Stay.
He decided to stay in the Soma Familia.
The reasons were pretty simple. First, the only downsides for staying with his current Familia were the fact that the Soma Familia was mostly composed of greedy, weak, or corrupt adventurers, and Soma himself didn't seem to care much about the well-being of his Familia members. These were undeniable truths, but they were truths Rex had already grown accustomed to over the past five years.
The corruption within the Familia barely affected him. The strong preyed on the weak—that was the nature of adventurers, and Soma Familia was just a more exaggerated version of that truth As for Soma's indifference, it was almost a blessing in disguise. The god's lack of involvement meant Rex had the freedom to do as he pleased without interference. Sure, it wasn't ideal, but it was a trade-off he had long accepted.
The upside of staying, however, far outweighed the downsides. For one, Rex was already established within the Familia. He knew the dynamics, the people, and the rules—or lack thereof. He didn't have to start over, build new relationships, whatever else, and while Soma Familia's reputation was tarnished, it didn't directly hinder his ability to operate in Orario.
More importantly, the Soma Familia's wealth and resources were nothing to scoff at. If he gained access to funds brought in by the Soma Familia, a fuck tone of his problem will be fixed with his future progression. And with him becomeing the strongest in the familia when he levels' up, he was obviosuly going to become the captain.
This was also another advantage with Soma indefference about the Familia. He could just go up to the captain and say 'I am now the captain,' and due to his strength the Zanis would be unable to do anything. Execpt if there is like a process he has to go through with the guild or whatever, he could become the captin today.
That freedom was invaluable.
No one telling him what to do. No forced expeditions or group training. No obligations to work as a team or participate in politics. No restrictions on how often he could enter the dungeon. No commander breathing down his neck. Rex could move at his own pace, follow his own rules, and grow on his own terms.
And what would he gain by leaving? Nothing he couldn't get in Soma.
Every alternative Familia had its own set of issues. Miach Familia was too weak and too dependent—if he joined, he would have to carry them both in combat and financially. Hephaestus Familia would restrict his freedom with crafting obligations, expecting him to focus on blacksmithing when he had zero interest in it. Loki Familia? Too structured, too team-based. Hestia Familia? Too small, too tied to Bell, and too poor.
Freya Familia? No. Just no.
Other familia had their advantages, but Soma fitted him more.
*Knock*
Rex knocked lightly on the large, double oak door that led to the captain of the Soma Familia office, then waited. He had returned from the guild almost an hour ago, and after showering and eating, he had changed into simple pants cinched to his waist by his trusty tunic that held his dagger and a few pouches, a long-sleeve tunic that went down to his thighs, sandals, and still wore his adventuring bag on his back.
A few seconds passed before a smooth, calm, voice called from within. "Who is it?"
"Rex Magnus," he replied. "I came to pay my quota and request permission for a status update."
A brief pause, he said, "Come in."
Rex pushed open the double doors, stepping into the office. The space was massive, its high ceiling and neatly arranged decor speaking of wealth and refinement. Bright light streamed in from the large windows, all the curtains drawn open, allowing fresh air to flow in, stirring the loose papers on the desk.
Across from the entrance stood a large desk piled with stacks of paperwork, the window behind it shut but the curtin drawn, casting a warm glow over the workspace. To one side of the office, near a fireplace, two light blue-cushioned sofas flanked a dark-wood coffee table. Another section of the room housed tall shelves packed with books and a wine cabinet lined with bottles.
Seated behind the desk, his eyes still scanning over a document, was Zanis Lustra. He barely acknowledged Rex's entrance, his long fingers methodically shifting through paperwork.
He was a man of lean build, standing about 5'11" (181 cm) with a thin, slightly angular face and a long jawline. His features were ordinary, unremarkable in the way of someone who blended into a crowd with ease, with a sharp, narrow gray eyes, and ash-gray hair, neatly parted, framing his face. He wore a well-fitted, light blue knee-length coat with a matching pant.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," Zanis said without looking up, his tone casual. "You've missed several of your last payments. I was beginning to think you were attempting to test my patience." His fountian pen paused briefly before resuming its motion. "I was considering stripping away the privileges you've been enjoying."
"I was wondering when you'd come to pay your quota." His voice was even, indifferent, as if the matter had barely occupied his thoughts. "You've missed quite a few of your last months. I was beginning to consider taking away the advantages you had."
"There were complications," Rex said with a slight shrug. "But I have the money now." He pulled free a small pouch from his belt. "Six thousand for this week's quota. Thirty thousand for my status update."
"I'll let last month slide—otherwise, you'd be paying forty thousand just to cover your debts," Zanis said, placing the paper he was working on onto a pile and finally looking up. "As for the update… I don't think you can get it."
