Chapter 213: SFDI: Chapter 213
"Assault and Trap" While Drake devised the overall plan, Finn handled the specifics. To the Hero, Drake’s plan was overly audacious. It wasn
"Assault and Trap"
While Drake devised the overall plan, Finn handled the specifics.
To the Hero, Drake’s plan was overly audacious.
It wasn’t merely simplistic; it was a straightforward, headstrong approach.
Finn, however, considered numerous contingencies: dispersing the team for a surprise attack, ensuring stealthy movement back to the surface, and even formulating backup plans in case the initial assault failed.
Drake once again found himself acutely aware of the considerable gap between his own strategic capabilities and those of a true master strategist.
In the Clover Kingdom, the Fairy Tail world, and now in this world, the effectiveness of his plans had always stemmed from his precognitive knowledge of the plot.
However, even if Drake were to attempt to emulate Finn’s strategic thinking, he would undoubtedly fail. While strategic prowess can be honed through diligent study and practice, innate talent plays a far more significant role in determining one’s aptitude in this area.
Drake would rather spend his time researching methods to enhance his own strength. After all, plans could always go awry, but raw power was ultimately the deciding factor in determining the outcome of a conflict.
Following Finn’s meticulous instructions, the group dispersed and returned to the surface, regrouping under the cover of night.
Ais and Bete were the first to arrive back on the surface; Finn had tasked them with conducting reconnaissance on the Dionysus Familia’s activities.
Bete handed Finn the marked map.
"There’s nothing unusual to report. We can confirm that Dionysus and the White Priestess are both inside their headquarters and haven’t left. There have also been no unusual comings or goings."
Drake furrowed his brow; this very normalcy was what made him the most wary.
Logically speaking, Dionysus should have been aware of the brewing storm in Orario and should have taken some form of action.
Finn shared this same sentiment, thoughtfully stroking his aching thumb.
Riviria, intimately familiar with Finn’s thought processes, spoke, "What should we do? Should we revise our plan?"
Finn lifted his gaze and replied, "No changes to the plan. We will proceed with the surprise attack on the Dionysus Familia headquarters as originally intended.
Regardless of whether or not they have prepared traps, we must eliminate Enyo, the mastermind behind all of this! If they think they can simply swallow us whole, then I eagerly await seeing what kind of traps that god has prepared for us."
Drake nodded in agreement. It was abundantly clear that Dionysus had used him as bait, gambling on the assumption that they would not pass up this opportunity.
Having reaffirmed their plan, the group advanced swiftly, soon arriving at Dionysus’s headquarters.
The Dionysus Familia was a mid-sized Familia; its financial resources and personnel were far inferior to those of the larger Familias.
Consequently, its headquarters was not a lavish mansion like those of the Loki Familia or the Hephaestus Familia.
It was certainly not on the scale of Freya’s or Ishtar’s Familia, which each controlled a vast expanse of territory.
The Dionysus Familia’s headquarters was a modest two-story villa, largely obscured by the deep shadows of the night due to the limited number of lights illuminating the building.
"Let’s begin by unleashing a wave of magical bombardment to probe their defenses," Finn commanded.
Upon hearing Finn’s order, the mages stationed at the rear of the formation immediately commenced their incantations.
However, at the very moment the mages began their chants, the ground beneath them abruptly shattered, and a multitude of carnivorous plants erupted from the fissures, bursting forth from the earth.
The newly developed type of monsters were exceptionally sensitive to magical energy, and thus, their initial assault targeted the mages positioned at the rear of the formation.
However, the mages of the Loki Familia were among the most elite in all of Orario; they were entirely unfazed by the sudden onslaught of carnivorous plants, maintaining a perfectly steady rhythm in their incantations.
They knew that their comrades would not allow them to be attacked.
"Wind!" Ais exclaimed, her voice ringing with determination as she swung her Despair, which was now imbued with a swirling emerald-green current of magical energy, piercing through the carnivorous plant monsters with ease.
Ais had become even faster; it was clear that the suppression wristbands that Drake had crafted had significantly enhanced her abilities, and her skills had improved even further since her return from the expedition.
Ais was not the only one who had grown stronger; the other members of the Loki Familia had also undergone significant improvement.
The Amazon sisters and Bete charged forward, their combined might tearing through the dense mass of carnivorous plants.
