Unbeknownst to the dungeon management team safely hidden inside the mountain, Guild Master Malgus had his hands full with a massive development on the surface.
Rushing out of his office at the Adventurer Guild branch, Malgus stared up at the sky, completely awestruck by the sight of several colossal Magical Airships descending through the clouds toward Zephyr Town.
Mayor Shotta, who had also hurried out upon hearing the heavy, thrumming engines overhead, rushed over to him. "What is going on up there?" the Mayor asked, out of breath.
"Elite clans ranked Star 1 and Star 2 are beginning to arrive in Zephyr Town," Malgus replied, his eyes glued to the massive vessels.
Shotta looked confused. "What exactly does that mean?"
"The Adventurer Guild allows veteran adventurers to establish official 'Clans'," Malgus explained, keeping his gaze on the sky. "However, the requirements are incredibly strict. A founding party must have every single member reach at least Rank B, and they must pay a colossal registration fee to the Guild headquarters."
"So, are these newly formed clans coming to test the dungeon?" Shotta asked hopefully.
Malgus chuckled dryly at the Mayor's optimism. "Not even close. The Guild only grants the right to operate Magical Airships to Clans that have achieved at least a Star 1 status. These are heavy hitters."
Shotta gulped, looking back up. The massive airships proudly flew giant banners in the wind, each displaying a distinct and intimidating heraldry.
Malgus narrowed his eyes, immediately recognizing the insignias of the elite factions. "I know these clans," he muttered. Pointing to an airship flying a banner that depicted two dragons holding a shield, he said, "That one is Clan Ultima."
He then pointed to the next ship, which displayed a winged serpent tightly coiling around a golden crown. "And that one is Clan Tempestus."
Shifting his gaze to the third vessel, which bore an elegant emblem of a wine goblet engraved with a fierce lion's head, he continued, "They are from the Lion Palace Clan."
"And the final airship?" Shotta asked, pointing to the largest and most heavily armored vessel of the fleet. Its flag depicted twin crossing swords and a spear positioned behind a massive bulwark shield.
Malgus took a deep breath. "...That is Clan Camellot."
Mayor Shotta could only stare at the sky in stunned silence. A moment later, his wife, Ariana, hurried out of their residence and looked up, her hands flying to her mouth in shock. "What in the world is happening?"
Guild Master Malgus grinned, crossing his arms. "It looks like the Yuta Dungeon is about to become completely overrun."
"What does that mean?" Ariana asked, looking to her husband.
"Those are some of the most famous, elite adventurer clans in the world," Shotta explained, still gazing at the massive airships. "It seems they have come to challenge the dungeon that was discovered just a month ago."
Malgus chuckled heartily. "Mayor, it looks like Zephyr Town's housing and real estate business is about to experience an unprecedented boom."
Shotta nodded slowly, the gears of a politician and administrator already turning in his head. "If we are going to have this many elites staying here, our local resources won't be enough. I will need to establish a supply line and purchase additional provisions from the Dark Village to keep up with the demand."
Suddenly, several sleek Magical Flybikes dropped from the hangar bay of the Clan Tempestus airship. The magitech hover-vehicles quickly descended, speeding directly toward the Zephyr Town Adventurer Guild branch.
Seeing them approach, Guild Master Malgus immediately cast a teleportation spell, vanishing from the street and reappearing directly inside his main office. He quickly sat at his desk and began drafting urgent warning letters to Emperor Shiroi and Anastasya about the impending clan invasion.
A few minutes later, Malgus heard a loud commotion coming from the reception area downstairs.
He hurried down to the lobby and found his poor female receptionist completely overwhelmed. A group of elite members from Clan Tempestus were aggressively bombarding her with questions about the Yuta Dungeon rumors.
"What seems to be the problem here?" Malgus asked, stepping in to rescue his staff.
The receptionist let out a sigh of relief. "Guild Master! These members of Clan Tempestus are demanding to know if the rumors circulating about the dungeon are actually true."
"Which rumors specifically?" Malgus asked calmly.
One of the Tempestus vanguard stepped forward. "The rumors stating that the Skeleton monsters on Level 6 are so absurdly powerful that it takes a coordinated assault from more than two full parties just to defeat a single squad. Is that true?"
