A week had passed since the fiasco on the 24th floor.
Nothing too eventful happened, as Judas had immersed himself in training, spending most of his time meditating and sparring alongside Ais and the others.
'Mana core repair progress is at around 55 percent.'
Judas thought as he opened his eyes.
Around him, he could see fellow members of the Loki Familia going about their routines... sparring with one another, maintaining their weapons, and preparing for what was to come.
With only a few days left before the upcoming expedition, most of them were pushing themselves to the limit, trying to grow stronger while making final preparations.
"Hey, Judas... let's fight."
At the training grounds, an unexpected figure approached him for a sparring match.
"Bete..."
Judas lifted his gaze, meeting the fiery eyes of the silver-furred werewolf.
"You want to test your new Level 6 status against me?"
Judas asked, cracking his neck.
After contributing to the defeat of Revis and Olivas, Bete had earned the qualifications to rank up to Level 6.
That left the Amazon twins trailing behind at Level 5... much to their frustration.
And it wasn't just him.
Alise and Kaguya had also reached Level 6... and before long, the Astraea Familia had officially become an S-ranked exploration familia.
They now stood alongside Loki, Freya, and Ganesha as one of the top factions in Orario.
"Hmph! If you already knew, why bother asking?"
"And besides... I've wanted to fight you at least once since you joined the familia."
Bete snorted, twirling his twin swords while tapping the ground with his boots.
His old pair had been destroyed during the battle on the 24th floor, and right now, a new Flosvirt was being made by the Hephaestus Familia.
Seeing the battle intent leaking from Bete's eyes, Judas didn't refuse.
"Oh? That werewolf is going to fight Judas?"
Tiona, who had been training with her sister, turned her head toward them.
"Oh, Judas versus Bete? Now this is interesting."
Tione added, wiping the sweat from her brow.
Naturally, a crowd began to gather.
"It looks like Bete is finally challenging Judas... I wonder who will win?"
One member of the Loki Familia murmured.
"Are you serious? Of course Judas is going to win... that annoying wolf doesn't stand a chance."
Tiona said, raising her chin proudly.
"That's right... Judas will obviously win. There's no way he'll lose to someone like that foul-mouthed wolf."
"Judas is an amazing human acknowledged by Lady Riveria..."
"A wolf with no manners... who does he think he is, stepping up just because he ranked up?"
A group of female elves chimed in.
They were the Fairy Force... Riveria's squad of elven mages.
During their time training together, Judas had helped them improve, earning both their respect and admiration.
Compared to Bete, whose mouth constantly spewed insults, it was only natural that they supported Judas.
One thing Judas had noticed... his popularity among the female members was quite high.
Though... it didn't really matter to him.
"Oi! I can hear you lot!"
Bete snapped, pointing in their direction.
"Especially you! You lousy Amazon!"
"If you don't shut up, I'll beat you into the ground just like last time."
Tiona hmphed.
"Dumb wolf... just wait until I reach Level 6."
She still remembered the embarrassing defeat she suffered when they sparred after Bete leveled up.
"Judas! Beat him up... you have to avenge me!"
Tiona shouted.
'These two really don't get along... do they?'
Judas thought, shaking his head.
He had lost count of how many times he'd seen them argue.
Still... he knew there was no real hostility between them.
For lack of a better description, it was more like the bickering of siblings who would never admit they tolerated each other.
'Bete isn't exactly the type who gets along easily with people.'
'But then again, there are all kinds in this world.'
Judas recalled how some women were oddly drawn to certain "bad boy" types.
His gaze drifted briefly to a quiet, glasses-wearing human girl watching from the side... likely the only person in the entire crowd who was quietly rooting for Bete.
'Line, was it?'
Her voice was soft enough that most people probably hadn't registered she was even there.
"Enough! Let's just get on with it!"
Bete shouted, taking his stance.
Ignoring Tiona's exaggerated mocking faces directed at him, he shifted his focus entirely on Judas.
Judas stepped forward and took his stance as well, activating his strengthening magic to bridge the gap between their levels.
The clash began.
It had started as a casual warmup before gradually, almost imperceptibly, turning serious.
The people watching had been forced to create distance just to avoid getting caught in the fallout.
The training grounds were soon littered with small craters.
Shockwaves rippled through the air with every exchange.
To most of them, the power of Level 6 was beyond comprehension.
All they could see were blurred figures...
And violent bursts of force erupting across the field.
Yet that only made it more exciting.
The moment both fighters shifted into high gear...
Bete began to feel the pressure.
'Tsk... damn it. I'm getting pushed back... it feels like I'm fighting Gareth. This bastard is a monster.'
He clicked his tongue internally as he threw himself sideways, the spot he had just vacated now encased in towering spires of ice several dozen meters tall.
'His instant casting is the real problem. I have to keep moving or I'll get buried.'
Despite holding the advantage, Judas found it difficult to decisively finish the fight.
As a beastkin, Bete's agility was extraordinary.
Even back at Level 5, he was slightly faster than Finn and the others.
There was a reason he was called the fastest in the familia.
'And this is without the moon... or beastification.'
Without [Penitent Executioner] boosting him, Judas could no longer call upon the Level 7 strength he had displayed a week ago.
However, in this situation...
'I don't need it.'
He rolled his shoulders, cracked his knuckles, and closed the distance.
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