Ptah stood beside Aisha, a young Amazoness whose presence was striking not only due to her imposing aura but also because of the minimal clothing she wore, typical of her culture. Unlike Saly, he didn't have to ask her to remove part of her clothing, Amazoness, after all, wore outfits that resembled swimsuits more than armor, regardless of the circumstances or location.

A drop of Ptah's blood fell onto Aisha's skin, triggering the appearance of a tattoo that seemed to emerge from deep within her being. Glowing hieroglyphs began to rise from the tattoo, ascending into the air with a blue light that filled the room.

Aisha Belka
Lv. 1
Strength: I 0
Endurance: I 0
Dexterity: I 0
Agility: I 0
Magic: I 0

Magic:
Hell Kaios
When the user wields a sword, it releases a cutting wave that destroys everything in its path.
Chant: "Come, champion of the savages. Manly warrior, strong hero, greedy and unjust hero. Show your worth if you desire the girdle of the empress. Satisfy my body, penetrate my body, kill my body, and prove your worth. My starving blade is Hippolyta."

What a long chant. I can't even imagine reciting something so complex in the middle of battle, and it sounds pretty embarrassing to say in front of others.

Ptah shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside. He returned the hieroglyphs to Aisha's tattoo before placing a paper on her back. As the status appeared on the paper, the tattoo bearing the emblem of the Ptah family began to fade, a method used by the gods to prevent others, whether gods or mortals, from reading or manipulating the sacred information.

"It's all done," Ptah said, handing the paper to Aisha.

"Your magic is quite peculiar," Aisha commented with a smile. Saly, who had been watching from the side, became immediately interested and sat next to Aisha to see the status with her.

"Can I see it?" Saly asked with a mix of curiosity and boldness, though she was already looking at the status without really waiting for a response.

"Sure, we're in the same family now, I don't mind if you look," Aisha replied without any hesitation. Both settled together at the edge of the bed.

Saly began reading the chant aloud, driven by curiosity "Come, champion of the savages. Manly warrior, strong hero, greedy and unjust hero. Show your worth if you desire the girdle of the empress. Satisfy my body…" Her face started to turn red as she processed the words she had just spoken.

Aisha let out a soft laugh and gently patted Saly's head with affection. "You're quite an innocent girl," she said, which only made Saly feel more embarrassed.

"Well, now that we're done with this, it's time for us to go to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow," Ptah said, with a firmness that left no room for doubt. He headed to his bed and lay down, leaving the girls to follow his example.

***

The next day, Aisha registered at the guild with Saly's help, as Ptah had gone to work. They were now on the fourth floor of the dungeon, where Aisha easily dispatched a Dungeon Lizard, demonstrating her skill. These monsters, while less common than goblins or kobolds, posed no real challenge for the Amazoness.

The giant sword Aisha carried stood out due to its size compared to her body, which still showed signs of growth and development.

"You're very strong and good at fighting," Saly said with sincere admiration. She remembered her own struggles to adapt to fighting monsters, though her rapid progress was largely due to her skill, which granted her extraordinary strength for someone of her level.

"I know," Aisha responded with confidence that didn't verge on arrogance but rather reflected a calm acceptance of her own ability. "From a young age, we're taught to protect ourselves and grow stronger through intense training. I've fought with various weapons and also with my bare hands. Besides, I've already had experience facing monsters outside of Orario, so this is pretty easy for me."

Meanwhile, Ptah was in the backroom of Lenoa's small shop, carefully measuring ingredients for a complex potion. The witch's hidden shop was a well-kept secret, frequented only by select adventurers who knew of the exceptional quality of its products.

"Lord Ptah," Lenoa called from the front, "how's that mind recovery potion you were preparing?"

"Almost ready, Lenoa," Ptah replied, adding a few drops of a bright blue liquid to the cauldron. "This formula should be a bit more effective than the last one." It's a shame the ingredients are so expensive and much harder to come by, Ptah thought. The reason many high-ranking adventurers used higher-quality potions, even though their price increased exponentially, was that the number of potions one could drink was limited. After consuming a few, they would quench thirst and act as a meal, making it very difficult to drink too many in a short period.

Lenoa nodded in approval. "Our customers expect only the best, so don't slack off and accidentally poison them." Though it was a typical joke from Lenoa, Ptah had already grown accustomed to her peculiar humor.

Still, a smile appeared on his face. Though the shop wasn't very well-known, the products they crafted were of superior quality, surpassing even those from more renowned establishments in Orario.

As he bottled the freshly finished potion, Ptah reflected on how this work not only allowed him to improve his alchemy skills but also to learn from Lenoa's magical creations. Artifacts like the blood-powered quill, the monster-repelling pouch using items with a strong stench and the blood of powerful creatures like the Goliath, or the mask that allowed underwater breathing while consuming a minimal amount of mind.

So many wonders could be created with the development skill Mystery, and Ptah was convinced that he could acquire the same ability if he continued to improve his knowledge of alchemy. Though he also wanted to focus on other branches of creation, like blacksmithing.

Perhaps I should try creating a potion that temporarily increases endurance and sharpens the senses to detect danger, he thought, imagining the difficulties Aisha and Saly might be facing at that moment. However, when he activated the system to check on the girls, he only saw that they were enjoying themselves hunting monsters.

"Lord Ptah, can we play with the spinning tops?" Lena asked with puppy eyes that Ptah couldn't resist. He looked to Lenoa for approval, and she nodded with a smile.

