Is It Wrong For Me To Start With Three Skills In Danmachi ?!

In that moment, their eyes met.

The opponent was only an arm's length away.

--------------------------------

"Go down!"

The short sword was drawn, and Asfi's speed rose another notch, slashing forward in one swift strike!

"Heh, if the long-rumored [Perseus] is only like this, then I am far too disappointed."

Facing the rapidly incoming special short sword, Olivas remained calm and unhurried, even taking the time to comment on Asfi's skills, clearly, he was at complete ease.

"Now, Mandragora!"

--?

"Pupupupupupu––"

In an instant, countless tentacles burst out from beneath the green carpet, whipping toward the charging Asfi with terrifying speed invisible to the naked eye.

"What!!!"

She was too fast, and too close! To think of dodging now, it was already too late!

This, huge and thorough, was the trap he had prepared all along.

"Hahaha, die, [Perseus]!"

"Boom boom boom boom––"

But immediately after, a column of flame ruined the ambush he had schemed for so long!

"Huh?"

Olivas snapped his head upward, his gaze cutting across the chaotic battlefield into the distance.

There, the magical circle still lingered on a staff, slowly rotating. Its wielder, [Flame Demon] Fron Argon, wore a mocking and disdainful smile.

"Flame Demon!!"

From beneath the mask, his twisted jaw was revealed.

Who did he think Fron was? Since he was a tamer, wasn't commanding monsters to strike at enemies only common sense? To stand alone waiting for someone to attack you, wasn't that like fishing with a bare hook? Of course there'd be trouble.

Even Fron now felt embarrassed for Olivas's stupidity. Only this much? And he claimed to be "Her" guardian? Laughable, completely beneath the very idea.

"Thank you." Asfi, retreating in haste, cast a grateful look toward Fron.

"Be careful. This one is strong." Her expression grew grim, she could feel it.

Seeing the oncoming tentacles and fangs, Asfi's eyes hardened, and she made her resolve.

"No choice. Since even the Flame Demon has revealed his trump card, I can't keep hiding mine."

"'Talaria'!"

Her lips moved lightly, speaking a name... "Boom, boom, boom, boom––"

At that moment, the tentacles all struck empty air!

They crashed into the ground, scattering the green carpet, piercing through rock beneath, as cracking sounds echoed all around!

"Hm?" Olivas frowned deeply.

He felt no sense of hitting his target, and then… he saw a figure floating in the air.

"What? She actually flew up?"

As bearer of [Mystery], Asfi possessed the ability to craft wondrous magic tools. And her proudest masterpiece was the pair of sandal-like boots on her feet.

Now, from either side of the boots, two shining wings of light spread, four in total.

"Talaria," their name. A pair of flight shoes, granting their wearer the ability of flight, just as the name implied.

"This is your fault, I hadn't wanted to use them. But now that it's exposed, I'll make you pay for it!"

With that, Asfi dove down, her form blurring with unparalleled acceleration, streaking toward the unguarded masked man before he could react!

"Die!"

Elsewhere, when Fron saw Asfi use her trump card, his eyes widened.

Then, he unleashed three rapid-fire spells, [Flame Bolt], blasting through monsters and remnants of the [Evilus], before sprinting forward at full speed.

"No, you fool!"

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. He had only intended for Asfi to stall Olivas, not like this!

Didn't she still have liquid bombs stored? She could've attacked from range, why rush into melee?!

But clearly, his warning came too late.

--!

A special-forged short sword, combined with Talaria's diving acceleration and her high ability stats, this strike was absolutely unstoppable within Level 4! It was Asfi's strongest blow.

The gleaming blade, flashing like a hunting eagle, blurred through light and shadow, piercing straight toward the masked man's chest!

But...

Clang!

"--?"

Asfi's delicate face froze with shock and confusion. Cold sweat instantly ran down her forehead.

Before her eyes, a single hand, so naturally, yet so impossibly, had caught the sword's blade, stopping her ultimate strike dead in its tracks!

The sudden stop tore at her body from sheer inertia. Staring in horror, she locked eyes with the masked man's brutal gaze.

This man… those eyes… who is he!

The scene was also witnessed by the [Hermes Familia] members watching.

"Impossible, someone caught the captain's strike barehanded, and wasn't even moved! You've got to be kidding!"

"No way, even with Talaria…!"

Bang! A tiger beast-human, Falgar, smashed an enemy attacker away with his shield, scolding harshly.

"Hey, Lulune! Don't lose focus! Do you want to die?!"

"S-sorry!"

"Take this seriously! The Flame Demon is watching. You don't want our [Hermes Familia] to be made into a joke, do you? My reputation would be ruined! Don't forget, he's a [Loki Familia] member."

...The name [Loki Familia] still weighed heavily on their hearts. After all… that was Orario's strongest familia.

"Wait, where's the Flame Demon going?"

As they hesitated, they saw Fron suddenly break into a sprint, charging toward the depths of the cavern, straight toward where Asfi was fighting.

"Now's our chance, the damn demon left!"

"Kill them!!!"

"Everyone, stay sharp!!!"

Without Fron's support, crushing pressure fell upon them immediately.

Meanwhile, Asfi, her strike having failed, tried instantly to pull back her short sword, but the mysterious man's grip was like a vice, locking it firmly in place.

"Asfi, get away from him!!!"

Rushing closer, Fron shouted in desperation.

Olivas, facing her, also noticed the man approaching fast. His lips curved into a cold smile, as he arrogantly declared: "Too late."

With one hand gripping the short sword, he lashed out with the other, seizing Asfi's shoulder. He lifted her easily into the air, then brutally slammed her to the ground!

Crack! The sound of breaking bones rang out. Asfi's eyes widened in shock, her body slammed hard, bouncing once from the impact, blood spraying from her lips...