Meanwhile—
Orelia stumbled through the dungeon.
Alone.
This was her first time in a place like this.
No clean streets.
No controlled investigations.
No order.
Only—
Darkness.
Rot.
And things pretending to be human.
"…Tch."
She steadied her breathing.
"This place is…"
Her grip tightened on her wand.
"…unpleasant."
Footsteps echoed ahead.
Uneven.
Dragging.
"Help me…"
A man stumbled into view.
Blood soaked through his clothes—
Trailing behind him.
"…Please…"
He reached out weakly.
Orelia didn't hesitate.
"Are you alright?!"
She stepped forward.
Concern overtaking caution.
"Don't worry, I'll heal you—just stay calm—"
"Help me…"
The voice repeated.
Unchanged.
Flat.
Something felt wrong.
The man's jaw—
Stretched.
Too wide.
Too far.
Before she could react—
It lunged.
CRUNCH.
"—AHH—!"
Its mouth sank into her shoulder—
Tearing away flesh.
Pain exploded through her body.
Hot.
Sharp.
Immediate.
"Help me…"
It repeated again.
Chewing.
Smiling.
Orelia staggered back—
Clutching her shoulder.
Blood poured through her fingers.
"…You—"
Her voice trembled.
Then hardened.
"Glitter Bomb."
She forced her wand upward—
Even as her arm shook.
A glowing orb shot forward—
BOOM.
It exploded on impact—
Showering the creature in radiant particles.
The glitter burned—
Eating away at its flesh—
Pinning pieces of it to the wall as it disintegrated.
Orelia breathed heavily.
Her body shaking.
"…I've never been good at healing…"
She winced—
Looking down at the chunk missing from her shoulder.
"…Offense always came easier."
"Help me…"
More voices.
She looked up.
More "adventurers."
Stumbling toward her.
Smiling.
Crying.
Begging.
"Help me…"
"Help me…"
"Help me…"
"…I hate this place."
Her voice dropped.
Cold.
"Heart Burst."
Pink beams fired rapidly—
Piercing through them—
Destroying them before they could get close.
She turned—
Running.
Not out of fear—
But necessity.
"I refuse…"
Her breath hitched.
"…to die somewhere like this."
Then—
SHNK.
A long, lanky arm pierced through her leg.
"—AAH—!"
She collapsed instantly—
Pain tearing through her body.
The arm retracted—
Then lunged again.
She rolled—
Barely—
Avoiding the follow-up grab aimed at her face.
"Ghh—!"
It stepped into view.
A Grandfather Time.
Its head tilted slowly.
Curiously.
Then—
It leaned in.
Too close.
Its elongated tongue slid out—
Wet.
Rotting.
Reaching to lick its own forehead.
THWIP. THWIP.
Two arrows cut through the air—
Precise.
Unwavering.
They pierced straight through Grandfather Time's eye sockets.
The monster jerked violently—
Its body twitching—
As roots burst forth from the arrows.
They spread rapidly.
Wrapping.
Tightening.
Strangling.
The creature clawed at its own face—
Limbs thrashing—
Before—
It collapsed.
Still.
Silent.
Orelia stared.
Breathing uneven.
Then—
A familiar voice.
"…This looks like the third floor."
Light footsteps approached.
Calm.
Measured.
"But that horrid thing shouldn't be here."
A soft chuckle.
"I remember it touching me once…"
A pause.
"…nice to know I age well."
Orelia blinked.
"…Hana?"
Hana stepped into view.
Bow still in hand.
A small, reassuring smile on her face.
Orelia tried to stand—
But her leg gave out immediately.
"…Ah—!"
Pain shot through her body.
"Hey—easy."
Hana rushed forward—
Catching her before she fell.
"Come on."
She gently wrapped Orelia's arm over her shoulder.
"Lean on me."
"…Thank you."
Orelia winced—
Still clutching her wounded shoulder.
"…What should we do?"
Hana didn't hesitate.
"We find River."
Her tone was firm.
Grounded.
"We're on the third floor."
A glance at Orelia's injuries.
"Without his healing…"
"…there's no way you're getting out of here."
Orelia let out a slow breath.
"…Alright."
She adjusted her weight.
"…Let's go."
They began moving.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Through the dim corridors.
After a moment—
Orelia spoke again.
"…Tell me."
Her voice was softer now.
"How long have you known River?"
Hana smiled faintly.
"…My whole life."
A small pause.
"We grew up in the same orphanage."
