Hestia's Edge, a simple yet direct name.
When Takatsuki stood before the Black Dragon again with this sword, the other adventurers had already been routed.
"Damn it! Are we old guys really not as good as a young one?"
The giant axe in Gareth's hand was already covered in cracks. In the recent battle, his proud strength was simply inadequate against the Black Dragon.
Fortunately, the Black Dragon seemed to have given up breathing fire because Takatsuki had swallowed its flames multiple times, otherwise they would surely have perished here.
"Haha, the back waves push the front waves. It seems Goddess Hestia has brought something that can decide the battle. Let's buy him some time first."
Finn said, leaning on his spear. He had already used his magic, but even with magic, he couldn't cause damage, so it was better to remain rational.
"You guys are old, don't drag me into it."
Riveria was also panting, but much more elegantly than the other two. Her magic was completely ineffective at causing damage, so she played a supporting and controlling role from the rear.
"Haha, Riveria, we're all decades old. If we're talking about youth, it's Ais and Fu Hua."
Ais was relentlessly attacking nearby, not responding to the others' words.
Fu Hua, however, was a little embarrassed.
In terms of age... she was the oldest here, apart from the gods.
"Oh! Young Master Takatsuki is here, we can temporarily retreat as well."
Everyone present saw Takatsuki holding a seemingly ordinary black sword, reflecting a reddish glow under the sunlight.
The others quickly retreated, but Finn noticed that Ais was still continuously attacking with no intention of retreating.
"Not good! Ais is losing control! Stop her quickly!"
Before anyone else could take Ais away, the Black Dragon, no longer restrained by others, turned and lunged at Ais with its foul-smelling maw.
Ais, however, did not retreat at all, meeting it head-on.
Just as everyone thought Ais would perish here, a figure blocked the space between the person and the dragon.
Clang...
A flash of sword light streaked across the heavens and earth.
Takatsuki's sword-wielding hand dropped, while his other hand grasped the berserk Ais.
Ais, in her berserk state, couldn't hear anything, but it didn't matter. Takatsuki injected Nen into Ais's body to force her to calm down, and also...
Ais's target...
The massive Black Dragon hung motionless in the air.
A fissure, just like the sword light, appeared in its body, starting from the middle.
Then, from the fissure, it slowly turned into dust on both sides, and the huge Magic Stone fell, perfectly severed.
As the Black Dragon died, cheers erupted around them, and the black hurricane around Ais also disappeared.
The karma-fueled flames that burned everything, including oneself and the enemy, finally subsided.
"Finally..."
Ais slowly knelt on the ground, staring at the spot where the Black Dragon had vanished, lost in thought.
"Takatsuki-kun!"
A voice rushed over from far to near, and Takatsuki saw Hestia leap towards him for a hug.
He didn't dodge, allowing Hestia to hang around his neck.
"Hahahaha! You succeeded! Takatsuki-kun! You are truly a hero of the lower world!"
Hestia was incredibly happy, even happier than if she herself had received praise.
Fu Hua and the others also rushed over. Takatsuki had told them earlier that they would be leaving after this battle.
"Thank you, Hestia. Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to kill it."
Takatsuki looked at the Magic Stone left by the Black Dragon and the scattered materials on the ground. The King's Treasure appeared, slowly engulfing the Black Dragon's Magic Stone and a pair of dragon horns. Then, he loudly announced to the surrounding people: "I'll take the Magic Stone and the dragon horns. The other materials will be distributed by the Guild to the adventurers who contributed and the citizens who were harmed. Now, I must leave. May we meet again someday!"
"Are you leaving already?"
Hestia saw the Valkyrie gathered around, a hint of sadness on her face, and released her grip, getting down from Takatsuki.
"Yes, may we meet again."
Farewells are sad, but all good things must come to an end. No matter how sad, separation is inevitable.
Kiana waved to Lefiya and Filvis who were approaching from a distance and walked to Takatsuki's side.
Fu Hua, Mei, and Bronya are already here.
