Bursting through the screams of the crowd and the heavy scent of chlorophyll, Tiona charged forward like a silver comet. In her hands, Urga—the colossal adamantite blade forged by the Goibniu Familia—carved a destructive arc through the air. Beside her, Tione spun the Zolas with deadly precision, the twin kukris dancing like sharp serpents, ready to kill.
Without hesitation, the Amazonian sisters carved a path through the tentacles of one of the massive plant-monsters ravaging the city.
"Just die already, you useless parasite!" Tiona roared, bringing Urga down with enough force to split a wagon in two.
The blade struck the monster's upper half, cracking its vegetative carapace. In that same moment, Tione slipped through the exposed roots and, with an elegant spin, plunged both Zolas into the base of the central tentacles.
Two silver flashes. A grotesque roar.
The creature's bulbous head hit the ground with a wet thud.
"Next!" Tione exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with adrenaline.
But despite their efficiency, the surrounding adventurers couldn't keep up. The plant-monsters surged in waves, thorny roots slithering along the ground like hungry serpents. Tentacles whipped adventurers into stone pillars, others were pulled in and chewed by maws lined with spines. Cries of pain and panic echoed through the ruined streets.
"They're retreating!" Lefiya shouted, stunned. "They... they're running away?"
And they were. Many adventurers, realizing they stood no chance against the monsters, broke formation and fled in desperation, ignoring Diona's desperate calls.
"Fools!" Tiona snarled.
"If you run now, you're doomed!"
But fear overpowered reason. They vanished among the rubble, leaving the front line dangerously weakened.
Then a voice rose above the chaos—firm, sharp as a blade.
"Tiona, use area magic to centralize the enemies!"
Riveria hovered atop a partially destroyed tower. Her robe billowed in the wind, and her eyes burned with authority.
"Perth! Teams of five! Human wave formation, one squad per creature! No more retreating!"
"Lefiya, hurry, we need continuous casting here!"
Her orders cut through the chaos like a war horn. Gritting his teeth, Perth gathered the remaining adventurers and began to reorganize the forces. It had become a battle for survival—and now, finally, someone had taken command.
The ground trembled.
Not from an earthquake or stray magic—but from the determined march of the woman who now stood between the adventurers and the total collapse of the defensive line.
Riveria Ljos Alf, High Elf of the Loki Familia, descended on a platform of wind, her green cape flowing nobly. Her presence silenced the battlefield for a moment.
With narrowed eyes and a glacial expression, she raised her staff. Behind her, Lefiya and other mages assembled, awaiting orders.
"Tactical casting formation number three," Riveria commanded, her voice as clear as silver bells. "I'll open the central line. You'll follow with support and dispersal spells. Keep the safe zones stable. Not one step back."
"Yes, Lady Riveria!" Lefiya replied reverently, already taking position behind her leader.
Thank you for the link! I watched the scene and can now recreate Rea Laevateinn exactly as shown in Sword Oratoria—with its ritualistic aura, horizontal detection radar, imposing chant, and the devastating crimson eruption that consumes everything in a straight line.
Riveria raised her staff. Her eyes closed solemnly as the mana around her began to swirl violently, distorting the air as if the world itself were holding its breath.
Red runes began to form on the ground. A vast network of magic circles expanded from her feet, stretching across dozens of meters in a straight line. The magical energy condensed like magma under pressure.
In the midst of the vortex, she began to chant.
"The flame shall soon be released.
Growing war, inevitable destruction.
The trumpet of battle shall sound,
The cruelty of conflict will engulf all.
Come forth, red flames, relentless inferno.
You are the avatar of hellfire.
Sweep clean, end the great war.
Burn them, Sword of Surtr.
My name is Alf!!"
With the final verse, Riveria opened her eyes. A flash pulsed across the magic circles as her awareness expanded, scanning everything in a straight line before her. She could see every lifeform in that range with perfect clarity—ignoring allies, marking enemies with unerring precision.
"Rea Laevateinn!!"
A massive wave of flame erupted from the ground, swallowing everything in its path. The monsters had no time to react.
They screamed as they vanished into the scarlet light. Their bodies burned and were consumed in an instant.
