Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

Ais's expression changed as she stared at the figure in front of her.

As if echoing her hoarse murmur, the man narrowed his earthy red eyes.

—Ota, leader of the Freya Familia.

A first-class adventurer who is hostile to the Loki Familia.

(How did this happen here...?)

Ais was still unable to shake off the chaos, and all composure had vanished from her face.

She was out of control, not understanding why it was there or why it was blocking her way.

The girl he was holding was breathing heavily, and when Ais heard it, she showed a wavering expression that she didn't usually have.

The boar warrior stood solemnly at one end of the cave.

He stood before the only passage leading to his target area, blocking the entrance behind him with his massive back. He was dressed in surprisingly light clothing, with a huge backpack slung over his left shoulder.

Ota met Ais's eyes, who was standing there dumbfounded, and at the same time grabbed his backpack and tore it open with his rock-like fingers in one swift motion.

From the torn cloth emerged countless weapons, including greatswords, which whistled and swished as they were driven into the ground.

"[Fiora]... I'd like to spar with you."

「!?」

Upon hearing this statement, Ais could no longer hide her astonishment.

As for Otto, he grabbed the greatsword from the weapons stuck in the ground and quietly pulled it out.

"Why!?"

"In the dungeon, facing off one-on-one with a long-time rival faction... isn't that enough reason for a fight?"

Ais's doubts did nothing to shake his serious tone.

Why now? Ais's thoughts flickered with anxiety—suddenly, the "warnings" from the attackers three days ago flashed through her mind.

From now on, you're not allowed to meddle in other people's business anymore.

"If you don't heed my warning, I won't show any mercy."

"Continue with excessive intervention, or you might lose your life."

"If you dare to hinder us—hinder that sir, I'll take your life."

【Goddess Chariot】, 【Flame Gold Warriors】, and then 【The Mighty One】.

Their shared affiliation with the same "warning" was a consistent theme.

Could it be, could it be, could it be?

Their goal, what they are about to do, is—

"Put the girl down."

Otherwise, he would die. He pierced the little girl with his earth-red eyes, while raising his greatsword.

The sense of oppression suddenly intensified, making it impossible to avoid war.

Seeing his posture, it was as if he was saying "Don't even think about going there." Ais's lips twisted with bitterness, and she could only heed his advice.

She placed the girl on the floor and drew the Sword of Despair.

He had no time to think about anything else; he was not an enemy he could confront while carrying a burden.

The warrior blocking his path was even stronger than Finn, Grace, and Riveria, making him the true strongest adventurer in the city.

The "top of the world" who reigns supreme in Orario, the only one at Lv.7.

【The Fierce One】—Ota.

"Come on, Fiora."

As he uttered these words, a thunderous roar of a bull came from the passage behind him.

Ais suddenly opened her golden eyes wide and swung her sword.

"Get out of the way!?"

The shouts of the bull and the boy surged in, and Ais heard them and charged towards the enemy from the front.

【Fiora】 and 【Valiant】.

The two strongest first-level adventurers were forced into battle.

◆

Without resorting to underhanded tactics, he used every trick in the book to get into her arms.

Ais approached Ota and unleashed a lightning-fast Kasaya Slash at him.

"—Too young."

"!!"

The boar warrior easily deflected the full-force slash with his one-handed greatsword.

With a powerful swing of his sword, he sent Ais flying. Ais staggered, staring wide-eyed, but then quickly raised her eyes and used the force of the fall to unleash a spinning slash.

This move was blocked again.

As sparks flew everywhere, Ais didn't care about anything else and accelerated her entire body.

"Aa ...

A series of merciless slashes.

Faced with the boy's crisis, the Sword Maiden's mask fell away, and a roar was forced from her throat as she unleashed a fierce sword strike.

The numerous blades of light all became deadly in a single strike, baring their fangs at Oo.

The level of advancement, advancing to Lv.6 in ability (ability value).

She infused her sword with top-class power and speed, wielding it with silver light to slash at the man blocking her path.

"This skill—I see, it has reached a new peak."

"————"

However, it was blocked.

All the slashes were deflected.

Complete defense.

Faced with the inescapable vortex of slashing attacks, Ota destroyed them one by one.

He stood still, not moving an inch, using only the greatsword in his right hand to render Ais's attacks ineffective with the precision and skill of flying needles and the courage of a mountain.

