Danmachi: The Sign In System!

Chapter 111 - Ais: Can I?

[Random sign-in triggered. Would you like to sign in?]

Watching Ais charge toward the monster, Orsted paid little mind, focusing instead on the system prompt in his head.

The sign-in was random as ever. 

It triggered when he entered the lower floors, but not the deep floors. 

Now, with the appearance of Monster Rex Udaeus, the system prompted again.

What would he get this time?

'Sign in!'

[Sign-in successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Random Summoning Card!]

'Another one,' Orsted muttered. 

'Wonder who'll be summoned this time. I'll use it back on the surface. For now, let's hold off. No telling if the summoned character will be strong. Someone like Senie is fine—she'd hold her own here—but a weak one would be a burden.'

Glancing at the card in his system space, Orsted left it untouched and turned his attention back to Ais.

Something felt off with the surrounding mana. He noticed Riveria on high alert, ready to chant at any moment.

"Stay calm, Riveria," Orsted said softly. "This could be Ais's chance to vent her pent-up emotions."

Riveria froze, then nodded. Letting Ais face Udaeus alone might indeed help her release her inner turmoil. The thought lifted her spirits, though she remained poised to act.

Orsted stayed silent. He, too, wanted to challenge Udaeus—its defeat would secure the great feat needed to rank up from Level 3 to Level 4. But he held back. Ais was a friend, and she needed this fight to purge her distress. High-level excelia could wait; giving Ais this moment was rarer.

Orsted refused to become the kind of person he despised.

Udaeus, a Level 6 Monster Rex, outmatched Ais's Level 5 strength. Early in the battle, Udaeus dominated, pummeling Ais and tearing her clothes, nearly dislodging her breastplate. She dodged and fled, barely able to counterattack.

Soon, Udaeus landed a heavy blow, sending Ais tumbling across the ground, gravely injured.

"Ais!" Riveria cried, instinctively preparing a spell.

Orsted stopped her. Ais, rising from a half-squat, also spoke. "Don't, Riveria. I have to defeat it alone. Orsted, I'm counting on you, too." Blood trickled down her forehead, but she ignored it, pleading with them not to interfere.

Riveria hesitated, gripping her staff tightly, but ultimately relented, respecting Ais's resolve.

"Come on, Ais," Orsted said with an encouraging smile.

Ais didn't respond, her expression dazed, as if lost in memory. Her eyes hardened with determination. The next moment, Ariel erupted around her, and she surged forward.

This time, Ais unleashed her full potential. Amplified by Ariel, her speed, strength, and reflexes soared. She dodged Udaeus's Level 6 attacks with precision, countering swiftly. In two rounds, she severed one of its arms.

Roaring, Udaeus plunged a hand into the ground, drawing a massive black sword.

"Udaeus is using a weapon!" Riveria gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief.

This was unprecedented. Udaeus had been defeated many times, but never with a weapon. Orsted, however, knew why. In one-on-one duels, when at a disadvantage, Udaeus would wield this black sword—as it did against Ais in the anime, and later against Ottar, who claimed the sword. 

The Goibniu Familia later forged it into a sword.

Even with the sword, Udaeus couldn't withstand Ais's onslaught. She struck it 353 times with Desperate, shattering its massive magic stone into sparkling particles that dissipated in the air. 

Orsted winced—such a stone could've fetched over 100 million Valis.

But it was Ais's victory, and he had no claim. Fortunately, Udaeus dropped items, including that black sword, which Ais gave to Orsted. 

He accepted it gladly, having stepped aside for her sake.

"Thank you, Orsted," Ais said softly, gratitude in her eyes.

Orsted smiled and nodded.

After slaying Udaeus, Ais achieved her goal but earned a stern, motherly scolding from Riveria, who healed her while lecturing. Orsted watched quietly, staying out of it.

Under Riveria's guidance and comfort, Ais emerged from her depression, her face free of its former gloom.

But the moment she recovered, Ais approached Orsted. "Orsted, can I spar with you in the future?"

"Eh? Sure," Orsted agreed, caught off guard but pleased. Sparring with Ais would benefit him, too.

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