Four days later—
The guild hall was alive with noise.
Voices overlapped.
Coins clinked.
Adventurers laughed, argued, and boasted about their latest hunts.
At one of the counters—
River stood with his party.
A small pile of magic gems rested on the table as they were sorted and sold.
For now—
They held back.
The crystals from the two floor guardians remained untouched.
Too valuable.
A symbol of their progress as a team.
"Hey, did you hear?"
An adventurer leaned in, lowering his voice slightly.
"Team Sunrise has started seriously exploring the fifth floor."
"They've been making real progress."
Another nodded.
"With Team Starburst basically tied down running the town now…"
"They're probably the ones who'll clear the dungeon."
A third adventurer scoffed quietly.
"Have you seen them lately?"
"Alexander's been pushing them like crazy."
"Running them into the ground."
He shook his head.
"I almost feel bad for those girls."
"…Oh my."
Buer's voice slipped into River's mind.
"I wonder what caused that change?"
A teasing tone followed.
River didn't even react outwardly.
"Knock it off."
He muttered quietly into the Bible.
"You're not baiting my insecurities today."
Buer clicked his tongue.
"…Tch. No fun."
A brief pause.
Then—
"How about this?"
His tone shifted.
More calculated.
"I'll increase your natural power."
River's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And in return…"
Buer continued.
"You let me cast a spell using your body."
"Whenever I want."
River didn't hesitate.
"…That's the worst deal I've ever heard."
He crossed his arms.
"Hard pass."
Buer sighed dramatically.
"Come now, don't be so cold—"
"However…"
River smirked slightly.
"I might consider it."
Buer perked up instantly.
"Oh?"
River's tone sharpened.
"You're not allowed to harm people."
"Not directly."
"Not indirectly."
"Not at all."
A pause.
"And you double whatever power boost you were planning to give me."
Silence.
Then—
A low chuckle.
"…You drive a hard bargain."
Buer's voice was amused.
Satisfied.
"…Fine."
"Deal."
His tone turned gleeful.
Because beneath it all—
He had gotten exactly what he wanted.
Moments later—
The doors of the guild hall swung open.
All eyes turned.
Alexander walked in.
Behind him—
The three members of his party followed.
Alicia.
Rose.
Hana.
They looked… terrible.
Exhausted.
Drained.
Barely holding themselves upright.
Even their steps felt heavy.
"You three."
Alexander didn't slow down.
His voice was cold.
"We're continuing the fifth-floor exploration again tomorrow."
Silence.
Then—
"…You've got to be kidding."
Alicia stepped forward slightly.
Her voice strained.
"We're exhausted."
"We need at least a day off."
She clenched her fists.
"That place is hell."
"My arm still burns…"
Rose muttered.
She held it tightly, trembling.
"…That floor guardian's acid hasn't stopped hurting."
"It chased us across the entire floor…"
Her legs nearly gave out.
"I can't even sleep anymore…"
Hana's voice was soft.
Shaking.
"I keep having nightmares about that thing…"
Her eyes watered.
"I don't want to go back there…"
"Enough."
Alexander's voice cut through them.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
"Stop complaining."
"The clerics already healed your wounds."
His glare hardened.
"And we'll get a new cleric permanently on the team soon."
The guild hall grew quiet.
Tense.
Uncomfortable.
"Our fatigue doesn't just disappear, you jerk!"
Alicia snapped back.
"You've been acting weird for days now!"
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Alexander's eyes darkened.
"Where is your conviction?"
His voice rose.
"Your ambition?!"
He stepped forward.
"You're all worthless slackers."
"We're the strongest team in this town."
His voice echoed through the hall.
"And you're whining like children."
Then—
He turned.
Glaring at everyone watching.
"What are you all looking at?"
His presence flared.
Intimidating.
"Am I wrong?"
He spread his arms slightly.
"With Team Starburst out of the picture…"
"Who else is going to clear that dungeon?"
His eyes swept across the room.
Sharp.
Disdainful.
"Certainly not any of you weaklings."
Buer smiled.
Wicked.
Satisfied.
Finally.
The perfect moment had arrived.
"Sound of Discourse."
River's body stiffened—
Then moved.
Not by his will.
But Buer's.
The spell rippled outward—
Subtle.
Precise.
Voices—shifted.
Redirected.
Planted.
"What about Team Phoenix?"
A voice rang out from somewhere in the crowd.
Alexander froze.
His head snapped toward the sound.
"…Who said that?"
Another voice followed.
"Yeah, didn't they kill the first two floor guardians?"
"I heard they're going after the third next."
Murmurs spread.
Growing.
Layering.
"Honestly…"
A third voice chimed in—
Smooth.
Convincing.
"They sound way better than Team Sunrise."
This time—
Some of the crowd nodded.
Agreed.
Whispers turned into quiet support.
River's eyes widened.
"…What the hell are you doing?"
He muttered under his breath.
Buer chuckled.
"Exactly what I planned."
Alexander's expression darkened.
His gaze locked onto River.
Then—
He started walking.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Dangerous.
He stopped right in front of him.
"You think you're better than me?"
His voice was low.
Seething.
"You always have."
A beat.
"You damn nobody."
CRACK.
His fist slammed into River's face.
River hit the ground hard—
Blood dripping from his nose.
Everything exploded into motion.
Celestia drew her blade instantly—
Her eyes burning with fury.
Arthur didn't move—
But his hand rose slightly—
Fingers brushing his glasses.
Ready.
Watching.
Azura rushed forward.
"River!"
Hana followed close behind—
Panicked.
Alicia shouted.
"Alexander! What the hell are you doing?!"
Rose grabbed his arm—
Holding him back before he could strike again.
"Stop it!"
