82 Chapter 82 - Meeting Xenos 02!
Chapter Size: 1900 Words.]
Third Person POV
23 Floor, Dungeon.
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"You..." Lucius murmured, unable to hide his surprise upon encountering the Xeno that resembled the attack titan from 'Shingeki no Kyojin'. The creature before him was as black as the deepest night, with an imposing presence that made the air around seem to tremble. What surprised him most was not just the frightening appearance of the Xeno, but an uncomfortable sense of familiarity.
Erebus, the newly arrived Xeno, studied Lucius with almost palpable interest. "Yes, Lucius," he said with a voice that resonated like an echo from a deep abyss. "I remember you. We fought before, when I was just a wandering and untamable Goliath when you fought with me alone. Your victory was... transformative for me."
Lucius found himself a bit odd with this, not just from the surprise, but from the revelation that their past fight had been the catalyst for the birth of a new xenos. The other Xenos watched in silence, equally intrigued by the unexpected connection between the human and the dark creature before them.
"Have you been reborn as a Xeno?" Lucius asked, trying to reconcile the beast he had faced before with the speaking and seemingly conscious entity in front of him.
Erebus nodded slowly, his eyes glowing with a light that wasn't there the last time Lucius saw him. "Death was not the end for me, but a new beginning. Here, among the Xenos, I found a community and a purpose. But my transformation was... unique. The energy I absorbed during our fight with those falling crystals was the trigger for my evolution."
Lyd intervened, looking at Erebus with a mix of caution and interest. "He appeared among us a short while ago. His strength and his story are unusual, but he has demonstrated a willingness to coexist and learn, he has become a good companion."
Lucius was still processing the information, realizing the complexity of the world of Xenos and how his actions had consequences he could never have imagined, just like his fight, where he had to opt for radical things to the point of modifying the eighteenth floor to survive and somehow that led to the birth of a new xenos. "So, what do you want now, Erebus?" he asked, his posture rigid, but his mind open to the possibilities.
Erebus stepped forward, his stride like that of a titan, despite him being only 5 meters now, it was heavier and more powerful than it seemed, the shadow he cast seemed to dance and contort. "I want to understand what I have become and what my place is in this new and strange world. But I want to grow and get stronger, I want to fight with you again, Lucius, so I can help combat greater threats, like the monster you and Lyd faced in the deep floors. Our previous fight showed me the power and determination of adventurers, I want to be like that too. Maybe I can learn more from you, Lucius."
Erebus's proposal left Lucius thoughtful. The idea of an old enemy becoming an ally was strange but not without merit, even though he said he wanted to face him again. After all, the world was full of nuances, and the struggle for survival and understanding was common to all.
Marie, still floating in her magical bubble, watched the scene with an expression of wonder and concern. "Does this mean you're going to fight together?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and fear, she hadn't seen the creature yet, but could feel the tension in Lucius in the air.
Lucius looked at Erebus, then at Lyd and the other Xenos. "If Erebus is willing to fight by our side, then I am willing to accept his help. We all have a common danger and if we don't deal with it now, it can be harmful both to adventurers and to Xenos."
Erebus nodded, the decision in his eyes as firm as Lucius's determination. "Then, let's face the enemy together, not as enemies, but as allies in the fight against this powerful foe."
And with those words, a new alliance began to form, many xenos looked on with approval.
"That's good! I saw the monster and Lu-chi is right!" Lyd spoke to everyone.
"I still think it's not a good idea to join with a human." Gros grumbled.
"Stop being grumpy, Gros. Aren't you seeing that Lucius wants to join the fight too? This is our chance to fight for the first time alongside an adventurer!" Ray landed next to Gros.
"Lu-chi?" Lucius asked about the new nickname given by the lizard.
"Are you what they call a human?" Another xenos approached Lucius.
As the group contemplated the newly formed alliance with Erebus and the others in the middle of the cavern, a subtle but perceptible disturbance began to infiltrate the air. A sense of weight and an imposing presence approached, causing even Erebus to turn to identify the source. Without warning, a massive figure emerged from the shadows of the cave entrance as Erebus had done.
It appeared as a formidable black minotaur, with defined muscles and horns that reflected the little light of the environment. Its eyes glowed with deep recognition and determination, witnesses to countless battles and challenges overcome since it was reborn. It was Asterius, the Xeno who was reborn after Bell defeated him.
"Asterius!" Lyd exclaimed, a mix of respect and surprise in his voice. "We didn't expect to see you so soon, just like Erebus, everyone decided to show up."
