"Say, what floor are we on now?" Bell asked.

"Judging by the environment, we are at the mouth of the water city, the 25th floor," Riveria answered, watching her companion send projectiles of magic into monsters that block their way using his knife, effortlessly destroying everything. Bell has been doing this ever since they stepped out of Rivira, and he hasn't consumed any mind potion or shown any signs of fatigue. This bothered Riveria at first, but considering the size of the magic he's utilizing as well as his absurd magic stat, it seemed normal, so she paid it no mind after. Still, this action requires a lot of skill, and mages and adventurers alike shouldn't imitate it unless they want to end up as a dungeon buffet, of course.

As they proceed further, a giant waterfall beseeches them. The enormous fall, which is about twice as long as it is wide, roars down to the 27th floor where it is welcomed by a basin filled with water, which is regarded as the lair of the monster rex Amphisbaena. Gazing down the steep drop, Bell examined the surroundings and the creatures encircling them.

"The monster rex is not here."

"The Ishtar Familia recently got rid of it 2 weeks ago, I believe. We never encountered it when we were returning from expedition."

"Makes sense; I never encountered it as well." Bell nodded in agreement. Riveria's eyebrows rose, intrigued. "Oh, really?"

Bell looked at her puzzlingly and said, "Wait, Finn never told you?"

"Told me what, exactly?" Now Riveria was curious. First Loki, and then Finn-there's something they are hiding from her about this man.

"I already made it to the 49th floor before." Riveria's eyes widened. "You what!?"

"Well, I did it with a falna back then. Without a falna, I can only reach the 28th floor."

"How is that normal compared to the other one?" Riveria hissed, annoyed while she pinches the bridge of her nose. It has become quite a habit for her when she's stressed. "Besides, how did you even lose your previous falna?" she added.

"That is something confidential," Bell added quite quietly. "It's been a while since I last received a falna. It really feels off."

"So what you're doing right now is..."

"Re-adjusting myself in accordance with the changes that the falna has made to my body." Bell opened his palm and repeatedly closed it. "The reason I ask you to accompany me today is to watch my back since I'm still not in the right gear," he added, laughing slightly as Riveria nodded in understanding.

As they wandered freely, Bell posed Riveria a few little questions about the dungeon. The dungeon is infamous for never letting its adventurers rest, and letting your guard down for even a moment could determine the difference between life and death. An iguazu took advantage of this, charging directly toward the oblivious adventurers in the dungeon. Bell saw it coming, and he whipped out his knife. However, before he could take any action, Riveria reacted quicker than Bell did, swatting the iguazu away.

"I finally understand what you said," Riveria remarked with her calm and unchanging demeanor. "I think you also need to switch into close combat. It helps you re-adjust more than throwing magic from a distance." Riveria took the staff as well as the mental vials, stripping them away from Bell like a toddler. Bell was taken aback to discover that, along with receiving mentorship, he was also being treated like a child! Not that he seems upset about it, however.

"Yeah, that works, I guess..." The two continued paving their path down, with Bell taking care of every monster in close combat and Riveria not even breaking a sweat, being there in case they encountered an irregular.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

"So cool...!" Lefiya mumbled, watching Aiz train with her newly forged weapon. The blonde returned her sword to its scabbard and made her way back to the manor, but not before seeing an orange-haired elf hiding behind a tree, which she decided to call out.

"Lefiya...?" Aiz questioned sternly. Lefiya seemed to pick up and come out of her hiding spot, flustered. "I'm sorry for not calling you; I couldn't take my eyes off you. You are amazing, Miss Aiz!" The poor elf turned into a stuttering mess, her face adapting like a chameleon to the color of fresh apples.

"Thank you...?" Aiz responded, puzzled. "Aren't you supposed to be studying, Lefiya?"

The elf's head instantly shot up. "That's right! But Miss Riveria is not her right now, so..."

"You'll get scolded," Aiz deadpanned. Lefiya, deflated in defeat, said, "You do have a point, Miss Aiz."

"Why don't you study with me?" Lefiya remarked with a brightened face. The blonde's face darkened upon hearing the elf's idea. Aiz shook her head heavily, and Lefiya sighed in dismay. "So it's that bad, huh?"

"Why don't we go ahead and get some breakfast, Lefiya?" Aiz suggested with a small smile on her face, trying to lighten up the mood. The elf took the bait and happily followed her idol back to the manor. "Yes!"

