Everyone from the Loki Familia was fascinated by her 'surfing' magic and surprised about how much mobility Sona gained with her magic. Tsubaki, on the other hand, was very curious about her halberd because of how it suddenly appeared in her hand out of nowhere and it had the very familiar insignia of the Hephaestus Familia on it for some reason.
However, none of them could afford to ask anything regarding that because they couldn't spare any effort to nonchalantly chat.
"I'm changing our formation! Ais, move up to the Vanguard! Raul and the others will stay in the middle and support Ais! Riveria, cover our rear!" Finn commanded as they moved.
"G-got it!"
"Understood."
Finn then faced Tsubaki, "Tsubaki, I'll have to borrow your strength."
"Leave it to me."
Finn nodded and shouted to everyone again, "Don't stop running! Continue as before! Repelling the monsters is enough!"
The pillars of fire kept attacking them for a minute or two until it stopped entirely, which made it easier for the group to go through the 52nd floor despite the appearance of the new species.
When the caterpillar monsters appeared, Ais would use her wind magic to push them back and then fall back, before the supporters, including Sona, used magic swords to finish them off.
"The attacks from below have stopped... Is it Gareth and the others?" Tsubaki muttered.
"Probably," Finn answered. But he was still worried that it would be too much for them to take on the 58th floor just by themselves because of the new monsters changing things, "Let's hurry."
They easily reached the 53rd floor, faster than when they last descended. However, the group only became warier of things because beginning from the moment when the attacks from below had stopped, the new species also stopped appearing and they knew something was up.
A few minutes later, what they were worrying about became true. Large amounts of caterpillar and plant monsters appeared in front of them. And they became even more worried, once they saw the disguised person riding on top of one of them, "The person from the 24th floor...!" Ais muttered in shock.
"Is that... a person?" Tsubaki asked as she wasn't really sure about it.
'The monster's movements are strange. They're too orderly. It's as if...' Finn's contemplation was interrupted when the cloaked person suddenly shouted, "Kill them!"
"Retreat! Jump into a passageway!" Finn hurriedly commanded everyone.
A second later, large amounts of acid landed on the spot they stood before. Even using Ais's magic wouldn't be enough to block it.
Raul stumbled as he and the rest dodged to the side, "A-a volley of acid!?"
"Get up! They're coming!" Finn issued another command, 'He's controlling them like soldiers. Is that robed person connected with the tamer?'
"Who's that guy!?" Tsubaki asked.
"Long story short, he's a tamer." Riveria briefly answered.
"Really!? You're saying that he can control those monsters!?" Tsubaki's whole face twitched, 'I've really come into an unbelievable place.'
However, on their next turn, more new species appeared, "An ambush!?"
"Enter the second passageway ahead of you, to your right!" Finn calmly commanded.
"They've appeared again!"
"They're coming from the right as well!"
"Enter the left passageway! Move diagonally to the right immediately after!"
Raul couldn't help but admire his captain as he commanded everyone, 'The Captain is amazing. The 53rd floor is a maze that's bigger than Orario. Even in this situation, the Captain's always choosing the best route... He's done that for all of the floors. He's got an amazing memory and a frighteningly calm personality... He's a real monster.'
However, at least one of them wasn't impressed and Finn noticed it. Sona started moving before Finn could give a command as if she knew his next instructions and would take appropriate actions to lessen the burden of the group using her magic halberd, 'Interesting... So she also memorized the whole map.'
This was understandable because Sona knew an even bigger monster who could memorize anything with just a glance and immediately compose numerous plans that would take advantage of not just the enemies, but also enemy actions. Of course, this didn't mean that Sona already gave up her specialty and was trying to catch up to him even if it seemed impossible. Sona wouldn't settle for second place just because the one in the first place was her boyfriend.
Finn didn't have any more time to think about this and focused back on the monsters coming after them, 'We're being guided...! I didn't think that we'd experience any strategy from monsters. Those movements... Is he looking for something? Is it Ais?'
