"Hah... I was wondering what kind of ugly schmuck was behind that mask, but it turns out you're even worse than I imagined."
Bete approached, a feral expression etched across his face.
"You're fucking kidding me... h-how can I lose? Me? The one chosen by her!"
Olivas shouted as he struggled to lift his head.
Even as his body trembled, his mind refused to accept the outcome.
"Olivas Act huh? I heard about you... a real scumbag... the lowest of the low."
"A dead man should've stayed dead. You're going to regret stepping on my turf."
Bete said as he raised his dual swords.
"Don't get cocky! It's not over yet you damn mutt!"
"Violas! Help me!"
Olivas yelled with desperation.
His eyes were bloodshot now, veins bulging as desperation bled into his voice.
At his command, the man-eating plant monsters reacted instantly.
The Violas surged forward, their grotesque maws opening wide, shrill screeches ripping from their throats as they charged straight toward Bete.
"Tch..."
Bete exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders as he raised his twin swords.
His stance lowered, muscles coiling as killing intent flared.
But just before they could clash...
CRASH—!
The sharp sound of shattering glass exploded across the battlefield.
Bete's ears twitched.
His head snapped to the side just in time to see two figures hurled through the air like cannonballs.
They slammed directly into the charging Violas with overwhelming force before crashing into ground and leaving long trails as they skidded to a halt.
"Hoh... looks like things've gotten chaotic here... just like I imagined."
The rough, gravelly voice reached Bete's ears.
"Gareth... it's about time you showed up. I thought you'd gone and taken a nap."
Bete snorted as he turned his head.
From the cloud of dust, the dwarf emerged.
Though short, he was no less imposing, an axe resting casually on his shoulder.
"Hoh... don't be too hard on this old man, Bete."
Gareth replied as he strode forward, axe in hand.
"It's not like I was standing around doing nothing."
He briefly shifted his gaze toward Finn's ongoing battle before turning his attention back to Revis and the masked woman, who staggered... yet still forced themselves upright.
"Let's finish this quickly so we can help them out. Whoever Finn and the others are fighting... that fellow seems no weaker than Ottar."
Gareth said with a huff, eyeing their opponents.
"Don't tell me what to do, I was already planning on it anyway."
Bete replied with a grin.
Just as they were about to charge forward...
An unexpected turn of events unfolded.
"For Lord Thanatos!"
A large group of figures clad in white robes suddenly burst onto the battlefield, sprinting toward them with reckless abandon, their eyes burning with crazed fervor.
"Huh? Who are these guys?"
Bete halted mid-step, confusion flashing across his face.
The answer came an instant later.
One of the robed figures tore open his garment, revealing what lay beneath... something that made even veteran adventurers widen their eyes.
"Shit! They strapped themselves with bombs! These lunatics!"
Without a shred of fear or hesitation, the followers of Thanatos hurled themselves straight into the heart of the battlefield, activating the explosives strapped to their bodies.
BOOOOOOM!!
A chain of explosions ripped through the area, fire and shockwaves detonating almost simultaneously.
...
In the streets of Orario... particularly in the northern district... the distant sounds of explosions echoed without pause.
Standing by the window and watching Violas run rampant while adventurers fought desperately to hold them back, Loki couldn't help but click her tongue.
"Jeez, they're really making a mess of things."
The goddess of mischief shook her head before turning away from the window and dropping into a nearby chair.
"U-Um, Goddess... what are we doing in a bar? Shouldn't we be heading to an evacuation shelter?"
Ren asked, worry written plainly across his face.
Hearing this, Loki turned toward him and raised an eyebrow.
At the moment, they were inside one of the rooms of the Hostess of Fertility... a place Loki had deliberately chosen to hide, knowing exactly who occupied it.
"Trust me when I say this... this place is a lot safer than any shelter in Orario."
Her tone was firm enough that Ren didn't question it further, choosing to trust his goddess.
"Is Judas going to be okay?"
A feminine voice spoke up, laced with concern.
They turned to see Judas lying on the bed, his head resting in Syr's lap.
"Don't worry, Syr. The injuries he sustained have already healed. He's just suffering from Mind Down for now."
Ryuu said gently, trying to ease her friend's worries.
"Meow~ could you turn him over? I wanna pat his butt, nyaa~"
Chloe purred cutely.
"Did Mr. Black Hair get beat up by my brother again, nyaa~?"
Anya asked innocently, her tail swaying back and forth.
"You two... don't bother him while he's still recovering."
Lunoire sighed, shaking her head in exasperation.
Watching Judas surrounded by the beautiful waitresses of the Hostess of Fertility, Loki and Ren both felt a vein begin to pulse on their foreheads as their teeth ground together.
'Fucking harem protagonist...'
Loki felt a powerful urge to march over and smack Judas across the head.
'This lucky bastard. Go die and never reincarnate!'
Ren had never experienced envy this intense in his entire life.
"Alright, everybody out! Scram! Shoo!"
Loki finally snapped.
If she had to endure even one more second of that scene, she was convinced a blood vessel would burst purely from envy.
The waitresses left one by one.
Chloe clearly resisted, but was eventually dragged out by Lunoire and Ryuu.
Then a massive tremor suddenly rocked the building, causing the entire room to shake.
A vase perched atop a nightstand toppled over and shattered against the floor.
A bad feeling washed over Loki.
She rushed to the window... and her usually slit eyes widened the moment she saw it.
In the distance loomed a colossal monster, far larger than the Viscum she had seen earlier.
"What the hell is that thing...?"
Loki muttered under her breath, disbelief creeping into her voice.
A few seconds passed before realization struck.
"That direction... that's where my house is."
Her eyelid twitched violently.
"You've got to be kidding me."
A demi-spirit had been unleashed.
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