"Pah, still the same. When will you get your head straight, Argana."
-----------------------
Regarding Tione's attitude, Argana revealed a rough smile.
"That's right, still that annoying little child. Though you've grown up now… you're still just as annoying, Tione. Today I'll smash your face with my fists, remember well the fear of being dominated by me!"
With that, Argana flicked her braided hair, leapt lightly, and in midair her long leg became a crescent-moon blade, tearing through the air as it slashed toward Tione.
"I'm not the same me from a few years ago, don't underestimate me, you old spinster!"
The twins and the strongest warriors from the Telskyura clashed!
...
"Hm? That's Tione? And the one she's fighting… could it be one of the other two twins from the Telskyura? Is it Bache or Argana? It should be Argana."
On the stone-paved road by the coast, Fron's swiftly moving figure stopped.
By the faint moonlight, he narrowed his eyes, gazing at the sole boat on the shimmering lake surface.
Faintly, two figures stood locked in fierce combat on the deck. That style of martial arts let him immediately recognize it, it was truly from that nation.
And the surging aura revealed in the battle further confirmed one person's identity.
"Well, both are level 6. Tione won't be defeated that easily, let alone…"
At this, Fron paused, glanced once toward Orario, then, with a meaningful smile, his figure wavered slightly and vanished from sight.
...
"--Awoooooooh!"
As Fron drew closer, the roars of monsters and the clashing of weapons and armor reached his ears from the rocky beach ahead.
Pushing through thick shrubs, Fron leapt lightly, and his vision opened wide.
"Violas!?"
Huge monsters wildly swaying, attacking with both body and vine-like tentacles, it was none other than Fron's old acquaintances, the Violas.
In fierce battle with several adventurers, there were fifteen of them in total.
Such enormous size, with potential ability reaching level 3, and they had appeared on the surface, outside Orario, in the town of Melen!
No matter how you looked at it, this was an extremely serious incident!
Level 3 potential, and Violas… if they were to enter the harbor, it would be a catastrophe for the entire Lake.
The town of Melen and the ships coming and going from all over the world, none could escape their claws.
And don't forget, plant-type monsters all have diving abilities!
Back during the 18th Floor monster invasion, Revis had summoned Violas from the water using her abilities.
Frowning, under the magic stone lamps, Fron clearly saw the adventurers fighting them.
"Narvi?" As the highest-leveled member of the party, she had temporarily taken command.
"Mr. Fron!? Did Anakitty's call for aid reach you? Wonderful! Please, go help Miss Ais, she's just ahead! Leave these Violas to us!"
Fron hesitated, but gritted his teeth and quickly ran off.
"Be careful, Narvi. Don't use magic!"
"Don't worry, we already fully understand the Violas' information!" The girl's voice sounded confident, full of spirit.
And indeed, in all Orario, if Loki Familia claimed second place in experience fighting special species, no one would dare claim first.
Thus reassured, Fron slightly eased his worries and continued hurrying toward the place where Ais' aura lay.
...
Less than a kilometer from the Violas' battlefield, beside the abandoned pier warehouse, on the cluttered rooftops, three adventurers appeared.
Ais lifted her head, glancing around, instantly judging that she had been surrounded.
"Hahahahaha! Sword Princess. Today you won't escape. This is the grave I chose for you. How is it? This cold, dark, ruined place, doesn't it suit you perfectly? Wahahahaha!"
", Haruhime, do it!"
"?"
Ais gripped her beloved sword tightly, eyes wary as she observed the enemy. The voice that followed sounded both unfamiliar and strangely familiar.
As the command fell, thick clouds blocked the pale moonlight. In this darkness where even moonlight couldn't reach,
A girl in a black-hooded cloak nodded her head in despair and helplessness.
"[Grow!]"
A melodious song, that was the chant of magic.
"[That power and that vessel. Breadth of wealth and breadth of wishes!]"
-!?
Ais' mouth opened in shock. Though she could not clearly see the caster, the strong, undeniable surge of magic power could not be ignored.
"[Until the bell tolls, bring forth glory and illusion.]"
Dong, dong, dong, within the harbor town of Melen, the sole church's midnight bells rang. Coupled with the chaos caused by monsters and the noise of adventurers fighting, the clear, rhythmic chant was completely concealed.
Ais' golden eyes narrowed.
Could it be, all of this was within the enemy's calculations? Using a greater uproar to conceal a secret weapon. Could it be… this whole chain of monster invasions, Tione and Tiona being forced apart, Lefiya's kidnapping, was it all planned by one person?
If so, that was terrifying.
"[- Grow!]"
With the clear, sweet voice of the girl's song, golden brilliance rose from a corner, eventually forming a rotating golden magic circle in the sky, swirling!
It was golden clouds of mist-like magic, spinning, drifting, gathering countless fantastical golden light particles. Even amid chaos, it was dazzling enough.
Precisely because of magic's dazzling effects, the caster was hidden.
"[Confine divine offerings within this body. This golden light bestowed from above!]"
A gust of wind blew, slightly lifting the hood, revealing part of the girl's face.
It was a rare Renard. Yet contrary to the wondrous magical spectacle, her expression was not happy, in fact… she hated this song.
In her heart, she felt… this song only hurt others.
"[Into the hammer and into the ground, may it bestow good fortune upon you.]"
She had drifted across the sea, sold to Orario as a prostitute. Because she was weak, she could not resist the fate imposed upon her. Because she was a prostitute, she did not dare hope for salvation from anyone.
As a shrine maiden, she knew, prayer and salvation were illusions. And yet, only this golden "light" was her sole hope in her heart.
Hope that one day, it would no longer hurt others, but become a light of blessing.
"[- Grow!]"
That power, called Level boost, blossomed!