"Only Lefiya remains!"
"It all depends on Lefiya now!"
"Then Lefiya will land the finishing blow!"
In short, the strategy to defeat the new species was complete. Hearing the group's discussions, Lefiya felt utterly bewildered.
"Ah, it's already decided? Isn't that a bit hasty?"
Seeing such a heavy responsibility placed on her shoulders, Lefiya panicked.
Noticing her nervousness, Shirou smiled, pressed her shoulder, and spoke sincerely:
"Don't be so nervous, Lefiya. Think of our training. Wasn't it all for this very moment?"
"In times of despair, to chant magic, annihilate the enemy, and save one's comrades— isn't that the duty of a mage?"
"The duty of a mage…?"
Hearing Shirou's words of comfort, Lefiya's nervousness gradually eased.
Determination filled her eyes.
In truth, she was no longer the coward she once had been. Her panic came simply from this being her first time shouldering such a heavy burden.
However, with Shirou's encouragement, she quickly regained her confidence.
"I understand. I will annihilate our enemy!"
Hearing Lefiya's words, Finn and the others couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
Riveria's vision had truly been sharp; this child was undoubtedly the future pillar of the Loki Familia.
Just as Lefiya steeled herself, the elite team suddenly noticed a new species appearing from the passage ahead.
"They're coming out from the passage in front too!"
"Everyone, quickly, take the right fork!"
Shirou and his group changed direction and rushed into a narrower passage. Feeling the danger closing in, Finn hurriedly asked:
"Tione, what about your weapons and gear?"
"Don't worry, Captain. We've barely used any, except Tiona's Urga!"
"Please don't bring up my Urga!"
Hearing Finn's question and seeing the others nearly weaponless, Shirou suddenly remembered that many of their arms had melted in the previous battle.
"Captain, use my weapons. Spare weapons won't be of much use now."
With that, Shirou activated his projection magic.
"Trace on!"
With a surge of magical power, numerous weapons appeared before Finn and the others.
"What are these…?"
Finn couldn't help but ask, sensing a strange familiarity from them.
Shirou only smiled faintly, offering no further explanation. He had long since analyzed the weapons of the Loki Familia's top members.
"This one's for you, Tiona!"
With that, Shirou projected another Urga and tossed it to her.
"Don't worry about the weapons breaking. I can always make another!"
Looking at Shirou, who had created weapons for them, Finn and the others felt a sense of absolute reliability.
"Wow, my Urga is back!"
Hearing Tiona's teary voice, Shirou understood. After all, it had cost 120 million Valis!
Just as Shirou was about to offer her some comforting words, his expression suddenly changed.
"Captain, there's a dead end ahead."
At Shirou's words, Finn's face hardened.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"
"Lefiya, get ready to chant your spell!"
"Riveria, put up a magic barrier to protect Lefiya!"
"Understood!"
But the unexpected happened. As everyone knew, the dungeon was alive.
As they retreated toward the dead end, the other three walls suddenly collapsed.
Dozens of black rhinoceroses emerged from the rubble.
It was as if everything had been set up in advance. The dungeon was always full of ridiculous traps.
Facing the sudden danger, Finn immediately gave his orders:
"Gareth, Bete, Tiona, Tione! You four protect Lefiya while dealing with those monsters. Ais, Shirou, and I will handle the new species!"
"Yes!"
At Finn's command, everyone instantly took their positions to face their respective foes.
"Ais!"
"I know."
Holding her sword, Ais spoke calmly.
"Tempest!"
Both Ais and her sword, Desperate, were enveloped in wind.
This was Ais' magic—Ariel.
The girl cloaked in wind didn't strike immediately but instead handed her sword to Finn.
"Desperate isn't indestructible?" Finn asked with a wry smile, looking at the sword in his hand.
"Would it work against that liquid?"
"I don't know."
As the two prepared to exchange blades, Shirou suddenly remembered—he could just project another Desperate.
"Wait a minute, Captain, try this instead."
With that, Shirou projected two swords and tossed them to Finn.
Looking at the blades in his hands, Finn sighed helplessly.
"Why didn't you do this earlier?"
"I forgot."
"…"
Well, maybe this guy wasn't that reliable.
[Proud warrior, archers of the forest.]
As everyone readied themselves, Lefiya's chanting voice could be heard from behind.
"Looks like we can't afford to fall behind."
Finn, wielding two Desperate swords, spoke as he gazed at the monsters before him and charged.
[Bow before the plunderers who advance.]
Ais advanced as well, cloaked in Ariel's power, slipping into the monster horde at a speed even faster than Finn's.
Facing the new species capable of corroding and melting matter, she swung her sword mercilessly.
Empowered by Ariel's magic, Ais cleaved the new species in two. Its corrosive liquid sprayed to her side, halting her advance.
A wall of wind shielded Ais from the corrosive spray.
[Answer the call of your kin and ready your arrows.]
Cutting through the horde alongside her was Finn. His blade, imbued with the property of indestructibility, proved highly effective.
However, he lacked Ais' ease and grace.
Without wind to shield him, he had to constantly remain vigilant against the newly discovered corrosive attacks during battle.
[Stain them with flame, light of the forest.]
Unlike Finn and Ais, who rushed headlong into the fray, Shirou didn't charge into the horde. His basic skills still didn't allow him to perform such reckless feats.
Thus, he remained more in the rear, near Lefiya, firing arrows at the monsters.
He could control the explosive power generated by his magical arrows.
Thanks to that, he managed to slay several monsters while also providing support for Ais and Finn.
With Clairvoyance and Eye of the Mind, Shirou had already pinpointed the monsters' magic stone locations.
Moreover, their strength lay in their corrosive abilities, not in sheer durability.
Thus, Shirou didn't need much effort to bring them down.
[Release them, fire arrows of the fairies.]
But the sheer number of monsters was overwhelming, and the passage was far too cramped.
Because of that, the power Shirou could use in his arrows was extremely limited.
Even with him, Finn, and Ais fighting desperately, the battle line continued to press forward.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."