Having a chance to break through to Level 6, Ais naturally wouldn't miss it.
Before setting off, she first inquired about the situation.
"A monster riot on the 37th floor?"
"Yes, not an ordinary riot. It's an anomaly where all monsters are affected and starting to migrate to higher floors."
"What the heck is that? I've never heard of it before."
Tiona, standing nearby, showed a hint of surprise.
Anomalies occurring in the Dungeon weren't rare; occasionally, even floor collapses happened.
But an entire floor's monsters migrating to higher floors was a first in her experience.
"So, Cain, when you say 'break through to Level 6,' you mean investigating the source of the anomaly on the 37th floor?"
Cain nodded: "For an entire floor in the deep region to undergo an anomaly, the cause must be at least Level 5 or above. Even if we don't encounter it, we can take the opportunity to hunt a Labyrinth King."
The Dungeon's 37th floor was the spawning area for the third Labyrinth King, Udaeus, with a respawn interval of about three months.
Last time Cain led the team to the colosseum, Udaeus was still on respawn cooldown. This time, they should just make it.
What if they didn't make it?
Did they think his Dungeon blacklist status was fake?
With Cain exerting just a bit of effort, forcing an early spawn of Udaeus wouldn't be a problem, it might even trigger a hidden easter egg.
"Um... isn't setting off directly a bit too sudden?"
Just then, Lefiya's voice sounded: "No matter what, the 37th floor is considered a deep region. To go there and resolve an anomaly, we should report to the captain first."
"And what about Ais and Tiona weapons? Even if Ais weapon can still be used barely, Tiona doesn't have a weapon at all."
"Then let's split up."
Cain offered a solution: "Lefiya, you return to the Loki Familia and report this to Finn. Tiona, go to the Goibniu Familia and see if you can borrow a weapon temporarily."
Tiona was somewhat puzzled: "Won't going back and forth take a lot of time? Is the 37th floor situation not urgent?"
Cain waved his hand: "Not urgent. After all, not many people can go to the 37th floor. It's not that easy for problems to arise."
As the starting point of the deep region, monsters on the 37th floor were basically Level 3 at minimum, with the stronger ones reaching Level 4.
Those daring to explore the 37th floor either had a Level 4 adventurer leading their party or were Level 5 or Level 6 themselves.
Those who could reach that level were basically seasoned veterans; they would run on their own if they saw the situation turning bad.
"I also need to go to the Goibniu Familia."
After confirming there was still time, Ais made a decision.
Although her weapon wasn't completely broken like Tiona's, it was still severely damaged.
Since they were going to fight in the deep region, they still needed to prepare.
"I'll head out first. See you later at The Tower of Babel."
After determining the next course of action, Lefiya was the first to bid farewell, running off towards the Loki Familia.
Watching her leave, Cain looked at Hestia, who was standing nearby looking like she wanted to say something. After a moment's thought, he took out a letter from his pocket.
"Hestia, I need your help with something."
...
West District, Orario.
A tall figure walked along the street.
It was a god with long blonde hair, wearing expensive-looking attire, a faint smile on his face.
"God Dionysus, good morning."
"Good morning, Anna."
"God Dionysus, this is a token of thanks for your help last time. Please accept it."
"Thank you, I won't stand on ceremony then."
Dionysus reached out and took a bag of apples.
Judging by the dirt on the man, these apples were likely freshly picked from the tree.
Their appearance wasn't great, just average.
But Dionysus still showed a happy smile, standing there chatting with the man for a while.
Walking along the street, various greetings came one after another. Clearly, he was very popular among the residents.
However, at that moment, an Elf Girl with long black hair approached from behind.
"Lord Dionysus, I have something to report."
"Hmm? I understand."
Dionysus stopped.
Bidding farewell to the people on the street, he followed the girl back to the Familia territory.
Not long ago, members of the Dionysus Familia had been killed by an enemy, the murderer's identity still unknown.
To investigate clues, he and Filvis had split up.
He gathered information from residents on the streets, while Filvis went to the Adventurers Guild to investigate.
Normally, they would meet up in the evening.
For her to come find him this quickly, she must have found a lead.
"God Dionysus, I've found the murderer."
"So soon?"
Dionysus was startled: "Who is it?"
Filvis handed over a vial of potion: "It's not convenient to say specifically yet. Please drink this first."
Dionysus: "...?"
What is this?
Looking at the potion in his hand, a hint of confusion appeared in Dionysus's eyes.
However, out of trust for Filvis, he didn't think too much, opened the vial, and drank it.
The next second, Dionysus froze in place as a flood of memories surged from the depths of his mind.
The Orario destruction plan, cooperation with the Corrupted Spirit, the sobering medicine prepared for Filvis...
