"Growth and Anxiety" Drake arrived just as Lefiya, Ais, and the Amazonian sisters were entangled with several carnivorous plants. The plants
"Growth and Anxiety"
Drake arrived just as Lefiya, Ais, and the Amazonian sisters were entangled with several carnivorous plants.
The plants themselves were quite strong, at least the equivalent of Level 2 adventurers, and their defenses were especially formidable.
Crucially, because it was a festival, the Amazonian sisters weren't carrying weapons. Ais's Despair Sword was being maintained; she only had a regular sword.
This sword, however, couldn't compare to the Despair Sword with its [Unbreakable] attribute; it couldn't withstand the force of Ais's Ariel.
If Ais used her full power, the sword wouldn't last until she defeated all the plants.
Lefiya was in the worst condition; she wasn't a competent mage yet. Her fear of the monsters prevented her from even chanting a spell; she was knocked away by the plants.
The situation was dire; even Ais had suffered minor injuries saving Lefiya.
Drake arrived at that moment, descending from the sky and landing on a carnivorous plant, sending it crashing to the ground.
Spiderweb-like cracks spread across the ground where the plant had impacted, and the plant itself disintegrated into light particles.
Drake raised his hand, blocking another plant's attack; the plant instantly became a torch, leaving only a dark green magic stone after two seconds.
"So Drake is this strong! He's becoming more and more like a hero from the stories!"
Tiona exclaimed, and Ais showed a complex expression upon hearing her.
Drake continued, destroying the remaining plants.
Approaching the group, Drake asked, "Are you alright?"
Tiona, seemingly forgetting their previous disagreement, said energetically, "Rescued by Drake again! You're just like a hero!"
Drake smiled. "Should I say… I'm late, Your Highness?"
Tiona blushed. "That sounds pretty good!"
Tione pulled her sister back, addressing Drake. "Thank you for your help!"
Drake nodded. "It was nothing."
As they spoke, Eina, the elf advisor, ran up.
"Thank you for your help! But one silverback ape is missing; it seems to have run towards Daedalus Street."
Ais handed Lefiya to Tione. "I'll go after it!"
Drake quickly followed. "Daedalus Street is complex; I'll go with you!"
"Me too! Me too!" Tiona joined in.
Eina breathed a sigh of relief; anyone present could easily defeat a silverback ape, but as Drake said, Daedalus Street's terrain was the biggest problem.
Daedalus Street, also known as Labyrinth Street or the Surface Labyrinth, was a maze-like area. Its creator was Daedalus, the craftsman who built the Babel Tower and Orario.
Three people searching would significantly reduce the time and damage.
Ais, enveloped in Ariel, moved with incredible speed.
Ais had to admit that witnessing Drake's battle had spurred her. Combined with recent events, Ais felt an intense urge to grow stronger.
With this in mind, Ais reached the entrance to Daedalus Street. Unexpectedly, her target was right before her.
"That's…"
To Ais's surprise, a familiar white-haired, red-eyed boy was confronting the silverback ape.
Ais quickly recognized Bell, the boy she'd saved from the Minotaurs, only to scare him away.
She instinctively wanted to rush to help but was stopped by Drake.
Ais looked at Drake questioningly, unsure why he was preventing her from helping.
Drake said, "Just watch! This boy is different now; he doesn't need help against this opponent! Just watch his growth."
Drake had faith in Bell; in the original story, Bell had defeated a silverback ape; there was no reason why he would lose after training with Drake for so long.
Bell hadn't noticed Drake and Ais; his attention was entirely on the silverback ape.
Bell hadn't planned this; he'd intended to enjoy the Monster Festival.
He'd only been in Orario for a short time and wanted to experience the city's celebration.
Instead, he was first asked by a cat-person waitress at the Hostess of Fertility to return a lost wallet to its owner, Syr Flova.
Before finding Syr, he encountered Hestia, who had just finished commissioning the Little Black Knife from Hephaestus. Hestia then dragged him on a "date."
Then they encountered the escaped silverback ape. Freya had charmed the ape, targeting Hestia, relentlessly pursuing them.
Bell panicked initially, but as he reached the plaza before Daedalus Street, he regained his composure.
"What are you afraid of?"
Drake's words echoed in his ears, prompting him to stop running.
Hestia responded to Bell's growth and resolve, completing the final ritual for the Hestia Blade.
And now, Bell stood before the silverback ape, wielding the Little Black Knife.
The silverback ape was a monster from the deepest part of the upper levels of the Dungeon; though its estimated level was LV1, like a goblin, its strength was vastly different.
The silverback ape was equivalent to a near-Level 2 adventurer, far beyond Bell, who had only been an adventurer for half a month.
But somehow, Bell felt no sense of defeat.
Perhaps it was the divine blessing imbued in his weapon, or perhaps the growth from his training with Drake.
"Listen, Bell, daggers are weaker than other weapons. But adventurers and monsters alike have weaknesses.
Even with a dagger's attack power, hitting a weakness is enough to defeat any opponent. Nerve nodes, tendon connections, joint gaps; hitting any of these will incapacitate your opponent.
So before a fight, you must observe."
Remembering Drake's guidance, Bell scanned the silverback ape.
The ape wore restraints; an iron mask covered its mouth, revealing only its crimson eyes.
Bell dodged the ape's swinging arm and chain.
He then swung the Little Black Knife, severing the ape's elbow joint. A muffled scream came from behind the mask.
When the ape swung its other arm, Bell had already retreated.
He approached again, and the ape swung wildly.
Bell slid under the blow, severing the ape's ankle.
The silverback ape fell, and Bell moved behind it, plunging the Little Black Knife into its neck.
The ape's roar ceased; it turned into black mist, leaving only restraints and a large magic stone.
With the monster gone, Bell stumbled.
"I won! Goddess, I won!"
Bell paused, then jumped for joy. This was his first victory against such a powerful monster.
Drake smiled, pleased with Bell's performance.
Ais, however, said, "He's gotten stronger! How did he get so strong so quickly?"
Even Drake could hear the… anxiety in Ais's tone.
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