68. [Cancellation] (Two-in-One Big Chapter, 8K)

Nearly two months passed in the blink of an eye.

Isagi and the girls entered a routine of diving straight into the [Colosseum] each time they went to the Dungeon, using up the boy's two revival opportunities, then returning to the city.

Since they hadn't brought too many supplies and were only on the 5th Floor, they could make round trips in a single day.

This turned their daily life back to how it was before—days of 'going to work' in the Dungeon every day, though occasionally, Goddess Astrea would firmly demand they rest for one or two days for body and mind recovery.

In this way.

Tiona was naturally the first of the three to level up. The girl had originally delayed her upgrade because her stats had broken through their previous limits.

Thus, the Amazon girl, who originally had [Strength] and [Endurance] both at 'A', and [Agility] and [Dexterity] at 'B', finally leveled up with all four stats reaching 'S', and the highest, [Strength], even approaching the 999 upper limit.

It even gave Loki the illusion that 'this girl might break the limit?'

Because Tiona's stats were actually still rising, albeit very slowly—from the previous increases of ten or twenty points after each Dungeon trip, now down to one or two, or two or three points.

But they were still rising every day!

However, at such a slow rate, there was no need to continue accumulating. The efficiency and cost-performance were too poor, and people's time was limited, so after discussing with Loki, Tiona decided to level up first!

At the same time.

Tiona naturally didn't forget to cover Loki's big mouth! She absolutely couldn't let her spill this secret!!

Both the girl and the goddess knew.

Her growth was all because of Isagi, so if more people found out, they might all rush to team up with Isagi!

That was absolutely not allowed!!

Tiona hadn't forgotten that she was watching the boy for Ais.

If, by the time the blonde girl returned from the expedition, Isagi's side already had many more teammates, what then?!

So.

Absolutely forbid that Loki from spilling it!!

To this end, Tiona even took some Valis from her own small savings and gave it to her goddess to buy the Soma Divine Wine she had been craving—the channel was from acquaintances among her fellow Amazons on the Ishtar Familia side.

Tiona hadn't held much hope at first, but she actually got the real thing right away.

With the Divine Wine in hand, and threatened by her own Familia child's little fists, Loki of course cheerfully promised 'I absolutely won't say anything'!

However, the red-haired goddess couldn't help but think.

Tiona breaking her stat limits must be because she participated in unprecedentedly grueling battles with the boy, and that was even when her stats were already at Lv. 3 peak.

If starting from zero?

Loki couldn't help but think that she would definitely break the limits...

...

After Tiona, Lefiya was the second to level up.

The elf girl's other stats were still okay; though she had trained hard for a while, they ultimately settled between 'F' and 'D', around four to five hundred points.

Of course, this was already much better than before. Lefiya's previous stats besides [Magic] were almost all two digits, at the lowest 'I' rank.

Even at upgrade time, they probably wouldn't have exceeded one or two hundred points at most.

That said.

As a magic swordsman, the most important thing is naturally Magic.

[SS1165].

This was the elf girl's final [Magic] value before leveling up.

Goddess Astrea remained very calm, having anticipated such a result long ago, given Isagi's precedent.

So.

Lefiya [Thousand Elf]'s title seemed to gain even more meaning—Isagi, the girls, and Cecil's titles had all been decided at the recent Denatus.

Goddess Astrea naturally didn't attend; the process was relayed by Goddess Demeter.

Lefiya's title was [Thousand Elf].

Loki came up with it, based on the girl's magic 'Elf Ring,' which theoretically allowed her to learn infinite elven magic, naturally called 'a thousand kinds.'

Cecil also received the title [Blue Flower of Solingen the Swordsmith], a tribute to the former Familia leader [Red Upright Flower] Alise Lovell. This was Demeter's idea, discussed with Goddess Astrea before the Denatus, and both felt it was great.

As for Isagi.

After some discussion among the goddesses and chatting with the boy about his thoughts, they settled on [Knight of Abundance].

This was mainly Demeter's idea, since they were nominally in her Familia, so something neutral like that was best.

To this.

Isagi actually didn't care much, because titles change upon leveling up anyway, and he firmly believed that titles are 'earned by oneself'!

