Chapter Summaries

Riezel and Ais reached the 24th Floor’s Food Stockpile, where Revis and the White-Robed Man revealed their human-monster nature and their plans for the being they called “her.” The White-Robed Man awakened a Giant Flower that attacked them, while its charge shook the floor and threatened to collapse the passages.

• Riezel and Ais entered the Food Stockpile and found three enormous Man-eating Flowers feeding on the Great Quartz Pillar.
• Revis and the White-Robed Man confronted Riezel and Ais, and the White-Robed Man declared that they were hybrid lifeforms with human and monster powers.
• The White-Robed Man announced plans to destroy the tower and the city, then ordered a Giant Flower to devour the intruders.
• The Giant Flower tore itself from the Great Quartz Pillar and charged Riezel and Ais, smashing the passage entrance and shaking the 24th Floor.
• Asfi recognized that the passages were collapsing, grabbed the Dogkin girl and the Dwarf Mage, and led the Hermes Familia in a desperate escape.

Riezel and Ais fought the enormous Giant Flower in the Food Stockpile, and Riezel unleashed a fire spell that began to burn it. Ais discovered a grotesque Jewel Fetus attached to the Great Pillar and realized it was behind her strange reactions; she resolved that it could not be allowed to live.

• The Giant Flower charged through the Food Stockpile, forcing Riezel and Ais to dodge while their attacks barely harmed it.
• Riezel decided close combat would not work and began chanting area-annihilation fire magic as the Giant Flower lunged at him.
• Ais cut apart the tentacles attacking Riezel, allowing him to finish his chant and bombard the Giant Flower with fire.
• Ais spotted a Jewel Fetus attached to the Great Pillar, protected by the Giant Flower's vines and absorbing nutrients.
• The Jewel Fetus met Ais's gaze, triggering intense physical distress and revealing the source of her earlier unease.
• Ais recognized the Jewel Fetus as the 'she' the White-Robed Man had mentioned and decided it could not be allowed to live.

Ais unleashed her wind magic to destroy a Giant Flower Monster, but the Jewel Fetus broke free and pursued her before Revis identified Ais as “Aria.” The fetus merged with another Giant Flower to create a Female-shaped Monster, which Riezel beheaded as the White-Robed Man and Revis escaped.

• Ais awakened Wind Spirit Sprint and killed the Giant Flower Monster guarding the Great Red Crystal Pillar with a single slash.
• The Jewel Fetus cried out, escaped the pillar, and flew at Ais until Riezel struck it with Lightning Strike.
• Revis attacked Ais and called her “Aria,” leaving Ais shocked and furious; Revis then summoned the remaining Giant Flower and Man-eating Flowers.
• The Jewel Fetus merged with the last Giant Flower, transforming it into a Female-shaped Monster like the one Riezel had defeated on the 50th Floor.
• Ais realized the Jewel Fetuses could be behind the Colorful Monsters and earlier abnormal events, while Revis and the White-Robed Man disappeared into the monster horde.
• Riezel appeared and used Magic Super-Enhancement: Severance to behead the Female-shaped Monster.

After escaping the Food Stockpile’s collapse, Riezel told Asfi and the Hermes Familia about the Jewel Fetus, the human-monster hybrids, and the threat to Orario. As the group returned to the surface, Riezel reflected on a hidden god and hybrid who had kept him from helping Ais sooner, and resolved to prevent the Loki Familia from being manipulated.

• Riezel used Teleportation Magic to rescue Ais from the collapsing Food Stockpile, and they reappeared before the Hermes Familia unharmed.
• Riezel told Asfi and the Hermes Familia about the Man-eating Flower breeding ground, the Jewel Fetus, the hybrid creatures, and the plotters’ stated goal of destroying the Tower of Babel and Orario.
• Riezel urged Asfi to report the discoveries to her deity, and the group left the 24th Floor together for the surface.
• During the journey, Riezel recalled sensing a hidden human-monster hybrid and a god watching the Food Stockpile, which had prevented him from immediately going to Ais’s aid.
• Riezel suspected the hidden pair were among the masterminds and vowed they would not manipulate the Loki Familia as they had in the original story.

Revis and the White-Robed Man escaped after failing to capture Ais, whom they believed was the sought-after Aria, and the Masked Figure warned them not to act against the Loki Familia yet. The Masked Figure revealed that Riezel was still Lv.5 but more dangerous than the Sword Princess, leaving Revis determined to grow stronger before the plan to destroy Orario continued.

