Chapter 126: Kokonoe + Magic Mallet, Double Cheats!
All the heroes had drawn their weapons, ready for battle at a moment's notice.
The group moved cautiously along the wall, dealing with occasional attacks from the water, but Amphisbaena remained elusive.
After scouting for an appropriate area, they found a relatively open space and positioned themselves according to their pre-arranged formation.
Moments later, the water's surface erupted with countless bubbles, heralding the arrival of Fizz. The blue figure leapt from the water with an excited shout.
"Come on, everyone, let's play together—"
Fizz landed gracefully and quickly trotted over to Irelia. Their role was strictly to provide cover and avoid engaging unless an unexpected situation arose.
Fizz's sudden appearance heightened the tension among the group.
From beneath the water, two massive dragons burst into the air, their eyes, like enormous copper bells, locking onto Fizz immediately.
It was this small figure daring to challenge them in their own domain!
Amphisbaena prepared to attack, but before it could act, a towering man leapt from a nearby high platform.
"Follow me!"
With a mighty swing of his massive sword, he slashed a deep wound into one of Amphisbaena's enormous forms. Blood sprayed into the air, staining Garen's armor crimson.
Close by, Jarvan, Xin Zhao, and Sylas surged forward, joining the fray almost simultaneously.
"It's about time we make our move," Irelia remarked, watching the intense battle from a distance. She turned to Haruhime and gave a subtle nod.
The golden-haired fox immediately sprang into action.
"—Let's make it bigger!"
With a melodic chant, Haruhime called upon her magic:
"Power and deeds, countless treasures, and countless wishes.
When the bell tolls, pray for glory and fantasy.
This body, which devours the god's bounty, grants the golden light of the divine.
Return the hammer to the earth, bestow its blessings upon us—
Magic Mallet!"
Golden halos began to form and radiate as Haruhime's chant reached its climax.
But it wasn't over yet. After completing the incantation for the magical hammer, Haruhime began another chant, seamlessly connecting the spells.
"—Let us dance.
White-faced golden retriever, king of nine tails,
Devour all, achieve all—the tail of the beast.
I am the Fox Demon, breaker of the past.
I am the Fox Demon, the wish of bygone eras.
To the noble one who soars with wings like a bird,
May the nine spirits reside within,
And may the golden song echo—the poetry of Kokonoe!"
As Haru finished her chant, the Ninefold Blessing activated. The tails behind her transformed into nine shimmering appendages.
At that moment, Haruhime fully assumed the form of a majestic nine-tailed fox.
Just like with Ahri.
With the power of the Ninefold Blessing(Kokonoe), she could now bestow the Magic Mallet upon multiple individuals at once.
However, due to her level and limited magic reserves, Haruhime could only empower four people simultaneously.
Several golden lights radiated outward, flying to the designated individuals, bestowing blessings on the four vanguard members.
Their momentum surged instantly, and the dynamics of the battle shifted dramatically. Amphisbaena, once the predator, now found itself on the defensive, struggling to keep up.
Even the ferocious dragon's breath was stolen by Sylas, who turned it into a weapon against the dragon itself.
The battle unfolded far more smoothly than anyone had anticipated. The vanguard fought with an almost reckless confidence, knowing their enhanced resilience allowed for greater mistakes without severe consequences.
Their performance was impeccable; even a few missteps wouldn't jeopardize their progress.
The backline also had a highly favorable environment for dealing damage, with Vayne's holy silver crossbow proving particularly effective against Amphisbaena. Its deterrent effect was undeniable.
The fight became so effortless that it lacked the tension typically associated with low-level adventurers challenging a formidable floor boss.
It was going so well that many began to wonder if this could truly lead to a collective upgrade.
---
Meanwhile, back in Orario, life carried on uninterrupted by the adventurers' absence. The city prepared for its annual Monster Festival, which commenced the day after the expedition entered the dungeon.
Although the Monster Festival had been held countless times, its charm never faded, and it remained one of the city's most anticipated events.
Early in the morning, the streets were already lined with an endless array of stalls, leaving hardly any space unoccupied. Small vendors eagerly awaited this day to turn a profit, their livelihoods often depending on the festival's success.
Over the years, the Ganesha Familia had perfected their organization of the event, assigning members to maintain order around the venue. However, the roads leading to the festival remained congested and nearly impassable.
The throng of people moved almost as one entity; anyone caught in the crowd didn't need to walk—the tide of bodies carried them along.
Having experienced this chaos before, Sol and his group chose to visit later in the day. They weren't interested in the main event of the festival but wanted to enjoy the bustling markets and festivities.
Prior to the festival, Sol had taken Riveria on a brief trip outside Orario, but this time, she opted not to accompany him.
Instead, Sol invited Astraea on a special outing. The two had spent the night together, fulfilling a prior lost bet that Astraea owed him.
Sol couldn't help but reminisce about the previous evening, which had been unforgettable. Only he, it seemed, could convince the composed and dignified Goddess of Justice to act out of character.
Astraea's sense of dignity didn't waver entirely, but she indulged him nonetheless, fulfilling even his more playful requests.
---
"Will your children be attending the Monster Festival today?" Sol asked casually.
Astraea immediately tightened her grip on Sol's arm. "What are you hinting at? I'm warning you—don't get any ideas about my children."
Her Familia consisted only of girls, and she was fiercely protective of them. Even with their close relationship, Sol couldn't escape her stern warnings.
"I'm just asking," he replied, feigning innocence. "Since I'm out with their goddess, it's natural to wonder how they're doing."
"Can you stop thinking about such nonsense when you're with me?" Astraea shot back, exasperated.
"Wow, Astraea. Are you actually jealous of your own Familia members? That's a surprise," Sol teased.
Ignoring his playful jab, Astraea caught a whiff of delicious aromas from nearby stalls and immediately dragged Sol along to investigate.
As they waited for their food, a group of strikingly beautiful girls approached from a distance. Their presence naturally parted the crowd, as even in the chaos, beauty commanded attention.
"Well, speak of the devil," Sol muttered. "I was just joking about your Familia, and here they are."
He turned to Astraea with a curious grin. "The festival grounds are enormous. How did they manage to find us?"