"─── Race across the heavens, wander the wastes, and be swifter than any being. Let the light of stardust dwell within you and strike down the enemy!!"
"Luminous Wind!!"
Massive spheres of light, wreathed in emerald winds, erupted forward. Despite standing on the front lines, she unleashed a wide-range offensive spell that rivaled those of high-ranking mages. It transformed into an overwhelming torrent of radiance, swallowing the soldiers of the Dark Factions.
However, even that fierce onslaught was not enough to break the suffocating siege trapping Ryuu and her companions.
"Damn it ───!!"
"To hell with this... just how many of these bastards are there?!"
Most of the soldiers led by the suspicious man nicknamed Vitto were Level 1—hardly more than amateurs. Under normal circumstances, they would have posed no threat to Ryuu and the others.
It was said that in the Age of Gods, where "quality outweighs quantity," a single seasoned high-ranking adventurer possessed the strength of "one against a thousand," capable of defeating ten ordinary men with ease.
This time, however, the sheer numbers were staggering. No matter how many they cut down, the enemies continued to swarm from every side as if their ranks were inexhaustible.
"Impressive... despite this fatal numerical disadvantage, you still fight without surrendering? Exactly what one would expect from the followers of Justice."
"─── Do you think this is a picnic, you psychopath?"
Kaguya swung her katana with fury.
But Vitto parried the strike with utter coldness using his dagger. The blade recoiled with a sharp ring, and he closed the distance to Kaguya with startling speed.
His movements were so poised they resembled an aesthetic dance, making it clear to everyone that this man was no simple opponent. The two daggers he brandished had become tools of pure slaughter.
With every flash of those lethal blades, blood sprayed from Kaguya's wounded body. Yet, fear did not touch her eyes; instead, a bold, combat-ready smile spread across her face as she continued her fierce assault.
Vitto, however, evaded every attack with grace, flowing between the strikes like water.
(Damn it, if it wasn't for this bastard, we could have managed..)
Lyra observed the battlefield with a wide gaze, cursing inwardly. Vitto possessed skills and maneuverability that placed him on par with—or perhaps even superior to—Kaguya, who was considered the elite of Level 3. In their Familia, only Al surpassed her combat abilities.
He was likely Level 4. Most frustratingly, Vitto was holding off both the aggressive Kaguya and Alise, while simultaneously countering Ryuu's wide-range magic and issuing precise orders to his soldiers to prevent the girls from coordinating.
Furthermore, his leadership was brilliant; he never attacked recklessly. He gauged his opponents' strength and distributed his men optimally—clear proof that he possessed prior information about them.
There was no doubt that Vitto belonged to the commander class within the Dark Factions. With that massive horde of rabble following him, crushing the girls seemed only a matter of time.
Yet, the true danger did not loom over Ryuu and her companions.
The most critical situation involved Al, who was locked in a "two-on-one" struggle against two elven sisters whose power equaled his own.
A pillar of raging fire exploded, nearly swallowing even the Floor Boss. It blew back Al and the soldiers trying to ambush him from behind, shattering the floor and walls of the labyrinth.
But the boy who should have been at the center of the blast had already vanished. In the next instant, a thunderous boom echoed. The tongues of flame split apart as white lightning bolts shot out, branching as if they possessed a will of their own.
───── Thunderbolt.
An endless exchange of offensive magic followed. Lightning flashed, vortexes of fire swirled, crystals shattered, and rocks flew through the air. The three fought at a level no one else dared approach, amidst the remains of monsters that had been wiped from existence.
"Ahhh, this is fun!! So much fun!!"
"Fufu, dance more!! Oh, Al!! Let us enjoy ourselves further!!"
"──── Damn it!!"
The Dis sisters—Dina and Vena, the captain and vice-captain of the Alecto Familia—faced Al. All three had reached Level 5.
The elder sister, Dina, the White Elf, brandished the sword "Anraku," which offered salvation to knights. The younger sister, Vena, the Black Elf, controlled magic and magic swords with terrifying precision.
They screamed with delicate voices, like children playing with a toy, or wanton women enjoying a lover's tryst, as they directed a lethal coordination at Al that represented the peak of their skill.
Without a doubt, Al was the fastest person there. Yet even he could not fully track their movements, exerting every ounce of effort just to dodge their strikes.
