What does it feel like to wield a hundred million valis to slay monsters?
Such a scenario, which only appears in ads boasting 'Dragon-Slaying Treasure Blade, instant farming, 999 damage per hit,' was now unfolding before Noah's eyes.
As the beloved mascot of the Loki Familia, Ais was indeed cherished by everyone.
Aside from a certain rabbit, which other Familia would equip their Level 2 child with such an overpowered weapon?
Within the Hephaestus Familia, there existed a privilege unavailable to outsiders: Equipment rental.
For a certain fee, one could rent high-grade equipment forged by the experts within the Familia.
Of course, there was one condition: rental was only permitted when partying with high-level members of the Familia.
This was understandable.
After all, those pieces of equipment often cost tens of millions.
What if a newbie rented one and got robbed? Or if they died in the Dungeon, the weapon would be lost forever.
Even with such a benefit, wielding a hundred-million-valis armament remained an exceedingly distant dream.
Only the handful of adventurers at the very peak of Orario could use equipment of this caliber.
Combined, their numbers might not even reach twenty—no, perhaps not even ten.
Such was the weight of a hundred million valis!
'Gulp.'
'I really want to give it a try...'
With Ais joining the battle, the situation turned completely one-sided.
The two coordinated seamlessly, seizing an opening.
Alicia unleashed a full-force strike, her short sword plunging deep into the blind spot of the One-Eyed Lizard—the back of its head.
Clang!
Noah stared in shock at the transformed status of the Enhanced Species.
[Crystallization : Allows the skin to harden into crystalline form, completely negating mid-level 2 attacks and significantly reducing damage from upper-level 2 attacks. Simultaneously, resistance to ice attributes is greatly weakened.]
"An Enhanced Species can do this too? This differs quite a bit from the Adventurer's Handbook description," Noah muttered.
Noah shouted, "Miss Alicia, use magic! The Enhanced Species is weak to ice! Physical attacks can't break through its defense!"
As if provoked by his words, Ais's aura shifted entirely, her body enveloped in a swirling gust of cyan wind.
"Awaken Tempest!"
The girl activated her sole magic and charged forward recklessly.
Tempest.
By harnessing the power of wind, she could enhance herself, create barriers to deflect attacks, or wrap it around her weapon to boost its power and penetration.
"Wind-enchanting magic." Noah watched with pleasant surprise as Ais used her signature ability, observing intently.
Tempest utilized wind energy.
With the effects of the Spell-Weaver, he should be capable of the same.
Carefully studying Ais's application now would greatly aid him in fully mastering the Spell-Weaver's potential.
A hurricane descended.
The Sword of Despair, wrapped in the raging wind, struck the Enhanced Species' crystallized skin, leaving a visible crack.
It was foreseeable that maintaining this offensive rhythm would lead to victory sooner or later.
However, Alicia chose this moment to stop Ais.
"Wait, Ais! Leave this Enhanced Species to me. Buy me some time for chanting."
As an experienced adventurer, Alicia's considerations ran deeper.
After all, their destination today was the 7th Floor.
Wasting too much stamina on an Enhanced Species here was unwise.
While Ais's approach guaranteed victory, it would also drain a significant amount of her energy.
Always retaining enough strength to handle unexpected situations was one of the adventurer's tenets.
Though reluctant, Ais complied with Alicia.
Thanks to the immense agility boost from Tempest, the One-Eyed Lizard's clumsy attacks couldn't touch her—she toyed with it effortlessly.
Suddenly, the One-Eyed Lizard shifted direction.
It happened too abruptly, even Ais, who was maintaining distance to lure it, failed to react in time.
The One-Eyed Lizard faced Alicia and opened its maw!
"It's Tongue Bind!"
Noah realized the monster's intent the moment it moved.
The One-Eyed Lizard could extend its tongue—a rare ranged attack among upper-floor monsters.
Drawn by the mana, it was targeting Alicia who was in the midst of chanting!
Swish!
The crimson tongue shot out, about to strike Alicia in the blink of an eye.
'This thing truly possessed a degree of intelligence!'
Its earlier clumsiness was an act—a ploy to lull them into carelessness before ambushing the party's mage!
Such was the Dungeon.
Always ready to teach adventurers a lesson the moment they grew overconfident.
Taro reacted in time, but he was too slow.
With his agility, he couldn't reach Alicia before the attack landed.
Faster than thought was instinct.
Noah activated Raven Feather-Modified almost the instant the One-Eyed Lizard opened its mouth.
He needed speed and enough explosive force.
'That's right, use the wind.'
The ambient elements alone weren't enough, he had to pour in mana as well!
"I've seen it once already, so it should be fine. I can do this!"
He recalled it—that raging wind!
"Mana Impact・Wind!"
Cyan winds converged, forming a blade of wind that he hurled forward.
The wind blade collided with the One-Eyed Lizard's tongue mid-air, holding for only a moment before dispersing.
But its force was enough to deflect the long tongue.
The tongue was no longer a threat.
To attack again, it would have to retract its tongue first—much like Iaido, which couldn't be performed without a scabbard.
"RAGHHHH!"
Taro charged forward, clamping the One-Eyed Lizard's tongue under his arm, then mustered all his strength to restrain it.
"Well done!"
"Thank you, Taro."
"Ha! Getting to show off my manly side in front of a beauty—such chances are rare!"
The One-Eyed Lizard thrashed its long tongue in agitation.
Taro, who'd been reveling in his cool moment, was now dragged and flung about—smashing into walls one moment, crashing onto the ground the next.
Alicia finally completed her chant.
"Freeze! Winter's Binding!"