Under the cloak of night, the muted bustle of activity filled the outskirts near the Dungeon's entrance. A low mist curled around the ancient stonework, obscuring the world beyond and lending a somber weight to the air. The rescue team gathered quietly, their figures moving with purpose yet tempered by the gravity of what lay ahead.
At the center stood Luthar, clad in his red robes concealing the armor he was wearing, as always. His presence was cold and measured, eyes constantly tracking movement and placement. The Power Axe, towering behind him, was carried by two floating servo-skulls, each humming with runic pulses and protective canticles.
Freya stood beside him, wrapped in a robe he had offered her, though hers hung more elegantly, shaped by her natural poise and beauty. Her eyes, beneath the hood, glowed faintly—still goddess, still dangerous. She leaned slightly toward Luthar.
Hestia, the small but determined goddess, stood close by, her expression firm beneath the faint sheen of concern. Near her, Hermes, ever composed and cloaked.
From Takemikazuchi Familia, Mikoto and Kashima Ouka exchanged brief nods.
Hermes ' invitation had brought forth Lyu Leon and Asfi Al Andromeda.
Freya's voice broke the quiet, a low murmur. "What a luxurious lineup. I guess many people will not be able to sleep after tonight."
Hermes nodded in agreement. "With three gods entering, simple lack of sleep would be the least of their concerns."
Luthar's calm voice carried over the group. "I think we should just enter instead of exchanging some feelings."
Before anyone else could speak, Hephaestus, who had just arrived, spoke. "Well, I guess you guys really should leave before anyone notices three goddesses entering a dungeon."
Each member of the team exchanged determined glances, the weight of their task binding them in silent solidarity. The night awaited their step, and beneath its dark veil, the rescue would begin.
The group moved quickly without wasting any time.
Barely had they crossed the third floor when the Dungeon greeted them with its customary malice.
Then came the first wave—crude growls echoing from the far curve of the corridor. Several War Shadows lunged from the mist, their blades raised, movements jerky and erratic.
Before Luthar could so much as lift a finger, Lyu was already in motion.
One leg swept low in a fluid arc that tripped the first monster mid-charge. Her dagger flashed once—twice—and the War Shadow fell in silence. Another surged toward her back, but she pivoted, clean and silent, dispatching it with a backward strike through the eye.
Luthar's eyes narrowed with silent appreciation. Reflexes. Speed. Control. She had everything. Then his gaze flicked to her clothes. For some strange reason, the part around her legs was exposed, like it was made to tempt people with good hobbies.
She glanced back, momentarily noticing his stare. He didn't flinch.
Another burst of monsters erupted from a side chamber—this time, hard-scaled frogs with bloated eyes. Before they could close the gap, Asfi stepped forward.
"Cover your ears," Asfi warned.
She dropped a small sphere—Luthar's sensor immediately tagged it as an explosive mix of concussive force and light. The flash boomed, flattening the creatures and disorienting the rest. Before the light had fully died, her dagger was already plunged into the chest of the first stunned frog.
Efficient. Her designs weren't crude, Luthar thought. His eyes flicked to her belt—lined with gadgets, carefully crafted.
She was not just a fighter. She was an engineer. And she was watching the servo-skulls…
From time to time, Asfi's gaze kept drifting toward the two floating skulls that bobbed silently beside Luthar. She moved to cover one as it maneuvered behind him, murmuring something to herself.
"Magictech?" she whispered.
Luthar's voice was low but clear. "Not magic. Machine spirit and cold logic."
Asfi's lips curled slightly. "Don't have to lie to me. You don't make stuff without magic."
Lyu, ignoring their exchange, struck another monster down with practiced precision, then wiped her blade clean.
Freya, watching Luthar watch them, allowed herself a smirk under the hood.
"Look at this, another cutie. Have you thought about converting her? She is quite talented," she murmured.
"Let's just wait and see," he answered without looking at her.
The team pressed deeper, their formation naturally settling—Lyu in the front, eyes sharp and pace fluid; Mikoto and Ouka slightly behind, covering the flanks with trained, purposeful movements; Asfi walked near the center, still glancing at the floating skulls with intrigue; Hermes hung at the edge of shadow, ever one step from vanishing.
Hestia stayed close to Luthar. She wanted to speak but couldn't think where to start. Freya walked beside him, arms loose beneath the borrowed cloak, her smile unreadable.
Up ahead, Lyu paused near a corner, hand raised. The team slowed without needing a word. She crouched briefly, then turned halfway back to them.
"Mikoto, left. Ouka, right," Lyu commanded.
"Already moving," came the quiet reply.
Luthar tilted his head.
She commands naturally, he thought.
The team moved in silence, turning the corner and continuing downward.
