It had been a long time, it seemed like a very long time.
Ryu had not shown such a ferocious and uncomposed expression for a long time, because her companions were long gone. Even if she wanted to lose her composure, those who had once comforted her would not return...
Just like what happened at Amphoreus.
The crazed elf seemed to treat the black-robed figure in front of her as a member of the Dark Faction, with the ultimate goal of every attack being to kill the opponent.
However, the black-robed figure in front of her seemed to know Ryu's attack patterns in advance, dodging easily and even slashing at Ryu's body with Alise's sword.
"So many years have passed, is this all you've got, Ryu?"
The tone was still low, seemingly a disguised voice, but Ryu didn't care at all. Or rather, was there anything worth caring about?
She just needed to kill this member of the Dark Faction who knew her identity, and Ryu could return to her life as a restaurant waitress.
"Of course not!"
Ryu had been stuck at Level 4 for many years, and her strength should have been at the peak of this level.
But in front of the black-robed figure, her excessive anger made it impossible for her to unleash her true strength, and she was even suppressed for a time.
"How could I possibly lose to you?"
Two small katanas extended from her sleeves, and Ryu returned to a combat state with the fastest speed, her gaze toward the black-robed figure becoming serious.
Being able to suppress her so easily, could it be Level 5?
No, that's not it!
The opponent's strength wasn't as high as hers, but why...
Why did they know my fighting style like the back of their hand?
Could she be the person from the attack back then?
At the thought of this, Ryu couldn't help but feel uncontrollable anger and resentment, but the opponent's identity made her quite suspicious, and that fighting style seemed like something she had seen somewhere before?
An illusion?
However, in battle, the most taboo thing is to get distracted by other things, so Ryu had to force herself to suppress the doubts in her heart and focus all her attention on the battle.
"Oh? Getting serious? Let's have a proper chat, Ryu!"
The black-robed figure holding "True Red Order" assumed a stance that was incredibly familiar to Ryu in the next second, and then launched an attack.
"Although we have plenty of time, we still need a lot of time to catch up. Let's decide the winner with this single strike, Ryu!"
Blaze!
In just an instant, crimson flames ignited on the black-robed figure's rapier, shining like a gorgeous flower.
This scene made Ryu's eyes widen, because she hadn't seen this familiar skill for a few years.
"You, you are...?"
"Don't think about those unnecessary things. Are you really going to get distracted in battle?"
The black-robed figure's reminder made Ryu grit her teeth once again.
Although Ryu still hadn't figured out what was going on, the opponent didn't reveal any hatred or killing intent toward her; instead, there was a lot of goodwill.
This feeling was only something she had experienced with those people...
"Then come on!"
Ryu and the black-robed figure were several meters apart, but they disappeared from their spots at the same time. They didn't use any techniques, nor did they use any magic; it was the most direct, head-on confrontation!
Clang!
The two weapons collided, immediately emitting a crisp sound. Ryu only felt a tremendous force coming from her two small katanas, as well as a familiar scorching heat.
The battlefield remained deadlocked, but at this moment, the black-robed figure flicked the sword upward, discarding their own sword while simultaneously knocking Ryu's two small katanas away.
And Ryu herself was caught in a crisis with her defenses wide open.
But this time, Ryu didn't feel any danger; instead, she looked in shock at the red hair peeking out from the side of the black-robed figure's ear...
"Impossible... aren't you..."
Looking at that incredibly familiar face, Ryu was stunned. She never would have imagined that she would see her figure again, years later, on this day.
Slap!
Facing the stunned Ryu, the girl with red hair raised her right hand and slapped Ryu hard on the left cheek.
"I didn't expect you to have become like this now. I am heartbroken, Ryu..."
"Alise... am I dreaming?"
Slowly saying the name of the red-haired girl in front of her, Ryu only felt a burning pain on her face, but she hadn't yet recovered from the fact that someone had appeared before her.
"No, you're not dreaming!"
"I'm back, Ryu!"
Looking at the dazed Ryu, Alise slowly took off her hood, revealing her youthful and beautiful face.
Then, she directly pulled the elf, who still didn't understand the situation, into her arms and began to ruthlessly mess with her.
"Aaaaah! It really has to be Ryu!"
"What should I do without you!"
"Eh eh eh?!"
She hadn't expected Alise to pull this move at all, but it seemed to make sense? After all, this was exactly the kind of thing their captain would do.
As expected, I don't hate it...
Feeling the familiar warmth, Ryu slowly closed her eyes, and tears began to seep from the corners of her eyes.
The two of them remained embraced like this for a long, long time...
Meanwhile, atop a certain building, a figure slowly departed; it was Mia, the proprietress of The Hostess of Fertility.
"It seems there is nothing left for me to do."
"However, why did Alise return?"
"I must get in touch with someone..."
—
The next day.
"Ugh—!"
Hyacine sat up from the familiar bed frame, slowly stretched under the sunlight streaming through the window, and showcased her figure to its fullest extent...
Although there was not much of a figure to speak of.
But that did not matter, because thanks to this incident, Hyacine had gained a huge harvest!
During this period, Hyacine had been worrying about her salvation count; after all, after joining the Familia, she clearly did not have as much time to save lives.
After all, their mission was not just about saving people; leveling up was also one of them, and they had to find a way quickly.
She just did not expect that luck would come so suddenly.
Even after the grinding during this period, Hyacine and Barbara's salvation count had only increased by about three thousand; wanting to complete the one-million salvation count was truly a fantasy.
However, following the incident where they were attacked by Ryu, right up until the end of the entire event, Hyacine unexpectedly discovered...
Her salvation count had increased by five hundred thousand?
This was a major event!
It was also the first time Hyacine realized that the number of people saved by changing the plot could also be counted towards her goal. This meant that because of the demise of Ryu and the Fallen Spirit, five hundred thousand people who were about to die had been saved.
It was worth the effort I went to in order to "go berserk"; it seems this harvest is indeed quite good!
That's right, what "going berserk after being beaten to a pulp by Ryu and the Fallen Spirit"? It never existed!
Hyacine just needed a suitable excuse to vent the power of her Sky Titan!
"Save others from danger; as for where the danger comes from, don't worry about it."
This statement was no joke, but Hyacine could not do it using her own identity; after all, it did not fit the role-playing.
Then whose identity could she use? Naturally, it was our great Sky Titan, Aegler~
Without you, what would I do! Thank you, Aegler!
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