• Revis recovered from her wounds and resolved to become stronger after her defeat by Riezel and Ais.
• The White-Robed Man questioned whether Ais was truly Aria and considered going to the surface to retrieve her.
• The Masked Figure appeared and forbade Revis and the White-Robed Man from acting rashly, citing Master's plan.
• The Masked Figure revealed that it had sensed Riezel's threat and confirmed that he was still Lv.5 despite his exceptional strength.
• The Masked Figure urged Revis and the White-Robed Man to continue the plan and told Revis to feed if she wanted to face the Sword Princess.

Riezel reported to Loki and the Loki Familia leaders that human-monster hybrids were breeding monsters in the Dungeon and plotting to destroy Orario and the Tower of Babel. Finn and the others suspected that Dark Faction remnants were helping them, and Finn decided they needed to discuss the threat seriously.

• Riezel reported that human-monster hybrids had used a Jewel Fetus and the Dungeon's Food Stockpile to breed monsters and planned to destroy Orario and the Tower of Babel.
• Finn, Riveria, Gareth, and Loki connected the hybrids to the monster outbreaks and the new monsters encountered on their expedition.
• Finn noted that the Loki Familia would inevitably oppose the hybrids, whose plans threatened Orario and the world above.
• Riveria asked whether the death warriors who had attacked Riezel and Ais were allies of the hybrids, and Riezel said they were different from them.
• Gareth and Loki suspected that Dark Faction remnants had returned, prompting Finn to call for a serious discussion.

After Ais withdrew into herself over the 24th Floor incident, Riezel searched Twilight Manor with his Eye of God and found her alone in her room. He left without disturbing her, deciding not to rush her while he went to collect his commission reward.

• Riezel worried that Ais might repeat her past attempt to challenge Udaios alone and used Eye of God to search the women's towers.
• Riezel accidentally saw Lefiya and Ailfi teasing each other while changing, then fled after Aki sensed the magic eye in her room.
• After ten minutes of searching, Riezel found Ais sitting curled up on her bed beside Despair Sword.
• Riezel sensed Ais's loneliness and gloom, withdrew the magic eye, and left Twilight Manor to collect his commission reward.

Riezel collected three high-quality Grimoires from a rental vault as payment for his commission and used one to try to awaken another spell. After answering its questions about what magic meant to him, he fell into a deep sleep, leaving the result of the Grimoire’s test unknown.

• Riezel opened the rental vault and found gemstones, jewelry, and three Grimoires among his payment.
• Riezel considered the rarity and power of Grimoires, which could awaken magic or expand a person's Magic Slots.
• Riezel returned to Twilight Manor, placed the three Grimoires before him, and opened one.
• The Grimoire questioned Riezel about magic, and he said it could be anything, was not a necessity, and could become part of his power.
• The Grimoire declared, “This is you—magic,” before Riezel grew drowsy and fell unconscious.

Riezel awakened Lost Truth, a new magic that let him alter the properties of his spells by adding Hypothetical System traits. After testing its effects in the Bio Mountain Range, he realized it could let him combine abilities in powerful new ways and wondered whether he could now learn an exceptionally powerful magic from the DanMachi World.

• Riezel woke after falling asleep at his desk, found that the Grimoire had become useless, and used Loki's God Blood to confirm that he had gained a new magic slot.
• Riezel discovered that his new magic was Lost Truth and teleported to the Bio Mountain Range to test it.
• Riezel activated Lost Truth and changed Wind Spirit Sprint into alternate forms with fire, lightning, water, earth, and other attributes.
• Riezel realized the altered Wind Spirit Sprint could work with Breathing Techniques that had previously been incompatible, including Sun Breathing.
• Riezel assessed Lost Truth's hour-long duration and roughly ten-minute cooldown, then considered whether he could obtain a powerful magic from the DanMachi World.

After returning from the Dungeon, Riezel heard that Ais had shut herself away and that the Freya Familia was making strange moves, including taking an injured human to a treatment center. He returned to his room and awakened his third magic, Eternal Poem, a Reincarnation Magic destined to affect his life.

