The radiant magical light coating his greatsword condensed—
transforming it into a dazzling golden blade.
At first glance, it looked like an apocalyptic flame.
The brilliance was so intense it created the illusion that the blade had grown thicker.
It looked as though a pelt of a golden boar had wrapped itself around the weapon.
War Boar — this was Ottar's enhancement magic.
Its nature—
Was simply to empower the strength of his sword strikes.
Combined with monstrous brute strength, it could unleash devastating long-range slashes.
"Disappear."
With an expressionless face, Ottar swung his golden slash.
Just before the slashing wave could unleash its full might—
The Juggernaut's blood-red eyes spun in their sockets.
Its bluish-violet shell gave off a faint glow.
Then—
The golden slash reflected back and exploded directly on Ottar the Boar King.
BOOM!
A thunderous, earth-shaking explosion erupted—
the force and sound crashing down like a tidal wave.
In an instant—
The massive noise faded, leaving no aftermath.
Every building behind Ottar had been leveled.
Thankfully…
The civilians who had been watching nearby—
Had already evacuated to safety under the guidance of the Ganesha Familia members.
No innocent lives were lost.
However—
Aside from Shakti, wielder of the Elephant God's Staff,
ten other Level 5 Ganesha Familia members, including the Amazonian Red Battle Leopard—Ilta,
were caught in the blast and completely annihilated.
Now, with broken bones and bloodied heads—
They lay unconscious, sprawled across the ruins.
"Ilta… Ibri… Momoka (Mondaka)…?"
"Everyone…"
"H-How could this happen…"
Shakti stood in shock, her wide eyes filled with disbelief.
On the other side of the wreckage, Ais was just as stunned.
Clad in her wind armor—
She'd barely taken any damage from the earlier shockwave.
Yet Ottar—hailed as Orario's strongest defender—
Had been brought down by his own ultimate technique.
But soon…
The wounded Boar King slowly stood back up.
Bruised and battered, he stared toward the distant form of the fearsome creature.
The enemy's armor…
Still faintly glowed with eerie light.
The Juggernaut's razor-sharp carapace shimmered where the golden slash had struck—
Completely unscathed.
"GRRAAAARRRRHHHHHH!!"
With a screech of its reverse-jointed legs scraping the stone—
The blood-red behemoth lunged straight toward Orario's strongest man.
"So fast…"
Ottar's eyes widened as the massive monster's right claw came barreling down.
In a flash—
He raised his still-glowing black greatsword to defend.
The bloody-red claw, glowing ominously, carved a fiery arc through the air—
CLASH!
Sparks exploded—
Ottar held the block for barely two seconds.
Then—
His massive body was launched like an arrow, sent flying backward.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Three consecutive buildings collapsed from the shockwaves of his impact.
Just one blow—
And the man hailed as Orario's strongest was hurled hundreds of meters away.
"H-How is this possible…"
"That's the Level 7 Boar King!"
Shakti was completely dumbfounded.
"Shakti—look out!"
Came Ais's desperate warning from afar.
Before she could even react—
A massive black shadow loomed behind her.
In the next instant—
A huge tail came crashing down.
BOOM!
Slammed into a building far in the distance—
The structure crumbled under the impact.
Shakti spat out blood, her body buried in rubble.
She didn't get up.
And just like that—
All eleven Level 5 members of the Ganesha Familia were defeated.
...
Elsewhere—
CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—
The bells of the clock tower rang out urgently.
This wasn't the usual noonday chime.
The ringing grew more frenzied, as if panic had taken hold.
It wasn't coming from the eastern clock tower—
But from the massive bell housed in the Guild Headquarters to the northwest.
This bell—
Was used only to broadcast a citywide emergency alert.
In the underground shrine, inside the prayer hall:
"What?!"
"The Juggernaut—Zagnath—appeared near the arena?!"
Fels's voice trembled in disbelief, wondering if she'd misheard.
How could the slayer of the dungeon's invaders just suddenly appear on the surface?
Opening his Divine Eye, Ouranos replied calmly:
"This abnormal disaster… was not born from the dungeon."
"My Divine Authority detected no murderous intent from it."
"It is merely toying with adventurers using overwhelming strength."
"Both the Loki Familia and Freya Familia have sent forces to assist."
Fels was stunned:
"I'll head to the scene immediately to assess the situation."
(Note: Although Fels is a skeleton, she was originally a woman.)
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