Chapter 20: The Gathering Storm

The Dungeon seemed to hold its breath in the aftermath of their battle with the corrupted Goliath. Maki leaned on her spear, catching her breath as the creature's ashes scattered, vanishing into nothingness. The faint hum of corruption lingering in the air made her skin crawl.

"This corruption feels too similar to the singularity," Maki muttered, glancing at Scathach. "It's not just a coincidence, is it?"

Scathach wiped the blood from her spear with practiced precision, her crimson eyes narrowing as she scanned the chamber. "No, it's deliberate. The singularity's influence is creeping into Orario, using the Dungeon as a conduit."

Archer slung his bow over his shoulder and crossed his arms. "So the question is: how long do we have before this spreads further?"

Maki frowned, her grip tightening on her weapon. "Not long, I'm guessing. We've got to find whoever—or whatever—is behind this and end it."

Back in Orario, the Guild was abuzz with activity. News of the corrupted floor boss had spread, and adventurers filled the main hall, clamouring for information. The tension in the air was palpable as Maki, Scathach, and Archer entered, their presence drawing immediate attention.

Eina Tulle, a Guild employee, approached them, her expression a mix of concern and relief. "Maki! I heard you were on the 19th floor during the incident. Are you alright?"

Maki gave a curt nod. "We're fine. The Goliath wasn't."

Eina sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "That's good to hear, but the situation is far from resolved. The Guild has received reports of similar disturbances on other floors."

Scathach stepped forward, her commanding presence silencing the surrounding chatter. "Do you have a map of the affected areas?"

Eina nodded, producing a parchment. She spread it out on a nearby table, marking several locations in red. "These are the floors where corruption has been detected. The 19th was the most severe, but the others are beginning to show signs of instability."

Archer examined the map, his expression grim. "This isn't random. These locations form a pattern."

Maki peered over his shoulder, her eyes narrowing. "A circle… or maybe a boundary?"

Scathach's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good. Then we know where to strike next."

As they prepared to leave the Guild, a familiar voice called out, stopping Maki in her tracks. "Oi, Zenin! I hear you've been making waves."

Maki turned to see Bete Loga, the Werewolf from the Loki Familia, smirking at her. His golden eyes glinted with amusement, though his stance was anything but casual.

"Bete," Maki said, rolling her eyes. "What do you want?"

He crossed his arms, leaning slightly forward. "I want to see if the Rumors are true. They say you took down a corrupted Goliath. Care to prove you're not just lucky?"

Maki smirked, stepping forward. "You want a fight? Fine. But don't cry when you lose."

Before Bete could respond, Finn Deimne, the captain of Loki Familia, appeared, placing a hand on Bete's shoulder. "That's enough, Bete. This isn't the time for petty rivalries."

"But, Finn—" Bete started to protest, but Finn's sharp gaze silenced him.

Finn turned to Maki, his expression calm but serious. "Maki, the Loki Familia has also been investigating the corruption. Perhaps we can exchange information."

Maki's smirk faded, replaced by a thoughtful nod. "Sure. Meet us at Babel later. We've got leads to compare."

Later that evening, the Loki Familia gathered with Maki's group in a private chamber atop the Babel Tower. Maps and notes covered the table as both sides shared their findings.

"The corruption seems to originate from deeper floors," Finn explained, pointing to the affected areas. "We suspect there's a central source, but we haven't been able to pinpoint it."

Archer leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "It's linked to the singularity we dealt with in Fuyuki. The corruption's spreading faster than we anticipated."

Loki, lounging on a nearby couch, raised an eyebrow. "Singularity? That's not a term we hear often in Orario."

Maki exchanged a glance with Scathach before addressing the room. "It's complicated, but let's just say the corruption isn't native to the Dungeon. Something—or someone—is using it to destabilize Orario."

"Which means," Scathach added, her voice firm, "our enemies aren't just monsters. They're orchestrating this chaos from the shadows."

The room fell silent as the implications sank in. Finally, Riveria spoke, her tone grave. "If that's true, we're facing a greater threat than we anticipated. The Dungeon is dangerous enough without external interference."

Maki grinned, her excitement barely contained. "Good. I was starting to get bored."

Armed with their combined knowledge, the group prepared to descend deeper into the Dungeon. Maki stood at the edge of the city, staring at the towering structure of Babel with a determined expression. Scathach approached, her presence a comforting weight.

"You've grown stronger," Scathach said, her voice soft but steady. "But the battles ahead will test you in ways you cannot imagine."

Maki glanced at her, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Good. I'm ready for whatever comes next."

Scathach's crimson eyes softened, a rare moment of vulnerability crossing her face. "Just remember, strength alone will not be enough. You'll need wisdom, strategy… and trust."

Maki's smirk widened into a genuine smile. "I've got you, don't I?"

For a moment, Scathach said nothing. Then, she placed a hand on Maki's shoulder, her gaze filled with an emotion that went beyond words. "Always."