The Ishtar Familia was now on the brink of destruction.
Though Adam hadn't participated in the battle, he had already foreseen Ishtar's inevitable defeat. Freya, a fellow Goddess of Beauty, was simply too powerful.
This supreme Goddess wouldn't allow the "vermin" who had been harassing her from the shadows to escape.
Freya held onto Adam's arm, leading her favored child like a victorious champion toward the highest point of the Ishtar Familia's stronghold.
Her steps were deliberately slow — she was savoring this fleeting moment of intimate contact.
Though she had often met with the young man at the tavern before, their changed status now made everything feel different.
This was the perfect opportunity. If not for the urgent business ahead, she would have lingered longer with him.
The two ascended together, walking along the broken, towering stairs. Through gaps in the shattered walls, they gazed out at the Ishtar Familia compound below.
Raging flames dominated the landscape. The Entertainment District had lost its former splendor — its streets, once filled with exotic charm, now lay in ruins, devastated by powerful magic.
The cherry trees lining the road had crumbled to ash. In the night sky, flower petals and sparks danced together, creating a haunting display above the desolation.
Women and courtesans fled through the streets, their desperate screams piercing the air.
The Adventurers of the Ishtar Familia fought on, but they were only delaying their inevitable doom.
Adam felt a twinge of concern for Bell and the others. Though he had come alone, those fools would surely assume he was caught up in this conflict with the Ishtar Familia when they witnessed this scene of devastation.
They would likely rush here recklessly once the riot broke out.
Their concern was touching, but their arrival now would only complicate matters.
After all, Freya — who coveted Bell — was here. The Goddess of Beauty might seize this chance to capture him!
"What's wrong? You seem tense." Freya observed Adam's rigid posture with concern, "Are you feeling unwell, or worried that Ishtar might escape?"
"No, neither of those." Adam shook his head, "It's just that being in the presence of such a noble Goddess has made my heart race uncontrollably."
Flattery never fails. His earlier slip had caught her attention — better to tell a white lie now and redirect her thoughts.
Only a Freya focused on dealing with Ishtar would be a proper Goddess of Beauty.
"Hehe, you really know what to say." Freya was in high spirits.
Though she had long grown weary of such flattery, hearing it from the Hero's mouth uniquely thrilled her.
Her legs grew weak, and she leaned gently against the young man.
With the Hero by her side, she was already entranced.
✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
Atop the Belit Babili (Godly Brothel of the Mistress).
"No... this can't be possible!"
Leaning against the stone-walled balcony on the tower's exterior, Ishtar watched the desperate scene of her Familia's impending destruction, lost in bewilderment and unable to think clearly.
She couldn't understand why Freya would choose this moment to attack.
Haruhime? The name crossed her mind.
Was it because of that Renard? Because she posed a threat?
No, that wasn't it!
Though Haruhime was important, even with the future Killing Stone in hand, overthrowing Freya's rule remained far beyond reach.
In that moment, realization struck her.
"...Is it because of Adam?" Ishtar smiled bitterly.
Everything that had happened tonight suddenly made sense. She finally understood why Freya had chosen this specific day to attack the Familia.
"Is she truly this obsessed with the Hero?"
"To wage war just to keep someone from claiming this outstanding young man?"
"That woman, just for this—?!"
Absurd! Utterly absurd! What a joke!
To think something so trivial could cause this!
And what made it worse — the Hero hadn't even succumbed to her seduction, no matter how she'd tried to entice him! Yet here was her Familia, facing destruction!
Pure hatred erupted from the depths of her heart.
But she was powerless. Now she understood — her simple attempt at seduction had triggered Freya's wrath.
She faced the vengeful fury of that woman — a fellow Goddess of Beauty who far surpassed her.
"Damn it!" Ishtar cursed under her breath.
What options did she have left?
Escape! She had to escape first!
She would leave Orario, gather the Amazonesses from beyond the city, rebuild her strength, and start anew.
Yes, that was it — that was the plan!
Her mind made up, Ishtar settled on her course of action.
Several elite subordinates from her Familia remained stationed on the tower. Despite the enemy attack below, they held their position — protecting their deity was their highest priority.
These guards were her most trusted warriors, the elite core of her Familia. Unlike the outer circle members, their strength and loyalty were absolute. They were Ishtar's last remaining force, and she intended to use them well.
"Listen up! Cover my escape." Ishtar commanded her subordinates, "We'll use the secret passage, but two of you stay behind to retrieve the Killing Stone and Haruhime!"
Even in this crisis, Ishtar refused to abandon her ultimate weapon. Haruhime was crucial to her plan of overthrowing Freya — that would be her true revenge!
However... Freya had no intention of letting her escape.
Click, Click, Click!
The sound of high heels echoed ominously through the silent night.
Ishtar's face twisted with panic as she recognized those footsteps. Her purple eyes, already dark with hatred, now widened with terror.
She glared at the two figures emerging from the stairway.
"Freya—! Adam—!"
The contrast between them was stark — Freya, the smiling Goddess of Beauty, and Ishtar, whose hatred made her fearsome to behold.
There was no question which truly deserved the title "Goddess of Beauty".
"Ishtar, it's been a while." Freya's sweet smile never reached her cold eyes, "We haven't met since the Denatus. How have you been?"
"You... you..."
"I imagine you're not doing well, since you've stooped so low as to seduce men."
Adam, who had been silent until now, involuntarily shuddered.
Beside him, Freya gently pinched his arm, showing her displeasure. Not daring to object, he could only pretend not to notice.
Ishtar stumbled, her voice hoarse, "Y-you... what do you want?"
