Chapter 15: Whispers in the Shadows, Echoes in the Deep
While Drake and his Pokémon began exploring the 10th floor of the dungeon, far above them stood a magnificent city known as Labyrinth City Orario. Towering in its center was the grand Babel Tower, piercing the clouds like a monument to the gods themselves.
Not far from the tower lay a grandiose mansion, beautiful and imposing. Inside its elegant corridors walked a familiar green-haired figure — Riveria Ljos Alf. Her footsteps echoed with purpose as she approached a finely carved wooden door.
She knocked.
"Who's there?" came a playful, teasing voice from the other side.
"It's me, Goddess Loki. Riveria. I have something strange to report," she replied.
"Ohoho~ Come in, my gorgeous and most powerful mage!" Loki chimed, her tone full of mischief.
A shiver ran down Riveria's spine at the goddess's words. With a sigh, she entered.
The room inside was lavishly furnished, radiating elegance. At the center, lounging on a velvet couch, was a small red-haired woman with a sly smile — Loki herself.
"So, what brings you here, my dear Riveria? Don't tell me you've finally decided to spend the night with your charming goddess~?" Loki teased, eyes glinting.
A large vein popped on Riveria's forehead.
"No. That will never happen. Don't even dream about it!"
"Aw, you're always so mean to me," Loki pouted. "I was just having a bit of fun..."
Riveria sighed again. "Enough of your antics. I wanted to talk about that strange matter we discussed before."
"The weird Needle Rabbit you met during the Little Rookie's incident?"
"Yes, that one. After that mission, I spoke with the Pallum girl — Liliruca Arde — who that creature asked about. According to her, the monster that saved her was definitely a War Shadow."
"A War Shadow?" Loki raised an eyebrow. "But you said it called itself Drake."
"Exactly. That's what's so strange. Later, I had a conversation with Bell Cranel. During that talk, I casually mentioned the name 'Drake'… and he immediately recalled meeting a kobold who claimed that same name when he fought his first Minotaur."
Loki's eyes widened, her slitted pupils gleaming blood red. "Wait… are you telling me this 'Drake' is the same individual in all those forms?! A rabbit, a kobold, and now a war shadow?!"
Riveria nodded. "That's exactly what I'm saying. If that's true… then this creature could change everything about the Dungeon."
Loki sat in stunned silence, muttering to herself. "A monster that can evolve… This is too important. I need to inform Ouranos immediately. This might be a turning point."
Riveria turned to leave, but glanced back, a faint smirk on her lips. "I wonder what form you'll take next, Mr. Drake. I hope we meet again soon."
Meanwhile, deeper within the Dungeon…
In a hidden cave below the 10th floor, a small green goblin-like creature ran swiftly, muttering under his breath. "I must report this… That orc was too powerful. And those creatures obeying him… terrifying."
The goblin, named Gobta, darted into a warm, orange-lit cavern filled with monsters of all kinds — kobolds, goblins, and other unusual beings. He headed toward a particular cave.
Before he could reach it, a soothing voice called out, "Gobta? What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be on the ninth floor gathering supplies?"
He turned around and quickly bowed. "Miss Rayne! I need to speak with the leaders. Urgently."
Rayne had the upper body of a beautiful woman and the lower half of a spider — a creature both terrifying and graceful. With pale skin, white hair, and crimson eyes, she was both revered and feared.
"Alright. Wait in the meeting cave. I'll summon the others."
Soon, annoyed voices echoed as two other monsters arrived.
"Rayne, what was so urgent that you dragged me away from my nap?" grumbled Lyd, a lizardman with red scales and orange eyes. He wore a full suit of armor and wielded two blades — a scimitar and a longsword.
"I don't know," Rayne replied. "But Gobta seemed genuinely shaken."
Suddenly, a powerful, growling voice joined them.
"Little Gobta, this better be good. I cut my training short," snarled Gros, a winged gargoyle with ash-colored stone skin and glowing red eyes.
"Don't scare the poor guy," Rayne chided. "He won't be able to speak like that."
Gros grunted and crossed his arms.
Lyd sighed. "Alright, Gobta. Start talking."
Gobta gulped. "While gathering materials and avoiding patrols, I heard massive explosions. I followed the sounds and… I saw an orc — a huge one — smashing a goblin variant like a ragdoll."
Gros raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"
"No! That was just the beginning!" Gobta said hurriedly. "There was another fight. A massive kobold variant was fighting three strange creatures — two large birds shooting wind blades and tornadoes from their wings… and a monkey with a flaming tail that breathed fire endlessly."
Rayne's eyes widened. Lyd leaned in, listening intently.
"After defeating the monsters, the orc spoke. Like us. He praised the creatures, and they responded, listening to his commands. They were a team."
The three leaders looked at one another.
Lyd was the first to speak. "This sounds like someone like us — maybe even more evolved. But those creatures… birds with wind magic and a fire monkey? We need to make contact."
"But cautiously," Gros growled. "He might mistake us for enemies."
"I agree," Rayne added. "Lyd, gather a few of your best. Take Gobta and track them."
"Understood," Lyd nodded.
Gros gave Gobta a firm pat. "Good work. We may have just found someone very important."
As the preparations began to make contact with Drake and his companions, the ripple effect of his actions — both on the surface and in the Dungeon — was only beginning.
Unaware of the attention he had drawn, Drake continued to explore the mysterious 10th floor of the Dungeon… completely oblivious to the many eyes now watching him.
A/N well other characters are slowly being added to the story hope you guys like this chapter 😄😄