Suddenly, two spinning curved blades flew toward Ottar.
"Clang!"
He stopped and swung his greatsword, knocking the incoming short curved blades back.
Finn's crazed expression faltered as he saw the pair of weapons fly toward him, interrupting his chant.
"[Awaken]"
A cool voice rang out, and a petite figure darted forward with the wind, appearing before Finn and attacking the towering Ottar.
Finn stopped chanting and stared in surprise at the two similar figures behind Ottar, then looked at the girl attacking him from the front.
Loki, who was leading the others behind the door, turned to see the three girls return and exclaimed in delight.
"Ais, and Tiona and Tione!"
"Stay away from our captain!"
Tione snarled as she rushed toward the Loki Familia. Then she leaped forward and caught the two short curved blades that had been knocked back. They were her personal weapons, Soruas.
She darted from side to side, launching a fierce assault on Ottar.
Tiona joined the battle right behind her.
Surrounded by the three of them, Ottar calmly parried the attacks coming from all sides, then drove them back with several sweeping blows.
The girls landed in front of Finn and faced off against Ottar.
Seeing the Loki Familia's numbers swell before him, Ottar stopped and wore a faintly vexed expression on his composed face.
Finn's crazed expression gradually settled. He looked at his companions, furrowing his brow as he asked Tiona, who stood before him,
"Why did you come back? Where are Riveria and Lefiya?"
"Those two stayed behind."
Tiona kept her eyes on Ottar as she answered Finn.
"Riveria's directing the others over there while they subdue the Four Flame Gold Warriors. She sent us back first. She and Lefiya will be along soon."
"The others?"
Finn asked, puzzled by Tiona's words.
"That's—"
"We got there first and fought the Four Flame Gold Warriors. Not long after, elves from other familias heard that Riveria had been injured and rushed to the scene."
Tione cut in ahead of her sister and explained to Finn.
Tiona glanced at her sister, who was starting to lose her mind again, then turned her gaze back to Ottar. Thinking of what had happened earlier, she remarked in amazement,
"I knew Riveria was highly regarded among the elves, but that was the first time I'd seen so many of them rally to her defense."
Earlier, the three of them had followed Lefiya and reached Riveria.
The four brothers wouldn't listen to reason, and the two sides soon came to blows.
All of them were Level 5 adventurers. The four brothers also worked together seamlessly, and they outnumbered Ais and the others.
They were quickly forced onto the back foot.
Lefiya raised her staff and watched her companions and the four brothers rapidly trade positions. She tried several times, but couldn't find a good opportunity to cast a spell at them.
Beside her, Riveria had received prompt treatment and sat weakly on the ground. Watching the battle, she looked worried as well.
"Lady Riveria, we're here!"
"Hurry! We have to make it in time!"
"Damn Freya Familia! Lady Riveria, please hold on!"
The rumble of footsteps gradually approached from the street corner, accompanied by a sea of voices.
The fighters felt the ground trembling more and more beneath them. They stopped and looked toward the source of the noise.
The two nearby also turned to gaze down the street.
Dust rose at the corner, and the figures of numerous elves appeared before them. Everyone stared in surprise at the crowd rushing toward them.
"I see Lady Riveria! She's over there! Hurry!"
Hearing the clear voice in the crowd address Riveria so respectfully, the four brothers had a bad feeling.
They hurriedly backed away from Ais and the others as the elves rushed over and surrounded Riveria. Even Lefiya was pushed outside the crowd.
Riveria looked at her kin surrounding her and began hesitantly,
"You..."
Her words were cut short. A girl in the crowd took Riveria's hand and looked at her bloodstained state with tearful eyes.
"I'm sorry, Lady Riveria! We're too late!"
Riveria stared at the tearful girl in surprise. "You're the one who asked for help earlier."
"Yes, I'm so sorry! You were hurt so badly because of us. I wanted to help, but I was too weak and worried I'd only get in your way.
"So I went to find more of our kin to help you.
"Then, on the way, I heard you'd been badly injured. I feel utterly ashamed!"
The elf wiped her tears and continued with a determined expression,
"Don't worry. Leave the rest to us! We'll make those Four Flame Gold Warriors pay!"
"Yes, leave this to us."
"Those four bastards will pay for what they did!"
The people around them chimed in, voicing their anger and opinions.
"Um... you don't have to get involved in a dispute because of me."
Riveria tried her best to dissuade them.
The elves present looked deeply moved as Riveria continued to protect them.
Then their expressions turned furious, and they all turned toward the four brothers.
"There are so many elves. That's a little frightening."
"A lot of them are famous adventurers, too."
"Come to think of it, most elves can use magic."
"What a hassle. Let's just kill them all."
"""Shut up!"""
As the elves gathered before them glared angrily, a sense of danger crept over the four brothers, who took turns sharing their thoughts.
Hearing their eldest brother's taunt, the other three hurriedly rebuked him.
Some of the elves surrounding Riveria charged at the four brothers, while those who remained began chanting spells.
The four brothers watched the magic glow in all sorts of colors before them and the figures rushing their way. They all spoke at once.
""Just our luck!""
The four of them charged at the elves, weapons flashing coldly in their hands as they moved with incredible speed.
The elves unleashed their chanted spells.
Magic and blades crossed, cutting through the air with a shrill hiss. The four brothers moved nimbly, either swinging their swords to block attacks or dodging aside.
The elves chanted in unison, magic glowing in their hands. In an instant, the four figures were engulfed in magical light once more, and the faint sound of massive explosions could be heard.
A little while later, Lefiya helped Riveria over to the subdued four brothers, who lay unconscious on the ground.
Frowning, Riveria spoke to Ais and the others beside her.
"You're faster, so head back to the Familia first. I have a bad feeling about what's happening with Finn."
"What about you...?"
Ais looked worriedly at Riveria as the others helped her to her feet.
"Don't worry. The danger here has passed, and these children are with me.
"Lefiya and I will return as soon as we can."
Seeing Ais's worried expression, Riveria smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. We'll protect Lady Riveria."
"That's right. We won't let Lady Riveria get hurt again."
Hearing her kin defend her, Riveria gave a wry smile and nodded to Ais.
Seeing that, Ais put aside her worries and turned to head back to the Familia with the Amazon Sisters.
In front of the Loki Familia's entrance.
Ottar silently watched the people before him. Gripping his greatsword with both hands, he slowly lowered his stance into a charging position.
Seeing him move, the others braced themselves against Ottar.
The sounds of battle in the distance made the atmosphere at the entrance grow more and more tense.
The two sides clashed again, the sounds of blades striking one another ringing out without pause.
Suddenly, a loud shout came from afar.
"We've found the goddess Freya!"
""Huh?""
The two battles in the street abruptly fell silent. Everyone looked at the Ganesha Familia member running toward them, shouting at the top of his lungs.
After an entire night, the farce that had engulfed all of Orario finally came to an end as the sun rose.
Before you continue