Finn, firmly gripping his Courage spear, declared, "Now that our presence has been revealed, there’s no longer any need to maintain our stealth. Let’s launch a full-scale assault!"
At that very moment, the mages completed their incantations, and a barrage of powerful spells rained down upon the villa, utterly obliterating the structure.
The flames that engulfed the ruins illuminated the night sky, casting a stark light upon the grim expressions of the assembled adventurers.
No one among them believed that the initial bombardment would have been sufficient to eliminate Dionysus. And as expected, the burning ruins were suddenly lifted skyward.
Layer upon layer of carnivorous plants opened, revealing three figures within.
At the center stood Dionysus, the blond god, flanked by a white-robed elf girl to his left and a completely cloaked figure with a masked face to his right.
Dionysus addressed the assembled adventurers. "It seems that I was overly complacent; we have indeed been discovered. Might I inquire as to the precise point at which we were compromised?"
Drake responded, "What possible significance could such information hold at this juncture?"
Dionysus nodded. "Indeed. Regardless of the circumstances, only one of us shall witness the rising of the sun!"
At that very moment, an adventurer, his arm severed and his body covered in burns, began crawling towards Dionysus. However, he was intercepted by the masked figure before he could reach his intended target.
"Dionysus-sama, why...?"
This adventurer was clearly a former member of the Dionysus Familia, who had been persuaded to transfer his allegiance to Penia after being intoxicated by Dionysus’s divine wine.
His face was etched with confusion; he was perplexed as to why his former Familia had been attacked by the Loki Familia, and even more perplexed as to why his former patron god would consort with monsters.
Dionysus gazed upon this "follower" with an expression of feigned benevolence. "Poor, misguided child. Perhaps it is better to remain ignorant of certain truths."
The masked figure raised his foot and crushed the adventurer’s neck with a swift, decisive movement.
A torrent of blood erupted from the adventurer’s mouth, staining the masked figure’s robe a crimson hue. The blood flowed across the ground, even reaching the masked figure’s shoes, yet he made no attempt to move out of the way.
Every member of the Loki Familia’s expedition team displayed expressions of righteous anger. Although Dionysus maintained a façade of gentle benevolence, they could all sense the chilling indifference that resided within his heart.
It was as though the adventurer who had once held him in such high regard was nothing more than a complete stranger to him.
Finn declared, "Then there is nothing left to say. Let the battle commence!"
Drake, unable to contain his rage any longer, was the first to charge towards Dionysus. However, Filvis Challia and the masked figure moved to intercept him.
The three combatants clashed momentarily, then drew back, facing each other in a tense standoff.
Drake spoke, his voice laced with a hint of mockery, "There’s no need to maintain this charade any longer. In your current, incomplete state, you are utterly incapable of stopping me."
Indeed, Filvis Challia and the masked figure were one and the same.
The masked figure removed his mask, revealing a face that was an exact replica of Filvis Challia’s, although the expression on this face was one of unrestrained madness and malevolence.
Filvis Challia had been resurrected by the power of the Fallen Sprite during the nightmare incident on Level 27, but the once noble and pure elf had been transformed into a depraved and corrupted monster.
The young woman loathed her current state, and thus, she had awakened the "Ansel" spell, splitting her dark side and half of her power to create the masked figure as an avatar.
It was only after merging with this avatar that Filvis Challia would reach her peak strength, attaining the upper echelon of Level 7.
"Fantasy’s End, Soul’s Return—Your Body (Bond) Cannot Be Severed!"
As the young woman chanted the incantation, the avatar merged seamlessly into her body, and her aura swelled with newfound power.
Finn did not pay any attention to the unfolding battle between Drake and the now fully merged Filvis Challia; even if Filvis Challia had unleashed an astonishing surge of power after merging with her avatar, he had no doubt that Drake would emerge victorious.
Finn turned his attention towards Dionysus. "The White Priestess alone is far from sufficient. Dionysus... no, Enyo, what other preparations have you made?"
Dionysus displayed no sign of panic, spreading his arms wide. "Then, allow me to unveil the gift I have prepared for you all!"
The ground beneath them abruptly shattered, and a colossal green creature emerged from the depths of the earth.
The Fallen Sprite’s avatar—the Heavenly Bull—had appeared.
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