When he accomplished something shocking to the entire city in the future, he would naturally be given an awesome nickname!!

This little interlude passed.

Goddess Astrea skillfully rewrote Lefiya's status plate, subtracting several hundred points from [Magic], before preparing to hand it to Goddess Demeter to submit to the Guild.

They would record and archive adventurers' specific stats, magic, and skills, though they wouldn't publicly disclose them.

Lefiya also gained a brand-new skill upon leveling up.

[Elf Encore]

· Amplifies magic effects.

· Doubles enhancement for attack magic.

A simple and pure skill that strengthened her output as a magic swordsman. After this upgrade, Lefiya's 'numerical values' had leaped forward.

But these were relatively easy to understand.

For Astrea, the headache remained Isagi. The goddess increasingly felt that not only his exaggerated stats, incomprehensible magic, and skills...

The boy's current fighting style was becoming harder and harder for her to understand...

...

Isagi was the third to level up.

Under the brilliant starry summer night, near the ancient ruins of Shurim, some distance from Orario.

This place was south of the city, surrounded by vast plains. In ancient times, it had served as a fortress outpost against the monsters surging from the great pit.

Now, it was long ruins.

On the grassland.

The [Gale] elf girl, still in her usual traveler-like simple attire with a deep green cloak, held a wooden sword. Facing the boy in the distance, her glass-like azure eyes beneath her thick, messy golden hair showed only incredulity.

She didn't understand what Isagi was doing.

Though he had said he wanted her to come here tonight for post-upgrade training.

However...

At this moment, Isagi held a greatbow in his left hand and a short staff in his right, looking utterly strange. What exactly was he doing?

The elf girl couldn't help but tilt her head slightly.

Immediately after, she felt a surge of magic power from the greatbow in Isagi's hand.

Pure white thin rays shot instantly toward her—not one, not two or three or four... but in the blink of an eye, a sky-filling, continuous rain of them, without end.

Isagi alone.

Instantly fired a volley like a thousand troops and horses, endlessly!

Ha?!

Ryuu almost instinctively started running.

Countless rays followed closely, like a meteor shower falling from the heavens. Not only that, the elf girl also noticed.

Behind Isagi, phantom images made of glimmering light appeared one after another, all holding greatbows and firing the same rain of arrows at her.

Thus.

The number of rays doubled instantly, weaving together into an inescapable sky-covering net.

[So beautiful].

Ryuu's figure was instantly swallowed by pure white.

Scorching rays turned the surrounding ground pitted and uneven, the small sparks burning among the grass leaves turning into specks of flying ash.

Ryuu walked out, her deep green cloak scorched with several large holes, but that was all.

She wasn't hurt much.

The [Gale] girl navigated the magic arrow rain with ease, and even when hit, the level gap plus her [Magic Resistance] development ability minimized the damage.

But this was still astonishing enough. This was only just after leveling to Lv. 3?

Incredible!

Are adventurers nowadays all like this?!

Meanwhile, Isagi had fallen into mental exhaustion from depletion.

[52 seconds].

This was the maximum duration of continuously using the technique called 'Left Bow' after leveling up, so to maintain combat power afterward, at most 5 to 10 seconds.

Isagi silently thought so in his heart.

Moreover, this move had limited effect against high-speed powerhouses like Ryuu-senpai.

Not only could he not move while releasing it—though no chant was needed, he had to rapidly and rhythmically infuse magic power and fire continuously. In a sense, to move while doing it, he would need to learn Lefiya's previous [Concurrent Chanting].

Right now, he could at most adjust the greatbow's direction, roughly tracking the opponent's movement.

So just now against Ryuu-senpai, most attacks missed completely, having no effect.

In contrast.

Against large, slow-moving targets, it would be very effective.

Moreover.

Isagi felt that the current 'Left Bow' couldn't count as a true [Ultimate Technique]. It was merely cleverly utilizing the greatbow Cecil forged for him, which allowed instant magic arrow shots with combat arts, combined with complex [Glimmer Echo], to achieve a kind of 'magic.'

Most importantly, its ammo wasn't infinite but depended on his mental power.

