When Arin was attacking Rudra's familia hideout, in another part of the town, several people were on the search for Arin.
Those in the team mainly include the whole of Astraea familia and from Loki familia were Riveria and Ais, and from Hermes familia, it was Asfi and Lydia.
They have split into several groups, attacking different hideouts, in hopes of finding Arin faster.
"Phew!" Alise wiped her forehead dramatically, despite not having broken a sweat. "There sure were a lot of them! Good thing they got to witness my amazing new Level 5 techniques before they went down!"
"Indeed," Kaguya said, sheathing her katana with practiced elegance. "Though I must say, the difference a single level makes is quite remarkable. No wonder Level 5s are considered first-class adventurers."
"Exactly!" Alise beamed, striking a pose with her hands on her hips. "And now that I'm Level 5, I've reached peak perfection! I mean, I was already perfect before, but now I'm like... ultra-perfect! The most beautiful and talented adventurer in all of—"
"Alise! Kaguya! We need to focus on our task and find Arin-san quickly." Ryuu said impatiently. While the other two stare at her.
"That's what we are doing right now, you love-struck Pixie," Kaguya said snarkily.
"Wh-Who is love-struck!" Ryuu clearly became flustered. "Kaguya, I ask you not to make any assumptions. I am merely worried about his safety."
"Uh-huh," Kaguya said dryly, examining her nails with exaggerated disinterest. "That's why you've been pacing around like a caged animal ever since we heard he was missing, right? Pure professional concern?"
"I do not pace!"
"You totally pace," Alise chimed in cheerfully.
Before they could tease her further, they sensed several people trying to surround them. A woman appeared in front of them.
"Vallette!" Ryuu recognised the woman, who was responsible for almost killing Ardee.
"Yes, that's me, and you, Astraea bitches really don't know when to give up, do you? Why don't you go ahead and play Champions of Justice somewhere else, huh? Is that failed hero coming after us not enough of a problem that now you've decided to do that as well?"
"Stop calling Arin-san a failed hero. He is more of a hero than you could ever be!" Ryuu wouldn't let anyone who insults Arin go; she is too grateful to him to do that. Not to mention all the sacrifices he made to ensure people's safety. He might not consider himself a hero, but Ryuu, Astraea familia, and even the whole of Orario see him as one.
"Haa!!" Vallette scoffed at her. "As if I ever want to be a hero."
"Exactly," said Ryuu, scoffing back at her. "You are too big a coward to do that."
Vallette scowled, veins bulging from her forehead. "You bitch! Do you have a death wish?"
"Alise, Kaguya. Please take care of the rest of these fanatics. I will fight her." Ryuu made that decision mainly because of all the vile things Vallette did; Ryuu had developed a deep hatred for her.
"Are you sure, Lion?" Alise asked, not because of worry, but more as a confirmation, since Vallette was still at a peak level 5, unlike them, who had just become level 5s.
"Yes, I am sure, this is something I have to do." Ryuu was adamant.
"Okay, then go wild just as Lady Astraea said. We won't let anyone interfere." Said Alise as she and Kaguya turned to face the cannon fodder.
Ryuu took out her wooden sword, holding it in front of her, while Vallette also brought out her buster sword.
The tension in the air was palpable as the two warriors faced each other. Ryuu's grip tightened on her blade, the familiar weight comforting in her hands. Across from her, Vallette hefted her massive buster sword with casual ease, a cruel smile playing on her lips.
"Ready to die, elf?" Vallette taunted.
"No, because the one who will die will be you alone," Ryuu replied coldly, settling into her stance.
Without warning, Vallette lunged forward, her massive sword cleaving through the air with devastating force. The concrete where Ryuu had been standing exploded into fragments as she rolled to the side, her blade already moving in a counter-attack.
Clang!
Steel met wood with a resounding crash that sent shockwaves through both fighters. Vallette's eyes widened in surprise at the force behind Ryuu's strike.
Ryuu pressed her advantage, her blade work flowing like water as she launched a series of lightning-fast strikes. Each blow carried the weight of her convictions, her determination to see justice done. Vallette was forced to give ground, her heavier weapon struggling to keep up with Ryuu's fluid movements.
Ryuu glided across the ground and swung her sword with all her weight and strength behind it. Her strike sent Vallette sliding backward several feet, her boots carving grooves in the stone floor.
"You've gotten stronger," Vallette snarled, wiping blood from her lip. "But I've been holding back too!"
She raised her magical buster sword high above her head, and brought the ground, several spikes rose from the ground, making their way towards Ryuu at a fast speed.
Ryuu quickly ran to the side, avoiding all the spikes with graceful movements.
The collision sent both fighters flying in opposite directions. Ryuu rolled with the impact, coming up in a crouch as debris rained down around her. Through the dust and smoke, she could see Vallette's silhouette already moving.
