At this critical moment, the voice transmitted from the communication crystal by Fron instantly filled everyone with joy.
"Spirit clothes will resist the mana of spirits! All units, use the Spirit Flags that Tsubaki and the others prepared to respond!!"
Artificial Labyrinth, 14th floor, in the passage closest to the Fallen Spirit's.
Under the cover of their adventurers behind them, using both bodies and the Spirit Flags, Fron's entire body burned with interwoven red-black flames and lightning, moving freely through the dense crossfire of magical bombardments.
He danced gracefully, easily avoiding the shots whose lock-on count had drastically decreased, even having a hand free to hold the communication crystal and communicate while fighting.
His overwhelming might was displayed to its fullest in that instant. Even Anakitty and Amid, who knew him well, were left speechless.
"...Fron, this guy... he feels even stronger. This can't be my imagination."
Even without showing his full power, Fron's agility and reaction speed had already surpassed the limits Anakitty knew.
Clearly... after his ability value update before this subjugation battle, he must have experienced a massive increase.
Of course, within the Loki Familia, not many knew of Fron's special nature. But Anakitty knew full well.
After Fron's suggestion was relayed to the other forces through the communication crystal, adventurers from the other units also acted.
Clearly, the weight and trust Fron held in their hearts had nearly reached its peak.
The rearguard tore off the long pole strapped to his backpack and handed it forward.
The middle guard took it and stood between the fleeing vanguard and the incoming fire, gritting his teeth, swinging it toward the oncoming flames.
"UooooOOOO––!"
The companion holding the Spirit Flag stepped forward with a ferocious expression, eyes fixed on the approaching bombardment. Muscles bulged as he swung it with all his strength, standing at the very front with resolve as if ready to die.
In his hands, attached to the long pole, was a huge flag, made from Fire Spirit Cloth.
Before everyone's eyes... The flag collided with the incoming fireball!
"----!?"
For an instant, the battlefield fell eerily silent. Everyone widened their eyes, waiting for the result.
Even with all their experience, facing a spirit's magical bombardment made them uneasy, unsure whether this defense would even work.
Then, they saw it clearly: The fireball was ensnared by the flag, crackling with burning sound, before scattering apart.
"We… we can defend!!"
"It really works! Amazing! This flag can nullify magic!"
The adventurers burst into cheers.
During the preparations for this expedition, Fron had immediately discussed with Tsubaki and brought out large quantities of Spirit Cloth of various attributes.
Feeling the quantity wasn't enough, he even bought out most of the market supply, had them crafted into flags, and distributed them to the entire force before the battle.
Spirit Cloth.
At the time, everyone was confused as to why they needed such oddly shaped spirit cloth tools. But as adventurers, they knew the rule: do everything you can. Better safe than sorry, what if it ended up being useful?
And now, they finally understood Fron's intentions.
Equipment blessed by spirits shows extremely high defensive power against certain types of attacks.
For example, Fire Spirit Cloth gives fire resistance. Water Spirit Cloth gives water resistance. And they strongly repel magic cast by spirits of the same nature.
Now that they knew the remaining enemy was a Fallen Spirit, this preparation was the optimal solution.
In the 59th floor, Fron's group had firsthand tasted what a Fallen Spirit meant, what spirit magic truly was, receiving a heavy blow of brutal enlightenment.
To raise the survival rate of the troops even slightly, Fron coordinated with logistics and gathered countless pieces of Spirit Protective Cloth... while making full use of the Guild's support, costing an amount so immense that Guildmaster Royman nearly collapsed clutching his stomach.
Of course, expecting Fron himself or the Loki Familia or Hephaestus Familia to foot the bill? Impossible.
Even the inventory within the Hephaestus Familia was purchased using special Guild funds.
"Concentrate the units at one location! Don't spread out, but don't cluster too tightly either! Vanguard, equip the Spirit Flags and defend against the enemy's magic!"
Especially the Spirit Flags, crafted with several layers of spirit cloth, a special defensive gear of the Hephaestus Familia.
They weren't shields, they were flags.
If made from Fire Spirit Cloth, they were red. If made from Water Spirit Cloth, azure. By layering cloth of the same attribute, they produced extremely high defense against specific spirit magic.
The only difficulty was that unlike a shield, you didn't brace it, you swung the flag to knock down incoming magic. But as they had just demonstrated, it worked perfectly.
They could entangle and neutralize all the attacking magical projectiles raining down the corridor.
"Everyone, pay close attention! Look carefully at the color of the magic circles forming! Predict the attribute instantly, and use the counter-attribute Spirit Flag to defend! Stay focused, don't disappoint me."
Picking up from Fron, Finn gave crisp, precise, mercilessly demanding orders.
Indeed, in such a chaotic battlefield, accurately predicting the attribute of incredibly fast magical shots, then responding with the correct flag before impact, it was extremely harsh.
One mistake, and you'd be vaporized by the terrifying bombardment. Under such pressure, judgment could easily falter.
But... those who could participate in this war were experienced Orario's adventurers.
For people who walked the line between life and death daily, this was not the hardest challenge. They could overcome it.