Letting a Lv.2 adventurer challenge a first-tier adventurer starting at Lv.5?
What kind of sparring match involved such an absurd disparity in strength?
Fortunately, Hestia had already prepared an explanation for Loki's doubts.
"You know this too, right? Because Seele and Sakura broke the Guild's record for fastest leveling, quite a few people in Orario must have their eyes on our familia now."
"There may not be many familias in Orario with first-tier adventurers, but there are still some. And not all of them are polite—many of them are probably already thinking about stealing Seele and Sakura away."
"So, in order to prepare in advance for possible enemies in the future, I want these two kids to experience what a first-tier adventurer's strength is like ahead of time."
"But what's the point of doing that?" Loki frowned.
"Even if they understand the gap in strength, a Lv.2 could never be a match for a Lv.5, right?"
In the world of DanMachi, the difference in levels between adventurers represented an overwhelming gap in power.
Let alone Lv.2 versus Lv.5—even Lv.2 versus Lv.3 almost always ended in certain defeat.
If an adventurer managed to defeat an opponent of a higher level—even just one level higher—it was usually enough to qualify as a great feat that immediately fulfilled the conditions for leveling up.
That was how absolute the power gap represented by levels was.
Anyone capable of crossing even a single level difference was a monster among monsters—let alone leaping across three whole levels.
So in Loki's eyes, Hestia's plan to let Lv.2 Sakura challenge a Lv.5 first-tier adventurer could only be described as outright madness.
"And how do you know without trying?" Hestia replied calmly.
"My children are the kind who can create miracles."
She was brimming with confidence in both Seele and Sakura.
"And let me correct one thing. It's not Seele and Sakura challenging a first-tier adventurer—
it's Sakura alone."
"You really won't give up until you hit the coffin, huh, you little shrimp," Loki snorted.
"Fine. Since you insist, pick whoever you want. Any of our first-tier adventurers are fair game.
Just don't blame me if Sakura ends up hurt."
That was exactly what Hestia had been waiting for.
Seeing her goal achieved, she immediately patted Sakura on the shoulder.
"Go on, Sakura. Loki's already said it—just tell us who you want to spar with."
Finn, who had been silent until now, also nodded.
"Since Goddess Loki has agreed, as long as they're a Lv.5 officer currently in the familia, I can personally arrange it if you ask."
"Or, if you'd like, you could even challenge the three of us Lv.6s. We all have time right now."
"There's no need for that. A Lv.5 will be enough."
After all, the reason Hestia gave was simply to prepare for potential hostile familias.
Lv.5 was the most suitable benchmark.
Lv.6 adventurers existed only in the Loki Familia and the Freya Familia—there was no real need to test against that level.
"Um… I heard that before Sister Seele and I, the fastest leveling record in Orario was held by Sister Ais from the Loki Familia. If that's the case, could I challenge Sister Ais?"
"You want to challenge Ais?" Finn replied.
"That's fine. She happens to be in the familia right now."
As he spoke, Finn turned to Gareth and Riveria.
"Gareth, Riveria—please take everyone to the training grounds first. I'll go notify Ais."
Half an hour later, at the Loki Familia training grounds.
Loki, Finn and the other executives, Ais—who had been called over—along with Lefiya at her side, and several other Loki Familia elites such as Tione, Tiona, and the werewolf Bete, all gathered at the scene.
Though it looked like quite a crowd, the massive training grounds still felt spacious. Finn had already cleared away any unrelated personnel—everyone present, aside from Lefiya, was high-ranking within the Loki Familia.
"A Lv.2 actually dared to name Ais directly. Doesn't know how high the sky is or how thick the ground is," Bete snorted coldly from the edge of the field.
"If she gets cut by accident later, don't come crying."
Because Sakura was a young girl—only around ten years old—Bete's attitude, though still sharp-tongued, was noticeably milder than how he'd treated Bell in the original story. There was even a hint of warning toward Hestia and Seele, urging them to reconsider letting Sakura fight Ais.
"Ais should be able to hold back… probably," Tione said somewhat awkwardly, recalling Ais's usually vacant demeanor.
"What are you worried about?" Tiona replied confidently.
"Captain Finn is watching. Nothing bad will happen."
Her confidence wasn't in Ais—it was in Finn.
"Miss Ais, good luck!" Lefiya cheered loudly.
In the center of the training grounds, Finn—temporarily acting as referee—gave his final instructions.
"This sparring match is to stop short of serious injury. If either side enters a situation that could cause severe harm, I will immediately intervene and end the match."
Though he addressed both participants, everyone knew Finn was really warning Ais.
A Lv.2 could never defeat a Lv.5. Everyone present—including Finn and even Goddess Loki—was really just curious to see how long Sakura could last against Ais. That was the true highlight.
"Now then—are both sides ready?"
Sakura and Ais nodded simultaneously.
"Very well. The match begins!"
Finn vanished from the center of the field.
Ais immediately drew the Sword of Despair.
"If you can't keep going, make sure you say so right away," Ais reminded Sakura, who looked barely ten years old.
Then she lunged forward, closing the distance in an instant.
In contrast to her usual mage-like fighting style, Sakura showed no intention of dodging. Instead, she drew a card.
"Sword, reveal your true power before me—
become the blade that cuts down my enemy!"
"I command you, in my name as your master, Sakura—
Release the Seal!"
An immense surge of magic burst from the card, wrapping around Sakura's staff and forming a blade.
Clang!
The edge of Ais's Sword of Despair collided with the flat of the blade formed from the [Sword] Card, ringing out with a sharp metallic sound.
Under the crushing strength of Ais's Lv.5 power, Sakura's sword was immediately pushed back.
Yet Sakura didn't panic.
Another card flew out and activated with her chant.
"Power, gather everything unto me—
Release the Seal!"
A terrifying surge of strength erupted from Sakura's body.
In the next instant, before the eyes of all the Loki Familia executives watching—
Ais, who had been suppressing Sakura with sheer power just moments ago, was sent flying backward by Sakura's counter-swing!
BOOM!!!
Ais's body shot out of the training grounds, smashing through a line of training equipment before finally coming to a stop, dust billowing into the air.
"Miss Ais… got sent flying?"
Lefiya, who had just been cheering, now stood frozen in shock.
Bete's scornful gaze widened instantly, as did the eyes of Tione and Tiona.
"Was that some kind of magic…?" Finn murmured, his expression serious as he analyzed what he'd just seen.
"The sword formed from that staff… and that momentary amplification of strength—dozens, maybe hundreds of times over…"
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