Malgus nodded gravely. "The rumors are entirely accurate. We have received verified reports from the first four parties that engaged the skeletons on that floor."
"Who exactly were those parties?" another Tempestus member asked, clearly skeptical.
"The first was the Vanguard Party, led by Gideon," Malgus listed off. "The second was Thousand Miles, led by Hydra. The third was Water Mirror, led by Kazuhiro. And the fourth was Cruiser Eagle, led by Meliana."
The members of Clan Tempestus froze, the skepticism instantly draining from their faces.
"Wait... all four of those are verified Rank A parties," one of the Tempestus members muttered in disbelief.
"Especially Hydra's party!" another added, his eyes widening. "They are a literal 'Hero's Party'! They famously defeated a Demon Lord on the western continent! Are you telling me a Demon Lord-slaying Hero is struggling against basic skeletons?!"
"It appears so," Malgus said with a smirk. "The sheer difficulty of those skeletons is exactly why four Star 1-Ranked Clans just showed up on our doorstep."
The Tempestus members exchanged nervous glances. "We need to report this to the Clan Master immediately," their leader said, before bowing to Malgus and rushing out of the guild.
"Have a safe trip back," Malgus called after them.
No sooner had they left the building than three more groups of elite adventurers—representatives from Clan Ultima, Lion Palace, and Camellot—stormed into the reception area, marching straight up to the desk to ask the exact same questions.
Malgus couldn't help but burst into laughter. "I quite literally just gave this entire briefing to Clan Tempestus a minute ago," he chuckled, waving them over. "But gather around. I will repeat the intelligence for you."
Once again, Malgus relayed the terrifying truth of Level 6, sending the three scouting parties hurrying back to their respective Clan Masters with the grim news.
The urgent missive dispatched by Guild Master Malgus reached Anastasya and Emperor Shiroi with lightning speed.
Within the grand halls of the Imperial Palace, Emperor Shiroi immediately sprang into action. He summoned Asura, the imposing Chapter Master of the 8th Chapter of the Grey Knights, to the throne room.
As the heavily armored Chapter Master approached the throne and knelt, Shiroi got straight to the point. "Chapter Master Asura, it is time. The 8th Chapter of the Grey Knights is deploying to Zephyr Town immediately."
Asura looked up, his expression stoic but slightly confused beneath his helm. "Understood, Your Majesty. But may I ask why the sudden mobilization? The Yuta Dungeon has only been open for a single month."
"Because the situation on the surface has escalated far faster than anticipated," Shiroi explained, his tone grave. "Four elite Star 1 Clans have just arrived in Zephyr Town. They caught wind of the rumors regarding the Skeletons on Levels 6 through 10. Apparently, the physical attack power of those undead is so overwhelming that it is making veteran frontliners tremble in fear."
"Tremble?" Asura echoed, slightly skeptical. "They are seasoned adventurers. Why would mere skeletons cause them to shake?"
"Because the skeletons' kinetic force is bypassing their defenses entirely," Shiroi stated. "Even when the vanguard perfectly blocks a strike with their shields, the sheer weight and impact of the skeletons' blows are piercing straight through their guard and shattering their posture."
Asura's eyes narrowed in understanding. "I see. Armor penetration. In that case, do the primary directives for the 8th Chapter remain the same?"
"They do," Shiroi confirmed. "However, I am adding a new priority mandate: you are to maintain absolute security, peace, and order in Zephyr Town. With four rival Star-Ranked Clans crammed into a single settlement, tensions will be high, and we cannot afford any collateral damage to the civilian population. In accordance with our original blueprints, your Chapter will be officially stationed at the newly constructed 'Citadel of Titan' on the outskirts of the town."
Chapter Master Asura immediately stood at full attention, striking his armored chest in a crisp, military salute. "The 8th Chapter of the Grey Knights shall depart at once. We will not fail you, Your Majesty."
Shiroi nodded approvingly. "Dismissed. I will notify Uncle Vergil and the dungeon management team to prepare for your arrival."
As Asura turned on his heel and marched out of the throne room, his heavy armored boots echoing against the marble floor, Shiroi activated his communication crystal to relay the impending deployment to the depths of the Yuta Dungeon.