Breakfast

The whole dining area was rowdy; most tables were filled with family members; the cooks were busy as usual, but Tione included cooking for Finn. As Aiz finally got some food, she settled at a random table, where Lefiya followed with her own meal. Tiona and Tione soon caught sight of the two and decided to join them at the table as well.

"What are your plans today, Miss Aiz?" Lefiya asked her idol.

"Yesterday, I went and got my sword fixed by lord Goibniu... And it costed me 40 million valis." Aiz gloomed, shakingly drinking out of her cup. "So now, I have to work in the dungeon to pay off my debt..."

"Can I tag along? I'm going to need to pay for my urga too," Tiona remarked, followed by laughter. Lefiya followed with her confirmation of joining their plan. Aiz asked her about Riveria, but the elf brushed it off as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Amazon, she was being cursed by the blacksmiths, who were currently busting their asses off to forge her urga in time. Aiz only nodded in agreement, not wanting to reveal the truth to her friend.

"Hey, how 'bout you, Tione? You're going to join?" Tiona asked her sister.

"Less time with Finn is no good for me," Tione deadpanned.

"Well, we were about to ask him to join us." The amazoness didn't even finish her sentence as Tione stood from her chair, joining the fray.

"What are we waiting for, then?" Tiona cheered as the other two watched in bewilderment. Women in love are destined to be mad.

..

.

A knock resounded in Finn's quiet office. He ordered the visitors to enter, but was surprised by four girls barging into her office recklessly. "How may I be of service, ladies?" Finn placed her quill back on its holder as he finished the last of his work. Tiona stepped forward but was interrupted by Tione, who spoke of their request. "It seems that Aiz and the others want to head down and explore the dungeon for a while. Would you like to join us, captain?"

"Why not?" Finn smiled. "It has been a while since I casually explored the dungeon, and I just finished my paperwork, so this is a good time." Everybody cheered, and the two Amazoness did. Lefiya and Aiz were less amused but were happy for it.

"So, Babel at noon then?"

"Yes!"

Babel

"Is everyone ready?" Finn arrived with Tione. "We have also picked a quest to do so we can get some valis as well."

"Everything's ready, Finn. Now let's kick some monster ass!" Tiona led the party to the dungeon. Over the next hour or so, the party has annihilated every monster they could find with less energy spent. In just a short time, the party arrived on the 17th floor.

"This team clears really fast, huh. We're already on the 17th floor," Finn remarked. "We don't need to kill all the monsters here." Even with Finn's warning, no monsters have ever lurked around the party; most of the minotaurs have already hid themselves from them after seeing the slaughter on the previous floors. The team arrived at the boss room, where a huge crack can be found peeking through Rivira.

"Huh, the goliath isn't here."

"Maybe the townspeople took care of it already. Anyway, let's just rest in Rivira for a bit."
They crossed the room and arrived in Rivira. After a while, they strolled around till they noticed commotion coming from one of the inns and made the decision to investigate.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

"I still can't get over the fact that this floor is engraved in beautiful white." Bell mused while touching the white walls that surround them. Currently, the two are tackling the soldier's room located in-between the 4th and 3rd wall of the 37th floor of the dungeon. Unlike other levels, the 37th floor is regarded as more of a giant labyrinth that can fit the entirety of Orario inside. The floor is divided in five rings with the center being the boss room of the monster rex Udaeus. Each of the five rings are built with white material, as well as some of its floors and wall thus earning it a nickname of White Palace.

"Stay on guard Mr. Cranel. Remember we are at the deep floors." Riveria dotted, Bell nodded sharply as they continue onwards. After a short while floating skulls appeared emerged from the dungeon walls. Bell readied his wakizashi and charged at the incoming horde of monsters, swiftly getting rid of all the monsters in one go; or so he thought.

A skull sheep launched at him from the ceiling. Bell quickly turned around and stabbed the stabbed the monster in its core, but not before the its claws dug into his shoulder as it turns into ashes. Bell winced slightly, holding the wound to prevent blood from gushing out. Riveria regrouped with him and started healing.

Still not right...

Bell clicked his tongue,

"Thanks."

"No worries, just be more careful next time." After patching up, the two continued on their way. Bell. Not far ahead a hallway peeked through the walls. Deep inside was an altar that resembles a gate made of rocks. Curious, Bell persuaded Riveria to take a peek. The elf, knowing what's inside was reluctant at first, but soon followed Bell with a short sigh. What donned them was a big space hidden from the main path. It was shaped like an arena, with gates surrounding its center, where a large platform resided. In the platform was thousands of monster, of different kind mindlessly killing each other. However, the population doesn't decrease every kill, as the dungeon new ones emerge non-stop every time a monster fall.

