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

Bert suppressed the paralysis in his body and raised his foot. The moment the metal boot touched the axe-shaped "demon sword", a fierce lightning bolt burst out between the two.

The electrical discharge bathed the entire field of vision in gold. Countless, winding, lightning-struck fangs, like those of a hydra, engulfed the road, unleashing a destructive vortex. Tiona and her companions, directly attacked at close range, were no match for the other adventurers on the road. Everyone was swallowed by the lightning barrage.

The charging lightning cannon slammed directly into Riveria's barrier, creating a deafening explosion and a blinding flash. The green light field covering the unconscious civilians, the young mages, Finn, Ais, and Welf remained unmoved, withstanding the bombardment.

As the deafening sound subsided and visibility returned, what appeared before them was... a scene of utter devastation, with the road completely destroyed. Houses on both sides were utterly destroyed, and the stone slabs looked as if they had been clawed by a dragon. Amidst all this, adventurers lay scattered, their bodies scorched and steaming.

The scene was one of carnage, but miraculously everyone was still breathing.

"Ugh, so numb!? 'Paralyzed'!?"

"Damn it...!? Block them all, you stinking wolf!!"

"I'll kill you, you filthy Amazonian...!"

Just moments before the shelling, Bert, disregarding his own safety, kicked out his metal boots to block the attack from extremely close range—the refined metal (mithril) boots absorbed the electric shock—significantly reducing its power. However, naturally, he couldn't completely stop the massive, unrestricted discharge.

The first-level adventurers were not only sent flying by the lightning and rolled all over the ground, but their flesh was also charred. They were kneeling on the ground in a corner of the road, but they were the only ones who were still alive and kicking, cursing at each other.

Although they survived the shelling, their bodies were crackling with thorny electric currents, rendering them unable to move.

"..."

Apart from the east side where the heretics (monsters) lay on the ground, looking west from the middle of the road where the black bulls stood, the entire street scene was completely unrecognizable.

The sight of the road reduced to rubble, and the "monster" staring intently at them, made Finn narrow his eyes.

"No need to capture him alive—"

The leader of the dwarfs spoke, his golden hair swaying.

He spoke from the rooftop, where he stood alone:

"—Let's do it, Ais."

The next instant, there was a "thump".

"————"

The boots made a soft thumping sound as the blond, golden-eyed swordsman landed behind the "monster".

"understood."

As she drew her silver sword, she chanted an incantation:

"【Awaken (Tempest)】."

Her melodious voice resonated throughout the surroundings.

After a very short chant, the girl's "magic" was activated.

"—Buzzing!"

With his position behind him taken by the enemy, the Minotaur turned around and immediately thrust out the "magic sword" from his right arm.

Faced with the rapidly approaching thunder axe, the blonde, golden-eyed girl calmly chanted the name of the magic.

"【Wind Spirit Swiftness】".

The wind is howling.

The moment the airflow enveloped her body, the girl swiftly swung her sword.

Sever the enemy's right arm.

"——————————"

Time was paused for Hestia and the others, the "Heretics," and the Black Bull.

With a flash of wind-swirling divine sword, the "monster" flew into the air, its right arm gripping the "demon sword," and pierced the damaged stone slab.

As a shockwave rippled through the ground, the monster's massive body arched backward toward the sky.

"———————————————————————!?"

The roar reached the sky, and the bull's upper arm disappeared below half its length, blood gushing from its arm.

Protected by the airflow armor, not a single drop of blood splattered on Ais. It was all blown away by the wind.

Magic: Wind Spirit Dash.

A wind-attribute enhancement magic that strengthens the user's entire body and weaponry.

Welf, Fate, and Hestia, who belong to other factions, only know this much.

(—Ais Wallenstein.)

Aside from the adventurers, the only goddess (Hestia) who had not succumbed to the "bowl" was now gazing at the girl's appearance, lost in thought.

【Sword Princess】Ace Wallenstein.

A true leader among urban adventurers, and Orario's number one female swordsman.

The boy's (Bell's) aspirations.

Obeying the wind's command, her long golden hair fluttered in the breeze, her temperament resembling that of a fairy maiden from a heroic tale. Her beauty was so striking that even the goddess couldn't help but admit that she was indeed worthy of being the object of a young man's adoration.

Standing on the battlefield, shaken by the cries of the "monsters," the dignified girl brandished her sword.

"————Roar! Ro ...

With its eyes wide open, the bull seemed poised to launch a counterattack, raising its remaining double-edged axe to chop down on its head.

This attack has rendered many adventurers unable to rise again; it is the "monster's" ultimate killing move, akin to a guillotine.

Ais deflected the attack with just a rapier.

She was neither arrogant nor careless because she had unexpectedly taken the enemy's arm.

Ais narrowed her golden eyes, staring intently at the speechless, astonished "monster".

"I'm going to go."

The girl simply gave it her all, playing a melody of wind and sword.

