Chapter 11: The World Dungeon War Begins
The air in Orario no longer hummed with calm. It thrummed with purpose, heavy with destiny. The battle that loomed was no mere skirmish—it was a war that would determine the fate of the Dungeon and all who walked the surface above it.
The One-Eyed Black Dragon, its wings folded like an ancient banner of war, remained perched beyond the city's edge. A quiet guardian now, it watched the preparations in silence. It would neither aid nor hinder until the time came. It was no longer a threat, but a warning.
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A City Transformed
Within days, Orario changed. The Tower of Babel became the center of command. Familiars constructed mobile barricades, war camps, and enchanted supply lines. Mages enchanted armor and weapons by the dozens. Welf and Hephaestus worked day and night forging gear that could withstand the reality-warping pressure of the lower floors.
Hestia Familia was now at the center of it all. Their manor became a strategic point. Bell Cranel, once the weakest adventurer in Orario, was now second only to Black Scythe in reputation. But with fame came a heavy burden.
"Do you think we'll all make it back?" Bell asked one evening, as he stood with Welf and Mikoto, watching the stars.
Welf didn't answer at first. He exhaled through his nose and crossed his arms.
"I think... we have to. There's no one else who can do what we're doing."
Mikoto clasped her hands together in prayer. "Kami-sama guides us. And now... the world watches us. We will not falter."
In another corner of the manor, Ryu was preparing a scroll, her eyes focused but haunted.
"The lower floors are like a different world," she whispered. "But the 100th floor... It's unknown. It's... alien."
Black Scythe, or rather Ryu Min, stood quietly in the hallway.
"It gets worse after the 60th," he said. "Everything changes. Reality warps. The Dungeon's will grows stronger. It will fight to stop us."
Ryu turned to him. "But we have you. And Hella."
He nodded, though his eyes betrayed his burden.
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The Alliance of Gods
A full war council was held. Gods who once squabbled over games and wagers now sat in solidarity.
"We're united," said Freya. "Loki, Ganesha, Hermes, Miach, Hestia, and even Dian Cecht. This is unprecedented."
"The mortals believe in us," said Hermes. "We must believe in them too."
Hella addressed the gods personally. "The Dungeon is no longer content to be a passive entity. It has tasted rebellion. It wants dominion. It must be stopped before it learns to influence the world above."
"Then this is not just about sealing it again?" asked Loki.
"No," Hella said. "This is about cleansing it. Rewriting its will. And only by reaching the Heart can we do that."
The One-Eyed Black Dragon had confirmed it: the Heart lay deep below, deeper even than where it once guarded.
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Descent Begins
The campaign into the Dungeon was unlike anything ever seen. Thousands of adventurers, in formations from every Familia, descended through the Dungeon's levels. Portals and supply lines were maintained via high-tier mages and new magic items created by Hephaestus and Welf.
Each floor brought new horrors.
Floor 51 – A sea of mist filled with blind serpents that hunted sound. Floor 55 – A realm of reverse gravity, where walls were sky and stone bled memory. Floor 60 – Here the Dungeon began to manifest sentience. The walls whispered secrets of the adventurers. Visions appeared of fallen comrades. Many turned back.
Black Scythe fought without rest. His scythe, now forged anew with celestial silver and nightsteel, cut through beasts born of nightmare.
"They're testing us," he muttered. "It's watching."
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The First Assault on the 70th Floor
The 70th Floor was where the Dungeon began resisting in earnest. Massive, multi-limbed monstrosities emerged—not merely monsters, but fused amalgamations of previous bosses. The air shimmered with corruption. Adventurers fought with grit and desperation.
Bell stood at the center of it, now wielding twin blades forged by Welf and blessed by Hestia herself. His Argo Vesta spell evolved. He could now emit radiant flame wings that burst on contact.
He cleaved through two enemies at once, spinning with precision.
Welf roared beside him. "I call upon the forge of the stars!" His hammer glowed, redirecting energy attacks and smashing monster skulls.
Lily and Ryu worked as a pair, their support magic and critical strikes perfect in tandem.
Still, losses mounted.
"We're thinning too fast," said Riveria, healing an unconscious dwarf. "We can't hold like this all the way to the 100th."
Black Scythe agreed. He requested a detachment team—small, elite, and mobile. He would lead it personally.
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The Vanguard Squad
The new vanguard was composed of:
Black Scythe (Ryu Min)
Bell Cranel
Ryu Lion
Welf Crozzo
Mikoto Yamato
Liliruca Arde
Aiz Wallenstein
Hella (as divine guide)
They would carve a path, prepare the 90th floor for teleport circles, and reach the Heart before the Dungeon could manifest its final defense.
They departed silently.
Each floor below tested them anew:
Floor 75 – Time dilation made hours pass in seconds, memories unraveling. Floor 80 – Phantom copies of the adventurers themselves appeared, mimicking attacks. Floor 85 – The sky turned crimson. Rain fell upward. Every drop turned into a wailing spirit that clawed at their minds.
Through it all, Hella's presence repelled the worst of the corruption.
"I can feel it," she whispered to Ryu Min one night. "It's calling me. It still thinks I'm its seal."
"Then we'll show it you're its executioner."
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Nearing the Core
At Floor 90, they established the teleportation circle. The area was purged by holy flame, reinforced by runes crafted by Ryu and Welf. They had earned a small reprieve.
As Hella stood on the precipice, she turned to them.
"What comes next is not just darkness. The Heart of the Dungeon is beyond comprehension. It exists in all places at once. We will not fight it with weapons alone."
"Then how do we fight it?" asked Mikoto.
Hella looked at Bell, then Black Scythe.
"The Dungeon was made to repel mortals from reaching its core, its Heart. It is the will of resistance incarnate. If we prove ourselves not just strong, but unbreakable, we may end its hunger."
Black Scythe readied his blade.
"Then let's go write our truth."