Ais' heart sank.
------------------------------
Her ominous premonition had come true.
"Magic has been sealed. Could it be… a curse?"
Such a strange method couldn't possibly be magic, there was only one explanation.
"Hahaha! Did you think we'd dare attack someone who's reached Level 6 without a plan? This is our insurance."
"The operation seems to be going very well, hehehe."
A curse, the complete opposite of magic.
Compared to straightforward magic, curses were shrouded in mystery and unpredictability.
While magic only required mental and magical power to activate, curses demanded a far greater price, such as sacrificing part of one's own attributes.
Because of this, curses often produced effects far more terrifying than magic in battle.
Even with abilities like "Magic Resistance" or "Abnormal Status Resistance," one was still powerless before a curse.
Among known countermeasures, only a few exceptional individuals could resist curses.
For example, the Sage's Reversal Veil, Dea Saint's magic, and finally Fron's Reversal Veil which he had copied from the Sage.
Clearly, the curse affecting Ais this time was a [Magic Seal], a curse capable of sealing the target's magical ability.
For someone like Phryne, who had no magic to begin with, such a targeted curse was meaningless, completely harmless.
But for Ais, whose exceptional magic could even enhance all her attributes at once, the impact was devastating.
From the situation, it was clear that the enemy had planned and prepared meticulously for this day. This was no spontaneous encounter.
Ais realized the enemy's intention almost instantly.
Normally, her fighting style avoided using magic against human opponents, but today, that very habit had allowed their scheme to succeed, much to her frustration.
"Happy, aren't you? This curse wasn't even meant for your Loki Familia, it was prepared for the [King]. But… to deal with you, this is more than enough. As for the other 'abnormal curses,' we won't even need them. You'll serve perfectly as our little test subject before the final battle!"
Her already hideous face twisted even further, becoming almost monstrous. She paid no mind to Ais' deepening expression as she continued to taunt.
"Just imagine, using something like this on the [Nine Hell], turning that arrogant elf into a powerless weakling! Hahaha, wouldn't that be adorable?"
Clang!
A silver sword flashed, slashing toward the giant woman.
But Ais' attack, weakened by the chaos and curse, was nothing more than a futile strike.
The opponent blocked it easily with her massive axe.
"Oh? Still some fight left in you, huh? Too bad it's all in vain."
With that, she raised her giant axe high once more and brought it down toward Ais.
Clang…
Driven into a corner and weakened by the curse, Ais' combat power was reduced to the limit, she could barely withstand the enemy's full-strength blow.
But just then, the axe was stopped by a staff.
A corner of a black cloak fluttered in the wind as a man stepped in.
"What!?"
Phryne stared in disbelief at the man standing before the [Sword Princess], then at the look of a small smile blooming across Ais' delicate face. Rage filled her, she wanted nothing more than to crush him into paste.
"Night Weaver!!!!!!!"
Her hysterical roar echoed, but seeing her swollen, twisted face, Fron merely dug a pinky into his ear with disdain.
"Could you shut up, ugly bitch? That face of yours looks just like a pig at slaughter."
Without moving his right arm, Fron lifted his left leg slightly, then,
BOOM!,
Explosive power burst from his lower leg as he whipped it into her huge frame.
With a BANG, the impact sounded like a sonic boom, followed by Phryne's shrill scream.
"AAAAHHHHH!!"
Whoosh , Her massive body was sent flying at blinding speed, crashing into the warehouse wall with a deafening THUD.
After knocking her back, Fron rested his staff and brushed his golden hair casually.
"Ais, are you alright?"
Ais shook her head silently, but her torn, tattered armor said otherwise, the battle had been far from easy.
Seeing her like this only angered Fron even more.
Rage burned within him, though he forced himself to stay calm so Ais wouldn't notice.
"I heard you were ambushed, so I rushed over. Finn and the others should be here soon. I already understand the situation, leave this one to me. Go help Lefiya and Tiona."
"…Alright. But be careful. She's strong."
Fron's expression didn't change at all.
"Don't worry. I've already got enough experience to level up. You think I need magic to deal with her?"
Humans aren't monsters, Phryne is no exception.
Even though she's a giant woman, she's still human.
The biggest difference between humans and monsters… is the body itself. In which, Fron could boast that he was a complete stat monster.
"Then, be careful."
Given the urgency, Ais didn't stay to talk with Fron, whom she hadn't seen for a month, she quickly rushed toward the direction of the Sea cave.
"Well then… let's see. How should I go about properly 'entertaining' you?"
Tucking the staff under his arm, Fron cracked his knuckles and tilted his head slightly, smiling faintly as Phryne rose from the rubble, seething with rage.
"Night! Weaver!"
"Don't shout at me like that. It only makes your weakness and fear more obvious."
"You bastard!"
With her limited vocabulary, that was all Phryne could muster before charging.
Even that small provocation made her lose all reason. Her dark face, twisted with humiliation and fury, seemed to grow even darker.
"I'll kill you!!! AAAAAHHHHH!!!"
With a shriek like a screeching banshee, Phryne's massive, muscular body charged like a tank, twin axes raised high, straight toward the calm, composed Fron.
"What's this? The captain of the Ishtar Familia, and all you can do in human combat is charge recklessly with brute strength and speed?"
Boom!
With a light tap of his toe, Fron's figure blurred, his movements fluid and precise as he slipped through space like a shadow.
Each time, he dodged her attacks by the narrowest margin, effortlessly, as though it were all just a game.