• Riezel joined Tiona, Tione, Lefiya, and Bete for breakfast while Finn, Riveria, Gareth, and Loki rested after an all-night discussion.
• Tiona told Riezel that Ais had skipped training and stayed in her room, and he asked Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya to check on her.
• Riezel refused to discuss what had happened on the 24th Floor until Finn and the others decided what to tell the familia.
• Tione warned everyone that Freya Familia executives had been acting strangely, including the Bringer of Calamity confronting monsters and the Black and White Knights taking an injured human to a treatment center.
• Riezel recognized that the Freya Familia's actions might signal the start of something and returned to his room to read the second Grimoire.
• Riezel awakened his third magic, Eternal Poem, which was identified as Reincarnation Magic.

Riezel checked that Ais had recovered enough to leave her room, then visited Raul and the Loki Familia’s Second Army. His question about Raul’s past visits to the Pleasure District exposed him to the group, leaving Raul in disgrace.

• Riezel learned that Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya had taken Ais out after Riveria helped lift her spirits.
• Riezel went to the reception room in Twilight Manor and found Raul chatting with members of the Second Army.
• The Second Army members greeted Riezel respectfully, and he said he had come to see Raul.
• Riezel asked whether Raul used to visit the Pleasure District often, shocking everyone in the room.
• Raul tried to defend himself by saying he had not gone there in a long time, then knelt and apologized as the others judged him.

Riezel asked Raul to guide him to Orario’s Pleasure District so he could find someone with powerful magic, prompting alarm among the Loki Familia members. Raul agreed to take him, though Aki, Ailfi, and the others warned him not to lead Riezel into trouble.

• Aki explained that Raul had once been deceived by a woman in the Pleasure District and had stopped going there after the captains reprimanded him.
• Riezel asked Raul to show him the way to the Pleasure District, shocking the Familia members.
• Ailfi, Aki, Alicia, and others protested, fearing Riezel intended to chase women and damage his reputation.
• Riezel clarified that he wanted to find an unknown person with rare, powerful magic, which he hoped to learn.
• Raul agreed to guide Riezel, while the women warned him not to take Riezel anywhere improper.

Riezel visited a Yoshiwara in Orario’s Pleasure District to find a blonde Foxkin woman named Haruhime. After Raul warned him about the powerful Ista Familia, Riezel entered the room and met her.

• Riezel and Raul arrived at the Yoshiwara, where Raul explained that he had gathered information about a blonde Foxkin woman there.
• Raul revealed his insecurity about being an ordinary Lv.4 adventurer, and Riezel encouraged him by praising his leadership.
• Raul warned Riezel not to provoke the Ista Familia, which controlled the Pleasure District and held a grudge against Ais.
• Riezel entered the Yoshiwara building and followed Raul’s information to a private room.
• Haruhime, a beautiful blonde Foxkin, greeted Riezel and offered to attend to him for the night.

Riezel used All-Race Charm to make Haruhime demonstrate her rare sorcery, Treasure Hammer, and gained its power. After learning that Riezel had visited Haruhime, Ista ordered her brought in for questioning.

• Riezel cast All-Race Charm on Haruhime and made her demonstrate Treasure Hammer.
• Treasure Hammer enveloped Riezel in golden light, and he confirmed that he had acquired its power.
• Ista learned that Riezel and a Monster Rookie were in the Pleasure District and considered recruiting the rapidly growing adventurer.
• Ista heard that Riezel had gone to Haruhime's place and that the Battle Whores had sensed magic.
• Ista ordered her attendant to bring Haruhime to her for questioning.

Riezel returned from the Pleasure District and faced his familia’s suspicions before proving he had only gone there to learn a spell. He demonstrated the spell, Treasure Hammer, on Ais, whose reaction left everyone eager to learn what it had done.

• Riezel returned to Twilight Manor with Raul and found the familia gathered to question him about visiting the Pleasure District.
• Riezel insisted he had only gone to learn a spell, and Loki confirmed that he was telling the truth.
• The familia asked Riezel to demonstrate the remarkable spell he had learned, and he chose Ais as its target.
• Riezel chanted Grow Great and cast Treasure Hammer on Ais, covering her in golden light and Light Particles.
• Ais looked at her hands in disbelief, leaving the spell’s effect unclear to the gathered familia.

Riezel revealed Treasure Hammer, a magic that temporarily raises its target's level, and used it to make Ais feel as though she had reached Lv.7. Finn then announced that the Familia's next expedition would begin in eight days.

