Chapter Size: 2300 Words.]Third Person POV27 Floor, Dungeon.

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  After the arduous and tense escape from the deep floors of the dungeon, Lucius and Lyd finally emerged iranquil Capital of Waters. Lyd tio lead the winding way, full of hidden routes, ensuring they avoided any unwanted enters with other dangers of the dungeon. The soft light of dusk bathed the waterfalls at that moment, providing a stark trast to the shadows and dangers of the depths from which they had just escaped.

  As they approached the meeting point, a familiar and eic figure emerged in the distance from one of the currents. "LYD, LUCIUS!" excimed Marie, her voice filled with relief and joy. Despite the evident exhaustion on his face, Lucius made an effort to his clothes, trying to disguise the signs of the ret frontation and of nearly losing his life. Yet, it was impossible to pletely hide his fatigue, reflected in his slightly downcast appearand his tired smile as he looked at Marie.

  Marie ran towards them, her eyes shining with and happiness. She stopped in front of Lucius, examining him from head to toe as if looking for injuries. "Are you okay? What happened down there?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

  Before Lucius could answer, Lyd intervened with a reproachful tone. "Marie! I already told you that you 't wait for us outside the hideout!" Lyd looked around cautiously, making sure no suspicious person was watg. "It's dangerous. You know we must keep our locatio and always move in hiding."

  Marie lowered her head, realizing her mistake. "Sorry, Lyd. I was just worried and wao make sure you were safe."

  Lucius, the iioouched by Marie's . "We're fihanks to Lyd," he said, pg a hand on the Xenos' shoulder in a sign of gratitude. "Something terrible emerged down there, but we're here now."

  Marie looked at Lucius, relieved, but still clearly eager to know more about what had happened. "Marie thinks it's better if we go somewhere safer, and Marie wants to know what happened," she suggested, looking around to ehey were not being followed or observed.

  The trio then discreetly headed to a pce among the safe zohat Marie knew, finally stopping at a location on floor 26. Lucius, exhausted, helped himself to some quick ration food. Then, he used his magical abilities to create a fortable bed, seeking a few hours of well-deserved rest.

  Three hours of deep, restorative sleep allowed Lucius to begin rec from the physical aal exertion of the battle in the deep floors. Upon waking, still feeling the weight of fatigue but more refreshed, he joined Marie and Lyd, who were waiting patiently.

  "What do we do now?" Lucius asked, rubbing his eyes and trying tanize his thoughts.

  "I nning to take you to Rivira," Lyd replied. The suggestion was logical but also risky, sidering the presence of the Juggernaut in the lower floors.

  "With that thing down there?" Lucius raised an eyebrow, the memory of the Juggernaut still vivid in his mind. The prospect of returning to the dungeon so soon, especially with the threat of the Juggernaut still lurking, was daunting, not to mention that the creature might develop a will of its own and start feeding on other moo evolve.

  He had the war game right on his doorstep, which he po return to in order to prepare, yet Lucius pohe situation with a grave expression. The threat of the Juggernaut in the deep floors was something he could not simply ighis monster... it's a dao everyone in the dungeon, including the Xenos," he said, looking directly at Lyd and the i Marie.

  Lyd nodded, agreeing with the seriousness of the situation. "Fels will probably tact us soon, and then we'll act. But until then, we are all at risk."

  "That thing will smell us at any moment and e to the upper floors. Even you, Xenos, will be in danger," Lucius argued, his voice clearly worried.

  "We 't do much," Lyd admitted, with a worried look. "The Juggernaut is a force of the mother, a threat feared by everyone in the dungeon."

  "We fight that thing. There are more of you, aren't there?" Lucius asked, his voice carrying a tone of challenge. "We 't just sit and wait. We o act."

  Lyd looked at Lucius, surprised by his determination. "Yes, there are more of us, but... would you fight with us, Lucius? Would you join us in this battle?"

  Lucius fixed his gaze on Lyd. "Yes, that thing was summoned because of me. I 't turn my ba it, I? If I'm the reason for this threat, then I'll be part of the solution."

