Danmachi, Ch 201-205

Chapter 201 – Riveria’s Concern

"Ais is far too reckless."

Whenever the topic turned to raising that child, Riveria couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.

"Even as a child, she always tried to act strong," she said softly.

"From the very beginning, she possessed an extraordinary thirst for power—as if she somehow knew she needed to become stronger."

"She’s come to treat that craving as her destiny. It’s reached the point of obsession."

That was what troubled Riveria the most.

"Her obsession drives her to throw everything else away, charging forward without pause. It’s been the same in countless Expeditions."

"When our Familia faced the Dungeon’s malice, she always rushed ahead without hesitation, cutting down monsters as they poured out. In her frenzy, she lost sight of herself, completely ignoring the wounds she took."

"I’m afraid one day, her desire for power will consume her entirely."

Riveria sighed, her voice slowing as the weight of her words settled.

Tsuna listened quietly, but he could only feel helpless at her lament.

"Riveria, it might sound cruel, but that background pretty much defines Ais’s entire life. She’s walked a path that spans a thousand years—she doesn’t truly belong to this era. The seal that bound her was likely her parents’ way of protecting her."

"As for her parents... unless there’s some way to return to the past, I doubt they could have lived this long. Even if Ais’s mother was a Spirit."

"Even a Spirit can’t?"

Riveria still clung to a thread of hope, but Tsuna shook his head.

"Unfortunately not. Spirits, like the Gods themselves, are beings sent to the surface to aid mortal heroes—to hunt and suppress monsters. In theory, they share the same longevity as the Gods, and they can’t truly die."

"But immortality doesn’t mean they can’t be corrupted."

The word corruption stirred a chilling sense of dread in Riveria’s chest.

"What do you mean by ‘corruption’?"

"When a Spirit is devoured by a monster, the monster can’t actually digest them. Instead, the Spirit devours the monster from within. But once that happens, their very nature reverses. The beings who once aided mortal heroes become vengeful wraiths, hating everything, slaughtering humanity in blind rage."

"I don’t know if Ais’s mother suffered that fate—but I do know this: there’s a corrupted Spirit in the Dungeon. And years from now, it will even form an alliance with the Dark Faction."

"What!?"

Riveria could hardly believe what she was hearing. Spirits—those sacred beings—standing against them? Cooperating with the Dark Faction? It sounded like the cruelest joke imaginable.

She steadied herself after a moment of shock.

"So you’re saying… Ais’s mother might also be somewhere in the Dungeon?"

If that were true, it was a nightmare beyond imagination.

Riveria’s fists clenched tightly.

"I don’t know. But we should be prepared for that possibility."

Tsuna didn’t have the answer—but he knew that some truths had to be faced with the worst in mind.

Prepare for the worst, so that when the time comes, one can still act rationally.

"I believe Ais’s parents sealed her away—perhaps even within the Dungeon itself—because they were running out of time."

"What they did was, without a doubt, an act to give Ais a chance to live."

"And their actions also delayed the Dungeon’s awakening. Judging from how stable it’s been, their efforts from a thousand years ago—along with the Gods’—must have held the crisis at bay."

"But delaying the crisis comes with its own risks. I suspect the two of them sacrificed themselves, becoming part of the Dungeon itself."

"So, when we eventually reach the deeper layers… the ones waiting for us might very well be those same two—the ones who postponed the calamity a millennium ago."

Tsuna spoke as if tracing the story’s unseen path.

The tale of Ais’s parents was like a riddle—no one knew what they faced or what sacrifices they made.

The author of that story had yet to reach that chapter. The record of that era was a page of history painted over in black ink—its secrets long buried.

That blacked-out chapter must have been a magnificent story. But hidden beneath darkness, it was lost to time.

Still, judging from what remained, those two would appear again in the future.

Perhaps as part of the Dungeon itself—standing as enemies.

Even so, that would be years from now.

If it truly came to that, then those two would become obstacles humanity must overcome to move forward.

At this rate, the ones destined to face that trial would likely be the Loki Familia and the Familia of the God As...

…

And that meant Ais herself would have to overcome it.

"If that’s true… that’s going to be a real problem."

Hearing Tsuna’s speculation about the future, Riveria couldn’t shake the feeling that it might actually come to pass.

But if it did—would Ais still be able to raise her sword?

Riveria feared that Ais’s mind might collapse under the weight of it all.

To turn her blade, forged through years of hardship, against her own parents—now part of the Dungeon itself…

Could Ais really do that?

