[Avenger]

Defeat Revis!

These words made Ais tighten her grip on the sword.

She was able to understand what Leo meant.

"Previously, you could significantly increase your strength through Level Ascension, thereby surpassing Revis and unilaterally suppressing her."

"But right now, you've only just reached Lv.6. No matter how hard you try or how much risk you take, it's impossible to trigger another Level Ascension in the short term, to overcome the huge power gap a second time, and to surpass that monster."

"Under these circumstances, if you want to defeat that strange person, defeat Revis, there is only one way to do it."

Leo pointed it out with remarkable calmness and directness.

"That is to lift the seal on [Avenger], and release this immense power hidden within you."

This is the only thing Ais can rely on now to overcome the huge gap in strength and surpass the monster Revis again.

But—this skill is really dangerous.

[Avenger] is a relatively rare skill that can be actively triggered, activated at will, and freely turned on or off according to the user's own wishes.

Generally, skill effects are usually triggered passively, like Leo's three skills—[Star Soul Eternal],

The same applies to [Crossed Star Swords] and even [People of the Alien Star].

Only a very few skills, like magic, can be actively triggered according to the holder's own will.

[Avenger] is a skill that can be actively triggered.

Its effect is also very straightforward; it can be activated at will. Once activated, it will greatly enhance the user's attack power against all monster-type enemies, and will further enhance the user's attack power against Dragon Species monsters. Moreover, the enhancement effect varies depending on the degree of hatred; the stronger the user's hatred, the greater the effect of this skill.

Although this is just a skill used to increase attack power and seems unremarkable, its effect is so powerful that it can make everyone who witnesses it tremble.

Nine years ago, Ais had just received the Falna and become an adventurer. She activated this skill after entering the Dungeon, and with only Lv.1 and all her abilities at I0, she blasted the monster into pieces with a single sword strike, even shattering her weapon along with it, leaving Riveria Ljos Alf, who was with her, completely astonished.

Loki even described it as "the strongest offensive skill in the history of the Lower World," which shows just how powerful this skill is.

It can be said that this is the strongest skill among all the skills used to deal with monsters in the current Lower World. Even if the target is not a monster, as long as Ais identifies it as a monster, it can still be activated.

This is the true value of "arbitrary activation"—the power of idealism taken to its extreme.

It originates from Ais's hatred for monsters, and is inherently idealistic. Especially when the target is Dragon Species monster, and it is of the same race as a certain One-Eyed Black Dragon, this hatred will instantly rise to the highest level, allowing Ais to unleash the strongest attack power in the history of the Lower World realm, killing anyone who gets in her way.

Because the skill's effect is so powerful, most weapons cannot even withstand its output and are very easy to damage. This damage is even more severe than that caused by [Ariel]. A large part of the reason why Ais decided to get a weapon with the indestructible attribute was to prepare for this skill.

If Ais could activate this skill when facing Revis, Ais would definitely not be unilaterally suppressed by the opponent like last time.

However, since this skill originated from Ais's desire for revenge, when she activates this skill, Ais's mind will be slowly eroded by the fire of hatred, and she will gradually lose her rationality.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, this skill is prohibited from use and strictly sealed away.

Ais herself was well aware of the danger of this skill, and therefore always exercised great restraint in avoiding its use. Even when facing Udaeus, a powerful floor master with potential abilities exceeding Lv.6, or the extraordinary being, the Corrupted Fairy, she did not choose to use it.

But now, Leo is telling her that in order to defeat the monster Revis, she must use this dangerous power.

"That person is a freak, a combination of human and monster. You can't treat her as a human; you should see her as a monster."

Leo put it bluntly.

"Only by viewing her as a monster, as someone who must be killed, or even as someone you hate, can you use this power to defeat her."

Although Ais had fought Revis several times before, Leo knew that she never saw Revis as a monster, but rather as a "human" like herself.

That won't work.

Ais must view Revis as a monster in order to activate the power of [Avenger].

This is why Leo wants to have a serious fight with Ais at this time.

"While there's still time, I can help you master this power."

Leo gazed into Ais's trembling eyes and said something.

"You, right here, try using this power on me."

Upon hearing this, Ais reacted with no surprise whatsoever.

"No—how could I—?!"

The mask on Ais's face, called "Doll," was torn for the first time.

The intensity of his emotions far surpassed anything he had ever felt before.

Unfortunately, what are the prerequisites for using [Avenger] on Leo?

They're treating Leo like a monster!

But how could she possibly see Leo as a monster?

Although she wasn't fully aware of it yet, in the blonde girl's heart, the man she had personally rescued from the Dungeon already held a very important place.

She had been watching him all along, watching him strive to learn from her in order to become stronger, watching him undergo a year of logistical training in order to gain power, and watching him soar to new heights and grow stronger at an incredible speed after receiving the Blessing of the Gods he had longed for.

Recalling the Goliath, the master of the 17th Floor, his body tattered and ragged, yet unwilling to retreat even a single step----

Recalling the image of the other party raising their sword against Udaeus, the master of the 37th Floor, in pursuit of a higher realm----

Thinking back on the countless times they fought side by side, practiced together, interacted, and talked—it seems that from some point onward, these scenes and events began to touch my heart, making it harder and harder for me to look away from him.

The girl's pure heart wouldn't allow her to understand what kind of emotion this was, but there was one thing she was certain of.

That is, the other person is very important to me.

More important Tiona and Tione.

More important than Lefiya Viridis and Finn, among others.

Even more so, he might be more important than Riveria Ljos Alf, whom he regards as his mother.

