After spending some time walking together, talking about menial topics such as dungeon matters to make the journey feel less awkward, they eventually arrived at their destination. The casual conversation helped fill the silence, keeping the atmosphere from becoming stiff as their footsteps echoed through the busy surroundings. Before long, the towering structure stood before them.
Upon reaching the tower, they entered without hesitation and headed toward the dungeon through the staircase that led down to its entrance. As the two descended side by side, they passed numerous adventurers moving in the opposite direction. Many of them visibly reacted upon noticing the pair walking together.
"Wait, isn't that the Lightning Empress and the Titanborn? What are they doing together?" an adventurer climbing the staircase exclaimed in sudden shock, his voice loud enough to draw attention.
"Yeah," another replied, clearly sharing the same surprise. "What do you think they have in common?"
A third adventurer spoke up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as questionable thoughts surfaced in his mind. "I don't know, beats me. All I know is they're doing some private business together, if ya know what I'm sayin'."
A female adventurer walking beside them immediately elbowed him in the stomach, disgust written plainly across her face. "Shut it, pervert. Is that really all you think about? Boys, honestly."
The male adventurer clutched his stomach, wincing from the merciless strike. "U-Ugh…" he muttered weakly.
The female adventurer then glanced back at the pair as they continued passing groups of people heading up the stairs. Her gaze lingered when she noticed the towering frame of the huge man walking beside the green-haired girl.
'haaaah~~' she sighed internally, her thoughts drifting somewhere between admiration and something more indulgent. 'I wish he was walking with me.'
The idea alone sent her imagination spiraling into daydreams, fantasies of her and the titan-like man spending time together, imagined "dates," and quiet moments shared side by side.
And then—
"?!"
Her face flushed bright red as her thoughts suddenly veered into territory that made her acutely self-aware. 'AAAA~! how naughty of me,' she scolded herself internally, though her expression betrayed a giddy excitement as she lingered in those fleeting fantasies.
Her companions noticed her strange behaviour and exchanged glances. A single thought crossed their minds in perfect unison.
'Hypocrite…'
Meanwhile, Aurelius and Zephyra continued their descent, moving closer to the dungeon entrance with steady steps.
"What a crowd, huh?" Zephyra said, irritation creeping into her tone as the gossip around them persisted.
"Yup," Aurelius replied, his bored expression revealing that he, too, was growing tired of the constant chatter echoing through the stairwell.
"Well, what do you expect? A record breaker and the one who beat two Goliaths while being Level 3, walking together with the current strongest adventurer in Orario, and possibly the world? Yeah, people aren't going to shut up about that anytime soon," Aurelius added, pointing out the obvious reason for the reactions surrounding them.
"I know that. Besides, It's not something you see every day," Zephyra said with a sigh. "But still… can they at least keep the conversation to themselves? There's no need for drama."
Hearing that, Aurelius formed a teasing grin. "Eh? I thought being part of the strongest familia in all of Orario, and the world, meant being professional. What's this? Getting frustrated over little gossips?"
"Whatever," Zephyra shot back, side-eyeing the towering man beside her. "At least I can go toe to toe with the entirety of Orario right now alone. Can you?" A confident grin spread across her face as she returned the tease.
Aurelius laughed at her challenge. "We'll see in the dungeon when we start smashing monster heads. I'll show what I'm made off"
Zephyra smiled with pride, fully confident in her strength and skill against whatever awaited them below. "Alright then. Show me what you've got, big man."
With that, they continued down the staircase and arrived at the dungeon entrance. Without hesitation, they stepped inside, calm and ready for what lay ahead as duels, or more accurately, slaughter, awaiting them in the depths.
________________________
Somewhere in an unknown place, two men could be seen inside a dark bedroom furnished only with simple pieces. The room itself was quiet and modest, its plain arrangement doing little to draw attention, yet the presence of the two figures gave the space a certain weight. One of the individuals stood nearby, while the other sat idly on a stool, appearing completely at ease as he waited.
One of the men possessed medium-length brunette hair tied neatly into a low ponytail, with bob-like bangs protruding toward the front to frame his face.
He wore a mostly black uniform accented by thin red lines running along the edges of each end, giving the outfit a sharp and deliberate appearance.
His features were attractive, carrying a composed expression that matched his tall frame. Even while remaining still, there was a quiet sense of readiness about him, as though he was accustomed to standing guard or waiting with purpose.
On the other hand, the man seated on the stool possessed short red hair, its wavy locks gliding over one another to create a floofy, voluminous look atop his head.
