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"What do we do now?!" Several dark faction cadres gathered hastily, sensing their situation had taken a dire turn.
Unlike the lower-ranked members, these high-level operatives still retained a fraction of their power due to their high attributes and physical conditioning.
"Head to the 28th floor—the safe zone beneath the City of Water!" Valletta commanded her inner circle, directing them to retreat to the next level below.
Until they understood exactly what had gone wrong, their first priority was their own survival.
As for the rest of their companions?
In a time of crisis, loyalty was a luxury none of them could afford. They knew something had gone amiss with their gods; though they hated to admit it, their plan had likely been compromised.
Most likely, forces were already waiting at the dungeon's entrance to capture or kill them. Retreating to the safe zone was a safer option than risking a return to the surface.
Once they reached the 28th floor, they could regroup and strategize.
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Orario
A few hours earlier, in the residence of the Sol Familia.
Alfia was briefing Sol with intelligence she had gathered about the dark faction. Though some details came second-hand, she had investigated and verified key points.
"Join me in a little mission," Sol said with a mysterious smile.
Alfia raised her eyes at him, scrutinizing him with narrowed eyes as if recalling something unpleasant. After days with Sol and familiarity with his peculiar habits, she had her suspicions. Despite their mutual purpose, he'd taken her not only to the Familia's quarters but to Aina's home and, memorably, Happy Street—dragging her along, a young woman of remarkable innocence.
Even though she'd stopped him before he could indulge himself, the experience had left an impression. Was this "big mission" of his another whim? Perhaps they were headed back to Happy Street?
'How much strength would it take to knock him out completely without killing him?' she wondered.
"Why are you giving me that look? I'm talking about serious business here."
Alfia's eyes were nearly closed, yet the disdain on her face was unmistakable.
"Don't look at me like that!" Sol protested, though his plea fell on deaf ears. With no other option, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her along.
Alfia let herself be led, noting with some relief they weren't heading towards Happy Street. Intrigued, she followed.
As they left the bustling heart of Orario and drew closer to its remote edges, Sol brought her to a solemn, quiet place—a cemetery for adventurers who had lost their lives in battle. It was also where the remnants of the dark faction were rumored to be hiding, as Alfia had learned during her investigation.
"What are we doing here?" she asked, her voice low.
"We're infiltrating their base. I'll need you to cover me."
"Cover you?" Alfia began to question him, but Sol had already started moving. She chuckled softly and followed, appreciating his straightforwardness.
Sol kicked the door open, startling two drunken adventurers who stumbled towards him. Alcohol blurred their vision, reducing Sol to a hazy, doubled image. Their defenses were negligible—barely any defense at all.
"You lot are so weak." Sol called, mocking them.
The adventurers reached out, but before they could touch Sol, a figure flashed between them. In a split second, Alfia had delivered swift, precise kicks to their midsections, sending both flying backward.
Their bodies crashed through the walls on either side, the sound of their impact drawing the attention of those inside.
"Alfia, that was loud," Sol murmured in mock reproach.
She ignored him. 'The man who charged into a dark faction hideout alone has the nerve to complain about noise?'
Moments later, dozens of armed adventurers poured into the hallway.
Alfia became a blur of movement, her longsword flashing into her hand as she met the advancing horde. To maintain her cover, she used only basic swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat, leaving her distinct magic uncast.
Dealing with this rabble didn't require anything more.
Perhaps frustrated by the slow trickle of dark faction members, Alfia cut through their ranks with effortless precision and pushed deeper into the hideout. Screams and curses filled the air as chaos erupted.
'This girl must've been holding back for too long,' Sol thought with a sheepish grin, scratching his head as he hurried to follow her. Inside was safer than the courtyard, especially if reinforcements arrived. Besides, with Alfia, he was in the safest place in all of Orario.
He caught up with her in the deepest room. The corridor behind them was littered with dark faction corpses, each struck down with an unerring precision. Wounds at vital points claimed their lives without prolonging their suffering—a mercy they hadn't shown others.
Sol couldn't help but admire the elegance of the infiltration.
These fallen dark faction members bore neither fear nor pain on their faces in death—far gentler than they had ever shown their own victims.