The Wandering Devil
Chapter: 46
Disclaimer: I don't own High School DxD or any other universe used in this story.
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance.
(The Loki Familia)
-{Rias Gremory}-
Rias walked through the corridors of her family's estate, her footsteps echoing on the polished floor.
She was back from Kuoh and into hell once more, an occurrence that had become more recent as of late for reasons she found her mind unwilling to go through.
The weight of her engagement sat heavily on her mind, another chain binding her to a future she hadn't chosen.
Another problem she couldn't solve. Let alone solve, she didn't have the necessary brainpower even to process its existence.
Not when there were bigger concerns. Far bigger than her choice being taken away.
Her eyes locked onto a familiar visage as she found Grayfia near the eastern wing, overseeing a group of servants as they prepared one of the guest halls.
The silver-haired maid dismissed the staff with a gesture, as if she knew a certain someone was going to barge in.
As expected, she turned around and looked right at her.
"Lady Rias," Grayfia said, bowing slightly.
"Grayfia." Rias stopped in front of her, searching the woman's face for any hint of news. "Has Lord Beelzebub found anything?"
Grayfia didn't look surprised at the immediate question. Her expression didn't change, but something flickered in her eyes. A hint of melancholy and suppressed gloom.
Her lips quivered ever so slightly, as if they weren't ready to believe the words they spewed.
"I'm afraid I don't know anything."
As if water sliding down the petals of a rose, and falling into the mud below, Rias' lips fell into a frown. Her ears twitched, as they had been forced to listen to the same sentence hundreds of times, albeit from a different mouth each time.
"Grayfia, please." Rias stepped closer, voice dropping. "It's been months. There has to be something."
The maid's gaze mellowed into something warmer than ice, and yet remained firm as ever.
"I'm just as impatient to know the answer to this mystery as you are, Lady Rias." She paused, and for a moment, the professional mask slipped. "You know how my younger sister is, she has been terrorising her classmates with both verbal and physical cruelty, more so than usual. His group of friends have also noticed his absence."
Rias grimaced.
Her dear brother was too kind and reserved for his own good, so much so that she was grateful for the presence of Sylphia by his side.
Her parents had decided to continue down the streak of doing things their daughters didn't like and had sent Zephyrion to the Devil Academy. There was no need for him to be at that place, for he was unnaturally gifted in the prospects of the mind.
Rias was sure that if Zeph had been allowed access to magic, he would have competed with the likes of Ajuka Beelzebub and Mephisto Pheles for the title of prodigy in whatever subject he touched.
The reason her parents had decided to ignore all that was, again, their wish for their children to fit in a certain mould. They'd hoped it would help him make connections and build confidence.
And similar to their attempt with her, they had failed. Instead of becoming more social, he'd been getting mocked and bullied.
Rias frowned. She had had half the mind to erase those pieces of shit, but Zephyrion had urged her not to.
A part of her wondered if he had really been taken or if he had just… left. But no, that wouldn't make sense. A bitter knife twisted inside her stomach as she recalled how weak the virtue of that seal had made her brother.
Rias still remembered the arguments.
Their sister and parents had gone too far, even stopping Zephyrion from attending magical classes because of that seal. It had only made him a more obvious target of mockery among the kids of lower houses, who weren't heirs and were destined to a life of mediocrity.
At least he'd found a few friends to help defend himself when he was too soft to do so on his own.
His group of friends included, surprisingly, Sylphia Lucifuge.
That was a welcome surprise as well. She had doubts about her, given Lord Lucifuge's terse behaviour, but Sylphia had proven to be a true friend of her brother.
Sometimes, even more than a friend.
"You know how close they were," Grayfia continued, her voice quieter now. "Especially Sylphia. She hasn't stopped asking about him. She's even stopped eating properly."
Rias felt her chest tighten. Zephyrion's other friends were no less worried, but they couldn't voice it. Their standing in devil society didn't allow for that kind of attachment to be shown so openly.
"I understand," Rias said, swallowing her questions.
She began walking past, only for Grayfia to fall into step with her.
Grayfia frowned, studying her.
"While nothing has been said officially, I believe Lord Beelzebub has found something. But I'm not certain." She crossed her arms.
Rias blinked and looked at her in surprise.
She had been asking for a while now. After the shock had worn off, everyone had burst into action. After all, Zephyrion was royalty. The abduction of a prince isn't a simple matter, after all.
"It's been his greatest task since it happened. Both because it's an unprecedented mystery and a security risk, and because of Lady Lucifer's insistence." Grayfia said.
"What has he found?" Rias asked immediately, jumping onto the sliver of hope
"Nothing concrete," Grayfia replied. "But he has a theory."
Rias's shoulders sagged.
A theory.
That was all they had after weeks of searching.
"What is this theory?" Rias asked.
"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss it," Grayfia said, her usually cold tone genuinely apologetic. "I haven't even been able to tell my clan and, by extension, my younger sister of any updates."
Rias nodded with a resigned air around her.
When a person was kidnapped, you had the best chances of finding them within the first day.
It had been months by now.
She looked up at Grayfia, and the words came out before she could stop them. "Do you even think he's alive?"
The pain in her voice was raw, undisguised.
Grayfia opened her mouth.
Then, it closed it. Her professional composure wavered.
"Yes," she said finally.
Rias looked away, blinking hard.
Zephyrion wasn't a fighter, after all.
Whatever had happened to him, wherever he'd gone, he hadn't been prepared for it. A pang of desperate guilt tore through her heart and sent her thoughts into that now-familiar frenzy, imagining the brutality her brother was going through, how pain might overwrite his memories with bleach.
She just hoped he was alive and had enough will to miss his home.
-{Zephyrion Gremory}-
It was nice to be home again.
That became especially apparent as a warm Goddess dove into my embrace.
"You're back!" Hestia threw herself at me, her voice breaking with relief. "I was so worried! What if the summoning didn't work? What if you got stuck there? I tried looking for those Summoning scrolls, but I couldn't find them anywhere."
She pulled back just enough to look at my face, her blue eyes shimmering. "Don't scare me like that again!"