Her expression dimmed slightly.
"He was always alone back then."
"Because of his red eyes…"
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…the other kids bullied him."
"The director treated him like he was a problem that needed to be managed."
Orelia listened quietly.
"He never fought back."
Hana continued.
"He just… endured it."
A faint, bittersweet smile.
"But even then…"
"He was always trying to help people."
Orelia smiled softly.
"…That sounds like him."
A glance forward.
"He carries a lot of pain."
"…but still chooses kindness."
Hana nodded.
"…Yeah."
Her smile warmed slightly.
"It's kind of amazing."
A pause.
"Most people would've broken."
"Turned bitter."
"Cruel."
"But not him."
She looked ahead.
Eyes steady.
"I liked his smile back then."
A small, shy laugh.
"So…"
"I couldn't help it."
"…I wanted to protect him."
"…I also grew up in an orphanage."
Orelia's voice was quieter now.
Less composed.
More… human.
"I was bullied."
A small breath.
"…mercilessly."
Hana glanced at her.
Curious.
"…For what?"
Orelia smiled faintly.
But there was pain behind it.
"For being too feminine."
"For being too weak."
A pause.
"…For not being 'man enough.'"
Hana blinked.
"…Huh?"
Orelia looked ahead.
Calm.
Almost at peace.
"I was born male."
A beat.
"The effect of Lovely February…"
Her hand brushed lightly against her coffin.
"…is to reshape its wielder."
She smiled softly.
"…Turning them into a beautiful woman."
Hana stayed silent—
Waiting.
Orelia's expression didn't falter.
"…But for me…"
A quiet breath.
"It didn't feel like a change or a curse."
Her smile deepened.
"…It felt right."
Hana's expression softened.
"…Then…"
She smiled warmly.
"You really are beautiful, Miss Orelia."
Orelia blinked.
Then—
Let out a small, genuine laugh.
"…Thank you."
For a brief moment—
The dungeon didn't feel as suffocating.
Then—
"Excuse me…"
A small voice.
"Have you seen my sister?"
Both of them froze.
A young boy stood ahead.
Too still.
Too quiet.
Short brown hair.
Pale skin.
Eyes—
Black.
Endless.
A green sweater hung loosely off his small frame.
Paired with oversized pajama pants.
"…Damn it."
Hana muttered under her breath.
"…Worst case scenario."
Orelia's grip tightened on her wand.
"…Should we kill him?"
"No."
Hana shook her head immediately.
"That's Brother Bobby."
Her voice lowered.
Careful.
"He's a unique monster on this floor."
A glance at him.
"If you kill him—"
"Zombies will swarm his corpse."
"And if you deny his question…"
"…same result."
Orelia exhaled slowly.
"…Then what do we do?"
Hana forced a smile.
"…We take him with us."
Orelia blinked.
"…What?"
"While he's with us…"
Hana explained quickly.
"…the other zombies won't attack."
A pause.
"…But if we run into Sister Sally…"
Her voice tightened.
"…the floor boss will spawn."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
"…So we just…"
Orelia muttered.
"…walk around with him?"
"…Yeah."
Hana sighed.
"…And pray."
She turned toward the boy—
Her expression shifting instantly.
Gentle.
Kind.
Fake.
"Yes."
She knelt slightly.
"We've seen your sister."
A soft smile.
"Why don't you come with us?"
The boy tilted his head.
Just slightly.
"…Okay, miss."
He smiled.
Too wide.
Too empty.
"Thank you."
Orelia felt a chill run down her spine.
As the three of them began walking together—
One step closer—
To something they absolutely did not want to meet.
As they moved through the corridor—
A figure emerged from the shadows.
An adventurer.
Or at least—
Something pretending to be one.
Its body twitched unnaturally.
Movements stiff.
Delayed.
Wrong.
Orelia instinctively tensed—
Mana gathering at her fingertips.
Hana's grip tightened on her bow—
Ready to fire.
Then—
The creature raised its hand.
And waved.
"…Hi, Melvin!"
Bobby chirped happily.
"Kill any humans today?"
A cold chill ran down both of their spines.
The "adventurer" tilted its head.
Jaw twitching.
"Gr…raw…grr…"
Its voice broke apart.
"…help…me…"
"Okay, Melvin."
Bobby nodded seriously.
"I can't blame you."
A cheerful smile.
"That weird elf already killed all the humans on this floor…"
He glanced back at Orelia and Hana.
"…except these two."
