She was no fool. Freya would never seek trouble without a firm grasp of the situation.
Leon was growing too quickly—so quickly, in fact, that she hadn't even had time to fully react before he had already ascended to such a terrifying level.
After today, the title of the strongest adventurer in Orario had shifted.
Her previous thoughts, ambitions, and impulses had changed. She had come to a new decision.
Rather than rush things, Freya would let the water simmer—boil the frog slowly.
She would take her time, draw close to Leon gently, and nurture their bond.
It was inevitable. Leon was destined to become a god. An immortal like her.
She had time—all the time in the world—to pursue someone like him.
No matter how long it took. No matter the obstacles.
She would never sever her thread of fate with Leon for the sake of temporary pleasure.
"As long as you know." Hedin nodded, his tone calm, saying no more.
This battle had been a secret.
Only Freya familia's high-ranking members and Leon were privy to it.
No one else had witnessed it.
All the public knew was what the Guild officially announced the following day:
The strongest adventurer in Orario had changed.
The former title-holder, the mighty Ottar, had been dethroned.
And in his place now stood the name Leon.
The news shook Orario to its core.
The city erupted with chaos and excitement. Conversations ignited. Speculations ran wild.
What shocked them even more was the silence from Freya's Familia.
They waited a day, expecting retaliation, denial, or even clarification. But none came.
And so the people accepted it as truth.
Leon had surpassed Ottar.
How long had it been since he barely scraped by in a victory against Allen?
Now, not long after, he stood at the pinnacle.
The fire of the War Game hadn't even cooled, yet this new storm had reignited the entire city.
But those were concerns for later.
After his battle with Ottar, Leon returned to the library. There, he immediately updated his Falna.
Leon Morningstar
LV. 4
Strength: D586 → SS1023
Durability: D548 → SS1020
Dexterity: D569 → SS1123
Agility: D539 → SS1148
Magic: A859 → SS1103
[Upgrade]
Optional Development Ability: Berserker
Development Abilities: Mage F, Luck L, Spirit Healing I
[Magic]
Thought Projection
Son of Light
Son of Darkness
[Skills]
Tenseigan
Divine Protection of the War God
Sky Flame
'As I thought... battling against someone of a higher level really boosts my growth dramatically.'
'Even when sparring with Finn and the others before, I only managed to raise my stats to D.'
'But now, after a real fight with Ottar, my stats jumped all the way to SS.'
'And thanks to defeating Ottar, the special excelia I needed has also accumulated.'
'Next... I need to challenge Tione and Tiona.'
'Though with Loki Familia currently busy searching Daedalus Street, they likely won't have much time for a proper match.'
'It's fine. No need to rush.'
'My stats are all over SS now. That means even without my Tenseigan mode, I can match Level 7 combat strength.'
'If I combine that with Tenseigan Mode and Hyper Dying Will Mode... even amongst Level 8s, I wouldn't fall behind.'
'At this point, aside from the One-Eyed Black Dragon and the Corrupted Spirit deep within the Dungeon, there's nothing I can't handle.'
'No rush. No rush.'
'First, I need to resolve the threat of the Gate of Heaven and Nidhogg. Then I'll go on another expedition.'
Gazing at the sheet in his hand, Leon whispered these thoughts inwardly.
Then, as always, he burned the paper, stood up, and left his room.
The library was quiet.
With Hestia out supervising renovations, and Belle and the others delving into the Dungeon, there wasn't a soul left inside.
Leon glanced around briefly, shook his head, and walked into the inner courtyard. He made his way to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
'Starting tomorrow, I'll head to Daedalus Street with Loki Familia and help locate the entrance to the artificial maze.'
He hadn't had time before, caught up in one event after another. But now, with some breathing room, he could finally lend a hand.
They had to uncover and destroy the Gate of Heaven and Nidhogg before resuming their deeper expeditions.
Though Dionysus was no longer linked with Filvis, Leon wasn't sure if enough Demi Spirits had already been gathered.
If not, then the Gate of Heaven couldn't be fully realized and the remaining clones wouldn't pose much of a threat.
The next morning, Leon arrived at the Twilight Manor early.
"What?! Leon, you're coming with us to find the maze entrance?!" Tiona shouted excitedly.
In Finn's office, almost all of the Loki Familia's top brass were present—save for Bete, Ais, Gareth, and Anakitty.
"Yeah. I've got some free time now. I'll tag along and help locate the artificial maze entrance."
"Let's resolve that issue first, then we can talk expeditions," Leon said with a slight smile.
"That's fantastic. With your Veins of Light, we should be able to pinpoint the entrance in no time." Finn said, his expression lighting up.
He had known all along about Leon's Veins of Light.
Ever since they returned from the expedition and discovered those clues in Melen, Finn had considered asking Leon for help.
But then came the Apollo incident.
Finn understood Leon's relationship with the Hestia Familia. There was no way Leon would sit by.
That period had been turbulent, and Finn had wisely refrained from troubling him.
But now that things had settled and Leon had shown up on his own accord, Finn couldn't be happier.
"Where are Ais, Bete, and Gareth?" Leon asked as he scanned the room.
"Gareth and Anakitty are still on guard at Daedalus Street." Finn replied. "As for Ais and Bete, they're in the Dungeon."
"Ais said she needed magic stones and went off adventuring. Bete, meanwhile, was borrowed by Hermes Familia. Riveria went with them."
"I see." Leon nodded in understanding, not asking further.
"Then, how about joining Riveria and Lefiya for the search?" Finn proposed.
Leon nodded again. "No objections from me."