Once the news was made public, many gods returned to their Familias with the new information in hand, eager to analyze the details and assess which parts could benefit them most.
They knew, of course, that Loki and Freya wouldn't have shared everything. Their strategy was straightforward: study the information available, then quickly organize their Familia members to explore the new world.
After all, if the Loki and Freya Familias had managed to gather intelligence, so could they.
Naturally, the new world came with its dangers. Even Ottar had been gravely injured, and the devastation Freya's familia faced was the very reason this information had come to light.
Therefore, the gods cautioned their Familia members to proceed with utmost caution, as a single mistake could lead to severe losses. Additionally, the data revealed particular issues concerning curses, which had played a part in the damage Freya Familia suffered.
This emphasis on preparation and analysis was essential for the gods who wanted their Familias to gain the upper hand. Since the Loki Familia had already ventured out, they had to pick up the pace.
The Familia in Orario rapidly processed the new information, piecing together all they had learned. Soon after, a wave of adventurers prepared their supplies and set off for the new world.
Everyone understood that speed would yield an advantage, and whoever arrived first could claim the best opportunities.
However, this sudden movement from the Orario Familias did not go unnoticed by the dungeon. Previously, with only Loki and Freya Familias entering the other world, the dungeon had remained dormant.
But with so many Familia's members now journeying there en masse, the dungeon finally became aware of the large-scale shift in its inhabitants, sparking its own response.
This phenomenon highlighted the mysterious properties of the world portal. Because of the unique nature of the portal, the dungeon hadn't even realized there was a gaping entrance within its body leading to another world.
Now, however, with so many adventurers departing at once, the dungeon recognized that something unusual was happening.
The dungeon began to react swiftly, generating a surge of monsters. Despite the natural layering of monsters by level, which keeps stronger monsters on the lower floors, a peculiar loophole was at play here.
Much like in the original story, where monsters could breach upper floors, this version of the dungeon seemed to be under some external control. High-level monsters, even some at Level 6 from the lower depths, began moving steadily upward.
Simultaneously, at the entrance to the other world's portal, a horde of monsters started to gather. Although these were only Level 2 creatures, their sheer numbers created an intimidating force. It was as if the dungeon had been triggered into a frenzy, producing monsters at an unprecedented rate.
"Damn it! This dungeon actually caught on!" One of the adventurers cursed, "There wasn't even a hint of movement before. Could it be because we have too many adventurers all acting at once, making the dungeon wary!"
The adventurers couldn't help but worry that their collective movements had alarmed the dungeon, making it react as a defense mechanism. It was clear that this expedition was going to be even more challenging than anticipated.
Many seasoned adventurers understood that dungeons were challenging, but none anticipated such an overwhelming surge of monsters, including those spilling over from different floors, making their advance significantly more difficult.
"Sure, we've got numbers and plenty of supplies, but at this rate, we'll all be exhausted. I've never heard of a dungeon tiring out, though. So we're left with two choices here!"
"The first option is to head straight to the other world. Over there, we can achieve our objectives faster and even find supplies, but returning could be difficult. We'd also need a strong contingent of adventurers to guard the portal, which means everyone has to work together, as no one can manage it alone!"
"The second option is to retreat. While staying in the dungeon might be challenging with monsters swarming, the Loki and Freya Familias are also in the other world, and they might have enough power there to withstand any attacks coming from the dungeon!"
"We're at a crossroads between seizing a rare opportunity or playing it safe, and it's a decision that could make or break us. Which will you choose?"
A quick debate among the adventurers made it clear that retreating meant sacrificing their chance to rise to fame. In a city like Orario, who didn't dream of achieving greatness? This choice represented a significant personal and familial cost, highlighting the harsh reality of dungeon life.
"Do we even need to ask? We're adventurers! The whole point is to take risks, who here wants to fall behind?"
With that, the adventurers resolved to push forward. The portal to the other world wasn't vast, so the risk of monster overflow remained minimal. As long as they rotated shifts to guard it, they could hold the line.
Soon, groups of adventurers pushed past the waves of monsters and entered the otherworld. There, they swiftly contacted Familia's members who had already arrived and formed an alliance, including Loki's and Freya's powerful forces.
"Who could have guessed the dungeon would react so fiercely to our movements? But honestly, Mr. Asahi predicted this from the start. He said that this portal can't be blocked, not by gods or the dungeon's powers."
"All we really need to do is ensure monsters don't break into our world from the other world," Finn said as he convened with the adventurers at the Firelink Shrine.
He had emerged as a leading figure in the effort to coordinate this venture and was quick to organize the necessary defenses, ensuring that their resources could be conserved.
Loki Familia's formidable power was evident, and they led the charge, setting an example. The alliance, bolstered by Loki and Freya's forces, marched forward, with the adventurers once again embracing the risks that lay ahead.