Kugugugu—!!!!!
"It has begun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Akuo, deep within the subterranean depths, heard that sound. It caused a profound smile to spread across his face.
Grin—!!!
"Ah...!! Ein!"
Grab—!!
"Let's go!"
"Yes!!"
Holding Ein close with a look of pure, ecstatic joy, Akuo manifested a white blade in his hand.
Sring—!
"""""!!"""""
Bete, Lefiya, and everyone else present were struck with awe. Yet Ein remained nestled in his arms, her heart racing with anticipation for the spectacle he was about to unveil.
Sunder—!!!
A single strike. That was all it took for them to realize the absolute truth.
Crack-crack-crack—!!!!!
"W-With a single swing..."
"He split the Labyrinth...!?"
Akuo and Ein were not opponents they could hope to match. The others could do nothing but follow in their wake as they returned to the battlefield.
"Good!!! Excellent!!!!! Everyone, move in!!!!!!"
Whirrr—!!
On the surface, Akumo decided to leave a lasting mark before descending back into the Labyrinth. While the protocol was to keep the citizens unaware, the situation had escalated to the point where such secrecy was meaningless.
""Divine Artifact" [Hammer of Hephaestus]."
Once again, the hammer of the Goddess of Smithing appeared in his hand, glowing with a transcendent luster as it caught the moonlight.
Clang—!
'Watch closely, Hephaestus!'
As Akumo lightly struck the ground with the [Hammer of Hephaestus], a radiance erupted that was bright enough to drown out the crimson light rising across Orario.
"""""!!"""""
'This is...'
'Lady Hephaestus...!?'
Among the countless adventurers engaged in the fray, every single one who had ever laid eyes on Hephaestus saw her image reflected in that light.
Clang-clang-clang—!!
"The weapons...!!"
Clang—!!
"They've been repaired like new!!"
"""""Ooh!!!!!!!"""""
An overwhelming sight unfolded. The gear of the adventurers, which had been chipped and worn down by the durability of the Man-eating Flowers, was fully restored. From standard equipment to Magic Swords, everything was returned to peak condition in an instant.
"...Hephaestus?"
"What in the... Is he even human?"
"Oh my, did he just cut in line?"
"Don't say a word..."
Ganesha and Dian Cecht stood with their mouths agape in shock. Freya, noticing a fragment of Hephaestus's essence in Akumo's hand, asked her fellow goddess with a hint of surprise.
'He's using it so blatantly...!!!'
Of course, Hephaestus herself turned bright red, remembering the process of how she had granted him that Arcanum.
"Hiyah!!! Now that is what a true warrior looks like!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Well, it certainly doesn't look like we're going to lose!"
Kali trembled with excitement at the sight of him wielding Divine Aura so freely. Njord felt a chill down his spine, realizing how close he had come to disaster by trying to provoke a Familia that possessed such a monster.
Whoosh—!!!
"Let's go!!!!!!!!!!!"
Unaware or perhaps indifferent to their reactions, Akumo threw himself back into the pit, re-entering Knossos.
"It has been a while, Noble One."
"You all are...!"
"The [Freya Familia]."
Reinforcements began to arrive at each unit. For those struggling with a lack of firepower, their arrival was as confusing as it was welcome.
"Though we usually snarl at each other like curs, let us fight together just this once."
Slide—!
"I, who have sworn loyalty to Lady Freya."
"Shall act as your hands and feet like a loyal subject for this moment."
Hedin Selland, being an Elf himself, showed proper etiquette by kneeling before the royal Riveria. Curiously, Hogni Ragnar remained silent.
"...."
Gooooo—!!!!
A stance of absolute silence, a piercing gaze, and an ominous black greatsword.
The Elven adventurers, including those from the Loki Familia, didn't think to question his lack of greeting; instead, they felt a sense of profound awe.
'T-The noble High Elf royalty is right in front of meeeee....!!!!!'
Sweat—!
'A wretch like me standing in the royal presence!! What if I'm being rude!? Did I offend heraaaaah!!!!'
In reality, Hogni's internal state was a complete mess due to his crippling social anxiety.
'I'm sorry for being alive! I'm sorry for breathing! I'm sorry for existingaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!'
