Recalling Tione's violent personality, he finally understood why.
-----------------------------------
Tione, Tiona, and Bete unleashed their full firepower, and in an instant the ground was covered with who knows how much gray powder, an utterly terrifying sight.
With Finn and Gareth slightly behind, their others had nearly tied down all the enemies for Fron and Ais.
"Ais, let's speed up!"
"Mm!"
The staff and rapier easily pierced or sliced apart the monsters blocking their steps, but the enemies endlessly encircling from the sides, spewing corrosive fluid and lashing tentacles, caused the two of them immense trouble.
Exhausted from fending off the incoming attacks, the two's speed visibly dropped!
"Heh, "
The enemy's "heart" tilted her head and curled her lips disdainfully, while "she" absorbed magic power at an even faster rate.
"Damn it, "
Fron was already fighting while forcing himself past his limits. Facing the endless worms and Violas charging forth despite certain death, his expression sank.
Just as he and Ais grew anxious, seeing the enemy about to cast magic, a loathing voice rose amidst the chaos.
"Roar, Flame Lion!"
"[Volley Fire Spear, !]"
"..."
"Boom, "
Raging fire pillars incinerated the monsters encircling from the sides, and the scorching magical shells falling from the sky scoured the ground mercilessly like scavengers. Fron turned back, his heart warmed by his Familia members' support!
"Well done, everyone!"
"Of course it is!"
Lefiya snorted, her cheeks flushing for no reason.
With their obstruction destroyed, seeing Fron and Ais pressing close to the fallen spirit, the supporters cheered in delight.
"Ahaha-"
––?
The secretive vine-tentacles extending from her lower body instantly aimed at them, striking with a speed invisible to the eye!
"I'll do it, "
Fron suddenly accelerated, surpassing Ais by half a body's length.
He then fully activated the long-maintained [Surtr].
Gripping his staff tightly, magical rings twined around it from his hand upward, dazzling and mysterious.
"Fron, be careful…" Ais stared at his back in worry, hesitating many times, wanting to rush forward with her sword.
But she had to conserve her strength for the final blow!
"Dang dang dang dang, "
The staff wreathed in flame and lightning, left afterimages as Fron swung it, repelling the tidal wave of tentacles in the blink of an eye.
Not only that, the repelled tentacles stiffened midair and trembled, losing the ability to attack again for a short while.
Sensing the strange force creeping into the "whip" during the clash, the fallen spirit showed a surprised expression.
Locking eyes with her, this time Fron smiled slyly.
Who doesn't have a hidden trump card? Did she really think what was shown on the surface was all of his power?
"Heh, but it's over!" Just as he crossed the tentacle barrier to engage in close combat, the enemy actually spoke.
"She" sneered at the reckless adventurers, while the enormous flower at her lower body, which had been absorbing magic, closed up again.
The fallen spirit retracted them into her body, completing the final absorption.
––Then, swaying her body and spreading her arms, she began singing a magic chant.
"Fire, come forth, "
--!
The familiar, dreadful song echoed again.
Just as they were about to reach the enemy's core, the battle shifted once more.
'What to do!? The remaining stamina, willpower, and mana are only enough for one all-out strike, should I save it for the end, or use it now, '
Fron gripped his staff tightly, his face grim, torn by indecision.
If he threw his staff with full power, how would Ais approach the enemy next? That would mean abandoning their final hope.
The torment of choice wracked him, but at this life-or-death moment, he decided not to hesitate.
...
"Damn it, we won't make it in time!"
Their Familia members also paled, still some distance from the monster, with no way to effectively stop its spell chant.
The adventurers sprinted desperately, their faces twisting from this turn of events.
"[In the name of Ifrit, I command: grant me the name of Spirit of Flame, Incarnation of Fire, Flame Queen, ]"
The brilliance of mana swelled beneath layered petal-like armor. The high-speed chant was like a prayer before death, suffocating and despair-inducing.
But at that moment, a small figure clenched his weapon tightly.
With a grinding of teeth, the short figure turned into a living cannon and unleashed the lancer's strongest strike!
A throw!
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH, "
"[Tir na Nog!]"
The staff, now more like a spear bloomed with golden brilliance, carrying the full strength of the [Braver].
This was Finn, transformed into a berserker, pouring all his strength into the ultimate strike. His Spear, thrown at incredible speed, tore through the wind, and became a blinding flash aimed straight at the enemy's heart.
In the blink of an eye, the dazzling light reached a distance that should have been impossible for adventurers, appearing right in front of the enemy's face.
"Pshhh, "
The fallen spirit's head, unsurprisingly, was pierced through her mouth by this peak strike.
Thrown, the golden spear of Braver penetrated straight through her skull!
"Guhhhh, "
A garbled, pained scream came from "her" mouth, the backlash of chaotic power within!
"Boom, " The crimson glow of magic exploded in violent chaos!
Fron's eyes lit up at the sight.
"The chant was forcefully interrupted, it backfired! Ais, now's our chance!"
"Mm!" The girl nodded firmly, and together with Fron, blurred forward in a sudden charge!
The enemy, right before their eyes.
"Now, everyone, !"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH, "
Bete, Tione, Tiona and the others went berserk, charging at the monster. With its head blown off, the monster horde fell into confusion without command.
This was the chance, an unparalleled chance!
"Wait, what is that!?" But clearly, the adventurers' expectations were too naive!
With the twisted traits of a [Enhanced Species] and a Creature, the fallen spirit effortlessly inherited their characteristics, super-speed regeneration!
"..." In the thick smoke, her charred upper body swayed, then easily pulled out Finn's spear and broke it.
Then, ominous dark-purple mana burned across her body, rapidly healing the injuries caused by Finn and the backlash.
At that speed, in the blink of an eye, she was completely restored!
"How…how is this possible!?"
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T/N: Second Bonus chapter for crossing 350 power stones; next two bonus chapters at 400 power stones~