Sometimes, Ptah needed to relax, especially when the stress of improving to face Evilus weighed on him. Why not simply leave Orario during that time? That would be the sensible option for many, but Ptah saw the situation as an opportunity to strengthen the foundations of his family amidst the conflict.

Meanwhile, Aisha and Saly quickly made their way up the stairs leading to the sixth floor of the dungeon. The metallic echo of Aisha's enormous sword contrasted with the soft whistle of Saly's halberd cutting through the air as she skillfully spun it, occasionally piercing monsters with its sharp tip. Both weapons were marked with red lines forming symbols.

"Hey, Saly," Aisha commented, her eyes scanning the shadows for any movement, "do you think we'll run into any War Shadows soon? I'm eager to test my sword against them." Aisha had been paying attention to Saly's explanations about the monsters that inhabited the nearby floors.

Saly smiled at her companion's enthusiasm. "Patience, Aisha. War Shadows are cunning. They're probably watching us right now, waiting for the right moment to strike."

As if Saly's words had been a signal, a wet sound echoed in the cavern. The tongue of a Frog Shooter shot out from the shadows.

"Watch out!" Aisha shouted, but Saly was already in motion.

With an agile spin, Saly used the shaft of her halberd to deflect the monster's tongue. "This one's mine!" she exclaimed, confidently advancing toward the Frog Shooter emerging from its hiding place.

The monster, surprised by Saly's speed, attempted a second attack. But Saly was ready. Using the long reach of her halberd, she kept the Frog Shooter at a distance that was out of reach for its tongue while she searched for an opening.

"Come on, ugly frog!" Saly taunted, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Is that all you've got?"

The Frog Shooter tried to get closer to bring her within its reach and launched a desperate attack. Saly was expecting it. With a fluid movement, she used the blade of her halberd to cut the monster's tongue mid-air. The Frog Shooter shrieked in pain, but Saly didn't give it time to recover. Spinning her weapon expertly, she used the tip to deliver a final blow, cleanly piercing through the monster.

"Impressive!" Aisha applauded, genuinely admiring her. "Your control of the halberd has improved a lot. That distance management was excellent."

Saly smiled, spinning her halberd before resting it on the ground. "Thanks to Lord Ptah for buying me this weapon that perfectly suits my style."

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed. The shadows seemed to come to life, growing denser and more menacing. Three dark silhouettes emerged, their claws gleaming faintly War Shadows.

"Ah, finally," said Aisha, a fierce smile lighting up her face. She lifted her giant sword, the metal reflecting the dim light of the cavern. "How about we make this interesting, Saly? Whoever defeats more wins."

Saly nodded, spinning her halberd into a combat-ready position. Her eyes shone with the same intensity as Aisha's. "Challenge accepted. My halberd against your sword. Get ready to lose, Aisha."

Without further words, both charged into the fray. Aisha rushed directly at two War Shadows, her massive sword slicing through the air with a menacing whistle. The monsters tried to flank her, but the Amazoness was too skilled. With a twist of her body, she blocked one attack while countering the other.

Saly, on the other hand, faced the third War Shadow with a different strategy. Using the long reach of her halberd, she kept the monster at a distance, frustrating its attempts to get close. Every time the War Shadow tried to fade into the shadows, Saly used the tip of her weapon to force it to stay visible.

"Come on, shadowy!" Saly taunted, spinning her halberd confidently. "Can't handle a simple rookie?"

The War Shadow charged directly at Saly. Exactly what she had hoped for. With a quick move, she used the shaft of her halberd to deflect the monster's claws and, in the same spin, the blade sliced cleanly through the War Shadow's dark form.

"One for me!" Saly shouted triumphantly.

"Not so fast!" Aisha replied, her sword slicing one of her opponents in half. "We're tied."

The last War Shadow, seeing its companions fall, attempted to retreat. But Aisha and Saly weren't about to let it escape.

"Together!" Aisha shouted.

Saly nodded, understanding the plan without needing more words. Using her halberd, she forced the War Shadow to move toward Aisha. The Amazoness, anticipating the move, prepared her final strike.

In a perfect display of teamwork, Saly used the back of her halberd to trip the War Shadow just as Aisha delivered a powerful blow with her sword. The monster had no chance.

Slightly out of breath from the effort but with satisfied smiles, Aisha and Saly high-fived.

"Not bad, partner," Aisha said, resting her sword on the ground. "I think we can call it a tie."

Saly nodded, wiping the blade of her halberd. "This time. Next time, I'll win."

Both laughed, the sound of their joy echoing through the dungeon as a challenge to any monster daring to face them.

"Well," Aisha said, looking at the path that stretched before them, "ready to keep going? I bet we can go even deeper today."

Saly shook her head, spinning her halberd before resting it on her shoulder. "For now, let's stay on this floor until your stats increase. Besides, I can't keep enchanting your sword and my halberd too much due to the mind drain, the runes wear out faster if we overuse them. We might even find a rare item to get more valis. By the way, how do you like your new sword?"

Aisha agreed with what Saly said. Though her awakened physical strength was quite good compared to newly awakened adventurers without trained bodies, much of the damage she could inflict on the monsters on the fifth and sixth floors was due to the runes Saly had placed.

"It's great, but wasn't it a bit expensive? Lord Ptah didn't want to let go of the valis even though he had already placed them in your hands," Aisha asked, recalling how sad Ptah had looked.

"Don't worry, he always acts like that when he spends too many valis on something that isn't related to potion ingredients or other things he wants to make."