[40TH FLOOR]

"Still not?" Professor Katia asked, unnerved by the whole situation. They have been blocked for several hours now at the 40th floor unable to advance further because of the complex mana circle preventing them.

It wasn't like Katia didn't know anything about Mana Circle but the one she was facing right now was extremely sophisticated—out of her level.

A few of them tried to decipher the circle but it was taking too much time.

Walter Celesta felt a surge of panic coursing through him as he frantically attempted to reach out to Pyres and his companions, but their responses remained absent. He had anticipated this day for so long, only for it to seemingly crumble into nothingness.

"It's an incredibly complex mana circle, Professor... the person behind this must possess exceptional talent in manipulating mana," a voice remarked with a hint of awe.

"They likely learned and were trained in Sancta Vedelia," Katia muttered under her breath, her expression troubled. The intricacy and near-perfection of the mana circle surpassed anything that could have been crafted within the borders of the Celesta Kingdom.

This revelation didn't sit well with Katia, as it implied that they were facing an adversary of formidable caliber — quite possibly someone at the level of a Monarch.

Suddenly, a commanding voice interrupted their thoughts. "What happened?!"

Katia turned around to behold a burly man with piercing green eyes striding purposefully toward them.

"L-Lord Stormdila!" The teachers stumbled back in fear, making way for Draven Stormdila, a Monarch and the father of Miranda and Loid.

Only Katia and Walter maintained their composure, although Walter couldn't help but have a small bead of sweat forming on his forehead.

'I didn't anticipate a Monarch's arrival so soon!'

Draven Stormdila hailed from the distant Falkrona Duchy, making it improbable for him to have reached the capital in such a short span of time. It was Walter's worst-case scenario; he had hoped to eliminate Aurora Celesta before any Monarchs arrived, allowing the Iris Project more time to escape. But now...

"Why are you still here?! Where are my daughter and son!" Draven's voice resonated with anger, causing the teachers to retreat in fear.

"Calm down, Lord Draven," Katia stepped forward, attempting to assuage his anger.

Draven's expression softened slightly upon seeing Katia. "Katia, what happened? I hope that my children are safe."

Katia didn't respond but instead moved aside, revealing the massive mana circle behind her.

"T-This..." Draven's eyes widened in disbelief as he gazed upon the mana circle. In his extensive life, he had encountered countless mana circles and battled numerous opponents skilled in the art, but the circle before him surpassed anything he had ever witnessed.

Only the prodigies of Sancta Vedelia could conceive such a feat, and they could be counted on one's fingers.

"We were hoping a Monarch could assist us with this," Walter interjected, his voice laced with urgency.

Draven approached the circle cautiously, extending a trembling hand to touch its surface. An ominous aura enveloped him, causing goosebumps to ripple across his skin.

'I-it can't be...'

Draven stared, mouth agape, at his quivering fingers.

There was no denying it.

A monstrous entity lurked within the depths of the dungeon.

A slight pallor spread across Draven's face as he comprehended the proximity of such a monster to his daughter and son.

"Step back, everyone!" Draven's booming voice reverberated through the chamber as he gathered an immense amount of mana. Like Katia, he lacked expertise in mana circles, so he resolved to shatter the circle with sheer strength.

"Leave this place immediately," Katia commanded, leading the others away. She understood that Draven intended to unleash his full power to destroy the circle, but she feared the collateral damage it could inflict on their surroundings.

-BOOOOOOOOOM!

As they distanced themselves, a deafening explosion assailed their ears, threatening to rupture their eardrums. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the ceiling ominously loomed overhead. The sheer force of Draven's mana pounded against the circle relentlessly, a desperate attempt to dismantle its malevolent hold.

The force of Draven's mana-infused strike caused a shockwave that rippled through the dungeon, shaking the very foundations of the underground structure. Debris and dust filled the air as the impact echoed through the chamber, threatening to collapse the fragile surroundings.

Katia and the others hurriedly retreated, seeking safety further away from the site of destruction. They could feel the immense power unleashed by Draven as he unleashed blow after blow upon the intricate mana circle.

****

[47TH FLOOR]

"We're almost there! The end is in sight!" Elona exclaimed with a sense of accomplishment. Their group had just reached the 47th floor of the treacherous dungeon, with only nine more Disaster-Rank mana beasts to defeat.

"It's been quite exhausting..." Milleia stretched her arms, causing some of the men in their group to glance at her impressive physique. However, Elona's disapproving glare quickly made them avert their eyes.

"Just nine more to go," Jayden chimed in, approaching them with a smile. "We make a great team."

