Monsters in the Dungeon need to eat.
Even on the 37th floor, where undead Monsters dominate, there are still creatures like the Spartoi that need to feed.
To replenish energy, these types of Monsters usually head to the vast spaces at the edge of the floor to feed.
These areas are known as Pantries.
At this moment, inside the Pantry of the Dungeon's thirty-seventh floor.
Swollen green flesh walls covered the surfaces, and Monsters resembling Alraunes scurried back and forth.
These Monsters lined up to enter from outside the Pantry, their tentacles clutching Magic stones to place beneath a 40-meter-tall red crystal pillar before turning to leave and hunt again.
Beneath the red crystal pillar, a man dressed in white sat cross-legged, reaching out to toss the Magic stones hunted by the Alraunes into his mouth, making a crunching sound.
As the Magic stones were swallowed, the white-haired man's strength slowly increased, vaguely emitting a terrifying aura.
"Revis, aren't you eating?"
Olivas asked, looking at the red-haired woman beside him.
"Wait until you break through to LV6 first."
Revis stared at the red crystal pillar before her.
This massive red crystal pillar that supported the entire Pantry was, in fact, the Pantry's true core.
Under normal circumstances, the Dungeon would continuously release nutrient fluid through this red crystal pillar to nurture Monsters.
But now, three oversized Alraune Monsters were coiled around the pillar, their massive tentacles spreading and growing.
Whenever a slow, rhythmic thumping sound echoed, these tentacles would absorb the nutrient fluid from the red crystal pillar into their bodies.
Afterward, the nutrients were divided into two parts.
One part spread through the tentacles to the walls and floor, forming the flesh walls and buds that birthed smaller Alraune Monsters.
The other part, guided by the tentacles, merged into a green sphere at the base of the red crystal pillar.
"It looks like it's almost fully developed."
Gazing at the female fetus inside the sphere, which had massive eyeballs and hair, Revis made her judgment.
"As expected, the Pantry on the 37th floor is experiencing over-nutrition. The excess nutrients can be used to cultivate a second Jewel fetus."
Olivas asked, "Did you bring a second Jewel fetus when you came?"
Revis shook her head.
"I didn't, but I can go back and get one. These Alraunes can help store the nutrients."
As she finished speaking, she plucked the Jewel fetus and prepared to leave the Pantry to return to the Artificial Labyrinth.
However, at that moment, a loud boom echoed from afar, and the entire Pantry shook from the impact.
A few seconds later, the ground began to shake again, with an intensity even greater than the first time.
"Hmm? What's going on?"
Olivas stopped eating.
"I'm not sure. It might be related to that sound just now."
Revis paused, a flash of thought crossing her eyes.
The explosion from a few seconds ago sounded a bit like a mage unleashing a long-chant spell after charging it up.
"Revis, there are adventurers."
Just then, Olivas's voice rang out again.
Hearing his warning, Revis turned her head to the right.
On the wall of flesh, there was a pale water film shaped like the lunar surface, showing a group of figures fighting Alraune Monsters.
"Adventurers, and... Monsters?"
Seeing the unexpected lineup on the water film, even Revis couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
"It's the Nine Hell of the Loki Familia!"
Olivas's eyes were fixed intently on Riveria.
"Nine Hell? I think I've heard of her."
Though she hadn't seen her face before, Revis had some knowledge about famous adventurers.
"I recall she's an LV6 adventurer, right?"
"That's right, and she's a very powerful LV6 at that. If it's her, that commotion earlier isn't surprising."
Olivas automatically filled in the blanks of what had happened.
Some adventurers must have discovered the mutation on the 37th floor and reported it to the Adventurers Guild.
To quell the anomaly, the Guild handed the task to the powerful Loki Familia.
After that, Riveria led a team to the 37th floor, clearing the Monster tide and exploring the cause of the mutation until they found the Pantry.
"Hmph! Those bastards from the Loki Familia act so noble on the surface, but who would have thought they'd have ties to Monsters in private!"
Olivas was no stranger to the Xenos.
Or rather, anyone with status in the Artificial Labyrinth knew that the Ikelos Familia was capturing Xenos to sell.
"Should we engage?" Olivas asked.
