In the blink of an eye, five days had passed since Draco had concluded the deal with the Miach familia, a transaction that had felt both swift and significant, setting new courses for his burgeoning familia.
It was genuinely a beautiful morning, a stark contrast to the undercurrent of unease that was creeping under Orario.
The wind, carrying the fresh scent of the blooming garden, was cool and refreshing, rustling through the leaves of the various trees in the Bahamut familia estate.
Above, the sky stretched out in an unbroken expanse of clear, cerulean blue, promising a day of warmth and light.
Within the opulent yet homely dining hall of the Bahamut familia, a sense of lively contentment reigned.
Draco sat at the right of a long, polished table.
At the head, Bahamut picked up an apple from the fruit platter, a faint, contented hum escaping her lips.
To her left, Aasterinian chattered, a spoonful of creamy oats halfway to her mouth, her vibrant blue slitted eyes sparkling as she recounted her research progress.
Having a job she enjoyed really made a difference in her life.
Of course, the alchemy research lab was yet to be built, but that didn't stop her.
She often went to the Miach familia to use their spare facilities.
And with a hearty breakfast spread before them…..steaming breads, fresh fruits, roasted meats, and rich, aromatic teas….what more could they ask for.
"More tea, Draco?" Aasterinian offered, holding up a delicate porcelain pot.
Draco smiled.
"Just a half cup, thank you"
Bahamut chuckled, a low, cute sound that resonated.
"You could be mistaken for his wife, with the way you are acting, should I be worried" Bahamut teased, but Aasterinian didn't bite and just offered a smile.
She knew her friend well enough not to engage in her nonsense.
"Tsk" Bahamut clicked her tongue while mumbling something incomprehensible.
The easy banter continued, a comfortable rhythm that usually left Draco feeling rejuvenated and ready to face the day's challenges.
Today, however, a faint shadow lingered at the edges of his consciousness.
A lot had indeed happened within Orario during the span of these five days.
A few incidents were good, but many more were unsettling, painting a picture of escalating tensions and brewing chaos.
The most prominent of these unsettling events was the death of Hashana Dorlia, a level four adventurer and a member of the Ganesha familia.
Draco hadn't known Hashana personally, but the man had been well-liked amongst newbie adventurers and civilians, despite his sometimes gruff demeanor.
He wasn't necessarily the kindest or most accommodating, but he possessed a gruff honesty and a readiness to offer advice to those just starting their journey into the labyrinth.
Four days ago, his body had been retrieved from the thirtieth floor of the dungeon.
The cause of his death was hard to determine, not merely because of the deep-floor monsters' typical brutality, but because his body wasn't exactly in one piece.
More importantly, people were curious, even bewildered, as to why he had chosen to solo dive all the way to the 30th floor.
Even for a seasoned level four, venturing that deep into the dungeon alone was an incredibly risky, almost suicidal, endeavor.
Draco, however, was about to learn the reason, or at least a significant part of it.
He had been summoned by Ouranos.
A messenger from the Guild, a young woman with the distinctive crest of the guild on her uniform, had visited the Bahamut familia estate very early in the morning, her urgent message delivered with a solemnity that belied the tranquil dawn.
Recalling the reports forwarded to him by Shakti, and connecting the various disparate dots, Draco couldn't help but feel that all these recent incidents were interconnected, threads of a larger, more sinister tapestry being woven within the heart of Orario.
He took another sip of his tea, the warmth a mild comfort against the chill of his growing suspicions.
Five days ago, Ais had come to spar with him, a friendly but intense exchange that had pushed her to her limit.
During that spar, Ais had broken her existing limit.
Not long after, she had been dragged away by a visibly pissed-off Riveria, the senior elf's worry and frustration radiating almost palpably.
The next day, rumors of Ais's level-up began to spread like wildfire throughout the city.
The Loki familia, never one to shy away from publicity when it served their interests, hadn't bothered to conceal it; Ais was, after all, their poster girl.
Also, within that same day, Ais, Riveria, Finn, Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya had gone on what was supposed to be a quick trip to the 18th floor.
Draco knew the reason: their previous, failed expedition had incurred a huge amount of debt, forcing them to borrow from the Under Resort during their climb back up.
This trip was to pay a portion of those debts, a humbling experience for the proud Loki Familia. However, it was there, amidst the bustling cavern-city of Rivira, that they had first learned of Hashana's death.
By a chilling coincidence, within that very same timeframe, the 18th floor had been attacked by Violas.
Violas were man-eating deep-floor monsters, grotesque plant-like creatures with strength estimated between Level 3 and 4, known for their predatory instincts and venomous bites.
It was a mystery how they had made their way up to the relatively safe and established 18th floor.
Their presence there defied all natural dungeon logic, leading to the unsettling conclusion that they must have been controlled, or at least guided, by someone or something.
And as if to answer that very question, a very famous Evilus member was spotted on the scene and was subsequently confronted by Ais.
It was a woman named Revis, a name that Draco barely recalled.
