"Bill, please!" Roy downed the last of his ale and tossed a small bag of Valis on the counter. "Keep the change."
The owner checked the bag and realized it was exactly the right amount.
The group headed into the Dungeon. Above ground, they were too famous; if word got out that Roy and Aiz were fighting, the city would descend into a frenzy. Roy had no interest in being a circus act.
They moved quickly to the 5th Floor. In a wide chamber, they cleared the moss to prevent monster spawns. Ryuu and Riveria stepped back, leaving a vast open space for the two combatants.
"Where is your weapon?" Aiz asked, looking at Roy's empty hands.
Zap! Roy smiled as golden lightning surged in his palm, materializing into a long sword. Aiz and Riveria watched with wide eyes.
"So that's his magic," Riveria noted. Roy had only fought in public twice, and his ability to create physical objects from lightning was a terrifying "No-Chant" spell.
The room went silent. Roy's slight buzz from the ale had vanished in the cool night air. Even though he had killed a Level 5 Floor Boss, he didn't dare underestimate the Level 4 Aiz.
Clatter! A small pebble fell from the ceiling. It acted as the starting signal. Both surged forward.
Clang!
They met in the center. Roy held his sword with both hands, meeting the heavy pressure of Aiz's rapier. Sparks flew as the blades ground against each other. Aiz spun, using the momentum to kick at Roy's head. Roy blocked with his forearms, the impact sending him back five steps.
Before he could steady himself, a golden blur was on him again. Is this a spar or a death match? Roy cursed. If it were a death match, he'd have pulled out the Holy Sword. Aiz's rapier lunged at him like a torrential rainstorm.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Roy's sword transformed into a massive shield, blocking every one of Aiz's strikes. The heavy, rhythmic sounds of impact echoed through the chamber as the shield was slowly pushed back under her weight. Aiz maneuvered around the barrier, attempting to find an opening from the side.
However, the moment she poked her head out, she was met with a spear lunging straight for her face.
Aiz dodged the tip by a hair's breadth, a lock of her golden hair sliced off and shimmering as it fell. Her combat instincts were supernatural; even in this precarious position, she managed to swing her blade back at Roy. A cold flash of steel swept past his vision.
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Starting with an Elf (305 Chapters, Ongoing)
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Roy scrambled back several paces, looking down to see the fabric of his shirt sliced open at the chest. The fight had become a life-and-death struggle, making both Ryuu and Riveria grow increasingly tense as they watched.
Roy's expression turned somber. Inside this petite, doll-like blonde girl resided a strength that felt infinite. That slender, porcelain arm held more explosive power than a full-grown brown bear. Roy was forced to use every ounce of his strength just to keep up.
Unbeknownst to him, Aiz was even more shocked. Although she hadn't been a Level 4 for very long, she was still a genuine Level 4 adventurer. The gap between levels was no joke! A Level 3 adventurer or monster usually wouldn't last three moves against her. Yet Roy was not only holding his ground but counterattacking so effectively he had nearly wounded her.
Riveria asked, "Gale, can you tell me the attributes 'Justice's Sprout' had when he leveled up?"
"My apologies, Lady Riveria." Ryuu shook her head. Respecting Riveria was one thing, but it didn't mean she would compromise her loyalty to her own. In her heart, her fallen friends, her current comrades, and Goddess Astraea carried far more weight than elven royalty.
Hearing the refusal, not a hint of displeasure showed on Riveria's ethereal face. Instead, she looked satisfied. Ryuu was even more principled than she had imagined. If Ryuu had betrayed her companion's secrets just because of Riveria's royal status, Riveria would have been deeply disappointed.
However, looking at the fight, it was clear that Roy's Level 3 raw power was matching Aiz's Level 4 stats. That should have been impossible.
Riveria's brow furrowed. To achieve this, Roy must have reached the absolute limit—or even broken past it—at Level 1 and Level 2, and his current Level 3 stats must already be exceptionally high.
It shouldn't be... didn't they just level up after defeating Amphisbaena? Roy should be at the base I-0 for all his stats.
Then the answer hit her, though she struggled to believe it. Ryuu, Daphne, and Cassandra likely leveled up from the boss fight, but Roy... he must have reached Level 3 before the expedition even started. Slaying the boss simply gave his already high stats another massive boost.
This meant Roy's public level-up timeline was a lie—he had moved it forward by at least a month. He had fooled everyone, including the gods. Riveria's mouth parted slightly as she stared at Roy. He wasn't just a boy; he was a humanoid monster.
"Why? Why can't I beat him!" Aiz's competitive streak flared as her impatience grew. At her core, she was still a child compared to an old soul like Roy. When she couldn't secure a quick victory, she began to make mistakes. In Roy's eyes, her openings were multiplying, and she was only staying in the fight through sheer raw power.