The Freya Familia's Folkvangr referred to the open grassland located outside the main courtyard.
As one of the largest Familias in Orario, the Freya Familia possessed an extremely vast territory.
The tall and solid walls and gates stretched so far that the end could not be seen. Standing on this grassland felt like being on a real prairie, completely unlike a scene that should exist inside a city district.
Walking across the open field, Van, who carried half Dwarf blood, approached the blonde elf.
"Lord Hedin, all personnel have assembled! Please give your orders!"
"You have only one objective today."
Hedin turned around and looked toward the figure standing not far away.
"Use every means available to defeat him."
"Yes!"
A loud and orderly response echoed across the grassland.
After receiving Hedin's command, the members of the Freya Familia who had been standing in orderly ranks all drew their weapons, their bodies releasing an intense and intimidating aura.
Standing at the edge of the battlefield, Bell felt this terrifying pressure rushing toward him, and his breathing tightened.
"Is this... the strength of the Freya Familia?"
"What nonsense are you saying?"
Hedin, who had just returned, glanced at him.
"Those standing here are merely low level combatants."
Bell's eyes widened.
"These... are all just low level combatants?"
"Correct. Anyone below Level 5 is considered low level combat personnel. Strictly speaking, even Level 5 does not truly qualify as core combat strength."
Hedin spoke calmly, yet the words he said were shocking.
As a First Class Adventurer, he clearly understood what their strength would represent in past eras.
When facing the End that once crushed the hope of the lower world, a Level 5 could barely serve in logistical support.
Only those who had reached Level 6 possessed the ability to fight on the front lines and eliminate monsters.
As for Bell...
Looking the rabbit up and down expressionlessly, Hedin raised his hand and pushed up his glasses.
He did not understand why Cain and Lady Freya valued this fellow so highly, but his task remained the same.
"Keep your eyes open. What you are about to witness is a battle between First Class Adventurers."
"First Class Adventurers?"
"Exactly. After breaking through to Level 3, Cain..."
"Charge!"
Before Hedin could finish speaking, a roar suddenly erupted.
On the distant battlefield, the members of the Freya Familia launched their assault.
Van, a Level 4 adventurer, rushed ahead at the front, reaching Cain in the blink of an eye.
Cold flashes of steel cut through the air as two longswords slashed toward Cain simultaneously from the left and right.
"Decent speed."
Instead of retreating, Cain stepped forward.
His body slipped precisely through the narrow gap between the two slashes as he threw a punch.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The sound of bones fracturing rang out clearly, enough to make one's scalp tingle.
A violent force exploded against Van's body.
With a muffled groan, he was sent flying backward. Blood sprayed into the air as he crashed through several people before smashing heavily into the ground.
"Everyone together! Surround him!"
Seeing Van defeated in an instant, the adventurers charging behind him felt no fear. Instead, their excitement intensified.
The coordination forged through years of combat immediately took effect.
The warriors radiating killing intent split into three groups, surrounding Cain from different directions.
"Muda muda!"
Cain stepped forward.
The ground beneath his feet shattered instantly.
With a thunderous roar, he charged directly into the formation on the left, sending people flying into the air with every punch.
"So... so amazing!"
Standing at the edge of the battlefield, Bell strained his eyes, trying to track the figure weaving through the crowd.
Just like during the War Game a month earlier, Cain was once again displaying overwhelming power.
Every opponent he faced was sent flying the moment they clashed with him, leaving them completely unable to resist.
But unlike a month ago, the enemies standing here now were the elites of the Freya Familia.
Compared to the Soma Familia, these were battle hardened veterans, powerful adventurers recognized throughout Orario.
[When I first joined the Familia and received my Falna, I didn't have a single skill or magic either.]
At that moment, the words Cain had spoken the previous night echoed in Bell's mind, giving him renewed determination.
That's right.
Cain had started from nothing as well.
Yet through hard work, he had still reached this position and was now defeating the powerhouses of the Freya Familia.
If that was the case... he had a chance too.