"I have something to tell you... no, I should say this is farewell." Freya wore a bright smile.
Her ice-cold words left Ishtar, already too frightened to speak, even more terrified.
She shook her hair wildly, screaming like a madwoman, "Quick, everyone, capture that Goddess!"
In her final breakdown, she ordered her followers to seize Freya.
In doing so, she completely ignored Adam.
As the Goddess's guard, the Hero knew he had to act — failing to protect her would seem suspicious.
Even though Freya needed no protection.
◈ Divine Convergence Breathing, Water Style ⫸ Transformation of Time Rain ◈
A pale blue domain suddenly manifested on the balcony, freezing all the advancing Adventurers in place.
Terror marked their faces as they lost not only their mobility but even their ability to speak. Complete silence fell.
Their firm waists went limp, and their clear eyes gradually grew unfocused.
Everyone had been charmed! Freya delivered the final blow, seizing control of all of Ishtar's Familia members!
The two slowly walked past their immobilized enemies, approaching their target.
"Eek—?!!!" Ishtar could no longer mask her terror of Freya.
She attempted to flee with a whimper but stumbled on a small stone, falling to the ground with a cry of pain.
Ishtar remained unclothed, her dark skin gleaming in the moonlight. Those alluring curves only served to intensify Freya's wrath.
Perceiving this as another attempt at seduction, Freya released Adam's arm and stepped forward to shield his view.
"Ishtar, you really never learn."
"D-don't come closer! Eek—!"
Despite being paralyzed with ankle pain, Ishtar's terror of the silver-haired Goddess drove her to drag herself backward.
Her delicate skin scraped against broken stones, leaving crimson streaks that only enhanced her allure — and fueled Freya's growing rage.
Finally, Ishtar's back met the cold balcony railing. She had nowhere left to retreat.
"The chase game is over. I'm weary of this." Freya said, her words dripping with insincerity.
Her smile betrayed her satisfaction, while her prey trembled in misery.
Mercifully, this torment would soon end.
"Let's finish this quickly, Ishtar."
"Freya! I-I just got carried away! I didn't realize you'd be so adamant! I won't dare again... please, spare me. Please, spare me." Ishtar begged.
With her Familia home in ruins and her followers enchanted, she made one final desperate plea.
Even in humiliation, she clung to life!
But Freya stood unmoved.
"Ishtar, until now I could smile and forgive your little games... but this time, I cannot. That child is mine, he will definitely be mine! I won't forgive anyone who dares to touch what belongs to me!"
In this moment, Freya's true nature emerged.
Tyrannical, brutal, and discourteous — her possessiveness emerged without disguise, leaving Ishtar both terrified and speechless.
In this moment, Freya was remarkably similar to her rival. Both were consumed by desire for the boy, though one was bold and unrestrained while the other preferred subtlety and indirection.
Yet when someone crossed their boundaries, they would strike like pythons, swallowing their enemies whole.
"I will destroy you and send you back to heaven!"
Freya's death sentence drained the color from Ishtar's face. She knew no amount of begging would earn mercy.
Still, she couldn't accept it!
"Why! Why!!!" Ishtar's dark skin flushed crimson, blood seeping from where the stones had cut her. Her emotional cry echoed through the silent night.
She burned with resentment!
In reputation and beauty alike, Freya surpassed her completely. No matter what she did, she could never reach the heights of this lofty Goddess.
Though they shared the title "Goddess of Beauty", why did such a vast gulf separate them?
"What's different between you and me!?"
"Character."
The answer cut like a blade. Freya's words struck Ishtar to her core, finally giving her the answer she had always sought — even if it wasn't the one she wished to hear.
"Could there be any other reason?" Freya continued smiling.
"N-nonsense!" Ishtar wouldn't admit this truth.
Her mind went blank as endless hatred consumed her remaining sanity.
"Woaaaaaah—!!!" Like a wild beast, Ishtar's face twisted into a snarl as she lunged at Freya, her hair flying wildly.
Adam remained motionless. This was a battle between Goddesses — he had no right (and didn't dare) to interfere.
He harbored dark thoughts: perhaps it would be best if they both perished.
But how could Ishtar, lost to madness, possibly match Freya?
As Ishtar grabbed for her, Freya made an elegant, graceful turn, leaving her opponent clutching at empty air.
Undeterred, Ishtar lunged again, attempting to push Freya from the tower!
But Freya dodged once more, and Ishtar's momentum carried her dangerously close to the edge!
"?!!"
Gazing down from the balcony's height, the cold wind shocked her senses, snapping her back to reality.
She had nearly fallen.
Click! Click! Click!
The approaching footsteps on the balcony rang like death knells, filling her with terror.
"Eek—!!!"
As Ishtar turned, Freya shoved her hard, sending her body backward.
Wait, Freya!
She tried to cry out, but her words were cut short by the sharp crack of a slap.
Smack!
Freya's hand struck true.
"Ah—!!!!" The cruel blow across her face sent the already unsteady Ishtar off balance...
And into the void.
From the highest balcony, Ishtar plummeted toward the ground like a stone into an abyss, her figure growing ever smaller.
"Goodbye, Ishtar." Freya made her final farewell, "I hope you'll learn to be smarter in the future... oh, too bad, you don't have a future."
She watched Ishtar's descent with cold satisfaction.
A sickening thud echoed from below.
Splat!
Suddenly, a magnificent pillar of light erupted skyward — vast, majestic, and inviolable, its divine radiance piercing the heavens!
This protective magic, designed to shield Gods from fatal injuries, signaled that a High God had been returned to heaven.
And so, Ishtar vanished from the mortal realm.
✧✧✧
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