"Hey, hey," I said, wrapping my arms around her and holding her close. "I'm ok. I'm sorry for worrying you. I should have kept more Summoning scrolls just in case."
She looked up at me, her expression still torn between relief and panic.
"It turns out the world I visited before wasn't quite done with me yet."
That instantly grabbed her full attention, and her eyes became questioning.
"What happened?"
"Satomi is alive…" I revealed, getting a slight reaction from Hestia. "It's a really long story." I chuckled. "But to make it simple, she was transported in a situation akin to mine. With a new body with even more powers. Then she summoned me, assuming I was still in her old world."
I snapped my fingers and caused a silencing charm to envelope us.
Just in case.
Hestia nodded slowly, engrossed in processing the information I had dumped on her.
Then, when her mental faculties returned, her body seemed to melt even more into a puddle, forcing me to adjust my posture to make sure that we don't fall.
Her eyes seemed to be transfixed on me, as if searching for something that even she didn't know she needed. I couldn't even blame her since I was as guilty of searching for that familiar ember of warmth in her eyes.
I was even more guilty, as I took in the scent of her hair and revelled in the smell of flowers I couldn't be bothered to learn the names of.
However, thanks to the aforementioned action, I could see the moment she noticed the changes that had occurred back in Yggsadril.
She touched my face with a loving yet hesitant touch, her eyes fluctuating as she registered each difference, her face getting even closer to my own. I felt it as she accessed her limited divinity, her eyes becoming crystals, somehow more beautiful than ever before.
"Zephyrion…" Hestia began.
I already knew what would be asked.
"What happened to your appearance?" Hestia asked, looking confused and worried once more. "I don't remember your ears being pointed."
Hestia pursed her lips as she perhaps noticed the changes that weren't visible to the naked eye.
"A lot seems to have happened."
At that moment, she seemed to remember we weren't alone. Her eyes widened slightly as she spotted Sebas standing some feet behind me. His posture was perfect, professional even, but I caught the subtle signs of tension in his shoulders.
I sighed as I thought of why that may be.
He'd probably seen Hestia's tackle as a potential attack and had been a split-second away from intervening. His stance relaxed just marginally, and his eyes remained ever cautious.
"Zephyrion?" Hestia's voice was small, uncertain. "Who...?"
"Sebas Tian," I introduced. "A… servant."
Hestia seemed to finally grasp that Satomi's situation was truly as complicated as I'd made it sound, especially considering I'd previously described Satomi as nothing more than an ordinary gamer.
Sebas bowed with perfect elegance, every movement screaming 'THE Refined Butler'. "Lady Hestia. It is an honour to finally get the chance to witness your Divine grace with my own eyes. Lord Zephyrion has spoken highly of you, and clearly, his supreme mind has held back his praises for you."
Hestia blinked, visibly thrown off by both the formal greeting and the genuine respect in his tone.
She looked between us, and I could see her mind working through the implications.
"You've been gone for two days and somehow managed to come back with a changed appearance and a butler? A rather powerful one at that." Hestia's words carried concern, but the smile on her face was undeniable. "Well, at least you're back without any harm."
I opened my mouth to reply, warmth filling my chest as I met her loving gaze, only for her words to register finally.
"Two days?" I asked, confused.
Hestia tilted her head at my reaction.
"Hestia, how long has it been since I left?" I pressed.
Her face scrunched up in a bit of confusion.
"Two days." She revealed.
Two days.
I felt a wave of shock pass me.
I'd spent over a week in Nazarick. I'd trained, fought, made alliances, undergone a complete racial transformation, and from Orario's perspective, barely two days had passed.
Time dilation between worlds.
That's… a dangerous thing I hadn't considered before, and perhaps my ignorance was the worst thing about the revelation.
I filed away this crucial tidbit for later deliberation and focused on the more important subject at hand. The subject looked rightfully offended as I wasn't focusing solely on her.
"Then I have a lot to catch you up on," I said, giving her a smile that felt far lighter than before. "But perhaps it's best if we talk somewhere private."
Hestia nodded and took a deep breath. "Let's go greet the rest of our Familia. They've been rather worried. We can talk about the details later."
We walked back into the house, having been summoned in the courtyard. The moment I stepped through the door. My familia was sitting there, eyes glued to the door.
I didn't know if they had heard my voice or were sitting like that for however long Hestia took to summon me, but they all perked up simultaneously, as if they had rehearsed this.
Bell jumped to his feet, his red eyes wide with relief. "Zephyrion! You're back!"
Lili smiled from where she sat at the table, the expression genuine. "We were getting worried."
Welf let out a long breath, setting down whatever he'd been working on. "About damn time. Where did you vanish off to? Lady Hestia was scrambling around as a woman possessed."
Hestia pretended to cough into her fist and looked away, and I rewarded her cute display with a smile.
"Sorry for the worry, it's good to see you all," I said, looking at my small but loyal Familia. I looked at the blacksmith as he played with his hammer. "It was an unexpected summons, one I couldn't refuse."
Welf chuckled, perhaps finding the idea absurd. The rest just nodded, accepting the explanation without question.
"Not the best timing, man," Welf said with amusement so thick that it almost dripped onto the carpet below. "We had to send many people home for the application to join us since Bell felt too nervous to take over, and processing their admission needed your 'authorisation'. At least that's what the elf from the guild told us."
Bell blushed.
"At least we got a few people with higher than average potential. I never wanted the Familia to get too big anyway." Lili admitted with a small blush.
"It's probably for the best," I said. "What did you do for those we recruited?"
"Sent them back home and told them we would contact them soon," Lili informed me, shrugging her shoulders.
"Good, I'm glad you handled it so well. Especially with unknown watchers tracking us." I responded with
I noticed them staring at the butler, who in turn observed them with keen interest and sharp eyes.
"We're just glad you're okay," Welf said, giving me a serious nod.
"Yeah, it's good to be back. The experience was rather interesting."
"Does that story include how you gained a butler?" Lili asked.
"Yes, actually. Also, he's going to be joining us." I gestured to the regal statue of gentlemanlyness. "This is Sebas Tian. He'll be joining the Familia. He's a butler, and he's powerful."