Back in the command center, just as Mina closed her notebook and concluded her intelligence report, Anastasya's communication crystal flared to life. It was a high-priority, encrypted message from Guild Master Malgus.
Anastasya quickly scanned the text, her expression sharpening. "It is confirmed. Four Star 1-Ranked Clans have officially arrived in Zephyr Town."
"Which clans?" Fenrir asked, leaning over the console.
"Clan Ultima, Clan Tempestus, the Lion Palace Clan, and Clan Camellot," Anastasya read aloud.
Freya, who was already gearing up and preparing to slip into the secret maintenance corridors of Level 4, paused. She tapped her earpiece. "Broadcast this to the entire management team immediately. Everyone needs to be on high alert."
Anastasya nodded, instantly opening a dungeon-wide communication channel to relay the warning.
Suddenly, Marie, who had been diligently monitoring a cluster of surveillance mirrors, pointed at one of the screens. "A vanguard party from the Lion Palace Clan has already entered the dungeon."
"Copy that. I will be extra careful," Nova's voice echoed over the comms from her position down below.
Fenrir rushed to Marie's side, staring at the dozens of screens. "How did you spot them so fast?"
Marie zoomed in on the feed. "Look at their armor. They are wearing an insignia—a wine goblet engraved with a lion's head. None of the other adventuring parties who entered earlier today were wearing that crest."
Anastasya smiled proudly. "Excellent observation, Marie. You are already mastering the role of a true Dungeon Watcher."
From his remote station, Creed chimed in. "I have visual confirmation on them as well. They are currently navigating Level 1B. It looks like they are not rushing. They are meticulously mapping the alternate layouts to ensure their main invasion force doesn't get lost."
Down in the workshop, the loud hiss of red-hot steel being plunged into a quenching trough echoed over the comms. "That is actually fantastic news," Vergil commented as he pulled a freshly forged blade from the water.
"What is so good about Stars 1 Clan come to the dungeon?" Valkriea asked over the radio.
Aeka answered for him. "It means the Yuta Dungeon has officially reached the fame. Star-Ranked Clans almost never mobilize their main forces unless there is a world-class threat or a massive fortune on the line."
"Exactly," Lira agreed from the lab. "They usually leave the lower-tier dungeons to the non stars guilds or outsource the job to adventure party. Their presence means we are officially on the map."
"Sylvy, I am going to need your assistance down here," Vergil requested over the radio. "Izunami and Kyumara are going to be rotating shifts constantly to handle the influx, so we need to step up our production."
Kurogami's calm voice cut through the chatter. "I will begin inspecting the monster wards immediately. If these elite clans deploy the 'Venomous' subclass—the advanced Assassin branch—they will likely try to use high-tier debilitating toxins and debuffs against our floor bosses. We need to prepare anti-poison countermeasures."
"A highly tactical precaution," Vergil praised. "Do it."
"Speaking of countermeasures," Anastasya announced, her fingers dancing across the control runes. "Aeka, Valkriea... you are officially cleared to deploy your custom monsters. Release the Ghostring on Level 8, and the Deviling on Level 9."
"Understood!" Aeka replied eagerly.
"Wait, are we deploying them right now? Even though we only have one of each?" Valkriea asked, slightly hesitant to risk their hard work.
"The fact that there is only one of each is exactly what makes them SSSR-tier raid bosses!" Aeka explained excitedly.
"Oh... OH! I see!" Valkriea squealed. Even through the distorted radio channel, every single Dungeon Manager could hear the absolute, giddy thrill in Valkriea's voice at the prospect of her creation becoming a highly coveted, super-rare target for the elite adventurers.
Shortly, a new notification pinged on the command console. Anastasya quickly scanned the incoming message.
"Vergil, Freya," Anastasya called out. "Emperor Shiroi has officially deployed the 8th Chapter of the Grey Knights to Zephyr Town."
Vergil leaned back, crossing his arms. "I imagine he read the incident report from three weeks ago, when that adventurer died and a Star 1 Clan first showed up looking for them."
"Exactly," Anastasya confirmed. "Their primary mandate is still Search and Rescue, but Shiroi has officially assigned them a secondary objective: maintaining security and order in Zephyr Town."
Freya let out a soft sigh, adjusting her assassin gear. "Let me guess. That secondary objective has everything to do with the four Star 1 Clans that just dropped anchor."
