’This changes everything...’

Rey’s mind churned with strategic calculations as the team’s conversation continued around him.

The revelation about Lucifer, the True Realm’s power structure, and Ater’s possible connection to the ancient rebellion had fundamentally altered his understanding of his situation.

He wasn’t just pursuing revenge against the Archdukes who’d destroyed H’Trae.

He was potentially caught up in a millennia-spanning conflict between forces that operated at scales he could barely comprehend—Ancients with Authorities that granted absolute dominion over fundamental reality, Archangels and Archdukes wielding Ethereal Conceptions that transcended normal Ancient Majik, a cosmic power struggle that made his previous manipulations seem like children’s games.

And somewhere in this vast conflict, Ater might still exist.

That thought alone changed everything.

’I need to quickly become stronger,’ Rey concluded with cold finality and deep restlessness.

’Not just stronger than normal practitioners, but powerful enough to eventually face Angels, Devils, perhaps even Archangels and Archdukes. My current trajectory—slowly advancing through Guild ranks while maintaining cover identity—won’t achieve that in any reasonable timeframe.’

The Prince of Darkness stirred within his soul, sensing Rey’s shifting strategic assessment.

’You’re reconsidering your approach,’ it observed.

’I have to,’ Rey replied through their bond. ’Remaining a mid-tier Searcher might preserve my cover, but it condemns me to irrelevance in conflicts that actually matter. If Ater exists somewhere as a fragment of Lucifer, if there’s even a possibility of finding him, I need power sufficient to navigate the True Realm’s higher echelons.’

’But accelerating your advancement risks exposure,’ the Prince cautioned. ’The Church and various authorities are already watching you with suspicion. Demonstrating capabilities beyond what your cover identity should possess could trigger investigations you can’t deflect.’

Rey’s expression hardened with determination.

’Then I need to change my cover identity. Not abandon it, but evolve it in ways that justify rapid advancement while actually providing institutional support for that growth.’

’The Holy Order,’ the Prince concluded, recognizing Rey’s strategic pivot.

’Exactly,’ Rey confirmed. ’If I can gain recognition and sponsorship from the Church itself, my increasing power becomes expected rather than suspicious. Divine blessing explains capabilities that would otherwise raise questions. And Church resources—training facilities, advanced Techniques, access to higher-tier missions—would accelerate my development legitimately.’

’A dangerous game,’ the Prince observed. ’The Church actively monitors for corruption and Chaos influence. Maintaining your deception while operating under their direct oversight requires precision you haven’t needed as an independent Searcher.’

’I know,’ Rey acknowledged while his determination grew. ’But the alternative is remaining weak while forces that matter operate beyond my reach. I didn’t survive H’Trae’s destruction and three years in the Labyrinth just to be a bystander in conflicts that might involve Ater’s fate.’

His internal deliberation was interrupted by Gareth’s voice cutting through his thoughts.

"—which is why none of us are even considering registration for the Grand Expedition," the muscular Searcher was saying. "The risk-to-reward ratio is completely unbalanced for Gold-rank practitioners."

Rey’s attention sharpened immediately. ’Grand Expedition?’

"What’s this about an expedition?" he asked with carefully calibrated curiosity, his Eru persona suggesting innocent interest rather than strategic calculation. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Lyssa looked surprised. "You haven’t heard about the Grand Expedition to the Great Dungeon of Death? It’s been announced across every major city for the past month."

Rey adopted an appropriately sheepish expression.

"I’ve been... somewhat isolated in border regions until recently. Major announcements don’t always reach remote areas."

Kaela nodded with understanding.

"That makes sense. The Great Dungeon of Death is one of the True Realm’s most significant mystical hazards—a massive corrupted zone that requires periodic intervention to prevent catastrophic outbreak."

"Tell me about it," Rey requested, genuine interest mixing with strategic assessment.

Finn launched into explanation with enthusiasm suggesting he’d studied the topic extensively.