"Ah!! You're worried about your friends!! But that's okay!! We only have eyes for you!!"
"Our eyes see no one else!! So, make sure your eyes see only us too!!"
While the three engaged in their high-speed duel, Alise and the others fought desperately behind them, but the tide of battle was clearly turning against them.
If Vena had directed her magic toward Ryuu or Lyra, they would likely have been reduced to ash in a moment without the slightest resistance.
But Vena paid Ryuu and Lyra no mind. She stared at Al alone, whispering words of love in a sweet, feverish tone, punctuated by magic projectiles.
It was the same for the elder sister, Dina. They voiced their feelings for Al while simultaneously casting spells and swinging their weapons.
Dina, the White Elf, saw her pale skin flush with the heat of excitement, while Vena, the Black Elf, looked at him with eyes so moist they seemed ready to melt with emotion.
Despite being the target of such intense gazes, Al's expression remained unchanged, and he did not stop retaliating.
Both sisters, Dina and Vena, possessed an enchanting beauty. Their youthful bodies, like ripe fruit, were covered in revealing dancer's attire unbefitting of elves.
It was a beauty that might spark the jealousy of goddesses, yet it carried a depravity like carnivorous flowers luring their prey.
"Amazing!! Incredible, Al!! This is the first time anyone has dodged my sword like that!!"
"I'll make you so preoccupied with me that you won't be able to look at anything else!!"
Dina's blade grazed Al's cheek, while the wind from Vena's magic sword buffeted him.
Faced with this perfect harmony that left no openings at close or long range, Al began to find it difficult to counterattack.
"─────!!"
Since Al arrived in Orario years ago, he couldn't count how many times these sisters had tried to kill him.
Each time, Al grew at a pace exceeding human limits, until he finally reached Level 5 just like them. However, their constant battles with him had pushed the sisters to even greater heights.
Both were now nearing the limits of Level 6, their power rivaling the primary forces of the city's strongest Familias.
Their speed reached monstrous levels; they parried Al's attacks, evaded them, and struck back at the perfect moment.
Every blow they landed was a potential death sentence. In this state of extreme pressure where one hit meant the end, the battle between Al and the sisters intensified.
The only reason Al managed to maintain a stalemate against the two was his rapid-fire magic, his skill in handling multiple opponents, and─── familiarity.
"How many times do you think I've fought you two now?"
"Kyaaa!!"
Rapid-cast thunder magic—twenty-four consecutive shots. Al's lightning bolts shot out in random, intersecting paths to assault the Dis sisters. Evasion was impossible, and defense would be too slow. It was an attack powerful enough to paralyze them completely, if not kill them ────────── but it was stopped just a moment before it reached them.
"Open, the Fifth Heaven. Ring, the Ninth Song."
In response to Vena's chant, which sounded like a song, a giant magic circle spread before them, and six magical muzzles appeared.
"Dialf Diis!!"
Vena unleashed a wide-range spell she had held in reserve, bolstered by a mana supply from her sister through a special skill.
It was like pillars of raging hellfire. The inferno pierced through the lightning storm and filled Al's vision. Six columns of searing flame approached to swallow him whole.
But Al did not waver. With a calm face, he triggered the ring of the "Bell of Heroics," which he had kept ready just like Vena.
"Activating the Path of the Hero. ───── Thunderbolt."
White and black particles converged. From the magic circle surrounding Al, a storm of lightning erupted with a destructive force incomparable to anything before.
A massive roar followed.
With a shockwave that shook the air, magic clashed with magic. Both sides fought a violent struggle where neither retreated. After a moment of equality, the lightning devoured the torrent of flame and erased it completely.
"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!"
"Ah!!"
The rebounding lightning struck Dina, scorching her body. Yet Dina did not cry out in pain; instead, she let out an erotic sigh, her beautiful body contorting, while Vena's face twisted into a strange, disturbed expression.
Dina's smooth, white skin was burned in several places, and her revealing clothes were torn, leaving her in a state that invoked both terror and fascination.
"Your gift was wonderful!!"
"I want to embrace you right now!! But unfortunately! we must stop here for today!!"
The sisters laughed together as if they were playing. Their eyes overflowed with a mixture of mad love and perverted lust.