"True, but I can't wait to get out of here," Elona replied, running her fingers through her black hair. "I could really use a nice bath." She waved her hand near her sweaty neck, emphasizing her desire for a refreshing cleanse.

Silence fell among the group, but Jayden couldn't help but steal a glimpse of Elona's milky white neck, causing him to gulp nervously.

"Hey! Jayden!" Milleia scolded him upon noticing his reaction.

"Ah, yeah," Jayden stammered, awkwardly averting his gaze.

"What's-"

Before Elona could inquire about the situation, John stepped forward, breaking the silence. "I'm leaving."

"Eh?" Milleia was bewildered by his sudden announcement. "Leaving where, Lord John?" she asked, clearly puzzled.

"I'm concerned about my sister, so I'm going back to the lower floors," John calmly explained.

"........"

His teammates were left speechless, stunned by John's nonchalant response. They couldn't believe the extent of his overprotectiveness towards his sister, especially considering they were in the midst of an important exam.

"Are you kidding me?!" Elona exclaimed loudly, unable to contain her disbelief. John had been expressing his worries about Layla for the past two days, but she had assumed he would continue with them.

John's crimson eyes met Elona's fiery gaze. "I don't joke around with guys like you," he retorted, turning to leave.

"What about the exam?!" Elona angrily shouted after him.

"I hope you can handle defeating Disaster-Beasts without me," John replied, casting a pointed glance at Jayden. "After all, you're making such a 'fine' team."

"Wait."

Jayden stepped forward, blocking John's path with his arm. "This is the last day. You can see Layla-"

"Lady Layla," John interrupted Jayden abruptly, his words carrying a dangerous edge.

"What-"

John's narrowed, crimson eyes bore into Jayden, his gaze filled with intensity. "It's Lady Layla to you."

Jayden, taken aback for a moment, managed to offer a smile. "Yes. You can see Lady Layla on this final day. Just be patient."

"This is the last day, yes," John stepped closer to Jayden. "That's exactly why I'm worried for my sister. Everything could happen. You should also be for Carla Roger instead of wasting your time here for a pathetic attempt to gain attention from her father."

"Wh-What are you saying?" Jayden frowned.

'I'm doing this exactly for Carla!'

John ignored Jayden's attempts to stop him and continued on his way.

'What should I do, Zeus?' Jayden whispered to himself, feeling torn and uncertain.

[?You're asking me that, boy??] Zeus responded.

'I'm feeling a bit confused. Do you have any insights?'

[?How could I know anything? I'm here with you.?]

'Right..'

Jayden hesitated, contemplating whether he should go back to the lower floors to ensure Carla's safety. However, it seemed impractical. As the leader of their group, he couldn't just abandon his responsibilities out of worry for Carla. Besides, she was with Aurora, and he trusted that they would be fine.

[?I understand your concern for your wife. I too am constantly worried about my own.?] Zeus shared.

'About your 3124 wives?' Jayden asked.

[?Yes, that's why I constantly watch over them and our children.?]

'Then, isn't it burdensome for you to be here with me?'

[?While I am indeed with you, it is only in a 'partial' sense. At the same time, I reside in my palace in Olympia.?]

"I... I don't fully understand why you willingly became my Legacy."

[?The realms of the gods and your world are constantly under threat, boy. You all pray to Eden, and we gods are also born from Eden. We were forbidden to involve ourselves with humans after the Demigods Era thousands of years ago, but some gods disregard this principle. The Evil Gods seek only destruction and chaos, and the Banished Gods have betrayed Eden's word. That's why myself and many others like me chose to assist chosen humans like you in fighting off these malevolent gods.?]historical

'I see..' Jayden replied, feeling a mix of confusion and intrigue.

[?However, that is not my primary reason.?]

'Then...?'

[?I am here because I wanted to observe the world, but I am also interested in a few women.?]

'I should have guessed..' Jayden muttered under his breath.

Ignoring Jayden's remark, Zeus continued. [The Saintess, the Prophetess, and the High Priestess.]

'I thought Layla was the only one-'

[?Layla is a personal matter for me, but the other three are of great importance to all of us, including the apostles. I have multiple reasons for my actions, but as a god, I have responsibilities, and this is one of them.?]

'You mentioned that I am an 'Apostle,' right...?'

[?Yes, you are. I chose you as my Legacy Holder because I found you worthy, and because you are destined for great heights, boy. Have faith in yourself.?]

'Right.'

[?One more thing. After this is over. You should meet the Saintess' Candidates. Your destined partner is among them. Both of you are bounded and are meant to fall for each other and fight together.?]