Genichi stood at the center of Fairy Sphere, both hands sustaining the spell as he stared at the enormous scorpion before him.
His brow had furrowed. It wasn't because he couldn't hold out, but because he could clearly feel Antares's attacks growing stronger.
Each arrow of light struck the barrier harder than the last. Each explosion burned more fiercely.
Had he not increased the flow of magical power, Fairy Sphere might have already shattered.
The devastation around them was proof enough.
The remaining stone pillars had been reduced to rubble beneath the barrage. Much of the ancient walls had collapsed under the explosions. Scorched craters pocked the floor, some several meters deep.
The smell of burning filled the air, mingled with something even more acrid: the scent of twisted divine power, at once sacred and vile, pure and corrupted.
"Genichi…"
Demeter's worried voice came from behind him.
She stepped up beside him, her eyes full of concern.
She could feel how quickly he was consuming his magical power. His reserves were far beyond those of an ordinary person, but Antares's attacks kept growing stronger. They couldn't let this continue.
"I'm fine."
His voice was calm, though his expression grew more serious.
"These attacks aren't a threat to me yet. But we can't let Antares keep getting stronger. Every minute we waste gives it more time to absorb Artemis's divine power, and puts us in greater danger."
He glanced back at the members of the Astraea Familia.
"Weren't you all complaining about being dead weight?"
His voice was quiet, with a hint of teasing.
"Well, here's your chance. Try your luck against Antares. Let's see what you can do."
Kaguya's eyes lit up.
She had been waiting to hear that for a long time.
Ever since they entered the ruins, she had felt like an unnecessary decoration.
Genichi's shadows had wiped out every lesser monster before she even had a chance to act.
She had thought she would spend the entire expedition watching him do everything himself.
Now he was giving her a chance to fight. And she wouldn't be cleaning up weaklings, either. She would be facing the monster that had devoured a goddess.
"Leave it to us!"
Kaguya tightened her grip on her katana and charged out first.
Alise followed close behind, twirling her short sword with an eager grin.
"Finally. I was starting to get stiff."
Ryuu said nothing.
Her slender sword traced a silver arc through the dim light, its point aimed straight at Antares's head.
The others followed. More than a dozen figures shot toward the enormous scorpion like arrows loosed from their strings.
Standing beside Demeter, Astraea watched her children charge, a swirl of conflicting emotions rising within her.
Of course she was worried. This creature had managed to seal away even Artemis. Her children were all Level 4 or higher, but a monster of this caliber could still kill them in an instant.
Yet she didn't call them back.
If Genichi had told them to fight, he must have things under control.
Even if someone died, he could bring them back.
She didn't need to worry.
The members of her Familia clearly felt the same way.
They had experienced death. They knew what it felt like, and they knew Genichi could restore them to life.
They charged without fear or hesitation, throwing themselves into the attack.
The battle erupted in an instant.
Kaguya reached Antares first. Her katana whistled through the air and slammed into one of its enormous pincers.
Steel struck armor with a piercing metallic clang, scattering sparks.
A faint white mark appeared on the shell.
The blade hadn't cut through.
Kaguya frowned.
That had been a full-power strike.
The scorpion's defenses were far beyond anything she had imagined.
Alise circled around its flank and thrust her sword into a joint.
That should have been one of its most vulnerable points, where the armor was thinnest and easiest to pierce.
Her short sword slipped precisely into the gap, but penetrated barely an inch before stopping cold.
Antares swung its pincer.
The tremendous impact sent Alise flying. She tumbled several times through the air before barely managing to regain her balance as she landed.
Ryuu thrust her slender sword at one of its eyes, another vulnerable spot.
But Antares swept its tail across her path, knocking her blade aside.
The other Familia members attacked as well. Blades, arrows, and spells rained down on the monster.
They might as well have been scratching an itch.
None of their attacks inflicted any meaningful damage.
A single swing of its pincer sent two or three people flying. A sweep of its tail forced several more to retreat in disarray.
It wasn't even taking them seriously.
It was playing with them.
Genichi watched, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
He knew the Astraea Familia couldn't match Antares. He had never expected them to defeat it.
He only needed them to occupy its attention and buy him time to work out how to rescue Artemis's true body.
"Artemis."
His voice was soft, but she heard every word clearly.
"There's something I need to know. Can you still be saved?"
She stood beside him, her fingers trembling slightly around her longbow.
Her gaze had remained fixed on Antares. Anger, grief, and hatred filled her silver eyes, along with a fear she could scarcely put into words.
She was afraid.
Afraid that she would become an accomplice in the destruction of the Lower World.
"Just kill Antares with the Arrow of Orion."
Her voice was quiet, but resolute.
"Don't worry about me."
Genichi frowned.
"Enough. Answer my question."
Artemis stiffened.
She turned to him, surprise filling her eyes.
She had never seen him look like this.
There was an unquestionable command in his gaze, a determination she couldn't refuse, and a trace of tenderness she didn't understand.
"Yes."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"But freeing my sealed body from inside Antares will be extremely difficult. It's completely enclosed me. There's a thick layer of crystal around my body, with its flesh and armor outside that.
"You'd need tremendous power to break through all those defenses. And you'd have to do it in an instant, or it would use my divine power to repair the damage."
Genichi studied her in silence for a moment before speaking.
"Figuring out how to save you is my job. All you need to do is stay put and wait for me to get you out."
Artemis parted her lips to object.
But when she met his calm gaze, the words died in her throat.
There was no hesitation in his eyes. No doubt.
Only a confidence that made her feel safe.
He spoke as though rescuing her were the most ordinary thing in the world.
"All right."
She lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper and a faint blush rising in her cheeks.
Genichi turned away and focused on the battle with Antares.
His shadows were still fighting. The Astraea Familia was still keeping the monster occupied.
Its attention was divided.
Now was the time.
(End of Chapter)
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