  Lyd felt a wave of resped gratitude for Lucius. "If we ask for help from all the other Xenos, we might stand a ce. Would you really fight alongside us? Would you be our friend in this battle?"

  Lucius nodded firmly. "We're here, aren't we? I already said you saved my life, and I'm already a friend of Marie. I will fight by your side. If there's a ce of winning, then we o seize it."

  Lyd, visibly moved by Lucius's willingness, nodded in approval. "Your ce and willio fight alongside us mean a lot to us, Lucius. We'll talk to the other Xenos. Your help could be the turning point we need."

  "But will they accept help from a human?" Lucius asked, aware of the plexities of the retionships between Xenos and adventurers.

  Lyd offered Lucius a reassuring smile, an expression that veyed uanding and trust. "The Xenos know how to assess iions and character," he began, his gaze serehey will see in you what I see: a honorable warrior and a friend, just as Marie saw. You're not someone who fears us or calls us monsters. Besides, we already have some allies among the surface dwellers, like Fels. Your presence will only strehis bridge between our worlds."

  Lucius, feeling the siy in Lyd's words, nodded with determination. "That's good. Then we should go," he said, his voice refleg seriousness and a itment to the cause.

  Marie, who had been watg the iion attentively, felt a mix of sadness in her. "So you're already leaving?" she asked, the evident in her voice.

  Lyd turo Marie, his expression softening. "Don't worry, Marie. We'll sort out ohing and then we'll be back here," he reassured her, trying to alleviate her s.

  Marie sighed slightly, a sign of her resignation mixed with hope. "Okay..." she murmured, still worried, but fident in Lucius and Lyd's ability aermination.

  Lucius observed Marie with a thoughtful look, p ahat had e to his mind. "I think she e with us," he said suddenly, breaking the silence. Before Marie or Lyd could respond, he tinued, "Let me do ohing here."

  Quickly, Lucius accessed the magical store and bought a grimoire. With intense tration, he flipped through the pages, quickly abs the knowledge tained ihen, he burhe book, the fmes ing the paper quickly and disappearing without a trace.

  Turning to Marie, Lucius extended his hands toward her. "ral Element, Soap Bubble!" he pronounced with vi. A bubble began to form around Marie's waist, slowly expanding into a shimmerihereal ring.

  "What is this?!" Marie excimed, surprised and fasated by the magical bubble that enveloped her.

  Lucius smiled, pleased with the success of the spell. "With this, you float in the air. This is your access to live with the Xenos from now on and not be isoted anymore," he expined. His voice carried a tone of satisfa, as he didn't like the idea of Marie being alone ier Capital.

  Marie, moved and ented by the gift, threw herself into Lucius's arms, g with joy. "This... THANK YOU, LUCIUS! THANK YOU!!" Tears streamed down her face, expressing gratitude and relief as she tried to fly with it.

  Lyd, watg the se, ughed joyfully. "Lucius! Do you have any idea how much this will help Marie!?" His expression was one of admiration and surprise, impressed by Lucius's skill and generosity.

  Lucius, feeling warmth in his heart seeing Marie's joy, nodded. "Well, we're done here. Now that Marie join us, shall we tinue?" He looked at Lyd, ready to move forward.

  "Yes, please follow me," said Lyd, still smiling. He led the way, with Lucius and the now floating Marie following.

  Lyd, Lucius, and Marie, after the magical support that allowed Marie to float, set off toward the 23rd floor of the dungeon.

  As they asded the Water Capital, Lyd led with caution, tinuing to avoid the i dangers of the dungeon. Marie, still marveling at her new ability to float, followed Lucius with a smile on her face, ented by the spectacur views of the Water Capital from above for the first time.

  Upon reag the 23rd floor, he skillfully guided them along the river that cut through the ndscape, flowing with a stant murmur that apanied each step of the trio. The clear and tranquil waters trasted with the usual tension of the dungeon, a brief respite on their journey.