"There's no need to cause unnecessary trouble."
If the Jewel fetus were still being cultivated, Revis might have considered fighting.
But now that the embryo was fully developed, this Pantry was expendable.
Rather than starting a war with adventurers, she preferred to retreat with the embryo and return to the Artificial Labyrinth to prepare for the next round of cultivation.
"The man walking at the very front looks quite strong. Do you recognize him?"
"No impression. He probably rose to prominence in the last few years."
Olivas sized up Lynn.
The man was running at the front of the group, taking down an Alraune Monster with every strike, completely efficient and without a single wasted movement.
With such skill, he had to be at least an LV5 adventurer.
However, Olivas didn't care.
After being reborn with a Monster's body and consuming a large number of Magic stones, his strength had already reached the peak of LV5.
Combined with a Monster's innate self-healing ability, dealing with an unknown LV5 wouldn't be difficult.
The only person who truly concerned him was Riveria.
Wait! Something's wrong!"
Revis suddenly frowned.
Inside the water film, Lynn, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped and looked up.
As if he knew he was being watched, his gaze stared straight through the water film at Revis and Olivas, his lips curling into a playful, mocking smile.
In the next second, he sheathed his weapon, and golden lightning flowed into the scabbard along with it.
A sudden chill surged in their hearts, and an indescribable sense of crisis enveloped Revis and Olivas.
Without a sound, the two followed their instincts and dove to either side.
Boom—!
The moment they left their spots, a golden sword qi split the earth in two, charging straight into the Pantry.
Caught in the aftershock, Revis and Olivas tumbled several times. Olivas, being weaker, lost his right arm instantly, his face twisted in disbelief and horror.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
The situation, far exceeding his imagination, shattered Olivas's sanity. He scrambled to his feet and ran toward the exit of the passage.
There's still time!
As someone chosen by the Corrupted Spirit, he had a certain degree of control over the Alraune Monsters and the flesh walls. As long as he could open a path before Lynn and the others arrived...
"You fool! Get back here!"
Revis's voice came from behind.
Olivas ignored her and kept running.
His LV5 physical capabilities were on full display as he reached the Pantry exit in just two seconds.
But at that moment, the sound of a footstep rang out.
"Ho, this is quite the warm welcome."
Schwing—!
A cold light flashed through the air. Olivas's legs were suddenly severed, and momentum carried his upper body flying forward.
Simultaneously, a hand appeared out of thin air, grabbing his head and hoisting him up.
"My friend, did you come here just to greet me?"
"Go to hell!"
The last thread of Olivas's sanity snapped as he swung his remaining left arm at the man before him.
"Honestly, I only cut off one of your arms and both your legs. There's no need to hiss at me like that."
Lynn casually severed Olivas's left arm as well.
After that, he tossed Olivas at the feet of Gros, who had arrived a step late.
"This guy has regenerative abilities. Keep an eye on him."
"Understood."
Gros raised his claws and seized Olivas.
After discovering that Lynn's Fading Light Slash wasn't some ultimate move, but a simple basic attack that could be launched with a quick charge...
The way he looked at this partner of his changed completely.
No wonder Fels said that Lynn must not be provoked under any circumstances; this man's strength was far more terrifying than he had imagined.
"That guy is... the White-Haired Demon, Olivas?!"
Riveria arrived late with the rest of the group.
Just as Olivas had recognized her, she also recognized Olivas, who belonged to the Dark Faction.
But the question was, why was Olivas here?
Just like Olivas seeing the Fading Light Slash seconds ago, Riveria wore an expression of unbelievable horror.
Behind her, Aiz and Tiona, hearing her voice, also froze, their expressions turning solemn.
"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with this person?"
The unaware Lefiya and the Xenos looked at each other, not understanding why Riveria and the others were so shocked.
"The White-Haired Demon, Olivas Act, was one of the masterminds behind the Nightmare of the 27th Floor," Tiona provided the answer.
She had joined the Loki Familia relatively late, but she still knew a bit about this major event that had shocked Orario.
"At the same time the Nightmare of the 27th Floor occurred, the Captain took the opportunity to send back a large number of the Dark Faction's gods. Olivas consequently lost his power and died on the 27th Floor."
