"Freya!!!!"
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The furious scream that pierced through the place represented its master's anger, erupting like a volcano.
Escorted by a group of first-class adventurer guards, a goddess dressed boldly, radiating a seductive aura, walked gracefully through the burning, ruined streets, heading straight for the Ishtar Familia headquarters.
Standing before the high tower, the goddess halted her steps, tilting her head back with a smile at the tower's peak. The smile carried a hint of recklessness and arrogance.
The goddess's unique smile made the surrounding followers lose focus for a moment.
"Hehe, Ishtar still loves playing pranks. Just a little provocation and she's this furious. Her tolerance goes only this far. Women… hehehe…"
"Lady Freya, you're going alone, without an escort?"
The loyal servant, towering more than two meters like an iron tower, bowed to his one and only goddess and asked.
"Don't worry, Ottar. I'll leave the other adventurers to you all. Don't let them disturb the game between me and Ishtar, mm, the game between women."
"Understood~, Lady Freya."
"Mhm, and if there are fools who don't know their place, or those stirring things up from the shadows, teach them a proper lesson when you see them."
"Yes."
With that said, the goddess stepped forward with a smile, entering straight into the core tower of the [Ishtar Familia] base.
Watching their goddess's departing back, the man considered the strongest in the city straightened up, his face becoming expressionless.
"Ottar, this time we'll take action. But we are only following Lady Freya's orders. As for cooperating with you in battle, or any sort of teamwork, impossible."
After a pause, one of four pallums clad in full armor at Ottar's side spoke.
If Finn were here, it would be hard to imagine… companions of the same Familia speaking with such tension, with words laced with gunpowder. It showed the private state of the [Freya Familia].
The Four pallums were real brothers, all at level 6.
Because they were real brothers, the four of them possessed a rare "heart-to-heart" skill. When using combo techniques in battle, they could perfectly achieve unity.
Even without magic or enhancement skills, they could easily fight against other top-level 6 adventurers with their teamwork and fighting techniques.
Even the Loki Familia's top three, after cooperating for decades, were still slightly inferior to their four-man combo techniques.
Setting aside the stances of each Familia, as fellow pallum, even Finn admired them greatly.
By contrast, the four despised the "Braver" Finn, who called himself the hope of the pallum. They disdained his deeds and reputation.
Of course, this couldn't be explained in a few words. Years of accumulated grudges had estranged them, and even as fellow pallum, they would not unite.
"Do as you like. This is Lady Freya's order. Just don't ruin it."
"Hmph, we're not like that stupid cat Allen."
With that, the two sides parted in front of the tower.
In the dim yet luxurious corridor, a twisted shadow stretched long on the wall under the moonlight shining through the window, flickering and disappearing.
The black figure, completely concealed by a cloak, sped silently down the carpeted floor, footsteps erased by terrifying skill and ability.
", Swish!"
"....."
"Clang, "
The sound of wind piercing the air rang out. The adventurer's sharpened senses instantly screamed alarms in the intruder's mind.
A silver spear shot diagonally from above. The figure halted mid-step, narrowly dodging the sudden lethal strike.
"Heh, this scent… I thought the Ishtar Familia still had a hidden trump card. Didn't expect it to be you."
A mocking male voice came from above. The hood of the mysterious figure trembled slightly before lifting just enough to reveal a handsome, sunny face.
Golden eyes with two rings of blue light constantly spinning with mysterious symbols glowed eerily in the darkness. The shining eyes seemed to carry a magic that could draw in and entrap anyone whose will was not strong enough.
Indeed, the intruder was none other than Fron, who had come to stir the waters amidst the chaos.
Nearby, the silver spear thrown with immense power had pierced deeply into the wall. Its shaft still trembled, buzzing with sound.
Glancing at the top-class weapon that was hard to find even in all of Orario, Fron sighed helplessly. Under the watchful, amber cat-eyes of his opponent, he slowly stood upright.
His dazzling golden hair, the same color as his pupils, shimmered with a glow under the moonlight, fully revealing his face to the cat-person before him.
The moment his face was revealed, the cat-person's pupils shrank slightly before breaking into a wild grin.
"Loki Familia's Night Weaver, Fron Argon. So it really is you."
"I say, Allen, could you not act so chuunibyou? Exchanging names is a courtesy for first meetings. Clearly this isn't our first time."
Fron spread his hands, playfully looking at the crouched cat-person youth above.
Indeed, it was Freya Familia's "Chariot," Allen Fromel, level 6, Orario's fastest adventurer.
"You bastard…" Allen was clearly no match for Fron in verbal sparring. His words soon dried up.
"Your Freya Familia is waging war on Ishtar Familia, yet instead of dealing with their members, you block me? I'm not even involved in your fight. Ottar, the pallum brothers, the two elves, they're all here too, aren't they? Don't you have to rank your merits after the battle? Is standing here confronting me really the smart move?"
"..."
Everyone knew that within Freya Familia, members were rivals, enemies even, only vying for their goddess's love.
Allen standing here was clearly irrational.
"I'll warn you once more. Whatever you're doing, I don't care. But that rabbit kid, he's under our protection. Don't you dare touch him."
Allen was silent for a moment, then repeated his warning in a low voice.
"I don't swing that way. Hell, I can't even manage all my girlfriends. How would I have time for him? Don't joke with me. Why do you think I'm here? Only beautiful girls and close comrades are worth my effort."
With that, Fron pulled Allen's silver spear out of the wall and tossed it back with one hand, not even glancing at it.
Though it lacked the buzzing hum from Allen's earlier throw, the returning spear made Allen's fur stand on end instantly!
Danger. Danger!
His pupils shrank, muscles tensing. The spear tip magnified in his vision in an instant.
"Clang…" Before he could react, the spear stabbed into the wall beside his head.
"This guy, damn…"