Resting there as well was a green laurel wreath, lending him a crown-like presence that was impossible to ignore. His attire consisted of a white and red sleeveless chiton-style tunic cinched at the waist, the fabric arranged in a way that emphasized both comfort and display.
The outfit was heavily accented with gold jewelry, including thick golden bracelets, a wide golden belt, and a prominent golden laurel wreath headpiece.
Greek-style gladiator sandals wrapped around his ankles, their straps completing the ornate appearance.
His looks could easily be described as attractive, yet there lingered a subtle element of perversion within his features, an undertone that coloured his otherwise charming presence.
These two were none other than Hyakinthos and Apollo himself. At the moment, they were waiting to meet certain individuals, their attention subtly fixed on the passage of time as they anticipated their arrival. The quiet room held a sense of expectation, as if the stillness before them was merely the calm that came before an inevitable exchange.
"Where are they?" Apollo exclaimed, his impatience evident as he waited for their expected guests. His tone carried irritation, his gaze drifting toward the entrance as if willing it to open. "I hope they did not go back on their words."
Hyakinthos, ever devoted and deeply enamored with his god, responded immediately, as though he had been waiting for the chance to agree. "Indeed, my lord," he said. His voice held firm conviction, echoing Apollo's displeasure. "Wasting our time like this when we could have been doing far better things right now."
Although Hyakinthos spoke those words with utter seriousness, their meaning extended beyond what was said aloud. Beneath his composed exterior, his thoughts wandered elsewhere. Freakish fantasies swirled through his mind as he luxuriated in private imaginings centred around his patron, his devotion manifesting in ways he carefully concealed behind formal speech.
"Well said, Hyakinthos," Apollo replied, affirming his child's words with a satisfied nod. His expression hardened as his patience thinned. "If this goes on for even a second longer, I might just leave this rundown, hideous place we're stuck in."
The two continued waiting, the atmosphere thick with impatience and fading interest. Time stretched uncomfortably, each passing moment doing little to improve Apollo's mood. Their waiting session, however, came to an abrupt end when an arrogant voice rang through the room. The voice belonged to a man, and it carried a confident edge as it addressed Apollo directly.
"Does waiting a little bit longer not suffice for you, Apollo?" the voice called out, its tone laced with dry amusement as it commented on Apollo's impatience. "You could've had your fun with your dear child here."
Both Apollo and Hyakinthos turned toward the dark corner near the door from which the voice had come. Their attention sharpened immediately. They noticed the door slowly swinging inward, the faint creak echoing through the room. A visible hand rested on the knob, guiding the motion. Behind the doorway stood two silhouettes, their forms partially obscured by shadow. Though their outlines were clear, neither figure was fully visible, creating a brief moment of tense anticipation.
Apollo fixed the silhouettes with a frowning gaze, irritation flickering across his face. "Took you a while, Plutus."
As the first of the two unknown figures stepped forward, the shadows receded enough to reveal his identity. With deliberate calm, he emerged from the darkness, presenting himself openly to Apollo and his familia child.
"Now, now," the man said lightly. The speaker was none other than Plutus, the god of wealth and abundance. His voice carried an easy confidence. "Don't be rude to your friend here. Can I not swim within my riches a second longer? admiring the wealth I possess?"
Plutus embodied an air of quiet prosperity. He stood at an average height, his blonde-golden hair cut short and slightly messy, giving him an effortlessly composed appearance.
A single laurel-shaped earring gleamed from his left ear. He wore a light green sleeveless chiton reminiscent of Apollo's attire, draped neatly over his left shoulder and secured with a golden circular brooch.
Beneath the chiton, a layer of white fabric stretched across his chest, adding contrast to the garment.
His right forearm was adorned with a wide, ornate golden bracer etched with intricate patterns that caught the light with every subtle movement.
Completing his attire were gladiator-like sandals similar in style to Apollo's, reinforcing a shared aesthetic of divine elegance.
Standing beside Plutus was his familia child.
his captain.
The man's rugged features suggested an age in the early forties, emphasized by a short, clean beard framing his jaw. His medium-length hair mirrored Hyakintho's style, though his overall presence felt heavier, more battle-worn.
He wore imposing armour designed to command attention. Large pauldrons rested on his shoulders, sculpted with the likeness of a lion's head on the right surface, lending him a fierce and symbolic appearance.
A golden cuirass protected his torso, reinforced at the waist by a dark belt. His arms were shielded by matching golden vambraces, while heavy greaves guarded his legs.
