With night's arrival, lights and sounds were extinguished all across the city. Magic-stone torches and lamps were switched off to conserve precious resources, and people huddled together in silence.
Not out of fear of the night, but of what they all knew was approaching. Eventually, the only light remaining was that coming from Central Park. Familia members from all across the city had gathered there. Astrea Familia was no exception.
"All of Orario's forces in one place," mused Lyra as she looked around. "Wonder what all the fuss is about."
"Don't play dumb," chided Kaguya. "You know very well." As did they all. Alise was grim-faced as she cast her eyes around at the other girls, then spoke what was on everyone's mind.
"Yes," she said. "The final showdown is almost upon us."
Shakti of Ganesha Familia. Asfi and Falgar of Hermes Familia. Ottarl and the Einherjar of Freya Familia. Riveria and Gareth, along with Ais, Raul, and all the others of Loki Familia.
Some silently felt the heft of their weapons, others fidgeted from side to side, while still others closed their eyes and waited. Fear and nerves. Will and spirit. All these and more consumed the minds of those in Central Park, while Ryuu quietly muttered beneath her mask. "It's midnight."
All across the city, those clocks that still worked let out a chime. Their hands overlapped, signaling the end of one long day and the beginning of another. All eyes were focused on the south gate of Babel, where a single prum stood.
"Listen up," he said, and with that, the commotion died down in an instant. All present eagerly awaited—demanded—his next word, and Finn was unhesitant in giving it to them.
"The enemy's true goal has been revealed. Everything until now, including the Great Conflict—it was all in preparation for this."
"Their true aim," he said, "is to summon a monster of the Dungeon." This was the conclusion they had reached in the war room.
"The Evils have committed the sin of sending a god into the Dungeon," he explained. "By using the god as bait, they plan to lure this monster to the surface."
"The target was sighted at noon on the twenty-fourth floor, travelling upward toward the surface and destroying everything in its path."
"""…?!"""
Countless adventurers were lost for words.
"According to the scouts' reports, the target is extremely large. Given the speed of its ascent and the scale of the destruction, the Guild believes that its combat ability is at least on par with a Monster Rex of the deep, perhaps greater."
Soon, a great panic swept over the crowd. "…You can't be serious," said one adventurer in disbelief.
"You're telling me," cried another, her voice a shriek, "that the Evils sent their own god into the Dungeon to lure a force of nature up to the surface?!"
"Which means," said Falgar, connecting the dots in his mind, "the enemy's goal is…!"
"Yes," said Finn. "To destroy Babel from beneath."
At the very apex of Babel, Freya's mirthless eyes gazed down on the adventurers gathered below. "So they unleashed the might of a god within the Dungeon, calling forth that jet-black monster…"
"Yeah, and in the deep levels, too," added Loki, seated on the arm of an armchair. "Those pitch-black critters are basically bred for killin' gods. Dangle a divinity in front of 'em and they'll go crazy tryin' to get it… Even Ouranos's prayers won't be enough to keep 'em sealed down below."
Loki Familia had encountered something similar once before, two years ago, when an evil god lured Ais, then Level 1, down to the twelfth floor. There, the god unsealed his arcanum and summoned the Black Wyvern, an anomalous being whose power far outclassed the level where it appeared.
Loki could only assume that this monster would be similar.
"And to think this all managed to escape our notice, or even Ouranos," remarked Freya, arching a well-trimmed eyebrow. "Or perhaps it's fairer to say…they concealed it from us."
"Yeah, I hate to admit it, but the Evils really pulled one over on us this time. That damn Erebus and his schemes."
____________________________________________________________________________
"What the hell?!" Lyra cried. "I thought Zald and Saphira were bad enough, but now we've gotta fight off a Dungeon boss as well?! We're doomed! Tell us you got somethin' up your sleeve, hero!"
Her panic spread throughout the crowd, and soon all of Central Park was in an uproar.
Ryuu was aghast at the prum girl's uncharacteristic dismay. "L-Lyra! I know things look bad, but you mustn't demoralize us further!"
"Nah, it's fine. Just watch."
"Huh?" Lyra gave a sly grin. "Who do ya think is standin' up there? He's our race's shining beacon of hope!"
"Lyra sure knows how to act, huh?" I whispered to Alise.