Three pairs of eyes dropped pretences and now openly stared at Sebas with varying degrees of surprise.
Sebas bowed with perfect precision. "It is an honour to make your acquaintance, Lord Zephyrion's Familia. I am Sebas Tian, and I have been assigned to serve Lord Zephyrion.
I look forward to working alongside you all."
Lili nodded as if she had grown accustomed to the effects of my existence. "Two days and you've come back with the title of Lord. Seems about right."
Welf recovered fast as well, his eyebrows raised. "A butler? Like, an actual trained butler?"
"Indeed. I am proficient in all matters of household management, protocol, and..." Sebas paused delicately. "Other necessary skills."
"But you can fight as well?" Welf asked, clearly interested.
Sebas gave a humble nod. "I am capable of protecting my Lord's residence from all forms of ugliness."
"He's stronger than me," I added in my own two cents.
Lili's sharp eyes were analysing him. I could see her mind working, trying to assess his level, his threat, his value. She failed miserably, by the way. Her eyebrows twitched as she failed to infer anything but her own incapability. "You don't seem like… a normal butler."
"I am nothing more than a humble servant to the Supreme Beings, and their stature required me to be more than normal as well, so that's what I am," Sebas confirmed.
Bell looked between us, confusion and curiosity warring on his face. "Will you be living here with us, Sebas?"
"If Lord Zephyrion permits it, yes."
"Of course," I said, looking at Sebas with a warm look. "He's one of us now."
I couldn't deny I was excited to test what he could do with the Falna. I also wanted to test out my evil pieces, but I wasn't sure whether Sebas would agree.
Satomi had given her permission and spoke about the potential of racial skills being altered or outright removed.
It was weird.
If I had servants like this, I wouldn't dare give them away, but she seemed to consider my peerage a part of Nazarick, which I was agreeable to since she had made it clear I was a part of her family.
Hestia squeezed my arm. "We can talk more about this later. Right now, I need to have some words with Zephyrion."
The others nodded, understanding the message immediately.
Bell smiled encouragingly, Welf gave a casual wave, and Lili inclined her head.
Hestia led me to our room and closed the door behind us.
The moment we were alone, her composure cracked slightly.
"Okay. Explain. Everything."
I sat on the edge of the bed.
She remained standing, arms crossed, waiting.
"Satomi apparently hadn't died; she just got teleported to another world," I started, deciding not to hold back.
I allowed her to digest the words for a moment.
"Her original body was left behind without any soul, which explains why I couldn't revive her, and the world she went to was the world of that game I had tried to explain to you. Oh yeah, she also got the body of the character she used in the game."
Hestia's eyes widened. "What?"
"She became the queen of a place called Nazarick. It's a massive underground tomb filled with incredibly powerful beings. Think of it like..." I searched for the right comparison. "A guild based on a game, but real, full of NPCs who have now turned into real people. Or perhaps they had always been real. Hard to say for sure."
"NPCs?" Hestia questioned. "So it's the place you told me about, the other world you would play around in with Satomi?"
That was how I had explained it.
"Non-player characters. Servants, guards, guardians. Sebas was considered one. All loyal to their creators. Also, I am considered one of their creators as well, since Satomi messed around with their Setti- memories before her inter-dimensional kidnapping."
Hestia sat down slowly next to me. "And then she summoned you?"
"She thought I was still in her old world, all alone. She wanted to bring me to safety, and she considers me a part of Nazarick, the last of her guildmates of sorts." I rubbed my face. "For me, it was a week. I was stuck there waiting to be summoned back here, so I spent the time training and learning a new type of magic."
"A week," Hestia repeated softly. "And here it's only been two days. That's dangerous, Zephyrion… but that much is expected from a power such as yours. I… I don't like the thought of you travelling anymore."
"I didn't consider it before, since it hadn't happened. It seems like it's perhaps a rare trait amongst worlds? It may even be unique to Yggdrasil, but I think I'm going to stop my exploration of words for now." I said, making her sigh in relief. "Barring my original world."
She was frowning again.
"You've found a way."
It was a statement.
I nodded. The vulnerability and subtle fear that crept up on her face weren't surprising.
"I believe when my eyes are charged, with the help of Nazarick, I'll be able to direct my travels with more precision," I explained. "It'll take a lot of resources, but with their help, it seems highly likely that it'll succeed."
Hestia's eyes looked away, and she merely nodded.
She went quiet for a moment, processing. Then she turned back to me with a blank expression. "So why has your appearance changed? Your eyes, your ears. What happened?"
This was the hard part.
I went into detail about what had happened and about Satomi's surprise use of a limited-world item on me, changing my race and boosting my power.
I cupped Hestia's face. It had turned a bit pale, as if even imagining my suffering was something that sent fear rolling down her veins. "She changed your race? Zephyrion, that's..."
"I know." I took her hands. "But I'm fine. Better than fine, actually. My power grew massively. I'll live longer than a devil now without needing contracts, and I gained some powerful racial abilities."
"You could have died," she whispered. "Or worse."
"But I didn't. And the alternative was potentially worse." I squeezed her hands gently. "Satomi used the world-item because it has more control and is the safest option."
She pulled me into a fierce hug, her face buried in my chest. "Sometimes you're an idiot. A reckless, stupid idiot."
"I know." I sighed.
"Don't do that again," Hestia commanded, but didn't sound very threatened while buried into my chest. "I understand why, and I'm grateful Satomi decided to go with the safest path despite the cost. But changing your entire being could have gone horribly wrong."
"It was a calculated risk, and don't worry, I won't let it happen again. At least try to." I promised.
The race I was now was beyond anything else, and I didn't intend to change it. Anything I could change it with would be less than a World Enemy-level race.
She pulled back just enough to glare at me, though her eyes were damp. "That's not good enough."
"I promise," I said truthfully.
She sighed, then leaned against me.
We sat like that for a while, just holding each other.
Eventually, I explained the rest. The resources I'd gained, the magic I'd learned, and the political situation in Nazarick.
Hestia listened to everything, occasionally asking questions, sometimes just squeezing my hand.
When I finished, she was quiet for a long moment.