'Eh?' Rex blinked, caught off guard. "Why is that?"
Zanis clicked his tongue in mild irritation, leaning back in his chair. "Due to a meddlesome receptionist at the Guild, Soma received a warning. He's been restricted from producing wine for an entire month. So now, naturally…"
Zanis spread his hands in a gesture of mock helplessness, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "He's sulking in his room."
The words were spoken without concern or sympathy, as if dealing with a god in a tantrum was just another inconvenience to be worked around. He paused for a brief moment, then asked, "When was the last time you had your status updated?"
"Almost a year now," Rex replied, his tone neutral but his mind already racing.
Zanis nodded, pulling open a drawer from his desk. A moment later, he retrieved a single slip of paper, holding it up between his fingers for Rex. "Tell Soma I said you can get an update. He'll do it."
Rex stepped forward, taking the paper from the captain with his free hand. "Bring this paper back to me when your update is done," Zanis added, already returning to his work without looking up. "Then hand the quota to Chandra."
Rex nodded, putting his pouch back in his belt. "I'll be back," he said, turning and exiting the office. The door closed behind him with a quiet click, leaving him alone in the hallway.
'I should be able to beat him once I rank up, right?' The thought lingered as he recalled the brief glance he'd taken at Zanis's status while in the room. It had been simple, unremarkable even, but still far beyond what Rex could handle as a Level 1.
— — — — — — — — — —
Zanis Lustra
Level 2
[Strength] F308 | [Endurance] G275 | [Dexterity] D501 | [Agility] E489 | [Magic] I0
[Swordsman] I
— — — — — — — — — —
Rex doubted he could defeat Zanis at level one despite having SSS in all stats without relying on his 'Indomitable Will' panic button. As previously noted, an infant dragon isn't significantly stronger than a minotaur on floors 15 to 17, and level 2 adventurers are recommended to have at least G-rank in basic abilities to explore these floor due to these monsters.
With Zanis having D-rank dexterity, E-rank agility, and F-rank strength, he far surpasses minotaurs, infant dragons, and even Rex with Kaio-Ken active. His E-rank agility might even allow him to perception-blitz Rex.
But Zanis wouldn't be a problem the moment Rex leveled up. His max stats at Level 1, combined with Kaio-Ken, would give him an absolute edge even if he just leveled up. Then, it should be easy for him to oust Zanis and become the captain.
The god's quarters—where Rex believed Soma was sulking—was in the same building, just down the hall, so Rex made his way there. He walked through the hall lined with tall opened windows that let in the afternoon light, there was a quiet, chill aura soothing to him. Stopping in front of the doors, he placed his bag against the wall outside the room, and knocked twice.
"Zanis allowed me to come get my status updated," he said, placing his free hand on the doorknob.
There was a long silence and Rex stood there for about two minutes before a voice so low it was almost imperceptible to his Level 1 Chienthrope ears spoke: "Come…"
He quickly twisted the knob and pushed the door open, stepping into the dark private room of the deity with Soma sitting in one corner of the room on the ground, his eyes staring up at the ceiling.
He looked like a young man of average height with slender limbs and an almost delicate appearance, and he wore a loose-fitting robe, the sleeves and hem dirty with soil. His skin was pale and his black hair falling over his eyes like the protagonist of a certain genre of Japanese animation.
Rex closed the door, shutting off the only light source into the room, except for the rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains. Noticing a table with a golden ceremonial dagger and a stack of paper beside it, he took the dagger and one piece of paper, then quickly removed his shirt. Handing this paper and dagger to Soma, he took a seat on the ground in front of the god, his muscular back exposed.
'Point of no return,' he thought, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. 'I hope I will not regret it.
Yes, he could leave in the future, but then Soma might reveal his skill out of spite, which would bring a whole lot of problems. Then again, Soma didn't seem like that kind of god. All Rex needed to do was keep Scavenger away from Zanis, which should be easy.
He sat in silence as the god rustled about, then felt the cold sensation of blood on his back. There was a glow, and then Soma spoke, his voice monotone and disinterested:
"Abnormal Resistance, Hunter, Apex Hunter, Mage, Swordsman, Crush, Luck, Healing Power, Strong Defense, Fist Fight, Strong Body, Predator, or Treatment."
'Holy shit! That's a lot of development abilities!' Rex thought, a bit panicked. If he took too long, Soma might just pick whatever, given how he was sulking right now.
'Scavenger! Abnormal Resistance is better! Hunter is better. Apex Hunter is better…' He kept cycling through them, with Scavenger rating each one, and in less than a second, he made his decision.
"Predator," he said.