And what about the monsters?

That was the object of her long-standing hatred, the thing she loathed most.

Her father died at the hands of monsters, and her mother also died at the hands of monsters, which made her hate monsters to the extreme, which is why she became Ais Wallenstein, who wanted to become stronger and take revenge at all costs.

Leo's words were essentially telling Ais that she had to treat him as the person she hated most.

How is that even possible?

To view one's dearest love as a source of hatred?

That's putting her in a really tough spot!

How could she possibly see Leo as the person she hated most?

Ais found this absurd and even more alarming.

"But you have to do it."

Leo hadn't expected Ais to react so strongly, but he had to push her a little.

Because if she didn't do that, she would definitely lose to Revis, be captured by that strange man, and offered up to the Corrupted Fairy, becoming a sacrifice to be devoured by the Corrupted Fairy.

Leo, of course, would not allow such a thing to happen.

The antagonism between Ais and Revis was so obvious that even if he wanted to intervene, Ais probably wouldn't agree.

The girl must want to defeat him herself, rather than using him as a pawn to achieve her goal.

In that case, he had to plan everything carefully for Ais's victory.

"If you cannot use the power of [Avenger] at will, you will not be able to defeat Revis."

"If we can't defeat Revis, then that weirdo will hinder us and prevent us from completing our conquest of the [Six Fairy Rings]."

"The final battle is imminent, and we only have one chance. You also only have this one chance to defeat her."

As he spoke, Leo walked out step by step, slowly heading towards Ais.

"Even if we ultimately stop the [Six Fairy Rings], if Revis survives and is not defeated, she will return stronger next time. At that time, you may not be able to defeat her even if you use [Avenger]."

Leo's every word struck at Ais's weakest point.

Yes, if we can't beat Revis next time, we might never have another chance to win.

The other party is an oddball who can gain power by consuming Magic Stone, just like a monster, and constantly become stronger.

With this characteristic, once the opponent escapes, they will inevitably reappear in a stronger form time and time again until she is unable to defeat them even after risking everything.

"Use it, Ais."

Leo's voice continued to reach the girl's ears.

Even disregarding the existence of that strange person, your [Avenger] is a dangerous and forbidden power. If you possess this power, even one wrong step could lead to utter destruction, not only ruining yourself but also potentially destroying those around you.

"You must learn to master it, control it, and make it a weapon for your use, not a self-destructive device."

Believe me, hatred is not an ugly emotion.

Leo's words touched Ais's heart once again.

"Hatred—is it not an ugly emotion?"

Ais murmured to herself.

This overturned her long-held beliefs.

In the past, everyone told her that hatred was wrong, dangerous, and something that would make her lose control.

One cannot live in hatred forever, nor can one be controlled by hatred forever. You should live your own life and restrain your hatred, so that your deceased parents can feel comforted.

Therefore, in Ais's mind, this feeling in her heart has always been ugly, dark, and something that cannot be exposed to the sunlight.

But at this very moment, Leo tells her that hatred is not an ugly emotion.

"That's right."

Leo spoke with such certainty.

"Because love can give rise to hate, and love and hate have always been two sides of the same coin, capable of transforming into one another."

"A person without love will not have hatred in their heart, and vice versa."

"The hatred and resentment in your heart are proof of your love for those who are important to you!"

Ais's heart trembled violently.

Before her eyes appeared two figures, one in silver and one in gold.

A father with a head of silver hair.

A mother with blonde hair.

The two stood hand in hand, their backs to her, then turned around and smiled at her.

Sadly, she has lost them forever.

In that distant past, amidst a desolate winter landscape, she lost everything. She cried out loudly, but she could never turn back time or bring back the people she loved.

"Bang!"

In Ais's heart, an uncontrollable, dark flame slowly began to burn.

My back aches faintly, as if the divine writing etched on it is trembling, wailing, and crying out.

A glint of dark light also emerged in the girl's clear, transparent golden eyes.

A terrifying aura emanated from him, causing Leo, who was slowly approaching Ais, to stop in his tracks.

At that moment, Leo felt a power that made him tremble.

That power slowly emerged from the girl's slender, delicate body, like an invisible flame that burned ever brighter.

Leo stopped, a slight smile playing on his lips, and then continued on his way.

"Release the hatred in your heart."

"By suppressing it, you are also suppressing your love for your parents."

"Release them all, unleash them upon me."

Leo is now able to withstand it.

"Remember this: love and hate are two sides of the same coin."

"Don't let hatred consume you; let love reign over it."

"If you can do that, you will be the strongest."

Each of these words caused the dark light in Ais's eyes to grow stronger, and her aura to become increasingly terrifying.

But she remained restrained, still hesitant.

Leo knew what she was hesitating about.

So he spoke up without hesitation.

"I swear to you, I will never look down on you, and I will never find you ugly because of the hatred in my heart."

"I will take care of everything about you, and even if you lose control, I will definitely pull you back from the abyss."

"Just like—you once pulled me from underground to the surface."

This solemn vow finally shattered Ais's long-held reservations, as well as her feelings of inferiority and apprehension.

"!!!"

With a muffled, explosive sound, Ais finally unleashed the dark flames that had been suppressed within her.

[Avenger] - Activated.

Guest Beast,!"

Ais let out a furious howl she had never heard before.

The dark will ignited the flames and awakened all the power within her, enveloping her entire body in a hurricane.

A black hurricane erupted, causing the entire Dungeon to tremble in fear.

Bathed in this pitch-black hurricane, Leo suddenly smiled.

Her body shimmered with dazzling Starlight.