonging to both adventurers and monsters littered the ground, creating a horrifying trail of destruction around the battlefield. Minotaurs lay with their horns shattered, armored adventurers sprawled across the floor with their chests caved in, and creatures Bell could not even identify had been torn apart among them. 

Yet despite the carnage, the remaining adventurers and monsters continued rushing toward the center, all of them focused on the same target.

At the heart of that chaos stood something Bell could barely comprehend. A giant with dark skin made entirely of muscle swung a sword that looked as though someone had carved it directly from a massive piece of rock. Each movement carried enough force to make the surrounding fighters scramble out of its way. 

“▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅!”

The entity released a roar that made Bell's entire body tense, and before he could fully understand what he had seen, several Level Four adventurers were kicked aside. Their bodies became projectiles, flying across the battlefield before smashing into crystal formations with enough force to nearly kill them outright.

More adventurers and monsters rushed the giant from every direction, desperate to bring it down through sheer numbers. A minotaur charged from behind and raised its axe high before bringing the weapon down against the Berserker's back. 

Bell watched in disbelief as the blade shattered on impact without leaving so much as a mark. The monster turned, seized the minotaur by the head with both hands, and crushed it between its palms. 

CRUNCH! 

The body collapsed beneath the force of the attack, adding another corpse to the battlefield.

"What the hell is that!?" He could barely take his eyes away from the creature.

"Doesn't seem like he's from the Dungeon. Else the monsters wouldn't be attacking— Look out!" The warning sent both of them scrambling toward cover as the Berserker continued tearing through everything in its path.

They tried to put as much distance between themselves and the creature as possible, but a flash of gold caught Bell's attention amid the chaos. Blonde hair stood out among the bodies and moving fighters, instantly familiar despite the distance. His feet stopped before he could think better of it.

"Wait! That's Ains!" The realization hit him like a punch. Looking at the battlefield, Bell knew exactly how dangerous it was, but leaving her behind felt impossible. "I can't leave!"

The blonde woman with the rapier launched herself at the giant, moving with enough speed that Bell could barely follow her attacks. She struck from different angles, darting around the Berserker and driving her weapon toward openings that appeared for only an instant. 

None of it mattered. 

Her sword failed to penetrate the creature's skin, and the giant eventually caught the hand holding the weapon. With one brutal motion, the Berserker slammed her body into the ground and brought its foot down against her, crushing her beneath its weight. Before Bell could reach her, the enormous sword rose overhead, its massive blade positioned for the final strike.

"No!" Bell shouted and tried to rush forward, only for his foot to catch against something on the ground. He fell hard, scraping against the Dungeon floor as his eyes remained fixed on the descending sword. 

Then, just before the blade could reach Ains, another figure appeared between them. A greatsword rose to meet the Berserker's attack, and the collision drove the ground beneath both fighters downward into a crater.

Cheers erupted from several directions as adventurers recognized the newcomer. 

"Freya's Familia’s captain!" 

“It’s King!”

The arrival of Orario’s only Level Seven, and the strongest adventurer in the world, immediately changed the flow of the battlefield as more high-level members of the Loki Familia, Freya Familia, and other major Familias surrounded the Berserker. Weapons closed in from every direction, and chains were thrown around the massive body, and spells were cast as it traded blows with Ottarl until enough adventurers had managed to restrain it.

For the first time, the creature looked genuinely trapped beneath the combined strength of so many powerful adventurers. Ottarl raised his greatsword and brought it down against the restrained Berserker. 

BOOM! 

The attack finally pierced its skin, the blade cleaving through its body and bisecting the giant. Both halves crashed onto the ground, and for a moment, the surrounding adventurers could only stare at what they had accomplished.

“Wooooooah!”

“What was awesome!”

“H-He did it!” 

“We killed the floor boss!”

Cheers broke out across the battlefield, relief spreading through the fighters who had watched the monster tear through adventurers and monsters alike. 

Bell, however, could not shake the feeling that something remained wrong. His eyes stayed fixed on the corpse, and then he watched as the impossible happened. 

‘W-what’s that!?’ 

The severed flesh began knitting itself back together before his eyes, reconnecting as though the attack had never happened.

"Watch out! He's still alive!" 

Bell tried to warn them, but the Berserker moved before the warning could reach everyone. 

