"Astraea? Seriously? Didn't see that one coming."
Loki's brows shot up in genuine surprise. But it didn't take her long to realize why it had caught her off guard in the first place.
"Wait a sec! Astraea's kids were the ones in danger? That can't be right—they've got nine level fours! How could they be in trouble that easily? They survived the worst of the Great Feud three years ago when Alfia herself came after them, and now they get cornered in the Dungeon?"
Her tone slowed a bit, the weight of the current Dungeon instability sinking in. "What exactly happened?"
"They were ambushed by the Dark Faction," Tsuna replied calmly. "Those bastards sabotaged both the entrance and exit of the 30th floor while Astraea's group was exploring. Then they overdamaged the area to trigger a Dungeon cleaner and used it to wipe them out."
Loki's jaw slackened. "That elaborate? They actually set a trap using the Dungeon's own mechanics—just to take down Astraea's children?"
Her mind kicked into overdrive, piecing together the implications. Within seconds, she'd already formed a picture of what was going on—and maybe even what had been causing the Dungeon's recent 'mutations.'
"Wait, don't tell me those idiots ran tests beforehand, didn't they?"
Tsuna nodded. "That's what I'm thinking too. The Dark Faction's probably behind all of it."
"Repeatedly damaging the Dungeon floors, over and over, until they kept triggering cleaners—that would put the Dungeon in a constant state of stress. Which explains why we ran into that black-skinned Goliath on the 17th floor… and that three-headed Amphisbaena on the 25th and 27th."
Loki clicked her tongue. "Those damn Evilus leftovers just don't know when to quit."
Even without seeing those monsters firsthand, the word 'stressed' said it all. Mutations caused by the Dungeon's own retaliation—stronger, meaner versions of what should've existed.
They were supposed to have wiped most of the Dark Faction's main forces three years ago, yet somehow, these remnants were still stirring up hell underground.
"…What about Astraea's kids? Their condition?"
Tsuna glanced through his puppet's vision. "The red-haired and black-haired girls—both missing their right arms. One Pallum's lost both legs. Two elves—one's missing her left arm, the other her right leg. An Amazon, a werewolf, a dwarf, and three humans—all seriously injured."
Loki winced. "Damn… that's more than half their force crippled."
Nine level fours, and five of them maimed. It was basically a total collapse. She hadn't thought the Dark Faction could pull off something this devastating—using the Dungeon itself to crush Astraea's Familia.
For a long moment, Loki said nothing. Then something clicked in her mind.
Wait… isn't my Tsuna the guy who's best at regenerating lost limbs?
Her lips curled into a mischievous grin as an idea bloomed.
"Tsuna, bring Astraea's kids to you first. I'll go have a little chat with the lady herself."
Her grin turned downright predatory. "Heh heh Astraea Familia looks like I've got you right where I want you this time~"
Before Tsuna could respond, Loki bolted offscreen, and even through the television, he could hear her voice echoing down the hall.
"Line! Go get Astraea for me! Tell her it's about her kids—urgent business!"
"Eh? Lady Loki, it's this late and you still—"
"Of course I am! It's important! Oh, and wake up Aina at the Guild while you're at it—I'll need her too!"
Tsuna shook his head with a soft sigh. For all of Loki's intelligence and cunning, she still had a streak of reckless impulsiveness that made her… well, Loki.
He dispelled the television and returned from the Alternate Dimension to his own room.
All that's left now is for the puppet to bring them back safely.
As for Finn and the others… I'll wait until Miss Loki reports back before looping them in.
The Star-resting House—the Astraea Familia's home.
Unlike most Familias that grew in numbers, Astraea's was built on strict elitism. They weren't many, but every member carried the same unwavering creed as their goddess—justice.
Because of that creed, they had long been the champions of Orario's common folk.
Whenever injustice occurred in the city, people sought out the Astraea Familia—and they always came. Justice always arrived.
But standing for justice inevitably drew the hatred of those who thrived in darkness.
Tonight, the Star-resting House was unusually quiet. With most of her children gone into the Dungeon, only the goddess Astraea herself remained.
"…."
Astraea stood silently in the darkened courtyard, her expression pale beneath the faint light of the magic stone lamps.
"My children…"
Her lips trembled as dread welled inside her chest.
Three days. It had already been three days since they should've returned. That alone was enough to fill any god with despair.
Gods were far more sensitive to danger than mortals. Astraea could feel the weight of something terrible closing in. Desperate, she had even released fragments of her divinity, sending out a plea for help—knowing full well it risked her being sent back to heaven.
She prayed that someone—anyone—would hear her voice. The Loki Familia had descended into the Dungeon two days earlier. Maybe… just maybe, one of their children would hear her.
But she had no way of knowing if her prayer had reached anyone at all.
"Ding-dong."
The sound of a bell echoed through the quiet estate. The magic stone lamps by the entrance flared to life.
Startled, Astraea turned her head, her divine memory instantly recalling who the visitor was.
"The child from Loki's Familia…!"
Her heart leapt as she hurried toward the entrance.
Line straightened the moment the goddess appeared and spoke respectfully.
"Apologies for disturbing your rest, Lady Astraea. Lady Loki has invited you to her home. She said it's about your children."
The gloom clouding Astraea's face vanished in an instant. That wasn't bad news. It was the best thing she could've hoped to hear.