Soma said nothing, but Rex felt the god's finger move across his back. With a bright light, the update was complete, and he lifted the parchment to place it on Rex's back.
'That's… it?' Rex thought, confused. 'There's no way I just leveled up.'
He didn't feel any different. He thought his body would suddenly become lighter and stronger, causing him to exclaim, "Th-this power! It's coursing through my veins like lava! IT...IT'S INCREDIBLE!" or something like that, but nothing. He felt… the same.
"Take it." Soma's voice broke the silence, and Rex saw the paper fall to the ground beside him. He quickly glanced at it, noticing Scavenger was writing on his status page imprinted on the paper.
Panicking slightly, he said, "Your Divinity, can you please hide my Scavenger skill?" He remembered that Hestia had hidden Bell's skill from him, so Soma should be able to do the same.
Soma mumbled something under his breath that Rex couldn't understand, but he didn't decline, so Rex handed the god the paper Zanis had given him. Soma took it, and Rex felt the parchment on his back. With another flash of light, Soma handed it back to him.
"Leave," the sulking god said with a tone of finality.
Taking both papers and his shirt, Rex stood up while picking up the dagger from the ground. "They're punishing me," Soma murmured to himself as Rex walked away. "An entire month. For what?"
Rex paid it no mind as he placed the dagger down on the table where he had taken it from— oddly enough, the dagger had no trace of blood, but he didn't think much of it. Leaving the room, he closed the door behind him before putting his shirt back on and wearing his bag. As he walked back to Zanis's office, he glanced at both papers, then looked at his status using Scavenger. The abilities on paper were more shorthand, with less description of his skills, but Scavenger showed him everything, including the full description of his new Development Ability that the paper didn't reveal one bit of.
And as he had asked, one of the papers had no mention of Scavenger, with his two skills were moved up to make it look like he only had two instead of three:
— — — — — — — — — —
Rex Magnus
Level 2
[Strength] I0 | [Endurance] I0 | [Dexterity] I0 | [Agility] I0 | [Magic] I0
[Predator] I
[Skill]
"Indomitable Will"
— Immunity to mind-based attacks, enhances physical and magical growth, rapid skill mastery, and while in a pinch, significantly increases all stats.
"Dragon's Bane"
— Massively increases all abilities when fighting any dragon-type monsters.
— — — — — — — — — —
This was the status shown on the paper Zanis had handed him and the one he was going to turn in. Dragon's Bane was obviously brought about by his massacre of the Infant Dragons on floors 11 and 12, and it had more to it that wasn't shown on the paper. There was no need to hide anything else—only Scavenger was a real problem. Maybe Indomitable Will too, since it caused rapid growth, but…
'I should have hidden Indomitable Will too, right?' he wondered while folding the paper. After all, it was similar to Bell's skill that Hestia had hidden. 'Whatever,' he shrugged. 'This will make things easier.'
Stopping beside a window, he pursed his lips like he was about to whistle and, with an exhale of breath, blew out a stream of flames that completely engulfed the first parchment—the one that had Scavenger listed—burning it to ashes. He let the ashes flow out the window, carried by the wind into the bright afternoon sky until they disintegrated completely. Then he made his way back to Zanis's office and knocked.
"Come in," Zanis's voice called, and Rex opened the door. The man immediately spoke without looking up from his work, "Place the paper on the coffee table and see yourself out."
"Read it," Rex said, holding the paper out to Zanis. "Please?" he added, his tone polite.
Zanis glanced up at the smiling Rex, then sighed. Dropping his pen, he took the paper and from Rex as he pushed up his glasses with his middle finger. Looking down with lazy eyes, he unfolded the paper without care and started reading slowly. Then his eyes widened as he re-read the paper, his gaze darting quickly through the words. Finally, he looked up, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.
"Ha—" His words caught in his throat as he looked down at the paper, then back at Rex, then at the paper again. He repeated this a few times before shouting, "HOW!?"
Rex opened his bag to show the Infant Dragon's drops. "Killed eight Infant Dragons as a Level 1." He grinned like a madman, his canines in full display and his eyes an upside down crescent. "Nice, right?"
"Oh, no…" Zanis mumbled, reading the paper again. "Th-th-this can't be…" he stuttered, his voice trembling.
"Look at me," Rex said, but Zanis didn't hear him, too absorbed in the paper.
"Hey!" Rex raised his voice, dropping his bag filled with Infant Dragon loot on the ground with a loud bang. The sound made Zanis flinch. "Look at me!" Rex demanded, with Zanis quickly looking up from his paper, his gray eyes locking onto Rex's amber ones.
"I'm the captain now."
[Author's Note: Nothing to say. Thanks for reading~]