"...Sigh, you nervous wreck....."
"I want to die..."
"He was like this in front of Akumo too, honestly....."
Regardless, Hedin and Hogni were veteran reinforcements of the highest caliber. Riveria immediately issued orders.
"[White Solitary Magic Knight] Hedin Selland, [Black Solitary Magic Sword] Hogni Ragnar."
Snap—!
"Buy me time. I will handle the rest with my magic."
Having coordinated with Akumo dozens of times, Riveria was perfectly accustomed to working with elite swordsmen.
""By your command.""
Whoosh—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Following Riveria's order, the two launched themselves like arrows at the Demi-Spirit, leaving a storm of sword scars in their wake.
Slash-slash-slash—!!!
"...!! It's being carved away. The guardian of the altar, which boasted such resilience, is being dismantled so easily...!?"
The twin pillars of the [Freya Familia's] strength, the Knights of Black and White.
This duo was renowned throughout the city and beyond as the [Deadliest Magic Swordsmen].
Boom—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"""!!"""
After they had been active for about a minute, another man arrived on the scene.
"T-The [Warlord]!?"
Why was Ottar here? Why was he deployed to the 2nd Unit, which already possessed more than enough firepower?
"Only three Demi-Spirits remain."
""!?""
"Ah, I suppose no one told you. Akumo has already defeated three of them."
""...""
Hedin and Hogni wanted to ask why they were even called if that was the case, but seeing Riveria looking oddly pleased, they decided to save their questions for later.
Clash—!!!
"Need a hand, Tiona?"
"Bache!?"
"What is this? Pathetic! You're struggling against something like this? Tione!"
"Argana!!"
At the 4th Unit, Bache, Argana, and the four Gulliver brothers had been deployed.
"...You guys, I can't believe you actually came to save us....."
It was an unexpected reinforcement that even the Braver hadn't fully anticipated—a gesture of consideration from Njord and Akumo.
'My homeland.... the place I lived.... I wanted to erase it all...!'
Tighten—!!!
'And yet now, it's like this...!!'
Tione felt a flicker of genuine emotion, and her perception of them began to shift—until.
"Where's Akumo!? Where is Akumo, Tione~!!!!"
"Eh?"
"Where is the male who defeated me!? I'm asking where the husband who will dominate me has gone!!"
"How should I know!!!!?? He probably went off to fight somewhere else!!"
"Aah~~!!! I want to see him so bad I can't stand it~!!!!!"
Watching Argana's absurd behavior, Tione broke into a cold sweat, thinking it was a godsend that this woman hadn't gone to the unit where Riveria was.
"But seriously, where is he?"
"I really don't know.... Bache."
".....What a shame."
Bache's quiet inquiry to Tiona was the final touch to the chaotic scene.
"Give me the formation details for the 2nd and 3rd Units!"
"Eh? Ah... Yes!"
"Enemy intel too! From attack patterns to every detail possible!!!"
To save Orario as quickly as possible, it didn't matter if there was excess firepower or if they had to supplement the chain of command.
"[Your wounds are mine, and my wounds are mine alone.]"
Shuuuu—!!!
Light enveloped Lilliluka Arde, and her form instantly shifted into that of Finn Deimne.
"[Cinder Ella]!"
Using her unique magic, Lilly transformed into a perfect replica of Finn to take command of the situation.
"If the command switches from Master Finn to Lilly, the battlefield will fall into chaos!"
"Above all, no one would listen to the words of a newcomer like Lilly!"
Fels and Asfi understood. Knowing the existence of Lilly's transformation magic, Finn had handed over the command he usually never relinquished.
"Lady Haruhime, please prepare [Level Boost]. I'll need you to link the chants as well!"
"Yes!"
"Master Bell, prepare for guerrilla strikes. Master Welf and Lady Mikoto, equip yourselves for ultra-large-scale combat!"
Snap—!
"As soon as Lady Haruhime's magic is complete, the three of you will scatter and move!!"
In less than five minutes after hearing the status of the war, Lilly had assigned the most efficient positions for everyone.
"Wait, Lilliluka Arde! Not all three together, but scattered? I can understand Bell Cranel, but [Ignis] and [Zekkei] are..."
