Bors, the one-eyed adventurer who oversees the city of Riveria, could hardly believe what he was seeing before him.
Battles against the Floor Boss usually involved a variety of adventurers each time, but their coordination was always non-existent, just a loose alliance. They kept enough distance to avoid interfering with one another, striking the Floor Boss one by one in what was basically a chaotic brawl.
Yet now, what was this? Under the orders of a single boy, the ragtag group of adventurers had begun to work together. The broken encirclement had been rebuilt, clumsy as it was, and they coordinated their attacks.
There were nearly fifty of them. All of them being moved precisely by just one boy.
Of course, a few adventurers ignored his orders, but even that was cleverly used by the boy to turn a disorderly mob into a single organized force.
Bors studied the boy giving the commands. He had caught the attention of Goliath, the Floor Boss, recognized as a"target." deftly dodging the relentless"Roar Howl" attacks and deflecting the giant's looming arms with his jet-black arms.
The battle was fast and unforgiving, allowing no time to breathe. Yet the boy shouted orders as if he could see the entire battlefield.
Did he have charisma? Bors wasn't sure. But whatever it was, that boy had something magnetic about him.
Later, I'll have Andromeda tell me the name of that kid.
Bors thought to himself.
πβββββββββββββπ
Ryuu's wooden sword struck Goliath's ankle. It was a critical hit, but his expression remained grim.
"Rion, you're going to die!" Asfi's shout came from their shared role as bait.
Ryuu stayed close to Goliath's massive body, attacking to draw the giant's attention.
"Andromeda, I'll return that line to you exactly as you said it."
But Ryuu wasn't the only one fighting recklessly. Asfi, too, stayed glued to Goliath, delivering attacks.
"That kid is giving it their all! As their mentor, I can't afford to act recklessly."
Asfi's gaze caught sight of Toki, who was both dodging Goliath's attacks and issuing orders to the adventurers.
"This Floor Boss, Goliath... He isn't even glancing at us."
The two second-rank adventurers clenched their teeth. The attacks from Level 4 adventurers were powerful, each blow devastating under normal circumstances.
But Goliath ignored them completely, focusing relentlessly on Toki, the group's center.
"Andromeda, can you target the enemy's magic stone?"
"No way! That monster's way too tough. Our weapons don't even penetrate."
"Then what about magic?"
"My chants take way longer than Toki's, and are pretty weak. Plus, they don't mesh well with Goliath's high healing ability."
"I understand. We need the mages' support again."
"We're trying to regroup, but there are too many monsters. They can't even start chanting."
"What about the frontline wall?"
"It's functioning, but their numbers are too few compared to the monsters."
Asfi's beautiful face twisted with strain as they continued to hammer Goliath with relentless attacks.
No doubt, the greatest burden fell on Toki. Though keeping some distance, Toki endured the storm of "Roar Howl" while directing the adventurers.
Goliath's powerful regeneration nearly broke Toki's spirit. But Toki hadn't given up, and so Asfi rallied themselves.
Once again, Asfi launched an attack at Goliath.
πβββββββββββββπ
Three minutes. The time they'd bought by reorganizing the adventurers, the maximum charge time for Bell's accumulated attack.
"Frontline attackers, fall back!"
At Toki's command, all adventurers leapt away from Goliath, and Bell stepped forward.
Even Goliath's high regeneration wouldn't withstand that radiant attack. But just as Toki relaxed briefly,Β
Goliath's right arm roared and blasted Toki away.
"Toki!?"
Asfi screamed, only for their cry to be drowned out by the beam of light Bell unleashed.
πβββββββββββββπ
Toki flew across the battlefield and the grassy plain, finally crashing into a large tree.
"Ugh...hgh!?"
"Toki, are you okay!?"
Asfi rushed over, quickly checking Toki's body. Several ribs were broken, and there were multiple bruises. It was serious.
"Asfi, what about Goliath...?"
"Focus on your own body right now!"
Asfi checked their pouch, all that remained were healing potions.
Toki had just recovered from an illness, and pushing their body this far was bound to end like this.
From afar came Goliath's roar. Toki struggled to stand, but the pain was overwhelming.
"Toki, you need to, "
"Toki!"
Asfi's attempt to urge rest was cut off by a voice, Hermes, their patron god.
"Asfi, the battle isn't over yet. You need to get back now."
"...Understood. Hermes-sama, please look after Toki."
Leaving Toki in Hermes' care, Asfi ran back into the fray. Hermes approached Toki.
"Hermes-sama...?"
"Toki, well done. You've done enough."
There was warmth in those words.
"You fought valiantly against Floor Boss Goliath and instantly united the scattered adventurers. That was a great achievement."
Hermes paused, then shifted tone.
"But it's not over yet."
It was a challenge. Expectation for his child.
"You're not the type to fall here, not the Toki Asfi and I raised."
Smiling, full of encouragement and excitement, Hermes urged Toki on.
"Show me how much more you've grown."
Hearing that, Toki stood.
Grimacing from the pain, grinding teeth, legs trembling, but standing nonetheless.
"You're really a selfish god, aren't you?"
Toki muttered with a smile. His eyes were still alive.
πβββββββββββββπ
Toki didn't head back to Goliath right away but walked across the plain with Hermes.
Between the battlefield and the supply point, they found the boy Bell collapsed on the ground, with the goddess Hestia desperately calling out to him.
"If there's such a thing as the qualification to be called a hero, "
Hermes changed his tone as he spoke to the two.
"Hermes!? And Toki-kun!? You're safe!?"
"Yes, more or less."
While the goddess and boy exchanged words, Hermes continued.
"Not the one who wields the sword, nor the one who raises the shield, nor the one who brings healing."
Toki knew those words. Hermes had often said them during their travels.
"The one who faces themselves is the one truly called a hero."
Young Toki had scoffed at that.
"Protect your comrades. Save the helpless. Risk yourself."
But now, he found value in those words.
"It's okay to break, to falter, to cry as much as you want. The victor is always among the defeated."
If there was one complaint, it was that those words seemed meant not for him, but for Bell. Jealousy stirred in his heart. Yet, accepting even that jealousy, Toki vowed to be Bell's best friend.
"Hold onto your wishes, shout your feelings. Then, "
He stepped forward, standing beside Bell.
"That's the coolest kind of hero."
Bell stirred awake. Toki glared at Goliath beside him.
"Bell, you..."
"Finally up, huh?"
Still staring at Goliath, Toki spoke to Bell.
"Sleeping in is rare for you."
"Well, yeah."
They joked as Bell rose, standing side by side with Toki.
"Bell-sama!"
From afar, Lili shouted. Bell turned just as Lili threw something with all her might.
It looked like a greatsword, completely raw and unrefined, like a natural weapon from the wild.
Bell caught it effortlessly with one hand.
"Toki, another three minutes, please."
"In this situation?"
The frontlines had already broken. Their bodies were battered, barely able to stand. Still,Β
"Counting on you."
They couldn't betray that trust.
"Leave it to me. And you, don't screw up this time."
"Got it."
Without saying more, they each made a fist.
Then they bumped fists together with a thud.
At that instant, Toki charged toward Goliath, and Bell began his accumulated charge.
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