Chapter 14

SHALLTEAR POV, NIGHT:

It was now nighttime, previously Shalltear and Lili had gone to the dungeon to hunt Killer Ants as Lili wanted to. Then Shalltear had given her all the loot and protected her until she reached the Guild.

Now, her crimson eyes glinted with a sinister glimmer as thoughts of vengeance swirled in her mind. Her thirst for retribution against Soma Familia was palpable, and she relished the idea of making them suffer for their heinous actions against Lili. Her mind raced with sadistic fantasies, envisioning the torment she would inflict upon them.

I am gonna break you all and turn you into beaten dogs–No, saying you are dogs is too much of a compliment, you are filthy cockroaches that need to be exterminated. Ahhh~ I cannot wait until I give you a festival of pain and suffering~~

A cruel smile spread across her face. But as quickly as the malevolent thoughts surfaced, Her tongue clicked in displeasure, and her expression shifted into contemplation.

She knew that this wasn't about her own enjoyment; it was about ensuring that Lili could join Shalltear's familia without any loose ends. Her focus needed to be on killing Soma, not just unleashing her sadistic tendencies.

Her gears turned furiously as she strategized. Two potential targets came to mind: Soma Familia's Home and their Wine Cellar, both located around Daedalus Street, which was like a maze.

If I give them the chance, they are gonna escape in all directions like the filthy cockroaches they are... and it's gonna be a pain to find them.

She continued pondering, she knew she needed to eliminate Zanis and Canoe, the ones responsible for Lili's suffering, but she also wanted to spare four individuals who had shown kindness to Lili - Kaede, Momiji, Coco, and Chandra.

At night then..., adventurers rest at night, and if someone from the familia is not in either of those places, well… They got lucky and will live. That will probably help me better as a cover since when I attack those places and leave alive both those four people, it would get suspicious of them being the only survivors

Next, Shalltear considered how to help the trio - Kaede, Coco, and Momiji - find a new familia, she planned to smooth things out for them to ensure a fast transition.

They are probably gonna go to the Blue Pharmacy when running away from their home, so Miach Familia then..

However, when it came to Chandra, she felt indifferent. His detachment from Lili meant he would have to find a new familia on his own. Being a level two adventurer, it wouldn't be as challenging for him to find a new place.

Yes... I will dispense a bit of karma...

As she continued to ponder her plan, she realized that she needed a believable excuse for the destruction of the Soma Familia. If she didn't provide one, it could attract the attention of the gods, Ouranos, and Ganesha Familia. The power void left behind by Soma Familia's downfall wasn't a concern since they were weak and divided, focusing more on internal conflicts and greed.

I need to create some sort of excuse even if it is a bad one… Then I can do that...

Shalltear's crimson eyes glimmered with excitement as an idea began to take shape in her mind. Then, she opened a gate and went inside the dungeon, going into one of the pantries.

She was greeted by several vampirized Al Miraj, who seemed happy that their master had come to visit. She was here to get the drop items they had gathered.

"I am gonna need more money," she whispered to herself.

o-O-o

LAMIA MORMOS POV:

In the heart of the 20th floor's Large Tree Labyrinth, the Lamia, Arles, and Helga entered a long, rectangular room, its dimensions spanning about thirty-two feet wide with a tall ceiling. Tree bark covered the walls and canopy, just like the other rooms they had passed on their journey. The floor was carpeted with Lamp Moss, and in the midst of this enchanting space, a flower bed of green grass and small white rings bloomed like a patchwork garden.

But what truly caught the Lamia's attention was the breathtaking sight of deep-green quartz, resembling emeralds, adorning the floor, walls, and ceiling in every direction. The largest cluster sat at the far end of the room, resembling a miniature iceberg that seemed to captivate them all.

She stood at the room's entrance, her eyes fixed on the mesmerizing quartz.

Arles, perched atop Helga's back like a horse rider, observed the quartz with keen interest. The rabbit pointed with her hand to the gleaming crystals and emitted a short, high-pitched squeak.