Al looked at them with cold eyes, then let out a soft sigh.
"The Great King of the Evil Gods has commanded us!! To save our fun until the real show begins!!"
"Next time, I will definitely kill you, Al!! I look forward to it with longing!!"
●○●○●
.... Um, I don't know what to say; it's not too bad.
The sisters are strong and interesting, but they lack that innocence Ryuu possesses. More importantly, they have killed many.
They seem to have a tragic past or childhood trauma; perhaps if I exploit that, I might successfully influence them?
However, with their psyches shattered to this extent, traditional "psychological breaking" might not work.
Truly, one cannot understand what goes on in the minds of lunatics.
... Ah, an idea occurred to me. Wouldn't it be better if I died while protecting Ryuu from the sisters?
Ryuu, the elf who lives in the light, and the two "monster" sisters whom no one protected—if I, the one they cling to, protect Ryuu, they might all break down mentally!!
●○●○●
"Ah? Are these the females of the Astraea Familia!! You aren't the ones I wanted to summon, you children who reek of milk!!"
"Shut up!! In this place where everyone was supposed to be laughing, how dare you...!"
"I will never forgive you!! I won't let you take anything else!!"
The peaceful square where food was being distributed had turned into a hellscape with the appearance of a single woman. The woman, wielding a massive, jagged sword and relishing in slaughter, was Valletta Grede. A leader in the Dark Factions and a seasoned fighter who had killed many adventurers. Facing her, the two girls burned with rage and prepared for battle.
"You fools!! Do you think you can defeat me when I'm at Level 5?!"
Valletta, nicknamed the "Murderess Empress," was a human commander whose strength rivaled the first-tier adventurers who represented the greatest power in Orario. Although Ryuu and Alise had recently risen to fame, they were no match for her. With a powerful blow resulting from the difference in Level, they were sent flying. However, the situation shifted when a strike launched with lightning speed, leaving a white trail that knocked Valletta back.
"─── What a coincidence. I'm also Level 5."
"Al...!!"
"You came to save us!!"
"Stop treating me like a younger brother, Alise. ── Heh, are you alright, you failure of an elf?"
"You little brat!! You finally showed up!!"
The only male and the youngest member of the Astraea Familia, and the strongest among them—Al Cranel, the youngest first-tier adventurer Orario boasted of, was there.
Al launched a series of rapid thrusts with his silver spear, so fast they seemed like a blur. Valletta parried them all and countered with a swing of her massive sword. But Al dodged, sliding under her arm and delivering a kick with all his might. As Valletta recoiled, carving cracks into the ground, he fired a bolt of rapid-cast magic. Valletta used her sword to block it, but Al exploited that moment to lunge at her with a swift thrust following a feint.
Nevertheless, Valletta anticipated his movements, tilting her body to avoid it. Yet she could not keep up with his speed; a strike from the spear's butt hit her, and she couldn't evade it. She rolled across the ground to absorb the shock and stood up quickly, but Al had already vanished. Sensing a presence behind her, she turned to find the silver spearhead before her eyes. She lowered her massive sword quickly, narrowly managing to defend herself.
"Damn it...! What's with you, brat!! How much did you raise your level in just a few days!!"
"Unlike you, who are just waiting to grow old, I'm in my growth phase."
"Don't talk nonsense!!"
The battle between the first-tier adventurers was like a storm, amidst thick dust and violent clashes. The two girls witnessing this scene remained in a state of shock. Seeing their "younger brother" handle an opponent they couldn't easily stand against made them feel bitterness before jealousy. The fact that they were being protected by someone younger than them was painful for both.
The spear collided violently with the giant sword, and they bounced apart. As Al's consecutive attacks continued without pause, Valletta began to feel flustered and angry.
(To hell with this!! This annoying kid!!)
Despite her foul mouth, Valletta was the brain and strategist of the Dark Factions. Thus, she assessed the battle situation coldly. She realized she was under pressure and that reinforcements from the Loki Familia were approaching. Consequently, she began to think of how to break this stalemate.