"He-hem! Of course. She is the best con-artist." Said Alise, pushing her modest chest.
I gave her a deadpanned look. "No, I don't think that is something to be proud of."
The next moment, that beacon spoke.
"We fight."
"""!!!"""
"We must split our forces in two," Finn explained. "One group to stay up here and protect the tower from the Evils, and one to intercept and slay the monster before it reaches the surface."
That was the plan we all devised. It does not guarantee a victory, but we don't have much of a choice. The only ones aware of this plan at the moment were Riveria, Ais, Asfi, and the whole Astraea familia.
Finn looked around at the adventurers' stunned faces as he told them of his plan. "The bulk of our forces will make up the former group," he went on, "while the latter will comprise only our strongest warriors. Our enemy's goal, whether above or below, is the destruction of Babel with this pincer attack. We must not let them succeed."
He went on. "What is about to commence may well be the largest conflict since the age of the gods began and 'quality over quantity' became the law of the land." His azure eyes were as pure and still as the surface of a moonlit lake.
"If we do not fight here," he demanded, "then who will? If Orario cannot succeed, then who can?" His calm voice trembled with latent determination.
"Only we possess even the slightest chance of victory. But we will not stand idle while that chance slips through our fingers!" Before long, the crowd stood silent. All of them hung on Finn's every word. His speech imparted purpose; his words inspired courage.
There was no tremor in his voice that could spoil the flag of battle he raised. Faced with his rousing leadership, every last adventurer found the heart to fight.
He sure knows how to set the stage. Now I am starting to seriously think that these Prums all have inherent acting ability and a sharp mind.
"We already know the taste of defeat!" Finn yelled. "We drink the muddy waters we find there and nourish ourselves on it! In defeat, we grow strong! And we will not lose again!" His moonlit eyes quivered with the irrepressible force of his spirit.
"Show me your pride, adventurers! You are the most tenacious, defiant, and hardheaded curs this world has ever known! We may have lost the battle, but show me who will win the war!!"
"This land is where legends are born! This is our city!!"
Central Park erupted into howls. Human and demi-human alike heard Finn's passionate words and replied with unrestrained vigor.
Lyra looked back up at Finn. "He's a swindler and a cheat. The worst kind. He shouts his lies loud and proud and keeps repeating 'em until everyone's on board. Then it becomes the truth."
Her words were the words of his greatest critic, but her eyes were those of a girl in love. She smiled like a flower in bloom.
"His words are our courage. That's why he's our race's greatest hope."
"The hero's a swindler, huh? Yep, that sounds like something Lyra would say!" Alise laughed.
"This is nothing," yelled Finn, "but a trial for every one of us would-be heroes! A far greater threat awaits the world even after we succeed here!"
The Black Dragon. Apocalypse Incarnate. It was waiting at the end of the world, and this battle was just a stepping-stone on the way.
"We must finish what Zeus and Hera began, and prove ourselves the next generation of heroes, in name and in deed!"
___________________________________________________________________________
A conflict between order and chaos.
A battle like no other.
The memory of forgotten heroes.
It would come to be known as "The War of Good and Evil."
Mortals and gods would sing of it.
The stars themselves would write of it.
And so the greatest battle in Orario's millennium-long history began on that fateful day.
____________________________________________________________________________
"That's some fancy robe you got there, Finn," I said, noticing the crimson robe Finn wore over his top-class equipment looked like a signature written in blood. The cloth ran over his right shoulder and was fastened in place at the waist, while the remainder flowed from his shoulders like a cape.
"Thanks, you do not look half bad yourselves, Arin."
"Are you trying to mock me?" I asked since, in comparison to the new equipment Ryuu and Alise got, mine were simpler, consisting of a shirt and pants with guards on my arms and legs, and a cloak that Asfi and I created together in a hurry.
"No, I am not mocking you, it's just I can't imagine you in a fancy knight-like armor," Finn said, unfurling the parchment—a map of the enemy's locations
"Hm.. are you being petty with me because Riveria yelled at you for letting me take so many shifts?"
"If you know, then why are you asking?"
"Because I am also very petty," I said, smirking. "Man, was it satisfying to see Riveria going full-on goddess of wrath on you."
