Elowyn and Elaris were about to reach the score equivalent to defeating a Boss. They were only a few points away from reaching that mark, but before they could deliver the finishing blow, the last mini-Boss simply disappeared.
"Damn it! He defeated the Boss!"
"Tsk! That damned consort!"
The two looked toward the area engulfed in smoke. While the remnants of the battle still filled the surroundings, Lamia raised her arms, apparently prepared to catch Enrico, who was descending toward her for some reason.
'Damn it! It seems they took over my body for a moment. System, what happened?'
[It was a forced intervention, but don't worry. He had to use all the energy available to him to accomplish that. It will take at least two years before he can do it again, unless you allow him to.]
'Even so, I don't like this business of someone taking over my body. Unless it's the original owner, I don't want anyone doing that.'
Spinning in the air, Enrico elegantly dodged Lamia's outstretched arms and landed calmly on the ground. However, the movement only drew even more attention to his appearance, immediately making Lamia and her four companions blush.
Enrico looked at his own body, realizing that he still hadn't returned to normal.
'It seems I'm still in my female form... I think I'll return to normal in a few minutes.'
Since he had watched that Nartheis practically disappear in his hand, Enrico concluded that the being inside him had somehow intervened after he released magic throughout his body to cause the smoke to explode. Because of that, he had quickly burned what remained of Lethara's body, putting an end to everything at once.
'If that being intervened because of this, then Lethara must be important to his plans in some way.'
Lamia approached Enrico with flushed cheeks and an enchanted smile.
"Beautiful, you did so well! Why don't you come back with us to my homeland? I'll treat you like the goddess you are!"
One of Lamia's companions immediately agreed, displaying the same admiration.
"Exactly! If you come with us, we'll do anything for you, my goddess!"
'What an exaggeration...'
Enrico watched the girls, whose cheeks were completely flushed. However, when he noticed that his own companions were also looking at him with a certain degree of embarrassment, he began to understand why. That was when he lowered his eyes and noticed that his clothes were torn in several places, especially around his upper body.
"I don't mind people admiring my beauty, but at least don't exaggerate so much with your expressions."
Lamia brought her hands to her chest, seemingly interpreting those words as criticism of her own behavior.
"I'm sorry, goddess! I'll try to do better next time!"
Another girl on the team immediately agreed:
"That's right! We're still not worthy enough to look at you like that!"
Enrico hadn't been talking to them, but to his own companions. However, if those girls wanted to interpret his words that way, it would be less troublesome to simply let them think so while he waited for his feminine appearance to disappear.
'It's a little annoying, but maybe this could be useful.'
When she noticed that everyone around her was beginning to return to their original forms, Lamia seemed to grow desperate. After all, she wouldn't have much more time to admire the living masterpiece she had been searching for. Without wasting a moment, she rushed toward Enrico and took his hand, feeling a slight shiver as she noticed how comfortable it was to the touch.
"Enrico, why don't you stay in this form a little longer? At least until I can convince you to keep it forever!"
"...Sorry, but I have some matters to settle with the other two opposing teams."
Kai approached, displaying unmistakable excitement.
"Enrico! Now that all this is over, let's have our rematch!"
Before Enrico could answer, Elowyn appeared behind Kai, her golden magic already emanating from her body, ready for battle.
"Rematch? You'd better get out of the way, boy. I need to eliminate him to make sure I can advance!"
Lamia realized that the other two teams were also interested in fighting Enrico. This reminded her that they were all participating in a competition and couldn't simply ignore their other opponents. Letting out a reluctant sigh, she finally released his hand.
A second later, Enrico's appearance began returning to normal.
'Perhaps I can find a way to make him stay in that form in the future... Although, now that I think about it... That's it!'
An idea came to Lamia's mind, making her eyes light up. Without wasting a moment, she raised her voice and issued her challenge:
"Enrico, I challenge you to a duel! If I win, you'll have to return to your female form whenever I find a way to bring it back!"
