The battlefield did not welcome them.
It recognized them.
And it reacted.
—
Rio didn't move immediately.
Her eyes swept the ruined chamber—
Kiraya.
Unconscious.
Sumi.
Gone.
Fayzan, Hinabi, Elias—
barely alive.
Her gaze lingered for just a second longer than usual.
Not hesitation.
Assessment.
Then—
she stepped forward.
"…Elias."
Her voice cut through the silence.
Not loud.
But precise.
Elias, barely conscious, forced his head up.
"…You…"
His vision blurred.
But he recognized her.
The one Kiraya pointed at.
The one Fayzan warned them about.
Rio.
"…What are you doing here…"
Rio didn't answer that.
Instead—
"…Do we have permission to engage the boss?"
A pause.
"…This is your raid."
Simple.
Direct.
Respectful.
Even now.
—
Elias stared at her.
Then—
at Allure.
Then—
at the state of his guild.
Of Burning Pride.
Of everything.
A quiet breath escaped him.
"…Do it…"
No hesitation.
No pride.
No argument.
"…Kill it."
His body gave out immediately after.
He collapsed back to the ground—
completely exhausted.
—
"Agh—!"
Ayame rushed to his side.
Staff raised.
"…I'll heal—"
Nothing happened.
Her hands trembled.
"…No mana…"
Panic crept into her voice.
"…I'm out…"
—
Rio didn't look back.
She simply opened her inventory.
Seven vials appeared in her hand.
She tossed them without turning.
"Use these."
Ayame barely caught them.
Her eyes widened.
"…Medium mana potions—?!"
Seven.
Not one.
Not two.
Seven.
Enough to change everything.
"Focus on healing."
Rio added calmly.
"…We'll handle the rest."
—
She didn't get to finish.
Because—
Allure moved.
No warning.
No buildup.
Just—
there.
Right in front of her.
A blade of crimson-black energy formed instantly in its hand—
descending toward her neck.
—
CLANG
Rio's Imperial Saber met it.
Perfectly.
The impact sent a shockwave across the ground.
But she didn't move.
Not an inch.
And—
she smiled.
"…Fast."
Not fear.
Not shock.
Acknowledgment.
—
Behind Allure—
Ryota was already moving.
"Don't get too close."
His voice was calm.
But his body—
exploded forward.
Iron Steve cut through the air—
aimed directly at Allure's side.
—
Allure reacted instantly.
Its free hand rose.
The air fractured.
Black blades formed—
dozens—
then launched toward Ryota.
—
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
Ryota didn't stop.
He didn't dodge.
He cut.
Each incoming blade shattered against Iron Steve—
deflected—
redirected—
destroyed mid-flight.
His advance never slowed.
"…Annoying trick."
He pushed through the barrage—
closing the gap—
—
"INDRA!"
His voice echoed.
The small dragon perched on his head—
now awake—
responded instantly.
A soft chirp—
then it leapt.
Tiny wings flapping—
but its body glowed faintly with power.
It darted toward the fallen group.
Landing beside Fayzan—
grabbing his collar with its mouth—
and dragging him back.
Somehow—
despite its size—
it worked.
Ayame stared for half a second.
"…What is that—?!"
"No time."
Ryota cut in sharply.
"Get them out."
—
Ayame nodded immediately.
She drank one of the potions.
Mana surged back into her.
Her staff glowed again.
Healing light spread across Elias.
Then Hinabi.
Then Fayzan.
They weren't safe.
But they weren't dying anymore.
—
Back at the front—
Rio shifted.
Her saber pushed Allure's blade aside.
Then—
she stepped back.
Just one step.
Her hand moved.
Inventory flickered.
A flintlock musket appeared.
Smooth.
Effortless.
She raised it—
and fired.
BANG
The shot hit Allure directly in the shoulder.
Not massive damage.
But enough to disrupt.
Another shot followed immediately.
Then another.
Each bullet precise.
Calculated.
Relentless.
—
Allure turned.
Its attention split.
Between her—
and Ryota.
That was the opening.
—
Ryota lunged.
Iron Steve came down—
—
But Allure was faster.
It vanished.
Reappeared behind him.
Grabbed him.
By the collar.
"…!"
Then—
threw.
BOOM
Ryota's body slammed into the ceiling.
Hard enough to crack it.
Stone rained down.
His HP dipped—
but not critically.
Still—
it hurt.
"…Tch—!"
—
Allure didn't follow up.
Instead—
it turned back to Rio.
Two black blades formed in its hands.
Longer.
Sharper.
More refined.
And then—
it attacked.
—
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
A barrage.
Relentless.
Unending.
Each strike faster than the last.
Rio stepped back—
once—
twice—
then stopped retreating.
Her blade moved.
Precise.
Efficient.
Every strike met.
Every attack deflected.
But the pressure—
was increasing.
—
CLANG
A heavier strike came down.
Rio's arm dipped slightly.
Just slightly.
"…Stronger than before."
She muttered.
Still calm.
Still composed.
—
Allure didn't speak.
It didn't need to.
Its attacks said everything.
Faster.
Sharper.
More aggressive.
Like it had finally found something worth cutting.
—
Above—
Ryota dropped back down.
Landing hard—
but stable.
He rolled his shoulder once.
"…You good?"
Rio didn't look at him.
"…I've had worse."
A pause.
"…You?"
Ryota smirked slightly.
"…Same."
—
Allure stepped forward again.
Its wings spread.
Its presence expanded.
The domain pulsed once more.
Chains tightened.
Pressure increased.
—
And this time—
it wasn't just a massacre.