Dark, heavy-duty leather gauntlets covered his hands, adding both practicality and intimidation to his gear.
Towering slightly over Plutus, he stood at shoulder height compared to the god, his armored frame radiating the quiet strength of a seasoned warrior.
Not to mention, Plutus familia captain is a Level 4 and is within the cusps of breaking through to Level 5.
Apollo sighed toward his greedy acquaintance. He had always been annoyed by how arrogant he was, especially by the fact that the man seemed even more arrogant than himself.
"If not for how powerful your familia is, I would've sent you back to heaven already," Apollo said, right in the face of Plutus.
"How rude, Apollo~," Plutus replied in a sarcastic voice. "I haven't seen you in such a while, and this is how you treat me? That's saddening."
Plutus then formed a mocking smile toward Apollo. "Especially after how I helped your familia all those years ago to get to where you are, while you begged like a beggar toward me."
Hyakinthos, hearing this, was filled with anger. He was irrationally about to attack the god of wealth when he was stopped by Apollo himself, who raised his hands in a stopping motion.
Apollo lowered his hands after his familia captain had calmed down. "I don't care about the past. All I care about now is that I want the prize I recently took a favor on."
Plutus smirked, understanding what his words meant. "Truly. You do know some quality stuff at least. You're not completely useless and helpless."
Plutus then found himself a chair to sit on. He looked toward Apollo with an evil smile. "Well then, shall we get straight to the chase on our plan to acquire our targets of interest?"
Apollo returned the smile with greedy intent. The two then began their conversation, discussing their plan and their deal toward their unknown goal.
________________________
The scene shifted to the inside of the dungeon. Monsters sprawled across the pathways—frog shooters, war shadows, purple moths, and even killer ants were present in large numbers. Their forms filled the corridors, creating a chaotic and dangerous atmosphere. Yet despite their usual aggression, many of them were moving in the same direction, running as fast as they could. Their retreat was frantic, their movements driven by a clear sense of urgency.
The reason for this behavior was simple.
They were fleeing from two adventurers who had, moments earlier, terrorized everything in their path.
Those two were none other than Zephyra and Aurelius.
Wherever those two had passed, resistance had been crushed without hesitation. The monsters' instinct for survival had taken over, pushing them to escape as quickly as possible, desperate to put as much distance as they could between themselves and the overwhelming threat behind them
"BOOM!" A resounding impact thundered through the corridor. The source of it came from the titan of a man himself, who had punched a frog shooter squarely at the side of its head, causing it to explode on impact.
Aurelius' right hand — the one he had used to strike the frog shooter — glowed with a silhouette of gold. He had activated his sub-magic, [POWER FIST], to attack the monster. The lingering shimmer of magic faded slowly, crackling faintly around his knuckles as the dust settled.
"Never thought that would actually work," Aurelius said, his voice carrying a hint of contempt toward his little experiment. Still, a satisfied smile tugged at his lips, pleased with his growing understanding of the recently acquired magic.
"Good for you," Zephyra replied from not far behind him. A sly smile spread across her face as she added, "Though, I didn't even use any magic to begin with yet."
Aurelius shot a side glance toward the green-haired girl, a small smile forming despite himself. He knew she was teasing, and the familiarity of it softened his reaction.
"Yeah, whatever," Aurelius muttered as he deactivated his sub-magic, the golden glow fading from his hand. "Show off."
While they continued their banter, a war shadow ignorantly attempted to sneak attack Zephyra. Aurelius noticed the monster's approach immediately, yet he made no move to warn the Freyan. He didn't need to.
In a blur of motion, Zephyra spun around and delivered a backhand punch to the monster. The war shadow wasn't merely sent crashing into the dungeon wall. In fact, not in the slightest. Instead, its upper half was completely annihilated into oblivion. What remained of the creature disintegrated into dust, the remnants tumbling uselessly onto the stone floor.
"See," Zephyra said confidently, lowering her arm as if nothing had happened. "There's no need."
Aurelius let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head at the absurd strength she had just displayed. Even after witnessing it firsthand, it still absurd how strong she is. It has put into perspective how powerful a level 8 is to him.
'I wonder if she had crazy stats before leveling up… or even before that,' Aurelius thought curiously, his attention lingering on the girl's falna status. The possibility alone stirred his interest. 'Does she have stats that went above the maximum cap? If she does, she's an actual threat right now… Better strengthen my relations with her now that we're in talking condition.'
