The massive iron sand spear continued to grind forward with the momentum of having shattered the barrier, crushing everything in its path.
Magic trembled like a flickering candle, and the entire outer defensive array of the fortress crumbled at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Hiss—"
"The barrier… broke?!"
"No—not just broke! It's still pushing!!"
The citizens of Orario watching the battle let out cries of shock, while the members of Freya Familia atop the walls all turned pale.
But what no one expected was—that disaster had only just begun.
In the distance, Ryota narrowed his eyes slightly.
Watching the iron sand spear gnaw away at the fortress gate, its speed just a bit too slow for his liking, he frowned.
"…Too slow."
With a thought, the Third Kazekage beside him received the command and swiftly formed hand signs.
"Magnet Style: Iron Sand Gathering!"
BOOM!!!
The air exploded.
Two even larger shadows condensed in the sky in the blink of an eye, flanking the iron triangular spear on either side.
Three colossal constructs of iron sand loomed in the sky, like divine instruments of destruction descending from the heavens, all locking onto Freya Familia's main fortress wall.
The next second—
BOOM!!!!!!!
A sound that tore through the heavens erupted, a deafening roar that shattered the air itself.
All three constructs came crashing down simultaneously. In that instant, the entire battlefield was swallowed by an oppressive shadow of death.
RUMBLE—!!!
The earth quaked, mountains trembled, and iron sand surged into a black tsunami.
That towering, supposedly indestructible main wall of the fortress—didn't even have time to groan before it was pulverized into rubble.
And this was only the first minute since Ryota had made his move.
The dust had yet to settle, but the world was already plunged into suffocating silence.
All around, dead quiet.
The gods' spectator seats were speechless, the screens in Orario broadcast to the masses showed only stunned faces.
Even the rowdiest taverns were so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone just stared, wide-eyed, at the smoldering ruins left by the three iron sand constructs.
The city gate? What damn city gate?
There wasn't even a fortress left!
Now fully exposed before Loki Familia was Freya Familia—completely defenseless.
Members of both sides stood there, staring at each other through the settling dust.
At the center of their gazes stood Ryota, lips curved in a faint smirk.
He stood quietly, with the Third Kazekage and Ajisai behind him.
It was as if he wasn't just a participant in this War Game—
He was the final boss.
No one spoke.
No one dared move.
Even breathing felt like it might disturb this black-haired boy.
No one knew how much time passed.
Maybe a minute.
Maybe two.
"…Hah."
Allen Fromel, the vice-captain, finally snapped out of it. His face pale, he shook his head like waking from a nightmare.
"…This can't be real."
"We spent three whole days building that fortress…"
"Nearly used up all of Freya Familia's resources…"
"And it didn't even last… a minute?"
He couldn't believe it.
He couldn't even comprehend it.
This wasn't just breaking a defensive line—this was ripping out Freya Familia's confidence and pride by the roots, stomping it into the dirt.
Meanwhile, in the Guild secret viewing chamber, the gods were no better.
The supposed calm observers were now just as shaken and chaotic as the mortals.
Loki sat in the main seat, her mouth stuck in an "O" shape for half a minute straight.
Her usually narrowed eyes had widened.
Clearly, as Ryota's god, she had no clue what her own child was capable of.
"This… uh… Why do I feel like I have no idea what's going on?"
Just as the oppressive silence settled over the room, a sudden roar shattered it.
"—Violation!!"
Everyone froze, all eyes turning to the source of the voice.
It was Apollo, standing with his face flushed red, finger trembling as he pointed at the destruction displayed on the screen.
"Loki Familia is breaking the rules!!"
"The War Game clearly states only one outside supporter is allowed!"
"But that Ryota—he brought two! Two!!"
"That orange-haired woman, and that blue-haired guy!! How many extra members is that?! Count them yourselves!!"
"They should be disqualified! Disqualified!!"
Clearly, this guy had bet big on Freya Familia.
The gods' seats burst into a commotion. Everyone glanced at each other, whispering.
"…Apollo might have a point?"
"Those two are definitely not members of Loki Familia."
"If they're cheating in a War Game, the Guild has to intervene, right?"
"..."
The seeds of doubt, ignited by Apollo's shouting, began to spread like wildfire.
But just then, Hestia suddenly stood up, pointing straight at the gods across from her.
"Apollo, you don't know crap!!"
"Those aren't outsiders! Those are battle puppets Ryota forged himself!!"
Apollo snorted.
"Puppets?"
"You're telling me that black iron triangle of death that flattened the fortress is… a toy?!"
For two seconds, the room fell dead silent—then it exploded.
"Lady Hestia, do you even believe what you're saying?"
"Just because you're friends with Loki doesn't mean you can make stuff up! Did you even think before you spoke?!"
"I'm with Apollo on this one! Disqualify them! Disqualify them!"
The divine seats were thrown into rare chaos.
The gods argued nonstop, while Royman Mardeel below looked like his soul was about to leave his body.
This War Game was supposed to be entertainment for the gods—a playful gamble.
But now? They were about to change the outcome of the match?! That was unheard of.
Royman swallowed hard, sweat pouring down his forehead, and nervously glanced at Freya seated above.
His eyes were full of pleading—and fear.
He really, really didn't want to offend either side.
Because he couldn't afford to offend either side!
On one hand, there was Ryota, the monster turning this War Game into a siege warfare simulator, representing Loki Familia, already halfway to becoming Orario's top Familia.
On the other hand, Freya Familia still had Ottar and an army of elites. Even if they lost, a dead camel was still bigger than a horse!
Royman's body trembled, his fat jiggling as he wiped sweat from his brow.
Just when he was about to break down, Freya's voice finally rang out.
"—No need."
"Those two… are not Adventurers."
"So they don't count as outside support."
The room fell silent again.