Finn visibly winced, "DO NOT remind me of that. I think it was the first time she seriously called me a pathetic excuse for a captain."
"Haha!" I could not help but laugh at him.
"Yeah, go ahead and laugh—" Our fun talk was intercepted by Royman, who came, spraying spittle at Finn.
"I'm begging you, Finn! We've invested every last drop of our city's resources in ensuring you adventurers have the best equipment money can buy! You cannot fail us now!!" Royman's nerves were every bit as frayed as those of the warriors fighting on the front lines. His flab jiggled as he nagged Finn like a nosy mother-in-law.
.
.
.
After some time, everyone was gathered. At the same time, a flustered Guild woman ran in.
"We've just received news that the monster has reached the twentieth floor! The scouting party has suffered heavy casualties!"
Finn turned to address us. "Everyone, it's time."
.
.
.
We were making our way down the dungeon to face the monster. The team is composed of all of the Astraea familia except Filvis, Riveria, Ais, Gareth, and me, and an additional member, Ardi. Since her magic is going to be super useful in our fight.
Though I could tell that the air was different in the Dungeon. It was like an invisible line dividing the world above from the one below.
The moment they entered, a chilly air filled our lungs, reminding us exactly how far we have strayed from the watchful gazes of the sun and the moon.
But today the difference was even starker.
"Roaaaaaaaaaghhh!!"
Shouts filled the air on the first floor. It was more chaotic than ever.
"The monsters are agitated!" cried Kaguya, looking around. "I think something's frightening them!"
"No shit!" replied Lyra. "The ground's shaking beneath our feet, and it sounds like bombs are goin' off or somethin'! There might as well be a damn fireworks display!"
"""Groooooooooagh!!"""
"Horde of monsters, spotted dead ahead!" reported Noin, grasping her shortsword in one hand and buckler in the other. "Size is…I don't know, but it's a lot!!"
"They're in a panic!!" added Celty, the elven mage. "They're attacking anything that comes close!"
"What do we do, Alise?" asked Maryu, turning to her captain for guidance.
Alise gave her orders without a second's delay. "Just ignore them!" she yelled. "Our target is the big one!"
With her ponytail fluttering behind her, Alise pulled Crimson Order from its sheath and brandished its narrow blade. With one clean slash, she cut down three monsters that stood in the party's way.
"""Gyaaagh?!"""
"Don't slow down! Don't let anything stop us! Go, go, go!!"
"""Got it!"""
"Leave them to me."
Her golden hair seemed to leave a glittering trail as she moved. Ais wove deftly between her allies, then raised her sword—Desperate, the Durandal Superior-class weapon.
"Die."
As if parting the oceans, a single slash cut through the horde and reduced them to ash. The little monster hunter was unstoppable.
She spun like a top, delivering another devastating swing, before leaping into a dance of death that dissolved the wall of foes like molten butter. Her foes were the runts of the Dungeon, but that didn't make her speed any less impressive.
Ardi clapped her hand to her mouth in astonishment. "She's so strong…!"
Just then, a second figure appeared beside Ais.
"Hai-yaaa!"
"Guhhh?!"
Ryuu was quickly growing accustomed to wielding two swords at once and was making short work of the monsters. The skirmish continued for a short while, the two combatants running side by side.
I guess I should work up my muscles as well. I thought as I jumped in the middle of the battle.
There were all kinds of monsters mixed up, I 5 kobolds at once, then a kicking orc at its neck, turning it into ash.
Now that I am a level 3, I don't even need my magic to kill monsters of this level.
By this point, monsters were beginning to emerge from the lower levels. War shadows, killer ants, orcs—all creatures that would only normally appear much deeper. Neze dispatched a few of them and then called out to us.
"Where are we going to fight this monster, anyway? It's gotta be as big as a floor boss!" The animal girl furrowed her brow as quakes continued to rock the Dungeon, and Alise echoed her ally's concerns.
"There are only a few places we can realistically fight something that size! Plus, we don't want to get ganged up on while we're trying to focus on the big one!"
"Right you are, girls," said Gareth. "We can't have a scrap with a beast like that in the tunnels. A wide-open space would be much better."
"A wide-open space, without too many monsters," said Riveria. "There's only one place I can think of that fits the bill."
"The eighteenth floor—the Under Resort."