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"Protecting Ais?"
Hearing Anos say that, Tione could not help twitching at the corner of her mouth.
Normally, that would sound completely ridiculous.
But right now…
It actually made sense.
At the moment, he really was protecting Ais.
At the very least, she did not need to worry about any threats coming from behind her. All she had to do was deal with the enemies in front of her.
"I feel like… Ais has a different aura compared to yesterday."
Finn rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
He could not quite explain it.
But Ais had definitely undergone a qualitative change.
"Well then, keep up the good work. We'll be heading down first."
After a short exchange, Anos waved goodbye to the Loki Familia.
If he stayed any longer, his reputation as a "prophet" might start to fall apart.
"His strength is honestly terrifying."
Riveria Ljos Alf sighed as she watched Anos walk away.
She had never imagined that one day the fully grown Sword Princess would be the one being protected.
"That might actually be a good thing."
Finn shook his head slightly.
"That girl is far too stubborn."
Although Ais looked airheaded on the surface, her determination was stronger than almost anyone else's.
To pursue the goal in her heart, she constantly pushed herself to grow stronger and level up.
That was how she became the Sword Princess known throughout Orario.
To the world, she was a prodigy blessed with talent, but to the members of the Loki Familia…
What they saw was her obsession and relentless effort, Honestly, they wished she were not so rigid.
Everyone understood the saying: " What is too rigid will eventually break.
But right now…
It seemed that only Anos, using the identity of a so-called "senior brother," had managed to guide her.
After Ais reached Level 5, there had been no one left who could truly teach her.
Given her personality, she would even risk serious injury or death to solo a floor boss if it meant achieving a great feat and leveling up.
Compared to that…
Her current training difficulties were nothing.
---
Meanwhile
Ais, Anos, and the others had finally passed the 35th floor.
"Lord Anos… how deep are we going?"
Liliruca Arde asked nervously.
She was genuinely afraid.
Afraid that even Anos might not be able to withstand the pressure of the monsters down here.
Compared to this place…
Even being surrounded by the Loki Familia earlier had felt much safer.
Adventurers might be hypocritical, but right now survival mattered more than judging their character.
"We'll go down about one more floor."
Anos glanced upward toward where the Loki Familia had been and smiled.
"One more floor?!"
Lili's eyes immediately filled with tears.
A hardcore lolicon might have sworn to protect her with his life at that sigh, Unfortunately for Lili, Anos liked all kinds of people equally.
No single type had a monopoly on his attention.
"Well, don't worry. After this, we'll head back to find Soma."
Anos patted her head reassuringly.
"Ais, are you still alright?"
Anos turned to ask.
According to his assessment, Ais's stamina had already dropped below fifty percent.
"I'm fine."
Ais Wallenstein wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Anos's teaching had been extremely helpful.
From how to respond when fighting monsters…
How to react when facing other humans…
He had taught her everything.
Now all she needed was to gradually adapt to the corrected movements he had shown her and integrate them into her own combat style.
Once that was done…
She could finally begin learning his mysterious sword techniques.
There was just one small problem.
Whenever she reinforced what she had learned, memories of training with Anos resurfaced.
The moments of physical guidance.
The touches.
The corrections.
Her heartbeat would start to speed up slightly.
Even pure and straightforward Ais had begun to feel something strange.
But she did not think it was unpleasant.
"Ais, if something feels wrong, tell me."
Anos shook his head slightly.
"You've done perfectly today. Your talent is incredible. You just need to stop being so stubborn sometimes."
"Ano…s…"
Ais looked into his eyes for a moment.
Seeing the certainty there, she slowly lowered her head.
"Is your wrist starting to hurt?"
Anos stepped closer.
The two girls beside him hurried to follow.
"…."
Ais lowered her head even further.
It was true.
Because of the abnormal monster density today, the strain on her wrist had far exceeded normal levels.
Anos had already noticed the problem.
He stopped evaluating her stamina and instead began analyzing physical strain.
The injury was not serious.
But it was not trivial either.
For now, Ais should stop fighting.
"Leave the rest to me. We're almost at our destination anyway."
Anos smiled and gently patted her head.
Your head is lowered like that. It is practically an invitation.
Ais blinked and looked up at him.
She did not fully understand the meaning of the gesture.
But…
It felt nice.
"Ais, this will be the practical part of today's lesson."
A sword appeared in Anos's hand.
A simple, ordinary blunt blade.
Then he spoke.
"I swear."
"There is nothing in this world that this blade cannot sever."
"This sword is the blade that cuts all things beneath the heavens."
"The invincible blade."
Divine Authority: The Silver Hand of Severance.
Using divine authority would also increase the Dungeon's difficulty.
But not nearly as much as using divine power directly, because Anos's divine origin came from Hestia of this world…
While this authority belonged to a god from another world.
He would never foolishly use divine power to activate it.
Using divine power inside the Dungeon was practically suicide.
When Ais saw the silver glow surrounding his hand again, her golden eyes sparkled.
She wanted to learn that technique.
Of course, she only thought that privately.
"I can tell you want to learn it," Anos said with a smile.
"Unfortunately, it's an ability, not a sword technique. I can't teach it."
Changing Ais's obsession with strength would take time.
The first step was simple.
She had to realize something.
She was not invincible.
And sometimes…
It was all right for her to be protected.
---
Seventh Secret Sword: Lightning Flash.
Anos's body transformed into a bolt of lightning.
He shot straight into the approaching monster horde.
Even without divine power, his physical abilities had already reached a completely different level.
"Whoa…"
Ais's mouth opened slightly in amazement.
His secret sword technique could be used like that too?
"Not just magic… his physical abilities are this insane too?"
Lili began seriously questioning reality.
What could someone like this possibly want from her?
He clearly was not some lolicon.
Meanwhile, Anos tore through monsters at astonishing speed.
His efficiency was absurd.
Half a day of hunting for him equaled two months of hunting for ordinary adventurers.
And the monsters he fought were not normal ones.
They were enhanced by multiple layers of increased difficulty.
Which meant a better experience.
Better drops.
Even Lili, frantically collecting magic stones, could barely keep up with the rate at which he killed monsters.
"We're here."
Anos finally stopped.
They had arrived at the 37th floor.
Ais remembered the question he had asked yesterday.
Whether the floor boss had already respawned.
Her answer had been yes.
Originally, she had planned to solo the boss of this floor to achieve a great feat and level up.
But now…
That plan would have to wait.
Still…
Watching Anos fight the boss might be even more interesting.
"This… this is a floor boss layer…"
Lili swallowed nervously.
She suddenly realized something terrifying.
Earlier floors had already experienced massive increases in monster numbers.
If the floor boss here was also strengthened…
Then how could anyone defeat it?
The boss of the 37th floor.
A monster that even Level 5 adventurers struggled against.
Udaeus.
Ais had defeated it in the original timeline only by risking her life.
But Ais was Ais.
Anos was Anos.
If he could not defeat something she had defeated…
He would have no right to guide her.
"It's coming."
Anos smiled faintly.
The silver magic sword in his hand began to shine with a light capable of tearing everything apart.
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~Support with 300 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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