However, just as she finished speaking, Tione felt a hand gently press down on her shoulder. A familiar warmth followed—a presence she would recognize in any battlefield or crowd.
"Leon!!"
Startled yet relieved, Tione turned her head. Leon gave her a subtle nod before stepping forward, placing himself calmly between her and the masked goddess before them.
"What are the warrior women of Telskyura doing here?" Leon asked with a relaxed smile, eyes resting on the enigmatic Kali.
"…Elf?" Kali tilted her masked face slightly, inspecting him with mild interest.
"An incredible elf indeed. You kicked Argana down with a single strike."
She chuckled faintly, as if she found the situation amusing. "And it seems Argana's taken quite the liking to you."
"Oh, and Tione too, it seems." She added nonchalantly, as if noting a passing breeze. "You're quite the heartthrob."
Kali's voice echoed with amusement, but she made no attempt to answer Leon directly.
"Kali! What exactly are you doing here!?" Tione snapped, her eyes blazing with frustration at the goddess's evasiveness.
"It's been a long time since we last met." Kali replied with a chuckle, arms folded as she leaned slightly forward.
"And this is how you greet me? So sharp from the very start?"
"Quit the nonsense and answer the question!" Tione barked, refusing to be baited by the goddess's teasing.
Kali raised a brow but remained unbothered. "Nothing serious. Just sightseeing." She replied with an exaggerated shrug, like a mischievous tourist.
"Liar! Speak clearly!" Tione pressed, her patience wearing thin.
"Really," Kali said, still grinning under the mask. "I simply grew tired of the same daily routine, so I came out in search of a little… excitement."
She cast a glance around, gesturing theatrically. "And wouldn't you know it, just as I stepped into the world, I ran into you two sisters. Not to mention, I witnessed a fascinating elf humiliate Argana. That alone made the journey worthwhile."
As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Leon once more.
"Hey, elf, what's your name?"
"Leon." He replied with an easy smile, unfazed.
"Leon, huh?" Kali's masked face twitched upward in a grin.
"How about coming with me? Join my familia. You can pick any child you like. I won't stop you even if you want to build a harem."
She paused deliberately. "I doubt the girls would say no, either."
The moment those words fell, the surrounding Amazonesses turned toward Leon with heated, fervent gazes. Their eyes burned not with hostility—but desire.
Amazons are a race that revere strength, and in Telskyura, that admiration took on a primal edge. Battle and conquest were in their blood, and the pursuit of powerful mates was no exception. Leon, having effortlessly thrown Argana away earlier, had undoubtedly earned their attention.
If he were their enemy, they would be prepared for war. But if he could be one of their own… then they would pursue him without hesitation.
To share blood with such a warrior, to bear strong offspring—that was the Amazonian ideal.
Leon felt a vein twitch at the side of his head as Kali's words sank in and the stares pierced into him.
"…Why does this woman remind me so much of Loki?"
Suppressing a sigh, Leon decided not to entertain Kali any longer. He placed a calming hand on Tione, who was nearly about to explode with rage.
With one arm around Tione and the other around Tiona's waist, Leon lifted them both with ease. Without giving Kali a chance to respond, he rose into the air and turned away.
"Thank you for the invitation," Leon said coolly, "but I'll pass."
And with that, he vanished into the sky with the two sisters in his arms, soaring back toward the lake.
Kali stared after them, momentarily stunned.
Then she chuckled softly. "He left just like that? Interesting. He has spirit."
But she had little time to dwell on it. Another voice rang out.
"Kali-sama, I want Leon!!"
It was Argana.
Having remained silent since Kali's appearance, she suddenly stepped forward, her tone reverent and her expression fanatical. Bowing slightly, she declared her intent like a warrior claiming her prey.
Kali didn't even blink. She said lazily, "I don't mind. If you have the strength, then go ahead."
"Yes!!" Argana's eyes gleamed with fierce resolve.
—
Not far away, Leon and the sisters had landed by the dock.
Just in time, Loki and her group arrived in a flurry, clearly rushing over from their side of the port. The moment Leon touched down with Tione and Tiona, Loki stepped forward, expression sharp.
"Leon! Who were those Amazons back there?"
The moment she finished asking, others pulled Tione and Tiona aside to check them over, making sure neither sister was hurt.
"They're from the same homeland as Tione and Tiona." Leon answered, wearing a relaxed smile.
"Wait, Telskyura!?" Loki blurted. "That Amazon country that shuts itself off from the world?"
"I thought only those two ever made it out of there!"
"Why are so many showing up now?!"
Leon shrugged lightly, not bothering to hide his own uncertainty. "I'm not sure. But if they've already come ashore, then Orario might be their next destination."
"They'll probably want to meet with you. That should tell us something." He added with a calm nod.
"Yeah… you're right."
As they spoke, a galleon arrived and anchored at the dock.
A group of Amazons disembarked in perfect formation, led by the masked goddess Kali herself.
Despite being warriors, they wore minimal, exotic clothing that immediately caught the attention of dockworkers and merchants. Whispers spread fast, and all eyes turned to the new arrivals. But the Amazons ignored them completely.
Kali led them directly toward Leon and the others.
"Yo, Tione, Tiona. We meet again." Kali said casually, raising a hand in greeting.
Tione met her gaze with visible distaste, clearly unamused. But Tiona, ever the cheerful optimist, smiled and jogged up with a light bump.
"Yeah, long time no see, Kali!"
She didn't hold grudges, not unless someone had hurt her or those she loved. And Kali had once been her goddess.
"You look great. You even had a match with Bache. That makes me proud." Kali said with satisfaction, then turned her attention to Loki.
"You must be their current goddess." She said with a smooth smile. "And what's your name?"
Loki, standing in the center with arms crossed, raised a brow and replied evenly, "Loki. Try not to cause trouble, alright, little goddess?"
"You're not like that other little goddess I know." Loki added with a smirk, her eyes drifting deliberately to Kali's chest. "You're flatter than she is."
Kali blinked, then calmly followed Loki's gaze to her own chest—then back to Loki's.
A small chuckle slipped from beneath the mask.
"My name's Kali. And as far as that's concerned." She paused dramatically, "We're exactly the same."
"HA!?" Loki exploded, eyes twitching and teeth gritting in fury.
"So what's the deal, huh?"
She snapped. "Telskyura's always been a closed-off nation, playing in its own backyard. Why leave now?"
"Monotony is the enemy of the soul," Kali answered with an elegant shrug. "So I brought the girls out to see the world."
"And right out the gate, I meet a remarkable elf." She said, gaze locking once more on Leon.
Just one kick, but that had been enough.
She knew how strong Argana and Bache were. In Telskyura, the arena separated the strong from the dead. Leon had dropped Argana with a single blow?
It was no fluke. It was power—unmistakable and undeniable.
Argana and Bache were meant to be the vanguard, the harbingers of Telskyura's strength.
And yet, before even stepping foot in Orario, they had been made to taste defeat.