"I need to meet this Satomi eventually," she finally said. "After she's done so much, I must say I'm already rather fond of her."
"Well. I want to take you with me. Having an unbound Goddess sounds nice, and I've admittedly wanted you with me for a while." I admitted.
Hestia smiled softly. "But you don't want to abandon this world, do you? And you're worried about leaving the Familia unattended."
I sighed, nodding.
"I don't think you'll need to worry about that anymore with that strange being you've brought back." Hestia laughed before becoming serious. "If you're going to your old world, whether I want it or not, I need to be there with you."
"Are you sure?" I asked hesitantly. "I don't want to take you away from your world, and I know you take your duties as a Goddess to our Familia seriously."
She cuddled closer, and we stayed like that until there was a polite knock at the door.
"Enter," I called.
Sebas stepped in, bowing. "Forgive the intrusion, Lord Zephyrion, Lady Hestia. I wished to inquire if any tasks required my attention. I had asked Mr Bell, but he was too.. pre-occupied to answer me, and instead directed me to you."
Bell probably was too flustered and anxious by your presence, but I appreciate your defence of my white bunny boy.
Hestia sat up. "Actually, yes."
She looked at me, and I nodded.
"I'd like to give you my Falna."
"Lord Zephyrion informed me of such a blessing. May I inquire as to what exactly it does?"
I decided to explain it to him in terms which he would understand better.
"It's a blessing given by a God, allowing you to grow through slaying monsters in a dungeon nearby. The higher the levels it rises to, the more power you gain in terms of stats that are then updated by the God who gave you your Falna. Which, for me, is Hestia." I explained.
"You believe it'll allow me to grow in power, my Lord?" Sebas asked, a hint of shock in his tone.
"That's what we're going to find out," I said. "You're stuck at your current power level. The Falna might give you a new avenue for growth, and by extension, it would work for the entirety of Nazarick."
Sebas looked at me, stunned, and his eyes began to shine with pure admiration, as if he had been let in on a divine plan spanning thousands of years.
Sebas bowed deeply. "Then I am at your disposal, Lady Hestia."
-Scene Break-
Hestia stood with her arms crossed, looking at both Sebas and me with a frown.
A frown that became even deeper when I stepped into the demonic summoning circle I'd drawn in the courtyard.
Her expression was somewhere between annoyed and resigned.
"Must you go?" Hestia questioned with a hint of exasperation. "Surely the dungeon can wait for a while."
"I want to experiment and go deeper into the dungeon with Sebas," I replied calmly. "And we need to test out if the Falna even works."
"You just got back," she said flatly.
"It's been three days," I replied with amusement.
"Barely."
"Barely?" I questioned.
"Yes, barely. And Bell has been leading small hunts every day." Hestia said with a pout. "Can you not just send Sebas with them? He's more than capable, and he could probably act in your stead regarding the torture you call training."
"Hey… I do it out of a desire to see rapid improvement." I replied weakly. "And I'm only going for a few hours. Being able to teleport cuts the time down by a lot."
"It's not fair, can't you take a few weeks off?" Hestia muttered, crossing her arms.
My will would have faltered by the look she was giving me. It wasn't like I didn't want to rest, but I knew that the more I gave in, the more she would desire. I could spend a month with her, and she would still ask me to retire from Dungeon-ing.
I didn't have any proof, but I didn't plan to verify the authenticity of my hypothesis.
"I'm going to be back in a few hours," I pointed out. "We can continue cuddling when I'm back, trust me. I'm not exactly trying to run away from a beautiful Goddess. There's just some things to take care of."
It was good that Bell could dungeon dive without my immediate supervision, though, especially with my Basilisk.
She pouted, then sighed.
"Fine. But I want to go to the Moon Festival that's being held in a week as payment."
I raised an eyebrow. "I would have gone anyway."
"Then consider it a guarantee," Hestia said, though she looked happy.
"Deal."
I gave her a quick hug and enjoyed her comforting presence. Then, I stepped back into the circle with a patient Sebas.
The circle flared red. Demonic power was greedily absorbed, and space twisted.
The courtyard vanished.
We materialised on the 42nd floor of the dungeon.
I had managed to reach the deepest part of the dungeon.
The air immediately became oppressive, and we were blanketed in a similar silence.
The walls were a deep grey stone, almost black, and the passage we had arrived at was wide enough for several adventurers to walk through side by side. While luminescent moss provided dim light as it hung overhead.
I hadn't dared to dive deeper than this.
The dungeon was extremely dangerous down here, even for me. At least it had been, till my racial change.
I'd had no one to rely on, so I listened to Rose's advice when dealing with powerful monsters.
Sure, I could take on many. But it took one dungeon flood or a large horde for that to suddenly become life-threatening.
It was easy to forget that even with entire Familias working together, the lowest floors hadn't been fully explored. Most adventurers never made it past floor 40.
With Sebas, I could afford to push deeper.
"So this is the dungeon, my Lord?" Sebas asked, looking around.
"It is." I nodded. "A place where monsters exist, becoming stronger the higher the floors you climb."
I could see him thinking it through.
"It seems this dungeon has monsters that outrival the monsters witnessed within the new world," Sebas commented. "Truly, a fascinating display. To have a location to keep all these monsters and to have Gods walking around willingly sealed… what a marvellous place this is."
"Yeah, Gods are truly powerful and even sealed, they shouldn't be underestimated. It's a strange world, both safe and unsafe."
Sebas frowned. "It's strange. To hear these Gods hold such a power to make even the supreme beings wary."
Heh.
They were far above us.
"You don't need to worry about them; they're sealed and unable to act. And even so, they aren't immune to everything. I'd know, considering a God recently tried to mess with us." I commented as we began walking.
Sebas looked both intrigued and alarmed. "May I ask what happened, my Lord?"
"I took their domain, which is a God's main source of divine power. In this world, it's called Arcanum. Then I sent him back to his home, forever weakened." I replied with a shrug.
Sebas looked shocked.
"Even Gods can bleed, Sebas, I'd know that more than anyone, considering the death world I come from." I patted him on the back. "Which leads me to my next point."
I turned my head and stared right into his eyes.
