Chapter Nine: The Artemis Delvers

Once Zero surfaced from the Spiral Dungeon, the news spread through Central HQ like wildfire.

By the time he was escorted back inside the main complex, the entire base was buzzing. Delvers, researchers, and staff openly stared as he passed. The rumors had already mutated into something larger:

“He survived a Fae encounter.” “Alone. With basic gear.” “A Class 5 actually fought one…”

In the long history of the Dungeon Society, the Fae had always been treated as something between myth and nightmare. Old Delver stories spoke of elegant yet cruel beings with elongated ears and overwhelming magic — warriors who could swing swords that cut at a distance, archers whose bows unleashed hurricane-force winds, and mages who could fire dozens of projectiles at once with pinpoint accuracy.

Most people had dismissed those tales as exaggerated campfire stories.

Now, after Zero’s encounter, those fables suddenly felt far too real.

In the central briefing room, Commander Akira Hanzo sat at the head of the table with several high-ranking officers. Haruto and Rinne were present as well. Zero stood near the end of the table, still in his damaged armor.

Hanzo leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled.

“So,” he began, “you encountered a Sidhe. And she called you a ‘Fatebreaker.’”

Zero nodded.

“She also said her kind plans to invade this world eventually.”

A heavy silence fell over the room.

One of the senior officers muttered, “If the Fae are real… and actively interfering with the dungeons… then everything we thought we knew about their origin might be wrong.”

Hanzo looked directly at Zero.

“The Fae have appeared in records before — extremely rarely. Usually as brief sightings or lone assassins. This is the first confirmed case of one openly engaging a Delver… and the first time one has been forced to retreat.”

He paused, then continued:

“You’ve become quite the topic of conversation, Zero. Some see you as a powerful new asset. Others see you as an uncontrollable threat that just proved how dangerous you really are.”

Zero crossed his arms, unfazed.

“I’m more interested in what she meant by ‘Fatebreaker.’ Every time I hear that word, my head feels like it’s going to split open.”

Hanzo’s expression grew more serious.

“We’ll look into it. In the meantime, you’ll be given better equipment and more freedom of movement within HQ… but you’re still under observation. Consider yourself a Special Operative under my direct command.”

Zero gave a small nod.

As the meeting began to wrap up, Rinne approached him quietly while the others were distracted.

“…Are you okay?” she asked, ears twitching nervously. “Fighting a Fae… that’s not normal. Even for you.”

Zero gave her a faint smile.

“I’m starting to think ‘normal’ left the conversation a long time ago.” Zero glanced at Rinne, then down at the broken stump of his sword.

“Guess I need a sword that won’t break,” he mused quietly.

He gave her a small nod and headed off toward the quartermaster’s department, still drawing stares and whispers from everyone he passed.

Meanwhile, in Commander Akira Hanzo’s private office, a secure holographic call was underway.

The projection fizzed to life, revealing a tall, powerfully built man with a commanding presence. High King Edgar Fairbrook — ruler of the Euro Kingdom, a trans-continental empire spanning over fifty countries. He was dressed in a mix of royal regalia and practical combat wear, exuding both nobility and battlefield experience.

Edgar bowed his head slightly in respect.

“Ah, good tithings, Shogun. What do I owe the pleasure of this call?”

Japan had returned to a modern Shogunate system after the dungeons appeared, with Commander Hanzo effectively serving as the central authority — the Shogun in all but name.

Hanzo got straight to business.

“Edgar, what news from the Eye of London?”

Edgar’s expression darkened.

“Trouble. Much trouble, old friend. We encountered a Fae inside the Eye of London.” He noticed Hanzo’s lack of surprise and raised an eyebrow. “Of course… you don’t seem surprised.”

“We freed a Class 5 Prisoner from one of our dungeons,” Hanzo replied calmly.

Edgar nearly choked.

“I beg your pardon? Did you say Class 5?”

“I did.”

The High King turned visibly pale.

“Do tell me — how dangerous is this person? And for the love of the universe, Akira, why in the hell did you free him? You know the policies the Dungeon Society Collective put forth. Hell, you helped create the organization!”

Hanzo remained composed.

“He proved to be… very effective. You should be receiving the security footage now. This was taken inside the Spiral Dungeon.”

He tapped a few commands. The data streamed across.

Edgar watched the footage in silence. His face grew increasingly grim.