  Lyd stopped in front of a seemingly ordinary roation, but a closer look revealed much more. With a subtle gesture, he moved a rock, revealing a narrow passage that opened into an underground corridor. "This is the way," he whispered, gesturing for Lucius and Marie to follow.

  Desding through the corridor, the trio arrived at a spectacur cave. It was vast, with irregur walls that glimmered with the soft light emitted by embedded crystals. The light reflected in multiple colors, creating a visual spectacle that captured their attention. It was an underground sanctuary, a refuge of the Xenos.

  "Here we are safe," Lyd stated with a tone of pride. "This is the heart of our unity, a pce where we are free from the dangers and curious eyes of adventurers."

  Lucius examihe enviro with admiration, impressed by the iy ay of the hideout. Marie, still floating thanks to Lucius's spell, couldn't hide her fasation. "It's incredible, Lyd! Is this where you and the others live!" she excimed, her eyes shining with joy.

  Lyd smiled, pleased with their rea. "Let's see the others. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you here, Marie!" he said, encing her.

  Reag a wider area of the cave, Lyd stopped. "Here, you will meet other members of our unity," he announced.

  The pce was dark, but soon began to light up and all the eyes shining in the darkness began to take shape. As Lucius and Marie ehe main hall of the hideout, surprise and awe took over the expressions of the gathered Xenos. The creatures, aced to the presence of each other, had never seen a human walk freely among them, let alone apanied by a floating mermaid.

  The sight of Marie, serenely suspended within her magical bubble, drew looks of admiration and entment from many. Some of the Xenos creatures approached, their eyes glowing with gentle curiosity. One of them, a Xenos with translut skin and aquatic features, tilted his head to the side, fasated by the way Marie moved through the air.

  "Marie! you fly now?!" He said in astonishment.

  "Hello! I'm flying because of Lucius's magic!!!" She said excitedly.

  "It's extraordinary magic," ehers, their voice a fluid murmur remi of the sound of running water.

  Ihe crystal-lit hall, the meeting of Xenos with Lucius and Marie was full of tensions and wonders. The feline Xenos, whose fur was soft to the toud striped with shadoroached Lucius, their curiosity evident. "And you, human, have an aura of strength," he said, a whisper almost inaudible amid the surrounding versation. "How is it that you do not fear our preseno one of your species dared to ehis pce that is our home, and even less alongside Lyd."

  Lyd looked at Lucius with a hint of pride. "Lucius is not just any warrior; he is a friend," he began, his voice resonating with vi. "I heard him alone in the deep floors fag a terrible mohat the mother io test him, saw his ce in fag that creature. His bravery proves that he is different."

  The creatures around them murmured, their gazes fixed on Lucius osciltiween distrust and respect. The surprise alpable, but there was also a glint of i, especially when they noticed the mermaid Marie floating among them, as serene as the water itself.

  Suddenly, a white gargoyle emerged from the crowd with the fury of a storm about to burst. "Lyd, what do you think you are doing?!" Gros excimed, his finger pointed as an accusation towards Lucius. "You revealed e to a human. He might bring others to hunt us down!"

  Lyd stood firm, fag Gros. "It's not like that, Gros. Lucius is different; he won't betray us and helped protect Marie. I trust him, just as I trust all of you," defended Lyd, his voice full of siy.

  A-like creature, whose wooden branches seemed to whisper with the wind, stepped forward with slow but firm steps. "sider the nature of this meeting," he spoke, his voice den with the wisdom of the ages. "This moment signals a promising ge, the possibility of an unpreted union."

  Lucius, notig the distrust still present in some gazes, decided to intervene. "I uand the suspiy presence causes," he said, with an imposed calm. "But we face a on danger in the floors below, a threat that requires the stro among us to uo front it and fet our differences. It's aoo powerful to be left alone, and he might be getting stronger every moment that passes."

  "An enemy? Is he strong?" A voice suddenly came from the entrance, and Lucius turowards that voice.

  "You are..." He couldn't believe what he was seeing; he couldn't imagihat thing had also bee a Xenos.

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