The first glimmer of dawn crested over the city walls of Orario, gilding the blue glazed tiles of the Palais Mermonia with a soft, golden rim.
The bluestone slabs of the training ground still carried the chill of the night and a thin layer of dew. The air was so fresh it felt as if it could cleanse a person's soul.
The chibi fountain statue—the one Furina had personally insisted upon, posed with one hand on its hip and the other pointing to the sky—refracted fragmented rainbows in the morning light, almost as if silently cheering for the upcoming duel.
However, the atmosphere in the center of this open training ground stood in stark contrast to the tranquility; it was filled with an eager, restless tension.
"Bring it on!"
The blue-haired girl, Cecil, took a deep breath, her voice crisp and firm.
With a forceful whip of her arm, the single-shouldered cape over her left shoulder—embroidered with the Astrea Familia's crest of a "Scale Formed by a Sword and Wings"—traced an elegant arc through the air.
She placed her hand over her heart, an undisguised fighting spirit and resolve burning in her orange eyes.
"Let me witness the power of the famous 'Flamescion,' and let us see exactly how the adventurers of Orario differ from those in the outside world."
Her words carried an unyielding pride. "Don't even think about holding back! Iselina and I are both Level 2 upper-tier adventurers now."
"N-No! Don't do that, Captain Cecil! I'm still only Level 1!"
The moment Cecil finished speaking, a Prum girl standing diagonally behind her—who referred to herself in the third person, Shion—put on a tearful face. Reaching out with tiny hands, she nervously tugged at Cecil's hem.
Beside them, the werewolf girl named Iselina let out an unconcealed, helpless sigh.
As for the other black-haired human girl, Uranda, she simply hugged a plain staff and stood quietly to the side without saying a word, like an uninvolved observer.
They were the newborn Astrea Familia.
Perhaps in the outside world, they had grown up under the "harsh training" of the gentle Goddess of Justice, Astrea. No, more accurately, under the Goddess's meticulous care and nurturing, they had acquired considerable combat capabilities.
Because of this, when they heard that their beloved patron deity was going to personally enter the perilous Dungeon, Cecil and the others didn't hesitate for a moment, immediately declaring they would go together.
Protecting the Goddess was their unshirkable duty and glory as her Familia.
Hence, this scene.
A battle against the Captain of the Focalors Familia—the legendary figure who single-handedly crushed the Apollo Familia in the War Game, Aiden. It was a duel to prove that they possessed the ability to enter the Dungeon, and... the strength to protect the Goddess.
"Very well."
A smile of approval appeared on Aiden's face.
So-called "Justice" was destined to stand against power devoid of will.
But at the same time, if "Justice" possessed nothing but will while lacking power, it could not stand against cruel reality.
If you want to execute justice, you first need sufficient power; otherwise, it's all just empty talk.
And as a Familia of Justice, their first priority was never how noble their ideals were, but... whether they could fight.
He slowly raised the wooden sword in his hand.
With just that simple movement, the atmosphere on the training ground abruptly shifted.
Aiden didn't exude any killing intent, nor did he release the slightest bit of oppressive pressure, but the feeling he gave off was entirely different.
If a second ago he was a gentle and polite boy, at this moment he was an unparalleled, vicious blade concealed within its scabbard—yet still exuding a bone-chilling edge.
The surrounding air seemed to grow thick and heavy, causing Cecil and the others to simultaneously suck in a breath of cold air as a chill shot straight up their spines to the tops of their heads.
Almost instinctively, they dropped into perfect combat stances while simultaneously raising their weapons.
Cecil's war hammer, Iselina's dual swords, Shion's short sword and short staff... every piece gleamed with exceptional quality. They were clearly high-level adventurer armaments, far beyond the standard products found in ordinary shops.
This was clearly the handiwork of Cecil, a genius blacksmith.
As a blacksmith, Cecil's talent was unquestionable.
She had achieved Level 2 at a remarkably young age, acquired the [Blacksmith] development ability, and was even capable of forging Magic Swords.
"Come."
Aiden held the wooden sword in his right hand, the tip pointing diagonally toward the ground. With his left hand, he carelessly curled a finger at Cecil and the others.
That gesture acted like a lit fuse.
Cecil and the others exchanged a glance. Summoning all their courage, they let out sharp cries and charged at Aiden simultaneously.
Wielding her war hammer, Cecil and the dual-sword-wielding werewolf girl, Iselina, flanked left and right, forming the most solid vanguard.
However, almost in the exact same instant they moved, Aiden moved too.
At a speed nearly impossible for the naked eye to capture, he transformed into a blurry afterimage. Without even making contact with Cecil and Iselina at the front, he effortlessly slipped past them.
His target, from the very beginning, was never the vanguard.
It was... the Prum girl, Shion. Because of her short legs, she was the slowest runner, and she was currently holding a short sword and a short staff, preparing to find an opportunity to cast magic.
From her weapon combination, Aiden instantly deduced she was a magic swordsman capable of casting spells.
In any battle, prioritizing units capable of casting magic was a golden rule.
As for Uranda, who had stood completely still from the start, she was clearly a standard rearguard mage. As long as she hadn't started chanting, he could temporarily ignore her.
Besides, he had to give them some kind of chance, right?
"Eek!?"
Reflected in the terrified eyes of the green-haired Prum girl, Aiden's figure instantly closed in.
Before she could even react, a sharp pain shot through her ankle, followed by an irresistible force.
Aiden's movement was clean and flawless—an incredibly precise sweeping kick, crisp and efficient.
Shion only had time to let out a short, pitch-shifted yelp before she was swept off her feet, losing all balance.
Her tiny body spun wildly out of control in mid-air, like a top violently whipped into motion. One spin, two spins, three spins... she spun a full four and a half times before landing face-first with a smack on the other end of the training ground, unable to get up for a long while.
Aiden's movements didn't pause for a microsecond. The instant Shion went flying, his toes pushed off the ground, and his figure once again blurred into an afterimage, instantly charging diagonally backward toward the werewolf girl, Iselina.
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