"Excluding Master Bell, everyone in the [Hestia Familia] is a specialized type. For specific locations.... no, they are absolutely necessary!"
Even as Asfi expressed doubt, Lilly commanded with steady eyes, her heart pounding with a joy she couldn't suppress.
'I will show them...!'
She finally held the reins of command. She wouldn't let this opportunity slip. She, too, would catch up to the hero she admired.
'I will catch up!!!!'
"Sending reinforcements to the 2nd and 3rd Units now! Maintain the vanguard's assault while thickening the mid-guard formation!"
""!?""
Gareth and Riveria immediately realized the 'Finn' they were hearing was a fake, but they instantly deduced who it really was.
'The excellent commander Akumo mentioned...!'
'So this is Lilliluka Arde.'
Understanding her intent, Riveria and Gareth immediately began to play their parts.
"What's this, Finn? Changing the command style to play more tricks on us!"
"Indeed, Gareth! We're used to this, aren't we? Finn Deimne's little schemes!"
Grateful that they understood, Lilly continued the performance.
With that, the entire force moved to deactivate the altar's pillars, and as the Demi-Spirits engaged, the situation shifted into a full-scale siege.
—~!!!
Of course, the countdown did not stop.
Flash—!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Light magic is coming!!!!!"
The Spirits' genuine killing intent manifested in an attack. Just as the magic was about to detonate among them—
Whirl—!!!
"[Futsu-no-Mitama]!!!!!!!!"
The joker sent by Lilly, the absolute trump card, arrived at Gareth's battlefield.
Creak—!!!!!!!!!
While the raw power of her magic couldn't compare to a Spirit's, Mikoto used the property of gravity to warp the trajectory of the incoming spell.
"I am still inexperienced, but..."
Whirrr—!!
"This is the turning point of the battle. Therefore, I shall be the shield that protects you all from the enemy's light!!!"
A shield that distorted all magic appeared between the Demi-Spirit and the adventurers, shielding them.
Step, step—
"This thing is a much bigger deal than I thought. This guy is...!"
At that moment, Welf arrived at Riveria's location and assessed the situation.
"Is that Welf!?"
"A Magic Sword of Crozzo...!"
"But he only has one sword!? No matter how powerful it is, it's useless if it breaks immediately!"
Despite the comments from his former comrades, Welf remained calm.
Boom—!!!!!!!!!!
'That's definitely the [Warlord].... He's fighting well, but he lacks a finishing blow.'
This was a battle against time. It wasn't just about winning or losing. Welf dashed forward.
"Akumo and Tsubaki are already fighting!!"
Grip—!!
"I can't afford to lose either! I wouldn't be able to show my face to Lady Hephaestus!"
With the protection of nearby adventurers, Welf closed the distance to the Demi-Spirit to get within range of his magic.
—[My name is—]
The Spirit began its chant, and as the mana reached its zenith—
"[Burn away, karma of the unorthodox!]"
"[Will-o'-Wisp!]"
The ultimate anti-magic counter, which grew more powerful the stronger the opponent's spell, detonated against the Spirit.
Flash—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"What!? Magic of this scale...!!"
"The bigger the spark... the bigger the explosion!!"
The extraordinary short-chant magic that forced an Ignis Fatuus achieved a feat no one else could manage without a Divine Artifact—inflicting a critical wound in a single strike.
"First the Crozzo Magic Swords, and now Magic Killing?"
"The Crozzo bloodline.... honestly, they are such a bad match for us Elves."
'Of course...'
"It's reassuring to have them as allies right now!"
As Riveria said, Welf didn't just have magic.
"Here I go!!!!!!"
In his hand was a masterpiece he was proud of, a child that would accompany him to the pinnacle of smithing.
"[O resurrected flame, grant me your strength.]"
"That's...!!"
'That's definitely Akumo's technique!'
Riveria was stunned, realizing that the Magic Sword Welf held was a rebirth of Akumo's Gram, and she smiled.
"[O wings of radiant flame that transcend the crimson, burn toward the supreme domain!]"
'Akumo...! I'll show you that your flames are still alive!!!'
"[Ignis · Deluge]!!!!!!!!!"