"Spot on," Anastasya nodded.
"It aligns perfectly with our original contingency plans for the Yuta Dungeon," Vergil noted with a pragmatic smirk. "The sooner the 8th Chapter arrives, the easier it will be to organize those massive egos and regulate where they are allowed to park their Magical Airships."
Marie, listening intently to the geopolitical discussion, tilted her head. "Is the gap between a normal adventuring party and a Star 1 Clan really that massive?"
"It is an ocean of a difference, Marie," Freya answered gently. "To start, maintaining and fueling a single Magical Airship costs an absolute fortune."
Nova, who was meticulously calibrating a sniper rifle scope, raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "So these Star 1 Clans are basically filthy rich?"
"Extremely," Mina confirmed, hopping up to sit on the edge of the control desk. "Just establishing an official Clan is an incredibly expensive and bureaucratic nightmare. The requirements are ridiculous."
"What kind of requirements?" Marie asked.
In the Hilda workshop, Aria paused her work—she and Hilda were carefully stitching protective runes into a high-tier magic robe. "First, the founding party must already be an established squad where every single member is at least Rank B. The party leader automatically becomes the Clan Master. Second, they must own a physical estate or permanent building to serve as their headquarters. And finally, they have to pay a registration fee of roughly ten million Gold Zeny to the Adventurer Guild."
Nova's jaw dropped. "Ten million? Wait, what is the conversion rate? Is that like fifty million US dollars?"
Creed, adjusting his terminal, chuckled. "In physical weight, the registration fee alone is the equivalent of handing the Guild one hundred solid gold bars."
Vergil nodded, confirming the staggering sum.
"The barrier to entry is brutal, but the privileges make it worthwhile," Freya added.
"What kind of privileges?" Marie pressed, fascinated by the guild economics.
Sylvy chimed in. "Clans are allowed to bypass the standard Guild bureaucracy. They can take on massive, high-tier quests directly from the Guild Master without jumping through hoops, and the payouts are astronomical."
Chloe nodded in agreement. "To put it in perspective: when a solo adventurer or a normal party completes a quest, the Guild usually takes a massive cut, leaving the adventurers with only 30% to 40% of the total reward money. But Star-Ranked Clans? They have the bargaining power to negotiate taking 80% to 100% of the quest's payout. The catch is that the jobs they take are infinitely more dangerous."
Nova let out a heavy, exasperated sigh at the sheer scale of the fantasy economy, while Marie simply stared in absolute shock.
"Don't forget, Clans are legally treated as massive organizations," Vergil reminded them. "They still have to pay heavy corporate taxes to the Empire. When you factor that in, demanding those massive payouts is just standard business survival."
"Exactly," Creed agreed. "That ten million Zeny registration doesn't cover their operating costs. They still have to pay their members' salaries, maintain their airships, and buy thousands of high-tier healing potions and supplies. It is a massive logistical machine."
Vergil fell silent for a moment, his tactical mind running through the geopolitical implications of the Star Clans' presence. "I should head to the surface and personally meet with Guild Master Malgus and Mayor Shotta. We need to coordinate a formal briefing so these Clan Masters fully understand the absolute authority of the Grey Knights."
Freya nodded in agreement, a confident smile crossing her lips. "That is a wise decision. If you officially present yourself with your title as Prince of the Empire, those Clan Masters will be forced to think twice before starting any turf wars in Zephyr Town."
Vergil turned to the Dwarf hammering away at the anvil. "Broomir, I have urgent political business to attend to on the surface. I am leaving the forge in your hands."
"Ha! Don't you worry about a thing, boss!" Broomir laughed, wiping soot from his brow.
"One last request," Vergil added before leaving. "Begin manufacturing the 'Snake Sword' prototype we designed, but keep the production numbers strictly limited. We want it to be a highly coveted rare drop."
Broomir grinned broadly. "Consider it done. I'll make sure it's a masterpiece."
With his instructions set, Vergil signaled for one of the heavy security Golems. The massive stone construct nodded, placing a hand on Vergil's shoulder and casting Earth Swim. The two of them phased seamlessly through the solid rock walls, bypassing the treacherous labyrinth entirely, until the Golem deposited Vergil safely at the hidden maintenance stairs of Level 6B.
