No one's POV

Back in Melen's trade pier district... As Asuna and the rest of Loki Familia squared off against Phryne and her assailants, the ears of the Amazons on guard perked up at the sounds behind them. They'd been stationed there to ensure no civilians made their way out onto the wharf, but the timbre of the earlier city commotion had taken a sudden shift. In fact, the sounds of fear and confusion as people fled had given way to...excited shouts, almost as though they were welcoming someone.

They turned their gazes to the rear, peering suspiciously through the blue shadow of nightfall—only to come face-to-face with an entire army charging straight in their direction.

Amazon 1: What the hell?!

Amazon 2: L-Loki Familia?!

The Trickster flag waved on high as the troops barreled their way into Melen. Making a beeline toward the pier, the men of Loki Familia stopped for nothing, stampeding straight through the city. In less than an instant, the Amazonian guards were obliterated, completely overwhelmed by the galloping throng of male aggressors and their accompanying deep-bellied battle cry.

Riveria: Finn! You're here!

Finn: Apologies for our late arrival, Riveria. What's the current status?

Finn and Riveria convened atop the roof of a nearby building, Melen's citizens mistaking the group for emissaries from Orario and welcoming them with buoyant cheers.

Riveria: Asuna and the others have been brought to a standstill farther down the road...As for Tione and Tiona...

Riveria began, filling Finn in on the rest of the situation. Finn responded promptly, tossing out orders to Gareth and the rest of the troops following along on the road below.

Finn: Gareth! Take Raul and the others and head toward the western border of the city!

Gareth: The west? The devil's goin' down over there?

Gareth asked in confusion.

Finn: Tiona, Loki, and the others were last seen headed in that direction. Where's Bete?

Gareth: Knowin' him, he's already tearin' things up at the pier!

Finn: Perfect. We'll leave that to him, then!

Riveria: And what of us?

Riveria this time. Finn glanced up at the question, turning his gaze toward the high elf next to him. He tossed her the long silver staff he'd been carrying—her Magna Alfs—and she responded with a nod.

Finn: As for us, we'll—

(Elsewhere)

Phryne: H​r​r​g​g​g​g​r​r​a​a​a​a​a​a​a​a​a​g​h​h​h​h!!

Asuna: Hah!

Silver sword met twin axes in a flurrying whirlwind of strikes. With every incoming barrage, Asuna deftly knocked away the two bludgeons and retaliated with the wild flash of her blade, but no matter the angle of her sword, the fully armored giant of a woman always just barely managed to fend off her onslaught.

Phryne flinched beneath her visor. This wasn't some giant battle-ax she was up against—this was nothing but a single sword. But then why was her armor already covered in scratches? Why was the duel leaning in Asuna's favor? Because she was the Berserk Healer, that's why. And it didn't matter that Phryne's levels were now higher or that her magic magic had been sealed.

The temporary strength Phryne had gained for this duel was no match for the swordsmanship Asuna had perfected through hours upon hours of rigorous training. Asuna's technique and tactical prowess were simply too great for Phryne's own abilities to catch up.

Phryne: Youuuuuuuuuu...annoying biiiiiiiitch!

The giant woman wailed, putting everything she had into a single massive diagonal strike of her ax. With blinding speed, Asuna sidestepped the incoming attack in all its overflowing, rage-induced power. Time came screeching to a halt as the Berserk Healer retaliated with a spinning cut, so fast Phryne couldn't even register the movement.

Asuna: HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Phryne: ​R​u​u​u​u​u​u​u​u​u​a​a​a​a​a​a​a​a​r​r​r​r​r​r​g​g​g​g​h​h​h​!!

The tempestuous linear strike collided with Phryne's torso, slicing across the armor with a magnificent flurry of sparks. The toad woman was sent skidding back towards the building.

Phryne: Gnnnggraah...!! You...you pierced ittttt! My beautiful armorrrrrrrrr!!

Asuna(mind): It...It only nicked it! I really need Sora's super strength!

Asuna and even Aiz looked on in dismay at the small hole mark Asuna's attack had made on the armor's surface. She'd put everything she had into that hit, yet she'd still failed to fell the beast. And it wasn't that Phryne's reaction time had simply been too fast, either. It was for the same reason she'd already let so many other good opportunities during this fight pass her by—both literally and figuratively, her weapon just didn't cut it.

