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...
Yes, Mika's instincts were spot on.Â
The dark faction had gained access to overwhelming power: former executives from the renowned Zeus and Hera Familias, whose names once resonated throughout the world.
Zald, the "Glutton"!
Alfia, the "Silence"!
Both were Level 7.
In the current era, with only Ottar holding the title of Level 6, their presence signified absolute power, even if they weren't at their peak strength.
After all, Zald and Alfia, in their prime, were forces to be reckoned with.
Zald, alongside his comrades, had slain the "King of the Land," the Behemoth, though at the cost of grievous injuries.
Alfia played a crucial role in the subjugation of the "Tyrant of the Seas," the Leviathan.
Alfia, in particular, possessed extraordinary power.
Mika knew that even as a newly ascended Level 7, Alfia could hold her own against the Level 9 "Empress."
This was a terrifying prospect.
Among Orario's adventurers, there was a peculiar phenomenon: the stronger one became, the greater their ability to challenge opponents above their level.
It could be said that all first-tier adventurers possessed the potential to fight above their level, and as they grew stronger, so did their ability to overcome higher-level opponents.
At the time, the "Empress," a Level 9 adventurer from the Hera Familia, was the undisputed strongest individual in Orario.
Her ability to fight above her level was unmatched.
The fact that Alfia could contend with such an opponent spoke volumes about her formidable strength.
Therefore, even at the tender age of sixteen, Alfia was hailed as a "monster of talent" by the gods.
It was their participation that emboldened the dark faction to engage in a decisive battle against Orario's Familias.
The dark faction had been at its strongest right after the Zeus and Hera Familias departed from Orario.
At that time, the other Familias were still developing, providing an ideal opportunity for the dark faction to seize power.
However, as time passed, the various Familias grew stronger through their battles against the dark faction, eventually pushing them back into the shadows.
From that point onwards, the dark faction lacked the strength to directly confront Orario's major Familias.
They were forced to operate from the shadows, relying on schemes and cunning tactics to bolster their forces and gain an advantage.
But now, the tide had turned.
"Mika, what do you know?" Mellie asked anxiously.
"I don't know anything," Mika replied, shaking his head helplessly. His knowledge of the future "Great Feud" was limited to mere fragments of information.
He had to uncover the details himself.
And to do that, he needed to grow stronger.
"Don't dwell on the unknown. Ultimately, all problems are solved by people."
"Therefore, instead of worrying about what might happen, we need to focus on developing the strength to overcome any obstacle."
"Let's continue training and become stronger, Mellie."
"I understand," Mellie replied, though her voice was laced with unease.
At that moment, Airmid returned from her errands, bringing news that shocked Orario.
"Ais Wallenstein, the Sword Princess, has reached Level 3."
"Little Ais leveled up!"
Mellie, who had been feeling downcast, instantly jumped up from the sofa upon hearing Airmid's announcement.
Due to her frequent visits to Riveria to learn magic, she had developed close relationships with members of the Loki Familia, especially Ais.
Since Riveria had been Ais' mentor, Mellie was particularly fond of her.
"That's incredibly fast!"
Although Mellie and Airmid had been Level 3 for a considerable time, they knew the truth behind their rapid progress. Only they were aware of the numerous advantages they had gained and the time they had spent training in other worlds.
"As expected of the hero I admire, someone with true heroic qualities."
Mellie had once considered Ais as a potential candidate for her search for a hero. Seeing Ais blossom into her full potential filled Mellie with a sense of pride.
"I'm going to the Loki Familia."
With that, Mellie dashed out the door.
"It seems Mellie is quite close to the Loki Familia," Airmid remarked.
Meanwhile, Mika muttered to himself, lost in thought.
"The Sword Princess has reached Level 3... It seems the Great Feud is truly about to begin."
...
Strolling through the streets, Mika continued his routine patrol within Orario.
"Good morning, Mika!"
"Mika, have you eaten breakfast yet?"
"Please, have some breakfast, Mr. Mika."
As Mika patrolled, the citizens greeted him with warmth and enthusiasm. Some even offered him breakfast.
This outpouring of affection stemmed from the times he had protected them.
The recent attacks by the dark faction had significantly impacted Orario.
For reasons unknown, the dark faction had targeted businesses, causing substantial losses for many merchant guilds.
However, thanks to the timely intervention of Orario's Familias, the damage had been mitigated.
As a result, Mika's reputation had soared within the city.
"Wait!"
Mika quickly pushed back the breakfast offered by a shop owner. "I've already eaten breakfast. I couldn't possibly eat any more."
He was overwhelmed by the citizens' overwhelming gratitude.
It wasn't just the citizens; even the adventurers he had fought alongside now treated him with immense respect.
They saw him as a future hero.
This newfound admiration weighed heavily on him.
"It's exhausting being respected by everyone," Mika sighed as he escaped the crowd and reached the edge of Orario, near the city walls.
"However, if my goal is to become a hero, I suppose this is something I need to get used to."
A smile crept across his face as he walked along the wall.
Suddenly, two figures walking towards him caught his attention.
Initially, he didn't pay them much mind.
But as they drew closer, his "Danger Sense" skill began to blare, warning him of the impending threat.
Only then did he focus on their appearance.
Two adventurers, their faces concealed by hoods, approached him.
Judging by their physiques, it was a man and a woman.
Looking at the man's imposing stature and the woman's silver hair peeking from beneath her hood, Mika's pupils constricted.
