Chapter 79 - Ais's Defeat
The astonishment lasted only a moment.
As a seasoned adventurer, Ais knew that losing focus in battle could spell disaster, even death.
She quickly regained her composure, stepping back with a sudden push of her feet.
In her initial attack, Ais hadn't used her full strength, leaving room to maneuver.
She easily shifted tactics, retreating to widen the gap between her and Roy.
Roy's eyes flicked to her stance.
It was a clever spot, blocking his intended escape route.
The door was no option—exiting there would likely draw a crowd of Loki Familia adventurers, as Roy had deduced this was their base camp.
Blasting through the ceiling was equally unwise; he didn't know which floor Ais's room was on, and encountering more Familia members above would escalate the situation.
Having just arrived in this world, Roy wanted to avoid stirring up trouble, especially with the Loki Familia, a dominant force in Orario.
While not afraid, he preferred to avoid unnecessary complications, given the world's many mysteries and gods.
Quiet development was the smarter play.
Seeing Roy hold back, Ais swiftly pulled her clothes up with her left hand, slipping them back on.
The brief clash had shown her that encumbered by her garment, she couldn't hope to handle the intruder.
With her left hand free, her eyes glinted, a faint spark of battle lust replacing their usual calm.
Instead of calling for her Familia, Ais chose to subdue Roy alone, gripping her rapier tightly and lunging again.
Now unhindered, her movements were more fluid, her rapier darting like a meteor shower, each thrust precise and unrelenting.
Unlike before, she held nothing back, aiming to defeat Roy, even if it meant injuring him, to ensure he stayed down.
But Ais's onslaught faltered against Roy.
Each strike was deftly countered, her efforts unraveling time and again.
Ais was skilled, but she held no edge over Roy.
Most swordsmen wouldn't, given his mastery of swordsmanship due to replicating Kiba's talents.
Only overwhelming power could best him, and Ais's strength—roughly equivalent to a high-class devil—fell short.
Roy had sparred with Kiba, matching him while suppressing his strength to mid-class.
Now, unrestrained and slightly above Ais in raw power, Roy handled her with ease, even unarmed.
"Your form's decent," Roy said, parrying her stabs leisurely, "but who taught you such sloppy swordplay?"
Ais's rhythm faltered, her strikes growing erratic.
Seizing the moment, Roy stepped forward, grabbing her slender wrist with a soft snap, yanking her off balance.
[Congratulations, Host, for absorbing 350,000 dimension points.]
The system chimed, but Roy ignored it, swiftly swapping positions with Ais.
Ais stumbled forward, regaining her footing as she turned to find Roy at the window.
Footsteps approached the door—Loki Familia members, no doubt.
"No time to fix your swordsmanship," Roy said, glancing at the door.
With a flick, he shattered the window's glass and leapt out.
"If we meet again, I'll teach you proper swordplay, girl!"
Ais rushed to the window, whispering,
"Tempest!"
A green breeze swirled, forming a small tornado around her.
Her magic, Tempest, cloaked her in wind, boosting attack, defense, speed, and granting short-range flight.
But as she prepared to pursue, she froze, staring at the night sky.
A pair of dark red, flame-forged wings cut through the darkness, speeding away.
Roy, lacking devil wings, had adapted a technique from Ravel, using bond of life to craft wings for flight.
"Flying magic…?" Ais murmured, transfixed for a few seconds, watching Roy vanish beyond the twilight mansion.
The door creaked open, and a figure slipped inside cautiously.
A woman in men's clothing, with long vermilion hair tied back, squinted with a mischievous grin.
Despite her face, her sneaky demeanor gave off a sleazy air.
This was Loki.
"Ais-tan!" Loki called, her tone playful and suggestive, rubbing her hands.
But seeing the broken glass and damaged window, she yelped, "What's going on?!"
"An intruder," Ais said succinctly.
"What?" Loki's eyes widened, and she shouted, "Everyone, we've got a thief in Ais's room!"
Her yell drew the Loki Familia's core members, who soon crowded Ais's room.
"Ais, what happened?" asked Finn.
Despite his childlike appearance, his tone carried the weight of his forty years and Pallum heritage.
"An intruder entered my room and escaped," Ais recounted briefly.
"That's rare," Finn said, stroking his chin, pondering.
"The flames outside were the intruder's! Flying magic, huh?" Tiona leaned out the window curiously.
"Riveria, any known users of flying magic?" Finn asked, turning to a tall elven woman.
"None come to mind. It's uncommon, and no Level 5 adventurer in Orario is known for it," Riveria replied, shaking her head.
"An outsider, then? Tricky," Finn mused.
Tracking a non-Orario adventurer was like finding a needle in a haystack.
"The real issue is their intent. Sneaking past our guards into Ais's room silently…" Bete growled.
"What's their angle with our Familia?"
"Exactly," Finn agreed. "That level of infiltration, plus flying magic, makes them a threat if they target us."
Ais's account suggested the intruder matched their strongest members.
Against lesser adventurers, they'd dominate.
"Ais, do you recall the intruder's appearance?" Finn asked.
Ais paused, her eyes flickering, then shook her head.
Riveria glanced at her but said nothing.
"This complicates things," Finn sighed.
"Bete, sniff around. Could you recognize their scent if you meet them again?" Tiona suggested.
"I'm not a damn dog!" Bete snapped, veins bulging.
"Sniff what?" Loki interjected, bristling.
"Bete, no sniffing in Ais's room! Who knows what your nose would pick up!"
"I said I'm not a dog!" Bete roared, looking ready to brawl.
"Everyone, heighten vigilance, especially at night," Finn ordered, lacking clues.
For now, they could only bolster their defenses.
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