That was the real problem!

He had no solution for now, so during this period of grinding stats, Isagi experimentally thought of a new [Ultimate Technique].

That was—

...

“My turn. Please advise, senpai.”

While Isagi sat on the ground resting to recover mental power.

Lefiya was impatient to show off what she had gained from recent training with her compatriot Filvis and Goddess Astrea.

Like a little fan performing before her idol.

Lefiya looked at Isagi beside her, thinking she must show Mr. Isagi properly how amazing she was now!

At the same time, this was her first meeting with Ryuu.

Before.

The Familia senior had been somewhat 'avoidant.'

She didn't dare see the Goddess, only sneaking around to ask Isagi how the Goddess was lately, what the Familia situation was, etc.

It was only today that Isagi told Ryuu Lefiya wanted to consult her on magic usage.

As a senior, the girl finally nodded in agreement.

Ryuu was actually a bit embarrassed, though curious what the Familia junior was like.

“Please watch, senpai. This is my magic!”

“Proud warriors, archers of the forest...”

Lefiya began chanting her [Fusillade Firebolt], while in the distance, Anya and Tiona were making a racket on the grassland.

Very intense.

Everyone was here today, so training turned into a 'camping' activity.

Tiona and Anya were truly 'evenly matched opponents.'

Both were now Lv. 4. In stats, the Amazon girl was slightly lower, but her combat skills made up for it, especially since Anya hadn't been an adventurer for many years.

She lacked experience fighting same-level or stronger enemies.

Before, when the dummy cat girl had days off while they were grinding stats in the Colosseum, she would come play with him and the girls as before.

Who would have thought she and Tiona got along so well.

Probably because they were both dummies?

In the distance, the cat girl with the golden spear and the Amazon girl with the greatsword clashed with ping-pong sounds, truly lively.

Meanwhile.

Lefiya had also finished her chant.

Six crimson rays gathered at the tip of the girl's staff, but strangely, they didn't fire as usual; they hovered in mid-air.

Visibly.

Just controlling the magic in place was costing Lefiya considerable effort—

—Holding back from firing after chanting is hard, Isagi watching from the side couldn't help thinking.

Sweat beaded on the girl's forehead, but she remained determined to complete the 'magic' in her mind.

Thus.

She began chanting again.

Lefiya maintained the previous [Fusillade Firebolt] unmoving while chanting a new one.

This time, visibly, the girl's chant speed slowed considerably.

But she ultimately completed it, so new crimson rays appeared around her.

Six 'arrows' became twelve.

However, Lefiya's chant was far from over; she continued casting while maintaining.

A long time later.

Eighteen, twenty-four, thirty...

The crimson rays nearly burned half the night sky red; the surging magic power alone felt overwhelmingly majestic just to watch.

Ryuu was stunned.

Because she realized the magic the Familia junior was releasing now was very similar to her own [Light Wind].

That was also magic that condensed 'magic orbs' around oneself, which could be fired individually or all at once via special 'launch commands.'

However.

Her magic naturally formed floating magic orbs, so once created, no mental power was needed to control them.

Lefiya was clearly different.

She forcibly used her mental power and magic control techniques to alter the original magic form?!

As a magic swordsman.

Ryuu could feel the complexity; it sounded simple but was incredibly difficult in practice.

Most magic swordsmen simply couldn't control magic so exquisitely.

Chanting and releasing magic was enough for most.

No need to think more complex thoughts, but clearly, for Lefiya, it was insufficient. The reason was simple: 'encountering too strong opponents.'

So she racked her brains on how to become stronger.

Not just raising stats.

But also improving technique in using power, finding ways to gain greater attack power and destructiveness.

Right.

Why did Lefiya think of chanting her strongest wide-area magic but not releasing it after completion, keeping it by her side?

Because of the previous discovery that 'quantity change causes quality change.'

Six firebolts exploding together were fearsome, but what if more?

Twelve, eighteen, twenty-four, thirty, thirty-six, forty-two...

Lefiya was now testing her limits, and the answer settled at 'sixty'—her strongest limit from full to depleted.

“[Fusillade Firebolt Mod · Myriad Arrows]!”