Helga, cautious not to disturb Arles, lifted her hindquarters and lowered her head to the ground. Her fangs bared at the quartz, sparks dancing between her razor-sharp teeth. With a sudden burst of fiery energy, she spat flames at the quartz, causing it to shatter like glass, revealing an alcove hidden within the wall.

The Dungeon always healed itself, repairing the damage it sustained during battles, but quartz grew back abnormally fast. In fact, the process was already underway. Without hesitation, Arles and Helga entered the alcove, the Lamia following close behind. They moved swiftly through the opening, witnessing new crystals forming before their eyes.

Shards of broken quartz littered the path under their feet as they watched the entrance seal itself behind them.

Deeper into the alcove, the trio found themselves on a narrow path, there seemed to be no immediate danger of monsters lurking within the walls. The absence of Lamp Moss left the passage dimly lit, with small quartz crystals providing a glimmer of light as they descended further into the depths.

At the bottom of the hill, a cool, clear blue pool of water awaited them. The water's surface glistened as the light from the quartz crystals above danced on its surface. Without hesitation, Arles dismounted Helga, and they both entered the pool, their legs pitter-pattering as they gracefully swam. The Lamia followed closely behind, her serpentine form gliding effortlessly through the water.

The water blurred their vision and sent a chill through their skin as they continued through the hole that opened up into a long submerged passageway. The path was illuminated by quartz crystals poking out of the rocky bottom, guiding their way forward.

Emerging from the water one by one, the trio found themselves in what appeared to be a limestone grotto, the black stone walls extending in every direction. The dim light from the quartz crystals remained their only constant companion. Arles quickly found a new path leading deeper into the rocky labyrinth.

If an adventurer were ever going to place a foot here they will describe it with one and only one word: "Frontier".

The Guild possessed vast amounts of Dungeon map data, while it was being used to assist modern-day adventurers, it was the adventurers who came before them as well as the brave explorers from the Ancient Times who had originally gathered it. These people had blazed the trail with no knowledge, putting their lives on the line to discover new routes and make maps of every floor. These were grand achievements.

However, there were still areas yet to be explored–The Dungeon was far too immense to ever be completely mapped. People sometimes overlooked branching passageways in the never-ending journey deep into the Dungeon. There were also special cases like this one, where pristine terrain had yet to be touched by explorers.

Arles fearlessly led the Lamia deeper into the uncharted Frontier, venturing into what seemed to be a vast, pitch-black room. As they entered, Arles couldn't contain her excitement and let out a series of high-pitched and adorable rabbit noises, "Kyuu! Ku! Kyuu!"

From the darkness emerged a lizard warrior, fully equipped with adventurers' gear. It was Lyd, the lizardman Xenos. Upon spotting Arles and the Lamia, Lyd couldn't contain his thrill either and shouted to the darkness, "Everybody! Arles found another!!"

POP POP POP POP, In comical fashion, numerous monsters started popping up one after the other to catch a glimpse of the newcomer.

One heartbeat later, "WOOOOOOO!!", the creatures erupted in celebration, their cheers filling the air. A red-cap goblin applauded, harpies on the ground skipped excitedly, the formoire pumped its fists in the air, and the al-miraj hopped around in circles, all joining in the jubilant atmosphere.

Lyd's booming voice cut through the jubilation as he ordered, "Hey, over there, hit the lights!" In response, agile monsters like hellhounds brought out magic-stone lamps from hidden places in the rock landscape and turned them on using their sharp claws or fangs. Harpies took to the air, pulling back pieces of thick cloth to reveal the hidden quartz crystals beneath.

And just like that, the Lamia arrived at the Hidden Village on the 20th floor of the Dungeon. The limestone cavern-like room came to light in an instant, revealing every detail.

