Chapter 25: Alfia

(Please add it to your Library! Please send Power Stones! Thank you!)

"Veronica, you must be particularly careful not to grow accustomed to the stench of blood. And you as well, Lulu," Riveria added, her tone finally softening after a lengthy lecture. Though her voice had become gentle, the two dared not meet the warmth in her emerald eyes.

Despite Sol's reminder that Lulu was older than she looked, her innocent nature led Riveria to treat her as though she were still a child. She wanted to protect them from growing indifferent to the horrors of killing at such a young age.

"Yes, Riveria-sama," Veronica responded, nodding obediently as Riveria wiped the blood from her face. How long this warning would stay fresh in her mind, she couldn't say, though Riveria only hoped she could be as reassuring as her little sister.

"I've taken care of the leaders—" another family member reported, breaking into the lecture. The rest of the group had nearly finished clearing the battlefield. Those remaining from the dark faction would be sent back to the guild for trial once the operation concluded, but the follow-up work was not something the higher-ranked fighters needed to concern themselves with.

Suddenly—

Rumble—

As Riveria led her team through the industrial zone, the sounds of battle erupted across Orario. Unlike their skirmish, the conflicts in other parts of the city were much more brutal. Innocent people, caught in the dark faction's deadly schemes, were not only being killed but also forcibly used as unwilling vessels for Flame Stones, transforming them into dangerous threats to the city itself.

The booming explosions continued to ripple across Orario, and thick smoke began to obscure the skyline, echoing scenes of the previous night's chaos. Amidst the turmoil, the Astraea family quietly arrived at the secluded residence of the Erebus family—the same church where Hestia and Bell would one day reside.

With so many dark faction members deployed elsewhere, the Astraea family encountered little meaningful resistance approaching the church, leaving them wary of what tricks might lie ahead.

A silken voice suddenly broke the stillness at the church's entrance, carrying a tone of pleasant complaint. "Such a bothersome noise... all this for such a trivial matter, and here it woke me from my sleep."

The alluring, almost musical quality of the voice drew them in, even as its owner emerged—a striking figure in the moonlight, her iconic long silver hair gleaming softly, accentuating her ethereal beauty. She was Alfia.

No adventurer would fail to recognize her, a woman famed for both her beauty and the talents that even the gods marveled at. The moment she appeared, a heavy silence descended upon the space, freezing every member of the Astraea family in place. It was as though their bodies instinctively recoiled, paralyzed in fear by a predator whose strength they could sense on a primal level.

A truly terrifying presence.

"Is it you again? Still such a disruptive lot. Seems nothing's changed since eight years ago," Alfia murmured, her half-closed eyes casting a disdainful glance over them. The invisible weight of her gaze made the sense of danger all the more oppressive.

Though she had not yet made a single move, the pressure alone felt suffocating, as if it might crush them all.

They couldn't afford to stay paralyzed any longer.

Realizing the futility of hesitation, Gojouno Kaguya drew her sword and charged. She was the Astraea family's mightiest, and there was no time for doubt. In this scenario, where the enemy held the upper hand and they were outmatched, the only option was to strike first and strike hard.

"How boring..." Alfia muttered, her expression unfazed by the ambush. As Kaguya launched her surprise attack, Alfia turned gracefully, her movements fluid as water, lifting her left hand to intercept the blade. With two fingers, she caught the tip of Kaguya's katana with perfect precision, holding it firmly despite the force behind it.

Kaguya had given her all, yet the blade remained motionless, stopped by Alfia's effortless grip. Her calm, detached gaze cut far deeper than the blow itself, leaving Kaguya stunned. The very foundation of her strength had been dismantled in an instant.

But there was no time for Kaguya to process the shock. Alfia's free hand shot forward, too swift for the eye to follow, sending Kaguya hurtling backward. She crashed to the ground, her mind reeling from the force that had slammed into her abdomen, a strike so powerful that for a moment, she thought she was going to die.

Seeing one of their strongest warriors defeated so swiftly drained the will of the remaining Astraea family members. Their resolve faltered, each questioning if they could truly succeed in their mission to banish Erebus. Faced with this insurmountable power, doubt crept into their minds.

"Ryuu! Prepare your magic, and Lyra, cover me!" Alise, the captain, refused to stand by as her comrades succumbed to despair. Sensing the wavering morale, she knew it was her duty to restore her team's confidence.

"Burning, burning, burning… full fire." Under the immense pressure, Alise's chant faltered, but she forced herself to complete it. Flames ignited around her arms, legs, and sword, and with this blazing aura, her strength surged.

Empowered by both her magic, 'Agaris Alvesynth', and her rare skill, 'Lubrude Bequia', Alise's energy intensified. Though she was only a Level 3 adventurer, the layers of magic and skills now granted her power nearing that of a high-level fighter.

In terms of talent, Alise was on par with Ryuu; had her path not veered, she might well have stood at the pinnacle of Orario as a master magic swordsman. Yet her opponent was a far more terrifying creature—a being of incomprehensible power.

Alfia stood still, unperturbed, watching as Alise's flames grew, stacking buff upon buff. Her lack of reaction made it clear she had no intention of interfering, her body language suggesting Alise's efforts were little more than the games of a child.

"Have you finished preparing?" Alfia's voice was devoid of emotion, as if addressing an inconsequential nuisance. Though her tone was free of malice, her mere presence was enough to hold everyone's gaze, an unshakable aura binding them in place.

Alise held her ground, eyes locked on her opponent, her determination and fighting spirit rising to their peak.

'Bang—'