This was the name Isagi came up with.

With the elf girl's final shout, the sky-filling fire rain wove together, truly like scorching meteors from heaven, streaking long brilliant tails before all slamming toward where Ryuu-senpai stood.

Now Ryuu couldn't stand still.

Unlike Isagi, who wasn't a proper magic swordsman, Lefiya at Lv. 3 pouring her all into magic surpassed her level.

Not just Lv. 4—even Lv. 5 adventurers would have to evade!

Run!

Only this thought filled Ryuu's mind.

Fortunately, subconsciously focusing on one landing point, the sky-falling fire rain didn't cover a huge area.

But the destructiveness was astonishing!

Amid deafening booms and explosions.

Even Tiona and Anya fighting in the distance looked over.

Isagi even vaguely saw a small mushroom cloud rise.

Pitch-black smoke and raging flames bombed Ryuu-senpai's previous spot into a scorched crater dozens of meters wide and five or six meters deep.

Everything inside buried by wild magic power.

Terrifying!

This is what a mage is?

Lefiya couldn't believe her eyes either; the joy of realizing her idea made the now-depleted girl nearly cry from excitement.

The girl subconsciously looked at Isagi beside her, like a puppy seeking praise.

If elves had tails.

Lefiya's would be wagging wildly now!

Seeing Isagi give her a thumbs up, the girl's heart filled with satisfaction, nearly melting from joy!

Of course.

Amazing as it was, Lefiya's magic still needed 'optimization.'

Because training and real combat differ.

Just now, standing still chanting for ten or twenty minutes without interruption—stopping already-chanted magic while chanting new ones.

To Ryuu, this was already fantastical, impossible for normal people.

If adding movement, defense, evasion, that was utterly impossible, right?!

But what if?

As long as the initial idea was sound, through constant real combat testing, a perfect solution would emerge.

This was surpassing one's limits!

Not just stats, but things once impossible now achievable!!

Talent alone wasn't enough!

It required even harder effort and persistence!!

['My Familia juniors, what kind of guy are they fighting to need this level...']

Ryuu found it unbelievable.

At the same time.

Watching the boy and girl who had run over, chatting and laughing while discussing her brand-new magic over it.

Ryuu's heart was slightly touched again after so long.

She hesitated.

Unsure if she should go over now...

...

But it wasn't over yet!

Isagi, who had rested long enough, stood up again.

Drinking mind-restoring potions, and having chosen the previously appeared development ability [Spirit Healing] upon leveling, allowing slow mental recovery anytime.

Even depleted, he no longer needed sleep like Lefiya before.

He was back in fighting shape!

“Ryuu-senpai.”

“Ah...”

The elf girl, spacing out on the grassland, saw the boy walk over wearing a pitch-black cloak.

Vaguely.

Ryuu felt Isagi's figure blur somewhat, merging with the vast night on the grassland.

Am I seeing things?

The girl thought, even rubbing her eyes.

Then she saw Isagi reach into the darkness under the cloak, pulling out the weapon called 'Glimmer Greatsword.'

“?”

Are my eyes really wrong? How did the weapon appear in the boy's hand from nowhere!

Not a misperception.

The cloak Isagi now wore was a 'mysterious item' Asfi had just made days ago—[Pandora's Shadow], a girly name.

He had wanted to call it a 'storage magic tool' or something, but Asfi had a full face of 'I have no idea what you're saying!'

Sigh.

Using the [Minute Primordial Residue] containing the Dungeon's unique magic power that he had picked up before, plus materials dropped while grinding stats recently—the Colosseum drop rate was low, but several decent ones after a day.

The mysterious item Asfi finally made.

Its effect was simple: making items 'nonexistent' in 'no-light' form, storable in the cloak's darkness.

In short, a storage magic tool.

And what [Pandora's Shadow]? His name was catchy and self-explanatory!

The cloak space wasn't infinite; stuffing in his usual weapons filled it up.

Asfi said it could be expanded later, provided more [Primordial Residue] for 'Dungeon magic power,' and better materials with Dungeon magic...

The woman was very interested in the strange materials he dropped in the Dungeon.