"Finn! They're closing in on us!" Riveria shouted to Finn.
Plotting their next actions, Finn instructed, "Turn left, Ais!"
The group then reached a long passageway and Finn suddenly turned towards the monsters coming after them, "We'll face them! Turn around!"
Everyone immediately repositioned themselves, "Line up three shields!" Finn then turned to Ais again, "Ais!"
Understanding his intent, Ais cast her magic, "Lil Lafarga." The wind started enveloping her and it was more potent than in the past thanks to the realization that Kisuke gave her. She launched herself directly towards the tamer, creating a hole through monsters.
The tamer was taken aback, but he didn't have time to react to Ais as he realized that Finn used Ais's wind to cover his tracks and appeared beside him, "You sure have caused us some trouble." Wielding his two spears, Finn tried to cut off the tamer's head.
"!!!" The robed person was able to dodge but he had to leave the monster he was riding.
In that brief moment, Finn was able to measure his opponent's strength, 'A level 4? A new level 5?' Continuing his attacks, he said to him, "It seems that there's a difference in power between you guys."
"Violas!" Calling out to the plant monsters, the monsters surrounded the party and attacked them from all sides. But even then, these monsters were just fodders for Finn, Ais, and Tsubaki.
"Are we even needed?" One of the supporters asked.
"They're on a different level..."
While fixing her glasses, Sona suddenly said, "Of course, we're needed. In a situation like this, we just need to think of a way to help them." She then took out her bow and arrow.
"Huh?"
"If there's nothing we can do, then it's also important to keep ourselves alive so that we can support them later. However, in this case, there's something you can do." Sona then aimed at a certain direction and released the arrow.
The arrow flew and the tamer suddenly moved into its trajectory, getting hit in his right shoulder, "What!?"
"You can at least deal with those plant monsters, right?" Asked Sona as she faced them.
The four supporters swallowed a mouthful of saliva after Sona's masterful display of her archery skills, "L-let's go, everyone!" Raul hurriedly jumped into the monsters and the rest followed soon after.
Although the arrow didn't affect the tamer much and he was able to remove the arrow immediately, it was enough to distract him for a split second, creating an opening for both Finn and Tsubaki.
The tamer was able to dodge Finn, but Tsubaki's naginata was able to cut off his arm, "Guaahh!!!!"
"You're finished!" Tsubaki was about to do a follow-up attack when one of the larger plant monsters swooped down and grabbed the injured tamer with its mouth.
The tamer was about to escape as he knew that he wouldn't be able to win, but a cold wind blasted in his direction, "Wynn Fimbulvetr!"
Riveria's magic froze all the remaining monsters, including the monster that the tamer was using to escape. However, when they checked it, the tamer was nowhere in sight, "Only the robe?" Tsubaki muttered after checking, "He evaded the magic the moment our view was blocked by the blizzard?"
"It's hard to believe... What a fast technique. He's quick at running away." Riveria muttered. But thanks to this, she was reminded of a certain shopkeeper, 'Well, I have a feeling that he's even faster at running away.'
After making sure that the tamer wasn't caught in the magic, Riveria asked Finn, "Should we go after him?"
"We need to prioritize regrouping with Gareth and the others. Let's hurry to the 58th floor. Ais, cover the vanguard again." Finn answered and instructed. They resumed their journey to the lower floors without match interference from the new species or the tamers.
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Today's sermon:
Alexander: I've got nothing much to say this time. Well, maybe a bit about Sona. She successfully defended her seat as one of my favorite waifu, second only to Yoruichi. Most importantly, she does not give up. Not even against Kisuke and I quite like this mindset.
28th00: Sona has Megane Power after all. She's a Devil, they're purely there as a statement to the superiority of Megane Power. She's adapting to being… human-tier rather well in how she's becoming an all-rounder instead of a caster. I can't wait for her sacred gear to get its audio upgrade, voiced by Serafall for her So-tan.