• Ais sensed that Riezel's magic had raised her to Lv.7, and Riveria identified its effect as Rank Ascension.
• Riezel confirmed that Treasure Hammer temporarily raises a target's level and explained how Lost Truth allowed him to use it on himself.
• The Familia members reacted with shock to the magic's power, while Riezel explained its limitations and how he could overcome several of them.
• Finn, Riveria, and Gareth discussed how Treasure Hammer could strengthen the Familia and avoid conflict with the Ista Familia.
• Finn announced that the next expedition would begin in eight days.

The Loki Familia began preparing for an expedition to the 59th Floor while leaving the investigation of humanoid monsters and the Dark Faction to Loki. Riezel sought a chance to improve his strength and joined Finn on a visit to the Hephaestus Familia to discuss countermeasures against the Worm-type Monsters.

• Finn announced that the Loki Familia would begin another Dungeon expedition in eight days, aiming to reach the 59th Floor and investigate the monsters encountered on the previous expedition.
• Finn said Loki would ask the Guild for help investigating the humanoid monsters, the Dark Faction, and the mysterious magician connected to the Jewel Fetus.
• Finn, Gareth, Riveria, and other members assigned preparation tasks while the Familia gathered supplies and intelligence for the expedition.
• Riezel realized he had little equipment or supplies to prepare and decided to pursue another way to increase his strength.
• Riezel asked Finn to visit the Hephaestus Familia, and Finn invited him along because he planned to discuss solutions to the Worm-type Monsters’ corrosive attacks.
• Finn planned to bring blacksmiths and stock magic swords and weapons with the Indestructible Attribute so the Familia could keep fighting the Worm-type Monsters.

Riezel chose not to interfere with the Loki Familia’s expedition preparations, but donated the treasure from his earlier commission to help fund them. He accompanied Finn and Loki to meet Hephaestus, where Tsubaki greeted him with a complaint that he had kept her masterpiece away for nearly two months.

• Riezel decided to let Finn and the others handle the expedition challenges so they could gain experience and grow stronger.
• Riezel gave Finn the gems and precious metals he had received for resolving the monster surge, and Finn accepted them as expedition funds.
• Finn, Loki, and Riezel went to Tsubaki’s workshop on Northeast Street to meet Hephaestus and discuss the expedition.
• Hephaestus recognized Riezel as the city’s strongest Magic Swordsman and said Tsubaki had praised him and wanted to meet him.
• Tsubaki rushed over to Riezel and complained that he had not brought back the sword she forged for him to be sharpened and maintained.

Riezel asked Hephaestus to forge him a weapon using Heatstone, a World Item he had obtained from the Overlord World. Hephaestus accepted the commission on the condition that she could keep the leftover material, leaving Riezel’s new weapon to be forged by the goddess of smithing.

• Hephaestus and Tsubaki agreed with Finn and Loki that about twenty Hephaestus Familia smiths would join the expedition in exchange for the Loki Familia’s Dropped Items.
• Riezel told Hephaestus that his current weapons were no longer sufficient and asked her to forge him a powerful new weapon.
• Hephaestus initially refused, saying Riezel should seek out one of her children, but Riezel insisted that her skill as a Divine Craftsman remained.
• Riezel showed Hephaestus the fiery Heatstone, and she examined the rare material with astonishment.
• Hephaestus agreed to forge Riezel’s weapon if she could keep the leftover scraps and charge him a hefty price, and Riezel handed over the Heatstone.

The Loki Familia completed its preparations and departed on an expedition to explore the unexplored floors, with Riezel among its leading adventurers. As the expedition began, Loki stayed behind to investigate several mysteries and secure a title for Riezel at the Assembly of Gods.

• Riezel resumed intense sparring with Ais, and Riveria later sent them to train in the Dungeon after their practice wrecked the courtyard.
• Lefiya asked Riezel to teach her Parallel Chant, and he agreed to train her alongside Ais.
• On the expedition’s departure day, the Loki Familia gathered its supplies and adventurers at Twilight Manor, where Tiona and Bete argued before Finn, Riveria, and Gareth arrived.
• Finn ordered the expedition to depart, and the Familia marched toward the Tower of Babel as those staying behind bid them farewell.
• Loki planned to seek information from the Guild and Ganesha Familia, then get Riezel a good title at the Assembly of Gods.