The sword she was using was not her own but a substitute, and her opponent's suit of armor was easily top grade. It put her at a distinct disadvantage, especially with their levels already so close. Asuna glanced down at the blade of her sword, covered with nicks and chips. She had no idea how many more of Phryne's attacks the metal could take. As blood and light particles oozed their way out of the neat gash in Phryne's armor, Aiz turned to the woman with a sharp glare, the inklings of anxiety working their way up under her collar.

Then, suddenly.

Asuna: !!

Aiz: !

Their reinforcements arrived. With a raging howl, the slew of Loki Familia men threw themselves at the surrounding circle of Amazons. Narfi and the other lower-level familia members, barely hanging on by that point, could only look on in speechless wonder as the sudden blitz stole their opponents from them. Soon one, two, three, the Berbera fell one by one, no match against these new enemies.

???: What the hellllllllllll?! What'sssssss going on—?!

But the Berbera weren't the only ones. A similar shadow quickly overtook the thunderstruck Phryne. Gray curls dancing, the werewolf leaped toward her like a starved animal, thirsty for blood.

Phryne: Gyyyyyyaaah?!

???: Your in the way, moron!!

There was a brilliant flash as the kick connected with her armor. Phryne barely managed to defend herself, bringing an ax down just in time, but the sheer force of the kick still sent her careening backward and forming deep grooves in the dirt with her heels.

Bete: Yo, Asuna. Aiz.

Aiz:Bete...!

Asuna: Your late!

Bete turned his gaze toward Asuna and Aiz who finished her side of the amazons with an incredulous look.

Bete: I thought you were supposed to be goin' up against that Kali Familia whatsit! But this is just that nasty frog from Ishtar Familia.

It didn't take long for Asuna and Aiz to realize that Loki must have been the one to call in the cavalry. A bit shamefaced, she quickly filled in Bete on the current situation.

Bete: I don't understand...a single bit of what you just told me, aside from the fact that these cows are keepin' us from Tiona and Tione.

Asuna: Yeah. It appears that the Ishtar Familia made some contact with the Kali Familia. And they were also the one that release those Violas.

Bete: You two, go on ahead.

Aiz: What?

Asuna: Are you sure?

Bete: Y'gotta save those numbskull Amazons, don'tcha? They'll do a lot better with your help than mine anyway.

Bete continued almost languidly, ignoring the way Aiz's brows rose in surprise and Asuna's cool narrow eyes.

Bete: I'll take care of things here.

The red glint of Phryne's armor reflected in his amber eyes.

Aiz: B-but she's as strong as a Level 7! And...and Asuna's magic, it was sealed, so going up against her alone would be—

Asuna: Leave it to him, Aiz.

Aiz: B-But...

Bete: Awww, shut the hell up, would ya?

The werewolf cut her off with an irate growl, already a Level 6 himself. Bete hissed, looking up.

Bete: Only a little longer now... Only a little longer, and I'll become stronger than even you two...at least without those magics of yours.

Aiz: !

Asuna: Then I'll leave her to you, Bete.

Bete: Yeah. You just go.

Asuna and Aiz, too, turned their gaze upward to the night sky. To the clouds drifting among all that inky blue and the moonlight just starting to peek through the veil. Taking their weapons "Lambent Light" and "Desperate" from him, they nodded. Asuna and Aiz ran out of there as fast as they could.

Phryne: Stop right there, Berserk Healer!

Bete: You're not going anywhere!

Phryne: ?!

Enraged, Phryne made to follow the two swordswoman, only to find her path cut short by a werewolf. She brought her axes up to fend off the incoming kick, revealing her monstrous tongue.

Phryne: Donnnnnnnnn't mess with me, Vanargand! I know youuuuuuuu can't get enough of me, but I doooooooon't have time for this!!

Her face was already the same color as her crimson armor.

Bete: You smokin' somethin', froggy?

Bete spat out, not even trying to disguise his disgust. Whether or not she knew of the rage surging through the werewolf's entire body, Phryne let out a grand peal of laughter.

