I stood behind the groups of clans engaged in combat with the red Orks, where Astrid and Xander joined in to support the clans. That left Reiner, Lilith, and I to simply sit back and watch the battle unfold.

Clan Naria continued their barrage of flames as Grayson in the front of them slashed at Red Orks with his battle art. The moment Grayson had a second, he noticed Astrid and Xander had joined in and already took down a few of the Orks.

Grayson glared toward Astrid and Xander, but his attention was needed to fight the red orcs in front of him.

Regardless the Red Orks were falling one by one, and I got a chance to observe Astrid and Xander’s capabilities.

It was quite obvious Astrid was the more skilled of the two and perhaps even among the clans around her, every step she took flowed with precision and power as she effortlessly cut down the Red Orks that charged at her. I could tell she had countless hours honing her skill and knew exactly what she was doing, I also didn’t miss beyond her own skill her core enhanced her capabilities, making her a more lethal weapon.

Xander on the other hand was more straightforward with his large blade and skills, although it wasn’t a bad thing, it was as simple as do what your best at. The hunk of metal he swung was enough to cut through the red Orks as if they were nothing. Not to mention Xander’s use of physical energy and specifically wind that added to the agility he had with his weapon, he knew how to use the element both offensively and defensively.

Regardless it was informative to watch, and I had seen more than enough to finalize incorporating it into our tactics. “… Looks like they are finally wrapping this up," I remarked idly as the remaining red Orks had fallen.

“Tch, you’re forgetting about one thing though,” Reiner retorted as his snarl turned to Grayson who stormed toward Astrid and Xander.

I walked with Reiner and Lilith in tow to meet Grayson who started yelling the moment he drew near them. "What the hell are you two doing! Didn’t you hear me I told you not to get in our way! I gave you the simplest order of all yet you disobeyed me. Clan Naria does not accept such insolence," He roared with each step as he drew closer.

It wasn’t till he reached Astrid and Xander that he looked about ready to attack them, but before something so ridiculous could happen my final step caused him to finally take notice of me.

“… Huh, I gave them the order to help the pitiful display you Clans showed off,” I said as he stopped in his tracks with an annoyed sneer. Although I was far from done. "There’s stronger Mana beasts on every other floor beyond this one. This time let’s not run headfirst into them with a pitiful display of power thinking you are someone worth noting." I said with nothing but a blank expression on my face.

Yet below my gaze Grayson still found the strength to sneer. "You cursed trash..." he spat looking every bit ready to try something he would regret, but my intentions weren’t low enough to entertain him with his own petty grudge.

“… The clans you’re leading even think so,” I commented in response which caused him to grit his teeth as he looked back at the other Clans who stared at him in a guilty silence.

My members were quite smug at Grayson's moment of humiliation, although this gave the Clans a moment to voice their opinions.

“We could definitely use more teamwork, I’m not sure why there’s a lot of high ranked Mana Beasts on the early floors but it’s just as the Xiao said we weren’t being as useful as we can be, we need to change that," Lyra stated as her clan nodded in agreement with her.

Eto approached Grayson with a fanged grin and a laugh, “The Xiao’s right, it’s hard to hunt when your clans flames are rampaging everywhere.” He said to which Grayson could do nothing but grind his teeth and glare at everyone around him as if they had somehow insulted him.

“…hah, so what should we do. Let a Xiao lead the expedition, get serious… It’s not Clan Naria’s fault, that you are incapable of being useful. Now shut up and let’s go-“ Grayson spat but was cut short by a member of Clan Aerith.

"We should at least take a moment! the Xiao just said there were stronger mana beasts ahead. This is our chance to properly prepare ourselves," she remarked which prompted a lot of the members from the two Clan’s to agree.

Grayson wasn’t having it as he turned to them with anger, "… Now we’re being idiots believing what a Xiao says, Fine! Let’s be complete fools and if this Cursed filth is right, I will let him lead the expedition," he spat out of spite and far too much pride betting I was wrong.

I had to admit I didn’t expect that, he was about to make himself look even more foolish.

“Sounds good to me… and when that happens, you’ll all be carrying your own supplies," I said leaving him with that remark.

Yet that left the clans to take their moment to prepare themselves and my group waited for them to begin moving again.

“Heh. How long have you been waiting to say that, Kazu?" Reiner asked with a grin and caused me to give him my attention.

"I wasn’t, I just saw the opportunity, but it had results that I didn’t even expect, so it was worth waiting," I said to which Astrid scoffed from her position.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“You were planning this? What are you some kind of grand schemer… here I thought you were content being some pack mule,” she commented in return, but I merely acknowledged her remark.

“… grand schemer…? I would hardly say that, but I have to do things in a certain way. This is one of them," I said as if it was common sense, but she still despised me with a glare.

“No one expects anything from a Xiao, your monsters plain and simple," she said as my gaze had only grown flatter in response, even Lilith growled in annoyance at her comment.

"… Is that so? Well, you can thank me when we’re actually contributing to the expedition," I said leaving her to glare at me even more, but our conversation came to an end when the clans resumed their march through the Labyrinth.

We soon arrived on the seventh floor where I would be proven right about the mana beasts that awaited.

The moment we got a good distance on the floor of crumbling marble and stone pillars, the clans were met with yet again another horde of Mana beasts, although this horde varied with looks and it was quite obvious these mana beasts were all S-ranked.

Grayson of course choked in disbelief as he came to realize I wasn’t lying and left him to grit his teeth. “What the hell is this,” he hissed lowly like he was regretting his words earlier.