"I see. So that's how it is."
The gentle, scholarly atmosphere vanished. A corner of Dionysus's mouth lifted, and a heavy, frenzied aura emanated from his side.
"You've worked hard lately, Filvis."
"You've woken me at this hour; there must be something important to report."
Filvis nodded. "The cultivation of the Demi spirits has entered its next stage."
Dionysus looked thoughtful. "A bit faster than I imagined. What does Revis say?"
Filvis replied, "She plans to take the first Demi spirits to the 37th floor's food storage for cultivation."
Dionysus questioned, "The 37th floor? Why go so deep? The Corrupted spirit shouldn't require that much nourishment."
Filvis took a report from her bosom. "Actually, not long ago, an anomaly occurred in the Water city."
"The specifics are still unclear, but that anomaly seems to have caused some changes in the Dungeon. Since then, Monster rampages have frequently occurred on the 27th floor and nearby areas."
"Revis originally planned to cultivate the Demi spirits in the lower floors, but she's worried about encountering the recent anomaly, so she chose the deeper 37th floor as the cultivation site."
"An anomaly in the Water city?"
After hearing Filvis's explanation, a flicker of doubt crossed Dionysus's eyes as he quickly scanned the report.
However, the report's contents were sparse. In fact, even Filvis didn't know what had happened.
She had only overheard a few adventurers mentioning while gathering information that while adventuring on the 26th floor, they heard roars from the 27th floor, mixed with the bellows of a massive Monster.
The entire floor was shaking at the time, a terrifying scene.
Fearing they might get dragged in, those adventurers didn't dare investigate and fled the Water city immediately.
But from that day on, the Corrupted Spirit sent a message to Revis and the others, an anomaly had occurred in the Dungeon.
As for the specifics of the anomaly, the Corrupted Spirit didn't know either, only urging them to hurry up and blow up Orario.
"The situation is getting more and more chaotic,"
Dionysus's smile grew even more pronounced.
An anomaly in the Dungeon was a bad thing for ordinary people, but in his view, it was a good thing.
He loved chaotic situations the most.
Filvis said, "God Dionysus, there's another matter to report. The Loki Familia encountered the Corrupted Spirit's tentacles during their expedition. They will likely investigate this information next."
"I know."
Dionysus wasn't surprised by this.
As the Corrupted Spirit continued its upward advance, it was only a matter of time before it clashed with the frequently expedition-launching Loki Familia.
Dionysus asked, "Is there anything else?"
Filvis nodded. "Regarding Cain, who broke the level-up record the other day, I heard he has good private relations with both the Loki Familia and the Freya Familia, and also cooperates with the Guild."
Dionysus dismissed it, "Ignore him. No matter how fast he levels, he's only LV3. At most, he might break through to LV4 by the time the decisive battle arrives."
Although he had been in a drunken state before, Dionysus still remembered the events that transpired during that time.
It took two months to rise two levels consecutively, breaking through to LV3.
Combined with the strength displayed during the War Game, Cain indeed had great potential.
If he had appeared a year earlier, Dionysus would have definitely taken countermeasures, even sending Filvis to assassinate him.
But now, it was already too late.
All plans were nearing their end, and the most important Corrupted spirit had already begun cultivation.
No matter how fast Cain broke through, he could only reach LV5 at most by the time the decisive battle arrived, becoming a First Class Adventizer.
This strength might be formidable among adventurers, but in Dionysus's eyes, it still fell short.
If the plan proceeded smoothly, the matured Corrupted Spirit clone would possess combat power equivalent to LV7.
In the face of such a level, LV5 was little better than an ant. There was no need to devote much attention to it.
Of course, necessary preparations still had to be made.
"Filvis, can you break through again in the short term?"
"...The quality of ordinary Monster magic stones isn't sufficient anymore. I need the magic stone of a Labyrinth King or to go to deeper floors, but those have already been overrun by the Corrupted Spirit."
"Then try communicating with the Corrupted Spirit. Tell them this is necessary to blow up Orario."
Monsters also varied in innate talent.
Compared to other Monsters, Filvis's potential was overwhelming. By consuming magic stones, she had already broken through to LV7.
Originally, Dionysus thought this was enough.
But for some reason, upon hearing about the anomaly in the Water city, he had an ominous premonition.
To avoid more variables, he planned to try strengthening Filvis's power further.
Of course, aside from Filvis, the other members of the Monster lineup could also be strengthened, as consuming magic stones could make them stronger.
"Is Revis on the 37th floor now?"
"No, she's in the Knossos."
"Then, deliver a letter to her for me."
Dionysus took paper and a pen from a drawer.
The stage was set. Now, they only awaited the actors to take their positions.
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