The sword of love (the sword of despair) was utterly defeated, emitting shrill screams in all directions. Ais's pupils trembled; the warrior, who had not heard of the girl's official upgrade, subdued her with a sense of admiration and appreciation.

The powerful blade, capable of piercing through the air, sent Ais flying from his arms.

"~ ...

Ais, along with the "Sword of Despair" that had slipped between the greatswords, was thrown back with the force of a burst dam.

Her feet carved two deep grooves into the ground before she finally stopped. There, she saw the little girl she had just laid down was directly behind her. The forced retreat and the increased distance between them left Ais stunned.

Ais had already defended, but she was still blasted more than ten meters away.

With just a swing of the greatsword.

“——!?”

Ais was only momentarily bewildered before she once again raised her sword and slashed at Ota.

There was no time left; she wouldn't hesitate.

In order to penetrate the dark passage blocked by the enemy, she launched a fierce attack.

Ais tried to break through the warrior's proud and complete defense, her fierce attacks interspersed with flashes of sword light from various angles, including the sides and below.

"Just how strong can you become, Fiora?"

"...!?"

Despite wielding a greatsword, Ais countered the attacks with speed surpassing that of a rapier (the Sword of Despair). Ais repeatedly used movement and feints to slash from all directions, yet her impenetrable defense remained unshaken.

Despite saying those words, Otto was completely unaffected by her offensive, which made Ais tremble.

What's frightening is that their sword skills are evenly matched, but in terms of physical abilities like "strength," the other side is superior. Ais couldn't help but feel trapped in a kind of illusion, as if the positions she held when teaching Bell had now been reversed.

It's as solid as a rock.

Ais accelerated her attacks again, unleashing a storm of continuous slashes that couldn't shake him at all.

Like a giant rock that has been swallowed by a storm, yet still stands tall and serene.

The attack was deflected by the immovable high wall. To guard the passage behind it, Ota stood still and did not move an inch. Although it did not attack, it knocked Ais away from its sight several times.

(This is it...!)

This is Lv.7.

No, that's not right—this is the "fierce one".

It has nothing to do with class. Ais bit her lip, knowing that this was the power that the warrior had gained through his honest and thorough training.

“Wu!?”

With a loud bang, I was blasted backward and landed on the ground, the distance between us widening once again.

This is the fourth time, and in terms of time, it's less than a minute.

Ais's sword and hands, which she used for defense, were numb from the shock. She stared intently at the expressionless boar-man, her brows furrowed in anger.

—I have to go there.

—I saved him!

—I don't want him to die!!

Ais cherished the memory of her connection with the boy, and with this single thought, she kicked the ground, transforming into the wind.

She decisively activated a "magic" that was not originally used for sealing human combat.

"【Awaken! (Tempest)!!"

roar.

In order to get to the boy's side.

She was enveloped by the blessing of the air currents as she sped along, and her figure disappeared with the storm.

Ais abandoned her hesitation and focused solely on defeating the warrior before her.

"!!"

With a scream like tearing silk, she unleashed a wind-slashing attack.

Otto's reddish-brown eyes narrowed sharply, and he flicked his hand.

The first attack was blocked.

The sight of the greatsword clashing with the rapier (the Sword of Despair) left Ais momentarily speechless, but she didn't stop.

She imbued the sword with even stronger airflow, transforming it into a veritable storm of attacks.

The two sides clashed fiercely head-on.

(——————)

In a matter of seconds, an unbelievable scene unfolded before Ais's eyes.

Despite her raging slashes and the speed of "wind," the enemy was able to keep up and neutralize her attack.

His opponent's weapon was suppressed by the impact of the whirlwind sword, and his burly body was repeatedly shaken by the fierce wind. Even so, he never retreated. Even when overwhelmed by the impact or threatened by the fierce onslaught, he could use the amazing skill of supporting his entire body's muscle strength, and then use his left arm as a handguard to perform a back-and-forth offensive and defensive maneuver.

Extraordinary "skills" and "tactics" suppressed Ais's storm.

The difference in experience points is too great; it's purely a difference in training.

Even if one gains equal or greater abilities through magic (Wind Spirit Swiftness), the sheer number of opponents on the battlefield will not succumb to the immense grace of "Wind".

What separates them is the mind and body cultivated over many years.