The Hestia Familia's descent into the dungeon has been riddled with trials and tribulations, yet the party managed to turn the tables each time through sheer strength and determination. However, the recurring theme seemed to have come to an end by the latter part of last week's episode as the familia found itself cornered by a wave of unrelenting monsters. The latest season's narrative had gotten quite stale and predictable, precisely why the previous episode's concluding note felt like a much-needed change for DanMachi.
When all hope was lost for the familia, the party was saved by the arrival of an unexpected help – the Xenos. The Xenos were the focal point of DanMachi's season 3, yet they were nowhere to be seen in the current one, making their entrance all the more surprising. With the help of the Xenos, the rest of the familia has regained some sense of hope, though the same cannot be said for the unfortunate duo stuck deep within the pits of the dungeon.
The Familia's Last Hope
While the themes of despair and gloom have been relatively dominant throughout the season, last week's events took a turn for the worst, with Cassandra's premonition almost becoming reality. However, the Xenos' sudden arrival has shifted the dynamics once more, as these heavily armed creatures were able to make quick work of the monsters. Since the Xenos' strength remains unmatched, traversing through the Deep Floors won't be much of an issue for them, meaning it's just a matter of time before the party finds Bell and Ryu.
With the arrival of the Xenos, it seems that the party's plight within the dungeon may soon be coming to an end. However, the same cannot be said for the duo stuck in the White Labyrinth. At the pace the series is currently moving, it seems that a climactic battle can be expected within the next few episodes, with the main belligerents being the Juggernaut, Xenos, and the entire Hestia Familia.
It's worth noting that the Xenos aren't the only saviors as a four-man party of a few trained adventurers had also come to the aid of the Hestia Familia, which could be attributed to Hestia's request for help on the surface. With another squad comprising level 4 and 5 members joining the party, the numbers are surely on the familia's side, making their survival all the more likely. However, the only lingering problem that now remains is concealing the identity of the sentient monsters from these unaware adventurers.
What Does This Mean for the Xenos?
The existence of the Xenos had been kept hidden from the rest of Orario, with the only one's aware being the Hestia Familia, Hermes Familia, and the primordial god Ouranus himself. Their sudden appearance, and that too in front of many unsuspecting adventurers, has opened up the possibility of coexistence and acceptance for the Xenos. Although none of the sentient monsters communicated verbally in front of Bors and the other adventurers, they clearly understood that the monsters had no intentions of harming them.
While the unaware adventurers have certainly discerned that these armed monsters are different from the rest, it's only a matter of time before they witness their sentient actions and the ability to utilize human language. Resistance is bound to occur, but it's likely that Tsubaki and the rest will accept the Xenos once they save Bell and Ryu from the clutches of the Deep Floors. The notion of coexistence still has a long way to go, but even a handful of adventurers siding with the Xenos will have significant implications in the long-run.
A Glimpse of the Juggernaut
The concluding note of this week’s episode also featured a glimpse of the Juggernaut as it attacked and fed on a few Skull Sheep monsters. Considering how the Xenos are likely to face off the Juggernaut, the scene serves as a reminder that the vile beast knows no difference between man and monster as it will slay anything that lays in its wake. The scene could possibly serve as a hint that a battle between the sentient monsters and the Juggernaut is likely to take place, with the beast showing no empathy for its own kind.
While these may simply be speculations for now, these events are likely to pass if the series keeps its current pace. The future of the Xenos remains unclear for now, but for the Hestia Familia, these sentient monsters serve as their last resort for survival, pivotal not just for saving Bell and Ryu but making it out of the dungeon unscathed.