"Stay alert and drop any preconceptions about what you may encounter here. Every world is different, and holding onto what's familiar might just become one's undoing in an alien world," I said. "The monsters here are on a completely different level."
"Of course, Lord Zephyrion," Sebas said dutifully, but looked at me as if he had discovered another plot.
We moved forward.
The passages were quiet except for our footsteps.
Then I heard it.
The scrape of claws on stone.
A Spartoi emerged from the shadows, a skeleton warrior, easily three meters tall, wielding a massive sword.
Sevas closed the distance in a blink, his form blurring. The Spartoi swung its blade. Sebas caught it with one hand, stopped it cold, then drove his other fist through the skeleton's ribcage.
A shockwave erupted from his fist and penetrated through its body to the point that even its magic stone shattered.
The monster dissolved.
Sebas clenched his fist.
"A Spartoi. A level four threat." I said. "Don't let yourself get lulled into confidence. While I'm a lot more confident with you by my side, they can still come in massive hordes."
"That would indeed prove to be a lot messier to deal with." Sebas nodded humbly.
We continued. More monsters appeared. Almiraj, giant rabbit creatures with spiral horns, Spartoi in groups.
Sebas was a beast.
He handled them all with ruthless efficiency. He never wasted any movement, never used more force than necessary. His Draganoid race shone through in the form of pure strength.
The fact that he had a form above this was amazingly terrifying.
His main attack seemed to be a palm strike that delivered a lethal, controlled shockwave, capable of piercing the monster's body with ease.
It was something I wanted to learn.
Since I was magic-focused, while Sebas was martial arts-focused, the value showed itself.
I watched him fight and understood something important.
Even having basic beings from other worlds become adventurers would be dangerous.
Most adventurers, even with power, didn't have the proper magical or physical abilities to use them effectively.
Sebas was level one in terms of his Falna, but his combat ability was easily level eight or nine from Nazarick's standards. He could probably defeat multiple level fours without breaking a sweat.
The Falna would only make him more terrifying.
Sebas wiped out entire groups, coming to stand back next to me after it happened.
Floor 43 brought a new creature that I was expecting to meet.
Deformis. Grotesque humanoid monsters with elongated limbs.
I finally decided to join the fight as well, since these required the more esoteric touch.
A group of five charged at us. A pillar of fire erupted from the ground, consuming five of them instantly.
There was a moment of silence, and then we both exploded forward. What followed was pure slaughter. Sebas managed to keep up, killing monsters with single palm strikes while I practised my swordsmanship and cut through ranks with ease.
We descended. Floor 44, 45, 46. The monsters grew stronger, more numerous. Black Rhinos, massive armoured beasts.
Silver Backs, gorilla creatures with strength that could shatter stone.
Floor 47 opened into a wider chamber. The red walls pulsed with heat. Cracks along the stone glowed like dying embers.
Then the dungeon walls rippled.
Monsters came out in waves.
Dozens of them. Black Rhinos charged from three directions. Silver Backs dropped from above. Deformis crawled from the walls, their elongated limbs scraping stone. The chamber filled with roars and the thunder of movement.
I drew my sword.
Sebas glanced at me. I nodded.
We exploded into motion.
We entered a large chamber, and the dungeon revealed its nature when we suddenly found ourselves attacked by massive groups.
My blade cut through the first Silver Back's throat. Blood sprayed across the stone below. I spun, the sword singing through the air, and took the head off a charging Black Rhino. The body skidded past me, momentum carrying it into the wall.
Fire erupted from my free hand. A concentrated blast punched through three Deformis at once, cooking them from the inside out. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air.
Sebas moved in a blur. His palm strikes landed with precision and rang out audibly.
Each impact sent shockwaves through the monster's body. Bones shattered. Internal organs ruptured. A Silverback's chest caved in before it hit the ground. A Black Rhino's armoured skull cracked like an egg.
A group of five Deformis tried to flank me. I raised my hand. Stone spikes erupted from the floor, impaling them before they closed the distance. My sword flashed. Two more Silver Backs fell.
Sebas caught a Black Rhino's charge. His hands gripped its horn. He twisted. The creature's neck snapped. He used the corpse as a battering ram, crushing two more monsters before discarding it.
We carved through them. Blood pooled on the stone. Magic stones clattered as bodies dissolved.
The chamber became a killing floor.
A silverback lunged at my back. Sebas appeared beside it. One palm strike. The creature's spine shattered. It collapsed mid-leap.
I grinned. Cut down three more monsters with rapid strikes. Kicked a Black Rhino's corpse into two advancing Deformis.
My blade followed, splitting both in half.
This was it. This was what I needed. Someone who could keep pace. Someone who didn't slow me down or need protection. Someone who understood efficiency in combat.
The last monster fell. Sebas's palm went through his skull.
By floor 50, we'd carved a path through hundreds of monsters.
We skipped the safe zone floor.
I made sure to keep an eye on my demonic energy.
Even with Sebas, it was steadily ticking down, though I found myself pleasantly surprised by how much I had left. This was the higher end of the high-class… just what did the ultimate class entail? Or even beyond that?
My demonic power hummed, and I enjoyed its newfound strength.
This wasn't just for Sebas; it was to test my own limits as well.
I wasn't too worried.
My physical prowess had shot up, allowing me to act even without magic.
We made our way to floor 51.
More monsters. Cadmus, dragon-toothed warriors. Virga, plant monsters that spat acid. I burned them with controlled blasts of flame.
Sebas crushed them with his bare hands when they got too close.
"Good work, Sebas." I grinned. "If we had a carrier, I could imagine that between the two of us we would amass quite a fortune."
"It is an honour to fight behind a Supreme one such as yourself. Your physical prowess is admirable, and your magical might leaves me in awe, my Lord." Sebas said, his head bowed.
Perhaps if anyone else had said such words, they would be passed off as sarcastic, but Sebas truly meant that.
I found myself flattered.
"You know how to flatter a Devil, Sebas. And I can't deny that having you here is a blessing." I said with a smile. "Bell still has a ways to go before he can catch up."
And before I ask him if he wants to become the first of my peerage.