"Died on the 27th Floor?"
Lefiya subconsciously gripped her staff tighter.
She finally understood why Riveria was so surprised.
A person who was supposed to be dead suddenly appearing before them—it was like seeing a ghost.
On the other side, Gros swung his claws, crushing Olivas's regenerating hands and feet.
As a Level 6 Xenos, he naturally had no problem suppressing a hostage who had lost his arms and legs.
Unable to escape his predicament, Olivas cried out for help to his partner in despair.
"Revis! Save me!"
Hearing his voice, Riveria and the others temporarily suppressed the shock in their hearts and looked toward the center of the Pantry.
Aside from Olivas, who was pinned down by Gros, the only person in the vast Pantry besides the Alraune monsters was a red-haired woman.
It was self-evident who Revis was.
"Damn it, that useless trash."
Revis retreated to the red crystal pillar with a dark expression.
Everything happened too fast.
From the moment the sword qi fell to Olivas going mad and being captured, the entire process hadn't even taken five seconds.
"No other choice."
Revis took out a Jewel fetus from her bosom and pressed it directly into the giant Alraune on the stone pillar.
Having witnessed that terrifying sword qi, she immediately abandoned the idea of confronting Lynn head-on.
The priority was to find a way to retreat.
As for this Jewel fetus, if it's wasted, then so be it.
The infant inside the jewel broke out of its shell and merged into the giant Alraune's body in the blink of an eye.
Centering on where she had entered, red vein-like lines spread across the entire body like blood vessels.
After that, the smaller Alraunes, which had already gathered at Revis's call, swarmed forward, digging out the magic stones from their own bodies and pouring them into the giant Alraune.
The fully developed Jewel fetus, the excess nutrients accumulated in the giant Alraune, and the magic stones offered by the smaller Alraunes...
As if the process had been accelerated, the giant Alraune monster let out a shrill scream, and its entire body began to swell.
Like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, the giant Alraune's head suddenly split open and expanded outward. The upper body of a dark-green-skinned woman emerged from within, her flowing long hair cascading down.
She opened her dark gold eyes, ignoring Revis nearby and everyone else present, and stared straight at Aiz.
"Aria—Aria!!!"
A cheer full of joy echoed through the Pantry.
Hearing her voice, both Revis, who was preparing to flee, and Riveria were stunned.
As the subject of the call, Aiz's pupils showed a mix of hesitation, horror, and disbelief, and her body couldn't stop trembling.
It wasn't fear, but shock.
Her intense emotions even caused a stir in her bloodline, and a word instinctively surfaced in her mind.
"...A spirit?!"
"A spirit? You mean that monster?!"
Hearing Aiz's voice, Tiona's eyes widened. The momentary impact even surpassed the fact that Olivas was still alive.
"Be careful! That thing isn't an ordinary monster!"
Riveria was equally shocked by what Aiz said.
Compared to Tiona, she, who knew Aiz's identity, understood the weight of those words even more.
Gripping her staff tightly with both hands, the mana within her body surged continuously, refining into higher-quality mana.
"Aria, Aria!"
"I missed you so much, I wanted to see you so much!"
The spirit clone ignored everyone's reactions, still staring straight at Aiz, a seductive smile appearing on her face.
"Hey, why don't you become one with me too?"
"Let me eat you, okay?"
"I won't let you eat Aiz!" Tiona brandished a greatsword and blocked the way in front of Aiz.
"Ant, get out of the way."
The spirit clone's smile vanished instantly.
Her dark gold pupils looked down at Tiona, and a vast amount of mana surged from her body, causing the entire Pantry to shake.
In the next instant, a loud boom rang out.
Both the spirit clone, who was about to launch an attack, and Tiona and the others, who were preparing for battle, were stunned.
On the other side of the Pantry, the sturdy wall and the dark green flesh wall were blown away, and a massive shadow quietly emerged.
It was a forty-meter-tall skeletal giant, its bones black, with two demon-like horns growing from its head.
Within the massive eye sockets, vermilion flames flickered slightly.
An indescribable aura of terror swept across the entire battlefield as he walked into the Pantry carrying a massive black sword that matched his stature.
...