Revis was a female dark elf, her reputation preceding her as a high-level tamer with an almost supernatural affinity for monsters.
She was also a prominent member of the Alecto familia, one of the top familia's leading the Evilus coalition, the clandestine organization that sought the destruction of Orario and the gods themselves.
During the war five years ago, she had massacred countless people, her atrocities often overlooked or not directly attributed to her due to her cunning use of tamed monsters as a shield and a weapon.
Draco's thoughts raced, connecting the fragmented pieces.
Finn had immediately speculated that Revis might be the mastermind behind the Violas attack. He had gathered the available adventurers to prevent her tamed monsters from aiding her in battle, knowing that controlling the battlefield was paramount against a tamer of her caliber. However, it was there, amidst the chaos and carnage, that they learned a truly disturbing fact: the Violas seemed to be acting independently of Revis's will.
This implied one of two equally terrifying possibilities: either there was another tamer, equally or more skilled than Revis, controlling them remotely, or Revis was just that good, her influence so deep it transcended conventional taming.
Regardless of the explanation, the outcome was grim.
Revis had easily escaped, vanishing into the depths of the dungeon.
Several casualties had occurred on the adventurers' side.
And, perhaps most frustratingly, there was little to no concrete information about what her true objective had been.
But, in Shakti's detailed report, Finn had added a crucial note, a small detail that Draco's mind latched onto.
He had noted that both Revis and the Violas had seemed to be concentrated on Ais, almost exclusively targeting the young Sword Princess.
Finn had also written that it was possible it was just a coincidence, as Ais was indeed confronting Revis directly, so it made perfect sense for her allegedly tamed monsters to target her too.
Yet, the emphasis in Finn's report, the subtle highlighting of this observation, suggested his own deeper suspicions.
No one truly knew why the Evilus was acting up again so soon.
Most of their forces, including their three champions, had been seemingly exterminated during the devastating war five years ago.
It had been estimated by the Guild and the gods that there would be at least ten years of peace, a period for Orario to heal and rebuild.
Yet, barely over five years had passed, and the Evilus were acting with a boldness and coordination that suggested a significant resurgence of their power and influence.
It was deeply troubling.
"Its about time for Demi-spirits,,,,and corrupted spirits to start popping up, huh!," Draco muttered, twirling a lock of his silver hair in contemplation.
His eyes, naturally red, deepened with thought.
He had a vague idea of what was going on, fragments of knowledge from his previous life, but nothing was certain.
His very existence, and his actions had long since twisted many things, diverting the flow of destiny.
It was hard to depend solely on what he knew from the original timeline; too many variables had changed.
'Speaking of spirits, I should probably contact them soon,' Draco thought, a new urgency stirring within him.
Since his transition to a young adult dragon-kin, he could vaguely feel a connection, an innate resonance that suggested he could indeed contact them.
The spirits, ancient and powerful beings, hated being anywhere near Orario because of the dungeon.
The dungeon possessed a malevolent aspect, capable of devouring and corrupting their pure essence, turning them into twisted mockeries of their former selves.
With their role in the world having been usurped by the gods, and their numbers having fallen near extinction over the eons, there was even less a reason for them to be near such a dangerous entity.
'Sigh… it's all just troublesome, but I am sure they will answer as they need me too,' Draco mused, a faint smirk touching his lips.
Shaking off these distracting thoughts for the immediate future, Draco quickly finished his breakfast, pushing his plate away with a decisive movement.
He bid a quick goodbye to Bahamut and Aasterinian, promising to return with news, and then exited the Bahamut familia estate, his destination the distant Guild headquarters, and Ouranos's waiting presence.
...….
At the very same time, on the 18th floor, a small commotion was ongoing as the Bahamut familia expedition team finally arrived in Rivira, the Under Resort.
The air was thick with the earthy scent of the dungeon, mixed with the faint scent of cooked food from the various camps outside the city.
Weariness was etched onto every face, but there was also a palpable sense of relief.
"Finally, we can rest for a while!" Vasileios yelled, his voice, usually vibrant, now laced with exhaustion and overflowing glee.
He dropped his heavy pack with a thud, stretching his arms high above his head with a groan of satisfaction.
"Quiet down, you aren't the only one tired, you oaf," Dimitra scolded playfully, though her own voice barely concealed her relief.
She adjusted the heavy pack on her shoulder, her green hair matted with sweat.
Their journey had been grueling, a test of endurance and teamwork.
"Cecil, Iselina, Schau, Ulanda… please help in setting up a small camp over there," Vasiliki instructed, her voice calm and authoritative despite her own visible fatigue.
As one of the vice-captains of the Bahamut familia's expedition force, responsibility weighed heavily on her.
She gestured towards a relatively clear, sheltered alcove.
"Hai!" the four girls reported in unison, their voices echoing with youthful determination.
They were the most recent members who had joined the familia barely over a year ago, their enthusiasm still undimmed by the dungeon's harsh realities.
During this expedition, they acted as supporters, their nascent skills still insufficient for direct combat against the deep floor monsters they had encountered.
