The simple-hearted Marie showed signs of movement on her face—trading herself for her companion's life was not unacceptable.
Listening from the shadows, Roy burned with rage at the Ikelos Familia's inducement. He knew that if Marie came ashore, it would merely mean one more death. If they were capturing other Xenos, he might have been too lazy to care.
But Marie—whoever touched her would die!
"—The forest canopy now distant. The infinite stars embedded in the endless night sky—"
Roy began chanting in a suppressed voice. Adventurers were different from monsters; cunning adventurers would immediately turn and flee the moment they sensed something wrong.
He had to eliminate a large group simultaneously.
And magic was the best choice.
Seeing Marie's intention to come ashore, the Ikelos Familia members were overjoyed. Over ten days of effort finally had reward. Under the impact of exhaustion and surprise, their vigilance dropped to its lowest in this instant.
"—Light Wind!"
When the chant ended, large numbers of emerald green light spheres appeared around Roy, illuminating the entire cavern.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
By the time the Ikelos Familia members noticed, it was too late. The overwhelming emerald green light spheres crashed down upon them.
Instantly engulfing over a dozen Ikelos Familia members, continuous explosions rang out.
Seven or eight low-level small fry died on the spot. The rest carried injuries of varying degrees.
The sudden turn of events also left the Ikelos Familia members stunned, their brains frozen like crashed machines.
Roy's leg muscles tensed, charging at full force toward those people. He retrieved the Elven Holy Sword from his ring, madly reaping their lives.
Sharp sword flashes passed—even shields forged from refined iron would be easily sliced through.
The cut surfaces were smooth beyond compare, showing how terrifyingly sharp the Elven Holy Sword was. Even setting aside its many special effects, it was a rare divine weapon.
Head after head was cut off by Roy.
A middle-aged man's face changed dramatically. "This magic? The Gale—no, it's the Sprout of Justice!"
"Ha!"
Seeing Roy slaughtering Familia members, the middle-aged man exploded with fury, wielding his greatsword and fiercely chopping at Roy.
In the brief moment it took him to react, the Ikelos Familia members around him had almost all been finished off by Roy's follow-up attacks, corpses covering the ground.
Clang!
Roy turned to block, the Elven Holy Sword colliding with the other's greatsword, emitting a sound of metal clashing.
Both parties poured power into their weapons. The middle-aged man stared at Roy with man-eating eyes. "Sprout of Justice, what exactly are you doing?"
"Snatching monsters in the Dungeon, is that strange?" Roy smiled coldly. Information about this person flashed through his mind—Glenn Gress, Level 3 adventurer, one of the Ikelos Familia's executives.
Having promoted to Level 3 for over ten years, his ability values and combat experience were undoubtedly top-tier for this rank.
Glenn's eyes widened. Strange? Of course it was strange! You were a member of the Astraea Familia! Where was your justice? Where was your faith? Eaten by dogs?!
"Roy—"
Marie cried out in pleasant surprise upon seeing Roy appear.
Roy nodded lightly toward her.
Seeing their interaction, Glenn seemed to understand something, growling low, "Sprout of Justice, you actually conspire with these heretical monsters. Do you know what consequences there will be if this matter is exposed?"
Although there were Beast Tamers among adventurers, it was more of a performance nature—making monsters fear them before the populace, thus reassuring the citizens.
No one would befriend monsters!
Even if these monsters possessed human-like intelligence, they were still heretics, unacceptable to people.
Glenn grinned savagely, "Hahaha, conspiring with monsters! Just wait for your reputation to be ruined!"
Hearing Glenn's threat, Roy sneered, "Do you think anyone would believe it?"
Orario had too much gossip flowing daily.
You say I conspire with monsters? I say your Familia built a man-made labyrinth and smuggles monsters.
Everyone's foundation was unclean. Unless seen with one's own eyes on the surface, no one would believe it.
Moreover, Roy's reputation was far better than the low-key Ikelos Familia. He had saved a large number of people not long ago—he could turn around and accuse you of slander!
Say whatever you want to the Guild!
Roy's unyielding attitude made Glenn's face ugly. Truly difficult to deal with, completely unlike an inexperienced sixteen-year-old brat.
As both parties continuously poured power into their weapons, Glenn was forced backward, staring at Roy in disbelief—the other's ability values were above his.
How was this possible?
This brat had only risen to Level 3 recently! But the facts lay before him, leaving him no choice but to believe.
Crack!
A subtle sound rang out. The greatsword in Glenn's hand showed traces of damage, being broken open by the Elven Holy Sword.
Glenn's face showed shock. This equipment had cost him three million valis in savings. What the hell was that sword in Roy's hand, to be sharp to this degree?
Saying it could cut through iron like mud would not be an exaggeration.
His eyes revealed greed. His figure retreated backward, beginning to chant a magic spell, "My Lord God, please grant me the black fog that envelops the world. It shall drown everything, becoming the only path of life in the darkness—"
When facing an adventurer releasing magic, there were only two response methods: kill them before they complete the chant, or flee as far as possible!
And Roy's choice was—stay in place, looking at the other with strange eyes.
Boom!
Glenn finished chanting, his spiritual power transforming into magic elements, exploding into a vast expanse of heaven-shrouding black fog around him.
Unable to see one's hand in front of one's face. Using the black fog to block Roy, Glenn rapidly fled toward the passage.
Roy shook his head. As expected.
With ability values and equipment inferior to the other, besides those few standing at Orario's peak, Roy didn't believe any adventurer would be that stubborn!
Heavenly Incineration!
Roy activated the Elven Holy Sword's special effect, instantly draining all magic elements within two kilometers, transforming them into raging flames that coiled around the slender sword body. Accompanied by roaring sounds, the surging crimson flames transformed into a giant dragon. With a single dragon tail sweep, madly breathing out, it burned the large expanse of black fog before him into ashes.
The coverage range was extremely vast, instantly engulfing Glenn.
When Roy walked forward, this veteran Level 3 adventurer lay on the ground with charred black skin, barely alive.
And Roy mercilessly thrust the Elven Holy Sword into Glenn's heart, ending his life.
"Roy~"
Seeing the battle end, Marie joyfully leaped from the water, landing in Roy's arms.
Roy held this mermaid girl in a princess carry. Although she was a monster, her body was the softest he had ever touched—bar none.
Marie's small face pressed tightly against Roy, rubbing back and forth like a Husky raised at home—
Roy casually rescued that rabbit Xenos as well. With a wave of the Elven Holy Sword, the iron cage and chains imprisoning the other were easily sliced open by sharp sword flashes.
This Needle Rabbit was tortured to the point of being covered in wounds.
Seeing her compatriot in such pain, Marie's face showed grief, her heart aching until tears fell in streams.
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