Another massive wave of radiant fire swallowed the Demi-Spirit.
"Run! Runnnnn!!!!"
Meanwhile, Raul's group, tasked with a separate mission, was sprinting through the 11th floor of [Knossos].
"The only time we can move is while the enemy is in chaos! Hurry!!!!"
Dash—!!!
"Since we couldn't join the main battle! We will complete this mission at all costs!!!!!"
Stepping over the walls of green flesh that were beginning to rot from the aftermath of the battle above, they moved toward their target.
Dash—!!!
"There, the hidden door at the dead end!"
"""!!"""
"Open it now!!!"
When Raul's group burst through the door, they found a prison designed for confinement.
"....!"
What Raul found inside were the missing members of the [Demeter Familia].
"Khhh...!!!!"
'I'll definitely break through!'
In a corner of the 9th floor, Elfi was using her magic at full power to pierce through a wall of flesh where hostages were suspected to be held.
'The [Demeter Familia] is alive.'
The fact that not a single member was found during the first invasion, nor until now, strongly suggested they were being held captive somewhere.
"We've arrived! It's here!"
Following the path Elfi had accidentally discovered during a previous exploration—
""!!""
"Ah....?"
There, they saw the Demeter Familia members, emaciated and bound. Elfi immediately rushed to rescue them.
"Lady Demet....!"
"It's okay! Lady Demeter is safe!"
Tears fell—!
"I'm so sorry we were so late!"
Elfi couldn't stop her tears, overwhelmed by the joy of saving them and the guilt of taking so long.
"They're alive, Captain!"
"The hostages are safe!!"
Including Raul's group, the majority of the kidnapped Demeter Familia members were rescued.
"Please!"
"Leave it to me. Just cover your ears!"
Ray, the Xenos, also joined the rescue operation, using her abilities to their maximum potential.
"Aaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ray had split from Loki to join Alicia's group. Her precise echolocation was perfect for finding hidden rooms.
Even the smallest air vent was enough for her to pinpoint a hostage's location.
"Move the [Demeter Familia] immediately! Only emergency first aid! Full recovery comes later!"
With the mana pathways destroyed and the regeneration of the green flesh slowed, hostages were rescued one after another from the deep prisons.
Among them were those who hadn't just been held, but murdered as an example.
"Horrible.... this is too horrible.....!!"
—Kiiaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!
"Mr. Kurusu!!!"
A massive Man-eating Flower opened its maw to swallow the horrified Kurusu.
"Kh!?"
'This is bad...!'
These Man-eating Flowers were far stronger than normal, having been absorbed by the green flesh and spat out as enhanced interceptors. Even Kurusu's group from the Loki Familia's second tier was struggling.
Sunder—!!!
""""!!!""""
"[Fire Bolt]."
Before them appeared Bell, who had grown even further since returning from the expedition.
"Bell Cranel....!?"
Dash—!!
"What!?"
"Wait, don't! You can't take those numbers alone!"
The Loki Familia members thought he was being reckless, unaware of just how much Bell had evolved as an adventurer.
Whirl—!!
Though the effect of [Level Boost] had worn off, Bell was more than capable of carving through the monsters before him with pure skill.
Clang—!!!
Whoosh—!!!!
Using his Goliath Scarf like a rope for high-speed 3D maneuvers, Bell bound the flowers together before drawing his daggers.
Slash—!!!
A clean bisection. There was no other way to describe the surgical precision of his technique.
Slash-slash-slash—!!!!!
"More....!!"
'Faster! More skillfully!'
Even so, Bell was determined to grow even further to reach the goal he aimed for. His display left the others in a state of profound shock.
'I can't help but laugh at this point.....'
'Level 4 in six months.... but his actual combat power is Level 5....!!'
"Unbelievable...."
Furthermore, they saw the overlapping shadows of their own heroes, Akumo and Aiz, within him.
"Good, with this....!"
Everyone at Welf's location thought the same.
"With this, we can do it!!"
But at that very moment—
Boom—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
""""!!!??"""""
Akumo, Finn, and Akuo could feel it clearly.
"""It is not over."""
With that, Akuo finally arrived at the battlefield.
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