“▂▂▃▃▄▄▃▄▄▄▄▅▅▅▅ ▂▂ ▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!!”

A roar exploded from its throat as it seized the chains wrapped around its body and pulled with overwhelming force. The adamantite links snapped taut, dragging the adventurers holding them forward as the giant rose once more, turning the cheers of a moment ago into a fresh wave of panic.

The giant sword descended upon Ottarl in an instant, the large man barely managed to bring up his sword to black… or at least attempt to. 

For the Dungeon floor shook, Ottarl’s figure getting buried underneath as nine gashes swept across the ground. Big enough to resemble ravines and shattering their earlier joy into pieces. 

Just as they were about to fall into despair, a bright light filled area. Blinding many who could not stare, including Bell. The sensation only lasting a moment till he gazed back while his eyes ached. 

“Eh? He's… gone?” 

Not a trace of the monster remained.

Only the destruction it left in its rampage.

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-???-

The cold sensation of chains binding him, the strength behind them binding him down no different to a mountain. With divinity within him, it grew stronger and reached a realm of near absolute restraint. 

He was no god, a demigod perhaps whose blood closest touched upon the realm of those who sat upon Olympus. A mere chain, Noble Phantasms that could pierce his skin and snatch away one life. The same weapon could not kill him twice, yet the king before him possessed countless that it just did not matter.

A rain of gold, absolute dominance that befit he who carried the title of King of Heroes. The arrogance on display and the folly of victory glowed within those crimson eyes looking down on him. 

Madness ate away at his consciousness, yet the sole purpose of his existence remained as clear as day. 

“▂▂▃▃▄▄▃▄▄▄▄!”

She could not die, he would not allow it. 

He had to surmount this instance, a challenge like any other, a trial of besting a being no different to a god. Summon strength beyond his means, shatter all that bonds him and crush any and every standing body before him. Whether it be man or god, heaven or earth — he could not lose. 

A red world embraced him, madness having long since eaten away as his rationality. Instincts driving his hands, his feet and his will. He fought, destroying anything and everything the King threw, his lives dwindling till they remained little… reaching the limit of God Hand, a mere step away from death. 

He refused to fail. 

He fought.

He struggled. 

He stood back up again and again. 

Yet as light filled his vision, all but remained was a cloudy sky. Droplets of water touching upon his rock-like skin and drenching his body. Limbs pushing past boulders and rocks, he moved but with little purpose. As if woken up by a years long nightmare filled with nothing more fighting, tearing and crushing. 

“…”

For even with a rage induced state, he realized one truth. 

He… had failed.

What purpose did his existence have at this moment? The answer remained clear, nothing. Vestige of a broken warrior that carried no significance, worthless valor and tainted hands that possessed all the power in the world yet could not protect anything. The white Camellia withered away due to his failure, her presence having long since disappeared from his mind. He knew this, much… much earlier on, but refused to believe. Refused to give up and fought on against all with nothing but fury in his heart. 

But now, nothing but emptiness remained. 

A numbness beyond all reason, a sensation he had felt before. Hera was not to blame for his failures this time… yet he still felt more on his hands. Another sin added to the growing pile. 

He remained motionless, not moving a finger as rain continued to pour from the clouds. Even the mighty felt despair, even the tallest tree could be snapped by the storm and not even madness could do anything to hide away from this emptiness. It would only be a matter of time before he eventually disappeared, best that way, for no more innocents would be hurt; no more would anyone find their hopes and dreams betrayed when placing them upon him. He called for death, hoping it would get him away.

“Are you going to stay down there forever, stranger?” 

Fate had never been a kind companion. For a brief moment, crimson eyes opened to stare at the source of the voice and came to gaze upon a woman in a white dress, white gloves and twintails. Standing before him with no fear, despite the blood smearing his every being. She did not even seem to care about his presence and showed no hesitation to reach forward and gently touch his face with her hands. 

A strange yet familiar warmth coursing through her. This… divinity, a god. 

“I don't know what happened to you, I can't imagine what challenges you must have gone through to have such eyes. But I sense you are not a bad person.” 

A beautiful smile bloomed on her face. 

“But you shouldn't give up, the world is a beautiful place with so much to offer. So, come with me, child.” 

A flame burned within her, one that held no malice, only endless warmth and love. 