"The Great Dungeon of Death wasn’t always a dungeon. About a thousand years ago, it was a thriving city—one of Aether’s major population centers with approximately millions of residents."

"Then the plague came," Jaren added grimly. "No one knows its origin—whether natural disease, mystical corruption, or deliberate attack. But within weeks, the entire city was infected. The mortality rate approached ninety-nine percent."

"And the survivors?" Rey asked, though he suspected the answer.

"Transformed," Lyssa stated flatly. "The plague didn’t just kill—it corrupted. Those who died rose as undead entities. Those who survived became carriers, spreading infection to anyone they contacted. Within a month, the city was lost completely."

Gareth continued the narrative. "The Angels recognized the threat immediately. If the plague spread beyond the city, it could potentially devastate the entire Aether realm. So they erected a barrier—massive mystical construction that isolated the city from surrounding reality."

"Creating the Great Dungeon of Death," Rey concluded.

"Exactly," Kaela confirmed. "The barrier contained the corruption but also trapped it. The city became frozen in time—a massive dungeon filled with undead entities, plague-corrupted monsters, and environmental hazards that would kill normal practitioners within minutes of exposure."

"But barriers aren’t permanent," Finn added. "Even Angel-constructed mystical formations degrade over time, especially when containing corruption operating at those scales. Once every hundred years, the barrier weakens enough that entities inside can potentially breach containment."

"Which is where the Grand Expedition comes in," Jaren explained. "Every century, when the barrier reaches critical weakness, the Holy Order organizes a massive coordinated assault into the dungeon. Thousands of Searchers, hundreds of Paladins, over a dozen Angels—all focused on eliminating enough corruption that the barrier can be reinforced for another hundred years."

Rey processed this carefully, recognizing the strategic opportunity it represented.

"Sounds extraordinarily dangerous," he observed. "What’s the mortality rate for participants?"

"Approximately forty percent for Gold-rank Searchers," Lyssa stated bluntly. "Higher for Silver and Bronze ranks. Lower for Platinum and those with direct Church affiliation. But even Paladins die in significant numbers during these expeditions."

"Yet they still recruit participants?" Rey asked.

"The rewards justify the risk for many people," Gareth explained. "Exceptional performance during the Grand Expedition can even earn recognition from the Holy Order itself. We’re talking about potential advancement to Paladin status, access to restricted Techniques, divine blessings that permanently enhance capabilities."

"Some participants have gone from obscure Searchers to Angels within a decade of exceptional Grand Expedition performance," Kaela added. "The Church pays very close attention to who distinguishes themselves during these operations."

Rey felt cold satisfaction settling over him.

This was exactly the opportunity he’d been calculating how to create.

"But it’s suicide for most participants," Finn interjected nervously. "Forty percent mortality means you’re nearly as likely to die as survive. And even if you survive, there’s no guarantee of recognition. Thousands participate but only dozens receive meaningful rewards."

"Which is why none of us are registering," Jaren stated firmly. "We have families, responsibilities, futures we’re building through safer methods. Gambling everything on Grand Expedition glory is for desperate people or those with nothing to lose."

Rey maintained his external expression of thoughtful consideration while internally his strategic calculations accelerated.

This was perfect.

Almost suspiciously perfect, as though circumstances were aligning exactly when he needed them.

’Lucifer’s arrangements?’ he wondered briefly, then dismissed the speculation as irrelevant. Whether coincidence or design, the opportunity existed and served his objectives.

The Grand Expedition offered everything he needed:

Legitimate reason to demonstrate capabilities beyond normal Gold-rank level—the extreme danger justified using his full power without raising suspicion about where he’d acquired such skills.

Direct path to Church recognition and sponsorship—exceptional performance would earn exactly the institutional support he required for accelerated advancement.

Access to high-tier threats that would actually challenge him and potentially accelerate his development—fighting plague-corrupted entities and undead horrors operating at Tier 5 or higher would provide combat experience his current missions couldn’t match.

And perhaps most importantly, it established a narrative that explained his rapid future advancement.

