"You are a hero of Amphoreus, Sephalia."
Aglaea stepped forward with her slender golden sword and slowly came to Cipher's side.
"He... is someone we should face together."
"Ha, you're right..." Cipher adjusted her stance and watched the black-robed swordsman warily alongside Aglaea.
"Seamstress, I'll make an exception and fight beside you this once."
"But you know the deal. My reward afterward~"
Aglaea raised her slender sword and kept her eyes on the Fire-stealer as she told Cipher:
"There's a canary in my collection, carved from gold and jade."
"Great. Deal!"
"..." The black-robed swordsman stared at them. With a shake of his arms, he shattered the golden bindings and surged toward them with murderous force.
Wherever his black sword passed, the gray-white floor was rapidly stained black.
Clang—!!
Aglaea and Cipher blocked the blow together with their weapons. At the same time, a streak of light hurtled toward them from nearby.
The heavy Spear of Heavenly Punishment shot forward like a meteor, straight at the black-robed swordsman's chest.
The Fire-stealer's gaze sharpened, and he dodged aside.
The Spear of Heavenly Punishment whistled past and smashed the wall to pieces, sending shards of stone flying.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Mydei walked toward them from nearby.
"Getting from reality to Styxia took some time. I'm not too late, am I?"
"Your aim isn't much to brag about." Beside Mydei, Phainon carried his greatsword and patted him on the shoulder.
"Look at that. You missed completely. What a waste of the Spear of Strife."
"Phainon, Mydeimos..." Aglaea looked at them and smiled faintly.
"Your timing is excellent. I'm afraid Sephalia and I alone would have had a hard time against him."
"The honor is mine, Aglaea." Mydei flexed his hands.
"I don't know what this man has to do with the