-{Riveria}-
She dodged a monster's blurring claw, watching it glint dangerously and avoiding having her throat ripped out.
Her silvery-white staff spun, and a blast of ice magic exploded out, freezing the monster and those who were behind it.
A streak of gold ran past, and they all shattered.
Riveria frowned softly.
She couldn't focus properly.
Her thoughts kept drifting to a certain crimson-haired man.
The kiss was heavy on her mind, and his words hadn't stopped replaying in her head.
Did she want it?
The answer was clear, but perhaps the better question was: was it possible? She hadn't experienced this before, and she had to admit she was out of her depth.
Riveria forced her attention back to the dungeon. She was with her party on floor 52, deep in the labyrinth.
This was no place for distraction, and that had been a bit close.
Despite being at a higher level, a sharp claw was going to tear through her throat regardless.
"Lady Riveria, are you alright?" Lefiya asked, concerned in her voice.
"I'm fine." She replied with a nod.
Finn glanced back at her, his thumb against his spear.
The Loki Familia moved through the corridors with practised efficiency. Finn at the lead, Gareth covering the rear. Ais, Tiona, and Tione handled the monsters that appeared. Bete ranged ahead, scouting.
A standard expedition, followed by dozens of lower-levelled adventures.
They'd been down here for days, mapping the floor, gathering drop items.
They had gone through multiple floors each day, making good progress and finding themselves without casualties even as they went against miniature armies of monsters.
Now, they had hit the lowest floor they were willing to go to. They would spend a day here, gathering the purest monster stones they could before heading up.
Riveria couldn't deny there was a strange excitement to go back up. She hadn't even decided on an answer, but she wanted to see him again… purely because he knew so much about the magic, of course.
Riveria cast a spell, eliminating a group of Cadmus before they could reach the front line.
The familiar rhythm of battle helped clear her mind.
Most monsters didn't even get the chance to move closer to her now that she focused. And Finn gave a nod, pleased she was back on her game, only for that to pause briefly as her ears perked up.
Voices. Different ones.
One was familiar…
"Finn," she said quietly.
He'd already heard. His thumb twitched. "Everyone, halt. We have company."
The large group stopped.
Tione blinked. "Company? I didn't hear about any Familia launching an expedition."
Ais tilted her head slightly.
Bete appeared in a blur, scowling. "Tch. Why the hell are we stopping? There's a whole pack of monsters up ahead waiting to be crushed."
"Someone else is approaching," Finn said calmly.
"So? Let them deal with their own shit." Bete crossed his arms. "We're not babysitters."
Finn's smile didn't waver. "It would be rude not to greet fellow adventurers this deep in the dungeon. Besides..." His eyes sharpened slightly. "Anyone strong enough to reach this floor is worth meeting."
The large group proceeded, slaying the few stragglers in their path. Rounding a corner, they entered a larger chamber.
Two figures stood there, surrounded by the remains of at least thirty monsters.
Riveria's heart quickened.
Zephyrion stood calmly, his crimson hair catching the dim light, wearing a grin as his sword swiped and finished the last monster.
Next to him was an older man in a black suit, impeccable despite the dungeon environment.
What were they doing here? This deep?
She felt her heart lurch as a monster jumped out from a shadow, attempting to land on Zephyrion, only to have the butler move like a streak of black lightning and obliterate it.
Who was that?
Why was she feeling a little jealous?
"Good job, Sebas."
-{Zephyrion}-
I spotted the Loki Familia before they fully entered the chamber.
Riveria stood near the front, her jade eyes widening slightly when she saw me. The surprise was subtle, but I caught it.
"Well," I said with a hint of amusement. "This is unexpected."
Finn's eyes narrowed, his hand tightening on his spear. "Adventurers at this depth." His thumb twitched. "Where is your Familia?"
"Not here," I replied. "It's just the two of us."
Riveria stepped forward, recognition crossing her face. "Zephyrion."
Tiona's eyes went wide.
"Wait, that's him? The one who destroyed the entire Apollo Familia?" She looked between us, excitement replacing caution.
Finn coughed. "Forgive our manners. Allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Finn, captain of the Loki Familia."
He then introduced each of his Familia members. Including the dozens of adventurers behind them who were looking at me with… admiration?
"I am Zephyrion, Captain of the Hestia Familia, and this is Sebas… my butler."
The werewolf scoffed, his sharp eyes regarding me. "Seriously?"
"He's also a part of my Familia," I added.
"If he's down here with you, he must be powerful, or you're out of your mind," Bete commented. "Dragging dead weight around is bound to get you killed."
Another monster prowled around the corner, and as if not liking the werewolf's words, Sebas exploded into action and pulverised the monster with a single terrifying punch.
Tione slapped his shoulder. "He's obviously not going to be weak."
Bete scowled. "How am I supposed to know? I've never heard of him."
Ais regarded me. "Aren't you meant to be level three?"
The question drew everyone's attention.
I shrugged.
Nearly level four now.
I should get Hestia to check my Falna.
"Technically."
Ais was being Ais, and staring blankly.
Tione studied us both, her expression sceptical. "Most expeditions to floor 52 need at least fifteen high-level adventurers. You're telling me you made it here with just a party of two?"
"Yep," I responded.
"Bullshit." Bete instantly said, getting a glare from Riveria and a slap on the shoulder from Tiona.
"You think?"
"Tch. You came in after us, right? Even with the strength you showed against Apollo, you should be exhausted as hell by now." Bete's eyes narrowed. "And if you stopped to rest like a normal person, it would've taken you at least a few more days to get this deep. So what the hell's going on here?"
"I have a good butler and stop projecting," I said, turning to Riviera. "I didn't expect to see you for some while."
Bete choked.
Riviera offered a cold look. "Indeed."
Tough crowd.
Finn's expression shifted to cautious respect. "So you're the one Riveria mentioned. The man who soloed the Apollo Familia." His thumb kept twitching. "Your companion must be exceptional as well."
"Low in number, high in quality." I smiled.
There was a brief silence, broken as a monster approached the flank of the large party. One of the adventurers with a large shield quickly spun and blocked it, and another spearwoman pierced it in the next moment.