"This is known as the colosseum; monster's den. This is one of the unconquered areas of the dungeon and infront of your eyes are is the reason being." Riveria muttered.

"All I see is a pool of excelia. " Bell pondered, Riveria shook his head, "See, Mr. Cranel, even first-class adventurers stay away from this place."

Bell argued, "Beating this area is equivalent to killing a monster rex alone. You wouldn't really hold an adventurer from fighting a boss by themselves. Am I right, Ms. Riveria?" The elf's irritation grew with each passing second. "Well, not necessarily. Floor bosses are usually alone. Adventurers have more chance beating one powerful foe than thousands of weak ones. Why don't you just listen to me, Mr. Cranel? At this point, even a monkey is more obedient than you!" The two were so preoccupied in their argument that they failed to notice the silence that surrounded them. Bell glanced over at the arena and paled, realizing that all the monsters had given up fighting and were all staring at them with bloodlust.

"Uhh, Riveria, you might want to look at this." Riveria groaned as she followed Bell's gaze. Her eyes widened as a horde of monsters raced through the two of them. "What the hell!?"

What to do... I still haven't adjusted yet.

Bell pondered. The monsters were approaching at a rapid pace, climbing the wall that elevated them. He looked at Riveria, who was in the same rough spot as him. Bell grabbed the elf's hand and started sprinting to the eastern gate. Riveria yelled in surprise. "What are you doing, Mr. Cranel!?"

"Can you chant while running? Of course you can. What a dumb question."

"What are you even talking about?"

"I need magic! Chant in front while I protect you from the back," Bell replied, and Riveria nodded as she went past him. Bell took the sword from his back, glancing at the thousands of monsters chasing them. He clicked his tongue and readied his sword.

"Lily." The azure blade was covered in a deep blue flare. Bell stabbed an incoming barbarian in the chest, instantly freezing up and shattering as he pulled his sword away. He lashed his sword around the two of them, freezing everything it touched. Meanwhile, Riveria prepared her staff and started chanting concurrently.

"The flame will soon be released. Creeping war, unavoidable destruction. The horn of battle sounds aloud; the cruelty of conflict will envelop all."

Bell heard the first lines of the spell and smirked. Maybe I should use her after all.

"Wakey wakey, Camellia." Flakes of ice crawled to his blade as it covered his arms. Several monster heads flew into the air, their bodies swiftly disintegrating into ashes. But this didn't help the two, as monsters plaguing the gap beside them started to climb over the cliff. "May the whispers of my sword attain the melody of frost--LILY!" Bell struck his sword on the ground, creating a platform that prevents the monsters from climbing the surface.

"Come, crimson flames, the ruthless inferno. You are the avatar of hellfire." Hearing Riveria's spell nearing its end and seeing the white walls through the upcoming gate, Bell sang his own song. "After the eighth melody, comes..."

"Carmen." A magic circle appeared on Bell's wrist, his body emitting a chilling wind and a trail of mist.

"Bestow the script upon the onlookers and engulf the audience in a daunting mist."

"Sweep completely, bring a close to the great war. Burn them through, Sword of Surtr."

"Grant the tormented an incessant tranquility and plague the vengeful with the devil's breath. Nonum Carmen!" Bell fired off at the trailing monsters, creating a domain of raging snow. All the monsters inside slowed down as the winter sands buried them.

"My name is Alf--Rae Laevateinn!" Not long after, Riveria fired her own spell, sending pillars of flames down the held-back monsters. Bell grabbed her and leaped off, successfully fleeing into the east gate before Riveria's spell clashed with his, generating a massive explosion that shook the dungeon floor. Raging streams of fire filled the colosseum, annihilating the entire monster's nest and producing shockwaves that launched Bell and Riveria off the main room.

"Well, that was close." Bell breathed, panting heavily as he leaned his arm on the dungeon wall. On the other hand, Riveria had already composed herself and was now tidying her dress after falling out of the colosseum.

"I'll give credit for acting quick, Mr. Cranel; however, you will receive minus points for not listening to my instruction."

"So I'm being evaluated, huh?" Bell sweat-dropped. which Riveria ignored and deadpanned, "Are we ready to proceed?" The boy nodded as he finished setting his equipment and checking for hidden bruises.

