Ais found it unacceptable that, even disregarding the differences in skills and experience, [Gale]'s swordsmanship had already reached the same realm as hers. Moreover, even though they had both just leveled up to Lv.5, the opponent had clearly accumulated more potential ability values.
'I still need more practice... And I need a stronger sword...', Little Ais lowered her head and glanced at [Desperate], which had accompanied her for a long time.
Regarding this sword that she had used for years, she undoubtedly had deep feelings. However, by comparing it to [Alf's Lumina], Ais also realized the absolute flaw of [Desperate]. Its insufficient attack power.
'Using [Desperate], do I really have a chance to kill the Black Dragon?', Ais found herself unable to imagine such a future.
'Should I go to the Goibniu Familia to commission a new weapon? But, weapons with the 'Unbreakable' attribute usually lack peak attack power. And... I have no money...', Troubled by her weapon issue, little Ais returned to her Familia and witnessed a shocking scene.
The training ground of the Loki Familia was packed with people. Nearly all of the Familia's adventurers were present, surrounding a towering skeleton of frost and ice.
Alicia stood among them, holding an ice-blue longsword.
One hour earlier, after leaving Riveria's room, Alicia was immediately dragged forcibly to the training ground by an excited Tiona.
Under the excuse of helping with weapon testing, it was obvious from the girl's blazing, fiery eyes that the Amazon's battle-hungry instincts had already been ignited.
Among the four newly promoted first-rank adventurers of the Loki Familia at Lv.5, [Sword Princess] Ais and [Ferocious Wolf] Bete harbored deep-seated hatred toward monsters due to certain reasons, often tempering themselves through dungeon battles.
In contrast, Amazonian sisters Tiona and Tione preferred improving their combat abilities through duels with other adventurers. More accurately, their usual training involved fierce battles between themselves, filling the training ground with storm-like violence akin to natural disasters.
Because of the Hiryute sisters' typical Amazonian Berserker-like combat style, most others actively avoided their sparring invitations.
However, today, Tiona was exceptionally enthusiastic, giving Alicia no room to refuse. Having just acquired her new weapon, Alicia also wanted to test her current skill level, so she went along with it and arrived at the training ground.
"The Old Elf and the Idiot Amazon—what's going on today? This combination is rare."
As soon as they reached the training ground, they were greeted with a blood-pressure-raising taunt.
A young werewolf with disheveled silver-white hair had just returned from training in the dungeon and happened to see Alicia and the others. As expected, the [Ferocious Wolf] immediately began his daily routine of trash talk.
"Idiot Bete, shut up," Tiona shot back instantly. Having joined the Loki Familia at the same time, verbal sparring between the two had become a habit.
Alicia, on the other hand, did not take it so lightly.
"Old... elf?", The corners of the elf beauty's lips twitched slightly.
Though she and Bete were both high-level adventurers of the Loki Familia, they had not interacted much before. From the moment Bete joined the Familia, he had been in the first squad, while Alicia had always been the commander of the second squad's magic division.
It was only after she leveled up to Lv.5 that Riveria transferred her to the first squad. This was actually her first direct exchange with Bete after joining it.
'…Pointless provocation. No need to get angry. No need to get angry,' The 18-year-old (plus 300 months) elf beauty Alicia was already feeling a bit anxious due to younger elves like Ryuu and Lefiya, and the werewolf's words hit a sensitive nerve directly.
"Bete, Alicia-nee is only forty years old, which is still young for an elf!", Tiona straightforwardly defended Alicia.
Alicia: "...Thank you, Tiona, but there's no need to emphasize the number."
Bete casually folded his arms behind his head and said indifferently, "You're younger than that hundred-year-old hag Riveria, I'll give you that. But at this age, you're basically an old aunt."
"…Tiona, let's postpone our sparring for today," Alicia smiled at the Amazon girl, and for a moment, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Tiona instinctively shivered.
Her Amazonian battle instincts were suppressed in an instant.
