The strength and range of the thunder entity were linked to the Magic Power used. If he sacrificed quantity for quality, pouring all his Magic Power into a single entity, its strength could reach 100% of his own!
However, he might collapse as a result.
Therefore, the Ability Scores of the lightning entity could reach a maximum of 90% of his own.
Since it was a no-chant Magic, its destructive power was definitely inferior to those lengthy, fully-chanted spells.
But the advantage of no-chant Magic was speed and low consumption. He didn't need to stand still like a typical mage, and continuous casting could compensate for the power difference.
After fully understanding his Magic, Roy happily left the Dungeon, in a very good mood.
He had just returned to the surface.
Roy noticed that a significant number of people had gathered in the wide plaza—at least several times more than when he went in.
As a financially savvy office worker with sharp intuition, Roy sensed an unusual atmosphere. This was not the time to avoid a commotion. He walked closer and looked through the gaps in the crowd to see the situation inside the circle.
Two or three dozen men and women wearing the same uniform surrounded a girl about fourteen or fifteen years old.
The girl had reddish-brown short hair and a graceful, petite figure.
Daphne Lauros!
And the people surrounding her were the Apollo Familia!
Roy immediately realized what was happening. Poor kid. She's been targeted by the Apollo Familia.
The Apollo Familia usually kept to themselves and were relatively honest, but they had a troublesome Head God.
Once Apollo set his sights on someone he fancied, or an adventurer from another Familia, he would stop at nothing to acquire them, even risking punishment from the Guild.
Even if the person fled to the ends of the earth, the Apollo Familia would pursue them relentlessly. They were like sticky plasters!
As a result, many members of the Apollo Familia were forced or semi-forced to join.
"Daphne Lauros!"
"You can't escape!"
"Accept the love of Lord Apollo!"
…
The Apollo Familia members spoke one after another, clearly taking it for granted that Daphne would join them.
Daphne struggled to stand up, breathing heavily. She had intended to run into the Dungeon, but her stamina gave out, and she was caught. Her face was filled with despair.
Who can help her? Daphne looked around, her eyes full of pathetic pleading, searching the faces of the others.
However, the adventurers wore expressions of bystanders watching a show, showing no intention of helping. They were long accustomed to the Apollo Familia's hunt.
"This time it's a girl! Don't break her this time!"
"Hahahahahaha!"
Some adventurers with poor character even joked around.
"You bastards!" Daphne rushed forward in anger, but she was weak and posed no threat.
"Hey, don't lean on me!" A middle-aged adventurer pushed Daphne away in disgust.
Daphne was shoved, and the others backed away, suddenly creating a large empty space. By sheer chance, Daphne stumbled and fell at Roy's feet.
"Why did this have to happen to me?" Daphne lay on the ground, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Are you 'that LV.1'?"
The Apollo Familia members closed in. Just then, one of them let out a surprised voice.
Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Roy.
In Orario, high-ranking or famous adventurers were usually addressed by their title. Although titles carried a certain amount of bad-taste humor from some deities, they were the Gods' acknowledgment and recognition of the feats accomplished by the adventurers.
It was considered an immense honor!
Only friends would address each other by their given name.
Since Roy didn't have a title, yet had some fame, they could only refer to him as "that LV.1."
"I'm just watching the show, don't mind…" Roy laughed, but he was interrupted before he could finish.
"I remember he belongs to the Astrea Familia."
"They're the ones who stick their noses into everything under the banner of 'Justice.' It's a good thing their whole Familia was wiped out."
"Get lost, you LV.1 brat!"
"Don't interfere!"
…
Given the Astrea Familia's past behavior, they would definitely intervene in this matter. Therefore, the Apollo Familia members were utterly impolite. They also didn't believe that the LV.1 Roy could pose any threat to them.
This overbearing attitude made the smile on Roy's face disappear. He genuinely hadn't intended to get involved.
But if they put it that way, he was not pleased. Today, he absolutely had to dispense justice!
A Buddha fights for a stick of incense, a man fights for a breath of pride!
Roy had no doubt that if he were intimidated and forced to retreat by the Apollo Familia today,
The rumor all over Orario tomorrow would be that the LV.1 member of the Astrea Familia was chased away, tail between his legs, by a shout from the Apollo Familia.
If it were the Freya Familia or the Loki Familia, Roy might have endured it. But what was the Apollo Familia? Their Captain, Hyakinthos, had only recently leveled up to LV.3.
He and Ryuu had taken down the Rudra Familia, whose Captain and Vice-Captain were both seasoned LV.3s.
They were far from qualified to scare him!
"Run as far as you can. I'll hold them off for you." Roy squatted down and smiled at Daphne, though it gave off a slightly sinister vibe.
Daphne was slightly stunned.
Whoosh!
Sensing a rushing sound behind him, Roy drew the Muramasa and spun around, blocking a sharp sword slash aimed at him. The blades clashed, sending sparks flying.
"You brat! I told you not to interfere!" The elven youth from the Apollo Familia gripped the sword hilt with both hands, pressing down with all his might.
The opponent had also just leveled up to LV.2. Roy felt very little force and thought he could probably block it with a single hand.
"You're so weak!" Roy sneered, quickly kicking out a leg that landed on the opponent's abdomen.
The powerful kick sent the elven youth retreating seven or eight meters. He fell to one knee, his face pale, feeling sick to his stomach as if his guts were churning.
Roy shouted, "Run!"
Daphne didn't worry about anything else, didn't even ask Roy's name, and fled frantically toward the shadows.
"You little bastard, you're looking for death!"
The Apollo Familia members swarmed him.
There was no fear on Roy's face. He met the challenge head-on. The LV.2 Ability Scores needed to be adapted to, and actual combat was undoubtedly the best way to train.
Smashing this group of societal scumbags would provide both training and catharsis. Roy had no reason not to do it.
"Hey, hey, is that guy really LV.1?"
"False report! That's definitely false information!"
Watching Roy single-handedly take on a dozen people, the surrounding adventurers looked astonished. They had never seen an LV.1 who could charge and weave through the encirclement of over a dozen LV.1s and several LV.2 adventurers.
This was definitely a seasoned LV.2 adventurer!
Just as Roy took down seven or eight people, a blur flashed past, ambushing Roy from behind.
Sensing the sharp aura, Roy decisively abandoned the others. He raised his arm to block the opponent's whip-like kick, planting his feet firmly—stable as a mountain. He looked up.
The opponent was a handsome youth, no less beautiful than an Elf, with fair skin and a tall physique. He wore white gloves and carried himself with the elegance of a gentleman.
Hyakinthos Clio!
A newly promoted LV.3 adventurer, holder of the title "Apollo's Darling," and the Captain of the Apollo Familia.