"We're heading to the boss room next."

...

..

.

37th floor

Bell peered at the entrance in front of them with unease. The pathway leads to the final room on the 37th floor, where the entrance to the 38th floor is located, along with the monster Rex Udaeus. Since the explosion in the colosseum, the two haven't encountered a notable flock of monsters around the area. This unsettled Bell, with the dungeon providing them a calm route to the boss room, there's a significant possibility that they will be ambushed right after challenging the monster rex.

We have caused an irregularity," he muttered to himself.

"Are you going to challenge it?" Riveria came from behind, questioning his decision. Bell let out a soft sigh. He smiled softly and turned his back around. The elf didn't question him, but followed him in silence.

"Nah, I'm beat. Plus, I feel like someone might need to conquer it in the future."

"Really? And who comes to mind?"

Bell stopped for a moment.

"Who knows?"

He chuckled, and the elf shook her head in dismay.

What an unusual person...

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

They're still following me!

The chienthrope glanced at the people tailing her. A few meters behind, an orange-haired elf ran sloppily.

Where's the other one?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a crashing sound in front of her, revealing a landing Aiz and cutting the chienthrope's only way of escape, ultimately cornering her. Lefiya soon regrouped with Aiz, panting heavily from all the running.

"Nice work, Ms. Aiz!"

"It's thanks to your hard work, Lefiya."

"We should go back to town with her and leave the investigation to Finn." Aiz nodded, preparing to return. The chienthrope grabbed Lefiya's dress, begging for them to stop. "S-stop! If we go back, I might get killed like Hashana!"

Lefiya looked at the blonde with uncertainty and asked, "What should we do, Ms. Aiz?"

"Let's talk somewhere private."

..

.

"So, what is your name?" Aiz asked the distressed chienthrope calmly.

"Lulune Louie."

"Familia and level?"

"I'm from the Hermes family, level 2."

After Finn and the others arrived at Rivira, they encountered a commotion that led them to the murder scene of an adventurer. The adventurer was Hashana Dorlia, a level 4 adventurer of the Ganesha family. Soon after, Finn ordered an investigation in hopes of finding the perpetuator, which ultimately led to the pursuit of Lulune due to her suspicious actions.

"Do you have Hashana's belongings?" Lefiya questioned Lulune, jumping straight to the point.

"I'm not aware of that. I only accepted a request; an armored man gave it to me after I followed the request's instructions."

"What did you even get in the first place?"

"Well, I was strictly told not to show it, but..." Lulune handed Aiz a ball covered in cloth. Aiz unveiled the item, and the color evaporated from her face. Under the cloth, there was a sphere of embers with a monster fetus hibernating inside.

What is this?

Aiz thoughts were caught short as an explosion erupted at the town center. Just a short time after the explosion, hundreds of plant-like monsters appeared all over the floor. "We have to reconcile with Finn!" She declared as she sprinted in the explosion's direction, eradicating every monster that she encountered. Lefiya and Lulune followed Aiz, who was not far behind.

I can't be of help to Ms. Aiz right now. The best I can do is survive! The elf held the ball tightly in her hands, hiding it under her arms.

"I can see them from her, Ms. Aiz; we're cl--!"

Air forced its way out of Lefiya's body as a red-haired woman landed her foot on her stomach. The woman then grabbed Lulune's neck and forcefully threw her to the ground.

"Lefiya! Lulune!" Aiz came to a halt as she called on the two, but was interrupted by an upcoming blade from above. Aiz moved up and blocked the sword, followed by a lunge, forcing the enemy to reposition.

The red-haired woman said, "You are strong."

"Are you the person who killed Hashana?"

"Doesn't matter, I will acquire the seed." The woman raised her sword and suddenly appeared in Aiz's face. Aiz parried the attack, but was quickly met with a kick that she narrowly avoided. She quickly answered back with a flurry of piercing swords, which were easily fended by her enemy. The woman charged back, and Aiz went for her sword, but the woman used this to deliver a punch directly at Aiz's face, causing her to reposition.

She's strong! How come I've never heard of her before?

The raid-haired woman kept on her ass, bullying Aiz into a tight spot as she struggled to keep up with the woman's speed. I have no choice but to use it!

"Tempest!"

The woman was caught off-guard as a torrent of wind blasted her through meters away from Aiz.

..

.

"Bingo." She cleared the debris off her body and made her way out of the rubble. "The seed and the spirit in one place. You have the power of the wind."

"Hello, Aria."

END