As long as he joined the Folkvangr for training, he could become as strong as him someday.
...
"So beautiful."
Freya quietly watched Bell in the distance.
What kind of color was that?
It was crystal clear and breathtakingly pure.
Since the moment of her birth, this was the first time Freya had seen such a color within a soul.
It was completely different from Cain's soul, which was surrounded by mist and carried a faint, ominous presence.
The instant she saw Bell's soul, her gaze was captured by its radiant brilliance.
[I want it.]
Her instinct as a collector of souls stirred once more.
Freya's gaze gradually flickered with a desire to possess that soul.
However, a new thought soon appeared in her mind.
[Not yet.]
The brilliance of a soul determined a person's potential.
If the radiance of Ottar and the others resembled blazing flames, then Bell was a newly lit spark.
The difference between the two was enormous. Bell's only abnormality was the color of his soul.
As a collector, Freya wished to polish Bell further, allowing his soul to become even more beautiful and captivating.
She wanted to witness what kind of radiance Bell could eventually unleash.
But how should she do it?
A new question formed in her mind.
To polish a person's soul, the person must undergo trials and transformation.
This process required guidance suited to the individual, creating different methods depending on their talent and circumstances.
Allowing Bell to join Folkvangr would only accomplish the most basic level of refinement.
What should come after that...
Freya turned her gaze toward the battlefield nearby.
"Ottar, have you noticed anything?"
"He has activated magic."
Standing beside Freya, Ottar finally spoke after remaining silent since the battle began.
"Although it appears subtle, that magic is enhancing his physical attributes."
"Furthermore, his combat instincts are extremely sharp. He is able to precisely seize the openings in his enemies' attacks."
"At this rate, the battle will end within an hour."
"An hour?"
Freya showed a trace of surprise.
Although she knew Cain was an unusual existence, this time seemed far too short.
After all, the opponents present were the elite warriors of the Freya Familia.
Could they really fail to last even an hour?
"His attacks are unique."
Sensing Freya's thoughts, Ottar continued speaking.
"Every punch he throws generates a peculiar vibration on the surface of his fist."
"This vibration travels into the opponent's body along with the attack, shattering their bones from within."
High level adventurers possessed extremely powerful regenerative abilities.
With enough numbers, even someone with a collapsed chest could recover and fight again.
Yet in reality, Van, who had been the first to fall, never stood back up.
The adventurers who had been defeated afterward were the same.
These battle hardened warriors, who normally would not fear severe injuries, had all lost their mobility and lay on the ground unable to move.
"Lady Freya, there is no longer any meaning in continuing this battle. Should we change the opponent?"
"Let's switch."
Freya gave her answer.
Although Cain possessed a unique soul, she felt no affection or desire to claim it.
That man gave her a dangerous feeling.
It was precisely because of that feeling that Freya did not particularly like Cain.
Under normal circumstances she would not care whether training in Folkvangr benefited him or not.
But this time was different.
Freya looked toward Bell again.
Since the beginning of the battle she had noticed that Bell's soul was slowly growing brighter.
As for the reason... admiration?
Freya, who could faintly perceive Bell's emotions, realized that he was admiring Cain.
She did not understand the mechanism behind it, but the result was clear.
The performance of a powerful warrior could draw Bell's admiration and cause his soul to shine more brightly.
In that case, she would send out the strongest warrior to steal Bell's attention away from Cain.
"Ottar, go."
The silver haired goddess issued her divine command.
"Use your full strength and crush him head on."
"Understood."
Ottar nodded.
Although the request was somewhat unexpected, he accepted it without hesitation.
Taking the greatsword from his back, he walked toward the battlefield ahead. A terrifying aura slowly began to emerge from his body.
In a single instant, that aura swept across the entire plain.
Feeling this presence, every warrior of the Freya Familia stopped what they were doing.
"Hm? Why are you here?"
Cain noticed Ottar's arrival.
"I am not ready to fight you yet. Send Hedin and the others instead."
