At the top floor of the Twilight Manor, headquarters of the Loki Familia, lay two places of significance: one, the private chambers of the trickster goddess Loki herself; the other, the office of her current Captain, Finn Deimne.
By evening, two of the Familia's other cornerstones had arrived: the Vice-Captain, Riveria Ljos Alf, titled the Nine Hells Princess; and their trusted comrade, the dwarven warrior Gareth Landrock, together forming with Finn the famed Big Three of the Loki Familia.
The topic on everyone's lips was none other than the sensational news spreading like wildfire since midday:
"A pair of rookies reached Level 2 in just a week."
Unquestionably, a shocking claim.
"I've heard it, of course."
Finn, much like the Gulliver Brothers Warriors of the Freya Familia, was a Pallum by birth. Though appearing like a golden-curled young boy, he had already lived over forty years.
Now, the Level 6 veteran bearing the divine title of Braver set down his quill, sighing helplessly.
"This story spread across Orario by this afternoon. At this point, even the street vendors are talking about it, I'd have to be deaf not to know."
"It can't be helped."
Riveria, with her calm bearing and long emerald hair, looked at him with a frown. Though already in her seventies, as a long-lived High Elf, she still appeared youthful.
"To achieve Level 2 in a single week… if true, that level of talent is far too abnormal."
Her voice lowered.
"Not even Ais, nor the one once called the 'Monster of Talent,' Silence Alfia, achieved such frightening growth."
The moment she mentioned Alfia, Riveria's expression stiffened.
Even now… I remember how, despite my own talent as a young elf, I was always overshadowed by Alfia… that human barely in her twenties who spoke to me like an elder, crushing me again and again in strength.
Those lessons had left scars Riveria had never forgotten.
"Riveria, are you doubting the truth of this report?"
Gareth broke in. "I heard the two rookies are from the Freya Familia. Could this be part of some scheme?"
Riveria shook her head, sighing.
"Too little evidence to analyze for now. But Loki herself is curious, she's already arranged a private meeting with Freya-sama. If anyone can get a straight answer from the goddess of beauty, it's her."
Finn rubbed at his temples.
"Let's just hope this doesn't spiral into chaos. Our next Expedition is about to begin, we can't afford additional trouble."
"Agreed," Riveria exhaled softly. "Either way, real or false, we'll need to stay vigilant."
And indeed:
If false, then the Freya Familia was plotting something. A faction of their size scheming would plunge Orario into chaos, regardless of their direct target.
If true, then two Level 2s in a week meant that, given time, they could rival even Silence Alfia.
And if that day came, Orario would no longer speak of two great Familias.
It would be Freya's Familia, alone at the top.
Even now, Freya's faction had the power to shake the city to its core. They simply lacked the reason.
Besides, Loki and Freya were, strangely enough, still friends in their own way.
And Finn, Riveria, and Gareth weren't petty enough to begrudge another Familia's rise.
"So, if it's true," Finn finally said, "we'll need to meet these so-called 'super rookies' ourselves. At the very least, to learn what kind of people they are."
Riveria and Gareth both nodded solemnly.
"Let's just hope they don't become another Valletta Grede."
The name dropped like a stone in the room.
Valletta, titled Arachnia, had been the most infamous First-Class adventurer of the Thanatos Familia, a Dark Faction.
Her cruelty was legendary: once, merely because someone brushed her shoulder on the street, she butchered them on the spot, even after their apology.
Seven years ago, during the Seven Days of Death, it was Valletta who orchestrated a horde of monsters to invade the city, forcing Orario's veterans back into battle. Tens of thousands perished in days.
Her crimes didn't end there.
She coerced civilians by holding loved ones hostage, tricked the downtrodden into suicide bombings, and even drove the sister of Shakti Varma, current Level 5 Captain of the Ganesha Familia, to her death.
By the end of the first day alone, over 30,000 adventurers had died.
Valletta became known as one of the darkest criminals in Orario's history.
Finn had once had the chance to kill her.
But in weighing the battlefield's needs, he let her escape into the Daedalus District's labyrinthine slums.
That decision, perhaps the greatest mistake of his life, would allow her to uncover a secret, alternate entrance to the Dungeon.
Through it, the Dark Factions smuggled monsters and trafficked people.
And in the years to come… at least several members of the Loki Familia, including the promising young healer Line Arshe, would die at Valletta's hands.
But that, as they say, was a story for another time.
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Meanwhile, in the Dungeon…
Steel flashed. Figures danced.
On the 9th Floor's B-01 route, the Traveler twins Aether and Lumine fought swarms of eerie monsters known as Shadow Warriors.
Most attacks passed harmlessly through their ghostly forms.
Only the glowing cores in their heads, their "eyes," were weak points.
In short: only a headshot could kill them.
Elemental power, however, worked anywhere.
"Haaah… we've been grinding all day, and we only just went from Level 13 to Level 14 in our Genshin ranks," Aether muttered after clearing another wave.
"Feels like the EXP rate is dropping," Lumine agreed. "Probably because our levels are higher now. Should we try the 10th Floor?"
Aether frowned in thought.
From the 10th Floor onward, the Dungeon changes… no more cave-like paths, but instead a vast, dim grassland scattered with dead trees. Wide open. No cover. Surrounded on all sides, ambushed by large numbers at once… and worse, large-class monsters start appearing.
"…We'll try it," Aether decided, flicking the blood from his Traveler's Sword. "We'll see how much EXP the big ones give. If the efficiency's worse than farming small fry, we'll come back here, at least until we hit our short-term goal of forming a seven-person party."
From the 13th Floor onward, the Dungeon's spawn rate would spike dramatically.
Not as flat as the upper floors, but still a maze of interconnected caverns… perfect terrain for my old grinding tricks.
With the plan set,
"Let's move."
The Traveler twins turned toward Sector A, headed for the staircase leading to the 10th Floor.
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Notes:
Twilight Manor: The headquarters of the Loki Familia.
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