Ottar's battles always required a reason.
To fight for his goddess. To fight to grow stronger... and so on.
At first, Ottar had merely wanted to test what this so-called rare species actually was. But after fighting for some time, he clearly sensed something was wrong.
That monster was far too unlike a monster.
Its powerful defense, razor-sharp attacks, and refined technique all pointed to one conclusion.
An adventurer!
Without a doubt, it was an adventurer!
But when had someone capable of crossing blades with him appeared in Orario?
Ottar had struggled and fought here for many years. What formidable experts had he not seen?
He had even fought members of the Zeus and Hera Familias.
He had not won, but it had broadened his horizons, hadn't it?
Yet the fighting style of the person before him was something he had never encountered before.
When it came to anti-human combat techniques, present-day Ottar was unquestionably number one in Orario.
Duels frequently occurred within the Freya Familia. For Ottar to stand out among them already proved his excellence. Only Mia could suppress him slightly, and before long, perhaps even she would no longer be able to.
And yet this person could fight him to a standstill without falling behind?
Who was it?
On Elise's side, ever since being blasted away by Ottar's monstrous strength, she had relied on Est's abilities and her own Prana, using ranged kiting tactics to fight him.
Even when Ottar managed to seize an opening and close the distance, Elise would react instantly, slash at him from the flank, and pull away again.
But...
"Isn't this a bit ridiculous? His recovery is this strong?"
After striking Ottar multiple times with the Sacred Demon Sword, Elise began to notice something unusual.
Because her attacks came from the side, she could not leave especially severe wounds on him. At most, she could draw blood.
For ordinary adventurers, excessive bleeding would lead to stamina loss and sluggish movements, greatly affecting combat performance.
But Ottar showed no sign of weakening whatsoever. On the contrary, he grew fiercer the longer they fought. Every blow carried terrifying force.
The reason likely lay within Ottar himself.
That almost horrifying regenerative ability!
Elise swung her sword again, carving a deep gash into Ottar's arm. Yet in the very next moment, the wound began healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. Within seconds, it was completely restored.
The sight made Elise click her tongue inwardly. Is this the talent of the boarman race? In this world's standards, that's definitely impressive...
Different races possessed their own innate talents and advantages.
Werewolves excelled in agility. Boarmen excelled in defense.
But Elise was not from this world!
"You may be strong, but I will absolutely become stronger than you!"
Her goal was the sea of stars. How could a mere boarman from another world block her path?
Still, this battle was about to end.
From the very beginning, Elise had seen through it. No matter how immense Ottar's power or how devastating his attacks, he had not gone all out. And neither had she.
Both sides were merely testing each other.
Judging from the results of that test, Ottar could not do anything to Elise, and Elise had not inflicted meaningful damage on Ottar.
If this were a true fight to the death, the outcome could likely be decided. But now was not the time.
Ottar was already faintly recognized as the Freya Familia's next captain. If he were to die, it would send shockwaves through Orario. At the very least, the Evils would not remain idle.
Thus, after they once again pulled apart from each other, Elise spoke.
"Let's end it here for today. What do you say, Fierce Warrior?"
The starlight around her body faded instantly, and her figure became visible in Ottar's eyes.
But Ottar's expression next left Elise momentarily stunned.
The instant he saw her, Ottar froze.
His pupils contracted violently. Even his perpetually composed face revealed unmistakable disbelief.
"Elise... so it was you?"
Ottar was fairly familiar with Elise. After all, his goddess Freya had instructed him to gather information about her.
Elise was unquestionably Level 1. That was beyond dispute.
She had said so herself, and many gods had questioned her. She had never lied.
And even if she possessed the ability to repel hordes of monsters, it did not change the fact that she was Level 1.
Ottar admitted that if it had been his first time entering the Dungeon, he could not have shown the same courage and strength Elise had in facing endless monsters.
But that was only a hypothetical.
Reality was that Ottar was Level 6, and Elise was Level 1. The gap between them should have been overwhelming.
"If Elise grows in the future, Orario may gain another warrior who can stand shoulder to shoulder with you, Ottar."
Freya had once said those words to him.
Ottar had always kept them in his heart, looking forward to the day he could fight Elise at full strength.
But now...
Lady Freya, it seems we both underestimated her...
Ottar clenched the hilt of his greatsword tightly, his expression turning fierce.
Perhaps there was no need to wait for the future. Perhaps Elise already possessed the strength to contend with him.
Was Ottar weak?
Absolutely not.
As one of Orario's Level 6 elites standing at the very peak, almost no one would dare call Ottar weak.
But Ottar himself did not think so.
He had witnessed Orario's golden age.
He knew the gap between himself and the true strongest.
So Ottar had never considered himself strong. Even though he had just stepped into Level 6 and already possessed strength nearing its upper limits, nothing had changed. He was not strong.
Even Mia, the current captain of the Familia, was also Level 6. He had fought her many times. Most of those battles ended in defeat, and only by giving everything could he achieve a draw.
Yes, a draw. Not victory.
So... what was a true powerhouse?
"Ugh—!"
Back then, with a single strike, the lowest-ranked member of the Zeus Familia had defeated Ottar when he was only Level 3.
Boom—
He had not even been able to see the movement before he was already defeated.
That had been a casual blow from a Level 8 champion.
"If you train hard for another ten years, I might consider it."
The Level 9 Empress of the most terrifying Familia in the world had laughed as she said that.
Those were true powerhouses!
Look at Orario's current twin walls, the Loki and Freya Familias.
Now look at the twin walls of the past, the Zeus and Hera Familias!
Weren't they as weak and powerless as naive children in comparison?
Fighting across levels?
For Ottar, possessing strength close to the very limit of Level 6 while still in its early stage made him an absolute powerhouse in the eyes of the world.
But what about Elise?
Level 1 fighting Level 6 Ottar head-on? Then what was she?
"What kind of joke is this?!"
Ottar bared his teeth. Though the usually stoic man wore a fierce expression...
He was smiling brilliantly.
It's back. It's all coming back!
The era was returning!
So...
"Don't even think about running!"
"How could this possibly end like this!!!"
In the next instant, the Fierce Warrior unleashed a thunderous roar.