Mia narrowed her eyes, the flickering fire casting strange shadows on her features. "Barbaric…" she muttered, but at least it was better than the alternative.

Gemma chewed her lower lip, feeling the most nervous she had ever been.

"Designation Gemma joins Reclaimers guild. Receive Reclaim skill," Somnus said.

Gemma's eyes went wide open and she blushed. "O-ok…" she muttered.

Lod chuckled. "Master so smooth."

Det nodded. "Lod learn from master."

Lod glanced at Det and then turned his focus back to Somnus.

Somnus, of course, had no clue what went on through Gemma's head when he said he wanted her. Somnus did not deal with such figurative statements; when he said he "wanted" her, he literally meant possession.

On the other hand, that confusion worked in his favor. Had Gemma been of clear head, she may have rejected the offer. Gemma was, after all, a very sought after commodity—quite literally. The n.o.bles of the Empire wanted her, because she was a Vessel, and having a Vessel was a sign of status. Guilds wanted her and nations wanted her for similar reasons. But Somnus did not care about any of that. He wanted the weapon that was inside Gemma, but even more than that, he wanted the person that Gemma was. She met many of the criteria that Somnus used to determine the kind of person that could lead and fight in the war against the G.o.ds. To Somnus, Gemma appeared as the kind of person who thought about the whole more than the individual—this was a very valuable thing to Somnus.

"C-can Mia join too?" Gemma asked, still nervous to the point that she was stuttering. Suddenly, she found the man behind the silver mask to be very… interesting. The way he spoke and the gravitas he possessed, they were all qualities of someone who was truly grand. She couldn't help but think if this kind of man would be right for her. The moment she started thinking about that she was already hopelessly drawn towards Somnus.

Somnus nodded in reply to Gemma's question and sent the two an invitation.

Vessel of Phynion, Gemma has joined your guild.

Princess of Leaves, Mia has joined your guild.

Eagerly, Gemma accepted the guild invite and then her expression crumbled as she no doubt checked the guild list.

"G.o.d-Slaying Machine Somnus…" Gemma whispered. "It is you…"

All that adoration instantly turned into hatred.

"You tricked me!" Gemma screamed.

Det chuckled. "Stupid human."

Mia's face was entirely pale. She could not even speak.

Somnus tilted his head. He tricked them? How?

"This unit did not engage in deception," Somnus replied.

"You didn't tell me!" Gemma howled.

"Designation Gemma's fault for not gathering enough information," Somnus said coolly.

"Th-that…" Gemma's face was entirely red—this time due to anger. She cursed herself inwardly. She did not recognize that speech pattern, but now she did. She remembered how Somnus and that cursed goblin killed all her party—goblin?

Gemma suddenly glared at the two adventurers next to Somnus.

"You…" she whispered, voice already hoa.r.s.e.

"Why pretty shout b.l.o.o.d.y murder? Somnus not bad. Somnus good master. Pretty thankful later," Lod said.

"He is an enemy of Humanity! He tried to release the Fragment!" Mia protested, gathering her wits.

"Pretty give master Fragment anyway? What is problem?" Det asked and shrugged.

"Ears misunderstand master intentions. Ears should shut up and use ears for once," Lod said. He really disliked elves.

"I have heard enough!" Mia yelled at Lod.

Lod growled. "Lod think Ears have nothing between ears. Just string to keep ears attached."

Mia stood up, ready to battle it out with the goblin.

"Enough," Somnus said, his voice once more carrying with it an unnatural compulsion.

Everyone became quiet, and even Mia sat down.

"Goblins instruct subjects Gemma and Mia in Reclaim. Subjects Gemma and Mia follow this unit to complete task. Comply," Somnus said.

"What is your task, oh great leader?" Gemma asked, sarcasm and venom pouring into her tone.

"Parameters change. No longer find route to floor 31. Explore beyond," Somnus said.

Mia narrowed her eyes. She wanted to protest but then found herself reluctantly agreeing. After all, Gemma and Mia were doing exactly that in the first place.

"Just so you know," Gemma said. "Once the thirty days are up, I am leaving your guild."

When joining a guild, there was a thirty day period before someone could leave. That is what Gemma was referring to.

Somnus's masked turned directly towards Gemma and he coldly stared at her. "Proceed as you wish. Don't need discordant elements in organization," he said and stood up. "Enough rest. Continue operation."

Det yawned and stood up, stretching. "That barely twenty minute rest. Det tired. Det butcher rats all day."

Lod emitted a "hmph". "Det weak. Baby goblin more fit than Det."

"At least Det not get extorted by female," Det retorted.

"Det joke about female, but when Lod tell female what Det say, Det dead," Lod said.

"Wait… Lod no tell females Det say that, ok?" Det pleaded.

"No more complain from Det, and Lod keep secret," Lod said.

"Det promise."

Lod nodded.

Gemma and Mia were amused by the goblins but still, it could not compare to the immeasurable hatred they felt for all three of them. Especially Somnus.

They felt tricked and deceived, even though Somnus spoke the truth. Neither Mia nor Gemma recognized him. Mia was obsessed with the idea that they were foreign spies and Gemma, despite her self-sacrificing nature, was too self-important in her own eyes to look past her little island and realize who she was dealing with. It was ironic, but self-sacrifice was nothing more than a different form of hubris—to think yourself important enough that your death would matter or change anything. Somnus saw that, but he also thought that this quality, and that hubris, is what a future leader of Humanity would require.

"Parameters of operation," Somnus said. "Find route to floor 31 and perform recon. Understood?"

Lod and Det nodded.

Gemma and Mia didn't react in any way.

"Lod teach Reclaim now," Lod said as he held out his hand, palm up.

Both Gemma and Mia placed their hand on top of Lod's and closed their eyes.

Suddenly, Gemma opened her eyes wide and her expression changed to one that was less loathing of Somnus.

"I sense… treasure…" Gemma whispered.

"It was true… they are Reclaimers," Mia whispered.

A darkness fell on their features. Monster Reclaimers…? Unthinkable! It was an abomination! The natural Order of the world was destroyed by that fact alone. But not only were they Reclaimers… they were adventurers too. With t.i.tles! Not only t.i.tles, but one of them was a Mithril and the other Orichalc.u.m. Those were Heroes.

Gemma felt so helpless all of a sudden. This was a disaster.

Mia just laughed. It wasn't the kind of laugh that signifies one is happy—it was pure frustration. She was laughing on the outside, but absolutely crushed on the inside.

In their eyes, Somnus was the incarnation of madness; everything he touched, he destroyed. Like the Destroyer.

To the monsters, Somnus was more like a Messiah. Most of them understood that it was not because Somnus was necessarily on their side, but rather, that he was bringing a new era. An era that was free of servitude to Dungeon Cores and G.o.ds and "the natural order of the world". No, to them, Somnus was the Destroyer who would annihilate those petty rules.

Somnus thought he was neither of those. All he wanted was to get his old body back, and settle things with his enemy once and for all.