Danmachi: Strongest Familia

The clash between the two titans sent shockwaves through the air.

Ottar's heavy armor seemed to melt from the searing heat, his fur starting to singe from the flames.

"OOORRAAAH—!"

His arms were badly burned, and his internal injuries hadn't fully healed. Only Riveria's healing magic, cast in advance, kept his wounds from worsening, though it couldn't fully counteract the damage. 

The recovery spells couldn't keep up; they seemed to only reopen his newly healed wounds again and again.

By now, Ottar couldn't feel pain. His berserk fighting spirit had driven away any remaining sanity, leaving him as a relentless machine wielding a weapon.

One thought alone consumed him: Kill the man before him!

In the midst of battle, the image of his goddess crossed Ottar's mind, her voice whispering encouragement. He felt a surge of power well up within him, and instinctively, he lifted his gaze to the Tower of Babel, where he imagined Freya standing at its peak, watching him.

He could not fail her.

All of this is for her!

A moment of clarity flickered in Ottar's eyes, and his massive head—transformed into a beast's—slammed down into Zald's with brutal force.

The collision jarred his senses, blurring his vision, but he remained upright as they broke apart.

Behind them, the mages who had been holding back now launched a coordinated strike. Led by Riveria, brilliant bursts of magic hurtled towards Zald from every direction, their colors flashing in his eyes.

As if coming to a sudden realization, Zald's tense muscles relaxed, and he dropped his guard entirely. In the final moment, as he was engulfed in the wave of magic, a hint of peace softened his previously impassive face.

"The future… I leave it to you," he murmured, his voice lost amid the roar of the spells.

When the magic subsided, only fragments of Zald's armor remained.

---

Elsewhere, on Alfia's battlefield, she looked toward Zald's location. Around her lay the fallen members of the Loki Familia and the Astraea Familia, strewn across the ground.

Her fight had been less intense—not because of any miscalculation by Finn, but simply because there hadn't been opponents strong enough to challenge her. Finn had strategized well, but he hadn't accounted for Alfia's overwhelming combat power.

Even the finest of the LV5s couldn't contend with Alfia. She'd shown Finn firsthand why she was feared as the "Incarnation of Talent"—a true measure of invincibility.

Although a mage by specialty, Alfia's prowess in close-quarters combat was formidable, rumored to be so lethal that even Ottar himself had once been defeated by her in an instant.

Her strikes were precise and powerful, and not even the Loki's family's toughest warrior, Gareth, could avoid a swift defeat.

The only one left standing alongside Alfia was Astraea, the Goddess of Justice, who observed the scene in silence, her initial concern faded.

Seeing Alfia's unhurried handling of everyone, she felt assured of something—Alfia had no intention of taking their lives. In fact, she'd shown no hint of fighting spirit from the beginning.

It was perhaps harsh to consider this from her children's perspective, but Alfia had dispatched each one of them almost effortlessly, as though none of them even warranted her full attention.

Before leaving, Alfia surveyed the battlefield with a calm gaze, her expression showing an unusual mix of nostalgia and serenity, almost as if she were embracing her fate.

"What are you really planning… and what of that child, Zald?" Astraea stepped forward, blocking her path and asking softly.

Alfia paused, silent for a moment.

Then, with perfect etiquette, she inclined her head to Astraea, gracefully sidestepping her as she continued on her way. By the time Astraea turned to follow, Alfia had vanished.

---

Near the dungeon entrance, the atmosphere had grown tense from recent attacks by the dark faction, leaving the area deserted. Adventurers avoided the dungeon, wary of the lurking danger—except those in allegiance with the dark faction.

Footsteps echoed as Alfia slowly approached the dungeon. Just as she reached the entrance, she noticed a figure leaning against the wall nearby.

"Those people failed to take your life?" Sol's voice came out of the shadows.

Three small figures stood alongside him, previously unnoticed.

"Sol-sama…"

"Are you heading into the dungeon to seek your end?" Sol asked, his expression unreadable.

"So, you knew?"

Alfia no longer hid her intentions; after all, her time was limited.

"It wasn't difficult to guess. I never believed you'd truly align yourself with evildoers," Sol replied with a faint smile.

"Should I thank you for that trust?"

"No need for thanks. I came all the way here specifically to find you."

His presence in Erebus wasn't just for a casual visit, and Alfia could tell he had another reason.

"And what does the god himself want with me?" she asked, keeping her gaze steady.

"Join my Familia," Sol said suddenly.

"...?"

Alfia, taken aback, stared at him, trying to comprehend the unexpected offer.