Word circulated around Orario about a new monster appearing in the beginner levels of the Dungeon. Fearing another event like Bell's fight with the minotaur happening to another unprepared adventurer, high alert notices were placed all around the Guild. Precautions were put into place to explore the tunnels with care and only when led by those with knowledge of that particular dungeon floor until further notice.
Ais and Ryuu were one such party, being among those in the Level 6+ groups who would be able to take on anything that came their way. Lefiya, although being a Level 4, also tagged along. Maybe wanting to ensure she could be able to support Ais on her own without needing support from their usual Loki Familia party, maybe knowing the weight of seeing a friend slain in battle with your own eyes is not one she'd wish even on her worst enemies, she insisted on her invitation and the two agreed. The trio ventured forth without a hitch, slaying monsters well into the Middle Floors. As they thought nearing Floor 20 was a good break point for the day and to relay the area is clear to the Guild, they headed back to the entrance. They were mere meters away from it as they rounded a corner and then...
The three saw the entrance was surrounded by a fair amount of creatures, largely consisting of bugbears and a few orcs. A strange collection of monsters for sure, but nothing they haven't dealt with prior. Ais and Ryuu readied their stance, Lefiya let out a quick heal to give them one more burst of energy to take out this group and make their return. And yet...Ais sensed something was off. Just like that minotaur who found that white-haired boy that fateful day, there was something not meant to be on this level. The mob let out a huge roar, blowing the trio a tad off balance but making their hair whip in the vortex. Ais still felt uneasy, noticing the roaring creatures changed stance, creating one large gap in their formation.
"A new tactic?" Ais thought, thinking the roaring was a distraction as the opening would allow for a monster to charge forth or shoot out a projectile. But as the dust kicked up in the roar, she could only spot a pair of bright yellow snake-like eyes. The wind was still kicking up, Ryuu blocked out enough dust blowing into her eyes to catch another such set of eyes on a body crawling on the wall. Lefiya was nervous but held her own ground, being ready for their next course of action and not wanting to desert the team. But the horde was about to put a full stop to that concern.
Ryuu called out "It's here! Retreat back around the-" but in mid-sentence, the two entities readied their gaze and, within a flash cast from their lustrous eyes, blinded the area around the trio. As the light faded, three statues were left in the wake. The petrification was so swift to the point that the trio couldn't even react quickly enough to everything from skin to fabric being converted into stone. Consciousness immediately left their body along with shards of armor not being able to hold the conversion and weight of its new stone form.
Several days pass, Ais's party hasn't checked in. A few members of Loki Familia formed a party in search of them and made their way down the spiraling passages. Immediately on entry to the 19th floor, they saw her motionless likeness in the dust. Closer inspection quickly made the elation shift into shock, as what was thought to be a strangely-placed sculpture of Ais turned out to BE her, with Ryuu and Lefiya nearby succumbing to the same effect. These floors being desolate and damp as they are, the limited time that passed was enough for moss to grow on the statues and deterioration to worsen with stone hair plummeting to the ground. This party had questions as to why these creatures, capable of freezing Level 6+ adventurers with no issue, would leave them as they were and not shatter them completely.
A teasing show of mercy to try and restore them back for a second try? A twisted statue garden for their own pleasure? A declaration that they could emerge to the surface if Ais's party wasn't an obstacle to them? And with the most recent Guild news being the creature had yellow snake-like eyes and learning now it can do something like this, did they even know if it was a gorgon or a basilisk? A new creature altogether?
Many answers they desired, with a way to reverse the petrification at the top. This was enough to let them know the dungeon had far more dangers to throw their way without hesitation.
