By the time he returned to the 18th floor, he was greeted by an unexpected sight. The Xenos and the adventurers of Rivira were mingling with ease, sharing laughter and casual conversation. There wasn't a trace of the usual fear or wariness one might expect from humans speaking to monsters.
Leon raised an eyebrow at the scene, visibly surprised.
"Ah, Leon! You're back." Lyd was the first to spot him, his voice cheerful as he waved excitedly.
The chatter around them paused as everyone turned to look. Leon descended from the sky slowly, landing in front of Lyd and Bors with a calm expression.
"It's settled." Leon nodded in response to Lyd's question.
Then, casting a glance around, he added with a puzzled frown, "But what exactly is going on here?"
He had hoped the Xenos would gradually be accepted, but the pace of development seemed almost unnatural. The camaraderie between adventurers and Xenos had gone beyond his expectations.
Bors and a few of the adventurers stepped forward, laughing sheepishly as they began explaining what had transpired during his absence.
After hearing their side of the story, Leon's expression turned slightly odd but he didn't say much about it.
"That's how it happened, Leon-san. Thanks to the circumstances, the adventurers here have started accepting us." Ray stepped forward, voice steady, her tone tinged with relief.
"That's good." Leon nodded slightly.
It didn't matter if things had moved a little faster than expected, as long as it aligned with his larger plan, there was no need to interfere.
"Leon-san, where's Asterius?" Ray followed up, glancing toward the passage that led to the 19th floor, her tone filled with concern.
"The big guy? He left after finishing off a demi spirit." Leon responded with a small smile.
"Really? That's a relief." Ray visibly relaxed, and the other Xenos around her seemed to do the same.
"Leon, what exactly happened down there? Can you tell us?" Bors suddenly asked, his face dark and brows furrowed.
"It's a long story. Just wait for the guild's official notice." Leon replied, shaking his head.
He wasn't trying to dodge the question, he simply didn't see the need to waste time on detailed explanations that would be made public soon enough.
What had occurred in the dungeon and artificial labyrinth was far too significant to stay hidden. Whether the guild wanted to or not, a formal announcement would be inevitable. And if the guild held back, the gods would pressure them for answers soon enough.
"I'll be heading out now. I want to check the situation in Knossos."
Leaving those parting words, Leon activated his Veins of Light and took to the sky, heading toward the exit on the eighteenth floor without a backward glance.
"What the hell is going on?!" Bors exploded, ruffling his hair in frustration as he watched Leon disappear into the distance.
"We don't know either." Lyd interjected with a shrug.
Once Leon exited the eighteenth floor and entered the artificial labyrinth, he immediately shot upward toward the tenth floor using the quickest route available. He followed the vertical shaft he had created earlier, climbing at maximum speed.
The artificial labyrinth, built by human hands, lacked the self-repairing capabilities of the natural dungeon. As a result, the path he had carved remained untouched.
Upon arriving at the tenth floor, he wasted no time. He activated his magic, Veins of Light and Shadow, to assess the situation across the battlefield. To his surprise, the demi spirits had already been subdued.
The adventurer forces, with the exception of the Freya familia, were converging toward a common location. Well, that made sense.
Asterius had managed to take down a demi spirit alone, and while that bull-headed fighter was strong, the other adventuring teams in the artificial labyrinth weren't any weaker. The teams had at least dual Lv. 6s, more than capable of dispatching a demi spirit on their own.
Still, if the demi spirits had already been dealt with, why hadn't anyone reached out to him?
As if in response to his thoughts, the communication orb in his pocket buzzed with activity.
"Leon, Fels said you've wrapped things up on your end. Do you want to join us?" Finn's voice came through clearly.
"Yeah, it's done. I've already returned to the artificial labyrinth." Leon responded casually.
"You're right. The demi spirits have all been dealt with on our side too, but there's still unfinished business. Shakti and her forces haven't completely neutralized the Evilus remnants. We're about to head over and give them a hand." Finn's explanation came through clearly.
"Understood." Leon nodded, eyes sharpening.
Unlike the demi spirits, who were stationary and could be dealt with in fixed locations, the remnants of Evilus were like rats, scattered and slippery.
The Ganesha Familia had the numerical advantage and even had access to the map Leon had provided. But compared to Evilus' years of experience navigating Knossos, the Ganesha group was still at a disadvantage. They were in the open, while the enemy remained in the shadows. It was a tricky, time-consuming pursuit.
As Leon monitored things through his magic, he saw Shakti leading a mixed coalition of adventurers, chasing the remnants through the labyrinth's endless corridors.
Not wanting to waste any more time, he sent out a directive through the communication orb, designating a meeting point for everyone.
One by one, the adventuring parties scattered throughout Knossos began to converge, rushing toward the designated rendezvous with renewed urgency.
Leon moved faster than anyone else. By the time the others were still navigating the winding corridors of the artificial labyrinth, he had already reached the designated meeting point, a place that held symbolic significance. It was the very spot where Dionysus had once ascended.
Above the vast, gaping pit carved into the ceiling, sunlight poured in from the surface. Though it was ten floors away from the surface, Leon could clearly see the sky, a brilliant canvas of blue stretching overhead.
He sat cross-legged at the edge of the glowing pit, gaze fixed upon the heavens as he waited in silence.
The moment felt timeless.
Leon's heart was tranquil, his thoughts utterly still. For once, his mind was completely empty, untouched by worries or planning. He simply existed.
After an unknown amount of time, a familiar voice stirred him from his meditative state.
"Leon!"
The voice was followed by hurried footsteps
Tione was the first to arrive, rushing over the moment she spotted him. Without hesitation, she threw herself into his arms.
"Are you okay?" She asked anxiously, her tone laced with worry.
Leon wasn't surprised by her reaction. As he embraced her, his sharp eyes instinctively assessed her condition. No serious injuries.
He wasn't surprised. Either one of the Amazonian sisters could take down a demi spirit on their own. Together, they were a force to be reckoned with. Only superficial wounds at most, which, given the Loki Familia's abundant supply of potions and recovery items, would already have been healed.
"Leon, you only care about my sister?" Tiona's teasing voice drifted over as she approached with her hands folded behind her back, a slight pout playing on her lips.
Trailing behind them were the members of their unit. Some were nursing minor injuries, but none were in critical condition.
Leon chuckled lightly at Tiona's complaint. With a wave of his hand, he used his healing magic. A brilliant white light descended like a holy rain, bathing the gathered adventurers in divine healing.
Even those who had relied on potions found their strength fully restored. The adventurers who had never personally witnessed Leon's healing magic looked on in awe, their eyes wide with amazement. They had heard stories, yes but witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely.
A powerful healer was rare in any party. But Leon wasn't just strong, he was exceptional.