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Emiya

-Tower of Babel-

"So this is it, huh... floor fifty."

Boots crunched against the dry ground, a certain blonde swordswoman listening to their leader's words as they made their way toward the fiftieth floor. The group slowed to a stop alongside the rest of their party, nearly a dozen of the Loki Familia members gathered before the massive door leading into the next floor. 

Finn raised his head to look at the entrance, the ground being more silent than usual as everyone prepared themselves for whatever waited beyond it. Most remained confident in their chances, having come this far together, and Ais intended to give everything she had once the battle began.

Turning toward the gathered adventurers, the pallum leader made sure everyone had his attention before laying out their plan. "All right, listen up. We don't know exactly what kind of boss we might encounter ahead, but the strategy remains the same. Survey the terrain, spot any anomalies, whatever they may be, and relay information. Supporters get in place, mages cast support magic and reinforce the party before any attacks can be launched. Gareth will be in charge of the vanguard as usual and be on the front lines along with Tiona and Tione. Our main attackers are Ais and Bete. The rest, stay behind and deal with any  stray monsters. Is everything clear?" 

Nods spread through the group almost immediately, with everyone acknowledging their roles without objection. Despite being the smallest person among them because of his race, Finn commanded the respect of nearly everyone present. His experience and skill as a strategist had earned that respect long ago, and Ais held the same opinion.

A grin crossed Bete’s face. 

"We'll deal with this easily. These weak monsters did not even leave a scratch on my armor, hopefully something stronger will stress test it!" 

Confident as always, though to any outsider, his attitude could easily be confused for arrogance — everyone in the familia had gotten used to it. Soon enough, the enormous gates began to open, finally revealing the passage toward the next floor.

Ais followed the others inside, her hand already near the hilt of her rapier. Having taken part in enough expeditions to know that floor bosses rarely allowed anyone to rely on a fixed plan. Nobody knew what kind of monster waited ahead until they actually encountered it, and an unfamiliar boss could force an entire party to change its strategy in seconds. Her own role remained straightforward, however. Attack the target and exploit whatever openings the others created. It was a role she had performed so many times that she had long since stopped counting.

The group entered a vast clearing roughly twice the size Orario’s central plaza, spreading out as they examined their surroundings. Ais quietly moved with them, her fingers resting against the hilt of her rapier while everyone searched the area for any sign of danger but the presence of dense fog made it hard to discern. Before anyone could comment on the unusual atmosphere, Riveria lifted her staff and pointed ahead.

"What is that?"

Every gaze shifted in the same direction, and the sight waiting there brought the entire group to a halt. A gigantic centipede corpse lay across the clearing, its enormous body covered in blood while several sections had been completely decapitated and cut apart. An enormous creature, its body reaching the size of a building easily, yet already it began dicipating along with ten… twenty… fifty, no, hundreds of other monsters. 

All of them pierced by swords.

"What the hell is this?" Bete's expression hardened as he stared at the remains. "Did the Freya Familia get here before us?"

"That can't be." Finn's eyes remained fixed on the corpses — even he looked uncertain. "There was no news of any group coming here recently. Strange, they all seemed to have died the same way. The sword angles are the same too…"

Before anyone could offer another explanation, Ais noticed something farther ahead. Her gaze narrowed toward the darkness beyond the sea of corpses, where a figure stood just outside the clearest view.

"There's something ahead."

“—!”

Her warning immediately put everyone on guard. Weapons shifted into ready positions as the adventurers focused on the darkness, and only then did the figure standing there become visible. 

“What the…”

A giant humanoid monster stood completely still, watching them from the shadows. A curved dark blade rested in its hand while several crimson robes covered its body, stained with blood. Skulls hung around its neck, and a pair of horns rose from its head beneath a crown of fire. Its crimson eyes remained fixed upon the adventurers, giving the creature a demonic appearance. 

Yet something about those eyes unsettled Ais more than its appearance alone. The monster did not simply look at them like an ordinary beast. It seemed to be observing them, almost as though it were thinking.

"That's a dangerous-looking fellow."

Tiona's words reflected what nearly everyone present had already realized, and the tension throughout the group immediately increased. Riveria kept her attention fixed on the creature while trying to determine whether it truly belonged to the floor itself.

"Is he the floor boss?" Even her sister, Tione, couldn't make heads and tails of it. “But why kill the others?”

