Word quickly spread like wildfire of Ottar, challenging Zephyr to a match on the 18th floor. Adventures poured in, whether from different Familias or the same, and they all helped one another get to that floor solely to watch these two fight.

On this day, even Evilus, for all of their evil, did not wish to miss this fight, having their children take them in hiding. No matter how skilled one was, one could not find them and vice versa. This would be considered the first unified gathering of Familia's, a spectacle that one needs to see for themselves.

Down on the 18th floor, it was quickly renovated by the hoards of adventurers coming to the town with help from several smithing Familia's.

"… Come on, I didn’t think it would escalate this far, Lord Ouranos?" Cirrus said, coming down the dungeon.

"I am simply amazed that 20% of the city’s population went to the 18th floor. I can feel several gods on said floor all to watch you, Cirrus." Ouranos said using a Occulus.

"Well, what did you expect!" said Nox in her human form in the invisibility mantle. "Cirrus and that Ottar are pretty famous! The Warlord Ottar, a man who clashed with the Zeus and Hera Familia! and Cirrus! The White Beast! The rising star of the new generation of adventures! "

"We know that for this to happen so quickly… I’m a bit at a loss for words." Fels said.

"I can say the same. I thought we would like to fight in the woods or something and then be on our way, but now... geez, it got out of hand fast."

"For now, Astraea and Artemis are assisting me in keeping the dungeon in check." Ouranos said.

"More precisely, I’m simply using his observation and fine-tuning it!" Astraea said. "So we can watch you fight using this orb Fels made!"

"But it is an odd feeling to use Arcanum after so long," Artemis said.

‘So… this is how it feels to be a child at a sports game where their parents come to watch. Proud, excited, and some anxiety? Seems about right.’

Cirrus made a big smile as he walked faster.

"We're coming up on the 17th floor, Cirrus. I’ll be flying around to find a good viewing spot!"

"Hm, alright."

Nox, in a brilliant light, turned into an owl and took the crystal with her, flying on ahead.

"Guess it's show time. "(Exousía, Adorn: Ceryneian)."

 

When reaching the 18th floor, he could see a structure reminiscent of the coliseum, if they made it of wood.

Cirrus, seeing the large structure, went to a nearby hill to see the floor more fully. When he did, the number of adventures gathered astounded him. It was like a sporting event, with several venues open.

While looking down, he spotted Artemis and Astraea’s Familia together. He sees the Susanoo Familia with their god, enjoying the occasion.

"So many people… Hey Nox, I’m going to drop some stuff off at the base. "

‘Got it! Hey, can you see me? I can see you! ’

Cirrus turned, and he could barely make out a white figure way out in the distance.

"Uhh… probably?"

Cirrus took off to the south of the floor where all the crystals were, and he found the base that was long ago made but with smoke coming out.

"?"

Cirrus quietly approached his second home and listened for any voices.

"Eupheme, get up! You wanted me to come, so get up!"

"Hmmm… 5 more minutes…"

"Haaa… Tsubaki, could you wake her up? "

"Hm? Sorry, I was just working on this house! "

'Ah, fuck.’

Cirrus knew who it was.

He opened the door to find Hephaestus and her captain, Tsubaki.

When Cirrus told Eupheme that he was Zephyr and even showed her the armor, he asked Hephaestus if she could give her some protection, and that protection was her captain Tsubaki.

Tsubaki herself only really cared about smithing and improving her craft, but like any person who has a craft, they needed money, and to her surprise, Eupheme was single-handedly the 2nd biggest bringer of the lower-level familia members. The major reason is that her customer (Cirrus) is essentially funding her work out of pocket.

"… Mind telling me why you’re in my secret base?"

"Oh? White Beast! Eupheme told us about this base you made when you were exploring the dungeon!" said Tsubaki.

"We are sorry for intruding, but these two dragged me here yesterday, but there were no rooms left to get."

"Yeah, then Eupheme mentioned this place, so we found it and stayed here for your fight!"

"… Fine. Do as you like. "

Cirrus goes upstairs and puts some of his stuff in his trunk.

'I still don’t get why you have stuff out in the world when you can simply store it in our shadow.’ said Nox.

"Because I enjoy having cache spots, plus I feel more comfortable having a filled home."

Cirrus then walked over to Eupheme, who was sleeping, and pulled her out of bed.

Thud!

"Hmm… who did that?" She said in a monotone and groggy voice, not noticing she was on the ground.

"Me, get up. Your captain and goddess are ready."

"Hmm, alright... Good luck in your fight. "

"Thanks."

Cirrus waves goodbye to her and the two downstairs.

‘I am peeved our secret base has other people in it…’

"Well, we have another secret base on the 28th floor, so don’t worry."

‘Okay, but you should come to the Colosseum; they seem to have fights for the main course; that is you vs. Ottar! ’

"How nice."

 

While approaching the area filled with adventures, as soon as they saw him, they made their way as Cirrus walked through a path of cheering and yelling.

"WHITE BEAST!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

"LET'S GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"I BET MONEY ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

‘…. Well, this is a first.’

As he was walking, Hermes appeared.

"Ah, Zephyr!" he said with a big smile, with Lydia and Asfi next to him. "Come, I’ll lead you to your room!"

Cirrus followed him inside, where they kept the people from entering. To Cirrus, this really was like a stadium. He could hear the people outside cheering.

"… So, how did you get the job as a presenter?" Cirrus said, looking at Hermes.

"I was the only god with enough charm to pull it off!"

"Lord Apollo tried pretty hard, so both of them wrested for it!" Lydia said. "It’s a shame you weren’t there when everyone was laughing!"

"So is Ottar here?" Cirrus asked.

"Of course! Now with you here, the main event is soon to come! I'll call you when it's time! "

Hermes leaves with Lydia and Asfi behind him.

"... Huh? I should check off 'Fill a stadium' from my bucket list. "

 

Walking around the coliseum trying to get back to her Familia, Ai looks around.

"Hmm… why do I keep getting lost…"

She looks around to see several people passing by in different directions.

Sniff! Sniff!

"!!"

Ai caught wind of a familiar scent in a coliseum full of people.

"Cirrus! He can help me! "