Just imagining that future made Riveria’s chest tighten painfully.

"It’s troublesome, yes. But not entirely hopeless," Tsuna said quietly.

"I already have the power to save that couple. But first, we’ll need the strength to defeat them."

"A Spirit, and a adventurer who was once the strongest a thousand years ago—neither can be dealt with easily. Especially if they’ve become part of the Dungeon itself. Their power would only have grown stronger."

"That makes it even harder."

Tsuna’s words offered a faint glimmer of hope.

Riveria’s eyes lit up instantly. Perhaps—just perhaps—this was the only path left open.

"It will be difficult, yes. But it’s far better than having no hope at all."

Chapter 202 – The Lack of Obsession with Power

Defeating a Spirit and a man who had been hailed as the strongest adventurer a thousand years ago—without a doubt, that was an impossible task for the current Loki Familia.

A single Spirit alone possessed strength on par with the highest combat power in the Labyrinth City today—perhaps even beyond that of a mere Level 7.

If those two were to be regarded as hypothetical enemies ahead on the path, then the Familia’s main forces would need to reach at least Level 6, perhaps even Level 7. Otherwise, the only thing that could carry them past such a wall would be a miracle.

Unfortunately, Tsuna hated relying on miracles more than anything.

If possible, he preferred to place all his hopes within the bounds of his own control—within his own strength.

Fortunately, there was still plenty of time before he had to face that kind of situation.

As long as he had enough time to grow—enough time—then Tsuna wouldn't be left completely without options.

The power of his Sacred Gear still hadn’t been fully drawn out.

For now, he was only utilizing its surface-level abilities. The true potential of a Sacred Gear lay in its Balance Breaker.

Only by reaching that realm could he truly bring out the power hidden within it.

Tsuna sat at the desk in his room, idly spinning a pen between his fingers as he contemplated the next step forward.

“Balance Breaker, huh? The reason Sacred Gears are considered special among artifacts is because they possess a higher growth potential, greater strength, and more extraordinary abilities than ordinary ones.”

“The Annihilation Maker I currently control has already shown signs of deviation. It doesn’t just create monsters with simple life forms—it can even redefine the very nature of those lives.”

Tsuna didn’t recall Leonardo ever having the ability to create inorganic objects. That alone meant his Annihilation Maker was already an overpowered version of the Sacred Gear.

And on top of that, he could create other Sacred Gears on par with it—like the Boosted Gear, Divine Dividing, even the Holy Grail of the Netherworld. That fact alone was proof enough that his Annihilation Maker was far from normal.

Tsuna picked up his pen and wrote in his notebook:

“Annihilation Maker — altered, more advanced, higher operability, capable of producing other Sacred Gears.”

“I can create them—but the limit of what I can make still lies within the boundaries of my imagination.”

Tsuna furrowed his brow slightly.

He knew that ordinary Sacred Gears had their own innate potential for growth. That growth didn’t rely on imagination; it came through exploration and relentless training. Bit by bit, the gear’s potential would naturally unfold.

But the Sacred Gears he created lacked that kind of self-growth. Their limits rose only when he himself grew—when his understanding of power deepened, when his imagination expanded.

“So even though my means have increased, the ceiling still depends on the fusion of my awareness and imagination. Only by achieving greater personal growth can I continue to drive the growth of both Annihilation Maker and the Sacred Gears I’ve created.”

“In other words, while my tools have multiplied, my upper limit remains tied to my own understanding.”

Thinking of it that way, Annihilation Maker and his personal strength formed a symbiotic relationship.

In the early stages, Annihilation Maker provided Tsuna with the perfect safeguard for survival. And as his own strength, awareness, and imagination grew, the ceiling of Annihilation Maker rose accordingly.

“Looks like I still can’t afford to rush things.”

“Rapid growth in power won’t work over there anyway. There’s still a one-year gap left on that side. Staying there and wasting time would only be wasting my own chance to improve.”

“Once this Expedition is over, I’ll have to go back and deal with what’s left there.”

Having summarized everything, Tsuna confirmed that the way to raise Annihilation Maker’s upper limit still depended on his own growth. The rest would simply be preparations for future development.

“As for Balance Breaker... achieving that isn’t going to be easy.”

Balance Breaker represented pushing a Sacred Gear to its utmost, crossing into a deeper, symbolic state.

It allowed one to unleash power far beyond the ordinary—so great that it could make the unreasonable seem reasonable.

But reaching that state was no simple matter.

