Bors, the current de facto leader of the under resort's one and only city, was currently struggling to comprehend what was going on, and the incessant complaints from the other adventurers wasn't helping in the slightest. He grit his teeth in frustration, clenching his fists with barely contained annoyance.
"SHUT IT ALL OF YA! I can't think with all of your yapping!" Bors shouted.
"Oh come on Bors, just cause it's your name doesn't mean ya gotta act like it, ya know."
"Yeah, that's right. We gotta get out of here. There's something irregular over there."
"That's right, it's something only Freya and Loki familias could handle it."
"Evacuate, and send a messenger to the surface."
The shouts of the adventurers were overly annoying, Bors was waiting for a report… The sinking feeling he had earlier was not something to ignore after all, he was level 3. Then it came.
"Bors, it looks like the horde of monsters is being slaughtered like helpless animals."
"Bors, the exits to the 17th floor, are all closed up, we can't get through right now."
"Same thing with the 19th floor pathway."
"Who's killing the monsters right now?"
"It looks like the Astraea familia, and a small group led by Ganesha familia's vice-captain, Ilta the Paluza."
"Shit, looks like we're in for a fight."
"Also, it looks like there's something else coming from the ceiling… It's Goliath!!!"
A Goliath fell from the ceiling, cratering into the ground below, letting out a guttural roar as it stood to its full height.
"Shit Bors, that thing has got to be like level 5. It's not normal at all!"
"An Irregular at a time like this?! The hell. Alright everyone listen up, get your weapons together, and…"
"I would request you don't make a move. You'll only get in the way, uh, what's your name, one-eye?" Came from a voice resounding like the rumbles of a storm's thunder.
Bors turned to see a man, standing over a meter tall, carrying dignity bordering on royalty. His garb made it clear to see he was wealthy, and powerful.
"It's customary to give your own name when asking for someone else to give theirs, is it not?" Bors managed to say despite the horrible pressure coming off the man in front of him.
"Hmm, I suppose you're right about that. In my haste to prevent you from doing something unnecessary. I am Ceraunius, Level 7."
"CERAUNIUS! THE PRINCE OF THUNDER HIMSELF!!!" Bors shouted in utter bewilderment.
"That's the one." He smiled, and nodded, placing his hands behind his back. "Now, you are?"
"Bors, Town Rivera's head guy round here…"
"I see, good then you can keep them under control without my help, right? You see, Astraea familia is on an adventure right now, and I don't want any interruptions, I trust you, as a level 3, can understand why, right?" He paused. "I can trust you, correct?"
"Uh, yeah… Not a problem. We'll hang back, and have the beers ready."
"Hmm, not a bad plan." Ceraunius, turned, his half cape flipping as he did. "Now then, Alise. Prove to me that our time will not be wasted. Go forth and defeat that Revulsion Class Goliath. I know you can do it, I've seen it, the question is, will you?"
…
Alise finished steadying herself, and reached for a stamina potion, she paused.
"No, I don't need it. It's a crutch, this is a test. He would have told me if I needed it. I should trust him, and trust myself…"
She had a flash of terror as the black sheen of the Black Goliath reflected the light akin to the Juggernaut. She gulped, and took a deep breath, exhaled, and repeated it a few times.
"Remember what he said, feed the flame… Let it burn, burn with a brilliant light, a searing heat…" She closed her eyes, for a moment, a few bugbears, and minotaurs charged her… She didn't budge, until… With a single movement like the flickering of flames, she felled them all. "Arga Arvana!" She cried out from deep in her soul, casting her magic, flames covered her whole body in response to her burning desire… The color, a bright fiery orange.
She ran straight through the forest path and directly at the giant monster rex, where her feet once were, only flames remained. Flicking her wrist she carved a path, finally reaching the monster rex and sliced right through both of its achilles tendons.
The black goliath reeled in agony, attempting to turn, charging a sonic blast and fired, however, it fell over slamming into the ground hard.
Seizing this chance, Alise leapt up, running along the giant body, carving it up, searing the wounds closed in the process.
"Wow, she's doing good, Now that's how a captain fights. The embodiment of their god or goddess' principles." Gamelia cheered from her place on the tree branch. Then she looked to her side, seeing something off. "You there, behind that invisible thing? Is it a helmet, or a robe maybe?"
Asfi froze, and then sighed, removing her helmet, with a frustrated pout. "Damn you, why couldn't you just let me feel like I made something that can hide from you?"
"Because it's more fun this way? Maybe? Anyway, so, what do you think? She's not terrible, right?"
"If you're asking me, I think she's amazing. Single handedly carving that thing apart. It's as strong as Amphisbaena."
"Hmm, I suppose we do have different bars of power, sorry, you can go back to spying or whatever. I'm going to watch as Alise finishes her adventure." Gamelia said with a wave of her hand, and then munched down on a honey cloud she had just gone to grab and returned. "Oh yeah, I should mention, that monster usually has the ability to regenerate, but her flames cauterizing the wounds leave no opening for it to use that power."
"Wait what? You mean that thing's even tougher?"
"Yup, and… It looks like she's about to finish it…"
Alise had finally carved up enough of the black goliath to expose its crystal. To which she plunged her sword right into it, conquering both her fears of that moment two weeks ago, as well as the monster rex.
She managed to stay on her feet, though sweaty, and bloody all over… She was victorious.
"I understand it now, Gamelia, the path to power isn't the falna, it's us." She spoke before passing out, falling into Gamelia's hands.
"You did a commendable job, little flame of justice." She said with a little boop on Alise's nose.
…