To the Depth of Abyss

Chapter 202: To Protect Home

North Region / 

[The Appearance of Catastrophe Beast]

"Is that a, snail?"

"A really big snail, indeed."

Arlene and Skadi, along with Hera's group, riding the Alpha Eagles to witness the sudden appearance of Catastrophe Beast. 

_____________

Monster Name: Mountain Snail (temporary)

Difficulty: Unknown

Category: Catastrophe Beast (Uncertain)

Monster Info  : 

>  A Snail the size of half of the Great Mountains. 

_____________

Mutiara City / 

Abyssal Guild / The Hall

"That is the only information we can get right now."

Hera became the Greedy Young Master representative at the time. She held a conference with a few Diamond rank Hunters. Including Sylvia Shield, who was retired. 

Every Hunter of the city also attending the meeting. They all gathered in the Guild or watching the conference live outside.

Arlene, Sylvia, and Skadi sit in the same line as part of Greedy Dragon Family. 

The other Diamonds were Jade the Green and Derek the Silver Lion. 

Derek was not part of Seven Colour Weapon Bearer. But the Silver Lion has 5000 active Hunters in their family. Made them the second largest after the Greedy Dragon. 

"Before I start talking, I believe you have a question regarding this conference, Derek."

Derek was sure showing an unhappy expression. 

He came to the conference because the Greedy Young Master invited him. It turned out somebody else took the Young Master's place. 

"Where is the guy?" asked Derek arrogantly. 

Despite being the weakest of all the Diamond, he displayed dominance in the conference due to the strength of the family he led.

"Isn't it a terrible matter that should be led by the real Commander?"

"For that matter, I will blindly tell you, that the Greedy Young Master is off somewhere and his whereabout is unknown. Know that he has an ability to teleport, so trying to search for him is futile."

Derek did not surprise with the information. He even shows a high self-esteem instead. 

"Then how about the two Emperor? Alexander the Black Dragon and Huxian the Fox Goddess. Why are they did not attend this conference and take the Commander position?"

"They are indeed a great power that we possess. But they don't have the experience to lead an army. So I'm not considered them as leader and they were better suited to be used as weapons."

Hera did not hold back her words even when she was talking about two most important person of Floor 2. 

Just like the other political people, Derek did not find the answer satisfying to be accepted. 

"Then who are you trying to command this conference? I know you are Huxian's guardian. But, who are you?"

That question directed to Hera's information. 

The truth is, apart from being Huxian's guardian, everything about Hera is unknown. She is not a legend, nor even a verified Abyssal Citizen. 

That way, Derek was trying to bring down the Acting Commander, Hera, for his benefit. 

In front of many other known Hunter, Hera's position as the Commander was being asked. 

The answer that Hera gives will greatly affect the course of the conference and the fate of Floor 2 in the future.

"I could sit here because the Young Master gave me the permission."

"What? How?"

They told Greedy Young Master were disappeared and his whereabout is unknown. 

"The day after his disappearance, he gave me this."

Hera shows a sheet of paper. A statement from the Greedy Young Master stating Hera as a confidant who can take over the leadership temporarily.

That directly confirmed Hera's position as the commander of the meeting, and anyone who still insisted on arguing would be labeled as ambitious fools.

"No more question? Alright, I will start the meeting."

All the people inside the Guild now focused on her. 

"As all you may know, that Mountain Snail suddenly appeared two days ago at the First Western Great Mountain. But it still hasn't made a move since its appearance."

At the time, the Mountain Snail still hiding inside its solid shell.

"The shell of this mountain monster is si hard that even the strongest attack we have, the Black Sky Spine shot, cannot pierce it."

The day after the mountain monster appeared, Arlene with Black Sky Spine came to the scene and tried to shoot the shell of the monster. But turned out the attack to be useless. 

"We strongly suspect that the monster is the creation of Soul Saint's child, the Virtue of Charity."

Everyone who hears the name of the Soul Saint shivered. 

"And most likely, that Monster is inside that monster. Controlling the Mountain monster to attack this Floor."

That was only the prologue of the conference. 

"Now I ask all of you, when the attack start and that mountain monster begin to walk, are you going to run, or will you join under the name of Greedy Dragon to defeat that monster?"

