In the 25th floor's great tree labyrinth, a group of Xenos wrapped in thick cloaks moved forward cautiously.
Not far behind them, high up on a tree trunk, a man wearing windproof goggles stood with a crimson spear in hand.
"They've been hiding all this time, and now they suddenly decide to show themselves?"
Unlike his usual excitement when hunting Xenos, the man remained still, lost in thought atop the trunk.
"Coming out from the Deep Floors on purpose… are they heading to the surface?"
His brows furrowed, but a faint, mocking smile crept into his eyes.
"Trying to lure me out? Or heading up to ask for help?"
If it was the former, he really wanted to know how those monsters thought they could find the exact route into the heart of the Dungeon.
If it was the latter… what Familia on the surface could possibly help them?
He didn't know their goal yet, but if they were really trying the first option, he was more than happy to take the bait.
Those creatures were a nuisance in the Dungeon—eliminating them quickly would only benefit his future plans.
"Fine, I'll bite. Let's see what you monsters can really do."
With that, he stopped masking his presence and leapt down with a feral grin.
"!?"
The Xenos below all noticed the approach at the same moment. Apart from Wiene, the weakest among them who was sheltered in the middle, every other Xenos fixed their attention on the intruder.
"Ray, take Wiene to the surface and call for help. We'll hold him off."
"Got it."
Ray didn't hesitate, grabbing Wiene and sprinting toward the 25th floor's exit.
The man caught sight of this.
'So they really are going for help.'
"Become lost in an endless nightmare!"
Ignoring the two Level 5 monsters staying behind, he began his chant.
A crimson, invisible wave surged out almost instantly, wrapping around Lyd and Gros.
The suffocating killing intent stirred the deepest malice within their hearts, and their eyes turned blood red.
"Ahhhhh!"
All their emotions twisted into pure madness, their gazes now the same frenzied red as when they had once been mere beasts.
The two pairs of scarlet eyes locked onto each other—then, with primal fury, they clashed.
Seeing his magic take hold, the man's pace slowed for a moment.
It was a potent spell—one that forced its targets into a berserk frenzy—but the drawback was a temporary drop of one Level for the caster. The lost Level would only return once the frenzy was dispelled.
Even so, he didn't stop.
Even weakened, he was still more than fast enough to catch up.
Ray never once looked back, charging toward the exit with Wiene in her arms.
Suddenly, a sharp sound tore through the air from behind, forcing Ray to halt mid-step and dodge to the side.
A sharp crimson slash cut across Ray's wing, leaving behind a faint smear of black curse clinging to it.
Hissing in pain, Ray reluctantly set Wiene down, keeping her voice low.
"Wiene, fall back as much as you can. They're on the 18th floor—after that, you'll be on your own."
"Mm."
Wiene's determined gaze didn't waver. She immediately turned and bolted down into the next floor's passage.
Once Wiene had disappeared below, Ray kept her guard up, watching the man pursuing from behind.
"Heh… looks like you monsters really do have ties to a surface Familia."
The man landed with a predatory grin, clearly in a fine mood.
He hadn't expected anyone on the surface to bother helping these creatures, let alone treating them as people.
Ray clenched her teeth, fury burning on her face.
"We are not monsters!"
"That's just what you tell yourselves. Not monsters? Don't make me laugh. You think just because you look like monsters on the outside, you're somehow different on the inside? No matter how you change, a monster's nature never will."
His grin turned cold. He couldn't stand these Dungeon-born freaks who fancied themselves human.
"I don't know who's waiting for you up there, but if I catch you, I'm sure I can draw that person out."
Those words hit their mark—Ray's expression faltered for an instant.
"In your dreams!"
"Pahahaha!"
That raw, unrestrained emotion—it was exactly what he wanted to see, and he laughed like a madman.
Out of the corner of his eye, he checked behind him. The two other Xenos were already badly wounded, no longer a threat in the short term.
Satisfied, he dispelled his frenzy magic, his dropped Level returning to normal.
For now, he wasn't interested in these three.
Using that little brat as bait would be far better for drawing the rest of them in.
And the fact that, out of so many monsters, they'd chosen to bring along the weakest… it was obvious that brat was different.
To them, she had to be more important than the rest.
"I'd love to keep watching you wallow in despair, but once I've caught that brat, the rest of you won't be far behind."
He adjusted his stance, then burst forward at full speed, blowing past Ray like a gale. Snatching up his spear, he charged straight toward the upward passage.
"Since you're in contact with the surface, call them down here."
"This is the chance I'm giving you."
His voice cut off, met only by Ray's enraged roar.
"Bastard!!!"
Spurred on by the sound behind him, he pushed his speed even higher.
"Ha… ha…"
Wiene ran alone through the perilous floor.
The Dungeon was dangerous beyond measure—monsters could spawn at any moment. As one born within it, she knew that better than anyone.
But there was no other choice. She had to reach the meeting point as fast as possible.
Only then could the Xenos be saved.
She was just about to reach the passage to the 23rd floor when a figure appeared before her like a demon, driving a brutal kick into her side.
She was knocked out almost instantly.
Staring at the unconscious Wiene, the man frowned slightly in puzzlement.
"Why this brat?"
With no answer coming to mind, he didn't linger. If the people from above had already reached the 18th floor, this place was far from safe.
Who knew which Familia they were from? If it was the Loki Familia, he wouldn't dare face them head-on.
Grabbing Wiene by the neck, he dashed into a hidden chamber on the 23rd floor. Producing a tool from his pocket, he vanished from the floor with her in tow.