After a few minutes, the atmosphere lightened—tense but not hostile. Hermes broke the stillness with a low whistle.
"Well, isn't this a delightful excursion. Nothing brings mortals and gods together quite like mortal peril."
"You could've stayed behind," Hestia muttered.
"I could've. But then again, I wouldn't get to see such fascinating company." Hermes looked toward Luthar. "You're a difficult man to read, by the way. It's hard to tell if you're judging us or designing coffins."
"I am doing both," Luthar replied without emotion, "but don't worry, your coffins will be better."
Asfi gave a brief snort of laughter. Lyu didn't smile, but there was a faint gleam in her eyes.
Freya stepped slightly closer to Luthar.
The descent continued. The air grew heavier—not with danger, but familiarity. These levels were well-charted, their threats known. But for this team, they were just inconveniences.
They reached the Seventh Floor.
Here, the architecture began to shift. Cracks veined the stone, and the walls carried a subtle warmth—damp, lived-in. The scent of moss mingled with old blood. Footsteps echoed longer.
Lyu raised a hand. The group halted without question.
"Pattern change," she said, voice low. "Footsteps behind. Tracking us."
"I've heard them too," Mikoto said. "Measured steps. Deliberate."
Luthar adjusted a dial near his wrist, scanning thermal residues. Flickers—warm-blooded shapes, four-legged, moving at a matched pace.
"They're using wall cavities," he reported.
Freya glanced around, eyes sharp. "Just a boring tactic."
Asfi tapped a small device against the stone. "Confirmed. Something's working ahead of the curve."
Hermes narrowed his gaze. "So, they're trying to flank?"
Before anyone could reply The wall burst apart.
4 beasts, fur black as charred coal and breath steaming with heat, erupted from the stone. A fourth crawled inverted along the ceiling, its claws sparking against rock.
"Keep formation," Asfi called.
Luthar stepped aside, allowing the first hound to charge past him. With a swift motion, he drew a compact, palm-sized laser pistol and fired, the focused beam burning clean through the creature's skull.
The second hound leapt, but Mikoto intercepted it, slicing it cleanly in half with a single stroke of her blade.
Lyu engaged the third. Her movements were fluid—one feint, a twist, and a nerve strike at the neck. The hound crumpled.
The fourth descended toward Freya. But before it could attack her, Luthar fired the second shot.
"This is the first time I'm having such an easy time fighting these monsters," Mikoto asked.
"It's because Lyu keeps taking out the strong monsters," Asfi replied.
Luthar inspected the creatures. "Felt like they're testing our reaction time, not engaging to kill."
Hermes exhaled. "Dungeon's getting creative."
By the Eighth Floor, the scent of heated stone faded, replaced by cooler air. The corridors leveled, and the team moved without pause. Freya fell into step beside Luthar again.
"When are you going to start fighting?" she asked, her tone playful.
"It's not needed," he replied, his gaze fixed ahead.
"You're definitely going to need to show off some of your skills, or how are you going to hook up with these girls?" she said.
Hestia, trailing behind, muttered, "Can't you talk about something else?"
Hermes sighed. "I think we need to split and look for Bell and the others—reach the 18th Floor."
"Then we should split into three teams and meet at the 18th floor," Asfi suggested.
There was no objection. The idea had already been forming in everyone's minds. The Dungeon was vast, and if Bell's party was still moving, covering ground was the priority.
Freya brushed past the group, wordless, following the narrow left-hand tunnel. Luthar followed, a servo-skull at his side, its optics scanning for trails.
Hermes watched them go, then turned to Asfi. "Let's take another route."
She nodded silently, adjusting her gloves.
That left the broader right-hand path. Lyu stepped forward without hesitation. Mikoto and Ouka fell in behind her.
Hestia stood for a moment, uncertain.
"Stay close to Lyu," Hermes said, already vanishing into the dark.
"I don't need your advice," Hestia snapped, but followed Lyu, Mikoto, and Ouka. Compared to others in her team, there were more members, so safety was at least guaranteed.
For both Luthar and Freya, the descent past the Ninth Floor was seamless. For them, it was like walking back in the garden.
Freya walked beside him in silence. Then, casually:
"Are you planning to fight eventually, or should I assume we are just going to walk till we reach 18 floor?"
In response, Luthar reached toward the servo-skull hovering near him. He retrieved his Power Axe, then ordered them through his mind link.
The servo-skulls, now free-formed carrying his Axe, started to prepare themselves for attack. Their lenses pulsed red, optic arrays swiveling as weaponry came online. They surged forward, weaving through the corridor like silent predators.
"I should have done this earlier," Luthar muttered.
A War Shadow leapt from a side passage, claws extended mid-pounce.
It didn't reach them.
The first servo-skull fired—a high-velocity pulse tore the War Shadow .
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