Orario is known as the center of the world.
This is the capital of the gods, where most deities gather.
They sealed their divine powers, founded their own familias, and together they protect the dungeon.
The appearance of the gods has also kept the monsters that once ravaged the land in ancient times from resurfacing, allowing humanity to thrive.
But is everything as simple as it seems on the surface?
Perhaps this city is called the center of the world not just because of the gods, but because of the dungeon itself.
Why does the dungeon possess endless energy, continuously spawning countless monsters that prevent humans from entering and keep the monsters from escaping to the surface?
Perhaps... it's due to the so-called Dungeon's Will.
To be more precise, it may be the world's will at play.
The world seeks self-evolution, and humans, gods, and monsters are all creations of this will.
Monsters only know how to kill, gods are prone to corruption, and humans have infinite potential but are also plagued by inherent flaws.
It's possible that all three are seen as failures, leading the world's will to allow monsters to destroy humanity.
When the gods descended to the lower realm, they might have communicated with the world's will through their divine power and reached some sort of agreement.
Perhaps it was Ouranos who awakened the compassionate side of the world's will, convincing it to restrict the monsters from reaching the surface, while still attempting to eradicate the humans who ventured into the dungeon.
This is evident from the dungeon's turmoil whenever gods enter and are detected within it.
In essence, the dungeon's will is in a deeply conflicted state.
It harbors animosity towards both gods and humans, yet at times, shows signs of tolerance.
The so-called Xenos may be a new race born from this emotional turmoil, possessing both the characteristics of monsters and the intellect of humans.
How long this contradiction will persist is unknown.
However, even if the world's will someday decides to take action, that day is likely far off in the future.
When that time comes, it's uncertain whether humanity and the gods will survive.
But if that day arrives, the adventurers currently playing around in the dungeon may not be able to do much.
Despite these doubts, everyone continues moving forward.
Even with members like Rin, Shirahoshi, and Kuina in the group, their pace isn't significantly hindered.
Soon, they reach the seventeenth floor.
The Wall of Sighs has been repaired, and Goliath is now active in the main room on this floor.
Clearly, it possesses a completely different aura from the monsters they've encountered before, prompting Cu Chulainn, who has been idle for too long, to step forward and engage Goliath in battle.
The scene of devastation unfolds once again.
However, the floor boss, who poses a great danger to novice adventurers, is no match for Cu Chulainn.
After toying with it for a while, he unleashes his Noble Phantasm, piercing Goliath's heart and defeating it before it can recover.
Yami collects the large magic stone in a different space.
"Let's move on. The first destination of this journey is coming up~!"
After crossing the main room, Yami leads the way to the safe floor.
However, instead of heading to Rivera Town, they turn towards the nineteenth floor—the direction of the Great Tree Labyrinth.
In the maze's mezzanine lies the Xenos' hiding place.
It's well-concealed, with no monsters being born there, offering a sanctuary for the Xenos.
This population may have been created by the world's will during its conflicted state and was allowed to exist in such a place.
Along the way, numerous monsters appear.
With Rin, Bazzett, and Kuina taking action, they are all swiftly dealt with.
These Lv. 2 strength monsters are no challenge for the three girls, and with proper coordination, even large numbers pose no threat.
Thus, the group continues their steady advance.
They traverse the Great Tree Labyrinth without facing any significant obstacles.
Finally, Yami stops before a piece of blue crystal, captivated by the clear spring beside it.
His keen senses reveal the situation around them with ease.
Beneath the crystal and spring lies a passage, leading to the same destination.
"It seems we've found it. Our luck is good!"
Although Yami intended to find the Xenos in the dungeon, he didn't hold high expectations.
After all, he only knew the general location, so not finding it would have been understandable.
But now, it appears his luck is indeed favorable.
"Huh? There's a hidden passage here. Is this our objective?"
Medea quickly notices the anomaly.
Yami nods with a smile, a glint of sharpness in his eyes.
"Yes, this is the place we were looking for—the unexplored strata where the Xenos reside."
"Will you wait here, or come with me?"
Standing at the entrance of the passage, Yami turns to ask the others.
This is his personal mission, so there's no need to involve everyone.
"We're here, so of course we'll go together."
"That's right, let's contribute a bit too!"