It required emotions so intense they transcended everything—obsession and resolve strong enough to break through the limits.

“Obsession and resolve...”

“I already have resolve, and it’s not as if I lack obsession... but my current condition isn’t enough to push my Sacred Gear further.”

Tsuna sighed.

The Dying Will Flame was a power born from inner resolve—the stronger the resolve, the more easily the flame could manifest its strength.

After all the unbelievable things he’d been through—even crossing into another world, fighting the Dungeon’s monsters—his resolve was undoubtedly solid.

Yet the catalyst for triggering his Sacred Gear’s Balance Breaker was still missing.

“So... is it that I lack obsession with power?”

Tsuna finally identified the root of the problem.

And when he thought carefully about it, that obsession with power truly was the key.

Right now, he was immersed in a well-paced plan for growth. Knowing he had time, he didn’t feel any urgent pressure to grow stronger.

Without that urgency, his desire—his obsession—for power naturally lacked the intensity needed to push Annihilation Maker toward Balance Breaker.

“Is the problem that I don’t feel enough urgency about the future?”

“I know perfectly well that I have time to grow at a steady pace, that there’s no need to rush... Is that mindset what’s stopping me from reaching Balance Breaker?”

“Hah... what a simple reason.”

The conclusion left Tsuna both amused and exasperated.

He’d become too stable—too composed. Because he understood how the story would unfold, the pressure to grow had lessened, making it impossible for him to forge the desperate obsession needed to trigger a Balance Breaker.

“So this is the downside of knowing too much—you can’t create enough pressure for yourself.”

“There’s still a year left before the day the Katekyo Hitman Reborn world comes into play.”

Even so, Tsuna felt no pressure at all.

Not because his strength was already sufficient, but because, in the face of that world’s current dangers, it was enough.

The same problem as now—

Without the crisis and pressure of survival, and with his confidence in himself, he simply couldn’t possess the obsession with power necessary to advance further.

Chapter 203 – Our Goal Is to Mock Her

Today was the day the Floor Boss, Amphisbaena, would respawn.

Early that morning, Finn Deimne and Gareth Landrock were already prepared.

“Bete, today’s the day you take on the Floor Boss alone,” Finn said. “Gareth and I will make sure you stay alive—but we won’t interfere with your challenge. You understand that, right?”

“Tch! Of course I do.”

Bete Loga could hear the reminder and warning clearly enough.

“This is my hunt. I won’t let anyone steal my prey so easily.”

This time, his victory was a foregone conclusion in his mind. There was no way he’d let anyone else interfere.

As for who would survive between him and the beast... heh, Bete had no intention of dying in a hunt meant for his Level Up.

The chance to change the course of that tragedy was right before him—he wouldn’t let it slip away.

He would keep moving forward until his strength was enough to protect them.

At this moment, Bete’s resolve was set.

Not just for this fight, but for every battle that would follow. He would never, ever go down there to meet them so easily.

“Should we call Tsuna along?” Gareth asked.

“No need. It’s just a Floor Boss hunt. I don’t need him watching over me. I’m not one of those two clueless Amazons.”

Bete knew he’d been dragging Tsuna along for Dying Will Flame training lately. The poor guy hadn’t had a real break in half a month.

And as for those two dumb Amazons—Tiona and Tione—they hadn’t been able to hang around Tsuna for weeks now. Who knew how much frustration they’d built up? Let Tsuna spend the day keeping those two idiots company instead.

Bete didn’t think such a simple hunt warranted Tsuna’s supervision anyway.

If he still needed Tsuna to babysit him through this, then his half-month of training would’ve been for nothing.

He just needed to bring the victory back.

To show Tsuna that all his effort hadn’t been wasted—that would be enough.

“Let’s go, Finn, old man.”

“Still,” Bete added with a sneer, “I wonder if that woman, Valletta, will be waiting to ambush us again at the Great Falls.”

A nasty grin curled across his face.

If she did, he’d almost be happy to see it.

“She’s Arachnia, not some holy warrior.”

“If she falls for the same trap twice, then she’s our spy in the Dark Faction.”

Finn didn’t believe Valletta Grede was that stupid.

“Besides, this isn’t like when Tiona and Tione were ambushed,” Finn continued. “Those two got attacked because they’d already gone to that floor twice. Their intent to Level Up was too obvious, and that gave the Dark Faction their opening.”

“But this time is different. Even if you announced your hunt in public, the Dark Faction wouldn’t be dumb enough to take the bait again.”