“How curious… This is the same Sidhe that broke into the Eye of London and massacred most of our Class 2 Prisoners. We’ve been using them to mine Magicyte. Delvers are becoming more and more terrified, Akira. This breach has made an ass out of us. The American Central HQ has already issued a mocking statement.”

“Ignore them,” Hanzo said firmly. “It’s all bluster. Admiral Cavenstone is a blowhard. He won’t survive a trip into the Pentagram Dungeon.”

Hanzo leaned forward.

“Has Merlin made any headway with the Magicyte sample we recovered six months ago?”

“Sadly no. Merlin, being the way he is, has handed the project over to the Artemis Unit. Arthur himself and his Knights are en route to you as we speak. Perhaps speaking with him in person would help advance your research.”

Hanzo raised an eyebrow.

“Perhaps matching this Class 5 Prisoner with them could prove useful.”

“I’ve given him provisional status,” Hanzo replied. “His name is Zero.”

Edgar nodded slowly, still processing everything.

“Zero… A fitting name for something so unknown. Be careful, old friend. If the Fae are becoming more active, then the game has changed.”

The call ended, leaving Hanzo alone in his office, staring thoughtfully at the now-dark projection.

The world was growing more dangerous by the day And Zero was sitting right at the center of the storm.

The Flatwing’s engines powered down with a deep whine as the Artemis Unit stepped onto the landing platform of Tokyo Central HQ.

Commander Akira Hanzo approached with measured steps, flanked by Haruto. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp and assessing.

“Lord Arthur,” Hanzo greeted, offering a respectful bow of his head. “Welcome to Tokyo. I trust your flight from London was smooth?”

Arthur returned the gesture, his golden armor catching the light.

“It was, Shogun. Though the turbulence over the Siberian Breach Zone was… spirited. We came as quickly as we could after receiving your transmission.”

Merlin bounced on his heels, eyes sparkling with curiosity as he looked toward the massive Spiral Dungeon in the distance.

“The Magicyte signature here is delightful! So much richer than the diluted samples we get in Europe. I simply must run some comparative readings while we’re here.”

Lancelot remained silent, his heavy tower shield planted firmly as he scanned the surroundings like a sentinel. Morgana offered a gentle smile and a small bow.

Hanzo’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.

“I’m glad you could make the journey. As you already know, we’ve had some unusual developments. A Class 5 Prisoner was released from Kōraku-en Dungeon. He not only survived an encounter with a Sidhe inside the Spiral Dungeon… he forced her to retreat.”

Arthur’s expression grew serious.

“A Sidhe… The same one that slaughtered our mining team in the Eye of London, no doubt. You truly released a Class 5? That is a bold move, even for you, Shogun.”

Hanzo didn’t flinch.

“He proved himself effective. Extremely so. The footage has already been sent to you. His combat ability is off the charts, and he seems to possess an instinctive resistance to Fae magic. He cut through her spells with raw physical strikes.”

Merlin’s eyes widened with scholarly excitement.

“Fascinating! A natural nullifier? Or perhaps something deeper. ‘Fatebreaker,’ was it? I’ve seen that term in some of the older, restricted grimoires. If he truly carries that title…”

Arthur raised a hand to quiet Merlin, then looked directly at Hanzo.

“And what is your intention with this… Zero? The Collective’s policy on Class 5s has always been clear — containment or termination. You helped write those rules yourself.”

Hanzo’s gaze was steady.

“Circumstances have changed. The Fae are becoming bolder. If they are truly preparing an invasion, then we need every weapon we can get. Even dangerous ones. I’ve granted him provisional Delver status under my direct command. I want your team to observe him. Test him. See if he can be an ally… or if he’s a threat we’ll eventually have to put down.”

Arthur was quiet for a moment, then nodded.

“Very well. We will cooperate. But know this, Shogun — if your Class 5 proves unstable, my Knights and I will not hesitate to end him.”

Hanzo smiled thinly.

“I would expect nothing less.”

Morgana stepped forward softly.

“If I may… I would like to meet this Zero soon. Healing and observation are my specialties. Perhaps I can learn something about his condition.”

Hanzo gestured toward the main building.

“Then let’s not waste time. I’ll have you shown to your quarters, and then we can arrange a meeting.”

As the group began walking, Arthur glanced once more toward the Spiral Dungeon.

“These are dangerous times, old friend. I pray your gamble with this Fatebreaker does not doom us all.”

Hanzo’s reply was quiet, almost to himself:

“So do I.”