Phryne: Hee-hee-hee!! I'll warn you! I'mmmmmm a great deal stronger now, after chasing that sssssssorry elf! You think I care that you leveled up? You're nothing but a dog with itssssssss tail between its legs!

The air around Bete froze with a crack.

Bete: Yer gonna regret those words...

A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes. Almost as if in response to his call, the clouds parted to reveal the light of the moon.

Phryne: Hee-hee...hee...?

Phryne's echoing laugh came to an abrupt halt. The scene outside her visor was...changing. Golden light flooded the once-dark pier, sending faint tremors up and down Bete's body, and the werewolf's shadow trembled ever so slightly against the ground. And then the pupils of his amber eyes suddenly turned to slits that split the irises right down the middle, almost like some kind of feral beast's.

Bete: Don't push your luck croaking you fucking toad...

Phryne: N-no way...

He stood with the moon at his back, his canines enlarged and sharpened, and his gray hair practically standing on end. Phryne could only stare in horror as the shadow on the ground warped into a terrifying, crazed wolf, whom charged with all his might.

Bete: I will crush you until you shut up!!

(Elsewhere)

Amazon 1: Nhag loy! Korru jhi roojeh!

Amazon 2: Negrub fuu Kali?!

Lefiya(mind): Wh-what are they saying...?

Lefiya thought back in one of the caverns in the winding sea cave. The Amazons left to guard her had burst into a flurry of anxious activity, and though she had no idea what they were saying, she could hazard a guess in response to their reactions.

Lefiya(mind): Someone's here? Maybe they came into the cave...At least that's what it seems like. Why else would they be scuttling about so?

And certainly invaders could mean only one thing—Asuna and the others were on their way. Lefiya swallowed hard.

Lefiya(mind): I can't very well sit here and do nothing, then, can I? At the very least, I need to inform them of my location...!

But the question was how, especially with these brutish guards keeping watch. Even in the current commotion, the four of them had yet to avert their eyes from Lefiya. And Lefiya, well, she had nothing but magic in her arsenal, and if Kali's words were to be believed, if she even tried to whisper a quick chant, they'd crush her little neck faster than the words could pass her lips... The mental reminder was enough to make her shake her head in furious refusal.

Lefiya:...?

Until, all of a sudden, she realized something. There was a crack running through the rock face overhead, just high enough that it entered her vision when she tilted her head up. While not wide enough to let a mouse or rat pass, it was just wide enough to let a sliver of moonlight filter through.

Lefiya(mind): Light? Then...it connects to the world outside—.

With that revelation came an idea, and quite suddenly she knew exactly what she needed to do. It was a reckless plan. In fact, she might as well have been gambling on the impossible, and it was going to require ample courage. But if she couldn't even do something as simple as this, certainly she would never amount to anything more than excess baggage for Asuna, Aiz and the others to carry around—! With her hands still bound by their chains, her body gave a shiver. She was ready.

Lefiya(mind): I'm a ridiculous magic powerhouse, I'm a ridiculous magic powerhouse, I'm a ridiculous magic powerhouse...

The words Loki had spoken to her back when she'd updated her Status reverberated in her heart like a mantra of courage. Then, gathering every tiny ounce of pure determination she had, she sucked in her breath in one mighty whoosh.

Amazon:...?

The action was enough to draw suspicious glances from every Amazon in the cave. But it was too late.

Lefiya(mind): I have no other choice but to be stupid, like a reckless fool.

Lefiya: Unleashed pillar of light, limbs of the holy tree!!

Amazon: ?!

Her chant had already begun. She bellowed it from the top of her lungs, not even bothering to hide it, not resorting to any tricks and simply singing with everything she had. For a single instant, the Amazonian guards could do nothing but stand there in shock, and during that time, an enormous magic circle formed around Lefiya's kneeling form. Just as the guards were about to spring into action, the golden light seared into their eyes with a brilliant flash.

Amazon(mind): A smoke screen?!

Or at least that was the Amazons' first thought, but in fact, Lefiya's intentions were quite different. No, her goal was to fill up the cave with so much light that it escaped that crack in the rock and lit up the sky—.

Lefiya: You are the master—

Amazon: Rhu muuna!

Lefiya: Guh?!