“This time, Gareth and I are tagging along precisely to mock Valletta’s ambush—to prove beyond a doubt how foolish she was.”

"But if it hadn't been for Tsuna last time," Finn added, "that ambush would've killed anyone caught in it—me, Gareth, or Riveria. None of us would've made it out alive."

Remembering the layout he'd seen through Valletta's memories still sent chills down his spine.

If she had gone through with her suicidal plan to summon a Juggernaut from the Dungeon, even he and Gareth combined might not have survived.

Riveria would've had all her magic sealed, completely helpless.

It was pure luck that Tsuna had been there. The ambush was destroyed before it even activated—Valletta herself becoming the prey in her own trap.

If her plan had actually succeeded, then facing a Juggernaut—a creature immune to magic, absurdly fast, and devastatingly strong—none of them would’ve made it out alive.

Finn was sure of it: not a single one of them would’ve escaped.

“That woman’s insane,” Gareth muttered, unable to hold back his curse.

“Throwing away her own life just to pull a move that big. At first, she thought Tiona and Tione were bait we’d sent out on purpose. That’s why she went through with such a grand plan to take us all down at once.”

“No,” Finn said, shaking his head. “Valletta’s a bit unhinged, but she’s no fool. She wouldn’t risk dying with us. If she set up something like that, she must’ve had an escape route planned.”

He didn’t believe Valletta would walk into a trap without leaving herself a way out.

“But from what we saw in her memories...” Gareth began.

“Tsuna only filtered out the memories unrelated to the Gods,” Finn interrupted. “He didn’t dare let anything sensitive slip. My guess is there’s a hidden passage at the Great Falls—one that connects directly to the Dark Faction’s God.”

Finn bit lightly at his thumb as he thought. It was only speculation, but based on the information they had, it made sense.

“In that case,” Gareth said, “couldn’t they try the same thing again this time?”

“No. Not a chance.”

Finn’s response was firm.

“The last ambush confirmed Tsuna’s importance. Now, even if we spread word about the hunt, they’d never risk it. They’ll always be afraid that Tsuna—the Adventurer who can manipulate space—might be hiding nearby.”

“No matter how powerful their Juggernaut is, the moment we’re warped into an Alternate Dimension, their whole plan collapses. Worse, their hidden passage might get exposed. So no matter what, they won’t try it again.”

Spatial abilities were, after all, a strategic resource.

In the past, no one had such a power, so setting traps and ambushes had worked.

But now that spatial abilities existed, those tactics had become nothing but a joke.

The Dark Faction wouldn’t dare gamble on whether Tsuna was secretly watching from the shadows.

With someone like him who could rewrite the rules, they wouldn’t bet on anything lightly—especially after being burned once.

Finn’s lips curved upward.

“Gareth, today we’re going into the Dungeon unarmed.”

“This time, our goal is to mock Valletta.”

“The bolder we act, the more it’ll make her squirm.”

Gareth chuckled, a mocking grin spreading across his face.

“Then we’d better make sure to laugh good and loud.”

Chapter 204 – Unlucky Valletta

“Ha? Finn and Gareth followed that damn wolf into the Dungeon? And they didn’t even bring their weapons?”

Valletta, who had been conducting self-reflection inside the base, froze the instant she heard the report from her god. Then, a surge of indescribable fury burst from her chest.

“Those two bastards did that on purpose!!!”

Thanatos, who had brought the news, gave a faint shake of his head.

“It’s quite obvious, isn’t it?”

“This time they showed up so openly—it’s probably to mock you for falling for their trap last time. Not carrying weapons? Most likely to see if you’ll take the bait again.”

Thanatos regarded the trembling Valletta with a trace of pity.

At this point, he was certain—last time, Valletta had walked straight into the snare Finn had prepared.

“Valletta, your luck truly is awful. To think you’d catch Finn’s attention of all people.”

“My guess is, after the incident with Astraea, Finn deduced that our base was located somewhere within the Dungeon. So he sent those two kids down there, just to give you a perfect chance to ‘show yourself.’”

“This time, they’re coming down on their own. That can only mean they’ve confirmed our secret passage near the Great Falls. Their goal is obvious.”

“To narrow the scope of their search—and pinpoint the location of the ‘Gate.’”

Valletta, her face dark, bit out the words one by one as she pieced together Finn and Gareth’s intent. When she finished, her expression grew even uglier.

She knew now—Finn truly saw her as nothing more than a fool.

