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"Mika, what's the situation?" Finn arrived at the factory with Riveria and Gareth, their footsteps echoing through the large space.
"The finished Magic Stone products are gone," Mika reported, turning to face them.
"As expected…" Finn muttered, biting his thumb, a frown creasing his brow.
He had suspected as much on their way here. The dark faction's motive remained a mystery.
Seeing Finn's puzzled expression, Mika chuckled. "If even you can't figure it out, Finn, then I won't waste my brain cells on it."
"Are you sure it's alright to just dump this on me?" Finn asked with a wry smile.
"Of course! The capable should shoulder more responsibility. You're a hero, after all." Mika clapped Finn on the shoulder and headed outside.
Although he hadn't been in the factory for long, many familiar faces had already gathered outside.
Allen and other members of the Freya Familia.
Shakti and her sister, Adi, from the Ganesha Familia.
Alise, Gojouno, Ryuu, and others from the Astraea Familia were also present.
Clearly, Orario's various Familias had responded swiftly to the fire in the industrial district.
Their arrival times differed only because of their varying distances from the scene.
The dark faction members responsible for the chaos had already been apprehended.
"Yo, Mika!"
"Long time no see, Shakti, Alise." Mika exchanged greetings with his comrades.
Since they were all on duty, they quickly dispersed to attend to their respective tasks.
After a brief search, Mika found Airmid and Mellie in the area designated for the wounded. Airmid stood amidst the injured, chanting her healing spell.
[Healing drops, tears of light, eternal sanctuary, I call upon the light's symphony. Three hundred sixty-five melodies, the calendar of healing shall mend all creation. Then, descend, banish all evil. Seal the wounds, soothe the pain, cast curses to the other side, deliver the light's pivot. In the name of the divine, I heal you.]
"Dia Fratel!" Orario's most potent healing magic manifested, bathing the wounded in a brilliant, restorative light.
As Airmid's magic worked its wonders, Mika approached Mellie.
"Airmid's magic is always so beautiful."
"Indeed. Both its form and its effects are truly breathtaking," Mellie agreed.
Thanks to Airmid's healing, the injured were quickly recovering.
Her magic's potency had increased significantly since reaching Level 4, far surpassing her earlier abilities.
"Incredible! I'm completely healed!"
"Thank you, Lady Airmid!"
"Truly worthy of the title Warfront Saint!"
Airmid blushed at their praise. "I've only done what I could." She was always humble.
...
Having just returned from their journey to another world, Mika, Airmid, and Mellie had made quite the impression on Orario.
They returned home that evening, their faces beaming with pride at the citizens' praise.
Yahweh, was delighted.
The greater their Familia's renown, the smoother their path to becoming the strongest. She had Ayu prepare a late-night feast to celebrate and replenish their energy.
The next day, they returned to the front lines against the dark faction. Orario was currently short-handed.
Although there were many Level 2 and above adventurers, the city was vast, and protecting it required a significant number of personnel.
The attack on the industrial district seemed to have been a signal; the dark faction's attacks had intensified.
However, they were still relatively restrained, avoiding large-scale assaults and instead opting for hit-and-run tactics, striking different areas of the city.
This put a heavy strain on Shakti and the Ganesha Familia, who were tasked with coordinating the defense.
They were constantly responding to attacks, only to find the enemy had already vanished.
The dark faction's strategists were cunning, having learned the various Familias' patrol routes and targeting weaker teams.
Mika and his companions hadn't encountered any attackers recently, and neither had the Astraea Familia. However, other teams had been repeatedly targeted.
This frustrated Shakti. To prevent the enemy from learning their patterns, she implemented a new system: all patrol routes would be assigned randomly each day, requiring adventurers to visit the Guild before each patrol to receive their assignments. The morning and afternoon routes even differed.
...
Thanks to Shakti's new strategy, Mika, Airmid, and Mellie finally encountered a dark faction raiding party.
They were ambushed in a narrow alley, their path blocked from both sides.
"Die, Guild lapdogs!" Without a word, the Enemy Leader gave the order to attack.
As they charged, Mika quickly assessed their numbers: twelve in total, five of them Level 2 adventurers.
"No wonder the other teams suffered such heavy losses. They were outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and outmatched," he muttered, delivering a swift punch that sent one of the Level 2 attackers crashing to the ground.
"We're outmatched! Retreat!" the enemy leader shouted, seeing one of his strongest fighters taken down so easily. He turned to flee.
But Mika and his companions wouldn't let them escape so easily.