It was a duel.
—
Rio adjusted her stance.
Ryota lifted Iron Steve.
Both of them—
facing forward.
Unshaken.
Unmoved.
—
Because for the first time since Allure appeared—
someone wasn't trying to survive.
They were ready—
to fight back.
The clash didn't slow.
It accelerated.
Steel screamed against steel—again, and again, and again—until the sound itself became a continuous, violent echo across the ruined chamber.
Rio stood at the center of it.
Alone.
Facing something that no longer fought like a boss—
but like a force of inevitability.
—
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
Allure's blades came from every angle.
Two in hand.
Two more floating—moving independently, like extensions of its will.
Four directions.
Four killing lines.
No rhythm.
No pattern.
Only pressure.
—
Rio's Imperial Saber moved in tight arcs.
Minimal.
Efficient.
Her footwork precise—each step measured to the inch, each pivot buying her fractions of a second.
But even then—
she was being pushed back.
Slowly.
Inevitably.
"…Fast…"
She muttered under her breath.
Not panicked.
Not shaken.
But aware.
—
CLANG
A downward strike from above—
CLANG
A side slash from the left—
CLANG
A thrust from behind—
—
She blocked all three.
But the fourth—
—
CRACK
It slipped through.
A shallow—but clean—cut across her left shoulder.
Blood sprayed.
Her HP dipped.
—
Ayame gasped from the distance.
"…RIO—!"
—
Rio didn't react.
No hesitation.
No retreat.
The moment the blade connected—
she moved forward.
—
Her flintlock was already in hand.
BANG
The shot fired point-blank into Allure's torso.
The impact staggered it—just slightly.
But that slight—
was enough.
—
Rio's eyes sharpened.
Turning to a shade of light blue
[Unique Skill: Chronos Eye]
The world slowed.
Not everything—
just Allure.
Its movements dragged.
Its blades—once impossible—now merely fast.
Time bent.
Rio stepped in.
One clean motion.
Her Imperial Saber thrust forward—
PIERCE
The blade sank into Allure's left shoulder.
Clean.
Direct.
Precise.
—
For the first time—
Allure reacted.
Its expression shifted.
Not pain.
Not anger.
Recognition.
—
Then—
it moved.
Faster than before.
Faster than Chronos Eye could fully suppress.
Its hand shot forward—
grabbing Rio by the head.
"…!"
And threw her.
—
BOOM
Rio's body launched across the chamber—
toward the shattered exit.
But mid-flight—
her grip tightened.
Her saber flipped in her hand—
and—
SCRRRAAAKK
She drove it into the ground.
The blade carved a deep line through the stone—
slowing her momentum—
sparks flying—
until she stopped.
Kneeling.
Breathing steady.
—
No pause.
No recovery window.
Allure raised its hand again.
Energy gathered instantly.
Dense.
Crimson-black.
Violent.
[Boss Skill: Eclipse Impermanence]
—
Rio exhaled once.
Calm.
Centered.
Then—
she moved.
—
The blast fired.
BOOM
A beam of annihilation surged toward her—
erasing everything in its path.
—
CLANG
Her saber met it.
The impact shook her entire body.
Her boots dug into the ground.
Her arm trembled—
but didn't break.
—
Then—
she angled the blade.
Twisted slightly.
And redirected it.
The beam curved—
slamming into the far wall.
BOOM
Stone exploded.
The chamber trembled.
—
Allure's eyes narrowed slightly.
—
Across the battlefield—
Ryota moved.
Silent.
Fast.
He grabbed Magumo by the collar—
pulling him upright.
"Get up."
Magumo blinked.
"…What—"
"Earth Templar."
Ryota's voice cut through him.
"Now."
He pointed toward Ayame.
"Protect her."
—
Magumo hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
his eyes shifted.
Hinabi.
She was awake.
Barely.
But watching him.
And that—
was enough.
"…Tch."
He slammed his hand into the ground.
[Warrior Skill: Earth Templar]
BOOM
Stone erupted upward.
A thick wall formed around Ayame—
shielding her as she continued healing.
—
Elias watched.
Silent.
Fayzan beside him.
"…She's holding it…"
Fayzan muttered.
"…Against that thing…"
Elias didn't respond.
His eyes were locked forward.
"…No."
A quiet correction.
"…She's pushing it back."
—
Back at the center—
Allure stepped forward again.
This time—
four blades fully active.
Two in hand.
Two floating at its sides.
Then—
it attacked.
—
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
Four directions.
Simultaneous.
Relentless.
Rio blocked one—
deflected another—
twisted past the third—
but the fourth forced her back.
—
Step.
Step.
Step.
She was being cornered.
—
CRACK
A blade struck the ground beside her—
cutting off her escape route.
—
Another came from above—
forcing her lower.
—
The floating blades adjusted—
tightening the space around her.
—
She was being boxed in.
Controlled.
Overwhelmed.
—
But her eyes—
remained calm.
Sharp.
Calculating.
—
"…So this is your real pace…"
A quiet whisper.
—
Allure didn't respond.
It simply continued.
Faster.
Harder.
More precise.
—
And for the first time since the fight began—
Rio was on the defensive.
Not losing.
Not yet.
But—
pressed.
—
Behind her—
Ryota stepped forward again.
Iron Steve resting on his shoulder.
"…Oi."
His voice carried lightly.
"…You planning to do this solo?"
—
Rio didn't look back.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"…I thought you liked watching."
—
CLANG
She blocked another strike.
—
Ryota grinned.
"…Not when you're hogging all the fun."
—
He stepped in.
And the battlefield shifted again.