The thought settled in his mind, but Aurelius did not dwell on it for long. His focus shifted as movement caught his eye. He turned his head toward the fleeting monsters disappearing deeper into the corridor of the dungeon pathway. Their retreat was fast, desperate, and fading into the distance.
"They got away," Aurelius remarked, his voice carrying a bored tone that dulled the seriousness of the situation.
Zephyra followed his gaze, her eyes locking onto the same corridor. Without a word, she cocked her right arm slightly. Small lightning particles began crackling across her skin, snapping and dancing with restrained intensity. The air around her arm vibrated faintly as the energy gathered, humming with destructive promise.
In a swift, decisive motion, she thrust her hand forward. A booming shockwave erupted from her palm, carrying the lightning element through the narrow corridor like a roaring storm. The blast surged ahead with overwhelming force, tearing through the air as it closed the distance in an instant.
The monsters were given no mercy. Upon impact, the attack eviscerated the entire group, the sheer power leaving no room for resistance. A violent burst of dust and smoke billowed upward, swallowing the corridor where the monsters had been moments before. Within the haze, jagged streaks of lightning crackled chaotically, arcing upward and chaining through the lingering air like restless serpents of light.
Zephyra casually dusted her hands, her posture relaxed after clearing the runaway monsters. As the smoke slowly thinned and visibility returned, the aftermath revealed itself. Only magic stones remained scattered along the corridor. Silent remnants of the utter massacre delivered by the Freyan.
Though this was merely the 7th floor of the dungeon, a level that posed no challenge to either of them. The scene however would have driven normal people and low-level adventurers into utter disbelief. Even seasoned, high-level adventurers would find the display difficult to accept, an incredulous feat performed with effortless precision.
'Yup… show-off,' Aurelius commented silently, glancing at his overpowered partner. To him, she looked less like an adventurer and more like a walking nuke contained in a demi-human form.
"This is getting boring," Zephyra said with an uninterested expression. "How about we just go to the 18th floor and relax there?"
Aurelius nodded at her suggestion, clearly unopposed to the idea. "Sure, why not? I'm up for some sightseeing there again," he replied casually.
Zephyra returned the nod, a small smile forming as satisfaction replaced her earlier boredom. "Nice," she said, her tone lighter now.
Without wasting any more time, the two began walking again. Their pace was steady as they searched for the path leading toward the deeper floors, their earlier restlessness replaced by quiet anticipation as they continued onward.
________________________
The two of them tore through the floors from the moment they were seen entering, cruising forward as they annihilated every monster that stood in their path, including minotaurs and silverbacks. None of the creatures managed to slow them down for even a moment. Not that it posed any real challenge. Even monsters of those species were nothing more than passing obstacles to them.
After spending some time moving deeper through the floors, they eventually reached the final level before their destination.
The 17th Floor. The territory where the Goliath resides.
They emerged from a corridor and stepped into a massive chamber, the very room known as the Goliath's domain. Their footsteps echoed faintly against the cavernous walls as they continued forward at an unhurried pace, moving as if the presence of a Monster Rex was nothing out of the ordinary. There was no tension in their posture, no visible urgency — only calm, deliberate movement.
"Are you sure we're supposed to be relaxed right now?" Aurelius said. His voice carried caution rather than fear. "We're on the 17th floor. The Goliath is literally on this floor."
Zephyra turned her gaze toward the towering man. One eyebrow lifted slightly, her expression reflecting mild confusion. "It's just the Goliath. You've killed two before, didn't you? Or were those tall, mighty tales just lies in the end?" she teased, a sly smile forming on her lips.
"Of course not," Aurelius replied, irritation flickering briefly at her teasing tone. "I'm not afraid of it at all. It's just… it doesn't seem normal to treat a floor boss like it's just another monster."
Zephyra, calm and completely at ease with their situation, showed little concern for his reasoning. "To me, it is just a normal monster at this point. When you're high enough in level as an adventurer like me, a Rex monster like the Goliath doesn't even feel worth considering a good fight. It's just like a spar really."
She gave a casual shrug. "Don't believe me? Ask Ottarl. He understands what I mean."
The moment the green-haired girl finished speaking, the floor suddenly trembled. The vibration intensified almost instantly, the violent shaking making it feel as though the entire chamber might collapse. Loose fragments rattled and dust fell in thin streams as the ground quaked beneath their feet.
Both Aurelius and Zephyra shifted their attention toward the source of the disturbance. Their eyes locked onto the massive wall dominating the chamber. Cracks began to spread across its surface, thin fractures branching outward like spiderwebs. With every passing second, the fractures widened and multiplied, the structure groaning under immense pressure.