In just a few words, everyone expresses their choices.
Hearing this, Yami nods slightly, not pressing the matter further.
He lightly taps the blue crystal with his right hand, causing it to shatter instantly, revealing a passage just large enough for a person to pass through.
It seems narrow, and the interior is pitch-black, with nothing visible.
Yami enters first, followed by the others.
Medea raises her hand, summoning a light spell, instantly illuminating the cave.
Unlike the outside, the cave has few plants.
Aside from the moss on the ground, the rest is mostly rock.
The atmosphere is eerily quiet, with no sounds except for the occasional dripping water.
This place exudes an oppressive feeling, with no signs of life. The concealment is almost too perfect.
But Yami, with his keen senses, can easily perceive it.
Hidden in the darkness, creatures observe them from various corners, watching these intruders closely.
In fact, he wasn't the only one who noticed the strange atmosphere; nearly everyone except Rin sensed the odd tension in the darkness.
"These guys sure are enthusiastic~" Cu Chulainn remarked, his voice filled with excitement. "There are some powerful beings among them, even stronger than the giant I fought before. This is getting interesting!"
He carried his magical spear without attempting to hide his anticipation. "To think they're using monsters from each floor as their blueprint? This power shouldn't be underestimated!"
The group observed a variety of creatures: half-human, half-bird hybrids, unicorns, war shadows, spider-men, gargoyles, and griffons, to name a few. The sheer number of them was overwhelming, with even goblins among their ranks. The diversity of races ranged from animals to plants.
Sensing the unmistakable tension in the air, Yami came to a halt. He surveyed his surroundings and, after a moment of silence, spoke softly:
"Since you're all here, there's no need to hide."
"We are adventurers from the Hephaestus Familia, sent here by the god Ouranos himself."
"God Ouranos wants me to resolve the conflict between you and humanity. That's why I've come to assess the situation. Why don't you come out and meet me?"
As his voice faded, the surrounding air grew heavier with the sound of nervous breathing. However, no Xenos appeared, leaving Yami slightly stunned. This task was proving more difficult than expected, and resolving the conflict between the two sides seemed like a distant goal. Gaining the trust of the Xenos alone was already a challenge.
"They refuse to drink the toast offered—perhaps we should force their hand," Medea muttered, her patience wearing thin.
Known as the "Witch of Betrayal" in life, Medea's temper was far from what it appeared now. She had always done as she pleased, and being ignored only fueled her frustration. Her instincts urged her to make the Xenos show their hand.
"Is that really the best approach?" Yami hesitated.
But Cu Chulainn chimed in, agreeing with Medea. "I think she's right. If words aren't working, sometimes a more direct approach is necessary."
"This method is too harsh. I believe we should try talking first," Artoria interjected, expressing her opinion.
With both sides holding firm to their beliefs, neither could convince the other.
Finally, perhaps sensing the intensity of the debate, the Xenos hiding in the shadows decided to make their move.
A sudden rustling sound broke the silence as a figure burst from a crack in the rock wall, charging directly at Yami. Even in the darkness, the long iron sword in the attacker's hand gleamed with a cold light.
In the dim light, the attacker's appearance became partially visible. Was it a 'Dragon Man' covered in red scales? Or perhaps a lizard-like creature? The horns on its head made its race difficult to determine.
But Yami quickly recognized it as Lyd, the Xenos described in the original story.
Whatever its race, at that moment, it was attacking Yami without hesitation.
However, Yami remained motionless, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Suddenly, another figure leaped forward, blocking Lyd's attack.
"While I propose peaceful coexistence, attacking my Master will not be tolerated," Artoria declared, striking Lyd with a forceful blow that sent him flying.
At this moment, Cu Chulainn, who had maintained a calm demeanor, couldn't resist swinging his magical spear with a confident grin.
"Well, since you've made the first move, you can't blame us!"
"Let's talk later!"
As his voice echoed, more red lights emerged from the darkness, intensifying the tension.
Everyone took up defensive stances, and the atmosphere grew even more charged.
The battle was on the verge of breaking out!
On the Xenos' side, waves of oppressive energy surged forth, with several auras reaching the formidable level of Lv. 5.
"Hahaha! This is exciting! Come!"