The fight continued, but anyone could tell that Ryuu was slowly but surely being pushed back.
"Hahahaha! Now, where is that cockyness gone, huh!" Vallette was sure that even now, when they had lost the majority of their forces, she would at least be able to take them down and run. That belief only solidified as more and more of the Evilius members started crowding and attacking.
Ryuu, seeing that the fight was being dragged on for far too long, decided to use her Trump card.
Her new skill.
Ryuu created a distance between them and started casting.
"Virtue Nexus," A symbol of Astraea familia appeared below her feet, and a pillar of light started to surround her, forming a barrier. "Unity of Justice. Souls are connected, wills resonate."
"Wh- is that magic?!" Cried Vallette as her attacks remained ineffective against the barrier.
"Fortress of protection, throne of judgment, sacred fire of purification." Ryuu continued to cast her magic; she was not afraid that the barrier would break, but even if it did break, then she could simply do concurrent-chanting. This magic did not limit her moment after all.
"Power of those who believe in justice, destroy evil."
"Wow, her magic sure is flashy! I want it too!" Said Alise as she saw Ryuu's newest magic for the first time.
"I think Lion got the best deal out of all of us through this level up," said Kaguya, seeing Vallette going crazy trying to destroy the barrier. There, some crack started to form, but Ryuu's chant was also almost complete.
"Yes, what does the god say? Oh! Right! Lion became a broken character!"
"Bonds of justice, here and now!" All the energy surrounding Ryuu was absorbed into her, giving her a status boost, alongside giving her the ability to use all the magic and skills of those who follow justice, under the banner of Goddess Astraea.
"Agaris Alvesynth!" Ryuu used Alise's magic, giving her already boosted stats even more boosts; her whole body was wrapped in flames before the crimson flames settled on her arms, legs, and blade.
"Wha-what the heck, elf, what is that?!" Vallette cried.
"Lion using my magic looks so cool!!" Alise squealed.
Ryuu sprinted, or rather glided, which would be more apt, through the air, straight towards Vallette. With a swing of her sword, Vallette was pushed back, colliding with a wall. She got up quickly and ordered he minion.
"All of you attack her!" The minion hesitated for a moment, but still followed her order and started to attack Ryuu.
Ryuu, instead of backing off, started to intercept their attack and started chanting another spell.
"In the sky of a now distant forest. Infinite stars scattered in the endless night sky. Respond to my foolish voice, give me now divine protection of starfire. Give the mercy of light to the one that abandoned you. Come, wandering wind, the wandering traveler. Cross the sky and run through the wilderness, run faster than anything else. Imbue the light of stardust and destroy the enemy!"
Dozens upon dozens of green balls of wind gathered in the sky, covering the entire battlefield.
"Luminous Wind!" All of the green balls of wind fell on the enemies, flattening the battlefield. Ryuu's control over her magic showed as the magic attack avoided all her allies. And fell in front of Vallette as she tried to flee.
"Wow! Lion is like a one-woman army!" Alise cheered as she and Kaguya sprinted in front of Vallette to capture her.
"Ah!! Okay fine! You won. I admit defeat." She said, dropping her sword, they knew she was just surrendering because she knew she would lose if she fought now.
"Now go ahead and take me to the prison." She said in a sing-song voice, as she believed that she could escape any kind of prison. This was just another way to survive. She was sure that these naive girls who follow justice would take her to prison, and then she could just escape from there.
"Captain, did you hear anything, she said," Kaguya asked Alise, who was looking at the sky.
"Hm? Kaguya, did you start hearing things? Because I for sure did not hear anything." Alise simply replied, still staring at the sky.
"Thought so. Lion, do you mind finishing the job, or should I do it?"
"No, Kaguya, I will do it," said Ryuu as she walked towards Vallette, who was sweating bullets.
"Oye oye! Aren't you a follower of justice? Is that your justice attacking an unarmed woman?"
"I do not know what you are talking about, because all I see is just a roach that should be eliminated from this world," said Ryuu, as Vallette started backing off.
"Wai-wait, hear me out!" Ryuu glided in front of her, bringing her sword back and.
"GUUUHAA!!" stabbing Vallette in the chest, not wanting to risk her being still alive, she activated a magic spell.
"Arvelia!" Crimson fire burst from her blade, burning Vallette down.
"Lion being this merciless is a first," said Kaguya.
"She is growing up," said Alise, looking at Ryuu with gentle eyes.
"I can hear everything you know?" Ryuu called them out, receding her magic. "And I know I already eliminated her. But was that ok?" Ryuu asked, a little unsure.
"Hm? Of course, Lady Astraea already told us to go wild, didn't she?" Alise reassured her.
Just then, the ground beneath them trembled just like the first day the great conflict started. And they saw a pillar of light piercing the sky. Signifying a return of god.
"Arin-san…" a name escaped Ryuu's lips, knowing without confirmation who was responsible for the god's return.