"After all, compared to you, I'm just a little bit stronger!"
Elise wore a gentle smile as she made a gesture with her fingers, as if indicating something tiny.
Every adventurer present widened their eyes—they all understood exactly what Elise meant.
She was provoking one of the Freya Familia's most famous elites—the Goddess' Chariot.
However...
Although everyone knew she possessed the ability to fight above her level, could she really battle across two whole levels?
"You... are you looking for death?"
Allen of the Freya Familia was notorious throughout Orario for his volatile temper. Aside from Freya and his sister, he rarely showed anyone a pleasant face.
Faced with Elise's provocation, the anger he had been barely containing instantly surged.
Countless adventurers began retreating. None of them were at that level—if they tried to intervene, they would be killed instantly.
After all, the pressure of a Level 6 adventurer was something most small and mid-sized Familias simply could not withstand. They could only stand by and watch.
Even Finn and the others stepped back, clearing the space for the two in the center.
As some of the few who knew part of the truth, they had long suspected Elise would be powerful—but they had never actually seen her fight.
Could she really stand against a Level 6?
Because of Ottar's earlier level-up, the entire city had undergone a massive shock. Among those most affected was the Loki Familia.
Think about it—what were the Freya Familia and Loki Familia once called?
The Twin Pillars of Orario!
In the past, the Loki Familia had been able to stand on equal footing with the internally divided Freya Familia through unity...
But once Ottar reached Level 7, that balance was completely shattered. Finn and the other two simply had no way of dealing with someone two levels above them.
The malice among Orario's adventurers was well known. Some factions had already begun declaring that the Freya Familia was the strongest in Orario, and that all others were inferior.
Finn knew very well—they were included among those "others."
Thus, Finn, Gareth, and Riveria had ventured deep into the Dungeon together, seeking a chance to break through. Otherwise, their Familia might decline.
Fortunately, fortune still favored them. After a long and dangerous expedition, the three leaders of the Loki Familia had finally reached that realm.
All three had become Level 6!
It was precisely because of that perilous journey that they understood just how difficult it was to reach Level 6.
And as for Elise before them...
This was the perfect opportunity to assess her strength—and decide whether cooperation with the Astraea Familia would be necessary in the future.
"Looking for death? Not really. But you seem quite agitated right now, Goddess' Chariot. Shouldn't you calm down a bit?"
Elise's tone remained completely ordinary, as if she did not regard the Level 6 Allen as anything special. This only fueled his anger further.
"I'll show you that the gap in levels can't be bridged with a few cheap tricks!"
The catman reached out toward Elise. Judging by his posture, he intended to strike her abdomen with a single punch and incapacitate her instantly.
"Allen!"
At that moment, a stern voice rang out from the side. Ottar placed a hand on Allen's shoulder.
"Now is not the time for this..."
"Don't touch me, you pig!" Allen was already in a rage, and his attitude toward Ottar was even worse than usual. "She's openly provoking us, and you expect me to just endure it?"
"..."
Ottar said nothing. He simply stared at Allen, then shifted his gaze toward Elise.
"I understand."
Ottar released his grip on Allen's shoulder and stepped aside completely, showing no intention of intervening.
Ottar's reaction was strange.
Many adventurers couldn't understand why he would back off, but they could still comprehend his decision. If just anyone could provoke high-level adventurers without consequence, then what was the point of reaching such heights?
"This time, no one will protect you! Trash!"
In the blink of an eye, Allen moved at a speed no one could follow, rushing toward Elise. His outstretched right hand clenched into a fist.
Her abdomen?
No!
Right now, all Allen wanted was to smash her face and vent his anger!
Why was Allen called the Goddess' Chariot?
Because of his unmatched speed!
In Orario, there were very few who could rival Allen in speed. Finn was one of them—but as for others, it was uncertain.
Perhaps the future's fastest rabbit could match him?
But that was eleven years later. No one could guarantee that Allen wouldn't continue to grow stronger in that time.
So in this era, Allen was undoubtedly among the very strongest. Surely Elise would—
Thud!
A heavy sound echoed through the room. In that fleeting instant, something seemed to have fallen.
When they looked closely, they realized things were completely different from what they had expected.
The one who had fallen... was Allen?
Many couldn't help but cry out in shock at the incomprehensible sight.
A Level 4 defeating a Level 6 so easily? Are we dreaming?
"Ugh! What...?"
Forget the others—even Allen himself was likely bewildered. With his speed, he had been struck without even realizing it?
Clutching his abdomen, Allen recalled that Elise had merely raised her arm slightly—and then a powerful blow had struck his stomach, forcing him to his knees in pain.
"In that case, you should be able to quiet down a bit now, right?"
Elise simply looked down at him. That condescending, top-down gaze made it impossible for Allen to remain composed.
His body trembled, his fury reaching its peak. The way he looked at Elise grew colder and colder.
But at that moment, a sudden change occurred within the vast conference hall. An indescribable pressure spread throughout the room.
"If you continue, I'll have to resort to harsher measures... I hope you understand, Allen."
Seeing that Allen refused to back down, Elise's tone grew firmer—like an elder scolding a child who refused to stop fighting.
In that instant, whether it was an illusion or not, Allen felt as though he saw Freya's shadow within Elise.
Wait... this can't be real, right?
How could a human reach such a level?
Yet the more he looked at Elise, the more she resembled Freya. There was something about her—something undeniably similar to his goddess.
Allen was certain of it.
I actually mistook a human for Lady Freya?
Allen clenched his teeth, his expression turning completely feral.
"I absolutely won't allow it!"