"ROOOOOAR——!!!"
The moment the battle began, the Amazons, fully aware that their high-end combat strength was far inferior to Freya Familia's, made their decision without hesitation.
They severed the iron chains binding the monster's limbs and set it free.
The instant its restraints disappeared, the creature threw back its head and roared. Its four legs kicked against the ground, sending its enormous body charging straight toward Freya Familia.
The earth seemed to tremble with every step.
Wherever its hooves landed, the soil sank dozens of centimeters beneath its weight.
If anyone took that charge head-on, even if they somehow survived, their career as an adventurer would probably end then and there.
Aside from a handful of Level 5 and above adventurers whose fighting spirit immediately surged at the sight, nearly every member of Freya Familia reached the same conclusion.
Then, in the next instant, the sky seemed to darken.
BOOM!
The earth split apart.
Chunks of soil overturned, and the resulting shockwave became a violent gale that forced everyone nearby to shield their eyes.
"I'll handle this monster."
Ottar's deep voice came from the front of Freya Familia's formation.
"This is Freya-sama's order."
He stood between the monster and the adventurers, gripping his black greatsword with both hands.
Its blade was wedged firmly against the creature's twisted horns, preventing the enormous beast from advancing even a single step.
"So this is the Corrupted Spirit Freya-sama mentioned..."
Ottar murmured too quietly for anyone else to hear.
The black greatsword in his hands returned a sensation like striking solid steel, causing his eyes to narrow.
The weapon's full name was [Supreme Black Sword].
Ottar had personally defeated the [Lone King of the Labyrinth], claimed its drop item, then spent nearly four hundred million Valis commissioning every available smith in Goibniu Familia to forge the resulting weapon.
In other words, as long as no god personally intervened, [Supreme Black Sword] could undoubtedly be counted among the strongest weapons currently existing in Orario.
For the monster to withstand a frontal strike from that weapon meant only one thing.
"The [King] is tied down! Now's our chance!"
Seeing the strongest adventurer in Freya Familia occupied by the monster, the Amazons of Ishtar Familia excitedly raised their weapons and rushed forward.
In an instant, Folkvangr was drowned in the sound of clashing steel and splashing blood.
Yet just as the battlefield began descending into something even bloodier, the monster suddenly did something no one expected.
The female body growing from its upper half leaned backward slightly.
Its lips moved.
Then—
"Fire, come forth."
The sudden chant froze the thoughts of everyone fighting nearby for several seconds.
Then realization exploded through the battlefield.
"W-Was that a chant?!"
Someone in the crowd shouted in disbelief.
"Impossible. Something that filthy can use magic...?"
Unlike the simple shock on the faces of the other adventurers, Hedin looked as though he fundamentally refused to accept reality.
One of the greatest advantages elves possessed over humans was that they were naturally born with command over at least one form of magic.
The ability to wield magic had practically become part of elven pride.
Yet this filthy creature, as Hedin saw it, had repeatedly trampled upon that pride.
How was he supposed to calmly accept such a thing?
Regardless of his feelings, however, the monster's chant continued.
"Roar, roar, vortex of flame. Scarlet cliff, howl of infernal fire."
The long incantation flowed from its mouth with astonishing fluency.
A gigantic magic circle unfolded beneath its feet, large enough to encompass every adventurer present.
"With the power of the rising gale, seal the world. Burning sky, burning earth, burning sea, burning spring, burning mountains, burning life."
"Reduce all things to scorched earth. Sound the horn of rage and lamentation. As the price, offer the life of the hero I love—"
Magic steadily gathered inside the enormous formation.
Within moments, its density had become impossible to ignore.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
This time, it was not only Freya Familia that felt their hearts tighten.
Even the Amazons of Ishtar Familia stared uneasily at the magic circle.
Ishtar had never told them the monster could use magic.
Much less a spell with an incantation so long that merely hearing it made the power behind it obvious.
Their heads began to ring.
Every instinct they possessed screamed the same warning.
The monster intended to kill them along with Freya Familia.
"Eternal—"
"No, no. You're not allowed to take your eyes off this beautiful body of mine!"
Before Hedin could complete his chant, Phryne's axe came crashing toward him.
"I've never felt this good before!"
"Stop getting in my way, you disgusting toad!"
Hedin had tried to interrupt the monster's spell, but the incoming axe forced him to turn White Elf's Staff and block with its sword end.
He had originally intended to finish Phryne quickly so he could carry out Freya's orders.
Instead, the Amazon kept pressing him relentlessly.
She was supposedly only Level 5.
Yet even Hedin, a Level 6, could not spare enough attention to deal with anything else.
'Wait... Level 5?'
Hedin's gaze swept across the battlefield.
He immediately noticed that he was not the only one being held up.
Allen, another Level 6 of Freya Familia, had been surrounded by dozens of Level 3 Amazons.
It was obvious that given enough time, Allen could defeat every single one of them.
But for ordinary Level 3 adventurers, merely avoiding being knocked unconscious by Allen in a single strike was already an extraordinary achievement.
Normally, only a tiny handful of elites at that Level should have been capable of such a feat.
Yet Ishtar Familia had six or seven people displaying exactly that level of ability.
Ishtar Familia should not possess that many elites.
If it did, the Familia would be famous for far more than merely controlling the Pleasure Quarter.
But the fact that they were successfully delaying Allen could not be denied.
No matter how Hedin examined the situation, something was wrong.
Unless...
'These Amazons aren't actually Level 3.'
"Hmph. You should be starting to notice by now."
From a rooftop platform overlooking Folkvangr, Ishtar gazed down at the battlefield beneath her.
Her bare brown foot rested against the stone as she took a deep pull from the smoking pipe in her hand.
A vicious expression completely at odds with her beauty spread across her face.
"If the Killing Stone had been ready, I wouldn't have needed to waste this much money buying Grimoires in bulk."
She smiled coldly.
"But this is the secret weapon I prepared especially for you."
"So enjoy it properly."
Information.
Her body.
Money.
Ishtar had sacrificed far too much for this day.
Yet whenever she imagined tearing apart that woman's false smile, every sacrifice suddenly felt worthwhile.
"Heh... Hehehe... Hahahahahahaha!"
The thought alone eventually sent her into delighted laughter.
"I really wish I could see the expression on your face right now, Freya!"
"Even if you regret everything now, it's already too late!"
Ishtar spread her arms as she looked over the burning battlefield.
"I've already had this entire place surrounded. Not a single person will be allowed inside."
"All that remains is to wait for the [Bull of Heaven] to slaughter every last one of your children."
Her smile widened into something almost manic.
"So stay up there in the Tower of Babel and watch!"
"This is my revenge against you!"
…