Asterius stepped forward, his gaze moving from Lyd to Erebus, and finally landing on Lucius. "I felt a change in the air," he said, his voice like distant thunder. "And it seems I have found the source of this unrest."
Erebus faced Asterius firmly. "Asterius, you've finally arrived, it seems we have a new enemy to face, this is Lucius, the human who defeated me before I turned into a xenos like your dream."
"You've finally found your champion..." He said calmly and looked at the human in question. "Tell me, human, do you know a human who looks like a rabbit, I dream of him every night about a battle between us, my dream is to find him so I can have a rematch with him."
"I know who you speak of, Asterius. I know him, his name is Bell Cranel." Lucius spoke, there was no reason to hide this information from the xenos, they would meet anyway.
"Bell Cranel? Can you show me this human?" The Minotaur asked with a curious voice.
"Yes, but that will have to wait a bit, we have some problems on the surface and we will have to resolve some things first. How about you meet him in a month, you will need to train before meeting him anyway." Lucius imagined that Asterius is not as strong as in the fight against Bell, since he was a level 7 at that time.
"I can accept that, but tell me about the challenge you encountered in the deep floors, I'm interested in it too." Asterius accepted Lucius's words and asked about the monster they faced.
"That's very good, Asterius!" Lyd celebrated as other xenos.
Marie looked at Asterius with obvious admiration. "You are so big and strong, just like Erebus!" she murmured, her voice filled with a mix of awe and curiosity.
Asterius offered Marie a slight nod, a gesture of recognition and respect. "We all have our roles to play, little mermaid," he said. "My style is to fight alone, but if necessary, together, we are stronger."
With the arrival of Asterius and Erebus and the alliance with the other xenos, the group felt a new wave of determination and purpose for this challenge. Lucius and Lyd knew that fighting the Juggernaut would not be easy, but with the group in front of them, their chances would be much greater.
"Let's get ready for the fight then!" Lyd announced, and all the xenos made their own sounds with that.
A small group of Xenos, with appearances resembling terrestrial creatures but with fantastic colors and characteristics, approached Lucius. One of them, similar to a white rabbit, looked up with big, bright eyes. "Human, is it true that you have vast green fields and skies that change color?" he asked, his voice as soft as his appearance.
Lucius smiled, surprised and delighted by the innocence of the question. "Yes, it's true. We have many places on the surface with green fields and a sky that transforms from blue in the day to a starry black at night."
Several Xenos gathered around to listen, their gazes fixed on Lucius with a mix of amazement and dreaminess. A Xeno resembling a cat but with small translucent wings tilted its head. "And the stars, are they as beautiful as they say? I once dreamed of the sky full of shiny little dots!"
"They are the stars you spoke of, they are wonderful," Lucius replied, remembering the nights he spent looking up at the sky. "They shine like little lights guiding dreamers and travelers."
A Xeno with skin that resembled autumn leaves approached, a bit shy. "Human, Lucius, do you think one day we might see that world too?"
Lucius looked at the Xeno, sensing the depth of the question. "I hope so. Perhaps one day, when there is enough peace and understanding between us, we can share the beauty of both worlds."
Lucius understood somewhat the weight of staying in this place, unable to interact with many people because they would be treated as bloodthirsty monsters from the dungeon, a sad reality for them, but Lucius couldn't blame the adventurers for that, he just didn't like the families that tried to sell the xenos as slaves and cage animals.
"Do you really think we can go to the surface together?" Lucius heard one of the xenos look at him with hope.
Marie, floating nearby, smiled at Lucius. She approached a group of Xenos that seemed particularly enchanted with Lucius's idea. "Lucius helped me to fly," she said to them. "Maybe one day he can help all of us too."
"Can you make me fly too?!" The rabbit looked hopeful at Lucius, and the human mage cast his spell on him.
"Hahahahaha! I can fly!" The rabbit, inside the soap bubble, started laughing loudly and having fun with it while trying to swim in the air with Marie clapping for him.
"I want to fly too!" Another one said, hoping Lucius would do the same for them.
Lucius, moved by the joy and curiosity of the Xenos, began to weave his magic around them, and in an instant, several of them were floating in the air like joyful children. Laughter and cheerful conversations filled the air as the Xenos flew, continuing to ask questions and share their own stories and dreams.
Surrounded by these fascinating creatures, Lucius felt an unexpected connection and a new determination. He realized that his fight was not just for his own survival but also for the chance of a future where Xenos and humans could explore and enjoy the beauty of their worlds together, not as enemies, but as friends and allies.
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