"No."
Ottar slightly shook his head.
"This is Lady Freya's will. She wishes for me to crush you directly."
Cain: "?"
Glancing toward the silver haired goddess seated nearby, Cain's eye twitched in mild disbelief.
"Fine. Even if it's a little early, sparring with you will still be valuable experience."
Cain looked toward the Fox girl sitting nearby.
"Haruhime. Give me a magic enhancement."
"Yes!"
The moment Haruhime saw Ottar appear, she had already anticipated this situation.
After receiving Cain's command, she raised the staff in her hand. Spiritual energy began to gather around her body.
"Grow large! With strength and swiftness, countless treasures and countless wishes! When the bell tolls, pray for splendor and illusion!"
"Grow large! This body that has tasted divine offerings, grant the golden radiance of the Gods! Let the hammer return to the earth and bestow blessings!"
Her clear chanting voice echoed across the plain.
Ottar stood quietly without reacting.
A Level 7 facing a Level 3 was already an unfair battle.
Even if Haruhime completed her magic, it would change nothing.
"Ten Thousand Treasures Hammer!"
Under everyone's gaze, a brilliant golden hammer of light descended from the sky, breaking into countless particles that wrapped around Cain's body.
"Current Propulsion."
Cain activated his own magic as well.
Golden lightning mixed with the shining particles as explosive power surged from within his body.
In the next instant, a thunderous sound erupted.
Without any warning, Cain appeared behind Ottar in the blink of an eye and slashed downward with his sword.
At that exact moment, a heavy greatsword swept upward, colliding with Cain's attack.
Boom!
The lightning surrounding the blade shattered and scattered into arcs of electricity that struck Ottar's body.
Using the shockwave from the explosion, Cain quickly retreated and widened the distance, preparing for another assault.
However, a tall figure suddenly appeared in front of him, charging forward like a rampaging boar.
Thunder Breathing, Eighth Form!
Without hesitation, Cain unleashed his strongest technique.
A streak of lightning tore through the air, slashing toward Ottar's waist.
Boom!
Another explosive impact rang out.
The sturdy greatsword, like an iron wall, once again blocked Cain's attack.
"Tsk. Not even a scratch?"
Cain retreated once more, widening the distance.
Even with Haruhime's magic enhancement, the difference in their basic physical abilities remained enormous.
Combined with Ottar's battle experience forged through countless battles, breaking through his defense would require another strategy.
"A magnificent strike."
Ottar commented on Cain's attack.
Regardless of the circumstances, Cain's previous slash was worthy of recognition.
He could use enhancement magic, apply elemental power to his weapon, and possessed high level swordsmanship.
Recalling Cain's displayed abilities, Ottar suddenly felt this might be a suitable opportunity.
"If it is you, you should be qualified."
"?"
Cain frowned slightly.
What was that supposed to mean?
Before he could think further, a deep voice echoed across the plain.
[Mercy of the Silver Moon. Field of Gold.]
A terrifying pressure gathered above, like the Sword of Damocles suspended overhead.
Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form, Takemikazuchi!
Without hesitation, Cain transformed into a bolt of lightning and charged forward, attempting to interrupt Ottar's chant.
But as the strongest warrior in Orario, Ottar had long mastered the technique of concurrent chanting.
[Command my body to become the boar of battle.]
The chant continued while he fought.
Within a single breath, the two exchanged more than a dozen strikes.
Faced with overwhelming raw power, Cain remained unharmed but was forced backward.
[Receiving the Goddess's will, I charge forward.]
The chant reached its final line.
[Hildis Vini!]
The magic representing his ultimate strike was released.
Golden radiance wrapped around the greatsword like the bristles of a divine war boar.
"If you wish to defeat me, learn this strike."
Looking at the black haired youth standing in the distance, Ottar slowly raised the greatsword in his hand.
He did not aim.
He did not need to aim.
The moment the blade descended, Folkvangr split in two, and an earth shattering explosion echoed across Orario.
Boom!!!
...
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