One of the Amazons leaped toward her, cutting her chant short. Down came the knife, directly toward her throat, but with a yank of her chains, Lefiya somehow managed to block the incoming attack. Her magic circle was still intact. There was no snuffing it out now. And as Lefiya's light shone through that crack in the wall, she willed her friends to see it.

Lefiya(mind): Miss Aiz, Miss Asuna, Miss Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiz!! Miss Asuuuunaaa!!

Her heart cried out desperately for the one she loved, and just as the other Amazons drew near, reaching for her—there was a ground-shaking explosion.

Lefiya: ?!

The ceiling above them gave way, rocks and shrapnel flying as a lone adventurer came bounding down into the cave. Her call had been answered, and the one who'd shattered rock and stone to save her was none other than —

Lefiya: Miss Aiz! Miss Asun!

She turned her trembling eyes in the direction of her savior and took in the sight of that gorgeous, slender swordswo—Since when did Asuna nor Aiz have muscles like that? And a-a beard?!

Gareth: Ye all right, lass?

It wasn't Asuna nor Aiz at all but, in fact, Gareth. Her magic circle went out with a hiss.

Gareth: Not as easy on the eyes as the one ye're expectin', am I?

Lefiya: That's—?! N-n-n-no, Mister Gareth! I'm not—, I wasn't—, s-s-surely you're just imagining things!!

Lefiya desperately tried to explain, sweat breaking out across her temples. But Gareth saw right through her all the same.

Gareth: Sorry, lass. I know I can never be Aiz, nor Asuna.

Gareth muttered with a sigh before reshouldering his Grand Ax.

Amazons: Gha-gha reem?!

The flabbergasted Amazons stood rooted to their spots at this new development, then quickly readied their weapons and began to move. The tense cry had clearly been some kind of command, because one of them shot forward, straight at Gareth. In response, Gareth readied his own arm, balling his free hand into a fist to promptly bash the incoming body out of the way.

Then the Amazon went flying, and the cave shook with noise as she collided with the far rock wall. She wasn't getting up after that. Once again, time seemed to slow to a crawl, neither Lefiya nor the Amazons saying a word.

Gareth: Y'all reminds me of the first time I saw Tione and her sister.

Gareth laughed before tossing aside his ax. And the giant dwarf warrior turned to face his remaining opponents.

Gareth: Ye seem pretty confident in yer skills, don't ye, lassies?

Gareth said, cracking his knuckles with a popping sound that echoed off the walls.

Gareth: But yer still green.

Then he laughed an uproarious, fearless laugh.

Amazons: ?!

Something stirred inside the Amazons. They might not have had any idea what the dwarf was saying, but they did know one thing—he was making fun of them, and almost in sync, the whole lot of them came charging at Gareth at once. What happened next was enough to drain the color from Lefiya's face— Gareth's fist sent each of the incoming Amazons flying into the wall one after another.

(Elsewhere)

The moon glimmered in the blue sky overhead. The clouds had all but disappeared, and its golden light poured down on the ground below. And beneath that watching gaze, in the middle of Melen's trade pier, clash after clash of a raging battle echoed throughout the docks. Again and again the clamorous percussion of metal on metal punctuated the air.

Phryne: Grrrrraaaaaaaggggghhh...!!

Phryne belted out, her voice hoarse and her face exposed to the night breeze. Her fat arms, short legs, and even her round torso engulfed in shimmering particles of light had been laid bare. At her feet, the crimson pieces of her armor lay like bloody shrapnel, still glinting in the moonlight. Nearly all the reinforced plating had been torn off. The full-body suit of armor she'd been so proud of was nothing short of decimated. Thanks to a certain werewolf.

Phryne: This is...this is innnnnnsane! How can you...be even more powerful than...than the Berserk Healer...?!

She ground her teeth, and her ghastly, froggy face had become all the more ghastly once it was stained with blood and vehemence. Across from her, the werewolf stood in stark contrast, backlit by the light of the moon as a heavy globule of drool leaked down from between his lips. The pieces of her strewn armor crackled under his feet like mere crushed pebbles. Phryne's bulbous eyes dilated before the glare of his silvery metal boots.

Phryne: H​r​-​h​r​r​r​r​r​r​r​u​u​u​u​u​u​u​u​a​a​a​a​a​a​A​A​A​A​A​A​A​R​R​R​R​G​H​H​H​H​H​H​!!

