WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 3, Episode 4, "Aspiration | Distant Dream," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
DanMachi continues its focus on the Xenos, with its latest episode addressing various aspects of their everyday lives and just how these unique creatures survive within the dungeon. But as the Hestia Familia gets to know them better, Bell eventually has to make a tough decision about Wiene’s future, which could be adversely affected by the Ikelos Familia.
Picking up from where the last episode left off, Bell and his comrades celebrate Wiene’s arrival with the Xenos. Fels makes a surprise appearance as Lyd and the rest of the Xenos explain how they survive their day-to-day lives and what their experiences have been within the dungeon. Lyd tells Bell and the others of Ouranos’ secret assistance and back in his chambers, Ouranos continues his conversation with Hestia, revealing his theory that much like the humans of Orario, the Xenos are creatures that were reincarnated after dying.
As the festivities die down, Bell makes the hard choice to leave Wiene behind with the Xenos, realizing that keeping her in Orario will only put her in more danger. After a tearful and emotional goodbye, the two separate, and Bell and the rest of the Hestia Familia make their way back to Orario while the Xenos head deeper into the dungeon where trouble awaits them.
Wiene and a group of Xenos prepare to migrate to a different hideout to avoid detection from adventurers and nearby monsters. But as the group descends, Wiene clutches her ears, revealing that she hears a monster crying out in pain in the distance.
The group follows the sound and Ranye -- an Arachne Xenos -- rushes into an enclosed space with the rest of the group behind her. There, they see a Siren Xenos beaten and chained to a stone pillar. The Siren tells the group to run, but they are soon cornered by Dix and the rest of the Ikelos Familia.
As Dix goads the group of Xenos, Aude -- a War Shadow Xenos -- charges him but is cut down by Gran, another Ikelos Familia member. Dix scolds him, suggesting that had he been suitable they’d have sold Aude on the black market. As they speak, Wiene and the rest of her Xenos group look on in horror as the members of the Ikelos Familia move in on them.
The Xebos are quickly becoming a group of characters fans can’t help but cheer on. Their unique disposition given their circumstances should make for some interesting storytelling as the third season goes on. With Dix and the other members of the Ikelos Familia already posing some major problems for the group, it’s looking like whatever happens to Wiene and the Xenos accompanying her will likely serve as the catalyst for the Ikelos and Hestia Familia’s inevitable clash.