Vergil thanked the construct and casually ascended the long staircase to the surface.
When he finally stepped out of the dungeon's main entrance, he found a massive, winding queue of adventurers waiting for their turn to enter. Several rookies blinked in confusion as Vergil strolled past them. Dressed in his sleek, black Assassin-class gear, he didn't have a single scratch on his armor, nor did he look the least bit fatigued.
"Look at that guy," one adventurer whispered. "He's completely spotless. He must just be a low-level gatherer farming herbs on the first floor. There's no way he was actually fighting."
Hearing their whispers, Vergil simply smiled to himself, highly amused by their ignorance, and continued his leisurely stroll toward Zephyr Town.
Upon arriving at the bustling Adventurer Guild branch, Vergil bypassed the crowded lobby and walked straight up to the main reception desk. "I need to see Guild Master Malgus immediately. It is a matter of urgent business," Vergil stated.
The female receptionist, looking completely overwhelmed by the influx of Star Clan members, offered a polite but strained smile. "I apologize, sir, but the Guild Master is currently swamped with elite delegations. He is not taking unscheduled appointments."
Vergil leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a calm, authoritative whisper. "The Grey is here."
The receptionist froze. She instantly recognized the highly classified Standard Operating Procedure phrase established for the Zephyr Town branch. All the color drained from her face as she gave a sharp nod. "Please wait right here, sir. I will fetch the Guild Master immediately."
Moments later, Guild Master Malgus practically sprinted down the stairs alongside the receptionist. Spotting Vergil, Malgus quickly bowed his head. "Prince Vergil. It is an honor."
"We don't have much time for pleasantries, Malgus," Vergil said quietly. "A massive enforcement unit is currently en route to the town."
Malgus's eyes widened in realization. "Is it... Code Grey?"
Vergil nodded slowly.
Malgus let out a heavy breath, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Then we need to meet with Mayor Shotta immediately. If we don't brief him before they touch down, the sheer shock might give the poor man a heart attack."
"Agreed," Vergil replied, gesturing toward the door. "Let's move, before any misunderstandings trigger a diplomatic incident."
Vergil and Guild Master Malgus arrived at Mayor Shotta's estate with no time to spare. Pushing past the bewildered guards, Vergil delivered the grim alert: "The Grey is here."
Shotta sprang up from his desk, his face instantly paling. "When do they arrive?!"
"Any minute now," Vergil replied calmly. "Let's head outside."
The three men hurried out of the estate and made their way to the main gates of Zephyr Town. They didn't have to wait long. The deafening roar of heavy magitech thrusters tore through the sky as a colossal EaglePlane dropship—bearing the proud royal crest of the Kainaldia Empire—descended from the clouds. The sheer size of the aircraft kicked up a massive gale of dust as it touched down just outside the town's perimeter.
Vergil, Malgus, and Shotta braced themselves as the massive boarding ramps hissed open, venting pressurized steam into the air.
Then, the ground literally began to tremble.
Guild Master Malgus and Mayor Shotta stared in absolute, stunned silence. Stepping out of the dropship were the Grey Knights. Clad in incredibly thick, heavy-duty mech armor, every single soldier towered at an imposing average height of 2.5 meters. They looked less like men and more like walking fortresses.
In perfect, terrifyingly disciplined unison, all one thousand elite personnel disembarked from the colossal EaglePlane. Without a single word, the giant super-soldiers dropped to one knee before Vergil, the thunderous clatter of their armor echoing across the open plains.
At the forefront of the formation, Chapter Master Asura bowed his heavily armored head. "The 8th Chapter of the Grey Knights is ready for duty."
Vergil gave a curt, approving nod. "Stand up. You are to proceed immediately to the Citadel of Titan, which Emperor Shiroi has already prepared for you on the outskirts of the town."
"Understood, Your Highness!" Asura rose to his full, towering height and turned to face his legion. "8th Chapter! We march to our new fortress!"
The one thousand Grey Knights let out a deafening, unified battle cry that shook the very air itself. Moving with absolute military precision, the massive armored battalion began their heavy, thundering march toward the Citadel of Titan, leaving Malgus and Shotta completely speechless in their wake.