The Xenos-Part 2.

The massive doors closed. No words were exchanged between me and Hermes along our little walk. That was until the messenger god spoke.

''You're a newcomer to Orario? I didn't get your name before. ''Hermes said tipping his hat and smiling.

I rolled my eyes,'' Yeah right.'' I looked at him. ''Buddy. I'm not playing your games. You better just leave me the fuck alone, okay?''

''I'm not sure what you mean by that.''

''Is that so?'' I said non-committedly. ''Just remember what I said and we should have no problems then.'' I smiled.

The conversation casually switched to the 'mission' that I would be a part of. As Ouranos said, the Hermes Familia will handle the logistics side of things. Me being there would only be for insurance.

We were heading to meet my partners. The only one that I held any remote interest in was Asfi, the Familia Captain.

As another adventurer with the Mystery Development ability, maybe she could give me some tips. Something I very much doubt.

I entered a cabin with Hermes in the lead. I inhaled some dust as the wood floor creaked with every step I took, the windows were sealed, and there was no furniture as well. It was the perfect place for an information Familia.

On the second floor, I could see shadows of people sitting over a round table. I assumed they were my partners to be.

I raised my sword deflecting a dagger coming for my neck. There was a loud steel clash sound. I reached for the empty space and grabbed something. It was the throat of my would have been the offender.

[Asfi Al Andromeda-Lvl4.]

HP: 1300

MP: 810

She was the Familia captain. Asfi had shoulder-length blue hair and eyes. Her glasses had fallen off at some point.

'Well. That could have gone better.'

I looked at Hermes for answers while still keeping his captain's throat in my hand. It felt exceedingly fragile, I could almost imagine her life withering away from a strong hand squeeze.

The shadows on the second floor turned out to be fake, as I could see multiple individuals surround me. There was an eerie tense atmosphere continuously growing in the room.

''I don't understand. Is this why you brought me here Hermes? If not, you should take things from here right about now. I'm starting to somehow feel a strange itch in my hand.''

Everybody seemed to tense after that, Asfi especially paling.

Hermes looked at his Familia members and gestured for them to lower their weapons with his eyes. They did just that, although there were some grumbles.

Being the gentleman I was. I gently removed my vice grip on her throat bit by bit, finger by finger. Unfortunately, she didn't seem that thrilled by my kindness.

After having some eye contact with Hermes, her group rushed past me to her side and checked up on her.

I drew close to Hermes and whispered ''I was not joking Hermes. Do not involve me in your games.''

It seemed that I at least got my point across this time.

''Talk about awkward first meetings.'' Said Hermes smiling sheepishly. ''He will go with us on our mission as an extra hand.''

There was a round of protest and glares coming my way. The only stranger in the room.

I took that as my queue to quip in '' Hello. The name's Ken. Suddenly finding a dagger coming for your neck was not fun. I hope it does not affect this temporary partnership though.'' I smiled amicably.

------------------------

It didn't take long to solve the misunderstandment between the two of us. None of us were objectively in the wrong. They assumed I was an intruder, I assumed the only logical explanation at that moment as well.

I'm not sure what Hermes was trying to figure out by doing this 'test'. He got his answer at least.

We are currently in the all familiar jungle-themed Great Tree Labyrinth. With two level4s and I going together, it ended up being a very quick trip.

[Falgar Batros-Lvl4]

HP: 1760

MP: 340

He was the vice-captain of the Hermes Familia, a tiger-kin. Being the first to apologise after checking up on his captain. Although, there still held a bit of tension towards me. Occasionally, I would be finding him glancing at me wearily.

''The pay better be good!'' Shouted a black haired dog-kin female, grumpily pushing the cartwheel in front of her.

[Lulune Louie-Lvl3]

HP: 860

MP: 260

Her and a Hermes-Wannabe looking Level3 Elf were the other companions I had on this journey. He had the looks to pull it off, anything other than that was a complete miss.

I just tuned out my mind while they were doing the work. I had some thoughts about helping them out at some point, but pushing cartwheels was not something I considered fun.

Some time passed. We arrived at the 24th floor and I simply followed them, making sure to hold off any monsters.

I stopped when they did, the captain looked at some sort of map and tapped on the wood walls extra hard in a very specific sequence.

After some moments passed, I could see some Xenos come up and look around wearily. They recognised Asfi it seems.

The Xenos got into the cartwheels. Asfi put over the some sort of magic invisibility cloak over them. And they disappeared as soon as she did.

With them focusing on transporting the Xenos, the responsibility of protection was mostly one me. After my demonstration, they ironically seemed to trust me more with their safety.

This was unexplored territory for me. The 25th floor was very impressive, it had a massive waterfall as its center. To go down you needed to go through a downward spiral road.

The monsters were a massive pain in the ass, aquatic in nature. They either wanted to suck on your blood, tried to swallow you. Or even mind raping you with some music with classic Siren songs.

We stopped on the 27th floor after the Xenos found a new village for them to inhabit. It somehow didn't have a single drop of water, surrounded by extremely edged rocks. The space inside the hidden walls themselves was plenty, I'm sure close to a hundred people could live in it.

The Xenos were massively thankful. Going as far as to give us some fruits as gratitude. They sure had very human-like expressions.

Alas, I still think the coexistence between them and the surface dwellers as they call them is too unrealistic.

I managed to sneak in a marker with some of my magic power in the walls of 27th floor on our way back.

''I remember the first time I saw the Xenos. I almost couldn't believe it.'' Said the Familia captain shaking her head, no doubt seeing my expression.

''I bet it was.''

------------

[One-Handed-Sword Mastery: Lvl86-->87.]

[Elemental Magic: Lvl80-->82.]

[Non-Ele-Magic: Lvl69.]

[Space-Time Magic: Lvl72.]

[Akagi Ken]

Level:3

HP: 1540--->1660

MP: 970----1030

STR: 84-->86

VIT: 76-->79

DEX: 85-->87

WIS: 86-->89

Unallocated Stat points: 47

Valis: ~8mil

-Strength: B700-->A823

-Endurance: F320-->D501

-Dexterity: B756-->A862

-Agility: B756-->A862

-Magic: A820-->S950

Skills: Gamers Mind - Gamers Body - Instinct - Mind's Eye (True) - Mage - Mystery - Smithing - One-Handed Sword Mastery.

Magic: Ele magic - Non-Ele magic - Inventory- Space-Time magic.

If you feel like supporting, or reading up to 10chs ahead: patr3on.com/MunirSM