Inside the coliseum, the applause and cheers of the crowd roared like thunder.
Admiring the Ganesha Familia's skill in taming monsters, Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya clapped loudly.
They were filled with genuine admiration for such an ability.
However, they soon realized something was wrong. A monster originally meant for the grand finale had suddenly been removed.
Combined with the restless movements of the Ganesha Familia, these unusual signs immediately alerted the three.
"Could something have gone wrong?"
"I think so too."
"Let's go check it out."
Acting without hesitation, the three rose from their seats, weaving through the lively atmosphere and climbing the stairs.
"Goddess Loki!"
Hearing the familiar voice calling Loki's name, Shirou and Riveria also turned their heads.
"Eh, isn't that Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya? Why are you running around instead of enjoying this wonderful celebration?"
"Oh! Why is Riveria here?"
Ignoring Shirou's teasing, the three girls stared at Riveria in shock.
How could she be here?
"Is my presence really that surprising to you?"
Riveria pressed a hand to her forehead, looking helplessly at the three before her. It was already the second wave of shock caused by her appearance that day.
"It is!"
They nodded vigorously, genuinely startled.
"Haha, that's what I said, Riveria. You're usually so strict. I guess, in their eyes, you're already a stubborn old lady, huh?"
At Shirou's diplomatic words, the three instinctively nodded again.
But after years of training under Riveria, they grew cautious and quickly shook their heads—though it was too late.
Riveria, who knew them all too well, had already read their expressions, and her face darkened.
Even she cared when people brought up her age.
"Looks like I'll have to teach you three a lesson when we get home today!"
"Nooo!"
Sensing disaster, the three begged for mercy.
"Alright, Riveria, instead of punishing them, let's deal with the current situation first!"
"Don't worry, I know what's important. We'll deal with them when we get back."
Seeing things had reached that point, Shirou stopped talking and instead asked the three sincerely: "Do you know what happened?"
"I feel like something's going on, but I don't know exactly what."
"In short, the monsters escaped and are roaming around."
"Huh? Isn't that dangerous?"
As seasoned adventurers, the three knew well the dangers of monsters wandering on the surface.
If anything went wrong, the consequences would be severe.
"Exactly. We need to handle this properly. Right now, Ais is already searching for one over there."
Following Shirou's finger, the three spotted Ais standing in a corner of the coliseum.
She was using her magic, Ariel, to sense the surroundings, searching for scattered monsters.
Wreathed in wind, Ais stamped her foot and dashed off.
Launching herself like a bullet, she decisively unleashed a long-range strike.
A golden flash instantly destroyed a monster she had located, and she leapt toward the next.
"As expected of Ais. Her movements are really sharp."
Shirou couldn't help but clap, smiling as he praised her.
He could easily take on the task of killing monsters himself—and with even greater efficiency than Ais.
But he wasn't particularly interested.
After all, there had been no casualties. Freya had acted with a certain sense of integrity, not harming any innocents.
With his vision, he easily spotted the monster chasing Bell.
Should he destroy it or not?
It was a difficult decision.
So, it was better to leave this matter to Ais and simply wait here for the monsters' assault.
"Wow! Looks like we really won't be doing anything!"
Moving across the rooftops, Tiona and the other two stopped.
Although Shirou had said earlier that they weren't needed, they had still followed him under the pretext of helping Ais escape Riveria.
But now, their help was clearly unnecessary, and Tiona couldn't help but sigh.
Yet their trip wasn't in vain. With the ground trembling beneath their feet, a crack suddenly split open.
Amid the screams of bystanders, a long, snake-like monster emerged from the earth.
A chill ran down their spines, and Tiona and the others' faces instantly changed.
"Tiona, that thing is strong!"
"No kidding!"
Its body was slender and covered in smooth skin, while its head—its front—had no eyes or other organs. The yellow-green monster gave the three a strangely familiar feeling.
"Tiona, attack!"
"Got it."
"Lefiya, keep watch and start your chant!"
"Yes!"
The Amazon sisters, their fighting spirit ignited, instantly charged forward. Faced with the serpent monster, they had no choice but to advance.
Sensing their presence, the monster's body lashed out at the two like a whip, but they both dodged.
The clash instantly destroyed the surrounding shops, scattering debris in all directions.
"Take this!"
Dodging the monster's strikes, Tiona and Tione counterattacked simultaneously.
But their attacks had little effect.
The monster's body proved incredibly resistant, barely dented, while the impact bruised their arms.
"Damn, what kind of defense is this?"
"I should've brought my weapons…"
Even while evading its strikes, their own attacks barely harmed it.
Seeing this, Lefiya, standing nearby, began her chant.
[Release a ray of light, arch the limbs of the sacred tree.]
[You are the expert of the bow. Shoot, fairy sniper.]
[Penetrate, arrow of absolute accuracy—Arcs Alio!]
Just as Lefiya finished the last syllable, gathering her magic and preparing to release it, the monster that had been ignoring her suddenly attacked.
With incredible reaction speed, accompanied by a piercing hiss, it shot toward her in an instant.
By the time Lefiya realized, the attack had already reached her.
Memories of the past flooded her mind, and Lefiya ducked down, rolling to the side.
A sharp, whistling sound of wind tore past as she hit the ground beside her.
But it wasn't over.
While rolling, Lefiya quickly recovered her balance, bracing with one hand as she aimed the other at the monster already closing in.
"Arcs Ray!"
A golden flash pierced straight through the monster's body, annihilating it on the spot.
Slowly rising to her feet, Lefiya stared at the monster reduced to ashes, then down at her own hands.
She truly had grown.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."