“Alfia’s gone…”
From a distant point, evil watched over the witch’s demise.
“…Thank you,” said Erebus, his voice swallowed by the raging fires. “I owe you a great debt.”
“Erebus,” said Astrea. “Your mightiest followers are no more. Your plan is finished.”
The dark god regained his smile.
“Really, Astrea? I think you’re forgetting someone, don’t you?”
As if on cue, a ferocious roar shook the cavern. Astrea’s adventurer escort paled as they turned to look at Delphyne, still going strong.
“Yours and Loki’s children are growing weak. Even if they find the will to go on, there is nothing more that they can do.”
“………”
“And don’t expect any reinforcements from above,” Erebus went on. “Even if Zald is dead, he won’t have gone down without a fight.”
Erebus swept his arms like an opera dancer, indicating first the fallen girls of Astrea Familia, and then the distant forms of Riveria and Gareth, still locked in battle with the monster. In fact, it was a wonder the latter two were still standing.
The only one still burning with hatred and determination was Aiz, but even her wind was beginning to die down. It was only a matter of time before the battle swung in Delphyne’s favor.
“The one in check here is you, my dear Astrea. The mortal world is on the brink of destruction.”
The dark god grinned and gave the goddess a sideways glance, but she wasn’t looking at him. Her eyes were fixed on her children, who carried the light of justice with them.
“You’re wrong, Erebus. I came down here precisely to prevent that.”
Her indigo eyes twinkled like shooting stars, and Astrea immediately turned to leave. Her escort hurried to catch up with her, leaving Erebus to stare after her blankly.
“Oh, Astrea.” He shrugged. “You never do give up, do you? Not until the very end…”
He gave a genuine smile.
“You’re a fine woman, you know that?”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Is everyone still good to go? The fight’s not over yet!”
Alize’s voice sounded downright unsympathetic after all the girls had just been through, like the crack of a whip spurring them all on to face their next battle.
“Lady Riveria has been fighting that monster with only Gareth and Aiz to help,” agreed Lyu. “We must join her!”
Lyu was raring to go once more, emboldened by her victory, and ready to fulfill Alfia’s dying wish.
“I get it, I really do, but…” whined Lyra. “We’re on death’s doorstep here! That beastie’s as powerful as a floor boss! How’re we meant to go up against it like this?!”
Lyra looked down at her hands. They wouldn’t stop shaking. It was obvious Alize and Lyu were only putting on brave faces.
None of the others were faring any better, either. Up front, Asta and Noin, in the center, Neze and Iska, and bringing up the rear, Lyana and Celty. These vibrant young girls were in a pitiful state, and their stamina and Mind had both reached rock bottom. There were eleven of them and not a single one had energy to spare.
“I’m at my limit, too!” Maryu lamented. “Alize, as a healer, I can’t allow us to fight any longer!”
As a result of her role, Maryu was always the one who kept tabs on the party’s health levels, and she never allowed her Mind to run dry. Yet right now, even she couldn’t muster much more than a feeble green glow.
Alfia had been so overwhelmingly powerful in spite of her handicap that Astrea Familia was forced to give everything they had to fight her. Now that it was over, there was nothing left. Alize and Lyu both made grim faces.
“We brought so many items with us, and we’ve used them all up…” muttered Kaguya. “Besides, even if we were at full strength, would we even be able to defeat that thing…?”
At that moment, the whole troop heard a familiar voice.
“Lift your heads, my children. You must not turn to fear and despair.”
“Lady Astrea?!” exclaimed Alize with surprise.
“Why are you here…and how?!” asked Lyu. “I thought deities were forbidden from entering the Dungeon!”
Her long walnut locks bunched on her shoulder as the goddess tipped her head and gave a coquettish smile.
“They are,” she said. “So don’t tell anybody, or else I’ll be in big trouble!”
“T-trouble’s not the word for it…!”
Lyu wasn’t sure where to begin, but before she could speak, Astrea shifted to a more serious expression.
“I brought enough elixirs for each of you,” she said. “Please use them.”
She presented a bag filled with eleven small bottles. The girls took one look and went wide-eyed.
“L-Lady Astrea, I love you!!”
“I love you too, Neze, as I do all of you girls.”
Astrea looked to each of them in turn.
“So please, win this fight, and come back to me alive.”
Astrea had braved the dangers of the Dungeon to see her children and share her blessing. It was enough to inspire all of them to live up to their goddess’s words. However, Lyra couldn’t find it in her to be convinced.
“…Lady Astrea, I’m really happy you came down here to see us. Really, I am. It’s just…we can’t. Kaguya’s right. That monster’s way too strong!”
“………”
“If only we had somethin’ to give us the edge…”
Lyra watched Delphyne raging in the distance as sweat dribbled down her brow. The god-slayer was a complete enigma. It was as mighty as some of the strongest floor bosses ever encountered, and in terms of level it was at least 6 or 7.
Alfia had been handicapped by her illness. It was a miracle that Astrea Familia had been able to beat her, but they had done so by seizing that slim chance of victory. However, Delphyne was completely different. With its constant regenerative capabilities, it was not unreasonable to say it outclassed the witch herself. To go in without a plan was tantamount to suicide. That was what Lyra was saying.
Lyu and the other girls looked to her in reluctant sympathy. None of them could think of a word to say in response, until…
“What are you talking about, Lyra? We do have something!”
“““What?”””
That cheerful, tone-deaf voice could only belong to one person. Lyu, Lyra, and Kaguya all looked to their fiery-haired leader in shock.
“Our goddess is here!” she said with a smile. “Doesn’t that tell you something?”
A deity could offer more than just potions. As Alize’s face lit up, Astrea gave her a soft smile.