"Why did it come to this...?"
I muttered quietly, staring at the scene before me.
Right now, I'm on the 11th floor of the dungeon, a pretty large room that's off the regular route. That part's fine.
In front of me stand about thirty adventurers, all readying their weapons. A little further back are the senior members of the Loki Familia, including Finn. Behind them are the lower- and third-rank adventurers of the Loki Familia.
Yes, those in front of me are the mid-level adventurers of the Loki Familia, mostly Level 3s and Level 4s.
"They're not just some random Level 2s. Their skills and tactics are way better. Everyone, fight like you're up against the floor boss Monster Rex!"
"Yeah!"
"No, no, no! Please stop!"
I protested to Raul, who's giving the orders, but he clearly isn't listening.
After cursing the charging adventurers, I charged straight into their ranks.
πβββββββββββββπ
How did things come to this? The story goes back to yesterday.
Yesterday, there was an emergency divine meeting, the Denatus, where the format for the war game between the Hestia Familia and the Apollo Familia was discussed.
At that time, Hermes-sama secured my participation as promised. However, fighting the leader of the Apollo Familia was strictly forbidden.
Though I had my doubts, I decided to leave that to Bell and accept it.
What shocked me was what happened next. Hermes-sama imposed a restriction on me.
The use ofwas banned. That was the condition Hermes-sama laid down.
...Well, I can understand his reasoning. The war game is going to be broadcast throughout Orario, and if I spam my skills and magic, my status would be completely exposed.
Luckily, I'm not that bad at fighting multiple opponents. But the Apollo Familia has over 100 members. There's no way I can take them head-on without my trump card, Infinite Abyss.
I protested, but it was no use, I had no choice but to accept the condition. Most of the Apollo Familia members are Level 2, and I'm Level 3. Even though they outnumber me, they're lower level, so fighting without going all out might be a skill I'll need in Hermes-sama's Familia.
Still, I thought I should at least train. But when I asked Asfi and the others, it turned out my training partner was already decided.
The next day, today, Tiona showed up at my home to pick me up. I froze, but she dragged me straight to the dungeon and brought me to this room.
There, the Loki Familia seniors, including Finn, were waiting. I learned that Loki-sama had ordered them to help train me.
As a bonus, they were going to strengthen the mid-level ranks, too. I ended up fighting ten mid-level Loki Familia members led by Raul...
And I won.
Well, with only ten people, I could win without using Infinite Abyss... but I ended up lighting a fire under the Loki Familia.
πβββββββββββββπ
"Raul, do you know why you lost just now?"
"...Honestly, I underestimated him because he's Level 2."
"That's right. He's incredibly skilled. Our stats might be higher, but his technique fills the gap. He's at least on par with a First-Class adventurer."
"R-Really!?"
"Yes. Remember, he's not just any Level 2. Keep that in mind and try again."
"Yes, sir!"
πβββββββββββββπ
So, round two. I dodge a sword strike, twist the attacker's wrist, making them drop the sword. I kick the wielder away, collide them with a nearby spear user.
I parry an attack from behind with the sword, punch the attacker in the chin, knocking them out. It's just like the battle with the Black Goliath, but since I ranked up, my awareness is even sharper.
Maybe because there are Level 4s mixed in, and boosted by the effects of Challenger Flux, I managed to pull it off.
"Frontline, dodge!"
The adventurers surrounding me quickly back off. Immediately, various spells fly toward me.
I grab the collar of a fleeing adventurer and use them as a shield.
"Wh-What!?"
The adventurer used as a shield doesn't seem seriously hurt. I apologize briefly and throw them forward, crashing into a stunned mage.
Then I cast Kerykeion, copying one of the spells that was just hurled at me.
Fifteen minutes later, the Loki Familia mid-level group was wiped out again.
πβββββββββββββπ
"Alright, let's have a debrief."
The group from earlier, except Lefiya who's busy healing my battered self, gathered before Finn and the others.
"Raul, what caused the defeat this time?"
"...Our members were shocked that they were turned into shields, then unsettled by the magic being copied. That caused a breakdown in command."
"Exactly. But what kind of magic was that? Riveria, what do you think?"
"Well... The magic he cast seemed weaker and slower compared to what our members cast. Even considering the stats difference."
"So that means his magic is different from Lefiya's summoning magic?"
"Yeah. I don't know the activation conditions, but since the conditions are lower than Lefiya's Elf Ring, the power is probably lower too."
"Got it. Taking that into account, we'll try again!"
Reenergized, the Loki Familia members charged at me once more.
"Well, this is getting hard to tell whose training this is."
"Let it be. Sorry to put him through this, but it's good practice for our members to face someone strong. ...By the way, Bete, you've been glaring at him for a while. Something wrong?"
"Hmph, nothing."
"Just so you know, we won't be joining this training. If we did, it wouldn't be training anymore."
"...Yeah, you're right."
In front of Finn and the others, Raul's group closed in on me. I parried their attacks with the translucent white staff from earlier.
"Huh, looks like he knows how to use a staff."
"But that won't be enough. I'll teach him later."
"Thanks, Riveria."
After battling Raul's group and receiving Riveria's staff training, I was completely exhausted by the end of the day.
Incidentally, several adventurers who fought me and took turns with Raul later ranked up.
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