Meanwhile, the pace of Al's attacks did not slacken; it accelerated. Valletta realized she would lose if things continued this way, and she saw no choice but to take a risk. She increased the latent power in her massive sword and used the reaction to leap backward. This sudden move created a momentary gap in Al's defense. Valletta did not waste the opportunity; she smiled maliciously and threw her giant sword toward Alise and her companions.
Alise quickly hugged Ryuu, and they dropped to the ground. Al clicked his tongue softly and hurled his silver spear with force, shattering the spinning sword in mid-air. By that time, however, Valletta had already escaped.
"You bastard!! You ruined my plan!! I will definitely kill you!!"
●○●○●
".... Dear Lord Erebus, thank you. For helping us ───"
"No, no, no need to worry, Ryuu-chan. I only came to apologize to you all."
"Huh.....?"
"I also tried to imitate you, and I helped children other than the one you saw just now. And then, I finally understood. ── Helping the wounded and the weak fills the heart like this!! It's a sense of accomplishment. I'm happy; this could become an addiction!"
The tragedy caused by the Dark Factions led by Valletta had left many victims among the citizens. The Astraea Familia was conducting rescue missions, and while Ryuu was treating a child with an injured foot, she encountered a slit-eyed god named Erebus.
"What... are you saying..."
"I'm sorry for describing your actions as 'unrequited service.' It certainly wasn't without a price!!"
"There is a clear 'price'! A price called the self-satisfaction of helping others!! The pleasure of being thanked!! The feeling of fullness that comes from providing aid!!"
Erebus spoke with his arms open and a manic smile, making Ryuu feel an indescribable fear. His words sounded like a madman's, but he seemed to truly believe them.
"This feeling is wonderful! My God, it would have been better if you had told me sooner. Your sacrifice isn't unhealthy at all. As expected, knowledge alone isn't enough even if you are omniscient. Action must be paired with feeling. I have learned a lesson despite being a god."
"... Please."
"Hm?"
"───── Take back your words!!"
Faced with this god who mocked their principles from a transcendent divine perspective, Ryuu flared with anger and stared at him with eyes full of hostility. The "Justice" upheld by Astraea, Alise, and everyone else was not something so trite.
"── What did you say?"
With those words, the god's eyes opened for a moment, but the furious Ryuu did not notice that scrutinizing look.
"The insult you just uttered!! We do not use 'Justice' for our own egos!!"
"Oh? Truly? Then, for what reason do you fight?"
"That's obvious!! For the peace of the city, and to establish order. To eliminate these tragic scenes spreading around us!!"
"Isn't that the very definition of 'self-satisfaction'?"
"What ──"
"If you do not seek wealth or fame, nor even a passing word of thanks, then this 'Justice' you speak of is nothing but sheer, desolate 'solitude.'"
"Shut up!!"
"Do not be angry, little elf. Just a divine whim. So, ask yourself honestly and answer me. ── What exactly is your 'Justice'?"
"If you cannot answer, then the 'Justice' you take pride in is something more twisted and hideous than evil itself."
"── Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!"
"You're easily provoked; that's why you're a failure of an elf."
Al, who had finished helping the wounded nearby, grabbed Ryuu by the scruff of her neck to stop her from lunging at Erebus. Ryuu's cheeks flushed because Al's hand suddenly touched her skin, but she was angered by him calling her a failure. Al ignored Ryuu entirely and looked at the god Erebus, whose demeanor shifted from jest to divine solemnity as he addressed Al as if delivering a revelation to a believer.
"Well now, Al-kun. Perfect timing. I wanted to ask you, the newest 'Hero.' What is your 'Justice'? Why do you save people?"
"Are you an idiot? There's no way I'd think about such annoying things every single time. ... If I had to say, ── it's because I..."
●○●○●
"Drop the knife!! Don't fight!! You shouldn't listen to the adults who give a weapon to a child like you!!"
"I won't hurt you, okay? Come over here ──"
Ardee, in the middle of the battle with the Dark Factions, tried to protect a young girl wearing a white robe specific to their followers. No matter if she belonged to the Dark Factions, she couldn't treat a small child like that as an enemy; the girl was surely just a tool being used.
As Ardee rushed toward the girl, she was pushed aside by a white shadow flying at incredible speed from the edge of the battlefield. And──.
Tch ─────.
"── Al-kun?"
"Eh? Ah, no way. Did you protect me..?"
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[100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter]
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