Especially when she remembered how she’d smugly believed she was getting revenge last time… when in truth, she’d been nothing more than a dumb mule being led by Finn’s carrot.

She had barely survived, swept away by the torrent Amphisbaena’s rampage had unleashed, crashing into the lower food vaults to save her life.

Thinking back on it made her want to grab her blade and storm off to fight Finn right now.

“Calm down, Valletta.”

“Don’t actually believe they came unarmed. Remember what your last failure taught you.”

Thanatos’s words cooled some of her rage.

“Controlling Puppets… a new member of the Loki Familia with spatial abilities.”

Her last failure hadn’t only been Finn’s scheming. She had never expected someone with spatial powers to actually exist.

“If they’re coming down empty-handed again, this must be another ‘fishing expedition,’ right?”

Thanatos’s offhand remark made Valletta’s face twitch.

Not because it was impossible—but because it was almost certainly true.

“Do you remember how Finn broke through your last formation? Once someone with spatial ability joins the battle, traditional ambushes become meaningless.”

“That kid might be strong, but even she can’t cross space into someone else’s domain.”

“Just like the ambush against the Astraea Familia. In the end, every one of Astraea’s children survived. Aside from the one who escaped using Lambton, all of ours died.”

Even Thanatos couldn’t help sighing at that.

“Spatial abilities appearing in a mortal child… truly unfair.”

Someone with such a gift was nearly impossible to capture. The lower world had almost no methods of restraining spatial manipulation.

"Barca will have to study how to counter it. Until we find a concrete solution, all ambushes against Loki or Astraea are to be suspended."

“As long as that child remains hidden in the background, nothing good will come of it.”

Thanatos’s gaze returned to Valletta.

“Though I probably don’t need to say this again—don’t let Finn provoke you.”

“…I know.”

Valletta ground her teeth so hard the sound of enamel scraping filled the air, making it seem like she might shatter them any second.

She said nothing more.

After all, she’d already fallen for Finn’s trap once. Words meant nothing now.

But in her heart, Valletta swore an oath:

Don’t let me find the chance for revenge. I’ll make you regret this day, Finn!!!

At the Great Falls, after waiting a while and confirming that no one else had appeared, Finn sighed in mild disappointment.

“Looks like Valletta isn’t as stupid as I thought.”

“Though right about now, she’s probably in her room, muttering curses at me nonstop.”

Just imagining the scene made a grin spread across Finn’s face.

“Hey, Finn, that’s just cruel,” Gareth said, laughing. “I bet she’s in there cursing, saying something like, ‘Just wait, Finn, I’ll get you for this!’ over and over.”

The two exchanged glances—and burst out laughing.

It wasn’t that they were especially spiteful. It was just… picturing Valletta locked in a dark little room, angrily muttering to herself, was too funny to resist.

Especially since they knew the truth.

They knew everything that had happened to Valletta was the result of Tsuna's calculations. She still believed the false memories he'd planted.

With their little “follow-up act,” Valletta and even her god in the Dark Faction probably believed she was perfectly innocent.

Knowing all that only made it harder for them to keep straight faces.

Behind them, Bete glanced back and shook his head.

These two old men are really something else.

Still, he felt no sympathy for Valletta. In fact, he thought Tsuna's way of handling things was brilliant.

She’d picked on someone weaker and got reversed. In that case, she had no right to complain.

If you lose, you take the loss.

Bete perked his ears, listening to the surroundings.

The Great Falls was quieter than usual today. But behind that silence lurked great danger.

He reached to his waist, pulled out a prepared Flame Stone, lit the fuse, and tossed it over the cliff.

The stone plummeted fast—and after a moment, a tremendous explosion shook the depths below.

“Boom!!!”

The blast echoed through the entire Great Falls, awakening something in the darkness.

“ROOOAR!!!”

A bestial roar thundered upward, filled with fury.

Amphisbaena had appeared.

“There you are… my prey.”

Bete grinned, the corner of his mouth curling up, and leapt from the top of the cliff.

The hunt had begun.

Chapter 205 – Real Combat

“Balance–Breaker!”

Tsuna spoke the release words, and the crimson gauntlet on his left hand erupted in red light, spreading across his entire body. Scarlet armor covered him from head to toe, and a pair of radiant crimson wings unfolded behind his back.

“Boost!”

A deep voice echoed from within the armor, and in the next instant, Tsuna’s aura flared violently.

“Are you ready?”

Encased in his red armor, Tsuna looked at the three standing before him.

