It was still dark, not yet dawn, when all the main members of the Loki Familia were suddenly awakened and summoned to the council tent.
This time, it wasn't just the core of Loki Familia—even Tsubaki, the captain of Hephaestus Familia, had been called in.
"Everyone, we're facing serious trouble."
Finn didn't mince words, placing the severity of the situation front and center.
His blunt statement quickly snapped the rest of the groggy group into full awareness.
"Tsubaki, you need to pay close attention too. This mess involves you as well."
"Oh?"
In truth, Tsubaki already had a strong sense of what was coming.
After her earlier conversation with Bell, she'd realized that this expedition was anything but ordinary.
The very fact that they were required to bring a specialized item like the "Substitute Straw Doll" made it obvious—their lives were on the line this time.
With the reminder given, Finn turned toward Cassandra, standing at the center of the tent.
"Cassandra, tell us what you saw—be as detailed as possible."
Cassandra gave a small nod and began piecing together the images still fresh in her mind.
Every premonition dream she had always etched itself deeply into her memory. The visions clung to her like a curse, impossible to forget.
But this dream had been different—noticeably different from the ones before.
The images weren't as clear as usual. Some were blurry, fragmented, hard to make out.
Cassandra didn't know why. For now, she forced the questions down and focused on sharing what she could recall.
"I saw a sky cloaked in darkness. The ground was cratered and shattered like something had torn it apart. Everyone was lying on the ground, unmoving… I couldn't tell who was dead or alive. Captain, you had lost an arm… Mr. Gareth's abdomen was pierced through. And beyond that…"
She struggled to recall more, but her memory was already starting to fade. The others were only vague silhouettes, collapsed with uncertain fates.
"The rest is unclear. In the end, all I could remember was Bell-kun standing off to the side. He… he looked like he saw me. He spoke, as if he could actually see me."
"To you? While you were having a premonition? And he talked to you?"
Tiona stared in disbelief. She clearly remembered Cassandra's ability—she could catch glimpses of the future through her dreams.
But could someone in that future actually notice being watched?
"Yes… I thought it was strange too. But Bell-kun definitely noticed me. He even called my name."
Cassandra herself was still unsure if fear had clouded her judgment—but she remembered that moment vividly. Bell had looked straight at her and spoken her name.
Even if everything else had been uncertain, that part was undeniably real.
Finn had no doubts about Cassandra's perception.
He was confident she had heard Bell clearly. That kind of detail wasn't something you easily mishear or imagine.
So, she hadn't misheard.
'Bell-kun has some kind of plan with Loki behind the scenes—and that plan likely has everything to do with this expedition.'
Finn didn't believe for a second that Bell would ever betray them.
Bell had poured everything into making the Loki Familia stronger—not just to see if they could survive longer when he turned on them.
Besides, Loki, Hestia, and Hephaestus were all keeping watch over him. They wouldn't just stand by and let him send his allies to their doom.
That meant whatever Bell and Loki were planning—it wasn't betrayal.
Which left only one answer: this was a trial.
Finn's heart settled on that conclusion.
That would explain the "Substitute Straw Dolls" Bell had prepared in advance. They weren't just tools—they were a safeguard, a way to help them survive what was coming.
So this expedition… the danger they were facing might have been foreseen ahead of time—but it had been deliberately set up.
Finn let out a quiet sigh as he reached that conclusion.
"Everyone understands what Cassandra told us, right?"
"Bell-kun's behavior may seem odd, but the likelihood that he's targeting us is actually very low."
Riveria fully agreed with that and picked up where Finn left off.
"Harming us would require a motive—unless Evilus really is an organization that exists solely to destroy Orario."
"But Hestia only descended to Genkai within the last year, and the Hestia Familia was only just founded, with Bell-kun as its sole member. Logically, the chances of the Hestia Familia being connected to Evilus are incredibly slim."
"Besides, Bell-kun's actions this time were approved by Loki. In fact, right now, Loki is watching us through Bell-kun's eyes."
At that, Riveria paused, her expression turning more thoughtful.
"...If anything, this makes it more likely that Loki and Bell-kun are coordinating something behind the scenes."
"That does seem to be the case."
Finn nodded in agreement, quickly moving the topic past Bell.
"Bell-kun isn't the issue. Plus, with Ais and the Guild keeping an eye on things, it's highly unlikely he's the root of the problem.
"No, the real issue… lies with us."
"How is it our fault?" Tiona asked, confused.
But Tione had already caught on.
"You idiot!"
She smacked her sister squarely on the head.
"What do you think we're here for? Why do you think we were all wiped out in Cassandra's premonition? Isn't it because we ran into the 'Spirits'?"
"We must have encountered the 'Spirits' on the floor Cassandra saw. And not just that—one of the 'Spirit Fetuses' must have already matured."
Everyone's expression turned grim at that.
If a "Spirit Fetus" had really matured… what level would it be? Most likely at least Level 6. And with enough energy, it could possibly reach Level 7.
It was well known that monsters of the same level were far stronger than adventurers of that level.
That's why most adventurers earned Excelia by challenging monsters equal to their own level.
Even high-level adventurers couldn't gain Excelia just by slaughtering monsters of the same rank. To truly grow, they had to face Floor Bosses at or above their level.
In other words, a Level 7 Spirit might be far stronger than an ordinary Level 7 adventurer.
And based on Cassandra's dream, that's likely what they'd end up facing.
A matured "Spirit Fetus."
A true fragment of the "Corrupted Spirit" itself.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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