Takatsuki suddenly remembered something and said to Hestia.
"Lady Hestia, can you help me update my blessing one last time?"
Hestia hadn't expected Takatsuki to make such a request, but thinking that he was about to leave, Hestia didn't refuse and nodded instead.
Just like that, with everyone watching, Hestia updated Takatsuki's blessing.
In the end, Takatsuki also cast aside some of the status distinctions.
"Hestia, if it can be upgraded, please upgrade it for me."
"Eh? Is that okay? It hasn't reached its maximum value yet."
"It's fine."
Although Hestia didn't understand, she still upgraded Takatsuki's blessing to the lowest B standard, which was a huge loss.
But Takatsuki smiled as he looked at the 6400 crystals that arrived with the system's task completion notification.
At the same time, another hidden task completion notification popped up.
[Complete Adventurer's Final Request, Slay the One-Eyed Black Dragon. Reward: Player Level +5.]
How should I put it? It's an average reward, but it's a direct level increase. If it were later, it would definitely be a good reward, as Takatsuki doesn't have a stable way to increase his level. Looking at it now, although this reward is quite generous, it can't compare to the feat of slaying the Black Dragon.
However, he didn't dwell on it. Takatsuki put down his clothes.
"Alright, let's go."
Takatsuki and the Valkyries stood together, while Hestia stepped back a few paces and stood beside Ais. Ais was still foolishly kneeling on the ground, looking at where the Black Dragon had disappeared.
Takatsuki didn't hide it; he directly opened the system panel and clicked to confirm mission completion and return.
[Confirm return?]
[Yes] [No]
Yes
"Returning in thirty seconds, please prepare."
Just then, Hestia's expression suddenly became strange.
"Takatsuki-kun~ How much longer until you return?"
"Hmm?"
Takatsuki didn't know why Hestia suddenly asked that, but he still glanced at the system: "18 seconds."
In the time it took to speak, twelve seconds had already passed.
Suddenly, Hestia lunged towards Takatsuki.
"Watch out!"
Takatsuki's hand was still holding Hestia's Edge, which Hestia had given him, so he had to catch Hestia with his left hand.
Just as he was worried about the weapon in his hand hurting Hestia and wanted to put it away, Hestia grabbed its blade.
"Hestia! Let go, you'll get hurt!"
Hestia smiled slyly at Takatsuki: "Takatsuki-kun, a god's love is very heavy, you know."
Amidst everyone's astonished gazes, brilliant pillars of light erupted around Hestia.
"What! What's going on?"
"Return? Goddess Hestia is being returned!?"
Takatsuki looked at Hestia, who had inexplicably begun to use her divine power to trigger her return, and was about to say something when the system's notification sound appeared in his mind.
"Unknown energy detected."
"Unknown energy detected."
"Unknown energy detected."
"Unknown energy detected."
"Unknown energy detected."
A series of notifications kept popping up.
"System return affected, changed to: all intelligent creatures in physical contact with the host."
"Quick! Everyone, hold onto me tightly!"
There was no time to think; the return countdown was down to 3 seconds. He quickly shouted to the Valkyries around him.
Everyone didn't know what was happening, but they didn't think much of it. They were already gathered around Takatsuki, and they all reached out and grabbed onto Takatsuki's body.
And Hestia's return officially began.
Return was not an instant disappearance, but rather divine power began to pull, fixing the god in place, making it unable to move, and then slowly pulling it towards the heavens.
But Hestia held Takatsuki's neck tightly, refusing to be pulled away, and Takatsuki subconsciously reached out and grabbed Hestia's arm.
"3"
Hestia couldn't hold on anymore, and her hand gripping his neck loosened.
"2"
Takatsuki also began to lose his grip, and his hand holding Hestia's arm slid from her upper arm to her forearm.
"1"
Takatsuki's hand slid from her forearm to her wrist.
"0"
It slid from her wrist to her palm, and just then, a figure suddenly rushed over.