With a roar that split the air, she charged forward, ax flying. She put everything she had behind that strike, barreling toward the wolf and still surrounded by light particles, and he responded in kind, moving at a near impossible speed to meet her with an accelerating kick of his own. They collided.

Phryne: !!

Her ax met the same fate as her armor. As the broken fragments scattered in slow motion, the particles around her fizzled into nothing.

Phryne: M-my time rannnnnnnn out already?!

But before she could so much as lament her life's choices, Bete's metal boots were streaking toward her face. Her expression froze in horror, the word "Wait!" stuck between her lips, but even if she'd been able to get it out, it wouldn't have stopped the charging wolf, and with a kick that made the very air groan, the heels of those silvery boots hit her head-on.

Phryne: GUUUUWWOOOOOOOOOOOOUGH!!

It was a direct hit that sent her rotund body sailing through the air, obliterating every object it encountered along the way. She flew all the way past the docks, plunging into the waters of Lolog Lake beyond. There was a tremendous splash, and the Berbera still fighting on the pier nearby looked up in shocked dismay. Even the Amazons still hiding in the shadows on the roof of the storehouse could only look on in horror.

Haruhime: A-Aisha...?!

Aisha:...!

The long-legged warrior, Aisha, grimaced beneath her turban.

Aisha: He's transformed!

Werewolves had long been considered the least-suited race for Dungeon crawling all across Orario because deep within the bowels of the Dungeon, they had no access to the moon—the source of their true power. These sorts of "transformations" had been confirmed only in a limited number of animal- person species. It was an ability that unleashed not only their untapped power but their innate animalistic nature as well, "trading rationality for strength," as the saying went. Werewolves can only show their true power...when they are under the moon.

While this werewolf skill was well-known across the globe, none of the Amazons had ever seen it in person, nor anything like the sheer overwhelming boost of power it gave to his abilities now.

Aisha: Vanargand...!

With blazing speed and honed strikes, he could decimate his opponent in an instant, turning the battlefield into a bloody brawl. Even the werewolf's alias on her lips was enough to make her shudder.

Aisha: Gngh...?!

She could feel the fear radiating off her veiled companion behind her. The werewolf's gray fur was standing on end, giving off the illusion that it had grown in length. His amber eyes, still split down the middle, emanated a kind of savage lunacy. Looking at him now, the veiled girl felt her tail, similar to his own, begin to tremble in subconscious terror.

Bete: There you are.

Snorting, Bete turned in their direction, eyes staring straight through the darkness to where they shielded themselves in shadow. None of them so much as breathed—and then he charged.

Aisha: Shit!

Aisha hissed, the first to spring to her feet, and though the other Amazons leaped to defend them, it was too late. Pudao swords and other weapons came at him, but they couldn't so much as graze his fur. His single flying kick connected with the group of hidden warriors, hurling them away.

Lena: That shitty beast!

Aisha: Don't try it, Lena!!

But the girl wouldn't listen, flourishing her scimitar and sending it toward one of Bete's gauntlets. It glanced off with barely more than a haphazard bounce. Bete turned to her, now frozen in the air, and punched her straight in the gut.

Lena: Nnguuuuuh!

Her scream followed behind her as she was sent flying. Bete, however, turned toward the lone animal girl, now helpless without her Amazonian guards.

Haruhime: !!

Bete: You're the one controlling that light, aren't you?!

Just like Asuna and Aiz, Bete, too, had noticed the Level-7 Status Phryne currently boasted. But as soon as the particles of light flitting about her had disappeared, she'd turned into nothing more than a hapless civilian. Not about to leave the source of all that power—this conspicuously out-of-place girl who looked more like a shrine maiden than anything else—at large, he stood ready to bring his full strength down right on her head.

Haruhime: Ah—

Until. He caught a glance of her through the pale-white shroud of her veil, and the trembling green eyes staring back at him brought his hand to an abrupt halt.

Aisha: Hngh!!

Aisha saw her opening and took it, jumping forward in the nick of time to pull the girl to safety.

Haruhime: M-Miss Aisha—!

Aisha: There's no time to talk. All of you, run!!