"I also see you've brought no carrier," Finn noted.
"We have another party on the lower levels doing that. Only Sebas and I can go this far." I replied easily,
Bete scoffed. "You came all the way down here without a carrier?"
"We are mostly pushing ourselves to level up." I nodded.
"You're coming down to such depths with the very real possibility of being overwhelmed… just to train?" Finn asked.
"Fortune favours the bold."
Riveria's eyes narrowed. "Or you've found a way to travel through the dungeon faster. And I've heard of the items of magic you carry. A pouch that can hold an endless amount…"
I didn't respond.
But I could see I had gathered the curiosity of all the adventurers.
"In any case, we're heading back to floor 50 to rest. You're welcome to join us." Finn offered.
"Thanks for the offer, but we're pushing deeper," I said. "We've still got energy to burn."
Finn nodded, accepting the answer without argument.
I caught Riveria's expression. Just for a moment, her eyes flickered with something that looked like disappointment before her mask settled back into place.
I paused.
"Actually," I reconsidered. "A short rest wouldn't hurt. We'll join you."
Bete snorted. "Changed your mind rather quickly, heh. You scared?"
"I'm allowed to reconsider," I replied.
Riveria's expression didn't change, but I caught the slight relaxation in her shoulders.
Finn smiled knowingly. "Then let's head back. We've been down here for days and could use a break ourselves."
The group turned and began the trek back up.
The Loki Familia formed naturally. I noticed it was mostly the stronger adventurers at the front, with Ais, Riveria and Finn leading the way with Bete seemingly scouting ahead.
He could smell the monsters.
I walked near the middle with Sebas, close to where Riveria moved.
Monsters appeared as we climbed. The Loki Familia handled them with brutal efficiency.
The entire Familia was well-equipped with magically enhanced armour. And, curiously enough, I noticed that most of the group were level twos and level threes.
We entered a large clearing and were charged by a large pack of Cadmus.
The Loki Familia exploded into action.
I observed them.
Ais moved like lightning, her sword cutting through three before they closed half the distance. Her speed was genuinely dangerous and within the high class.
Tiona and Tione tag-teamed the rest.
A silverback leapt with a powerful jump, targeting the rear guard. Gareth's axe cleaved it in two before it hit the ground. The dwarf didn't even slow his stride.
The entire Familia kept up a fast pace through anything that came their way.
We continued moving and passed Floor 51.
Deformis crawled from the walls ahead of us.
Bete blurred forward, his clawed kicks tearing through them. He landed, turning back with a cocky grin.
More monsters continued to appear, and watching how a larger Familia operated was interesting to say the least.
The Loki Familia was performing so far above the Apollo Familia that it felt like a joke.
One charged directly at Lefiya. The elf froze for a split second, before she could finish her chant, Sebas decided to get involved. Sebas appeared in front of her. His palm strike caught the rhino mid-charge.
The shockwave rippled through its body. Bones shattered. It collapsed, sliding past Lefiya's feet.
The multiple adventurers looked at Sebas with respect, while the more notable members of a higher level seemed to gauge his strength through that one feat.
"Are you injured, miss?" Sebas asked politely.
"N-no. Thank you."
She would have handled it, but I think Sebas caught on that I didn't want to alienate Riveria's Familia. The butler was proving to be a terrifying entity.
Even at a deep level, the group seemed to handle it with ease.
The next truly big wave of monsters hit us on Floor 51, and I could admit, had I not been teleported down here, I could see the dungeon slowly chipping away at you and then suddenly leading you to massive gatherings of monsters.
Screeches came out in the dozens, and a massive group of monsters poured from multiple passages. Deformis spiders skittered along the walls, their massive bodies blocking hallways. Mixed in were at least a dozen Cadmus, the dragon-like creatures hissing as they charged.
The Loki Familia moved to engage immediately.
Riveria stepped forward, her staff glowing as she began her chant. Ice formed around her as the temperature dropped.
I reached out with my demonic power and fed it into her spell. The ice magic exploded outward, frost coating everything in a massive wave that was at least three times stronger than it should have been.
The temperature plummeted hard.
Dozens of the Deformis that had been trying to form some flank in the large, open-cavernous area we found ourselves in froze solid mid-leap.
Riveria sent me a look.
"-Niflheim," she finished, her voice laced with surprise.
I shot her a playful look, enjoying her surprise, especially since no one else noticed
The enhanced spell shattered the frozen monsters instantly. Ice fragments scattered everywhere.
More monsters poured from side passages.
I finally decided to get involved. I drew my sword with a fluid rasp, the blade humming faintly, the golden blade ignited, and the blue runes of Hephaestus' direct work paid off.
The air thickened with the stench of ichor and stone dust.
I dashed forward in a blur.
A Cadmus lunged, its jagged limbs splayed like scythes, eyes glowing feral yellow.
I sidestepped lazily, the tip of my sword catching its throat in a casual arc. Crimson spray arced through the torchlight, painting the rough-hewn wall in wet streaks.
The monster was dead.
The sheer speed drew attention from Ais, who was also blitzing through another group of monsters.
With a twist of my wrist, I drove the blade home, the runes flaring brighter as demonic energy surged through the steel. Another monster was cut in two.
Another monster jumped, and I dissected it with a quick slash. The monster convulsed, its form unravelling into wisps of shadow that evaporated like smoke, leaving only a dull magic stone clattering to the floor.
Sebas was a silver blur in my periphery as he joined me, his tailored coat barely fluttering as he ghosted past.
A single palm strike pierced a Deformis clean through its chitinous chest, the impact blooming a crater of splintered exoskeleton that sprayed acidic flecks across the ground, sizzling on impact.
He pivoted without breaking stride, his boot snapping up in a high arc that connected with Cadmus's neck.
The head sheared off in a fountain of black sludge, tumbling end over end before bursting into harmless vapour against the far wall.
He dusted his hands, expression calm as if he'd just finished a light spar in the garden.
From the right, more monsters surged, seven Cadmus flanked by two writhing Deformis, their claws scraping sparks from the stone floor in a frantic chorus.
I flicked my free hand.
A ripple of wind uncoiled from my palm and expanded into blades.