He had encountered them!
The absolute power of the dark faction.
---
Mika had only heard stories about the Great Feud.Â
He never sought out detailed accounts of that period.Â
Therefore, he had no idea what Zald, the "Glutton," or Alfia, the "Silence," looked like.
But he knew that in the current Orario, only those two, a man and a woman, could trigger such a strong reaction from his "Danger Sense" skill.
"I'm truly unlucky to run into the enemy's trump cards directly," Mika thought with a wry smile.
He was acutely aware that he wasn't their match.
He was Level 3, while they were Level 7.Â
"Don't alert them. Pretend you don't know anything and leave," he decided.
And he acted accordingly.
However, just as they passed each other, about to go their separate ways, a mature female voice called out from behind him.
"Wait!"
"What's happening?!"
Mika's already tense heart skipped a beat, but he quickly regained his composure.Â
"They called out to me? It's Alfia's voice. Did she realize that I recognized them?"
"Can I ignore them and run?"
"No, they are both incredibly well-rounded warriors. With no weaknesses, they would easily outrun me."
"I can't escape... It seems I have to face them."
After mentally preparing himself, Mika turned around with a feigned expression of confusion.
"Are you talking to me? Is there something I can help you with?"
Even Zald, standing beside Alfia, looked at her with a questioning gaze upon hearing Mika's response.
In his opinion, it wasn't time for them to reveal themselves yet.
Although this area was sparsely populated, it wasn't entirely safe. Interfering with that god's plan for a trivial matter would be unwise.
However, Alfia ignored Zald's questioning look.
She raised her hand and pointed a finger at Mika. "Could you show me what's on your back?"
"My back?"
Instinctively reaching behind him, Mika instantly understood what Alfia was referring to.
He had a shield mounted on his back.
It was his father's shield.
As a memento of his parents, he had modified it and incorporated it into his armor as a backplate.
The design had faded due to damage it had sustained over the years.
But somehow, Alfia recognized it.
Actually, Mika was more familiar with Alfia than Zald.Â
Although he had only met her briefly as a child, he had been a reincarnated individual with memories far exceeding those of a typical infant.
Therefore, he still had vague recollections of Alfia.
He even remembered calling her "Auntie" as a child, much to her annoyance.
Unhooking the shield from his back, Mika handed it to Alfia.
Taking the shield, Alfia ran her hand over its surface, her eyes hidden beneath her hood filled with memories.Â
She would never forget the members of the Hera Familia.
They were the Familia's former glory.
"Your name is Mika, right?"
"You know me?" Mika asked, surprised.
His surprise wasn't feigned. He genuinely hadn't expected her to remember him.Â
He still vividly remembered the look of annoyance on her face when he had called her "Auntie" all those years ago.
He had assumed she had long forgotten about him.
"How could I forget?" she murmured, shaking her head slightly, her voice too soft for anyone else to hear.
"Your parents and I were friends. I've seen this shield before."
Alfia continued, "Have you become an adventurer as well? Why do you carry this shield?"
"So you were friends with my parents."
Mika forced a smile and replied honestly, "I'm currently with the Yahweh Familia, following the newly descended goddess Yahweh."
"As for why I carry this shield..."
Taking the shield back from Alfia, Mika declared with unwavering conviction, "I'm going to slay the Black Dragon with it!"
"!"
Both Alfia and Zald looked up sharply, their eyes fixed on Mika.
"You're talking about slaying the Black Dragon?!"
"Yes!" Mika confirmed resolutely.
"Do you even know how powerful the Black Dragon is?" Alfia questioned, her voice laced with disbelief.
"No, I don't," Mika admitted, meeting their gazes directly.
"But since it was able to defeat both the Zeus and Hera Familias simultaneously, I imagine it must be an existence that defies common sense."
"But that doesn't matter!"
"As a descendant of the Hera Familia, I have a responsibility to return to that battlefield and complete the task my predecessors couldn't."
"Whether it's for my current companions or for my departed loved ones, I will achieve this goal."
Listening to Mika's declaration, Alfia and Zald were stunned by his unwavering resolve.Â
Then, Alfia's laughter erupted from beneath her hood.
"Aiming for the Black Dragon, huh? Interesting..."
"Do you truly believe you possess the strength to accomplish such a feat?" she challenged.
"It's not about strength. It's about conviction!" Mika retorted, his voice unwavering.
"Conviction, you say?"
Pondering Mika's words, Alfia suddenly launched a punch.
Although Alfia was renowned for her magic, her physical abilities rivaled those of top-tier warriors in her level range.
Fueled by her Level 7 strength, her punch was swift and powerful, aimed directly at Mika's chest.
But Mika was prepared.
He had been observing her with his "Transparent World" skill throughout their conversation and anticipated her attack.
Reacting instantly, he raised his shield to deflect her blow, expertly shifting his stance to redirect the force into the ground.
BOOM!
A loud impact resonated through the deserted passage.
Despite the force of the blow, Mika only stumbled back a few steps, his posture remaining steady.
However, the ground beneath his feet cracked under the immense pressure.
"Redirecting the force? Impressive technique."
"Coupled with your keen perception and calm demeanor, you might actually stand a chance against the Black Dragon."
Observing the unharmed Mika, Alfia retracted her fist.
She then turned and walked away, satisfied.
But her parting words lingered in the air.
"That is, if you manage to survive that long!"
...
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