Chapter 14: Total Annihilation!

Before the two front-line soldiers could even catch their breath, the familia members who had completed their chants unleashed their magic attacks. Though the strength of each spell varied, under the influence of Riveria's "Fairy King Seal," their combined power created a formidable deterrent.

Standing out among them was Corina, an LV4 mage. Known for her devastating lightning spells, her attacks crackled with intensified fury, the pale bolts of thunder engulfing one of the dark faction's shield warriors in an instant. With a piercing scream, the man's body crumpled, smoke curling from his scorched armor. Those nearby caught the faint, sickening scent of burnt flesh.

The scene was terrifying, a clear message to the dark faction soldiers: survival was uncertain here. One of them, rattled by the threat to his life, felt his resolve crumble. As a member of the dark faction, loyalty to his comrades was fleeting. In his eyes, teammates were dispensable.

'Isn't this just one of Sol's squad members?' he thought, 'Then how powerful must Riveria, the top mage of Orario, truly be?' This wasn't anything like the weaker defenses they had breached before. He was already beginning to regret joining the assault on the Sol familia.

"Out of my way, you worthless fools!" Before he could even consider retreat, two dark shadows shot past him like gusts of wind.

The dark faction's elven soldiers were clearly well-organized, a mix of mages, shield warriors, archers, assassins, and support roles. Apate had clearly invested great effort in their training, and it showed. Unfortunately, he'd chosen the wrong opponents—these soldiers would not be leaving alive.

Corina locked her gaze on one of the assassins, preparing to strike him with another spell, but the man was fast. He darted forward, his dagger slashing through the air, though he was forced to slow as electric arcs crackled around him.

Just then, another dark faction member snuck up, reaching into his boots to pull out two brilliant magic swords, their colors gleaming ominously. With swift movements, he drove the swords into the ground in front of the barrier. The ensuing explosion turned the entire courtyard into chaos, the ground itself shaking so violently that Sol's familia members struggled to stay upright. Worse still, cracks spread across the barrier protecting them.

'The power of these magic swords...' Sol thought, watching the aftermath with narrowed eyes. 'These aren't weapons an ordinary LV6 could wield.' No blacksmith in Orario could forge such potent swords today. 'Where did Apate even get these relics?'

Evidently, the dark faction had spared no expense for this assault, investing heavily just to breach Sol's defenses.

"Well, I'm flattered they think so highly of me," Sol muttered, a dark smile tugging at his lips.

"Without that damned barrier, you'll all submit to me soon enough!" Apate's maniacal laughter echoed from the distance, his excitement growing as he sensed victory drawing near.

"Tsk," Sol clicked his tongue, casting an annoyed look at Apate. "That smug grin of his is absolutely revolting." His eyes held only a fierce, cold intent.

Even if the magic swords did manage to shatter the barrier, it would hardly matter. These intruders clearly hadn't grasped the gulf that lay between themselves and Riveria. Who, after all, did they think the barrier was truly protecting?

With her focus freed from maintaining the barrier, Riveria herself was now unrestrained. Her opponents had no idea what kind of wrath was about to be unleashed upon them.

Sol marveled at their audacity. 'Did these insignificant underlings really think they could cause trouble here without at least two LV7s by their side?' It seemed he'd spent so long playing the underdog that these fools had started to believe he really was one.

He resolved to show them otherwise—and send Apate back to the heavens to think on his arrogance.

Then, as if in perfect sync with Sol's intent, Riveria's voice rang out with a commanding chant, her expression fierce:

"Sword of the Sturtle, hear my call. Flames of relentless destruction, surge forth; your karmic fire devours tyranny. Become the war horn, the unstoppable, merciless red lotus flame, bringing an end to all and consuming the battlefield—my name is Alf!"

As Riveria chanted her "Advanced Sword of Victory," her words filled the air, carrying a weight that silenced everything else. The elven soldiers felt a wave of dread; as LV5s, they were attuned to the intensity of magic. Even those artificially elevated by drugs could sense the fatal power amassing before them.

"Something's wrong with her—very wrong! Damn it!" one of the assassins muttered, fear setting in.

"Retreat now! That lying guild—who said Riveria is LV5?"

'We've been completely duped!' The two assassins who had launched the initial assault realized, with a sinking dread, the gravity of their mistake. They alone understood the force behind those magic swords: a blow equivalent to a peak LV6 attack, carefully crafted by Apate over years to take on the likes of the Loki or Freya familias. Yet, incredibly, it hadn't even destroyed Riveria's barrier.

At that moment, a myriad of fire pillars erupted from the ground. Only a handful of soldiers managed to flee; the rest were immediately consumed by flames. And Riveria was hardly finished. Under her control, the fire pillars grew, connecting into a single inferno that engulfed the yard.

The heat singed the faces of those who had narrowly escaped, their clothes and hair igniting as the flames closed in. Mercy was absent from the scene; soon, only the crackling of flames consuming the vegetation remained.

Apate stood frozen in disbelief, watching the army of elite soldiers he had carefully cultivated reduced to ashes by a single spell.

"Sol, you sly trickster! You've hidden your strength all along, haven't you!?"

Sol responded coolly, stepping forward, "Compared to the atrocities your faction has committed, my concealment is a mere trifle~"

With the tables decisively turned, Sol advanced toward Apate, Riveria shielding his every move. Sol was not one to leave things unfinished. Before Apate could even attempt retaliation, Sol seized his throat, lifting him high off the ground.

There were, of course, many ways to banish a god back to the heavens. But the simplest was also the most direct: destroy their earthly form.