Chapter 137: Separate Actions

As the flower piranhas crept closer step by step, Lulu could only watch helplessly. 

Her small frame wasn't built for enduring damage, nor could she protect the two "big babies" behind her. 

"I'm coming!" 

Seeing the piranhas advance, Ais struggled to rise from the ground. Blood still trickled from the corner of her mouth, and her pale, delicate face inspired both worry and heartbreak. 

However, her sword had been knocked away during her earlier battle with the red-haired woman. 

Was she planning to fight those monsters with her bare fists? 

It looked more like she was volunteering herself as a meal for the monsters. 

"Irelia—" Haruhime called out in panic as she watched Ais charge forward. Even if she wanted to stop her, Haruhime was only LV2—there was no way she could restrain someone as strong as Ais. 

But the thought of letting Ais sacrifice herself to protect her was unbearable. 

She couldn't stand idly by and watch someone die for her sake. 

"You're impossible! Fine, we'll get scolded together when we return." Irelia sighed in exasperation. 

At that moment, she deeply regretted her decisions. 

She shouldn't have come here today, shouldn't have joined in on this "fun." 

She could've spent her time more productively, grinding in the dungeon instead of dealing with this chaos. 

"Miss Ais—I'll support you!" 

Haruhime's words brought a flicker of hope. Her fluffy tail wagged enthusiastically as golden light began to gather around her, accompanied by the rhythmic chanting of her spell. 

Golden motes of light coalesced and merged into Ais, who felt a newfound strength surging within her body. 

Even the pain from her injuries seemed to fade into the background. 

Of course, this relief was more of an illusion—the blessing merely enhanced Ais's physical capabilities, temporarily pushing her beyond her limits. 

"What is this...?" Ais looked at the golden glow enveloping her in surprise, her doll-like expression softening for the first time. 

"I'm counting on you now, Miss Ais!" Haruhime smiled encouragingly before quickly retreating behind Lulu as the monsters surged closer. 

"Leave it to me!" 

Though amazed at Haruhime's ability, Ais quickly refocused on the task at hand. 

Dealing with the strange monsters took precedence over everything else. 

Bolstered by her newfound power, Ais couldn't wait to launch her attack. 

However, the issue of her missing weapon remained unresolved. Despite her enhanced strength, she wasn't a berserker like Tiona or Tione. 

Fortunately, Irelia had already foreseen the problem. 

Though she couldn't directly assist Ais while dealing with her own battles, providing a weapon was well within her capabilities. 

One of her Relic Stone Blades flew through the air and stopped precisely in front of Ais. 

While it lacked a proper hilt, Ais didn't let that deter her. 

She was too focused on testing her newfound strength to worry about such minor inconveniences. 

Granted, Irelia's vanguard blade wasn't a true longsword; its size and shape were more akin to a dagger. 

Fortunately, the monsters weren't overwhelmingly powerful. 

This gave Ais the chance to adapt to the weapon while simultaneously harnessing the steady flow of strength coursing through her body as she cleared the battlefield. 

The sharpness of the Relic Stone Blade was undeniable—perhaps even surpassing Ais's previous Sword of Despair. 

After all, the Sword of Despair was prized more for its indestructibility than its cutting ability. 

With the blessing of Wind Spirit Dash, Ais could feel her body lighter and more agile than ever before. 

Even a casual swing of her weapon now produced results far beyond what she'd thought possible. 

This newfound strength coursing through her body felt incredible. 

Ais found herself enamored with the effects of Haruhime's magic, though her movements didn't falter. Each strike of the Relic Stone Blade sent plumes of black smoke rising into the air. 

Even Lulu found herself with little to do as Ais efficiently cleared the nearby piranha flowers almost single-handedly. 

In the blink of an eye, the monster known as Viscum stood alone. 

It no longer summoned new piranha flowers, though whether it had lost the ability to do so or simply chose not to was unclear. 

Despite its massive and intimidating size, Ais propelled herself into the air with the assistance of the Wind Spirit. 

In a single, fluid motion, she soared above the giant flower's head. 

"Awaken (Tempest)!" 

Small hurricanes swirled around the Relic Stone Blade, focusing the wind's power into a single point. The blade pierced toward the top of the giant flower's head with precision. 

Lulu, watching from afar, noticed something peculiar: 

Ais's pupils seemed to darken, and faint traces of black energy blended into the golden aura surrounding her. 

"What... is that?" Lulu murmured, her curiosity piqued. 

It looked like some kind of skill, though she'd never heard of anything like it before. 

Unfortunately, there was no one present to answer her question—certainly not Haruhime, who remained safely behind her. 

With a derivative skill of the Wind Spirit Dash called Lil Rafaga, Ais delivered a swift and decisive strike. 

The blade sliced cleanly through what could only be described as Viscum's "neck." 

In an instant, the flower atop the monster's head was severed from its body, splitting it apart. 

The massive flower collapsed, leaving behind a giant magic stone that hit the ground with a resounding thud. 

"It seems your plan failed," Irelia mocked with a smirk. 

Though embroiled in her own battle, she had kept an eye on Ais's situation. As expected, with Haruhime's support, Ais had displayed terrifying strength. 

Even though Viscum was formidable, it was no match for Ais, whose strength now rivaled that of an LV6 adventurer. 

Still, Irelia hadn't expected such a quick victory. 

"Strong on the outside but fragile on the inside—is this thing all show?" she mused. 

The red-haired woman, seeing Viscum's defeat, frowned briefly before turning to flee without hesitation. 

"It seems the tide has turned against me. I'll retreat for now," she said, her voice calm as she made her escape. 

Irelia immediately gave chase, but the red haired woman leapt off the waterfall on the 18th floor before she could catch up. 

Even as Irelia pursued her with the Relic Stone Blades, the red-haired woman showed no intention of fighting back. 

The blades tore through her, leaving a trail of deep, penetrating wounds. Yet, without hesitation, she plunged into the water below and disappeared from sight. 

"Damn it! She got away!" Irelia cursed, frustration evident in her voice. 

"If I'd known, I wouldn't have let her go back earlier." 

But now, with the woman having escaped so desperately, there was little else Irelia could do.