Iif he distinguished himself during the Grand Expedition, his subsequent growth would be attributed to Church blessing and divine favor rather than suspicious independent development.

"When does the Grand Expedition depart?" Rey asked, careful to maintain appropriate hesitant interest rather than revealing his immediate decision.

"Three weeks," Kaela replied. "Registration closes in two weeks to allow time for team formation and tactical coordination. Why do you ask?"

Rey paused as though wrestling with a difficult decision, allowing uncertainty to show in his expression.

"I’m... considering it," he admitted carefully. "I know it’s dangerous. I understand the mortality statistics. But I also recognize that I’m currently at a career crossroads."

He gestured at himself with a self-deprecating expression.

"Solo Nephilim Searcher with exceptional Spirit Art talent but limited resources and institutional support. I could spend years gradually advancing through Guild ranks, facing prejudice and restricted opportunities the entire time."

"Or I could take calculated risks on an expedition that might provide the breakthrough I need to transcend those limitations. Church recognition could overcome heritage-based discrimination in ways normal advancement never will."

It was perfectly crafted manipulation—acknowledging the danger while framing his interest as a logical response to structural barriers Nephilim faced, suggesting desperation born from limited alternatives rather than revealing his true strategic calculation.

Jaren’s expression showed sympathy mixed with concern.

"Eru, I understand the appeal. But forty percent mortality isn’t ’calculated risk’—it’s near-certain death for anyone without exceptional capabilities or divine protection."

"You have exceptional capabilities," Kaela countered, her protective instincts overriding tactical caution. "You demonstrated Mid-Sequence mastery during your examination, saved our lives in the Dungeon of Malice, performed flawlessly during the investigation mission. If anyone could survive the Grand Expedition and earn recognition, it would be someone with your talents."

"But is recognition worth dying for?" Finn asked quietly.

Rey allowed silence to stretch for several seconds, as though genuinely contemplating the question.

Then he met their gazes with expression combining determination and apparent vulnerability.

"For me? Possibly yes. I’ve been alone since my family died, surviving through natural talent and desperate determination. The Grand Expedition represents an opportunity to transform that survival into something meaningful—to gain a support system and resources that could let me actually help people rather than just barely staying alive myself."

He paused, allowing controlled emotion to enter his voice.

"You’ve all shown me what it means to have a team, to have people who care about your survival. Maybe I want that on a larger scale. Maybe I want institutional support that lets me protect others the way I protected you in the dungeon."

Rey’s expression wasn’t just solemn.

It was also genuine.

It was a masterful performance—mixing truth about his isolation with fabricated motivations, creating a narrative that appeared emotionally compelling while serving his strategic objectives perfectly.

The team exchanged glances, clearly conflicted between concern for his safety and recognition that his reasoning carried legitimate weight.

"If you’re serious about this," Lyssa finally said, "you should understand what you’re actually facing. The Great Dungeon of Death isn’t a normal dungeon. The corruption there operates at scales that defy standard classifications. Entities that would be Tier 6 in normal dungeons become Tier 5 there. Environmental hazards that merely injure elsewhere kill instantly inside."

"And the plague itself is still active," Gareth added grimly. "Direct contact with infected entities can transmit corruption even to practitioners with strong mystical resistance. We’ve heard stories of entire teams being wiped out not through combat but through plague transmission during seemingly successful engagements."

"The Church provides protective equipment and purification techniques," Kaela said. "But they’re not perfect. People still die from plague exposure even with precautions."

"You really still want to go?"

Rey nodded seriously, as though absorbing warnings that genuinely concerned him rather than cataloguing tactical information.

"I appreciate the warnings," he stated. "And I’m not making this decision lightly. But I think... I think this might be an opportunity I need to transcend my current limitations."

He paused, then asked the question that would commit him to this path.

"How do I register for the Grand Expedition?"

[A/N: Many of you are probably wondering if people from Rey’s old world are still alive, or if he will gain proper allies whom he can properly trust and not just use. Well... your answers might be coming sooner than expected.]