Tiona: "Uhh… You do as you please…"
"Bete, come here. Let's spar," Alicia curled her finger at the werewolf youth.
"Oh? Me and you?", Bete laughed, as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"I don't think you're weak per se—but for 'magic users' and 'magic swordsmen,' I'm literally the worst possible matchup. You do realize that, right?", Bete shook his head as he spoke.
He sneered, "That dumb-looking Amazon over there is a more suitable opponent for you, elf—"
However, in the next instant, Bete's words stopped.
"This sword… heh—"
The moment Alicia unsheathed the ice-blue longsword, the beastman's keen instincts made the [Ferocious Wolf] instinctively go on guard. His right foot retreated half a step, his shoulders lifted slightly, and his eyes sharpened instantly.
"I take back what I said," Bete's lips curled into a ferocious grin. He clashed his fists together in front of him, "Let me see what you've got."
The [Ferocious Wolf] Bete possessed a special magic, [Hati], which absorbed magic power and damage and reflected it back. A technique that could be called a 'magic counter specialist'.
However, for certain reasons, Bete rarely used this magic unless absolutely necessary.
But now, the moment he saw that sword, an unexpected surge of battle intent arose in him.
He wanted to test it. No, he wanted to witness the true power of that sword, even if it meant using his magic.
"I know you have magic that counters attacks," Standing in the training ground, Alicia spoke, "So let's do as you wish. I'll use magic, not swordsmanship, to fight you. Take my spell head-on, and let's see whose magic is stronger."
Bete's tone was cold, "You're asking for death. If we fought in close combat, you might give me some trouble. But magic? Every single one of your spells will only make you suffer."
"Are you scared?", Alicia's tone remained calm.
"Heh, have it your way," Bete took a deep breath.
"I won't dodge. Come on, chant your magic!"
"The loser has to frog-jump around the Familia's headquarters while shouting 'I am an idiot.' How about it?", Tiona suddenly proposed.
"Fine," Alicia raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Only one lap?", Bete, "Make it three laps. No—five laps."
Hearing Bete's words, Tiona had to cover her mouth to hold back her laughter.
But Bete wasn't paying attention to her. He was fixated solely on Alicia's sword.
That sword was no ordinary weapon. It was undoubtedly an exceptional first-tier armament, and Bete could practically smell its dense magical presence. It most likely had high-level magic amplification properties.
However, Bete wasn't afraid. Unless Alicia's magic power reached an upper-tier Lv.6 level, the stronger her magic, the stronger his counterattack through [Hati].
This battle was a clash of 'magic counter' versus 'magic'.
"Come, show me your full strength," Bete spoke in a low voice.
The training ground of the Loki Familia was already surrounded by spectators. At this moment, almost all the members at the headquarters had gathered here.
The reason was simple: a nearly three-meter-tall skeleton of an ice giant was simply too conspicuous.
"When I first saw this, I was shocked."
"Amazing! Is this summoned by Sister Alicia?"
"Speaking of which, the one crushed under that ice bone arm… is Bete, right?"
———
The first battle of the Ice Giant was very straightforward.
Bete stood ready, chanting his special magic [Hati] in a low voice, preparing to receive Alicia's magic. Meanwhile, Alicia completed her chant without any interference.
Then, the ice skeleton was summoned. It still consisted of a spine, ribs, and a right arm. The right arm's skeleton slammed down, smacking Bete into the ground.
Normally, with Bete's speed, the relatively slow attack of the ice skeleton would be difficult to hit him. However, on one hand, he was completely stunned due to the shock of his worldview being overturned. On the other hand, Bete himself had said that he would remain in place and take Alicia's magic head-on.
At the very least, he kept his promise. Though the outcome might not have been what Bete expected.
'So this is the magic inscribed within [Skadi of Ice]... No, it's because of the resonance with this sword that Alicia's own magic, [Hail Dust], has changed,' Riveria quickly arrived at the scene. As the [Nine Hell], the strongest mage in the city, she swiftly grasped the essence of this magic.
