[Reward settlement in progress——]
[Reward 1: Dōryoku +10%!]
[Reward 2: Chakra capacity +150,000!]
[Reward 3: Human Puppet: Third Kazekage]
The mechanical voice in Ryota's ear slowly faded.
But he stood there rooted to the spot, an expression of sheer bewilderment plastered across his face.
An increase in dōryoku, sure, he could understand that — it was practically standard at this point.
But a 150,000 chakra boost? Wasn't that a bit too generous?
And then there was the Human Puppet: Third Kazekage?
That was a monster capable of wielding the Magnet Style: Iron Sand from its lifetime!
"…This is way too freakin' over the top."
He even started to suspect the system had accidentally sent him the rewards for the next main quest.
But a moment later, he shook off those doubts.
This was already the third stage of the main quest.
And the string of cheats stacked in Ryota's body was completely insane:
Susanoo, Sage Jutsu Chakra, Hashirama Cells…
He was carrying seven or eight separate battle systems on one person, all perfectly usable and functional.
With a growth curve this monstrous, if they didn't give him more chakra, he'd practically explode.
Plus, he'd literally just crushed Orario's only Level 7 before the eyes of the entire city, while still a mere Level 2.
Stack all those factors together, and these absurd rewards were unexpected but not completely unreasonable.
"Good thing I stepped up and blocked Finn."
"And good thing Lady Loki had absolute faith in me."
"Otherwise this huge wave of rewards would've had nothing to do with me."
Ryota glanced at the Third Kazekage, floating quietly in his mental space, then at the Karasu gleaming on his chest.
His heart suddenly twinged.
He'd spent three days and nights with bloodshot eyes, hammering away until literal sparks were flying—
only for the system to just pop out a finished "ultimate weapon," complete with a Kekkei Genkai no less.
"Guess it's true what they say — compared to cheats, your hard work is worth jack shit."
Sliding the Kusanagi Sword back into its scabbard, Ryota looked over the arena, now left cratered and barely recognizable by his final punch.
Then he glanced again at Ottar, still embedded in that fist-shaped imprint, and muttered:
"Huh? Did I forget to use Amaterasu or Tsukuyomi?"
"Damn, having too many cheats is its own problem."
If Ottar had still been conscious right now and heard that line, he'd probably have puked blood on the spot.
Dusting off his clothes, Ryota finally stepped toward the shattered main gate.
On that side, a group of medics was already racing in — a support team specially assigned by the Guild.
No one had expected that the one who'd fall would be Freya Familia's champion.
But even if he had only a single breath left, the Guild would spare no effort to save him.
That wasn't just respect for the strong — it was critical for keeping order in Orario.
As Ryota passed them, one of the medics jogged over, stopping in front of him, and asked in a shaky voice,
"M-Mr. Ryota…do you need treatment?"
"No need."
He pointed casually toward Ottar, still buried in the crater.
"Save your strength for that guy."
In fact, right after finishing his clash with Ottar, Ryota had felt a moment of dizziness and weakness in his body.
But then the system dropped that "+150,000 chakra" line like a miracle cure, and it was as if someone had poured an entire ocean inside him.
That feeling of a full chakra bar was honestly even better than a bowl of pork rice with two braised eggs on top.
The medic froze for a second, staring blankly at Ryota's face for three whole seconds before snapping back to reality:
"Ah, y-yes sir!"
He turned and sprinted toward Ottar, but only one thought was echoing through his mind:
The Loki Familia had raised an absolute monster.
A Level 2? Crushing a Level 7 so easily?
Walking away from the fight without a drop of blood spilled, not even short of breath, then telling them to "save their strength" for the other guy?
If that wasn't a monster, then it could only be…a god-forged monster.
As Ryota left the arena,
it also marked the end of round one of the War Game.
And this victory, without question, belonged to Ryota — and to the Loki Familia!
…
As Ryota's silhouette faded from the projection screens, all of Orario finally snapped out of its stunned trance.
And the next moment, a tidal wave of shock ripped through every street and alley like a flash flood!
——Ottar had lost!
The man who stood at the absolute peak of Orario, known as "King," had actually been one-punched into the ground by a Level 2 rookie in the first round of the War Game!
No drawn-out battle.
No close call.
No lucky break.
Just pure, overwhelming force, leaving him no chance to fight back at all!
"He— holy shit, Ottar lost! How the hell could Ottar lose?!"
"That wasn't a loss — that was a total beatdown! Didn't you see? He couldn't even scratch that giant's leg!!"
"Loki Familia really are lunatics! They sent a Level 2 up there and actually won?!"