Even Ais could not be certain. The enormous centipede corpse still occupied the center of the clearing, leaving open the possibility that the demon monster might not be the floor boss at all. Bete, however, had already made up his mind.

"Of course he's the fucking boss of the floor! Look at him! What part of him doesn't scream monster? He looks like a demon on fire! If we're that uncertain, let's just test him out"

The werewolf lunged forward before anyone could stop him, shooting from the ground with his boots aimed straight for the creature's head.

"Wait!" Finn's warning followed, the pallum clutching his thumb with pain. “He's dangerous, something is not right here!” 

But it was too late, for Bete could not stop halfway. His attack was already within reach when the demon moved. One enormous hand snapped forward and caught him by the wrist before his foot could touch its head, stopping the charge as its crimson body slid backwards from the force. Even Bete stared at the hand gripping him, caught off guard by how quickly the creature had reacted.

"Riveria!"

“On it!” 

Finn's shout broke the momentary shock. The elf immediately understood what he wanted, raising her staff before striking its butt against the ground.

“Assemble, breath of the land - my name is Alf.” A magic circle spread beneath the demon, and a thin green layer of magic surrounded Bete. The other mages within the party acted as well, casting their own spells as the ground beneath the creature shifted. Sharp vines burst upward from it, wrapping around the monster's body before pulling with enough force to drag it toward its knees. The pressure finally forced the creature to release Bete, allowing him to tear his arm free and jump backward.

“Cough! Cough! T-That was close.” 

The spell worked, but not as Finn had intended. Rather than collapsing, the demon managed to resist, its feet grinding against the stone as cracks spread through the ground. Muscles tightened beneath its robes while it forced itself back upward, the restraints tearing under the strain. One hand lifted The sword he was holding, and snapped one of the vines apart with a loud snap… much to Riveria’s dismay.

"This won't hold him back for long!"

Another one got cut before she could finish. Then anothe, one after another, the restraints gave way beneath the creature's weapon, until the shadow of something much larger appeared above it.

Gareth had already positioned himself overhead, shield in one hand and giant greataxe in the other. A grin spread across his face as he looked down at the demon before bringing the weapon crashing toward it.

"Take this!"

BOOM!

The greataxe slammed into the demon's raised his blade. Instead of shattering from the sheer force, the weapon held on and the creature managed to block it, although the sheer force finally drove its knees into the ground and cracked the stone beneath them. That opening proved more than enough for her to capitalize on it.

“Now!”

Ais and Bete rushed forward together, both aiming for the exposed areas from the neck, head and heart. The werewolf bared his teeth as he charged, boots prepared to crush again.

"This is payback!"

Ais raised her rapier toward the demon's head, prepared to drive the blade straight into its eye socket and to kill it quickly. Yet something immediately felt wrong. The creature did not panic. It showed no madness, no rage, and no desperation despite being surrounded and forced onto its knees like any monster would. Instead, those crimson eyes remained focused on her, while beneath them she caught sight of its steel-gray eyes staring directly into her own calmly.

Her instincts screamed at her to stop.

"Get back you two!” 

And it appeared Finn shared the same feeling.

“Bete!” Ais tried to stop him, but her warning reached the others a moment too late. In the next second, light flashed within the demon's grasp as another white sword appeared, catching Ais's rapier and Bete's claws at the same time. The sudden parry shocked both of them, yet the demon took advantage of their hesitation without wasting a moment. The newly formed blade sliced through the remaining vines, freeing his movements, before he swept his leg across the floor with enough speed that barely anyone had time to react. 

“Oof!” 

Bete took the full force of the kick and was launched upward, his body crashing against the ceiling before dropping away.

From the side, one of the Tiona rushed in, the giant sword in her hands raised above her head before she brought it crashing down with an attack similar to Gareth's earlier strike. 

Tione appearing from the other side, raising her fists. “My desire that was sunk in the sea, my longing that was nurtured in the sea — the time has come. Shape yourself, bare your fangs, and become a s—ah!” 

She was not given the time to finish her chant, for a third sword appeared behind the monster and shot straight towards her. “Urgh!” Due to her exceptional physical abilities, the amazoness managed to catch the blade between both palms. Yet it did not stop the momentum from sending her body flying backwards.

