Although the Twin Stars Transfer Magic couldn't bring other people along, it could allow the twins to act as top-tier support units, continuously transporting supplies back and forth.
Finn had already thought of several strategies the moment he heard it.
For example, have the core members take Aether and Lumine into the Dungeon. First, stop at the 39th Floor as a relay point, then push deeper to the 50th Floor to establish a new anchor. That would become the staging ground for the next official expedition.
But unfortunately,
"We're very busy on our end as well. We need to complete the Guild's requested jobs to accumulate expedition funds. So we can't have the entire main force enter the Dungeon right now."
Even Finn looked troubled saying this.
This was the classic you can't have both fish and bear paws at the same time situation.
No helping it.
"For supporting the areas around the Large Tree Labyrinth, Gareth will lead the team. Alys, Anakitty, Cruz, Raul… and Lefiya will accompany him."
In the conference room, Finn began assigning roles.
"That area is dealing with a Monster Outbreak, after all. Aside from Gareth's wide-ranged attacks, we need enough magic users prepared."
"As for the Familia headquarters, Naaza (Lv.4) will command Lakta, Eirfi, and the others to remain and guard."
"As for myself, Riveria, Ais, Tione, Tiona, and Bete, we'll choose a suitable day to enter the Dungeon together."
At this point,
"Aether, Lumine. Is everything fine on your side?"
Finn directed the question at the key pair in this entire plan.
Hearing this,
"When exactly will we be entering the Dungeon?"
Just to be safe, Renjiro (Aether) asked.
"Three days from now."
Finn answered directly.
"We've collected the initial funds, but Ais' and the others' weapons are still undergoing maintenance. That can't be rushed, we'll have to wait."
"So three days later is when we'll head in. Is that alright?"
Aether nodded.
"No problem. But we also have preparations to make during these three days. And…"
His gaze sharpened.
"What exactly is happening over at the Large Tree Labyrinth?"
There was no question, if the Guild was directly issuing emergency requests to multiple major Familias, this was definitely not some trivial disturbance.
Or more accurately,
"If the Monster Outbreak there wasn't severe, Orario wouldn't need to mobilize people from this far away."
Indeed, just as Aether suspected.
On the current continent, the labyrinth city Orario was known as the Center of the World, but geographically, it was actually located on the far western edge of the continent.
Further west, slightly southwest, was a brackish lake connected to the sea.
It was beside that lake that the Port City of Meren lay.
Interestingly, a thousand years ago, the Dungeon once had an exit leading directly into the sea.
One of the ancient monsters, the Sea Tyrant Leviathan, escaped through that route.
Of course, after the gods descended and Orario was founded, both natural exits of the Dungeon were sealed.
The land exit was sealed by Babel Tower.
The sea exit was continuously fortified by the Zeus Familia, and after Leviathan was finally slain, they worked with the Poseidon Familia to use its black bones to create the eternal Sea Dragon Seal.
That incident was just over a decade ago.
Back then, Finn, Gareth, Riveria and the others were just promising up-and-coming adventurers, rivals chasing the backs of the legendary heroes.
Unfortunately, later, during the battle against the One-Eyed Black Dragon…
…well, that's another story.
In short,
The Three Great Unexplored Regions of the world lie in the extreme regions:
Far West – The Dungeon
Far North – Dragon Valley
Far South – The Large Tree Labyrinth
As for the Far East,
That was the homeland of the Takemikazuchi Familia and others like them.
The true center of the continent was the Kingdom of Rakia, where the War God Ares descended.
But that wasn't important.
What was important was,
Even riding a Wyvern, traveling from Orario to the Large Tree Labyrinth would take a full ten days.
In this era lacking advanced transportation,
"The only explanation is that the defense forces near the Large Tree Labyrinth have already confirmed they can no longer hold back the Monster Outbreak."
Aether analyzed inwardly.
"So they had no choice but to request aid all the way from Orario."
Because,
In terms of raw combat power, nothing on the surface matched the labyrinth city.
Sure, there might be retired Zeus Familia and Hera Familia veterans hiding somewhere, but who could find them?
Thus,
"You've already realized it," Finn said.
"The scale of the Monster Outbreak in the Large Tree Labyrinth has grown beyond what even the War God Kingdom and the Magic Nation could contain."
"But there are strong Familias stationed in the south as well, such as the well-known Artemis Familia."
"Led by the Virgin Goddess, all of her followers are powerful women. Their lowest level is Lv.2. Since they are the main fighting force there, all we need to do is assist and ease some of their pressure."
Hearing that name,
"Artemis Familia, huh…"
Aether immediately felt a headache forming.
Because he knew,
This situation would get complicated.
The source material gave almost no detailed accounts of the pre-movie events.
No one knew how long the outbreak had already been happening.
Currently, there were still two months before the expected beginning of the "main storyline."
And around five months before the Holy Moon Festival.
Too many events could still occur.
There was no guarantee the catastrophe involving the Heavenly Scorpion of the Secret Land wouldn't escalate early.
Which meant, forget about "romancing the goddess."
More importantly,
What if that arrow from the heavens, the one strong enough to destroy the entire lower world, fell early?
And besides,
If he intervened early, could he prevent unnecessary casualties?
That was why he had rushed to slay the twin-headed dragon.
He refused to simply wait for disaster.
So,
"Finn, one question."
Aether looked straight at the Pallum captain.
"When is the support team headed to the Large Tree Labyrinth departing?"
"I may need to go see the situation for myself."
==========
Notes
Sea Dragon Seal – A massive sealing barrier created using the Leviathan's remains to permanently seal the Dungeon's old sea exit.