Ishtar Familia Camp.
Hecate, who was directing the battle, stopped her movements and glanced to the side.
"An Lv.4 invisible person?"
"Yes."
Van nodded, recounting what had happened not long ago.
"I suspect that invisible person wasn't from the Ishtar Familia."
"Her appearance was too sudden. It was more like she was taking advantage of the chaos to steal something."
"I understand."
Hecate gave a slight nod.
In fact, when she heard about the invisible person, she had already begun to speculate about the target's identity.
However, before confirming this speculation, she needed to deal with the matter at hand first.
"Van, join the encirclement."
"Yes."
Van gripped his twin swords and charged towards Phryne not far away.
"Another one coming to die?!"
Phryne let out a strange cackle, punching Van and sending him flying.
Although her personality was somewhat awful, Phryne was, after all, an Lv.5 adventurer.
Relying on her physical superiority, she not only hadn't fallen under the encirclement but had instead injured many Freya Familia members.
If the fight continued, she would soon break through the Freya Familia's encirclement and escape.
However, ...
"My name is Gold, the goddess's assistant who has sworn an immortal oath."
"Thrice burned by flames, body pierced unto eternity, dwelling in the hell of flaming spears, glory still descends, vanquishing death."
Hecate raised her staff. Vast magical power surged from within her.
As an Lv.4, the reason she could become a high-ranking member of the Freya Familia wasn't due to powerful combat ability, but magic.
As the chant concluded, a golden radiance rose from the ground, enveloping the entire battlefield.
Whether with broken legs or severe internal injuries, the Freya Familia members who had lost their fighting strength stood up once more.
"Go forth, brave warriors."
Hecate's voice was calm as she pointed her staff at Phryne, who stood stunned not far away.
"For Goddess Freya."
"For Goddess Freya!!!"
Amidst earth-shaking roars, the members of the Freya Familia charged once again.
...
Half a day later, Dian Cecht Familia.
Upon receiving the news, Ishtar rushed to the Dian Cecht Familia hospital.
Pushing open the ward door, a group of figures collapsed on hospital beds came into view.
Ishtar paid them no mind. Her gaze swept past as she quickly walked to the next ward.
Not here! Not here! Still not here!
"Goddess Ishtar, please stop."
A silver-haired maiden blocked her path.
Airmid Teasanare.
Recognizing the maiden's identity, Ishtar, for once, gave face and halted.
"What is it?"
"You are making too much noise within the hospital. Several patients have already complained."
Glancing at the recently pushed-open ward door beside them, Airmid seemed to understand something.
"Are you looking for someone?"
"...That's right. You should have admitted a golden-haired Fox Person Maiden, correct?"
Ishtar fell silent for a moment, directly inquiring about Haruhime's whereabouts.
It was no longer the time for concealment.
Compared to the possibility of Haruhime's exposure, she needed to confirm the other's condition first.
However, unexpectedly, after hearing her inquiry, Airmid shook her head.
"There are no Foxian in the hospital. The person you're looking for is not here."
"Impossible! She should have been sent here along with Phryne and the others!"
"But that is the fact."
Airmid's tone was firm: "All Ishtar Familia members admitted today were under my care. I am certain there was no Fox Person Maiden as you described among them."
"If Goddess Ishtar you do not believe me, I can accompany you to search the hospital."
"..."
Sensing the sincerity in the maiden's words, Ishtar's expression turned grim.
However, considering the possibility of oversight, she still had Airmid lead the way, following her as they walked through the entire hospital.
"Goddess Ishtar, do you have any other requests?"
"No, you may leave." Ishtar waved her hand dismissively.
After confirming Haruhime wasn't in the hospital, her emotions settled down instead.
Haruhime was one of the trump cards she had prepared to crush the Freya Familia. In terms of importance, she was even somewhat higher than Phryne.
Now, with the Ishtar Familia attacked, everyone including Phryne sent to the hospital, and only Haruhime, an Lv.1, missing—this situation was clearly abnormal.
Recalling Aisha's report not long ago, Ishtar realized the truth—Haruhime had been taken by the Freya Familia!
"Damnable Freya! Do you think doing this will let you snatch Haruhime away?!"
Ishtar's expression darkened as she left the hospital and headed towards the Adventurers Guild.
At this point, she could only use the Guild's influence to pressure the Freya Familia.
...
"We're here."
Crossing the white labyrinth, Tione stopped before a bridge.
"That up ahead is the colosseum."
"It's huge."
Gazing at the enormous building at the end of the bridge, Lefiya couldn't help but voice her awe.
Due to the extreme danger of the Colosseum area, the Loki Familia usually headed in the opposite direction whenever they reached the 37th floor.
Because of this, despite having visited the deep floors many times over the past few years, this was Lefiya's first time seeing what the Colosseum actually looked like.
"Lynn, I'm ready."
Aiz's voice came from beside him.
"If you're ready, then let's go."
Responding, Lynn led Aiz and the others across the bridge and into the interior of the Colosseum.
The Colosseum was constructed from massive white boulders. Its interior, shaped like a bowl similar to a circular arena, was divided into six tiers from top to bottom. At the very bottom lay a circular fighting platform.
Upon entering the Colosseum, the first thing that greeted them was an immense roar.
"Ho, quite the spectacle."
Focusing his gaze, Lynn saw countless monsters locked in combat.
A hulking barbarian warrior swung its fist, smashing a lizardman before it into the distance.
Several cunning wolves swarmed a skeleton sheep that had just landed, tearing it to shreds.
As these monsters perished, cracks would split open on the floor or walls within the Colosseum, giving birth to new monsters that immediately joined the fray.
Fighting, dying, being born...
"So, this is the Colosseum."
Witnessing this endless, perpetual cycle for the first time, Lefiya's eyes widened in shock.
However, at that very moment, a crack suddenly split open on the ground not far below them, and an earth-born human clutching a bone weapon crawled out.
Noticing Lynn and the others above, it let out a tremendous roar.
The instant that roar faded, the cacophony of battle within the Colosseum ceased abruptly. Monsters scattered throughout the arena simultaneously turned their gazes towards them.
A terrifying wave of killing intent washed over them. Tione drew her weapon, her expression turning serious.
"Careful, we've been spotted."
"If we've been spotted, then it's time to fight."
Lynn chuckled lightly, his figure blurring as he charged towards the oncoming horde of monsters.
Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Flamin Thunder God
A flash of cold light, and the newly born earth-born human was instantly torn apart.
Without losing momentum, Lynn plunged into the heart of the monster horde, slicing the leading several monsters into pieces.
ROOOOOAR——!!!
The surrounding monsters reacted, launching coordinated attacks from multiple angles at Lynn.
But at that moment, Lynn's Minds Eye and Hymn of Courage activated.
The surrounding scenery seemed to slow down, allowing him to precisely pinpoint the flaws in these monsters' movements.
Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash, Sevenfold Strike!
BOOM——!
The ground beneath Lynn's feet shattered instantly. He vanished from his original spot like a bolt of lightning, severing all the monsters encircling him.
"Not enough."
Sidestepping a bone spear thrown from afar, Lynn charged deeper into the Colosseum.
Over there, there were even more monsters.
...