Danmachi: Strongest Familia

[Let's end this year with a bang! 🎉 For every 1 review, I'll upload 1 chapter!

The extra chapters, along with the regular daily uploads, will kick off at the start of 2025!

P.S.: For those interested only.]

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Even Alfia silently approved of Ryuu's mastery over parallel chanting. She herself was quite adept in the art, though her spells were so brief that she rarely needed it.

Alfia smirked to herself. "But using magic on Juggernaut might not be the best idea."

In the battlefield below, Ryuu's chant completed, and emerald-green wind surged toward Juggernaut from every angle. Though not particularly clever, Juggernaut seemed aware of its own strengths and didn't bother to dodge, standing firm against the incoming magic. Its attitude, indifferent to magic, had once caught Alfia off guard when she first fought it.

Yet, Ryuu, consumed by anger, misread the situation and charged forward, ready to press her advantage. Meanwhile, two mages in the back lines unleashed their spells, combining fire and lightning into a powerful, searing blast aimed at Juggernaut. The attack struck Juggernaut's shell, which shimmered with a hexagonal magic barrier, rippling but remaining unbroken. Moments later, the magic reflected back, gaining speed as it raced toward the mages.

At that instant, Alfia drew her sword and positioned herself between Juggernaut and the vulnerable mages. The reflected magic honed in on her.

"Look out!" Alise shouted, rushing forward to assist the mysterious figure. But as she drew closer, she noticed Alfia calmly raise her sword and slice through the terrifying magical energy with precision. The spell disintegrated, vanishing as if it had never existed.

Alise could hardly believe what she'd seen. "Can swordsmanship really counter magic like that? Or… does that sword have anti-magic properties?"

Pushing her shock aside, Alise quickly issued orders. "Ryuu, Ryana, Celty—avoid using magic. Asta, guard the rear. Kaguya, stick with me. Maryuu, be ready to heal."

Alise strategically positioned her lower-level teammates in the back, placing the more experienced Level 4 members at the front. With the mysterious warrior standing between them and Juggernaut, Alise felt a strange assurance. Though uncertain of the stranger's full abilities, it was clear they were beyond Juggernaut's level and, from their actions, likely familiar with the monster.

The trio advanced on Juggernaut from three directions, the stench of blood hanging heavily around the beast from its previous kills. Flames began to swirl around Alise's sword and body as her combat magic took effect. This enchantment, which directly enhanced her physical attacks, bypassed Juggernaut's magic-reflecting shell entirely. 

Realizing the threat, Juggernaut lashed its tail at her like a whip, slicing through the air. Alise dodged preemptively, relying on her instincts to stay ahead of the monster's movements. She felt the wind from the tail's swing brush against her hair, a sharp reminder of her closeness to danger.

In that moment, Alise closed the distance, driving her flaming sword into Juggernaut's skeletal frame. The flames took hold within its body, bypassing its shell's defenses. On the other side, Ryuu followed suit, her small wooden sword, pinning Juggernaut's foot to the ground as it struggled to shake Alise off.

Juggernaut howled in pain, and Kaguya—despite her injuries—leaped into the air, bringing her blade down over the beast's blood-red eyes.

Enraged by the relentless attacks, Juggernaut snapped its pinned foot free, forcing Ryuu to retreat. It spun, breaking Alise's grip on her sword and flinging her aside. Now, the creature focused solely on Kaguya, who remained locked in a one-on-one standoff. Juggernaut's wounds had blinded it, preventing it from locating its opponent immediately.

"Let's call it a day," came a familiar voice. "Your performance… barely passes."

In a blur, the mysterious figure reappeared beneath Juggernaut, standing poised with her sword drawn. Alise barely had time to wonder if this was some form of space magic before the figure struck, assuming a stance that was almost instinctual.

In the next instant, a brilliant arc of blade light slashed across Juggernaut's body. Its once relentless momentum faded, and it hung motionless in the air, as if frozen in time.