The battle back at the base camp was in full swing.
With Judas and the Dis Sisters having vanished into the forest, the others were finally able to focus on exterminating the monsters that had invaded.
"Uwah! It looks so intense that I can't keep up with what's going on… I hope everyone is alright."
Amidst the sounds of battle, Hestia, watching from the sidelines, clasped her hands together and prayed for their safety.
Hermes, on the other hand, remained silent, rubbing his chin as his gaze followed the movements of a particular white-haired rabbit weaving through the battlefield without missing a beat.
'She's good.'
Among those standing out, Artemis was a marvel... a Goddess keeping pace with seasoned adventurers using nothing but her huntress skills and a mortal body.
But Belle Cranel was the true surprise.
Despite being a rookie who had been an adventurer for less than two months, she had one of the highest kill counts, rivaling the veterans.
The way she moved naturally drew attention.
Everyone here knew of Belle Cranel to some extent, but even then, her performance was beyond expectations.
"What the… Captain, is that Belle Cranel, the Little Rookie? Why does it feel like she's not weaker than you?"
Lante asked, glancing toward Rethusa, a Level 3.
"Lante… less talking, more fighting."
Perhaps spurred on by Belle's performance, Rethusa moved faster than before.
It wasn't just her. Others, witnessing the rookie adventurer's prowess, felt a competitive spark ignite within them.
'Yes… the ability to inspire others to surpass their limits… that is the mark of a Hero.'
Hermes noted with a satisfied nod.
"Hestia… you have an amazing child."
"Hmmp… of course. My Belle is amazing, after all."
Hestia puffed out her chest proudly, wearing a smug expression.
But Belle wasn't the only unexpected standout.
"Haaa!"
A manly shout rang out as Welf brought his sword down.
A burst of ice erupted, freezing monsters in place.
In the next instant, he switched weapons, and a wave of flames engulfed them, reducing them to ash.
"Those are… Crozzo magic swords!?"
Lulune exclaimed.
Not a single adventurer present was unfamiliar with the Crozzo name.
The weapons forged by that bloodline were far superior to standard magic swords, making them highly coveted... and feared tools of war.
"That's Welf Crozzo from the Hephaestus Familia, right? I heard he didn't like making magic swords before… I wonder what changed?"
Falgar remarked.
"Belle! Take this!"
Welf tossed a magic sword toward her.
"Thank you, Welf!"
Belle caught it in a fluid motion.
Armed with the extra firepower, she began tearing through the scorpion-like monsters at twice the speed.
Gradually, the situation at the camp began to stabilize.
BOOM
A thunderous explosion echoed in the distance, forcing everyone to cover their ears.
"That direction… that's where Judas is fighting, right? What's happening over there?"
Belle looked toward the forest, her expression etched with worry.
"Oi! Belle… don't even think about going there. That fight is in a different dimension than ours!"
Lili warned, her face pale.
"Looks like things are getting intense over there."
Artemis placed a hand over her heart, her expression tightening.
'Please be safe, Orion.'
…
Three figures clashed at blinding speed, their forms blurring as shockwaves rippled through the air with every impact.
At the start, the Dis Sisters' flawless teamwork had pushed Judas onto the defensive.
A deep gash ran across his back, blood soaking through his clothes as faint smoke rose from his body.
If not for his healing ability, even keeping up with them would have been difficult.
'I need to separate them… deal with them one at a time.'
Wiping blood from his lips, he steadied himself, ignoring the dull ache in his ribs.
As both sisters charged at him with manic grins, Judas swung his arm, summoning a massive wall of earth between them.
"Big sister Dina?"
Vena turned, only to find her sister gone from sight.
『Wrath of the Celestial Titan』
Thunder roared.
Judas appeared before her, the silhouette of a massive beast looming behind him.
His fist shot forward.
Even though Vena raised her arms in time to block...
"Krgh!"
A strangled grunt escaped her as she was launched like a projectile.
She smashed through a dozen trees before embedding herself into a massive boulder, buried under a rain of rubble.
Judas turned slightly, raising a shield of light just in time to block Dina's descending strike.
Suddenly, Dina flicked her wrist, releasing one of her short swords like a throwing knife.
The blade pierced Judas's foot, pinning him to the ground in a spray of crimson.
Gritter his teeth against the white-hot pain, Judas conjured a massive fireball and thrust it point-blank into Dina's chest.
"!?"
She raised both arms, bracing herself as the flames forced her backward, burning her skin before she shouted and deflected it into the sky.
Judas narrowed his eyes, preparing to press the attack...
Then he noticed something.
Something was happening in the sky.
…
"Huh? What's that?"
"A second moon?"
At the base camp, Belle looked up.
High in the night sky, a massive, crescent-shaped object had appeared, glowing with a haunting brilliance.
"That's not a moon…"
Hestia muttered, her expression strained.
"That… is Artemis' arcanum."
Hermes added grimly.
It wasn't just here.
Across the world, anyone who looked up could see it.
A crescent of divine light hanging in the heavens.
"Wow… what is that?"
"What's happening?"
In Orario, crowds gathered, pointing at the sky in confusion.
'Judas…'
Ais Wallenstein looked up, her instincts telling her he was somehow tied to this phenomenon.
'Belle… my disciple… fight.'
Alfia prayed, standing atop the Abandoned Church, her eyes fixed on the sky.
Rumble
The earth groaned.
A massive tremor sent citizens tumbling to the pavement.
"Kyaa!"
"Whoa!"
"The dungeon is shaking!?"
Panic began to spread.
"Help! Help!"
A familiar figure burst into view.
Mord Latro and his party rushed toward the Guild, panic etched across their faces.
"We need backup! Gather every first-class adventurer in the city!"
"The monsters in the dungeon have gone berserk!"
…
'Yeah…'
Judas stared up at the glowing crescent moon, his expression solemn.
He understood.
If left unchecked, that arcanum would spell catastrophe.
'The countdown to doomsday has already begun.'
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