The Guild's grand hall was filled to the brim with adventurers from every Familia in Orario. The air was thick with tension and anticipation as they waited for the urgent briefing to begin. Bell Cranel, standing alongside his fellow Hestia Familia members, felt a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach.
As the Guild's representatives took their places at the front of the hall, a hush fell over the gathered crowd. Eina Tulle, her face etched with worry, stepped forward to address the assembled Familias.
"Adventurers of Orario," she began, her voice carrying through the hall. "We have called you here today because of a grave threat to our city and the Dungeon itself."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, adventurers exchanging nervous glances and hushed whispers.
Eina continued, her tone somber. "As many of you have heard, a powerful new monster known as Medusa has emerged from the depths of the Dungeon. But what you may not know is the extent of her influence and the danger she poses to us all."
The hall fell silent, every eye fixed on Eina as she revealed the shocking truth.
"Medusa has built an impregnable castle in the deepest levels of the Dungeon, a fortress from which she now commands the monsters that once roamed freely." Eina paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "The creatures of the Dungeon, once diverse and independent, now serve her, poisoned by her venom and bound to her will."
Gasps of disbelief and horror echoed through the hall, adventurers grappling with the implications of Medusa's power.
"A monster that builds castles????"
"B-but, that must mean, it has… it has i-i-intelligence!"
"But that is not all," Eina continued, her voice trembling slightly. "Our sources have confirmed that Medusa is preparing to launch an attack on Orario itself. She seeks to extend her dominion beyond the Dungeon and claim our city as her own."
The hall erupted into chaos, adventurers shouting questions and demands, their voices filled with fear and anger. Bell felt a chill run down his spine, the gravity of the situation settling upon him like a heavy weight.
As the Guild representatives struggled to restore order, Riveria approached Bell, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Bell Cranel," she said firmly. "The Guild has decided: it is time for us to take action against Medusa. You must gather your strongest allies and lead us into battle. The fate of Orario depends on it."
Bell stared at her in disbelief. "Me?" he exclaimed, his heart racing. "But... but I'm just a kid!"
Riveria smiled gently at him. "You may be a child, Bell Cranel," she replied, "but you are also one of the strongest adventurers in the city. The Guild has entrusted this mission to you because it believes that you have the ability to lead us to victory."
Bell swallowed hard, struggling to process Riveria's words. "I... I don't know if I can do this," he whispered, his voice filled with doubt.
Riveria's gaze grew fierce. "You can, Bell Cranel," she said firmly. "The Guild has chosen you for this mission because it knows that you have the potential to lead us to victory. Do not underestimate yourself. Do not let fear hold you back."
Bell took a deep breath, mustering his courage. "I'll do my best," he said, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Good," Riveria replied, her tone confident. "Gather your strongest allies and prepare for battle. The fate of Orario is in your hands."
As Riveria left Bell standing alone amidst the chaos of the crowded hall, he felt a sudden rush of responsibility and a surge of determination rising within him. He would not let his friends and fellow adventurers down. He would rise to this challenge and save Orario from Medusa's clutches.
Together, they would stand against Medusa and her army of poisoned monsters. They would fight to protect Orario and reclaim the Dungeon from her clutches. No matter the cost, they would not let their city fall.
---
As the Guild's emergency meeting drew to a close, a sense of dread hung heavy in the air. Adventurers murmured amongst themselves, their faces etched with worry and disbelief. Bell Cranel, his heart heavy with the weight of the revelations, found himself seeking solace in the company of his trusted advisor, Eina Tulle.
"Eina-san," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "Is it true? Has Medusa really enslaved the Xenos?"
Eina's expression was grim as she met Bell's gaze. "I'm afraid so, Bell-kun. Our sources have confirmed that Medusa has taken the Xenos captive and is forcing them to work in her armaments factory."
Bell's eyes widened in horror. "Armaments factory? What kind of weapons is she making?"
Eina's brow furrowed. "From what we've gathered, Medusa has the Xenos mass-producing some sort of advanced weaponry made from metal, making the use of some sort of explosive magic. Long hollow barrels that make loud bangs and shoot unseen projectiles. Hollow, metal cylinders that shoot exploding stones like catapults." She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "But that's not the worst of it. These weapons are laced with her venom, making them even more deadly."
Bell felt a wave of nausea wash over him. The thought of the gentle, misunderstood Xenos being forced to create weapons of destruction was almost too much to bear.
"We have to save them," he said, his voice filled with determination. "We can't let Medusa do this to them."
Eina nodded, her expression softening. "I know, Bell-kun," she replied, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "That's why we've gathered all the strongest adventurers in Orario to create an army and defeat Medusa."
Bell's heart raced as he thought about the challenges ahead of him. He had never faced such a powerful and dangerous enemy before, but he knew that he couldn't back down, not when his friends' lives were at stake.
Eina placed a hand on Bell's shoulder, her touch reassuring. "We will defeat Medusa together," she said, her eyes shining with resolve. "But you must be careful, Bell-kun. You are our lead player now, and your strength will be key to our success."
As they spoke, a new piece of information reached their ears. Adventurers who had ventured deep into the Dungeon returned with whispers of a name: Ardahara. It was the name Medusa had given to her realm within the Dungeon, a twisted domain where her power reigned supreme.
The news had knocked ten bells out of him. Medusa's influence had spread far beyond what he had initially feared. Not only had she enslaved the Xenos and corrupted the Dungeon, but she had also claimed a portion of it as her own, a dark reflection of the once-vibrant realm of adventure.
As he and Eina went their separate ways, Bell's mind was overloaded by non-stop thoughts of the momentous and daunting task at hand. Liberating the Xenos, saving the Dungeon, and putting an end to Medusa's reign of terror would be his most perilous quest yet. But in this vast ocean of hopelessness, a tiny isle of hope was waiting to be discovered.