Chapter 104 - Alfia’s Bell Tolls

5/5

---

"Oh?"

"Then let me spar with you, you bull of a woman—let's see who's truly the strongest."

[Silence] Alfia stepped forward, the first to express her defiance.

"You sure about that?"

Lagunares the Empress looked at her with amused interest, the bull tail behind her swaying lazily.

"Oh dear, oh dear—ladies, let's not be so hostile now,"

Alise quickly stepped in to play mediator.

As a social butterfly with a touch of chuunibyou, not even Ellen the Goddess's Chariot could win an argument with her.

Which was exactly why the socially anxious chuunibyou Hegni admired and looked up to the Crimson Saintflower so much.

At that moment—

Neither Silence nor the Empress bothered to acknowledge the Level 6 chatterbox.

"Big Sis, Lady Lagunares, could you please not fight?"

Meteria, standing between the two titans, pouted in mild protest.

"Fiiine~~"

In an instant, both top-tier powerhouses softened their previously haughty postures.

"Oi, oi, am I invisible or something?"

Raven smirked.

"I'll admit you're both incredible, but not as incredible as me."

"Yes~ Raven-sama is the strongest of all."

Meteria smiled sweetly, eyes filled with love and admiration.

"Wow, Meteria, you've really got the spirit of justice!"

"Wanna join our Justice Girls?"

Alise beamed radiantly with sunshine energy.

"Ah… um…"

Meteria scratched her head awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

Wasn't everyone technically already part of the same group?

"You're all idiots. I'm rejecting on my sister's behalf."

Alfia said flatly, showing zero tact.

"And I'm rejecting for my friend,"

Lagunares narrowed her eyes, releasing a slight but terrifying pressure.

"Geez, don't be so cold~"

Alise paid it no mind, grabbing Meteria's slender hand with enthusiasm.

"Come on, give me your hand!"

"Everyone, you remember our Justice Oath, right?"

"Wait, Captain, you're not seriously—"

Kaguya facepalmed with a sigh, ashamed on her behalf.

"Cut the crap, let's go!"

Alise barked the order.

"…F-Fine~"

Laila reluctantly came over.

Kaguya, Niz, Noin, Astae, Lyanna, Celty, Iska, and Maryuu all joined the circle one after another.

"Aude, Raven—come join us too!"

Alise cheerfully called them over.

"No thanks, I refuse."

Raven, sensing what was coming, flatly declined.

"A-Alise… can I sit this one out?"

Aude gave a polite laugh as she scratched her head.

"Fine, whatever."

Alise didn't press them.

She turned her attention back to the white-haired beauty who had just joined them.

"Hehe~ Since Ryuu's not around, Meteria can take her place!"

"Don't be shy, everyone. Stack your hands and smile!"

Alise chuckled heartily as she gave out her spirited order.

"Y-Yes…"

Overwhelmed by her energy, the others couldn't resist and reluctantly joined in, cheeks slightly flushed.

Meteria, not quite sure what was going on, placed her hand on top with a puzzled look.

"All right, let's begin!"

Alise took a deep breath.

"We carry the scales of justice until they shine like starlight—"

Ten powerful female voices rang out in unison.

They sang the Ode to Justice.

Meteria stood there, totally dumbfounded.

"Soaring with the heavens, adorning the earth with stars,"

"""We pledge ourselves to the Sword and Wings of Justice!"""

Raven, for some reason, found himself breaking into goosebumps.

The cringe was real.

Thankfully…

There was not a single person in sight.

"All right, enough with the antics."

"Let's all welcome our newest member!"

The moment Raven finished speaking—

Alfia uttered a single word:

"[——Gospel]."

Boom.

A deafening bell-like sound shook the air.

A surge of energy erupted—a magical force fused with destruction, pressure, and holy judgment.

The sacred bell's toll echoed like thunder from the heavens.

At the moment of impact—

The surrounding space quaked. The very air screamed.

A group of lizardmen charging at them were instantly reduced to black ash.

Even their magic stones—

Were disintegrated into powder by the shockwave.

Nearby trees were shredded into splinters. The ground itself split and caved in.

A massive dust cloud swallowed the area.

When the roaring of the bell finally died down, everyone turned to Alfia with stunned expressions.

"Cough cough…"

"Hey! You terrifying witch, what the hell was that for?!"

Laila coughed a few times, having inhaled some of the dust, and glared at Alfia.

"For a second there, I thought you were attacking us!"

"Hah, ridiculous. Why would I need to 'attack' to deal with you background extras?"

Alfia shut her eyes, her tone full of disdain.

She had once held back and lost to their group of eleven.

Did they really think that, after being resurrected, they could beat her like they did on that final day seven years ago?

"...Big Sis~~"

"If you keep acting like this, I'm gonna get mad!"

Meteria puffed out her cheeks and ran over to grab her sister's arm.

Alfia's heart instantly melted.

"Alfia, tone it down. Lagunares—you too."

"…Yes."

Both titans of destruction immediately obeyed Raven's command.

They might butt heads with each other—

But there was one thing they would never do:

Disobey Raven.

Moments later—

The smoke began to clear.

The surrounding area would remain quiet for a while.

Because—

The Dungeon prioritized repairing terrain before spawning new monsters.

"All right, this time I really am going to start the summoning."

"Everyone, get ready."

Raven smirked.

At his side stood [Silence] Alfia and [Empress] Lagunares.

---

Please subscribe at patreon.com/dzeref887 and get access to over 500 chapters.