Chapter 195: The Toad Catches the Fox

"While I'd like to know your reason for ambushing us, I suppose we'll find out when we return..."

"If you're so curious, ask my goddess yourself! We're just following orders!" Aisha spat back.

"Fair enough. But you sound like you're holding some serious resentment towards your own familia," Irelia remarked, somewhat surprised at Aisha's cooperation.

She hadn't even planned to ask many questions, and yet here was Aisha, practically volunteering information. The bitterness in her tone was unmistakable.

What kind of familia had such distaste for their own members? Disgust like this came from deep within.

Irelia understood that it wasn't uncommon for members of some gods' familias to feel discontent—she'd seen Riveria occasionally bemoan certain members of her own Sol family. But it was different. This resentment Aisha bore seemed to come from the very core of her being.

Despite everything, Irelia couldn't bring herself to dislike Aisha. This woman fought with full force and, unlike others, didn't take her frustrations out on innocent parties. That kind of sensibility struck a chord with Irelia.

"Well, just stay put here for now. The battle over there should be wrapping up soon."

Lowering her guard, Irelia tossed her vanguard blades into the air; they obediently returned to her side.

Seeing that the fighting was nearing its end, Haruhime, her kind heart unable to resist, stepped forward to help Aisha, guiding her to sit against a nearby rock to rest.

Irelia watched in silence but didn't intervene. Aisha posed no immediate threat, and besides, she'd left a surprisingly good impression.

"How are you feeling?" Haruhime asked, her concern genuine.

Aisha gazed back at Haruhime, her eyes fixed in an intense stare that left Haruhime blushing.

This girl was truly innocent. Here she was, expressing concern for someone who had, just moments ago, been their enemy. And yet the battle between Ahri and Phryne was still raging nearby—what if Aisha took advantage of this innocent little fox?

Even so, she posed no threat to Haruhime or to Irelia. 

"This trust you show me is almost flattering. Aren't you worried I might seize the girl as a hostage?"

"You could try," Irelia replied with a raised eyebrow. At her command, the vanguard blades floated around her, their pointed ends directed at Aisha, each one glinting with a sharp, ominous edge that made Aisha's breath hitch.

"Blade Dancer Irelia—you're stronger than I thought."

"Oh, you've heard of me?" Irelia replied, mildly surprised.

"Of course. There aren't many first-tier adventurers in Orario we don't know about."

"Then what were you all thinking, coming here to pick a fight? Why not just send your toad instead?" Irelia's expression darkened, her anger rekindled.

If they knew her reputation as Blade Dancer, then they must have known she was a registered Level 5 in the guild. So what did they think they'd accomplish by ambushing her, sending only Phryne—a single Level 5 with a band of Levels 2 and 1?

How dare they underestimate herself so much!?

On the other side, under everyone's watchful eyes, the battle between Phryne and Ahri continued.

However, despite the intense atmosphere, the fight was more bluster than substance.

From their physical differences alone, it was clear that Phryne held the advantage in both strength and endurance. Yet, Ahri never gave her the chance to capitalize on it.

Phryne's massive physique, while imposing, severely hindered her agility. As a result, the towering brute simply couldn't keep up with Ahri's swift movements.

To make matters worse, Ahri possessed the dashing ability of Soul Raid, rendering Phryne's wish for close combat an impossible dream from the very start.

Rather than a fierce duel, the encounter resembled Ahri playing with a pet—stalking a toad rather than fighting an opponent.

Phryne, swinging her twin axes with all her might, appeared to have the upper hand, but in reality, her attacks were nothing more than wasted effort.

None of them landed. None even came close.

"The fight over there is already over. I should wrap this up, too."

Noticing that Ais and the others had settled into spectator mode, Ahri finally decided to take things seriously.

Her playful nature often led her to leave openings in battle, but this was different.

After all, her opponent was Phryne—the repulsive toad. The last thing she wanted was any form of physical contact with that thing.

Without warning, a blue orb appeared in Ahri's palm, seemingly out of nowhere. It hovered in the air as she channeled her vast demonic energy into it, the power within slowly building.

"You damn fox! All you do is run! And now you dare talk big to me!?"

Phryne had spent the entire fight swinging at empty air, her strength going to waste. Frustration burned inside her, and Ahri's mocking words only added fuel to the fire.

Her pride as the leader of the Ishtar Familia, a Level 5 adventurer, would not allow this humiliation to continue.

When had she ever been looked down upon like this?

Blinded by rage, Phryne paid no mind to her fallen subordinates sprawled across the battlefield.

She stomped the ground with her massive foot and leapt high into the air, twin axes raised above her head.

Two air blades slashed toward Ahri.

This time, however, Ahri didn't dodge.

Phryne's heart surged with excitement.

The fox had fallen for it! The taunt had worked!

"Fool!"

A vicious glint flashed in Phryne's eyes as she imagined the moment her axes would cleave Ahri's frail body into three.

She had completely forgotten Ishtar's command to avoid unnecessary trouble.

All that mattered now was cutting this damn fox down.

"Tch. Just like a wild dog—reckless, desperate, lunging forward the moment it senses an opening," Ahri murmured, watching Phryne's charge with a smirk of disdain.

Then, just as the air blades were about to strike her—

A cluster of eerie, azure flames ignited around Ahri.

The will-o'-the-wisps danced in the air, forming a spectral shield around her.

The scorching blue fire burned away the very force that sought to harm her, reducing Phryne's attack to nothing.