Dispatching executives like Hedin, Allen, and Hegni showed that Freya was truly enraged.
Her attachment to the identity of "Syr Flova" and to this game of playing a city girl far exceeded what anyone else had imagined.
Years ago, in the slums, she had taken in a young girl who would later become a member of her familia—Helun. The girl idolized the gods to an extreme degree, even wishing to become one herself. In the end, she awakened a miraculous spell known as "Divine Transformation."
With it, she could transform herself into a genuine god. Aside from lacking divine power, she could perfectly replicate a god's physique, appearance, divine aura, and even authority.
In exchange for her true name—"Syr Flova"—she traded identities with Freya.
For many years, the real Freya had disguised herself as "Syr Flova," working at the tavern.
Without releasing her divinity, Freya relied on Helun's magic to become "Syr Flova."
However, the control remained in Freya's hands.
At any time and in any place, Freya's true body could seize control of Helun's transformed body. It was as if she possessed two bodies—though the second was usually left for Helun to use.
Helun could transform through her skill into either the goddess (Freya) or the girl (Syr), but Freya rarely allowed her to assume the latter form.
"Syr Flova"—that name and identity—had already become an irreplaceable part of Freya's life.
"So troublesome. Hurry up and send those brats to deal with it. Don't interfere with my business," Mia grumbled irritably. Yet despite her sharp tongue, she had a soft heart. When it truly mattered, she would help her foolish daughter.
The reaction of Freya Familia was swift. Before long, large numbers of its members appeared on Daedalus Street, frantically searching for the "Berserker."
Unlike other familias, Freya Familia was built upon worship and devotion to their goddess.
Simply put, every single one of them was fanatically devoted.
They might normally be divided into factions, but if anyone dared to harm Freya, every member would unite and scatter that person's ashes to the wind.
Even so, this time they could only move secretly at night, concealing their identities.
The "Berserker" had just exposed Goddess Freya's hidden persona. If her familia acted openly, it would be tantamount to admitting guilt. Their operation had to remain covert.
Numerous members clad in dark attire moved through the labyrinth-like streets of Daedalus. The terrain there was so complex that even high-level adventurers could become disoriented—or outright lost.
They searched deep into the night.
On the eastern side of Daedalus Street, the search team led by Freya Familia executive Hedin Selland was the first to encounter the maddened "Berserker."
"Goddess Freya! Goddess Freya!!"
His body was distorted, his figure and face impossible to discern. One could only vaguely see him lowering his head, muttering incessantly, his mental state clearly unstable.
More than a dozen Freya Familia members surrounded the "Berserker," their expressions cold and vigilant. Not a single one was below Level 2. Most were Level 3, with several Level 4s among them.
And leading them was Level 6—Hedin Selland.
With such a terrifying lineup, defeating even the 25th Floor's Amphisbaena would be effortless. They would have more than enough strength to challenge the 37th Floor's Floor Boss, Udaeus.
They stared coldly at the "Berserker." The information they had gathered matched perfectly.
It seemed like some urban legend—but as high-level adventurers, they did not believe in superstition. This had to be the effect of some kind of magical item.
Concealing his appearance, spreading slander about their goddess—this man deserved death.
Every member present wanted nothing more than to tear him to pieces on the spot.
"So it's you? The scum spreading rumors!"
The speaker was a cold and handsome high elf with long golden hair, wielding a unique long staff with a blade on one end and a magic staff on the other.
As the commander of Freya Familia, Level 6 Hedin Selland possessed tactical and strategic ability rivaling Finn's.
His mental strength, magic control, and spell range surpassed even Riveria's. In certain respects, he could be called Orario's strongest mage.
Though his magic lacked Riveria's versatility and raw firepower, he had forged his own path—despite being a mage, he possessed close-combat ability sufficient for the vanguard.
Combined with rare ultra-short chants and mastery of concurrent chanting, he was hailed as Orario's most versatile magic swordsman.
In his hands was "Twilight," a double-bladed polearm forged from a branch of the sacred elven tree—a first-class weapon worth no less than one hundred million valis.
Blocked on the street by Hedin and over a dozen high-level adventurers, Roy showed not the slightest trace of panic.
"Is this all? I'm a little disappointed."
Under the distortion of the Phantom Mask, Roy's voice sounded hoarse and deep, magnetic and unrecognizable—even to those closest to him.
"Arrogant!!"
The members of Freya Familia were enraged.
How brazen! They were Orario's strongest familia. They had always been the ones to bully others, striding through the streets unchallenged. Who would dare provoke them?
Roy's fearless demeanor made Hedin frown slightly. A faint sense of unease crept into his heart.
He resolved to end it quickly.
"Scum. Enough talk. Die!"
Whoosh!
The moment his words fell, Hedin flickered and vanished from afar. In the blink of an eye, he crossed seventy to eighty meters, appearing instantly before Roy.
His blade flashed with icy brilliance, slashing toward Roy's neck in a killing strike.
As a Level 3, Roy could not even perceive Hedin's movements.
But in that very instant, he activated the "Level 7 Experience Card."
His status skyrocketed.
Name: Roy
Level: 7
Strength: 1223 (SSS)
Endurance: 1288 (SSS)
Dexterity: 1329 (SSS)
Agility: 1325 (SSS)
Magic: 1699 (SSS)
Development Abilities: Adventure (H), Abnormal Resistance (I)
At the peak of Level 7, his status panel seemed to erupt in radiant golden light. An indescribable surge of power flooded through Roy's body.
What he once could not see now appeared incomparably slow.
Yet in Hedin's eyes, Roy in that instant moved at an extreme speed—faster even than Ottar.
Roy tilted his head, narrowly avoiding the slash. Taking a swift step forward, he drove his fist violently into Hedin's cold and handsome face.
BOOM!!
The terrifying force blasted Hedin away. His body shot backward like a cannonball, smashing through the walls of dozens of buildings in succession. A thunderous roar echoed as dust billowed into the night sky.
Under the curtain of darkness, silence fell.
Every member of Freya Familia stared in horror at the distorted figure standing before them.