Ao Tenshin lumbered into position beside Martin with an eager little squeal, her shell rising beside him like a moving bunker. Each step made the ground answer with a dull thud, and when she angled herself toward the nest entrance, the tunnel suddenly looked much smaller. Her claws scraped against the ground as she lowered her huge body, neck stretching forward and eyes fixed on the ants gathering inside.

The sound she made was cute enough to make NukEncore smile. Everything else about her promised that anything trying to slip past Martin would have to survive being hit by a small house first.

NukEncore drifted farther back, flames gathering around her hands in playful little flickers. Her grin slowly returned, brighter and more dangerous than before.

Flash Fang studied the formation.

Martin stood at the front with Ao Tenshin guarding the opening beside him, a living wall of shell, claws, and cheerful menace. NukEncore had taken the rear, where she could burn everything without holding back. Behind them all, Cassandra remained protected while controlling the nest like a queen managing her board.

No wonder Elise had fallen so hard into this party’s rhythm.

Soon enough, the first wave of monsters rushed out.

The first warning was sound: scratching legs, clicking mandibles, and the ugly rush of too many bodies crawling over one another as the ants poured toward the entrance.

Martin raised his shield and waited for the right moment to use his trump card.

The wave closed in, but he did not give ground. When the first row of monsters reached striking distance, he watched their movement, measured the timing, and shouted.

"Angel, now!"

Ao Tenshin slammed forward with a loud crash.

The ground shook under her weight. A heavy burst of wind exploded in every direction, brushing through NukEncore’s hair, tugging at Cassandra’s sleek outfit, and making Flash Fang’s beginner clothes flutter around her body. The front line of ants vanished beneath Ao Tenshin’s body with a wet, brutal impact. Cracks spread across the floor, blood spilled outward, and countless monsters died before they could even understand what had happened.

Martin looked back with a proud smile, like he had just introduced everyone to a cute family pet.

NukEncore beamed at the sight of Angel and clapped her hands.

Cassandra, however, looked almost untouched by the chaos. Her eyes remained on the system windows, and she only raised one hand to keep her hair from falling into her face. Even with monsters dying nearby and blood spreading across the ground, she had the air of someone reviewing reports in a clean office.

She was as cool as Martin imagined her to be.

Flash Fang’s eyes shone brightly. "He’s a tank with a tank-like pet. Cool."

"And Angel is such a sweetie! She’ll take you for a ride if you ask her, and she’ll show you that she’s better than any jet ski!" NukEncore added.

Flash Fang smiled. "I’ll ask her when we find time to play more. I already got level ten, by the way."

"Haha! I’m leveling up as well! We need to hit level sixty as soon as possible. Remind me later to call Alexandra and Katherine about it!"

"Sure."

The leveling continued.

Martin held the entrance like a wall, letting the monsters crash against him and Angel before they could spread too far. Whenever ants spilled too far to the side, Ao Tenshin answered with a happy squeal and shoved them back with her massive shell. Some were swept away by her claws. Others disappeared under her weight when she shifted a little too enthusiastically.

When a thicker cluster tried to crawl around her, Ao Tenshin lowered her head, puffed her cheeks, and blasted them with Dragon Breath.

On land, it did not burn like fire. It hit like a high-pressure hose.

The stream battered the ants off their legs, knocked the lighter ones backward, and soaked the tunnel floor until everything near her became slippery and chaotic. One ant managed to cling to the ground and keep crawling forward, so Ao Tenshin waddled two heavy steps closer and headbutted it into the wall.

Then she let out another pleased little squeal, adorable and proud, as if she had done something clever instead of turning half the tunnel into a wet disaster zone.

NukEncore fought in the complete opposite way.

She looked like she wanted the entire valley to know she was having fun.

Flames burst from her hands in wild arcs. Explosions rolled through the nest entrance. Burning ants scattered, collapsed, and disappeared into experience points. Every spell lit her face with fierce excitement, turning her usual idol-like brightness into something much more dangerous.

As Martin, Ao Tenshin, and NukEncore wreaked havoc in the overflowing nest, Flash Fang watched her EXP bar climb. She also saw a different side of her friend, whose flames lit such excitement across her face that Rias was sure of one thing.

Your fans would love to see your pyromaniac self. But maybe it’s better if this side is reserved only for this party... or maybe it’s because Martin is around that you shine so differently.

Seeing her friend have such a blast really egged Rias on to try fighting herself.

At first, her fingers only flexed at her sides.

Then her gaze dropped to her beginner gear.

Plain was the kindest word for it. Compared to everyone else, she looked almost embarrassingly underprepared. No special armor. No impressive weapon. Nothing that made her seem like she belonged beside players who could turn a monster nest into a farming machine.

But her level had risen enough by now.

Her body felt lighter, and her stats were no longer at their absolute worst. More importantly, the itch to test herself was getting harder to ignore. Watching was useful, but there was only so much she could learn from behind the line.

She did not want to be carried forever.

Once she asked for permission to step in, NukEncore drifted over to her, still glowing with heat and excitement from the battle.

"Sure! What class did you pick, by the way?" Encore asked.

"Duelist with a twist."

"A twist?"

Rias smiled, and this time, there was a little more confidence behind it.

"I asked for a dagger."