"Where is Lefiya?"
Tiona questioned, quickly noticing that the person they were looking for wasn't here.
Hearing this, Argana shifted her gaze toward her.
"That little elf is currently with Kali and Bache. She isn't here."
She raised her arm, pointing over her shoulder with a thumb.
"Your battle isn't here either, Tiona. Bache is waiting for you down in that cave over there."
Tiona looked back at her older sister and gave a firm nod.
"You better not lose, Tiona."
Tione said as Tiona walked forward.
"Same to you, Tione."
Tiona replied, flashing one last bright smile.
Seeing her sister disappear from view, Tione fully shifted her focus back onto Argana, meticulously tracking her every movement.
"Come, Tione… we are going to be fighting over there, where no one can get in our way."
Argana said, gesturing toward a large, weathered galleon moored at the edge of the dock.
Tione followed her silently.
As she walked, her gaze drifted across the rows of watching Amazons, all of whom sneered and jeered at her from the sidelines.
Tione ignored them completely, keeping her composure until both she and Argana finally stepped on board.
"We're going to fight on this boat? Don't you think this is a little conspicuous?"
She questioned as one of the Amazons cut the rope securing the boat to the pier, allowing it to slowly drift away.
"I set this up precisely because even if people were to locate us, they won't be able to follow us out here in time."
Argana said, her lips curling into a menacing grin as the vessel sailed further away from the shores of Melen, the distance between them rapidly increasing.
"Not before a definitive winner is decided between us, anyway."
Tione never broke eye contact with her former mentor as Argana began casually cracking her knuckles, the sound echoing across the wooden deck.
"Let's begin."
Argana said as the two settled into their stances.
Meanwhile, atop a rooftop, Ais narrowed her eyes as she looked toward the departing boat.
Despite the distance, her enhanced vision allowed her to make out Tione's figure standing aboard it.
"I finally found her, but… she's already fighting Argana."
'I have to report this to Riveria and Loki.'
She muttered with a serious expression.
Just as she was about to leave and inform Riveria that she had found Tione's location, a malicious presence rapidly approached her.
'Huh?'
Ais instantly ducked, her instincts causing her to drop low as a pair of massive, heavy battleaxes sliced through the space where her head had been a fraction of a second prior.
Reacting with fluid precision, she kicked off the roof with her legs to create distance, landing gracefully on the ground.
"Miss Ais?"
"Is something wrong?"
Nearby members of the Loki Familia looked on in surprise as Ais suddenly landed in front of them.
But Ais' focus remained fixed on the person who had attacked her, now standing on the rooftop where she had been only moments earlier.
'A frog?'
Ais frowned as she looked up and saw an incredibly rotund, massive figure clad in thick, frog-shaped heavy armor, effortlessly wielding two giant battleaxes.
"Tsk… missed, huh?"
The armored brute grumbled quietly, a distinctly displeased, raspy voice echoing from behind the visor.
"Attack!"
The armored figure shouted as dozens of enemy Amazons suddenly ambushed from the surrounding roofs, dropping down and completely encircling Ais and her squad.
"Amazons? Is the Kali Familia attacking?"
Someone exclaimed as both sides brandished their weapons.
Without a shred of hesitation, the invading Amazons charged.
In an instant, the frantic, ringing echoes of steel clashing against steel reverberated through the streets.
'Looks like the war has already started.'
Ais thought as she took in the chaos unfolding around her.
"You'll be facing me, Sword Princess!"
She barely had time to think before the rotund armored figure leaped toward her once more, bringing both axes crashing down.
Ais sprang aside just as the axes slammed into the ground, splitting the stone beneath them as rocks and dust exploded outward.
"This bitch is really fast."
The armored figure muttered, turning toward Ais as the latter raised her sword and settled into a combat stance.
'That voice… and that build… this person seems familiar.'
Ais thought, her lips tightening as she tried to remember.
Then it clicked.
Her brows rose slightly.
"Phryne Jamil? The Man Eater?"
'The Ishtar Familia is attacking? But why? And what are they doing here?'
Ais frowned, visibly confused.
"Ah… was it that obvious? Even through this armor?"
Knowing her cover had been blown, Phryne aggressively ripped off her helmet, exposing her grotesque face.
"I guess my beautiful figure just can't be forgotten… oh, the curse of being this beautiful."
Phryne smirked while striking a model-like pose, as if proudly showing off her nonexistent beauty.
Ais remained silent, taking note of the misty golden aura surrounding Phryne's body.
'The strength and speed she displayed earlier… that wasn't the power of a Level 5, but a Level 6… did she rank up, or does that glow have something to do with it?'
Before she could form another thought, Phryne charged forward with a roaring battle cry, and the two first-class adventurers locked weapons in a shower of sparks.
"…"
High up on a distant vantage point overlooking the battlefield, Haruhime watched the duel unfold.
She cast a sorrowful, guilt-ridden gaze toward Ais.
'I am sorry…'
She thought, clutching her hands to her chest.
…
Meanwhile, across every other quadrant of Melen, absolute chaos had broken out.
Groups of Amazons ruthlessly ambushed the female members of the Loki Familia.
An impromptu war spread throughout the town, the sounds of battle echoing through the streets as frightened citizens barricaded themselves inside their homes, praying for the fighting to end.
"Loki… stay behind me."
Riveria said with a tense expression as she stared at the two figures blocking their path.
"Your Highness, Princess Riveria… it is our absolute honor to be your executioners tonight."
Dina Dis giggled.
"I truly wonder if the blood of a royal High Elf tastes any sweeter than a common elf's."
The Dis Sisters spoke in unison with sadistic grins.
'Dina Dis and Vena Dis... I didn't think these two would be in Melen… what bad luck.'
Loki thought, her brows furrowing deeply.
Even though she had fully anticipated a clash with Kali, the appearance of the Dis Sisters was something she hadn't expected.
…
At the main gates of Orario, a large group of adventurers marched through as the overlapping sounds of countless footsteps echoed through the air.
Under normal circumstances, the Ganesha Familia guards stationed at the gate would have immediately barred such a massive military force from exiting the labyrinth city.
"Hey, isn't that—?"
"Yeah… that emblem…"
As they looked at the flag fluttering high above, bearing the symbol of a jester, the guards immediately stepped aside with respectful nods.
Even Shakti personally gave the order to clear the way.
At the very front stood Finn, Judas, Gareth, Raul, and Anakitty.
The moment Finn received Loki's request for reinforcements through Anakitty, he hadn't hesitated for even a second before mobilizing the entire Familia and marching toward Melen.
"Captain, I'll go on ahead and fly there first. I have a feeling they might be in trouble."
Judas stepped forward as he spoke, glancing over his shoulder just after they passed through the gates, ignoring the awestruck stares of the travelers waiting to enter Orario.
Hearing this, Finn met his gaze, and a faint smile slowly spread across his face.
"Alright, go ahead. We'll catch up with you."
Judas nodded.
A second later, he activated his flight magic and vanished from sight, soaring toward the port town of Melen as fast as a streak of lightning.
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