The Hestia Familia was small, but as their business ventures grew, their living conditions improved significantly. Altair, aware of the need for security, took precautions seriously. Though he was invincible among adventurers, his family wasn't, and protecting them was paramount. Like a certain famous armored hero, he harbored a fear, not of his own firepower lacking, but of insufficient defenses to shield his loved ones.
Orario, the city of adventurers, was also a hotbed of crime beneath its polished surface. Even the Loki Familia, a powerhouse, stationed nightly guards. Altair knew the Hestia Familia needed robust protection.
Back at their old church, with its single entrance and limited space, Altair's defense was a simple ring of landmines. But with the City of Ideals as their new base, he upgraded their security significantly.
First, he used a magic stone energy converter from his workshop to install a high-voltage electric fence around the compound, marked with clear "High Voltage" signs. I've warned you, if you climb it, don't blame me.
Zzt,
Aisha's hands barely touched the wires when her hair stood on end, her body seizing up. Fortunately, she hadn't gripped them tightly, so after a brief moment of paralysis, she collapsed backward with a thud, twitching on the ground.
The two Amazons waiting in the shadows stared, dumbfounded. What's going on? Why did the deputy leader collapse?
Uncertain whether to act or stay hidden, they hesitated. Ishtar Familia's strict hierarchy meant severe punishment for disobeying orders, so they remained in place, trusting Aisha's actions had a purpose.
Aisha lay there for over twenty minutes before recovering, her high-level adventurer resilience helping her withstand the shock. Altair's electric fence was designed to stun, not kill, considerate, in case a family member accidentally triggered it.
"Damn it!" Aisha growled, glaring at the wires. She'd assumed they were mere decoration, not infused with lightning magic. No wonder there are no patrols, even a small base should have guards.
But a non-lethal lightning spell as their only defense? That's overly optimistic, she thought. After stretching to shake off the stiffness, she eyed the fence's height, sprinted forward, crouched, and leaped. Soaring past the Olympic high-jump record, she spun mid-air and landed gracefully inside the compound.
"Hmph, this is their idea of security in Orario? How naiv, "
Crack,
The ground gave way beneath her.
A trap!
Aisha, seasoned in combat, instantly recognized it. She spread her legs to brace against the pit's edges, preventing a fall.
Hiss,
A sharp pain shot through her feet. Her eyes widened, she'd landed on spikes.
The trap wasn't just a pit lined with spikes at the bottom; the walls were studded with them too, leaving no safe foothold.
Gritting her teeth against the agony, Aisha gripped the pit's edge and hauled herself up, her high-level strength allowing her to lift her body with one hand. But as she pulled free, the pain in her feet intensified. Glancing down, she saw bloodied flesh torn away.
Barbed spikes! The spikes were designed to tear flesh when removed, worsening the injury.
That bastard dared damage my feet! Aisha fumed, slamming her fist into the ground.
As an Amazon, she wore minimal clothing and never shoes, whether in Orario or the dungeon. Her feet, now mangled, were severely compromised.
"I forgot to bring an elixir, damn it!" Aisha muttered, tearing her sheer pants to wrap her wounds. The flimsy fabric offered little protection, but it was better than nothing.
"Once this is over, I'll kill him!" she vowed, fury overtaking her. Her plan was simple: find Altair, knock him out with a sedative, deliver him to Ishtar to uncover his leveling secrets, and then make him pay.
Each step sent searing pain through her feet, but her adventurer resilience let her endure. She pressed on.
Duang,
A metallic clang stopped her. Looking down, she saw her ankle caught in a circular trap.
Another trap! Her recent ordeal made her hyper-alert. She leaped upward to avoid falling into another pit.
Boom,
The ground beneath the trap exploded, flames erupting skyward. Aisha was engulfed, launched into the air. After spinning several times, she crashed onto the stone-paved street with a heavy thud.
The two Amazons in the shadows gaped. They'd watched Aisha lie stunned for nearly half an hour, enter the compound, and then, within a minute, get blasted out in a fiery explosion.
What's happening? Was Aisha-sama discovered? Was that magic from their mage?
But the explosion was followed by silence. No movement came from the Hestia Familia's residence, and Aisha lay motionless on the ground.
What does this mean?
Bound by Aisha's order to stay put without her command, the Amazons remained hidden, bewildered but convinced her actions held some deeper purpose.
***
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