"Great. Now I have three teams to deal with."
"You don't need to fight three teams."
The representatives of the three teams spoke almost simultaneously. Confused, Enrico looked from one side to the other, observing his opponents. However, it only took him a moment to understand what they were planning. An excited smile appeared on his face.
"So it'll be a free-for-all? Very well, I accept!"
The four teams faced one another, each evaluating their opponents before the confrontation began. For a few moments, nobody moved. Then, almost simultaneously, the leaders were the first to advance.
Lamia looked at Enrico with determination, slightly clenching her fists.
'I'll win and bring my beautiful masterpiece back!'
Elowyn, in turn, quickly analyzed her opponents, already calculating the best way to start the confrontation.
'It's better to eliminate all three quickly and reduce the number of opponents.'
Elaris also prepared for battle, but her gaze lingered on Enrico for a moment.
'I hope Enrico won't be upset if I use the ability he taught me against him.'
Before the leaders could face one another, Kai passed by Elaris and charged directly toward Enrico, moving at a speed that surpassed the other three.
Enrico managed to defend against the attack, but let out a sigh when he realized that Kai had decided to start their rematch right then and there. Despite that, the excited smile on his face didn't disappear.
"I almost forgot! Let's start our rematch right away!"
Kai, in turn, returned the expression.
"Finally! I've been waiting for this for months!"
With those words, the first major battle between humans inside the dungeon began.
In the stands, the people watching the broadcast immediately became excited when they realized the confrontation that was about to take place.
"Looks like we're in for quite a fight!"
"I hope they manage to do well, even if they end up losing."
"Don't worry, Camila. They'll be fine. You know a defeat like this won't weaken their determination."
Sylvia, Camila, and Giulio were in the stands, following the fight being broadcast on the magical screens.
Erina was also sitting in a chair in front of them, paying close attention to the battle.
Among the three new members of Class S, she was the only one who hadn't been chosen to participate. Because of that, she was a little disappointed in herself, although not as much as Sylvia, who remained behind them and had already let out several irritated snorts.
"If I were there, I could be a great help! Much more than several of those who were chosen!"
"Calm down, Sylvia. Remember that you were still in the Second Circle, just like several other candidates who needed to be evaluated."
"Even so, I'm irritated, Camila! Aren't you?"
"What can we do when the limit was only four people?"
Besides, Sylvia hadn't reached the Third Circle when the teams were selected. Unable to accept not being chosen, she decided to train intensely and managed to gain the two percent she still needed to reach the next Circle, just like Giulio.
A few seats ahead, Nicholas watched the team that had defeated his with an irritated expression. It was the team from the continent of Valtara.
'I'm a reincarnated person, and I lost like that? And on top of that, off-camera? Bunch of idiots who teamed up against me!'
Since Nicholas had been separated from his team, he hadn't faced only the strongest member of the opposing team. The other four had also joined forces to eliminate him, which ultimately resulted in his defeat.
'At least I managed to defeat two of them.'
In another part of the stands, Giulia tried to hide her own displeasure.
'Calm down, Giulia. It's not that bad. At least you'll be able to gather more information by observing how they fight... Who am I trying to fool? If I'm a reincarnated person, I should be strong! That damn Victoria's team...'
The irritation of the two was evident. Their auras seemed to overflow with anger as they watched the battles displayed on the magical screens.
In one of the broadcast images, Giulia noticed that Victoria's team had encountered Mei's team, which had also managed to advance to the second phase, even after the confrontation against Elaris's team.
'It seems those four teams weren't the only ones that ended up fighting each other.'
Nicholas, who was watching the team that had managed to defeat him, narrowed his eyes when he noticed who Valtara's team's next opponents would be.
'Isn't that the team with those strange guys?'
Jester's team had encountered the team from the continent of Valtara. The two groups had already begun fighting, and from what could be seen in the broadcast, one of Valtara's team members had already been eliminated.