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After hearing Alise's explanation, worry filled Mellie's eyes.
During her time as Prime Minister in the other world, she had gained a deep understanding of administration and resource management.
Therefore, she knew what awaited Orario. And it was a far cry from the city she held dear.
"Damn the dark faction!" A dangerous glint flickered in her eyes as she thought of those responsible.
"They deserve to be damned!" Alise and the others agreed vehemently.
The once-vibrant city, filled with happy people, was now suffering. They couldn't bear to witness its decline.
"Come on, Mellie," Airmid said, looking at the somber faces around her.
"Let's take a walk. Let's see with our own eyes what the dark faction has done to Orario."
"We will make them pay." Her voice was filled with quiet fury as she clenched her fists.
Mellie, seeing Airmid's uncharacteristic anger, was momentarily stunned. "Alright, let's go." She understood; Airmid, usually gentle and kind, was truly enraged.
"You two go ahead. We need to continue our patrol," Alise said, sensing Airmid's need for solitude. She led Gojouno, Ryuu, and Lyra away.
Mellie and Airmid continued their walk, their earlier cheerful mood replaced by a heavy silence.
…
"I've never seen Airmid so angry," Lyra remarked after they parted ways, her hand pressed against her chest.
Alise, Gojouno, and Ryuu nodded in agreement; the intensity of Airmid's anger had been startling.
"She was truly terrifying," Alise said, still slightly shaken.
Even Mika, Airmid's childhood friend, had never seen her truly angry. It was as if she was incapable of such emotions.
"But it's understandable," Gojouno said. "She's a healer. She wouldn't be able to bear witnessing such suffering."
"Orario was so lively before they left for the expedition. And now…" Ryuu shook her head sadly.
"This is our fault," Alise said, her voice filled with guilt. "We failed to protect Orario."
As a Familia dedicated to justice, the Astraea Familia couldn't tolerate such evil.
"It's because we're not strong enough," Alise declared after a moment of silence.
"We need to train harder!"
"For now, let's focus on our patrol." She smiled at her companions, her usual cheerful demeanor returning.
Seeing her smile, Gojouno, Ryuu, and Lyra felt their earlier hesitation vanish.
Alise always had a way of dispelling their doubts.
"Let's go!" With renewed determination, they resumed their patrol, upholding justice within the city.
…
"So that's what happened…" Mellie and Airmid returned to their Familia home after nightfall, recounting everything they had witnessed to Mika.
"It seems the dark faction is ready to make their move." After analyzing the information, Mika understood.
They had been quiet since Finn and the others reached Level 6, but now they were finally ready to challenge Orario once more.
"Ayu, you must stay by Yahweh's side at all times. The dark faction might target her."
"Yes, Master," Tsukuyomi replied earnestly.
"Mika, do you think they'll really attack the gods?" Yahweh asked, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"It's their only option. They have no other way to gain an advantage against the Familias," Mika explained.
"Besides Zald and Alfia, they have no one who can stand against us. We now have seven Level 6 adventurers, enough to hold them off."
"And even if they could match our high-level strength, we still have a significant advantage in terms of overall numbers."
"Therefore, their only option is to target the gods."
After all, an adventurer's strength was derived from their god.
If a god perished, their Familia would lose their powers until they joined another Familia.
This was the foundation of the Familia system.
It prevented powerful adventurers from turning against their gods. After all, the gods in the lower world couldn't use their Divine Powers.
By eliminating the gods, the dark faction could significantly weaken Orario's fighting force.
To Mika, it was their only viable strategy.
Hearing his explanation, Airmid and Mellie looked at Yahweh with concern.
"Don't worry. I'll have Ayu with me at all times. You can focus on your duties; I'll be safe," Yahweh reassured them gently.
She knew that in the upcoming conflict, Mika, Airmid, and Mellie would be at the forefront.
She didn't want them to worry about her.
"Perhaps this battle against the dark faction is precisely what the Yahweh Familia needs to become the strongest," she thought to herself.
"Wait, what's that?!" Just then, a bright red glow in the distance caught Mellie's attention.
Mika quickly climbed onto the roof.