Aisha commanded, her voice ringing out across the battlefield even as she struggled to push her injured body forward. Her fellow Berbera were quick to follow her order, all of them retreating into the darkness. Soon, none but Loki Familia remained.

Bete:...

The battle on the pier was over. Finally, silence had returned to the dark city. All that was left was the quiet lull of the tide from the direction of the lake. With a slump, Bete let his left arm, still held aloft, drop to his side. Whether his froggy opponent had sunk to the bottom of the lake or floated her way to safety, he didn't know, and he didn't care, either. He wasn't in the mood to go running after her. He couldn't seem to shake those jade eyes from his memory. Lips curling in disgust and his tattoo with them, he shot a wad of spit toward the ground.

Bete: If you don't have the resolve to fight, don't step on the battlefield...

(Elsewhere)

Back in the sea cave. The rite continued down within the arena nature had built. It should have been over already, but instead, the two women continued to go at each other with undiminished strength, coming closer and closer to the grand finale of their battle.

Tiona: Hiiiii-YAH!

Bache: Ngh!

Bache quickly dodged Tiona's incoming attack. The other Amazon no longer feared the armor of Velgas surrounding her body, nor each strike aiming to kill. And as she swung her leg with enough force to break bone, attempting to throw Bache off her feet, Bache took to the air and brought her own heel up for a downward swipe at the top of Tiona's head.

Tiona: Let's Goooo!!!

Tiona was too fast, her catlike reflexes moving her nimbly out of harm's way, and Bache's ax kick went flying into the ground. Her heel connected with the stone and cracked it in two. For a moment, the rock burned, smoke rising from the effects of Bache's Velgas.

Tiona: Hey, Bache!! Kali!! If I win, I want a reward like we used to.

Tiona shouted as she chucked a rock she'd picked up during her evasive maneuvers in Bache's direction. Bache didn't reply, Velgas-coated fist rising to meet the rock and shattering it into pieces as she charged. Kali, on the other hand, furrowed her brows in curious doubt as she watched the goings-on down below.

Kali: You're really somethin' else, you know that?...But what the hell. What were you thinkin'?

Tiona: If I win...I want you to make it so Bache and Argana don't have to fight anymore!

This was enough to widen not only Kali's eyes but Bache's, as well.

Tiona: I'm not sayin' you have to stop the rites entirely, 'specially for those who like 'em! But Bache doesn't wanna fight anymore, yeah? She doesn't wanna die! Just like Tione and me! So I want her to be able to do whatever she wants!!

A chance for Bache to escape from Kali's command, from the brunt of Argana's bloodlust. Even now, in the midst of their close-quarter duel, Bache's movements dulled ever so slightly.

Kali: Don't listen to her, Bache. You think I'd be stupid enough to release you for losing? Don't make me laugh! Victory is the only path to survival.

Bache: I understand, Kali.

Bache replied, devoid of emotion, and soon her attacks packed the same punch as before.

Tiona: But why?!

Kali: You think your words mean shit? Ha! As if I'd grant you any old stupid request.

Kali: You stingy old hag!

Tiona was whining now, bickering like a small child even as she was pummeled with attacks.

Kali: Aren't you the one being greedy here?!

Kali shot back, sticking out her tongue in an equally childish riposte.

Kali: It's a good thing I'm here to watch over your fight. At least with Argana and Tione, I know they'll complete the rite. They'll continue fighting until the bitter end, offering up their opponent's dead carcass in triumphant victory.

Tiona:...!

Kali" Because Argana and Tione...are made from the same mold.

Tiona twisted her head upward.

Tiona: That's not true!

Kali: Yes it is!" Kali simply laughed.

Kali: Argana may have her relentless fighting spirit, but Tione has her anger, and they're both the same, ever-enduring and ever-abiding. When that girl gets really, truly angry...she wouldn't hesitate a moment to end her opponent's life. She also bear a grudge against Telskyura. She loves you and wishes to protect you from Telskyura. For your sake, Tione will slaughter her opponent without hesitation. And that's going to lead her to become the strongest warrior.

The ship that Tione and Argana were on is already sailing to Telskyura. Kali only needs to bring the victor. Even if it's a dying Tione.

Kali: Will my wish... soon come true?