Silence.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Orelia swallowed.
"…What happened?"
Her voice was careful.
Measured.
Bobby tapped his chin.
Thinking.
"Oh!"
He perked up.
"A blonde elf came down here."
"He was really scary."
A wide grin.
"He killed everyone."
Hana's expression darkened.
Bobby continued casually—
Like he was describing a game.
"Then he brought a few grandpas down to play."
A small laugh.
"I don't get to play with grandpa often…"
"…so it was fun."
Orelia's stomach twisted.
"… Was it Pharos?"
She whispered.
Hana didn't even hesitate.
"Know any other elves insane enough to do something like this?"
Orelia shook her head slowly.
"…No."
Her hands trembled—
Then clenched tightly.
"…What is that bastard planning…?"
A pause.
Then a bitter exhale.
"…Actually, why am I even asking that?"
Her voice hardened.
"He doesn't plan things for a purpose."
"He plays."
Her eyes burned with anger.
"He treats people like toys."
"Like ingredients."
"To break."
"To reshape."
"For fun."
Her grip tightened so hard her knuckles turned white.
"I'll kill him."
Her voice dropped—
Cold.
Sharp.
Absolute.
"For what he did to my mentor…"
Her breathing steadied—
But her rage didn't.
"I won't be satisfied…"
A faint tremor in her voice—
Not from fear—
But from fury.
"…until I turn him into a puzzle."
Hana glanced at her.
Then forward.
Neither of them spoke after that.
Because in this place—
Words didn't matter.
Only survival did.
And the deeper they went—
The closer they got—
To something far worse than monsters.
The corridor opened—
And suddenly—
They saw them.
"River!"
Hana called out.
Ahead—
River and Alexander were locked in battle.
Surrounded.
Multiple Grandfather Time creatures dragged themselves across the floor—
Limbs stretching—
Clawing—
Reaching.
"Wind Cutter!"
River sliced through one—
Severing its elongated arm—
Only for another to lunge from the side.
CRACK.
Alexander answered—
Lightning exploding outward—
Reducing one to ash.
But they were slowing.
Breathing heavy.
Movements lagging.
They were exhausted.
"Have you seen my brother?"
The voice came from behind them.
Hana froze.
Orelia's blood ran cold.
Slowly—
They turned.
Sister Sally.
Standing right behind River and Alexander.
Smiling.
"…No…"
Hana whispered.
"SISTER—OVER HERE!"
Bobby's voice rang out—
Loud.
Excited.
River's head snapped toward him.
Alexander's eyes widened.
And in that instant—
They understood.
"…Kill them!"
Alexander shouted.
"NOW!"
Hana reacted immediately—
Drawing her bow—
Firing—
But Bobby moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
He dodged effortlessly.
That same empty smile—
Now twisted.
Cruel.
Orelia raised her wand—
Forcing mana through her broken body—
But her arm trembled.
Her vision blurred.
Too slow.
Sally stepped forward.
Bobby ran to her.
And then—
They embraced.
Silence.
Then—
Their bodies began to melt.
Flesh twisting—
Stretching—
Merging—
"No…!"
River stepped forward—
But it was too late.
The surrounding corpses reacted.
Zombies—
From every corner—
Rushed in.
They collided with the merging mass—
Their bodies dissolving—
Becoming one with it.
Even the Grandfather Time creatures—
Dragged themselves forward—
Their elongated limbs sinking into the growing form.
The room shook.
Bones cracked.
Flesh tore.
Stone erupted from the ground—
Forming jagged crosses—
Graves—
Tombstones—
All fusing into the mass.
It grew.
And grew.
And grew.
Until—
It towered above them.
A grotesque mountain of death.
Dozens of elongated arms stretched outward—
Clawing at the air—
Each one twitching independently.
Rotting flesh pulsed beneath hardened stone—
A mockery of burial—
A prison of the dead fused together.
And at the top—
Something stood.
A pale, mannequin-like figure.
Featureless.
Smooth.
Unnatural.
Its body was coated in decay—
Maggots writhing across its surface—
Chunks of rotting flesh clinging to it like decorations.
Its head tilted slowly.
Looking down at them.
Watching.
Judging.
And then—
It smiled.
"…So this is it."
Alexander muttered.
River tightened his grip on the Onyx January.
His heart pounded.
His body screamed.
But his eyes—
Didn't waver.
Because standing before them—
Was the true ruler of this floor.
The Third Floor Guardian.
The Mourning Family.