All the gods could tell—Freya wasn't defending Loki.
She was defending Ryota's right to fight.
This wasn't about rules. It was obsession.
An obsession to let him fully display all of his power.
"If you want to stop the match just because of this level of suppression…"
"Wouldn't that be… boring?"
"And besides—"
Freya shifted her posture, resting her chin on one hand, her eyes gleaming with that predatory heat once more.
"Loki Familia hasn't planted their flag yet. Who said Freya Familia has lost?"
She was right.
The victory condition in a siege isn't just breaking the walls.
They had to get inside and plant the flag.
Right now—
Breaking the fortress was just step one.
The real fight, the battle for the main keep, was where the blood and steel would clash.
No matter how strong Ryota was, he was just one person.
And deep in the fortress, Freya Familia still had plenty of elite forces stationed.
After all, Freya Familia was still the largest Familia in Orario.
Seeing the gods' mood lighten, Hestia slammed her hands on the table in frustration.
She was about to stand up and scold them when suddenly—the screen flickered.
The members of both Familias, stunned by the destruction, finally came to their senses amidst the swirling iron sand.
"I'll leave command to you."
Allen spun his silver spear twice.
"When the time comes, take out that Ryota."
"Half-dead is fine, don't actually kill him. Freya won't like that."
Hedin said nothing. He simply nodded.
His gaze cut through the dust and locked onto the black-haired boy in the distance.
In Freya Familia, aside from Ottar, Hedin Selland was their brightest star.
On the battlefield, his tactical mind was nearly equal to Finn's.
In terms of magic control, he possessed more Mind than Riveria herself, with even sharper and wider magical control.
He was, in theory, the strongest mage among Orario's current Adventurers.
But Hedin wasn't just a rear-line caster.
His swordsmanship and combat skills were enough for frontline solo battles.
Even rarer, he could use short-chant spells and parallel chanting—managing two techniques at once.
It wasn't an exaggeration to call Hedin an all-around magic swordsman commander.
"Hogni."
Allen turned back.
"Let's go."
"Time to take care of that little bastard."
"Break his legs."
Hogni grinned, baring his teeth. This was what he'd been waiting for!
The two Level 6s dashed out at once, closing in on Ryota fast.
In the distance, Finn noticed immediately.
Ais and Bete stepped forward in unison, assuming familiar combat stances.
"Stop them!!"
"Don't let them get close—"
But Finn's words froze in his throat.
Because Ryota suddenly looked up.
His Mangekyō Sharingan spun madly.
His lips parted, murmuring softly.
"—Amaterasu."
In an instant, a pitch-black flame silently appeared in midair.
Like the tongue of hellfire, it sprang into existence and wrapped itself around Allen's left arm.
"…?!"
Allen's movement stalled. Before he could react, the black flame surged up his shoulder.
"Gaaaaah—!!"
That wasn't normal fire—it was the black flame of Amaterasu!
Allen's arm burned violently, the black fire scything through his flesh like a reaper's blade.
"What the hell is this?!"
Hogni's eyes went wide, jerking his body to the side to dodge.
He couldn't even see how the flame had appeared.
"Magic? A Skill?"
"This bastard doesn't even need a chant?!"
But Hogni didn't stop.
He was Level 6—one of Freya Familia's elites.
He would never allow himself to falter out of fear.
"If I cut him down, that black fire will disappear on its own—!!"
Gritting his teeth, Hogni charged again.
But at that moment, Ryota looked at him.
Those Mangekyō Sharingan spun, locking onto him.
Hogni's heart skipped a beat. He felt something was off.
Before he could stop, Ryota whispered two words.
"—Tsukuyomi."
CRACK—
The world shattered.
Hogni's vision collapsed.
The wind stopped. Sound stopped.
He was crucified on a massive cross, arms pinned, completely immobile.
Before him, countless figures appeared.
Each one was Ryota, each holding a Kusanagi Sword.
"Welcome to seventy-two hours of judgment."
Shk—!!
The first sword pierced his right shoulder.
Shk—!!
The second went through his thigh.
Hogni's eyes bulged, his throat tearing in a scream:
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH—!!!"
Sword after sword rained down, stabbing into him again and again.
Inside the illusion, hundreds of Ryotas took turns stabbing into every nerve of his body.
In the real world, Hogni froze.
He was suspended mid-charge, body locked in place, his sword Victim Abyss slipping from his hand, eyes hollow, lips trembling.
He stood ten meters from Ryota, completely motionless.
As if his soul had been ripped from his body.
In just a few breaths—
One was devoured by black flame.
The other trapped in Tsukuyomi.
Two Level 6s of Freya Familia—both wiped out by Ryota's dōjutsu,.
And Ryota didn't even pause.
He simply tilted his head and said:
"Ajisai."
The Animal Path girl nodded, then swiftly formed hand signs.
"Summoning Jutsu: Giant Multi-Headed Dog!"
"Summoning Jutsu: Giant Crustacean!"
"..."
Puff! Puff! Puff!
From the mist, enormous and terrifying figures emerged.
The Multi-Headed Dog. The Giant Crustacean. The Giant Drill-Beaked Bird…
Eight summon beasts surged forth, like hell's minions unleashed.
This wasn't a battle—it was a massacre.
A pure, overwhelming, absolute suppression!
Freya Familia's defense line completely collapsed.
The remaining Adventurers, still confused by the shock, finally realized what was happening as the summoned beasts loomed.
Some who had just charged forward now thought of retreat.
It wasn't cowardice—they'd simply understood.
This wasn't a "War Game."
This was a "Demon Lord Raid."
And the Demon Lord brought eight mini-bosses.
Above, watching their forces scatter, Hedin's face finally changed.
He realized—the battle was completely out of control.
Freya Familia… was about to lose.