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As they delved deeper into the hidden path, Riveria's eyes narrowed."There seem to be quite a number of trace marks here… It makes no sense, honestly."
Damien frowned slightly. "Why? If we're tracking them, shouldn't their traces be here anyway?"Ais nodded, equally confused.
Riveria, the veteran among them, shook her head."Yes, traces should exist. But faint ones—old, rare, scattered. These…" she swept her hand across the floor, "…these are too many. This many footprints means one of two things: either they are still somewhere inside these pathways… or they're so confident no one will ever find this place that they don't bother hiding their movements."
Damien smirked faintly. "Well, that's good for us, right? An unaware enemy is the easiest kind to deal with."He cut down another monster with a clean strike, its body dissolving into motes of light.
"I think we're approaching Floor Sixteen," he added as he wiped his Daggers. The journey downward was shocking—almost no monsters were spawning compared to the normal routes. The descent, normally exhausting, had turned into a quiet, deceptively peaceful walk.
But as soon as they stepped into the wider expanse of Floor Sixteen, all three froze.
Their eyes went wide.
A massive camp stretched before them. Dozens—possibly more—of adventurers moved in coordinated squads, hauling large reinforced cages… cages filled with monsters. The place was too organized, too well-resourced, nothing like scattered remnants of Evilus. This was an operation—a huge one.
"…Unbelievable," Riveria whispered. "I'm counting… tens of them. Maybe more. How has this been hidden all this time?"
"What are they doing with the monsters?" Ais asked, her grip tightening around her sword.
Damien's expression darkened."Trafficking, most likely. Some bastards on the surface pay fortunes to own monsters—whether for cruelty, personal armies… or pets."
He exhaled sharply, eyes narrowing further."What I don't understand is how they're preserved. Monsters need the Dungeon's mana. They shouldn't be able to survive outside."
Riveria's voice turned cold."Experiments. Illegal breeding with surface creatures. Twisted hybridization. I've seen something similar before. Some kingdoms beyond Orario try to turn monsters into weapons of war… and nobles—" her voice gained a sharp edge, "—nobles desire intelligent monsters like Harpies for… unspeakable purposes. It is depraved. Cruel. Sickening."
Damien's jaw clenched. "Then we put an end to it."
As they spoke, another patrol marched past—armored men carrying spears, swords, crates, and binding chains. The trio ducked behind a hill-like rise, quietly watching the caravan move through the enormous underground chamber.
Damien's eyes narrowed on the crest painted on their armor and supply carts."Riveria. You recognize that emblem?"
She nodded immediately."Yes… and they have no connection to Evilus. That emblem belongs to the Ikelos Familia. Officially, they're just an ordinary mid-tier adventuring group. But there have always been rumors about their dealings in the black market… though no proof was ever found."
"Well," Damien said, lips curling in a cold smile, "looks like we just found some."
"Indeed," Riveria replied. "But we must gather more. We need detailed information—numbers, structure, weaknesses—before we bring this to the Guild. I have several recording spells. If we find a high vantage point, we can map out the entire base."
Ais nodded. Damien did as well.
Together, the three began moving along the edge of the cavern, keeping to shadows as they sought a higher location.
The Sixteenth Floor stretched larger than Damien had ever imagined. The normal dungeon corridors were nothing compared to this—this was a world of its own. Multiple biomes, hills, waterways, wide plains of stone…
A reminder that the Dungeon was far, far larger—and far more mysterious—than anyone on the surface truly understood.
From their vantage point above the camp, Riveria finished the last of her scanning spells—Then the world shifted.
A wave of power—massive, suffocating, ancient—rushed through the entire 16th Floor like a tidal surge of malice.
A choking pressure slammed down on them. Ais staggered, gripping her sword. Riveria gasped sharply. Damien felt his knees nearly buckle as a pressure darker than death itself washed over him, an instinctive terror stabbing into his lungs.
And then—
It vanished.Gone. As if swallowed by the dungeon itself.
Damien sucked in a desperate breath."What the fuck WAS THAT?!"
Ais didn't answer—her stare was fixed on Riveria, who looked genuinely shaken for the first time since they entered the hidden path.
Riveria steadied her breathing and spoke in a hushed, almost disbelieving tone."That was… Arcnum. A god's power. Someone is releasing divine energy inside the Dungeon… intentionally."
Damien's expression twisted in anger."No way. It has to be that bastard—Ikelos! But why?! Gods are banned from releasing their Arcnum!"
"They are," Riveria responded, "but what he released wasn't true Arcnum. It was Divine Authority—something between Falna and pure arcane power. A loophole. It cannot cause physical damage… but its pressure…"She exhaled. "As you felt. Overwhelming."
Damien scowled. "If it doesn't make him stronger, why release it at all?"
Riveria's eyes widened as the realization hit her."…The Goliath. The Dungeon hates gods. It reacts violently to their presence and tries to purge them. If Ikelos keeps releasing Divine Authority, the Dungeon detects it… and respawns the Goliath early in an attempt to hunt him down."
Ais's eyes widened."So he caused it…"
Riveria nodded."And when the Guild learns this… Ikelos will be banished back to Heaven immediately. We must report this. This isn't simple trafficking—it's a divine crisis."
Damien rose. "Then let's go. We can't waste any—"
BOOOOOOM!
A massive fireball exploded into the cliff behind them, tearing the stone apart.The ground collapsed beneath their feet. The three of them slid down the shattered ledge, crashing into the dirt below.
"Damn it—!" Damien regained his footing instantly. Ais and Riveria followed, weapons drawn.
But they froze as the dust settled.
They were surrounded.
Not by a dozen.Not by fifty.
Over a hundred adventurers, all armed, all pointing weapons toward them. A ring of steel and killing intent sealed around them.
A familiar figure stepped forward, smirking.
"Well, well… looks like we caught a few rats crawling where they shouldn't be," the man sneered.
Damien's eyes darkened."You."
Dix Perdix—the same scum who tried provoking him at the Hostess of Fertility.
Riveria lifted her staff. Ais stepped forward with her blade. Damien's daggers flashed into his hands.
Riveria's voice dripped with lethal promise."Dix… back off. Or I will end you."
Dix laughed mockingly."Oh, come on, Lady Riveria… Not so fast. Sure, you've got the power of a Level Six. But numbers matter too, no?"He motioned broadly at his forces."A hundred and thirteen of us. All ready to die for our Familia. I doubt you'll walk away from this… not relying on that rookie and the blondie."
The crowd parted.
And the god of this wretched Familia stepped forward.
Ikelos.
His voice was low and rasping, yet it crawled across the skin like something vile.
"Well, well… Loki's little brats. And the one who refused my generous offer…"His gaze locked onto Damien, eyes gleaming like polished obsidian."Fortunate, isn't it? A lovely opportunity to send a message to that mischievous fox Loki… and that bratty child Hestia."
Damien's jaw tightened.
Ikelos smiled—cold, sharp, cruel.
"Trying to hide from a god… How stupid."
His eyes slitted.
"Kill them.
Now."
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If you Like this story! Check out my other story ! Sukuna in DC!
AND
If you wish to read more or simply support me just because ? than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/Riadooo"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want !