Until—
CRACK
The wall shattered into countless pieces. Enormous chunks of stone crashed to the ground, sending debris and dust erupting into the air. The chamber filled with a thick haze as rubble thundered against the floor. Gradually, the dust began to settle, revealing what lay hidden beyond the broken barrier.
A colossal figure stood upright on two legs.
The being towered over the chamber, its presence overwhelming and unmistakable.
It was the Goliath.
ROOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!!
The Goliath's roar thundered through the 17th floor, the sheer force of the sound sending shockwaves rippling through the chamber. The vibration alone was enough to knock even second-class adventurers off their feet.
Yet Aurelius and Zephyra remained unmoved. They stood firm, their expressions steady, as if the monster's intimidation meant nothing to them.
____
Zephyra looked toward the Goliath with seemingly no concern on her face. It was as if, just as she had said before, it was nothing more than another monster to her. Her expression remained calm and unbothered, as though the towering creature in front of her was hardly worth acknowledging.
"Or," Zephyra said, an idea forming as she glanced at her huge companion, "I could show it to you right now."
With that, she began walking toward the Goliath with calm ease. Her steps were steady and unhurried, completely lacking hesitation. Aurelius stayed back, watching closely to see what she intended to prove.
As Aurelius observed the girl slowly approaching the Goliath, he suddenly felt a shift in the air. Goosebumps began rising across his skin. Yet it wasn't from a sudden sense of danger.
'?!'
Aurelius stared in shock at the phenomenon unfolding before him.
'What is going on?! Why do I suddenly feel goosebumps all over my body?'
He lingered on the thought, trying to understand the sensation, when realization struck.
'Wait… don't tell me—'
His gaze snapped toward the Freyan, who continued walking at a relaxed pace toward the monster rex. His eyes widened as the pieces began to fall into place.
'Is this her doing?!' Aurelius thought, disbelief filling his mind at the display of power the Freyan was radiating.
He continued watching her advance. Then, he noticed her steps come to a sudden stop.
And that was when he saw it.
Zephyra's entire body was coated in a thin layer of aura. It carried an element of lightning, and upon closer observation, tiny crackling movements of electricity danced across its surface, alive and restless.
She cocked her hand once more, just as she had done back on the seventh floor. However, this time only one finger, her pointing finger, was aimed directly at the Goliath.
The Goliath, having been given more than enough time and opportunity to attack, struck. It roared as its massive fist came crashing downward, instinctively intending to crush the Freyan into a smear.
But that never came to pass.
With a calm, almost bored expression, Zephyra brought forward her cocked hand. Her pointing finger sliced through the air. The speed of her motion was so sharp and sudden that it appeared as though her hand had skipped frames entirely.
The Goliath's attack halted mid-swing, stopping mere inches from her. At that moment, silence swallowed the room.
Nothing moved.
Nothing sounded.
Absolutely nothing.
"Phew," Zephyra breathed out in relief. "Well, a job well done from me."
A wide, goofy smile spread across her face as she turned back toward Aurelius.
Then, a second later—
BOOM!!!!!
The room exploded in blinding light. The Goliath, nearly every part of its body, including its feet and the crystal embedded within, was vaporized into atoms.
Aurelius squinted against the searing brightness. After a moment, the radiance faded. As his eyes adjusted, he witnessed the aftermath of the destruction.
There were no remnants of the monster rex. Nothing remained except the giant magic stone left behind after a monster's defeat. In this case, the Goliath.
Lightning chains lingered in the air, dancing and flickering like a performance staged just for that moment.
To put it simply, Aurelius was stunned.
'Even in my armored form,' he thought, 'it would take three or four precise punches to bring this thing down. With [CAPTURE], I'd burn through a huge portion of my mana just to make a one-shot kill. I wouldn't have much left afterward.'
His gaze shifted back to the Freyan, disbelief tightening his expression.
'And she did it without breaking a sweat?! How powerful is she?!'
Zephyra was already turning toward the entrance of the eighteenth floor, walking past the magic stone without sparing it a glance, even though its value would make low-level adventurers ecstatic.
"C'mon," she called, encouraging her partner to follow as she glanced back slightly. "Are you coming or not?"
Aurelius stood frozen for a few moments before finally moving to catch up.
'Well I'll be damned,' he thought. 'I still have a looong way to go, don't I?'
He soon reached her side, and together they descended further toward the eighteenth floor of the dungeon.
________________________