But amidst the celebration and newfound illumination, her eyes widened as they fell upon a sight far away from the entrance. A dragon, over thirty-two feet long, lay at the base of a quartz pillar. Its battle-scarred body exuded wisdom accumulated over countless years, and its quiet eyes observed her with a sense of knowing. The Lamia recoiled at the presence that had been watching from the shadows.

In front of her, a diverse array of monsters gathered—some capable of speech, others not, and some struggling with pronouncing words. Despite their differences, they approached her one by one, expressing their excitement and extending greetings

"It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Signora," said Let, the red-cap goblin wearing armor and pants, who was the first to step forward and shake her hand.

"S-Signora?", slightly taken aback by the goblin's formality, the Lamia raised an eyebrow.

"I'm Laura. Good to meet you," said Laura, the busty blue-skinned lamia Xenos with a single black top connected by strings to a yellow choker, showcasing her impressive figure.

Those are big...

Smiling warmly to her brethren, the Lamia Mormos responds, "Thank you! You are pretty~"

Ray, the siren Xenos with golden feathers ending in blue tips, golden and blue hair, and a clothing style similar to an Amazoness, introduced herself as well. "I am Ray, a siren. A pleasure to meet you, our new comrade. We welcome you.", she extended her wing, the blue tip resembling a finger.

The Lamia clasped it, feeling the soft feathers in her hand and blushing bright red at Ray's captivating smile. Feeling a bit flustered, she meekly responds, "Th-thanks..."

Ray gently asks, "Would you please share your name with me?"

The scaly girl hesitates and expresses her confusion and worry, "...I-I don't have one."

With a reassuring tone, Ray says, "Don't worry, you can choose your name later, as all of us had."

"Food! Drinks! Bring out everything we have! Today, we need to celebrate our new comrade!", the monsters around them burst with excitement as Lyd's voice boomed.

o-O-o

A delightful assortment of food, including Dungeon fruits, nuts, and herbs, circulated among the Xenos. Barrels of alcohol carved with marks that read 'Rivira' added to the merriment, rolled out for everyone to enjoy. The Xenos gathered in a large circle, basking in the warm glow of magic-stone lamps.

"Eat all you like, don't be shy! Try this!" seated on the Lamia Mormos's right, Lyd eagerly offered her a red fruit.

"Hmm? What is it?" she inquired, tilting her head with curiosity.

"The humans call it 'mruit.' Supposed to be a real delicacy on the surface!" Lyd explained with a smile.

She takes a bite, and delight spreads across her face as the fruity flavor pleases her taste buds, "It's so good..." she remarks, savoring the unique taste.

Throughout the gathering, Honey-cloud fruits and other delectable treats were laid out before them. Smaller monsters like the red-cap goblin and al-miraj took charge of distributing giant mushrooms grilled by hellhound flames atop wide leaves, serving as makeshift plates.

A troll passes by, distributing wooden tankards filled with the cheap brew. Curious, she examines the drink and takes a cautious sniff.

Amused, Lyd shared his experience, "Ha ha ha, I know that look. At first, I thought, What the hell is this? But then I got a taste for it, and now it's become a habit! People really make the most interesting things!"

Lyd was drinking from what was most likely a bottle that had been discarded somewhere in the Dungeon. His breath smelled of alcohol as she slapped her on the back several times. Around them, a stunningly beautiful lamia was as red in the face as the lizardman, and several other monsters were not far behind, either.

She hesitated at first but eventually took a sip. She was surprised by the taste but found herself enjoying the unique flavor.

"I gotta tell you, liquor is amazing, but crafted weapons are really something else! They cut better than those flowers over there and are a whole lot harder. There's no way we could make those!" Lyd's excitement spills out as he speaks, showing great respect for human craftsmanship.

"RAY! SING!", a few drunken monsters start demanding a song from Ray, and others join in, howling in approval.

The siren, seated close to the Lamia, sighed and looked up at Lyd. He nodded, eyes twinkling with expectation.