As for Tiona, rather than meeting the enormous blade head-on, the demon shifted its path with his own sword, redirecting the attack just enough to send the great weapon toward the second Amazoness. “Shit!” Surprise flashed across her face as she hurriedly stepped backward, narrowly avoiding the blade as it tore through the space where she had stood. Before she could recover, the demon's heel slammed into her with a brutal impact. 

Crash! 

The force drove her straight into the ground, sending her deep beneath the cavern floor.

Ais saw the demon raise his sword and immediately understood what he intended to do. There was no time to wait for another opening. "Wind!" The spell surged around her, accelerating her movement as she closed the distance and drove her rapier toward his head. This time, the demon failed to avoid the attack completely. The blade grazed his cheek, leaving behind a thin cut as blood trickled down the side of his face.

The brief sight of blood gave her barely a few seconds of satisfaction… only for the demon began swinging his sword. 

Clang! 

Forced to respond immediately, she moved as fast as her body allowed, each thrust and parry meeting his dark blade in rapid succession. 

Clang! 

Clang! 

Sparks scattered through the cavern with every collision, the flashes appearing and disappearing as their weapons struck again and again. Her movements blurred as the wind continued to push her speed higher, allowing her to match his attacks for a time while each thrust became more accurate and forceful. 

‘I… I can't keep up?’ 

Horrifyingly, the sheer power behind his attacks began overwhelming her. Several swords suddenly appeared above the demon and fired downward, forcing Ais to break away and retreat before the blades could strike her. 

She had barely put some distance between them when the ground beneath her shook violently. Cracks raced across the cavern floor, and a giant caterpilar-like monster with a skull-like face unlike the rest burst from below without warning.

“Ah!” 

Its sudden attack caught her unprepared, and the creature moved quickly enough to tear into her before she could properly defend herself. The impact sent her crashing until her body slammed against the wall with a heavy thud.

“U-Ugn!” 

Dropping onto her knees, Ais tried to force herself upright, but her limbs refused to respond properly. A burning sensation spread across her body, growing stronger with every passing second, and the realization struck her with growing alarm. 

‘Poison.’ Whatever the monster had used against her had already entered her body. 

"Wait! Everybody retreat right now! These monsters are too strong for this floor!" Finn's voice rang out from farther away, and through her blurred vision, Ais caught sight of him heading over to her as Riveria began chanting a spell. 

Whoosh! 

The ground beneath them cracked apart as the temperature rapidly climbed, while an enormous amount of mana gathered around the elven mage. When the spell activated, fire and magma erupted from below in a tremendous burst, engulfing the demon and giving everyone the opening they needed to escape.

The dungeon walls shattered beneath the force of the attack, but the destruction did nothing to stop the same centipede monster that had wounded Ais. It emerged from the flames partially unharmed and lunged for her. The blonde tried to raise her sword, but her arm barely moved. Her legs refused to support her, leaving her unable to escape as the monster closed the distance. Hearing the others shouting her name in panic, she could do nothing but watch the creature approach. 

"I'm sorry, Father." Her eyes closed, certain that the next attack would reach her.

.

.

.

“—?”

Then the attack never arrived. 

“Reeeeeeek—”

The monster's cry abruptly stopped, replaced by a sudden spray of blood that covered her from head to toe. 

“Huh?” 

She found the demon standing directly in front of her with his back toward her once again. The sword had disappeared, replaced by a bow. Of all the weapons he could have chosen, the demon now held a giant bow in his hands while facing the centipede monster. Crimson energy gathered around the weapon as he raised it and aimed, forming a strange arrow between his fingers before releasing it.

The projectile struck the monster and killed it instantly, twisting its face from the force of the impact as blood sprayed across the cavern and drenched Ais in red even more. Yet the attack did not stop there. 

The crimson arrow continued past the corpse and struck the ceiling with a thunderous explosion, where a strange screech echoed from above. 

A creature resembling a spider appeared among the cracks, covered in several bizarre patterns as its body began dissolving. At the same time, the demon standing before Ais started breaking apart, but instead of simply disappearing, his entire form shattered like glass. Fragments scattered through the air before a completely different figure stood where the demon had been, a man clad in black armor with a red shroud, white hair, and tanned skin.

"Tch, what a troublesome illusion." He looked back over his shoulder toward the blood-soaked blonde. 

"Hey, are you alright?”