"I'm ruined…my valis…all gone…"
Inside the underworld gambling dens, countless bosses who'd bet on Freya's victory had gone pale, their throats dry as if they'd swallowed sand.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the table, a few "madmen" who'd bet on Loki Familia, after a moment of dumbstruck silence, suddenly exploded in hysterical celebration:
"We won!!!"
"Holy shit, we won!!! I'm rich! RICH, I TELL YOU—!!!"
At 1:500 odds, even a single valis wager would net you five hundred back!
And it was all thanks to that black-haired boy called Ryota.
Back in the gods' chamber, Hestia was clinging to Hephaestus's arm, jumping up and down while screaming, sending her generous assets bouncing wildly:
"Ryota is the best!!! We wonnnnnn!!!"
The red-haired goddess was being yanked around so hard she forgot to even struggle.
Her one exposed ruby eye was filled with total shock.
After a moment, she came to her senses, grabbed the now completely hysterical Hestia, and shoved her back into her seat with a sigh.
"You idiot, there's still another round!"
"Ugh…"
Hestia pouted, cheeks puffed up.
"So what! We won one already, can't I celebrate a little?!"
That utterly self-righteous look made Hephaestus's eyebrow twitch, but she finally just sighed and let it go.
Honestly, the only person in all of Orario who could hold down this little goddess was probably Hephaestus.
Partly because they'd been close since the days of the divine realm, and partly because whenever Hestia was out of money for food, she was the first one to come crying to Hephaestus for a loan —
though "loan" usually meant more of a one-sided announcement.
"You can celebrate, but wait until the second round is over to go nuts."
Hephaestus turned, about to say something to Loki, when she suddenly noticed Freya rising from her seat.
That peerlessly beautiful goddess was slowly descending the viewing platform.
On her face, she still wore that gentle, serene smile, as if the total destruction of Ottar just now had absolutely nothing to do with her.
She ignored the shocked, fearful eyes around her, paying no mind to the whispers of the other gods.
Freya stepped down the stone steps of the stands, walking straight toward Royman at the arena's edge.
"…Tch. I can tell just by looking, she's up to no good."
Loki wiped the grin from her face, turning toward Hephaestus, Hestia, and Hermes, then added:
"I'm going down there."
Without waiting for an answer, she bolted down the steps.
The three gods exchanged a glance, then also stood up and followed.
"L-Lady Freya?"
Royman watched her approach, feeling an invisible weight pressing down on his shoulders like a mountain.
He stammered, his fat body creaking to its feet, cold sweat dripping down his face:
"Is there… something I can do for you?"
Freya stopped in front of him, speaking lazily:
"About the second-round siege match, I have a small suggestion about the rules — I'd like them modified."
"Huh?"
Royman froze, about to ask, when the sound of many footsteps came from behind.
He turned his head and saw Loki arriving with Hestia, Hephaestus, and Hermes close behind.
Following them were Finn, Riveria, Ais, and the other core members of the Loki Familia.
In contrast, Freya stood completely alone.
The contrast was painfully obvious.
Freya, of course, noticed Loki's arrival. She smiled faintly and said:
"That was fast."
Loki narrowed her eyes.
"I heard you wanted to change the rules, so of course I had to come hear it myself."
She glanced at Royman's utterly confused face and snorted:
"Who knows if you'll end up charming this big dumb pig."
Royman forced an awkward laugh and didn't dare talk back.
"I wouldn't do such a thing," Freya went on calmly,
"I simply hope… that for the second-round siege match, Ryota will not be allowed to use any of the skills or magic he displayed today."
"What?!"
Loki's face darkened.
"What kind of nonsense proposal is that? You're obviously targeting our kid!"
Hestia also stomped forward, hands on her hips, cheeks puffed red:
"You—you shameless woman!!"
"Ryota even agreed to your ridiculous tie-counts-as-loss condition! And now that he beat that filthy lovestruck mutt, you want to add more rules?!"
Freya's gentle smile didn't fade.
"Don't be so hasty, let me finish."
"If your Loki Familia agrees to this condition, then I will have Ottar sit out the siege round."
Before they could reply, Freya continued:
"Even though Ottar lost, he is still Orario's only Level 7."
"And from what I sense, he isn't dead — it's just a matter of time before he recovers."
Freya paused, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear,
"In a siege, Ottar could simply avoid Ryota altogether. That would put you at a disadvantage whether you were attacking or defending."
"Don't forget — if the score is 1:1, then we win."
"I'm not banning Ryota from all magic and skills, only the ones he used today."
"So looking at it fairly… you're still coming out ahead."
Loki's expression turned pitch-black, and she glared:
"Do you even hear yourself—"
But before she could finish, a familiar voice spoke up behind her:
"Lady Loki, I think that proposal is fine."