"I suppose I must. I shall sing and add some color to this banquet," she declared with confidence and a grin on her face.

Stepping forward, she spread her golden wings and with a single flap, gracefully landed on top of the lamp. Closing her eyes, she took a breath, and for a fleeting moment, the room fell into silence, anticipating the enchanting performance to come.

Then, with a gentle soprano, Ray began to sing. There were no instruments or lyrics, but her pure melody alone was enough to captivate the hearts of her listeners. She sang with happiness and joy, her golden wing placed tenderly over her chest.

The atmosphere in the room transformed, as the beautiful song filled the space, and the scene was illuminated by the soft glow of quartz and magic-stone lamps. It was as if they had been transported to another world, far from the dark labyrinth filled with monsters deep underground. It was a moment of magic, where the Dungeon seemed to allow its audience a glimpse at sacred mysteries and illusions.

The melody reverberated deep into the maze, touching the hearts of everyone present.

A group of curious and energetic harpies gathered around the newcomer, their eyes gleaming with curiosity as they sniffed the air around her, as if noticing that she was slightly different from the others.

Fear, a red-haired harpy Xenos, couldn't contain her excitement and proposed, "Let's dance! May I have this one?". Without hesitation, Fear dragged the Lamia out to the center of the dance ring, and the two monster girls twirled hand in hand. It was an enchanting sight as Fear, with her wings, skillfully swung her scaly partner about. A scaly hand and a winged hand were clasped tightly together.

Amidst the joyous celebration and Ray's upbeat melody, the singing siren changed the tune, and her beautiful ballad transformed into an upbeat, toe-tapping rhythm similar to a waltz.

The atmosphere became livelier, and the dance floor filled with drunk Xenos eager to join the merriment.

The Hidden Village came alive as the Xenos paired off, each dancing with their newfound friends. The red-cap goblin found his partner in a lamia, hellhounds ran stride for stride with al-miraj, and the formoires joined the trolls, using their gigantic fists to pound the floor like drums.

o-O-o

As the Xenos rested in the interconnected cave rooms, bathed in the faint glow of lamp moss on the ceiling, the Lamia found herself unable to sleep or dream, a consequence of her undead nature. She pretended to sleep, choosing instead to meditate on the events of the day.

In a state of deep meditation, something stirred in the back of her mind—a distant memory, like she was remembering something from a time long past.

She remembered a stone-paved road near a mountain, descending into a valley. At the end of the valley stood stone houses surrounding a fortress made of stone. She and other monsters were attacking it.

Suddenly, the sound of horses approached from behind, and a female voice with authority spoke, "... is over. I can see the fortress now."

As the monsters noticed the incoming horses, they rushed to attack.

"The monsters are coming!" said the same female voice as before riding from a horse. A male voice instructed, "Use your arrows, Maylia! We'll try to keep the monsters from attacking the fortress!"

Then she saw her, Maylia, a short girl with medium-length purple hair and pale blue eyes. Maylia wore a padded jacket with shining bronze armor pieces adorning it, the armor extending into a skirt with a green hem. A quiver of arrows rested on her lower back.

Maylia galloped on her horse, her hair fluttering in the wind. With determination, she tensed her bow and gave the command, "Okay! Prepare yourselves, archers! Three, two, one... FIRE!"

Suddenly, the Lamia felt a deep sensation in her chest, a void in her heart, leaving her with a sense of longing and unexplained emotions.

She woke up from her trance, her breath hyperventilating as she tried to comprehend the intense sensation she had just experienced. Her hand instinctively moved to where her heart should be, or more precisely, her magic stone.

"Wh-what was that?" she whispered to herself in a low voice.

Her mind was in turmoil, struggling to make sense of the vivid dream and the emotions it had stirred within her. Her pale green hair, like ethereal tendrils, scattered on the ground behind her back.

Looking up at the green fluorescent ceiling of the cave, she felt a sense of unease, unable to shake the memory of Maylia—the features of the pallum knight she had encountered in the dream.