"Where do you think you're going?" Two blurs flashed through the alley, and Airmid and Mellie appeared, blocking the exits.
The dark faction members were now trapped.
"They're so fast! Are they Level 3 adventurers?" the enemy leader exclaimed in shock.
"We are the Yahweh Familia," Mika announced with a smile.
"The Yahweh Familia?!" Despair filled the dark faction members' faces.
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In Orario, the Yahweh Familia's reputation was renowned. Even disregarding their fame, their combined strength placed them among the top five Familias.
The dark faction raiding party was incredibly unlucky to encounter them.
"How is this possible?! This morning, it was just those three Level 2 adventurers patrolling this area!" one of the trapped members exclaimed, his voice laced with desperation as Airmid and Mellie slowly advanced.
They didn't know that, thanks to Shakti's new system, patrol routes changed even between morning and afternoon. While this created more work for everyone, it had proven effective.
And now, on the very first day of its implementation, they had stumbled into a trap of their own making.
Mika stretched, cracking his knuckles. "Since you chose to attack us, you should have been prepared for this outcome." Though his voice was calm, his eyes held a chilling glint.
He had no intention of showing mercy. After all, the dark faction's recent attacks had claimed dozens of lives. If not for Airmid's healing magic, the casualties would have been far greater.
"I'll give you a chance. If you can defeat us, you're free to go." He drew his sword, the blade glinting menacingly in the dim light of the alley.
"But if you fail…this alley will become your grave."
The dark faction members, sensing the killing intent emanating from the trio, cowered in fear. They had no will to fight.
Moments later, the alley was silent, the bodies of the dark faction members lying lifeless on the ground.
"Just as I thought, they're nothing but cowards, preying on the weak," Mika said, wiping his blade and sheathing it as he walked away. "Such a meaningless slaughter. No fun at all."
"Let's continue our patrol," he said to Airmid and Mellie. "I'm hoping for some more…challenging opponents."
"Don't expect too many idiots like them," Mellie chuckled.
…
As Mellie had predicted, the dark faction ceased their attacks after learning of Shakti's new strategy. However, they shifted their focus back to the industrial district.
After several days of quiet, just as Orario's Familias began to believe the dark faction had given up, a large-scale attack occurred.
They once again targeted the Magic Stone shops and factories.
Having had time to regroup, their assault was far stronger than their previous attempts, rivaling their initial attack when the Loki and Freya Familias were away.
But this time, they wouldn't achieve the same level of success.
Their first attack had occurred when Finn was absent. This was now their third attack since his return.
As Orario's most brilliant strategist, Finn wouldn't be caught off guard again.
Having anticipated their intentions, he had secretly reinforced the city's defenses, creating an illusion of vulnerability while maintaining a strong, hidden presence in key locations.
While reconstruction efforts continued openly in the streets, the true defenses remained hidden.
...
"Attack!" The dark faction members swarmed the industrial district, which had just resumed operations after a day of repairs.
But this time, they weren't met with an undefended target, but a steel trap.
"Bang!"
"Argh!" A blur flashed through the alley, and Mika, clad in full armor, crashed into their ranks, sending several attackers flying.
Those he struck were killed instantly.
"I've been waiting for you. I hope you're ready for a good fight," he declared with a grin, swinging his spear and sending more enemies sprawling. In this kind of chaotic battle, he preferred a spear.
"Don't hog all the fun!" Several figures joined the fray.
Though outnumbered, they weren't afraid. They possessed overwhelming strength. They were the elite members of the Astraea Familia, here to purge the darkness in the name of justice.
Airmid and Mellie followed close behind, clearing a path with their spear and staff.
"It's the Astraea and Yahweh Familias!"
"Why are they here? Shouldn't they be in the city?"
"Damn! We've been tricked!" The Astraea and Yahweh Familias, renowned for their recent victories against the dark faction, were easily recognized.
"That's right. We're the ones protecting the industrial district!" Alise declared cheerfully.
Following Finn's plan, the Astraea and Yahweh Familias were tasked with defending the industrial district, while the Loki, Freya, and Ganesha Familias protected the city.
Finn had anticipated a large-scale attack, targeting not only the industrial district but also the magic stone shops throughout Orario.
Unlike the concentrated factories, the shops were scattered throughout the city, requiring a more dispersed defense.
Therefore, Orario's three strongest Familias had been strategically deployed. Mika and Alise, along with their respective Familia members, were stationed in the industrial district.
And as Finn had predicted, the other areas of the city were also under attack. They could see the flames rising in the distance.
This night, Orario was once again plunged into chaos.
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