—Boom!
Scorching flames rose up, accompanied by the terrifying sound of an explosion, startling the citizens of more than half of Orario awake.
Valetta, the 'King of Slaughter' who had once fought inextricably with the 'Braver' Finn, stood near the surface entrance of the Evils' secret base. Watching the members of the Loki Familia and Ganesha Familia who had fallen into her trap, she could not help but let out a maniacal laugh:
"Hahahaha~"
"The long period of false peace has made you weak, Finn."
The small golden-haired Pallum youth walked out from the flames. Holding a spear in his hand, his face at this moment showed not the slightest expression in response to his old rival's taunts.
The 'King of Slaughter' was right. In recent years, due to the vengeful acts of the Astrea Familia's 'Gale', the Evils and many associated with them had been killed to the point where they dared not show their heads.
Consequently, the Loki Familia had also focused more of their attention on capturing the Dungeon.
They had subsequently relaxed their vigilance against their old rivals.
Even though they had heard from the 'Hero King' that their operations might have already been known to the Evils, they had not calmed down to rearrange their plans or attempt to use a time difference to their advantage.
That said, the explosion just arranged by the Evils targeting them, aside from destroying a few buildings, had not injured a single member of the Loki Familia or the Ganesha Familia.
As for the reason...
"'Hero King', heh, this name really wasn't chosen wrongly."
Finn sensed the elemental shield on his body surface, which had dimmed slightly but was now refilled with durability.
Even someone as knowledgeable and experienced as Finn could not help but let out a sigh of exclamation at this moment.
Then, he raised his left hand and waved it forward.
"Bete, I'll leave the 'King of Slaughter' to you."
"Tch, got it."
The gray-haired werewolf warrior walked out from the combat formation. Without wasting any words, he charged directly toward the target.
Compared to Finn, who had leveled up to Lv.6 after the Seven Days of Darkness and had now reached the limit of his individual ability stats, the hidden 'King of Slaughter' Valetta had been marking time at Lv.5 for quite a few years.
Added to this was the fact that the coalition forces were protected by a hidden 'heavy hitter'. Not only could the high-level combatants of the Evils not break the defense of the elemental shields, but even if they used cursed weapons to tear through the shields and attack the targets, the wounds on the latter's bodies would be repaired in an instant the very next second.
This was the case for Bete right now.
Relying on her richer experience in interpersonal combat, Valetta did not put this gray-furred werewolf in her eyes at all.
She even felt that the opponent couldn't withstand a single strike from her.
But after the two sides exchanged blows, the situation took a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.
The long-famous 'King of Slaughter' was actually suppressed from start to finish by the 'Vicious Wolf', often left with no choice but to dodge or take hits head-on.
If not for the fact that First-Class Adventurers had gradually shed their mortal bodies and were truly difficult to kill, Valetta might have long since been lying on the ground, exhaling more than she inhaled.
Even so, by the time she realized something was wrong, she had already fallen into the heavy encirclement of the Loki Familia and the Ganesha Familia.
Ais, Tione, Tiona, Shakti...
Several Lv.5s were guarding every direction, leaving her unable to find even a chance to escape.
As for the others, they were led by Finn, Riveria, and Gareth, splitting into three groups.
While sweeping away the members of the Evils, they advanced deeper into the secret base.
"Oh my, oh my~"
Demeter watched the firelight reflecting in the distant sky. She raised her right hand to support her cheek, her words carrying a trace of schadenfreude.
"That direction seems to be Daedalus Street, right? It looks like those matters Dionysus was secretly plotting have been discovered in advance by the Guild, or perhaps the Loki Familia."
"Filvis, if I were you, I would definitely choose to return to my own resident base right now.
"At least, that way, you could still see your own patron deity one last time."
The instant her voice fell, the masked 'Banshee' revealed her form by the orange-haired goddess's side.
"Lady Demeter worries too much. My master has never had much connection with the Evils.
"Regardless of the outcome tonight, this 'great fire' affecting Orario will not burn the Dionysus Familia."
"Furthermore..."
Speaking up to this point, the black-haired monster elf paused slightly.
"If my master is truly unfortunate enough to be sent back to Tenkai, then, please believe me, Lady Demeter, your children will definitely not be far behind him."
"You!"
Demeter considered herself a good-tempered deity, but after hearing the threat from the person beside her, she still couldn't help but reveal an angry expression.
If not for the children in her Familia being controlled by Dionysus's wine of madness and secretly locked up, how could she possibly obey the orders of that mad god?
She would have long since reported everything she knew to the Guild, or even used her connections from Tenkai to ask the 'Hero King' of Hestia's family to take action.
However, Demeter was a deity after all.
Her emotions fluctuated for less than a second before she regained her calm.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she sneered: "Then let me see if that bastard Dionysus can achieve the accomplishment of destroying the Lower World."
The masked Filvis fell back into silence.
Although she had suffered a mental breakdown and become deranged due to turning into a monster, she still held sufficient respect for deities.
After placing her right hand over her chest and bowing, she reactivated the magic item on her body.
Seeing the black-haired elf turn invisible, Demeter couldn't help but let out a light snort.
Just as she intended to walk back into the empty villa, the next second, having turned around, a female voice suddenly sounded in her ear.
"Lady Demeter, do not turn back. I am Hilde of the Hestia Familia. By the order of my Goddess, I have come to assist you in rescuing the members of the Demeter Familia."
"!!!"
Demeter's pupils contracted for a moment, but her expression did not change in the slightest.
By her ear, Hilde's voice continued:
"I need you to answer a few questions next. You don't need to speak directly; just bend your fingers. The index finger represents affirmation, the thumb means negation, and the little finger symbolizes 'I don't know'."
"If you have no objections, please bend your index finger."
While continuing to walk forward, Demeter did as instructed.
Seeing that Demeter did not suspect her, or rather could only grasp at this straw, the equally invisible Hilde curled the corners of her lips slightly.
She continued to use the method of manipulating magic power to compress her voice into a line, transmitting it into Demeter's ear.
"Based on the content of your conversation with the 'Banshee' just now, are your children currently locked up by people from the Dionysus Familia?"
Demeter's right index finger, which was crossed over her chest, lightly tapped her left arm.
"Then, are you clear on the location where they are imprisoned?"
This time, it was the little finger that bent.
Seeing this, Hilde paused.
Demeter's response undoubtedly guided the situation in the most troublesome direction.
Fortunately, before coming here, the main body had actually prepared several contingency plans.
Hilde hesitated no longer and spoke again...
____
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