Sarak—
"They're taking their time..."
Meanwhile, in Orario, Alfia was waiting for Akumo and Bell.
She felt a sense of unease at their adventure, which was taking longer than expected.
"...If even the Gods followed them."
'The situation might be worse than I anticipated.'
Swook—
Recalling the events at Elsos, she gazed in the direction where Akumo would be.
Alfia debated whether she should gather her full strength and go to support Akumo right now, but—
—"Trust me."
"...I suppose I can't do that."
The story had already begun.
It was only right to trust her husband, who had joined the narrative as an uninvited guest, and simply wait for now.
Hwareureuk—!
"Hmph. Do they still burn, even after I've extinguished hundreds of them?"
Of course, she also had her own mission: staying in Orario to suppress the numerous flame disasters burning in the distance.
Sarak—
"I've finished tidying the clothes. I should take my nightly walk..."
Just as she was about to put the clothes she was holding into the wardrobe.
"...?"
She discovered that a single uniform, which always hung in the wardrobe, had vanished.
Sarak—
"I'm glad I brought this!"
Meanwhile, sensing something, Akumo changed into the uniform he used to wear in Orario.
'...Did I bring this outfit with me?'
Swook—!
"Setting performance aside, I thought I'd decided against it because it stands out too much..."
At some point, the uniform had been mixed into his luggage.
He questioned how it got there for a moment, but Akumo pushed the thought aside and headed straight outside.
"Well, that's not important right now."
Clack—!
A black uniform. A black holy sword.
His figure was shrouded in a dark power that felt almost like dregs.
Kiing—!!
He looked every bit the hero, the image of a peerless adventurer.
Murmur, murmur—!
"Those who are ready, descend the mountain! Take only the bare essentials!"
"Don't panic! The enemy hasn't arrived yet! Board the ships calmly!"
Outside, members of the Apollo Familia and Aphrodite Familia were evacuating all the villagers.
"It's become chaotic again so quickly..."
"It's because the Flame Men are approaching, and Asfi found the Order..."
"Is... Rhea coming...?"
"I don't know. But we don't have time for sentimentality. Ryu and Hedin have already moved to the defensive line, so let's help guide the evacuation!"
The enemy's assault had begun once more.
To prevent it in advance, Ryu, Aisha, Hedin, and Horn had already moved to the defensive perimeter.
Consequently, the remaining personnel had to take responsibility for the village's defense as much as possible.
"..."
"Mikoto...?"
"It's hot..."
"Pardon?"
However, Mikoto was sensing something strange.
"It's always been a warm place... but it's as if heat is piercing through directly from the ground...!"
Kugugung—!!
That doubt was soon resolved in the worst possible way.
Hwareureuk—!!!
—Uooooohhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"F-From the ground!?"
An unprecedented situation occurred as monsters erupted from the earth to attack the residents and followers.
Kugugung—!!
"!? That sound came from the village...!!"
"The Order hasn't moved yet! Could it be the Flame Men...!?"
Akumo's group, who were fully prepared at the defensive line, were greatly startled by the sudden sound of impact coming from the village.
"Impossible! Those things shouldn't have that kind of intelligence! Besides, there's no way we wouldn't notice the Flame Men approaching...!"
"Risos is right. I've faced them enough times to know...!"
As Hyakinthos and Risos said, the Flame Men lacked the intelligence for systematic ambushes or hiding their presence.
And yet, such a sudden surprise attack...
"....So, you've really gone this far."
It was clear that a commander with genuine intelligence had intervened.
Whoosh—!!
"Let's go! We have to return to the village immediately!"
'Even if Bell has recovered his Falna... it's dangerous...!!'
Enveloped in a blue aura, Akumo leaped through the air repeatedly, heading straight for the village.
"My... they got us, didn't they?"
"It seems they used the power of flames to tunnel through the earth and guide the Flame Men..."
The Flame Men, having forgotten their humanity, would not normally decide to climb a mountain.
But because of that, they had perfectly succeeded in a surprise attack via the shortest distance.
"I thought it was hot because a swarm of Flame Men was approaching.... I didn't realize they were actually burning through the ground."
'I haven't even started the crafting yet...'
The Gods were also certain that a commander like Epimetheus had intervened in this raid.
"The Order... or more precisely, Rhea? They've successfully pinned us down."
"Ah~ I hate this, I really do. The negligence and complacency of Gods! We only look at the big picture, and that's why we trip over small stones like this! How embarrassing~~~!!"
Even in such a situation, Aphrodite maintained her confident attitude while rebuking Hermes.