This sword had been designed for Alicia from the very beginning. Its fundamental nature was to add the attribute of [Shapeness] to Alicia's ice magic, in addition to its existing properties of [Cold] and [Condensation].
Beyond that, the core materials used to forge this sword were none other than the magic stone fragments and drop items of the [Black Goliath] that Alicia and Ryuu had defeated together, the Black Goliath's bones.
Normally, a Goliath's drop item was the Goliath's Fang, but that particular Black Goliath had dropped two special items: the Black Goliath's Hardened Skin and the Black Goliath's Bones.
During the rescue of Alicia and the others, the Loki Familia did not forget to collect these materials, along with the shattered magic stone. Later, Alicia gave them to Shirou.
Shirou then incorporated both the magic stone and hardened bone into the forging of [Skadi of Ice]… The drop items that symbolized their shared adventure seemed to have contributed to the sword's sublimation.
This was the true source of the weapon's strength and the intrinsic logic behind the concept of [Noble Phantasm], the materialization of miracles, the proof of a hero's achievements, the crystallization of humanity's prayers and legends, an armament forged with human experiences and great deeds as its framework.
However, even with Riveria's insight, though she could analyze the magical structure of [Skadi of Ice], she still could not comprehend its essence as a prototype Noble Phantasm.
Among those present, only one person could perceive this, Loki, the goddess who was both an 'Eternal One' and a 'Transcendent'.
Loki, who usually appeared carefree and unserious, had a rare look of seriousness. Her divine aura unconsciously radiated, and the familia members standing in front of her instinctively made way.
Loki walked up to Alicia. The magic of [Skadi of Ice] had already been dispelled, and the ice skeleton was slowly melting away.
Bete, who had been pinned to the ground by the giant's arm, also stood up. However, he said nothing, only gritted his teeth resentfully before turning and leaving under everyone's gaze.
"Alicia, let me see that sword," Loki said, "No, you don't have to hand it to me. Just raise it slightly."
"So that's it… the materialization of miracles and great deeds… Riveria, how much did Hephaestus price this sword at?"
Riveria raised an eyebrow slightly. She realized that from the moment Loki arrived, she had already assumed that this sword must have been personally appraised by Hephaestus, the goddess of forging.
"600 million valis."
Riveria stated a number that caused an uproar among the crowd.
This price was equivalent to half the profit from a single expedition of the Loki Familia. It could be used to forge five to ten first-class weapons. With 500,000 valis per set, they could buy 1,200 sets of Elixirs. Enough for an entire year of expeditions.
The adventurers looked at the weapon in Alicia's hands, as if it were not a sword but a mountain of gold.
"Mm, not expensive. At that price, we actually made a profit," Loki said something incomprehensible.
'Six hundred million valis… is that still a friendship price?'
"This type of weapon cannot be replicated. Even if the same blacksmith who forged it uses the exact same materials again, they would not be able to create the same sword," Loki continued, "This is a miracle that can only be encountered, not sought… Alicia, you and the one who forged this sword have created something truly remarkable."
Alicia hesitated, "No, I didn't take part in its forging. Shirou made it…"
Loki, however, shook her head, "You'll understand in the future."
The goddess spoke in riddles, leaving Alicia confused, while Riveria seemed to be in deep thought.
"Alicia, that Ice Giant you summoned just now…", Loki spread her hands to indicate its size, "That wasn't its full potential, was it?"
Alicia thought for a moment before nodding lightly, "It probably wasn't."
She had a vague realization. The Ice Giant, which currently only had a spine, ribs, and a right arm, was likely not in its complete form but merely its first stage.
Right now, the quality and scale of Alicia's magic power were limited, so she could only achieve this much.
Indeed, even though she was already a first-class adventurer at Lv.5, her magic power was still insufficient to fully realize the subsequent stages of this spell.
Because of this, Alicia began to regret not training her magic power more when leveling up. Each time, she had only reached A-rank or B-rank in magic before advancing. She should have pushed it to S-rank.
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