Lyra glanced back toward my members and I, "The Xiao was right, but how could you tell? I only know SS-Ranked of my clan that can use mana to sense beyond their perception,” she asked as if the ability itself was rare.

"…It really isn’t that hard…” I said mostly to myself before I gave her some attention. “I just can, you’re all aware how unpredictable cursed clans are… you’ve been spoon fed rumors for your entire lives… this is some truth to them,” I said to which many of the clan members seemed to believe me.

I ignored them as they spoke in hushed murmurs among themselves before Lyra perked up, “if that means… No, never mind that ability is actually very useful right now. Although I still don’t get why so many high ranked Mana Beasts are on the early floors," She stated with her members voicing their agreements.

I merely watched their conversation without much care before I interrupted them. "The mana essence in this Labyrinth is erratic but farther below is a source of Mana that almost seems to be forcing weaker Mana beasts to the upper floors, that’s what I suspect," I said causing a few of the Clan's to eye me with curiosity clearly wondering how I came to that conclusion.

Grayson only scoffed as he held in his anger, but I didn’t forget about our deal. My gaze fell upon them, “it’s time to make your minds up. If you want my help, then I’ll be taking over. That also means you all can carry your own supplies." I said flatly to which a few of them looked hesitant, however Clan Aerith’s Lyra was the first one to respond.

"I think that will be the best for everyone. From what I’ve heard your group has led quite a few successful dungeon raids," she said causing the other Clans to make their decision.

Eto of clan Kemonozu laughed at the sudden turn of events, "Haha. I have no issues with it either. As long as we can hunt, you’ll have no complaints from my clan, Xiao," he said with his fanged smirk.

Although Grayson was the last to decide but as I expected he wasn’t just going to allow such a thing to happen, “do you think, Clan Naria would ever take orders from some Cursed filth?! My clan could never accept the idea. If these idiots want to be so foolish as to rely on useless trash like you, then so be it but don’t think you’ll be telling us what to do," he spat in anger as he turned his back to me.

However, Clan Naria's response wasn’t ideal, I would have preferred to have their cooperation, but it seemed that wouldn't be happening. Regardless I still had the agreements of Clan Aerith and Kemonozu and that was enough.

They didn’t look to take Grayson's side and simply waited for my attention to return to the task at hand. Although at least Grayson had the intelligence to not engage with the mana beast ahead with his Clan alone, whether that was because he knew against the horde his clan wasn’t enough or if it was his declaration his Clan wouldn’t be helping at all.

Either way, it didn’t overly matter at the moment, and I had considered their future involvement in the expedition. My gaze fixed onto Clan Aerith and Kemonozu. “If that’s all then, we should get started. Here is how this will work, my party will take the front, simply because I know they are reliable. As for you two and your members you had the right idea of your positions but Clan Kemonozu, this time you’ll be guarding Clan Aerith so they can focus on their ranged attacks. You will also be guarding one of my members Lilith, other than that your free to hunt whatever you like but don’t interrupt my party unless absolutely necessary," I said as I gave them a suitable role that actually had some thought put into it.

Regardless Eto’s fanged grin never left as he eyed me up, “hah. I like the way you stare at us like we are nothing but weaklings, and it’s like you don’t doubt a thing you say. Beastmen respect that kind of strength. Fine, Xiao we can agree to that," he said with a laugh accepting his new role even if I thought he would object.

Regardless that was not the case and Lyra, and her members were more than satisfied with the arrangement. "That's a good plan, it isn’t hard to focus on both short ranged and ranged attacks but being defended will allow us to use our battle art to its fullest," Lyra explained with a nod of agreement from her Clan.

Grayson could only grit his teeth at the discussion, and I was sure everyone suspected he would attempt to interfere with the plans discussed but that is why Lilith was placed with Clan Aerith.

I turned my gaze away from the clans to Lilith who had yet to leave my shadow. It didn’t take a second before she looked at me. “Lilith doesn’t want to be too far away," she said as her scowl shifted back to Astrid for a moment before returning to me.

I simply ignored her comment. “Now is not the time to sulk, we’re working. Whatever is bothering you, I’m more than capable of taking care of it," I said with the usual flat expression on my face as I looked down at her.

Although Lilith did put her head down with some incoherent mumbles before looking back at me. "... Lilith knows that, but she doesn't like it." she muttered as she crossed her arms and finally stepped out of my shadow with a sigh, “fine, Lilith will listen…”

I glanced at her as if I should have been paying attention to the entire thing, but I knew she wouldn’t refuse in the first place.

“… Good, and Lilith I’ll need you to block any attacks that Clan Naria may throw in our way. They will be nothing but a nuisance, that includes protecting the Clans helping us. I know you’ll do fine," I said to which she of course took to heart despite her sour mood.

With everything settled and Lilith among Clan Aerith’s members, the only thing that remained was the battle ahead of us. Although I was completely confident it would be nothing worth mentioning.

"Heh, this is going to be fun," Reiner said with his sneer as he took my side facing the Mana beasts.

Xander stood beside him with a grip on his large sword and a wolfish grin. As for Astrid oddly enough, she found her place on the other side of me.

“You better know what you’re doing," she said to which I said nothing until I stepped forward with my members toward the Mana beasts in front of us.

“… your doubt is pointless… I know exactly what I am doing. Your about to see it for yourself," I remarked as I rolled my neck before our time to show off what was inevitably going to happen.