At that question, Derek raised his hand. "You're only asking us, Diamonds and Platinums, right? Because you sounded asking all the Hunters, including the Silvers and Golds."

Derek's words sounded looking down on the Silvers and Golds. But it is natural because the monsters they face are Catastrophe Beasts.

"Well, yes, I ask all the people in this guild. Even those who watch this conference live outside of this city."

That being said. 

Not just Derek asked Hera's decision. The other Diamonds as well as all the Platinums were wondering. Even the Silvers and Golds indirectly asking.

"But why do you need them? To be a Suicide Squad?"

"To become the army, to be precise."

Hera said that as they will face a war. 

"Echidna, the Virtue of Charity. or in the upper world is called, Mother of Monster Creation."

Everyone wondered why Hera suddenly reveals the identity of the Virtue. 

"The Seven Colour Mountain incident. The Shield City attack. And the Northeast war. She created all the monster army copying the Demon King power."

Few people shocked to hear about the past incident truth. Meanwhile, all the other got a goosebump on hearing the mentioning of Demon King."

"I firmly believe there are thousands of monster army stored in the shells of that mountain monster, waiting to be released and making this Floor into a chaos."

Now is that a real deal to be heard. 

A crowd that feel scared finally filling the atmosphere. 

Everyone below Platinum rank started to think about whether they should take part in the big battle, or take refuge with the citizens?

"THAT, is why I held this conference!"

Hera silenced the crowd. She takes control over the atmosphere with just one shout. 

"We don't know when that mountain monster will start to crawl. So we have to take the opportunity we have to build plans and talk about evacuation of citizens."

___________

Major Office / 

Night after the Conference /

The conference runs from morning to evening. 

There are many things being agreed on by the name of the Diamonds and people with high status.

"But, I didn't expect that Ars would leave you something useful, Miss Hera."

Arlene indirectly asked that with a bit of jealously. 

At the time, two of them, alongside with Sylvia, gathered in the room. 

"Oh this, I made it yesterday. I know that kind of question would be coming. So I prepared something like this, and it actually works."

"Y-you made that yesterday?"

Arlene's jealously faded and replaced with a young girl's misunderstanding. 

"By the way, thanks for escorting us here, Sylvia."

After the conference, there are so many papers they have to take care. Because Hera wants to quickly take care of anything and asked for an office, Sylvia offered the Major office.

"Make yourself at home."

Sylvia goes to one room inside the office. Leaving Arlene and Hera behind. 

"Wait, what's that room?"

Curious, Arlene followed Sylvia. 

"What is this? A bedroom?"

That was the second formal office Arlene entered besides in the North Coast Palace. She never thought that kind of room structure exists. 

"Actually, I live in here. Works as an Acting Major."

Now that Arlene remembers, Ars was the Major of Mutiara City. But he rarely went to run the city.

"So you did all of Ars's work?"

"Yes. That man is completely irresponsible. When he appeared, he was just looking around the city and sleep here."

Arlene remembers Ars sometimes missing for one day without noticing. So he went to this place. 

"Wait, he sleeps here? You mean..."

"It ashamed of me to say it. But, y-yeah, he's here for me."

Sylvia shows an embarrassed expression that looks really cute and unusual.

Arlene taps her forehead. Makes Sylvia wondering. 

"W-why is it?"

"No, I just think, that guy really knows how to get a high-class  woman in his harem."

"Wait, that means you are too?"

That was the first Sylvia to know about Ars' other women besides her. 

"Yeah. Let us working together as a fellow unlucky warrior."

Sylvia a bit confused about Arlene's sudden manner. 

For Arlene, who had lost a few precious things, realized that she and Sylvia were the same in one way and another. 

"By the way, there must be a bathroom here, right?"

"Yeah. At that door."

Arlene making herself at home in the office. After both of them taking a bath, they back to the office to find that Hera was already working on all the papers. 

Both of them start to work too, even though that was already midnight. 

"Hey, Sylvia."

Bored in the work, Arlene tried to start a topic. 

"What is it?"

"Are you going to raise your sword to join this war when you already retired?"

"Of course. Even though it changed, this city is my home where my family leave. That mountain monster is facing this way to south. So, if it begins to move, it would likely across this city. I am no longer strong like the Blue Sky Sword bearer. But I will do anything to protect my home."