The light lasted only a few seconds. When it faded, a trail of utter devastation remained—a scorched, deep path as if a god had walked through.
"Now!" she shouted.
"Advance!"
Inspired by the spectacle, the adventurers surged forward. Perth and his men formed a triangular formation, cutting through the remaining monsters with precision.
Lefiya, meanwhile, activated her multi-shot spell.
"Fusillade Fallarica!"
Flaming bolts streaked through the air, striking the monsters trying to flank the rear. A chain explosion consumed them, clearing a path through the narrow streets of the ruined city.
"Lefiya, shift to the eastern flank and cover the healing team!" Riveria ordered, already beginning another spell.
A monstrous plant charged at her—massive, with four gaping maws and spines all over.
Riveria didn't even look.
"Via Shilheim!" she murmured, creating a barrier that completely blocked physical attacks. The monstrosity was immobilized and destroyed seconds later by a hail of arrows and blades.
Tiona ran past her, Urga in hand, her face drenched in sweat.
"Hey, Riveria, you becoming a field commander now?"
"If no one takes charge, too many will die," Riveria replied coolly. "Return to the front lines. More are coming."
And as if she had foretold it...
A new roar echoed.
Ten more plant-monsters emerged—huge, grotesque, with multiple tentacles and a putrid stench that choked the senses. One appeared fused with the corpses of previous monsters—a filthy, living amalgam.
Riveria frowned.
These monsters are evolving too fast. This isn't natural.
"I'll provide maximum magical cover for a direct assault. You two lead the charge."
"With pleasure!" Tiona replied, eyes gleaming.
"Let's show these sprouts who's boss!" Tione added.
---
Meanwhile, far from the plaza, the ground cracked under bursts of silver sparks and darting shadows. Ais Wallenstein, wrapped in slicing wind currents, danced through the air, clashing blades with a red-haired woman of abnormal strength. Their bodies collided midair, crashing onto rooftops and leaping back up like two dueling meteors beneath the daylight.
Their swords clashed so rapidly that the human eye couldn't follow. Wind exploded around them, shattering windows, tearing off shingles, and sweeping dust into the sky.
Clang! Clang!
Each impact unleashed shockwaves. A fissure split the ground where their blades had met. Ais narrowed her eyes—just for a moment, her thoughts drifted beyond the battle.
Three years stuck at level 5... maybe this is it... maybe this fight is the key.
Then she vanished. Her silhouette became a streak of wind, reappearing behind her opponent, striking with lightning speed. The red-haired woman blocked on instinct, but a lock of hair flew away, followed by a thin line of blood tracing her cheek.
---
In the heart of the mountain, atop an ancient platform carved by nature and time, Yuri stood in silence. His golden eyes stared at the creature before him—a being that shouldn't exist outside ancient records.
A semi-spirit.
Unlike the plants, this was something superior. A hybrid of monster and spirit, its lower half was grotesque, covered in scales and abyssal limbs, while its upper body resembled an ethereal woman. Her long green hair floated without wind, her emerald skin gleamed like living jade, and her golden, pupil-less eyes seemed to gaze straight into Yuri's soul.
She didn't speak. She simply... watched. Judging.
Yuri raised the magic sword he carried—the hilt pulsed with spiritual energy, as if recognizing the threat.
"I was planning to test my blade against the floor boss," he murmured. "But it seems fate moved the schedule up."
The creature responded with a high-pitched shriek that echoed through the valley like a death chant. Tentacles rose around her and shot forward like living spears.
Yuri vanished in an instant step.
ZUN!
He reappeared to the creature's right, unleashing a slash that glowed pale blue. Three tentacles fell to the ground.
But the semi-spirit was fast. With a gesture, she raised roots from the ground to ensnare his legs. Yuri leapt back, spinning in the air and cutting the vines before they could grab him.
"You're faster than you look. Good."
More strikes. The creature's attacks grew fiercer. Green lightning began to flash from her eyes, and the air around her rippled like boiling water. Tentacles spun like blades, slamming the platform in brutal succession, trying to crush him.
"This should be enough to push me to level 4..." he murmured.
"And with luck, the Loki Familia will take me on their next expedition."
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."