For the Xenos, both humans and monsters were their enemies.
Because both sides harbored hostility toward them.
Humans saw them as monsters to be eliminated.
And ordinary monsters instinctively rejected them as aberrations.
Among all humans, Cao Ye was one of the very few who had ever helped them.
Whether that goodwill came from genuine kindness or some other reason didn't matter.
The fact remained that he had saved several Xenos.
Whoosh—
At that moment, a graceful figure descended from above.
Fluttering wings.
A beautiful face.
A humanoid body covered in feathers.
She resembled the harpy race often seen in monster-girl folklore.
This was a Siren-type monster.
Sirens attacked enemies with piercing sound waves and razor-sharp feathers.
They weren't particularly common monsters.
However, because of their humanoid appearance, Siren Xenos were once considered valuable merchandise by the Ikelos Familia.
"Rei? Why are you here?" Lyd asked in surprise.
Among the Xenos, three individuals were regarded as the oldest and most respected.
Lyd the lizardman.
Rei the siren.
And one other.
Together they held the highest prestige among the Xenos.
Meanwhile — In the Guild
"Something's happened, Uranus!"
Deep within the Guild, inside a hidden chamber, an old god sat silently upon a stone altar.
Uranus.
One of the earliest gods to descend to the lower world.
It was he who had created Orario as it exists today.
For a thousand years, he had continuously used his divine authority to suppress the Dungeon, preventing it from entering a rampaging state like it had in ancient times.
At that moment, a figure wearing a black robe appeared.
It was Fels.
His voice carried a rare urgency.
"What happened, Fels?" Uranus asked calmly.
"Lyd and the others… have gone to meet Cao Ye of the Freya Familia."
Under Uranus's steady gaze, Fels explained his concern.
For many years, Fels had secretly aided the Xenos and maintained friendly relations with them.
He cared deeply about these unfortunate beings.
But Cao Ye…
He was a strange and potentially dangerous figure.
Getting entangled with him could easily cause trouble.
After all, in present-day Orario, Cao Ye was already one of the people standing at the center of attention.
Every move he made attracted scrutiny.
If the existence of the Xenos were exposed, the consequences could be catastrophic.
"Cao Ye… the child of Freya Familia. I remember him…"
A faint trace of memory flashed in Uranus's eyes.
That child from another world was someone he would never forget.
"What should we do, Uranus?" Fels asked anxiously.
"Lyd and Rei have already met him."
"What was the outcome?" Uranus asked.
"Huh?"
The sudden question confused Fels for a moment.
"What happened after Cao Ye met the Xenos?" Uranus clarified.
"I'm not entirely sure," Fels replied.
"But it seems Cao Ye previously saved some Xenos in the Artificial Labyrinth. Lyd and the others went to thank him."
"Saved Xenos?"
Uranus was slightly surprised.
Over the years, many adventurers had discovered the Xenos.
But those willing to help them were extremely rare.
And some of those rare cases had ulterior motives.
Uranus had long wished to improve relations between humans and Xenos.
But he had never found the right opportunity.
Now, however, someone like Cao Ye had appeared.
A famous figure in Orario who had already helped the Xenos.
Perhaps…
He could become the turning point.
At that moment, Fels stepped forward holding a crystal ball.
Inside it appeared an image from the dungeon.
It showed Cao Ye standing face to face with Lyd and Rei.
And from the looks of it, their conversation seemed to be going well.
Back in the Dungeon
"Hello, my name is Rei."
Although she had the body of a monster, Rei showed none of the brutality typical of dungeon creatures.
Instead, she seemed gentle and refined.
Cao Ye couldn't help wondering if she truly was a monster.
In such a cruel place as the dungeon, it was amazing that beings like the Xenos could exist.
"So you know me too?" Cao Ye asked.
"Ever since Shara returned, she's been mentioning your name constantly," Rei said with a smile.
"After hearing it so many times, it was impossible not to remember."
"That girl…"
Cao Ye chuckled.
After all, Shara was essentially a Pseudo-Servant he had created himself.
Although her fusion with the Gorgon spirit origin was still incomplete, Cao Ye believed that with enough time…
The legendary monster Medusa might truly be reborn in this world.
Through the connection between Master and Servant, Cao Ye could vaguely sense that Shara was now extremely far away in the dungeon.
"I heard from Shara," Rei continued,
"that you possess the ability to change the nature of the Xenos."
The moment those words were spoken—
Everyone froze.
The surrounding Xenos.
And even Uranus and Fels, who were secretly observing through the crystal ball.
Changing the nature of the Xenos?
How could such a thing even be possible?
"…Shara told you that?" Cao Ye narrowed his eyes slightly.
He felt a bit dissatisfied.
When he saw her again, he'd definitely have to teach that girl a lesson.
"Yes," Rei nodded.
"According to Shara, she is no longer a so-called 'monster.'"
"She has become a true magical creature."
Ordinary monsters were born from the Dungeon.
Their life, soul, and existence were completely controlled by it.
Even after death, their souls would simply recycle within the Dungeon.
But Shara had changed.
"Yes," Cao Ye said openly.
"Gorgon. A legendary magical creature."
"Shara has inherited the power of the Gorgon."
"In the future, she might even become the next true Gorgon."
He didn't bother hiding the truth.
There was only one Gorgon spirit origin anyway.
Even if others wanted it, he couldn't provide another.
As for the corruption of the Black Mud, which had allowed Shara to break free from the Dungeon's control—
That success might never be replicated.
After all, the corruption of the Grail's black mud was terrifying.
Even Heroic Spirits could lose themselves and fall into darkness.
For ordinary Xenos, the risk was even greater.
Shara's success was likely nothing more than a miracle.