She often came to the Dungeon with him lately, though Isagi strongly suspected she was just slacking off.

Before, grinding stats without needing her, Asfi came purely to eat and sleep outside the Colosseum...

“Please watch, Ryuu-senpai. This is my ultimate technique!”

“?”

Facing the boy approaching with the greatsword, his utterly serious expression made Ryuu a bit tense.

“Ryuu-senpai, don't move.”

“Oh...”

“Don't counterattack either, only defend.”

“Mhm...”

“And no magic, and...”

“Got it!”

Isagi gave detailed instructions until Ryuu nodded repeatedly, promising to follow his 'training rules.'

To this, the girls in the distance were dumbfounded.

Thinking the senior acted like a child before the boy—who was senior and who junior?!!

Even inexplicably.

Lefiya, who had just been happy, narrowed her eyes slightly at the scene, feeling that while she and Cecil didn't know, many things had happened between Mr. Isagi and Ryuu-senpai...

Unaware of the girls' 'complex' thoughts in the distance!

Isagi had no choice.

Before, without agreeing on rules, training started and he was sent flying in seconds.

Nearly died!

Ryuu was truly embarrassed; she really didn't know how to hold back.

Previously with others in the Familia, it was like that, always scolded by Kaguya, but levels were similar then, so okay.

But now different.

Last time Isagi was sent flying, Ryuu was nearly scared into thinking she had to commit seppuku as Kaguya said...

“Okay, that's about it.”

With all 'training parameters' set for senpai, Isagi finally approached within distance, greatsword in hand.

“Hoo...”

Deep breath.

Isagi wasn't joking; what he was about to show was indeed an [Ultimate Technique].

Suddenly stepping forward, swinging the weapon down!

The heavy greatsword in the boy's hands whistled sharply, swift and powerful—this was the most direct numerical change after leveling up.

To this.

Ryuu naturally used her usual wooden sword [Elf Ray] to block.

Strictly, a 'staff sword.'

Made from a branch of Lumina Forest's great holy tree, a second-class armament usable as sword while having 'staff' properties.

Of course, Ryuu now strictly followed Isagi's instructions, using no magic.

But even so, she easily blocked the boy's slash, quite familiar with the 'Glimmer Greatsword' in his hand.

Ryuu knew.

Next would be a phantom slash following, paired with the boy's [Glimmer Echo].

Making each swing repeat four times!

And on the latter two strikes, the greatsword in the boy's hand would come from another direction.

Ultimately, with continuous swings, countless glimmering blades would appear from all sides, slashing toward her.

Isagi previously called it 'Phantom Sword Dance'!

Frankly, Ryuu thought it decent.

Pretty cool.

But the [Ultimate Technique] the boy now showed wasn't this.

'Phantom Sword Dance' posed no threat to Ryuu, even now unable to move, counterattack, only limited blocking and evasion.

Not just due to stat gap.

But the boy's swings were predictable.

Such a heavy greatsword, each swing had strong inertia—faster swing meant more inertia.

So either pause after each slash to readjust direction, or follow inertia for limited-angle continuous slashes.

Ryuu understood well.

As an all-round magic swordsman, she could precisely predict Isagi's next slash, defending flawlessly.

But that was before; now different, because...

Ryuu suddenly froze, because her hand just now hadn't felt blocking the boy's greatsword slash.

Instead.

A pitch-black blade suddenly appeared before her eyes.

“!!!”

In that tiny instant, the elf girl's mind flashed the scene just now.

After swinging the greatsword, the boy neither continued continuous slashes nor readjusted direction, but let hands and weapon smoothly sink into the pitch-black cloak beside his body.

Then.

The greatsword vanished, replaced by Isagi drawing a pitch-black long sword, thrusting straight at her.

That eerie strike, completely losing 'inertia,' sudden and direct.

Ryuu barely tilted her head back instinctively, watching the blade nearly graze her eyes, and several golden strands scatter.

“What is this?!”

“[Cancel].”

Isagi said.

Using the mysterious item [Pandora's Shadow]'s power, the boy recreated a forbidden memory in reality.

And this.

Was his own [Ultimate Technique].