"~ ...

A series of slashes, relentless and merciless.

Ais sliced ​​through the enemy's massive body with countless blades that moved freely everywhere.

The swordsmanship slash, the upward slash, the spinning slash—all were raised high and swung. The bull, having lost an arm, could not defend against any of the attacks. Its jet-black skin, which it prided itself on for its astonishing strength, and the heavy armor it wore, were gradually chopped into pieces.

Without resorting to tricks, the direct, slashing storm forced the bull to retreat for the first time.

"Ais's 'magic' is really deceptive!"

"You're only realizing this now? You silly goose..."

Faster than Bert, heavier than Tiona, more times than Tione.

One of the reasons why Ais is hailed as the "Sword Princess" created by the grace (power) of the wind is this; the female warrior (Amazon) girl who could only watch from the sidelines was quite annoyed; the werewolf youth, despite saying that, couldn't help but click his tongue.

Soon the monster stopped defending and began a bold counterattack; Ais engaged it in fierce combat.

A clash of swords and axes. No sparks flew, only the astonishing, clear sound of the strong wind echoed continuously. The bull's brute strength, no less than that of the surging air currents, was truly exceptional, while Ais, who could counter with three slashes in a single blow, possessed swordsmanship of divine skill.

The girl sped up.

She eliminated everything from her field of vision except for the enemy, and her expression gradually faded.

It's as if it's moving towards a higher peak, as if it's achieving a stronger evolution, with the sharpness of its strikes constantly increasing.

Whenever the sword flashes silver and the strong wind howls, the enemy's massive body sprays blood.

"That, that is..."

The goddess (Hestia), who had been lost in thought, now had a stiff expression and gasped.

At this moment, the man, his face turning pale, said in a trembling voice:

"That is... 'Valkyrie'."

In the past, some people have called it that.

"War Maiden".

A monster slayer disguised as a young girl. Countless mountains built from the corpses of monsters. A relentless swordsman who tirelessly plunges into the depths of the labyrinth.

Seeing the girl's beautiful appearance, protected by her wind armor even as blood splattered everywhere, Welf... and even the members of the Loki Familia felt fear and dread.

An even louder howl of wind swept across the battlefield.

"!"

The massive body swayed, and the enemy lost its balance.

Seeing that the bull, which had been slashed countless times, finally revealed a weakness, Ais frowned and glared.

With increased speed as she kicked the stone slabs as if they were sand, Ais unleashed her full power, delivering a deadly Kasaya Slash.

"——Hoo!!"

「!?」

Unexpectedly, the enemy's next move greatly surprised Ais.

Seeing that it was too late, the bull abandoned its double-edged axe and instead swung its head—its magnificent horns. With those crimson horns, it deflected Ais's all-out slash.

This time, the girl revealed an opening. The bull took a step that almost caused the ground to cave in, unleashing the full power of the double-edged axe's strike.

「!?」

The wind exploded.

The aura (guardian) on the raised silver sword was shattered by pure power.

The force of the impact was so great that Ais's feet dug grooves in the ground; when the force finally subsided, she looked down at her sword.

The sword, its wind-attribute magic destroyed, was vibrating.

The impact was so powerful that Ais's hand went numb, and she could no longer grip the sword hilt. The girl's usually expressionless face widened as she looked up, facing forward.

The bull, covered in blood, let out short, wheezing breaths and laughed.

Even under these circumstances, it remains fierce, brutal, and audacious.

Ais, who had been staring in disbelief, now raised her eyebrows.

"【Wake up】."

Ais rewrapped the paralyzed arm with [Wind Spirit Swiftness], using the wind to fix the equipment in place.

The bull roared at the fearless powerhouse, charging towards Ais.

Just as the renewed sword-wielding clashes caused Hestia and the others to recoil in fright.

"snort!"

"Gurgle!?"

Just as Ais and the "monster" were getting evenly matched in their battle, someone intervened from the sidelines.

It was Grace, clad in heavy armor. Finally returning to the battlefield, he tossed the god (Icelos) onto a nearby building—making the god groan and say:

"These kids these days are really something..." ——— He delivered a powerful blow to the back of the bull's head from above.

"Ais, let's surround it."

"...! Grace, I—"

"With your hand like this, I'm not going to let you take any risks. Don't be reckless—right, Finn?"

Grace's words were met with a spear thrown at the "monster".

"...!?"

"It's not good. Oh well, since Grace is here, I probably don't need to play."

Finn threw the retrieved gun, which pierced the bull's shoulder, and shrugged at the two men. He, too, had temporarily abandoned command and rushed to the front lines as soon as he saw Ais's condition.

Even Finn was staring at her, and Ais reluctantly nodded. Three battle-hardened Level 1 adventurers surrounded the bull.

Despite being severely injured, the monster fought back tenaciously... but not long after, a "thud" was heard.

"...!"

It knelt on one knee, covered in wounds and scars.