Their roles were vital, however, in managing supplies, setting up camp, and providing supplies or support from a safe distance.
They moved with efficiency, unrolling bedrolls and erecting a small, protective perimeter around their designated spot.
"Alicia, Chloe, Celty, Maryuu, Asta, Iska, Neze, and Clair, please secure the nearest stream so we can bathe in peace," Vasiliki continued, pointing towards the faint sound of rushing water nearby.
The thought of washing away days of grime and sweat brought a collective murmur of approval from the group.
"Got it, Vice Cap!" Clair responded, with a teasing tone.
She knew that Vasiliki didn't particularly like her role.
"Ugh" Vasiliki cringed internally, but continued issuing commands regardless.
"Then, as for you boys, Michalis and Nikolaos will help with the camp set up. Don't want any idiots picking on our girls," Vasiliki said, sending a pointed, knowing look towards a couple of rugged-looking adventurers from another familia who were openly leering at their female members.
"Vasileios will come with me, Alise, Kaguya, Eleni, and Dimitra into that dump of a city to buy some supplies." Vasiliki concluded, her gaze sweeping over her weary team.
They had spent the last five days painstakingly traversing the distance from the 44th floor to the 18th floor.
The journey could have been much faster if it were a smaller, more elite group, but they were a large contingent, designed for extended dungeon delves, and not all members in the party were strong enough to survive safely in such deep levels on their own.
Therefore, they had to be extra careful, moving at the pace of the slowest, securing each level, and ensuring everyone's safety.
It had been a long, arduous climb, filled with skirmishes against monsters, careful navigation through treacherous terrain, and nights spent under the watchful eyes of rotating guards.
Letting out a deep sigh, a whisper of satisfaction at having brought the team safely this far during her turn at command, Vasiliki led her designated group towards the small city nestled within the Under Resort.
The entrance to Rivira was usually a bustling thoroughfare, a vibrant hub of adventurers.
Today, however, as they entered the city proper, a sense of unease settled over them.
It was unusually quiet, the typical raucous energy muted, replaced by a strange hum of subdued activity.
Many buildings bore fresh marks, makeshift repairs were underway, and certain sections were cordoned off with hastily erected barriers.
The city, looked like it had been through a war.
Vasiliki's brow furrowed.
"What in the gods' names happened here?" she muttered, her eyes scanning the damage.
Looking around for the closest adventurer who didn't appear too busy or distraught, she approached the man who was directing a team of workers, asking what had occurred.
The harried-looking man whose face was smudged with dirt, ran a hand through his thinning hair.
"Monster attack. About four days ago. Caught everyone completely off guard."
Vasiliki was shocked.
The Under Resort occasionally got attacked by passing monsters, certainly, but it was usually endemic creatures from the floors immediately adjacent to it, beasts that were easily repelled by the resident adventurers and the city's defenses.
This level of devastation, the scale of the repairs, suggested something far more serious.
"What kind of monsters? From which floor?" she pressed, an ominous feeling coiling in her gut.
"Violas," the man replied, his voice grim.
"Deep-floor monsters. And we don't know how they got up here. It was a massacre."
Vasiliki tried to pry more information from him, but barely anyone seemed to know the full truth of what was happening.
Rumors were rampant, contradicting each other with wild abandon, but the core fact remained: Rivira had suffered a devastating and inexplicable monster attack.
Alise and Kaguya, upon hearing the direct mention of a "massacre" and the clear signs of Evilus activity that some statements vaguely alluded to, seemed to be fuming.
Their faces, already tired, hardened into expressions of grim fury.
It was because of the Evilus that they had lost their previous patron deity, Astraea, during the war five years ago.
The wound, though old, still festered, a source of enduring pain and anger.
And now, those same people, those same insidious forces, were trying to stir up something similar again.
The grief and rage, carefully suppressed for years, flickered back to life in their eyes.
"Please calm down, Alise, Kaguya… getting angry won't solve anything," Dimitra tried, her voice soft but firm, placing a calming hand on Kaguya's arm.
Even after five years, that particular wound hadn't healed, and the sight of their fury made her heart ache.
"Phew, you are right," Alise said after taking several deep, shuddering breaths, trying to rein in her emotions.
The familiar ache in her chest subsided slightly, replaced by a cold resolve.
"When we get to the surface, we can find out what truly happened. For now, we should focus on grabbing the supplies we need," Kaguya added, her voice still tight with suppressed emotion, but her logic was sound.
Retribution would come, but careful preparation had to come first.
With the decision made, the group briefly split up to obtain the various things they needed: potions, rations, and perhaps a small indulgence to lift their spirits.
But things were going to be a bit difficult.
Due to the monster attack, the city was currently facing a severe scarcity of many things.
Shelves were bare, traders looked haggard, and prices had skyrocketed.
It wouldn't be several days, perhaps even weeks, until a new supply of goods could safely arrive from the surface.
The aftermath of the attack was far more widespread and impactful than they had initially realized.