At the top of the mountain's rocky face, Shirou and the red-haired woman stood facing each other, nearly a thousand meters apart.
Suddenly, Lefiya and Lulune dashed through the passage below them.
"Damn it!"
Sensing Lefiya was in danger, Shirou immediately shifted his strategy and sprinted toward her and her companions.
The woman noticed Lefiya as well.
"The orb!"
Her sharp eyes instantly caught the package in Lefiya's hands, and she charged toward the two.
"Lefiya, get out of the way!"
Hearing a voice from above, Lefiya looked up and saw two figures rushing down toward her.
Feeling the danger, she bolted straight toward Shirou.
"Perfect!"
Thanks to his rapid approach and Lefiya's quick reflexes, Shirou managed to reach her before the woman did.
He raised his katana, Bloedige Glorie, and blocked the woman's strike.
Clang!
The crisp sound of blades clashing echoed through the space.
As he blocked, Shirou felt a violent shock run through his arms. His knuckles cracked, and blood began to seep out.
Heavy—unbelievably heavy.
That was the only thing Shirou could think as he parried her attack.
As expected, he was once again crushed by the sheer difference in their attributes.
Knowing he couldn't defend passively, Shirou tightened his grip on Bloedige Glorie and pushed forward with all his strength—but the woman's reaction speed was clearly greater than his.
She swiftly drew back her blade and blocked his counter.
Then, without hesitation, she kicked forward, slamming Shirou directly against the stone wall.
"Brother!"
Pffft!
Pinned against the rock, Shirou coughed up a mouthful of blood, instantly staining his white haori crimson.
(That kick must have shattered my sternum, he thought grimly, feeling the chaos within his organs.)
"I didn't expect you to come to your companion's rescue. If you hadn't, I really wouldn't have been able to touch you."
"But now, this woman's life is at stake!"
Instead of pressing on Lefiya, the woman shifted her focus, striding slowly toward the gravely wounded Shirou.
"Argh!"
"Brother!"
With Lefiya's support, Shirou struggled to rise from the stone wall.
"How could I call myself a brother if I can't even protect my sister?"
"Brother!"
Seeing Shirou's eyes blazing with determination, Lefiya couldn't hold back her tears. At the same time, her eyes glimmered with light.
"Hmph, such deep sibling affection? Hand over the orb, and I'll spare your lives."
"That's a nice offer… but first, you'll have to surpass the pride of my family!"
"What?"
As Shirou spoke, a golden flash suddenly burst into view.
"Are you alright, Shirou?"
"I'm fine."
With a faint nod, Shirou turned his gaze toward Ais, who now focused on the woman before her.
"Be careful, Ais. This woman may be a Level 6 adventurer."
"I understand."
Heeding Shirou's warning, Ais sharpened her concentration.
As a member of the Loki Familia, she knew well the power of a Level 6 adventurer. After all, her Familia already had three.
After a moment of silence, the two women charged at each other.
Sparks flew as their blades collided in fierce combat.
Their duel intensified, accelerating to the point where only streaks of swordlight remained visible in the air—their figures blurred beyond sight.
"So strong!"
Lefiya stared wide-eyed at the clash. This was a realm of combat she could never hope to reach.
"Ais is losing ground."
Unlike Lefiya, who couldn't clearly gauge their strength, Shirou—with his mental vision and clairvoyance—saw their positions with perfect clarity.
Ais was already being pushed back.
As the pride of the Loki Familia, the Sword Princess Ais Wallenstein possessed immense combat strength.
Against monsters, her power rivaled even Finn, Gareth, and Riveria.
This was thanks to her Skill: Avenger.
A Skill that significantly increased the user's attack power against monsters, and massively enhanced it against dragon-type creatures. Its effect grew stronger in proportion to the user's hatred.
With this long-range amplification, Ais could easily surpass monsters of higher levels.
When consumed by extreme hatred, she could even overwhelm opponents two levels above her.
Against dragons, she was an even greater force.
Thus, once she eventually reached Level 6, Ais would already stand as the Loki Familia's strongest attacker.
But that was only true against monsters.
In combat against humans, not only did she lack the Skill's amplification, but her swordsmanship wasn't suited for such duels.
Unlike Finn, Gareth, and Riveria—who had all honed their abilities through the Dark Eras and perfected their techniques against human foes—Ais's battles had always been within the Dungeon.
Against this woman, Ais simply wasn't a match. She needed support.
Having already consumed the Elixir, Shirou had begun renewing his Falna himself.
Before this fight, all of Shirou's basic abilities—except Endurance—had reached their limits.
But now, even his Endurance had been maximized.
It was time to level up.
"Sorry, Loki… I can't wait for you to do this for me."
Quietly muttering, Shirou felt his Falna begin to change.
At that moment, unable to further increase her speed, Ais bit her lip as the woman's rhythm grew ever faster.
She had no choice but to fight with everything she had.
To protect Shirou and Lefiya, she resolved to use her magic—Ariel.
This spell was far too dangerous and destructive, so Ais had always avoided using it in battles against humans.
But now wasn't the time to hesitate.
"Tempest!"
As Ais chanted the incantation, a surge of wind enveloped her. Imbued with its power, she unleashed an even faster strike, forcing the woman back.
"What?!"
Caught off guard by the unfamiliar magic, the woman's helmet was blown off, revealing her true face.
"The wind earlier… So it was you, Aria!"
At the sound of that name, Ais's golden eyes widened.
Why did this person know that name?
Both froze in shock, silence hanging between them.
"KIIIIIIIIII!!!"
But suddenly, a shrill, wretched scream erupted from the orb cradled in Lefiya's arms.
"Lefiya, throw it away!"
Hearing Shirou's voice, Lefiya immediately hurled the orb from its wrapping.
The fetus, awakened by Ais's magic, burst free.
It scuttled along the wall and landed upon a plant monster.
Then, with another anguished scream, the fetus and the plant fused together unexpectedly.
---
(End of this 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."