"I'm sorry…"
Hana whispered, kneeling beside River.
Guilt heavy in her voice.
River pushed himself up slowly.
Blood dripped down his face—
But his expression remained calm.
Too calm.
A faint glow formed in his hand.
"Heal."
The blood stopped.
The pain faded.
But the tension—
Didn't.
"Go on…"
Buer's voice slipped in again.
Smooth.
Sweet.
Poison wrapped in honey.
"You know you want to."
A pause.
"He deserves it."
"Just one punch…"
"Maybe a spell or two…"
A quiet chuckle.
"After all…"
"…you're angry too."
River exhaled slowly.
And remembered.
Despite the help.
Despite the jokes.
Despite the strange, almost playful companionship—
At his core—
Buer was still a demon.
Cruel.
Manipulative.
Amused by suffering.
Especially his.
"Do we have a problem?"
River stepped forward.
Calm.
Measured.
But dangerous.
Alexander didn't hesitate.
"Yeah."
His voice was sharp.
"I'm sick of you."
His glare burned into River.
"Acting like you're better than me."
"You won that duel with dumb luck."
A bitter laugh escaped him.
"Hell—that's how you've done everything."
"Luck."
His fists clenched.
"You couldn't beat me again if you tried."
"Alexander, stop—"
Rose reached for him.
He shoved her off.
Hard.
She hit the ground with a gasp.
"Alright, that's enough!"
Alicia stepped forward—
Staff raised.
Pointed directly at him.
Her hands trembled.
But her voice didn't.
Alexander glanced at her.
Unimpressed.
Cold.
"You've been horrible to us."
Her voice cracked.
"…These past few days…"
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I'm done."
A breath.
"I'm breaking up with you."
The words hung in the air.
Heavy.
"And I'm leaving the party."
"…You jerk."
Silence.
Alexander scoffed.
"Then go."
His tone was dismissive.
"I don't need trash like you."
"I can do everything myself."
He shoved River as he passed.
Not hard—
But deliberate.
Provocative.
Alicia turned—
And stormed out of the guild hall.
Rose hesitated—
Then followed.
Leaving behind—
Only tension.
And Hana.
Standing there.
Frozen.
River stepped forward.
Standing tall.
Meeting Alexander's gaze head-on.
"You're really going to push everyone away like this?"
His voice was calm.
But beneath it—
Burning.
Alexander smirked.
"Who needs them?"
His eyes gleamed.
"I'll clear the dungeon myself if I have to."
"I have the power."
River clenched his fist.
"…Then let's see it."
His voice hardened.
"Let's take this outside."
A pause.
"Meet me in front of the dungeon."
His eyes didn't waver.
"But if I win—"
"You apologize to Alicia."
Alexander's smile turned sharp.
"Fine."
"So be it."
Alexander stormed out of the guild hall.
River turned slightly.
"You three stay here."
His voice softened—
Just a little.
"I need to handle this alone."
His fist tightened.
Because this time—
It wasn't about proving strength.
It was about drawing a line.
And not letting it be crossed again.
"River—please!"
Hana rushed after him.
Her voice shook.
"At least let me come with you."
She clenched her hands tightly.
"He's my party leader…"
A pause.
"…and you're both my friends."
Her eyes lowered.
"I know you hate me, but please—"
River stopped.
For a moment—
He said nothing.
Then—
"…Fine."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Hana let out a small breath of relief—
But quickly continued.
"He's been acting strange these past few days."
"He's not himself."
Her voice grew more desperate.
"Sure, he's arrogant—"
"A jerk—"
"But he would never say those things."
"…Especially not to Alicia."
River walked forward.
Silent.
Then—
"…You're right."
He didn't look at her.
"He is an asshole."
A faint, bitter smile appeared.
"But he cared about Alicia."
A pause.
"…And he respected me."
"Even if it was just a little."
His eyes hardened.
"This isn't him."
His fist clenched.
"And if he forgot who he is…"
A spark of anger flickered in his gaze.
"…then I'll remind him."
"With a punch to the face."
Beneath it all—
His wrath stirred.
Hungry.
Waiting.
"…River."
Hana's voice softened.
"I'm sorry."
She looked down.
"For everything."
"For not standing up for you… when you were kicked out."
River slowed slightly.
"…I know."
A quiet breath.
"It still hurts."
A small—
Sad smile.
"But…"
"I forgive you."
They stepped outside the guild hall.
The air felt heavier than before.
Tense.
Like something was waiting.
Then—
A presence descended.
From above.
Orelia landed before them.
Graceful.
Silent.
"River."
Her tone was serious.
"I need to speak with you."
"…Not now."
River didn't stop walking.
"There's something I have to do."
"This can't wait."
Her voice sharpened.
"I've detected another one of the Thirteen Masterpieces in this town."
River froze.
Orelia continued.
"…The most vile among them."
"Starving August."
Her expression darkened.
"A parasitic armor."
"It consumes its wielder's mind…"
"…and amplifies their worst traits."
A beat.
"It's been here for four days."
Her eyes met his.
"And I've just identified its user."
River didn't need to ask.
He already knew.
"…Alexander."
Orelia nodded.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
River's hands clenched tightly.
"…Then come with me."
His voice was firm.
"If he's being controlled—"
"I'll need your help."
"Of course."
Orelia stepped beside him.
"I don't know how he obtained it…"
"But I doubt he's in control anymore."
The three of them moved forward.
Together.
Toward the dungeon entrance.
And there—
Waiting for them—
Was Alexander.
Lightning crackled violently around his body.
Wild.
Unstable.
His eyes—
Wrong.
His smile—
Twisted.
Vicious.
As if something else—
Was looking out through him.
"…Took you long enough."
The storm around him grew louder.
And the real fight—
Was about to begin.