It burnt through the cluster like a scythe through wheat, severing limbs and torsos in mid-leap. Limbs twitched on the ground, ichor pooling in glossy black puddles that reflected the dying glow of their eyes.
A shadow detached from above, a Deformis plummeting from the vaulted ceiling with talons extended, its maw unhinging in a silent screech. I didn't look up, just extended my sword arm in a loose underhand toss, the blade spinning end over end with a trail of red-black afterimages.
It was embedded hilt-deep in the beast's underbelly mid-air, runes pulsing as they drank its essence.
The monster folded around the wound, tumoring past me in a spray of viscera. I caught the hilt on the rebound with my off hand, the sword warm and slick and channelled a spark of magic to flick the gore clean in a hissing arc of steam.
The divine blade was proving powerful, and the fact that he could still keep up with me made it invaluable.
"My Lord… are you showboating?" Sebas asked calmly as he crushed another Cadmus. He sounded more curious than anything else.
"Maybe a little," I admitted.
"Then allow me to join in this display," Sebas said, his muscles rippling, and he began slaughtering everything around us.
The Loki Familia naturally matched the pace. By the end of it, over fifty monsters lay dissected and we allowed them to the stones, even when they attempted to hand us our share.
Almost instantly after the coast was clear, Tiona spun around to both of us.
Tiona's mouth was hanging open. "You're meant to be level three?!"
"Level five, minimum," Tione said, studying us. "Absolute minimum."
I merely shrugged.
Bete had stopped smirking. His eyes were calculating now.
Gareth stroked his beard. "Impressive power, lad."
Finn looked thoughtful.
"Are you sure you don't want to join the Loki Familia? You fit almost naturally with our party." Finn joked, but I had a feeling he would jump at the opportunity to poach us.
"How about you join us? Your goddess is welcome to come along as well." I chuckled.
Ais stopped walking. She turned to look at me, her golden eyes intense.
She tilted her head. "Fight me."
"Ais," Riveria's voice cut in sharply. "Now is not the time."
The Sword Princess didn't look away from me. "Later then."
Riveria moved closer, her expression unreadable.
We continued moving. The rest of the trek to the 50th floor went smoothly. The Familia quickly handled any monsters that appeared.
We entered the 50th-floor safe zone, and the Familia started setting up. Some members collapsed immediately. Others went to prepare food or check equipment.
I found a spot near the edge with Sebas.
After a while, Riveria approached.
She'd put her staff away and looked less rigid.
"So, what happened?" Riveria asked.
"Hm?"
"I can see the changes, Zephyrion. I'm an elf. Our senses are keener than humans." Riveria said. "Why are your ears pointed?"
I appreciated that her words became a whisper, naturally drawing everyone's attention.
"Magic," I replied with an innocent look.
She studied my face. "That's not an answer."
How could I tell her I used a legendary god-artefact from another world to turn her into perhaps one of the most dangerous races I had encountered?
"Perhaps I just wanted to match your look. How do they look?" I asked.
Riveria frowned, and I could see her mind racing; her eyes shone with a bit of annoyance, but she sighed. "If you do wish to tell me, then that's your choice."
Tiona smirked, "Look at our resident princess talking in whispers. Shall we leave you two alone?"
"Shut it," Riveria said without heat, her green eyes zoned in.
"I think it's cute," Tione added with a grin.
Bete snorted. "Real friendly-like."
Lefiya's face went red. "Lady Riveria doesn't- I mean, she's just being polite!"
"Very polite," Bete commented.
Riveria's expression could have frozen fire. "If you all don't have anything better to do, I can assign extra watch duties."
The teasing stopped. Most of the group suddenly found other things to do.
Lefiya still hovered. "Lady Riveria is an amazing person. She's kind and powerful and deserves respect."
I sent the elf girl a raised eyebrow.
"I'm quite aware of that."
"Good." She said, before hurrying off.
Sebas appeared beside me. "The young lady seems quite protective."
"Yeah. I think that's more of an elven kind of thing. I remember the glares we got last time we spoke." I replied with amusement.
Riveria blushed.
"How curious, perhaps Aura and Mare might hold a better insight," Sebas commented.
Riveria looked curious and a little… jealous?
"You know of other elves?" Riveria asked, her eyes flickering to me.
"Indeed," Sebas replied, but knew better than to give anything away.
Riviera seemed to sense this.
I decided to spend some time with Riveria, which was mostly idle talk.
The Familia settled into routines.
Eventually, Finn called everyone to gather, outlining plans for continuing deeper tomorrow. The Familia responded immediately, gathering gear and readying themselves.
I stood. Sebas moved to my side.
"You're leaving?" Riveria asked, instantly sensing my intent.
I shot her an easy look.
"We've rested enough," I said, not revealing I had only come to spend time with her. "And we've got other matters to attend to."
Riveria pursed her lips. "I understand. Are you going to reveal how you intend on travelling all the way to the surface?"
"Magic."
She sighed. "You are rather secretive, aren't you?"
I tilted my head. "Perhaps I'm just waiting to show you."
She raised an eyebrow. "You'd show me?"
"Sure, with fewer witnesses, though," I replied, looking over at the many people trying not to look like they were listening.
A hint of a smile formed on her face, and she looked away.
"Will you be diving again soon?" She asked.
"Probably. Why?" I questioned.
"No reason," Riveria replied calmly.
I studied her.
She had that cool professional mask back on.
"I'll see you around, Riveria." I chuckled, earning myself a slight blush.
"Yes. Around." Riveria said, strangely.
I turned to leave, Sebas following.
"Zephyrion," Riveria called out.
I stopped, looked back.
"I'll be back within a week," Riveria informed me. "Would you be interested in meeting? I'm curious how you've found a way to travel within the dungeon so efficiently."
"Sure." I smiled. "Sounds good."
Her eyes held mine for a moment, then she nodded and turned away.
We left the safe zone and travelled into the dungeon, aiming for the lower floors.
That left my visit to a certain town of monsters before heading back.
-END-
If you wish to read up to 18 chapters in advance among my stories and other things, please visit pa/t reon * / Snipez818. I appreciate all the support!