In a brief clash, the battle seemed evenly matched, but Aston felt a terrifying force coming from Ais's Desperate Sword.
He could only temporarily withstand it but couldn't continuously resist this force.
Aston immediately prepared to use a technique to disperse the force and unload the excessive strength exerted on his sword.
However, during the preparation to unload the force, Aston realized that he couldn't disperse this power at all.
It seemed like Ais was well-prepared, anticipating that Aston might try to disperse it. She tightly grasped Aston's knight sword, not giving him any chance.
The terrifying force spread along the knight sword to Aston's body, and a hint of pain flashed across his face.
In the next moment, Aston was blasted away like a projectile, directly crashing into the walls of the dungeon due to Ais's power.
Boom!
The deafening explosion echoed through the entire cave, and dust scattered everywhere.
Witnessing this scene, the three onlookers, including Ryuu, changed their expressions, swiftly flying towards the direction where Aston was thrown.
"Ais, you're going too far!" While running, Tione criticized Ais aloud, and Tiona had fewer reservations, directly accusing Ais with a loud voice.
However, Ais paid no attention to Tiona's accusations, keeping her gaze fixed on the wall where Aston crashed.
This scene surprised the few observers.
Soon, the three of them reacted.
Although Ais appeared clumsy and silent, she was not someone who would act recklessly, especially when it came to respecting life. Moreover, after the adventures they had shared in the lower floors, they considered Aston a friend.
How could Ais possibly harm a friend intentionally?
Indeed, as they just realized, a loud noise came from the dust, and rocks of various sizes shot out towards Ais. She easily avoided them and then, with a flash, wrapped in emerald-green wind magic, swiftly flew into the dust, directly disappearing into it.
In the next moment, a powerful shockwave erupted from the dust, instantly dispersing all the debris and revealing the situation inside.
Ais, wrapped in a gentle breeze, was deadlocked with Aston, whose entire body was flickering with lightning. Their long swords were clashing, locked in a mutual standoff.
Seeing this scene, the expressions of Ryuu and the others changed drastically.
Not only because Aston showed no signs of injury, but also because they realized Ais was using almost her full strength.
However, Aston, who was sparring with Ais, completely withstood her assault and showed no signs of being at a disadvantage.
"Aston has acquired first-class strength," Tiona mumbled with a stunned expression.
"Yeah, it seems so," Tione replied, now coming to her senses, but the shock on her face hadn't completely faded.
"Aston-san is truly formidable. He gained such strength shortly after becoming an adventurer!" Ryuu, looking at the scene, felt immense joy in her heart.
The more powerful Aston became, the more confident she felt about rebuilding the Astraea Familia.
Soon, very soon.
Alise! Kaguya! Lyra! Neze! Noin! Asta! Ryana! Celty! Iska! Maryu! we will meet again very soon.
Aston was unaware of the situation with Ryuu and the others. At this moment, he wore a faint smile on his face.
"Ais, have you used your full strength now?" Aston smiled and asked the girl in front of him.
"About ninety percent!" Ais didn't conceal anything, truthfully admitting.
Upon receiving this answer, a trace of satisfaction appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"It can be confirmed then. When I unleash my full strength, I am already at the normal level of lv.5 adventurers."
"However, there are still some differences between me and adventurers like Ais, who have been at lv.5 for three years and have traveled a long way in this level."
Just now, I didn't use Divine Speed to assist in the battle, and Leapfrog wasn't immediately activated. So, in terms of the collision of strength, I couldn't compare with Ais.
Now, Aston had activated Divine Speed, and the ability to surpass beyond levels was also in play. Faced with Ais's ninety percent strength, Aston could now achieve a balanced match.
At least in terms of strength, it was now a match.
Do not underestimate the ability to surpass levels.
Even if it's just level 1, it still plays a very powerful role, significantly amplifying Aston's strength.
Without the ability to surpass levels, Aston's current strength would be equivalent to a level 4 with all abilities at S-rank.
The result of a fight with Ais would be similar to Ais being slaughtered like she did when fighting with the strange person Revis on the 18th floor.
But with the ability to surpass levels, Aston's strength suddenly soared.
This ability to surpass levels directly elevated Aston's strength by one level, reaching a kind of intensity akin to the sublimation obtained after an adventurer's level-up.
"Choosing this development ability earlier was indeed the right decision."
While Aston was feeling elated for choosing the right development ability, Ais on the opposite side didn't stop her attacks. Her long sword, no longer in a stalemate with Aston's knight sword, was raised high, launching a storm-like assault on Aston.
Aston's eyes flashed with brilliance, swiftly initiating a counterattack.
In an instant, the place where the two were located was engulfed by a raging wind, thunder crackling.
Amidst the clang of gold and iron, the raging wind blades swept the earth, and violent thunderstorms wreaked havoc. The place where the two were became a domain of wind and thunder.
This scene left Ryuu and the others astonished.
"So powerful!"
"Aston's strength is no weaker than ours now!" Tiona, looking at this scene, stared with her mouth wide open. It took a while before she closed it, still dumbfounded.
The other two didn't speak but nodded in agreement, deeply acknowledging the situation.
***
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