"That's the industrial district! Could it be another attack by the dark faction?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with anger as he watched the flames rising into the night sky.
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....
"It is the dark faction!"
Seeing the fire in the industrial district, the three of them rushed towards it.
Upon arriving, they saw the dark faction members rampaging through the streets, setting fires and looting.
The adventurers stationed there were fighting back, and others from various Familias were converging on the scene, drawn by the flames.
Due to their proximity, Mika, Airmid, and Mellie were among the first high-level adventurers to arrive.
"Attack!" There was no need for discussion.
Mika drew his longsword and charged into the fray, followed closely by Airmid and Mellie.
He had already assessed the situation.
Their priority was rescuing their fellow adventurers who were struggling to hold their ground against the dark faction.
"Bang!" He appeared beside a dark faction member, delivering a powerful punch to the man's abdomen, sending him flying.
The force of the blow ruptured his internal organs, killing him instantly.
"It's the Inferno Blaze Emperor! The Yahweh Familia has arrived!"
"Hold on, everyone! Reinforcements are here!"
"Oh!" The adventurers' morale soared as they saw Mika appear on the battlefield.
Mika, hearing his new title, blushed slightly. Inferno Blaze Emperor was the title he had been given after his return from the dungeon.
Although still somewhat embarrassing, it was far better than his previous title.
Airmid and Mellie's titles had also been updated.
Airmid was now known as the Warfront Saint.
Mellie was the Floral Illusionist.
It was said that Loki and Freya had personally chosen their new titles.
If the other gods had been involved, the results would have been far more embarrassing.
Mika quickly shook off his embarrassment. He had grown accustomed to such titles; it was merely the years spent in the other world that had made him forget.
"Ignite! With this Ring of Flames, I Command Thee!" Seeing the large number of dark faction members nearby, he cast his magic, his speed increasing dramatically under the flames' enhancement.
His crimson figure blurred through the night as he cut a swathe through the enemy ranks.
The dark faction's morale plummeted.
"Orario's reinforcements have arrived! Retreat!!" a voice shouted from the shadows. Upon hearing the command, the dark faction members immediately began to withdraw, showing no hesitation.
"Their organization is impressive. Or perhaps they've practiced their retreats?" Mika briefly considered the possibility before dismissing it.
This wasn't the time for contemplation, but for action.
Using his exceptional hearing, he pinpointed the location of the voice that had issued the command. A spear materialized in his hand.
With a powerful throw, a crimson streak of light flashed through the night, followed by a scream.
Mika arrived at the source of the sound and saw a dark faction member pinned to a wall by his spear.
"Well-equipped. Must be a leader," he thought, observing the enemy's attire.
After all, if he were an executive, he wouldn't have been so easily defeated.
Satisfied, Mika ignored the fleeing grunts, focusing on a more pressing matter: the raging fire consuming the industrial district.
He extended his hand towards the flames, and to the astonishment of the surrounding adventurers, the fire began to flow towards him, converging on his palm as if drawn into a vortex.
He absorbed the flames. As someone who could manipulate fire, it was a simple feat, though he couldn't use this absorbed fire to replenish his own strength.
After a moment of stunned silence, the adventurers erupted in cheers.
"The fire's out! As expected of the Inferno Blaze Emperor!"
"Excellent! The industrial district wasn't completely destroyed."
"He's Incredible!! No wonder Finn and the others always praised his strength. It wasn't just modesty!"
Mika, enjoying their praise, couldn't help but smile. However, he had more pressing matters to attend to. He entered one of the burning factories.
After a quick inspection, his expression turned grim. Many of the finished magic stone products were gone, stolen by the dark faction.
"So that's why they retreated so quickly. Their objective was to steal the finished products while we were distracted."
"But what do they want with them?"
This was the third time Orario's magic stone shops and factories had been targeted. Logically, they should halt production, but that wasn't an option.
Stopping production would lead to widespread unemployment.
Therefore, despite the risk, Orario had to restore the industrial district as quickly as possible to ensure the workers' livelihoods.
Few people in this world had savings; any disruption to their income could be devastating.
"This is troublesome. All we can do is increase security for now."
"But we can't defend forever. They'll find another way."
Mika frowned, his worry growing.
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