Maylia, the second strongest member of the Fianna Knights after Fianna herself, had been a formidable figure in the Ancient Times. The memories and presence lingered in the Lamia's mind, intertwining with the emotions and sensations she had felt and struggling to understand the enigmatic link she had discovered within herself.

Unknown to her, Maylia, who had died long ago, had been reincarnated as another purple-haired pallum girl who was exploring the dungeon–Meryl Tear from Hermes Familia.

o-O-o

Later on, as the Xenos were waking up from their rest, Ray approached the Lamia with a gentle smile and asked, "I hope you rested well. Have you decided on a name for yourself?"

Panicking slightly, she realized she had forgotten to choose a name earlier. Her thoughts instinctively turned to the person who had occupied her mind—the pallum knight from her memory. "M-May," she stammered, choosing the name based on the person she couldn't shake from her thoughts.

Ray's smile widened, and she warmly replied, "That is a fantastic name, May."

Fear, the hyperactive harpy, bumped into May, brimming with curiosity.

"Hey hey! What is your longing?" Fear asked, eager to know more about her.

Longing, a desire for something, a goal, something to achieve. A strong longing is the main requirement for the Xenos to be born. When a monster gains a longing for something, the next time it is reborn in the reincarnation cycle in the dungeon, it becomes a Xenos.

It can only be something gained naturally, otherwise, it would not work, as the Dungeon learned by trying its experiment with the Colosseum. It can be any goal, it could be a yearning for people, the surface world or to have a rematch with an adventurer. Ultimately, the longing and their past lives were the most defining and differentiating traits between Xenos.

Xenos, some of them can use language, but some can't speak a word. There are those who know how to express themselves while others have no clue. Don't you find that strange? Here's what's crazy. The really good ones can speak right from the start. Almost like they're recalling something they already know. Maybe they'd watched people for a long time in the past...Jealous of them, yearning after them.

"Fear, c-calm down a little", Ray intervened, as the question was too personal.

"Longing?" May was puzzled by the term and tilted her head in confusion.

"Like a dream or remembering a distant memory, something that comes hazy to you", Fear energetically added.

May thought for a moment before sharing the scene that had been haunting her at night.

"Well... I have this scene that I couldn't get out of my mind at night," May began to describe her memory.

o-O-o

Several female Xenos were around May as she told the scene, they gave a squeal and got excited.

"A knight galloping in shining armor coming for you! Kyaaa!!" Fear exclaimed in delight.

"I also want to dream about that!" another harpy chimed in, her excitement matching Fear's.

"Tell us more! Tell us more! What did it feel like?!" asked another curious female Xenos, eager to hear every detail.

"When she let loose her arrow it felt like a pain in here. Like a void that needed to be filled," May said while tapping her heart with her forearm covered in thick scales.

Given an answer that was easily misunderstood, the female Xenos gave off cries of delight and screams.

"Kyaa! It's like that story that Fels told us, she had fallen in love with Cupid's arrow!" Fear exclaimed, hopping up and down with uncontainable excitement.

"Is it love, is it romance?! With a person from the surface?! Oh~ To be filled with uncontrollable desire~" Laura daydreamed while blushing.

"That is definitely love, right?" some harpies whispered among themselves.

"Laura, Fear! Everyone calm down!" Ray tried to calm everybody down, but her efforts were in vain as the excitement continued to escalate.

"Ranye! You need to hear this!" said an excited Fear.

Ranye and Gros, on the other side of the room, watched the commotion with a stern expression.

"Don't go over there... it'll make things worse," Gros warned Ranye, the Arachne Xenos.

"I know..." Ranye replied acknowledging Gros.

"Ranye! Ranye!" could be heard from the other side of the room they were in.

Ranye and Gros sighed with a tired expression.

Unbeknownst to all, this series of events and Shalltear's actions by vampirizing May would play a significant role in shaping the fate of Orario.