"....More importantly, what are you going to do~~~!? We're completely surrounded by the enemy with nowhere to run! You guys, do something properly!!!"
Now that her strategy of [Charm] was sealed, she also had to overcome the current crisis.
"Don't get so emotional. What were you doing in the first place?"
"I was sleeping!!"
"""..."""
As the Gods fell into a stunned silence at Aphrodite's shamelessly bold answer—
—Uooooohh!!!!!!!!!!
"Oh no...!? They're already here...!!"
The Flame Men rushed toward the Gods, causing Aphrodite to recoil in alarm.
"Hey, Hermes! We have to get out of here..."
"There's no need for that."
"What!?"
Slash—!!!!!!
Before Aphrodite's question could be answered, a black holy sword cut through the Flame Men like a flash of lightning.
"Sigh... This is why it's a pain when the opponent actually uses their head..."
"You are....? The brat with no eye for beauty!?"
—Oooooooo!!!!!!!!
"What is that now?"
Behind Akumo, embers gathered into a massive, enraged shape that roared at him.
"....Has even their soul been transformed...."
Just as Aphrodite said, it was a beast of fire that radiated a threatening heat far beyond that of other Flame Men or Flame Beasts.
Slice—!
Slash—!!
Splatter—!!!
Of course, it was instantly butchered by the sword wreathed in black flames.
"....!!"
"We've returned, led by Ryu and Hedin. Gods, please join the formation immediately."
Akumo, showing no sign of surprise at having cut down the beast in an instant, escorted the Gods to safety.
Slash—!!
"Haap!!"
"Mikoto!?"
'She cut a Flame Beast in one strike...!!'
After crossing blades with Akumo, Mikoto had reached a new level of understanding.
'I'm still far lacking compared to Takemikazuchi and Akumo...!!'
—Kwoooooo!!!!!!!
"!!"
But, if she could fight. If she could protect someone.
Grip—!!
'That's enough!!!'
Mikoto caught the forepaw of the Flame Beast charging at her and slammed it directly into the ground.
—"You can throw any giant, and you can cut any hardened shell."
Recalling the teachings of the War God, she focused all her nerves on her body's movements, her eyes wide with intensity.
Crack—!
"Gah...!!"
'Is my martial arts... still lacking compared to my swordsmanship...!?'
However, movements that recklessly exceeded her limits immediately damaged her body.
'A bone is cracked! My fingers feel like they're going to burn off...!!'
"But...!! I won't give up...!!"
Standing up once more, she stared straight at the Flame Beast rushing toward her again.
Slash—!!
"Splendid, Mikoto."
The man she had shared a duel with saved her, cutting the Flame Beast down in a single stroke.
"But your timing and angles were clumsy. I'll teach you the footwork again later."
"...!! It would be an honor!"
"Now, let's go!!!!!"
The two swordsmen moved through the enemies, their blades radiating an unwavering sword ki.
Kugugung—!!
"The Flame Men are outside...! Everyone is fighting!"
The aftermath of the battle shook even the building where Bell and Ilia were staying.
"Bell! We need to evacuate quickly to..."
"No, I don't think we'll be able to run, Ilia."
"What!?"
Despite Ilia's urgent words, Bell raised the dagger in his hand and pointed it toward the door.
'Artemis and Freya are upstairs... I have to keep it quiet...!'
"[Fire Bolt]!!!"
Whoosh—!!!
The fire launched from the Hestia Knife blew the building's door away, simultaneously engulfing the enemies who were preparing an ambush behind it.
"Urgh...!?"
"How did he notice us...!!"
Waiting outside the door were Ilia's comrades.
Minukia and Emilia. The Flame Priestesses who were once her allies looked at Bell in shock, caught off guard by the sudden attack.
"When you radiate bloodlust that openly, even a fool can tell."
'I can't afford to be naively stubborn anymore.'
"Fine, it doesn't matter. I'll kill you and take Ilia!"
"Everything is for the sake of the lower world!!"
The peace they had desired endlessly for so long—the fact that it was nearly within reach.
With that yearning, they fired flames at Bell.
Slash—!!
"I'm sorry. But I won't say anything more."
""!!""
Bell subdued them with his dagger so quickly they couldn't even react.
"Just how...!?"
"He definitely wasn't at this level before...!"
On the way to the Altar, Minukia and Emilia had certainly analyzed Bell's combat strength.
However, they never expected the gap to be this vast.
"I've simply... made up my mind."
'I won't lose anymore. I won't hesitate anymore.'
Even if they understood each other, if their circumstances meant neither side would back down—
""I'll face you with everything I've got!""
The voices of the brothers overlapped as they shouted boldly at their 'enemies.'