“Already ready!”

Tiona was bursting with excitement—she could hardly wait to move.

“Don’t hold back. Treatment after this won’t be an issue… I understand that clearly.”

Tione’s eyes held no trace of hesitation, only pure fighting spirit.

She might love Tsuna, but as an Amazon, she could never pull her punches in an official match.

Precisely because it was someone she loved, she had to go all out.

“……”

Riveria said nothing, her gaze locked firmly on Tsuna.

She could feel the overwhelming pressure pouring off of him—his strength was boiling, rising sharply.

I can’t treat him as an ordinary Level 2 anymore. I have to face him as an equal.

Her hand tightened around her magic staff without her realizing it.

“O spirits of the forest—”

But before Riveria could finish the first verse of her chant, a flash of red light appeared before her eyes.

A fist was already flying toward her face.

So fast!

Just before it connected, a massive blade swung in from the side, intercepting the strike.

Tiona’s great kukri.

Clang!

The impact made Tiona’s arms go numb, but she managed to block it.

“Like I’d let you land a hit that easily!”

Behind her, Riveria continued her chant, unbroken.

“...Grant my wish, garb of the forest—!”

In that moment, Tsuna shifted his power. The recoil sent Tiona stumbling forward, unable to react in time.

The red blur darted again, chasing Riveria.

This time, his speed dipped slightly—just enough for Tione to close in.

“Orraaah!”

Both hands gripping her kukri, Tione blocked the incoming punch, buying Riveria precious seconds.

“...My name is Alf!”

“Veil Breath!”

A thin layer of magical cloth enveloped Tione’s body, calming the tremors in her arms caused by that violent impact.

Above, Tiona’s giant kukri came slashing down again.

Tsuna didn’t try to meet it head-on—he stepped back instantly.

“Boost!”

The armor’s deep voice echoed once more.

Power surged, and his speed exploded.

He halted mid-step, then lunged forward with blinding momentum, slipping through the sisters’ guard and appearing right before Riveria.

A punch struck her abdomen point-blank. Crimson magic gathered into a sphere between his fist and her stomach.

No hesitation. No restraint.

The condensed energy shot through her body like a bullet.

Riveria’s figure crumpled, collapsing like a broken doll.

“Riveria!”

Two voices shouted from behind as the air trembled with their killing intent.

Tsuna didn’t need to look back—he could feel their fury burning.

Even if they knew this was a simulated battle, seeing Riveria “killed” before their eyes had snapped something inside them. Amazons were simple creatures—their emotions ran wild.

But they weren’t the real threat.

A flicker of flame passed through Tsuna’s eyes. The fallen Riveria dissolved into mist.

An illusion… When did she cast it?

He shifted his gaze. Firelight danced across his irises as Harmony sharpened his vision—the world burned in vivid color.

A faint blue flame flickered within the illusion, tracing the outline of a moving figure.

Found you.

But… looks like Tiona and Tione are angry now.

Without looking, Tsuna sensed both their weapons closing in fast.

His wings flared open.

Clang!

The light wings caught their combined strike.

BOOM!!!

The great kukri and twin short kukri ignited with scarlet flame.

Crack, crack, crack!

Fractures spread across the glowing wings, breaking apart under Disintegration.

Their emotions are spiking—so that’s what triggered their power?

Tsuna understood instantly.

Riveria’s mana is surging—she’s almost ready.

So this is the pressure of a Level 6 and two Level 5s working together…

But still—

“Boost!”

“Boost!!”

“Boost!!!”

Power multiplied threefold. Red energy flooded outward, forcing both sisters’ weapons back with brute force.

In that instant, Tsuna dashed toward Riveria’s real position.

“Don’t you dare run!”

His wings were suddenly caught, his burst of speed halted.

Tione.

“Heehee~ Tsuna, you’re not going anywhere!”

Then warm arms locked around his torso.

Tiona.

The strength behind her grip was incredible—even Tsuna couldn’t break free.

“!?”

And at that exact moment, a surge of mana erupted ahead—Riveria’s spell reached its climax.

“Riveria, now!”

Neither Tiona nor Tione loosened their grip.

They both knew—if they let go, Tsuna would dodge it.

So they held on, no matter what.

“...Freeze-bound earth, sweeping blizzards, eternal winter—my name is Alf!”

"Wynn Fimbulvetr!"

Three raging snowstorms sealed off every escape. The instant the spell completed, Tsuna and the sisters were engulfed in a world of solid ice.