"Behemoth… Leviathan… the Black Dragon…"
Standing at the underground altar, Ouranos' deep voice rumbled softly as he stared at the projection screen before him. "What exactly is the dungeon planning?"
"The contract still stands." He added a moment later, his gaze narrowing. "Of the original Three Great Quests, only the One-Eyed Black Dragon remains."
"The newly emerged Leviathan and Behemoth weren't part of that original contract." Freya's eyes glimmered with curiosity as she absentmindedly rubbed her chin, murmuring in a thoughtful tone. "Why would the dungeon revive the Three Great Quests?"
Indeed, the situation was perplexing. The Three Great Quests weren't just high-level threats, they were enhanced monsters with the ability to grow stronger by consuming magic stones. They were fundamentally different from standard dungeon monsters, especially since these creatures were born at Level 8 or higher. Such births placed immense strain on the dungeon.
Normally, the dungeon could spawn countless monsters without issue. Its regeneration was rapid, virtually seamless.
But birthing beings like Leviathan or Behemoth? Even the dungeon itself suffered considerable consumption.
So why? Why bring them back?
Freya furrowed her brows.
Ouranos continued, "What's more concerning is the timing."
He looked toward Freya with a serious glint in his eyes. "According to Riveria, her mother created that sealing array fifty years ago. Meaning that Leviathan was already present five decades prior."
"But the Behemoth and the Black Dragon?" He shook his head slowly. "They're new. If they had been born long ago, they would have matured by now. With their rate of growth and ability to devour magic stones, they'd already be unstoppable."
Freya's gaze sharpened. "So their birth times don't line up at all."
"Exactly. Which means they weren't part of one coordinated event." Ouranos exhaled and crossed his arms. "Freya, I'll ask you to investigate when the time comes."
"Of course." Freyahe nodded. "I planned to anyway."
At that moment, Freya's gaze shifted toward Ottar and the others standing not far away. Her lips curled into a smile.
It seemed her subordinates were already burning with anticipation. Their eyes gleamed with fighting spirit, their postures tensed like tightly drawn bows. They were ready. Starved for battle.
As the Goddess of Beauty and a seasoned warrior herself, Freya recognized the unmistakable signs of bloodlust and eagerness.
She glanced back at the screen and smiled even wider.
There, on the battlefield, was Leon, facing off against the Leviathan, his figure bathed in light and determination.
"My, my… what a gallant sight," she murmured, placing a hand over her heart. "My Leon…"
Suddenly, Ouranos spoke again, his voice quiet but cutting into her admiration. "Freya… don't you think there's something strange about Leon?"
"Hm?" Her brow twitched. "What do you mean?"
Even Ottar and the others paused, ears perking at the remark.
"Luck." Ouranos said.
Freya blinked.
Ouranos continued, "Leon has an abnormal amount of luck. At first, I didn't see it either. But now I understand. Encountering multiple Level 8 monsters in a single expedition? That's not normal."
"For most, it would be a catastrophe. Even your Freya Familia would be forced to tread carefully. A single misstep could mean annihilation."
"But for Leon?" Ouranos' voice lowered.
"It's an opportunity. A perfect chance for growth."
"Even Finn and the others have gained tremendous benefits from simply being near him. That is not coincidence. It's a powerful influence. Leon must possess an ability or skill tied to Luck, one with immense positive potential."
"If so, Leon might truly be capable of achieving the impossible."
Freya fell silent, her gaze once again drawn to the screen.
What Ouranos said made too much sense. Yes, everything had gone Leon's way. He had encountered monsters at just the right strength. Found allies at just the right time. Leapt past bottlenecks as if the path had been cleared for him.
Was it merely fate?
No. It was something else.
Freya said nothing but her narrowed eyes and tightened smile spoke volumes.
Behind her, even Ottar and the others were stunned.
If what Ouranos claimed was true, then the value of following Leon into the depths was immeasurable. With him, they could leap beyond their current limits.
Far below, in the cold caverns of the 61st floor, Leon remained unaware of the discussion taking place above. He had no need to know. Right now, his entire focus was locked on Leviathan.
In a corridor branching from the main chamber, Finn and the others had gathered to watch from a safe distance.
The clash between man and monster was awe-inspiring.
"This matches the descriptions provided by the Zeus and Hera Familias." Finn said, his voice calm as his eyes tracked the beast's movements. His spear rested beside him, embedded into the icy ground. "A sea serpent. Wings like jagged sails. Scales that shimmer with oceanic light. Spikes lining the underside of its body…"
"There's no mistaking it. That's Leviathan."
"Mother really sealed this thing…" Riveria murmured, her emerald eyes filled with complicated emotion.
"I didn't expect it either." She added after a beat. "But here we are."
"To think we actually encountered the target of all three Great Quests in a single expedition." Her voice held disbelief.
Alise stepped forward, arms crossed as she tilted her head. "I've always wondered… why were they born on these floors?"
"You mean the 59th, 60th, and 61st?" Finn asked, turning toward her.
"Exactly." Alise replied. "Shouldn't they have appeared deeper, in unexplored territory?"
Finn asked, "In your opinion, where should they have been born?"
"At the very least, past the 71st floor." Alise responded without hesitation. "That's the lowest point explored by the Zeus and Hera Familias. Any deeper, and it's entirely uncharted."
Everyone nodded. The logic was sound. The targets of the Three Great Quests were monsters of unprecedented scale and threat. To find them this early was unnatural.
"I agree." Finn said. "And yet, here they are. Born on these floors."
"I don't understand the dungeon's motive for this but I have a theory."
"A theory?" Alise asked, curious.
Finn nodded. "It involves the Corrupted Spirit."
Everyone fell silent.
Finn explained, "That being has the power to parasitize monsters and even merge its avatars. It can even create creatures rivaling Level 8s."
"This closely resembles the dungeon's method of birthing high-tier monsters, which makes me believe the Corrupted Spirit is deeply rooted in the deeper layers."
"Too deeply rooted, even the dungeon can't reach it."
"You're saying the dungeon is afraid of the Corrupted Spirit?" Alise frowned.
"In a way, yes." Finn replied. "If the target of the Three Great Quests were born too deep, they'd risk being parasitized. The dungeon couldn't risk that. So it birthed them on these floors instead."
"Floors where the Corrupted Spirit can't reach."
Everyone fell into contemplative silence.
In the underground altar, Ouranos and others listened silently to Finn's analysis echoing from the communication channel.
"What do you think, Freya?" Ouranos turned to the goddess, his aged voice carrying a trace of gravity.
"It's highly possible." Freya replied with a faint smile, her brows no longer furrowed. "My own conclusions about the corrupted spirit match up with Finn's speculation. It makes sense. The dungeon itself seems to restrict its movement."
She glanced thoughtfully at the screen where the battle had just concluded. "To think the three great quests would reappear now, on such floors, no less. It's almost too deliberate."
"Ah… even Leon suspects it." Ouranos sighed. "In all these years, I've refrained from probing too deep into the dungeon to avoid provoking it. I wasn't even aware the corrupted spirit existed in the depths until recently and now, before our very eyes, the target of the three great quests have reappeared."
Freya didn't respond to his lament. Her attention returned to the crystal screen, eyes locking onto a single familiar figure.