Inside the Dungeon, Genichi looked at the corrupted spirit and immediately began to chant.
"Heavenly Dominion, Heavenly Eternity, Heavenly... Alfia!"
As the final syllable of the incantation fell, brilliant light burst into being before Genichi.
It was so dazzling that everyone present had to close their eyes for a moment.
When they opened them again, a figure had already appeared behind Genichi.
It was a woman with long gray hair, dressed in a magnificent black gown.
Her features were cold, proud, and beautiful, and her eyes carried an innate air of looking down on the world.
Alfia.
Once the strongest mage of the Hera Familia, a forbidden existence known as a monster of talent.
In the age that had belonged to the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia, she had been one of the most terrifying names in all of Orario.
The moment the members of the Loki Familia and Freya Familia saw Alfia, their expressions changed.
It was a complicated mix of shock, fear, and disbelief.
"A... Alfia?"
Finn's voice trembled slightly.
As the captain of the Loki Familia, he naturally knew what that name meant.
She was a legend from the previous era. Someone who had fought the Black Dragon. One of the mighty figures who had once stood at the peak of Orario.
But wasn't she supposed to be dead?
How could she be here?
Riveria's pupils contracted sharply.
As a mage, she understood how terrifying Alfia was better than most.
Ais tightened her grip on her sword, her body tensing slightly.
It was the instinctive reaction of someone facing a powerful enemy.
Ottar's gaze turned sharp, and the aura around him began to surge.
As Orario's current strongest, he felt immense pressure from Alfia.
As for Alfia herself, the instant she appeared, she frowned.
She swept her gaze across the surroundings: the battered adventurers, and the corrupted spirit still attacking wildly.
Clearly, the current situation displeased her.
"What is this?"
Her voice was cold and languid. "I've only just been summoned, and I'm already dealing with this mess?"
Genichi quickly stepped forward and told Alfia about Orario's current situation.
Dionysus's conspiracy, the threat of the Spirit Six Rings, Ishtar's assault, the Dungeon's fury, and the origins of the corrupted spirit before them.
Alfia listened quietly, her expression gradually shifting from indifference to mockery.
Once Genichi finished, Alfia spoke at once.
"Heh."
A cold laugh.
Then she raised her head and swept her gaze over every adventurer present.
"Orario has become pitifully weak."
Her voice was not loud, but it reached every ear clearly.
The mockery in her words was as sharp as a blade.
"A corrupted spirit of this level was enough to reduce you all to this?"
She pointed at the corrupted spirit attacking in a frenzy, the corner of her mouth curling into a contemptuous smile.
"Look at yourselves. Wounded, exhausted, in utter disarray. These are the elites of the Loki Familia and Freya Familia? This is Orario's strongest generation?"
Finn's expression turned somewhat ugly, but he held himself back and said nothing.
Alfia, however, had no intention of stopping.
She looked toward Ais and clicked her tongue twice.
Standing off to the side, Genichi's mouth twitched slightly.
Although he knew Alfia's words carried no small amount of personal resentment, he had to admit that her ability to taunt people was truly at its limit.
With just a few sentences, she had practically ground the pride of the two great Familias into the floor.
Yet strangely enough, no one argued back.
Because everyone knew Alfia was speaking the truth.
The era she had once belonged to had been Orario's true peak.
The Zeus Familia and Hera Familia had joined forces to challenge the Black Dragon. What a staggering feat that had been.
And now, these people could not even handle a single corrupted spirit.
By comparison, they truly were pitifully weak.
At last, Alfia stopped. As she looked at the silent adventurers, a complicated glint flashed through her eyes.
"Enough. No more pointless talk."
She said flatly, "Let's solve the problem in front of us first."
Genichi nodded and quickly explained the situation.
"Now isn't the time to argue. We need to take down this corrupted spirit. There are six corrupted spirit avatars in total, each on a different floor. The deeper the floor, the stronger the avatar."
He pointed at the thing attacking madly before them.
"I've already summoned my shadows to deal with the ones on the upper floors. As for this one, its level is probably at least the very top of Level 8. It might even be Level 9. So we have to work together."
Although Alfia was displeased, she did not refute him.
Her tongue was sharp, but she knew how to prioritize.
Now was indeed not the time to fuss over these juniors.
"Then I'll buy you time to chant."
Genichi continued, "You aim to take this corrupted spirit down in one strike."
When Alfia heard that, one of her brows lifted.
"Are you looking down on me?"
There was a trace of displeasure in her voice.
Genichi froze slightly.
Alfia crossed her arms and coldly looked at the corrupted spirit.
"A mere Level 8 monster, and you think I need you to buy me time? I can handle it alone."
She was telling the truth.
In a certain sense, Alfia's talent was even greater than Genichi's.
Any sword technique, she could learn after seeing it once. Genichi had spent two days learning the Astraea Familia's swordsmanship, while she only needed a single glance.
Her mastery of magic was just as astonishing.
But Genichi shook his head.
"It isn't that I don't trust you. We're short on time."
Just then, Finn spoke.
"You, Riveria, and Alfia should all chant together."
He said, "Leave the rest to us!"
He looked toward Genichi and Riveria.
The power of Genichi's magic was even greater than Riveria's, so naturally, he ought to serve as a cannon as well and help finish off the corrupted spirit in one coordinated strike.
"The hardest part, holding the corrupted spirit back, is ours."
He paused, and a flash of fighting spirit crossed his eyes.
"Otherwise, Alfia really will end up looking down on us."
The other adventurers nodded one after another, fighting spirit burning in their eyes.
Alfia's mockery had been harsh, but it had also stirred their pride.
They would prove through action that they were not the useless weaklings she had described.
Alfia looked at their expressions, and the corner of her mouth lifted slightly.
"Now that's more like it."
She said softly, "Then let me see what you juniors are truly capable of."
(End of Chapter)
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