The rules technically forbade destroying the tower—like adding bamboo slides to connect the holes. And once the marble was dropped, your body couldn't touch the tower. Roy's actions complied with every rule.
Compared to the dazzling high-level operations of Tione and Finn, Roy's method was absurdly simple: honey on the bottom and a bug. It was so effortless, just as he said—any child could do it. This massive contrast was what caught everyone off guard. It was like a child suddenly punching out a Level 5 adventurer; it left everyone with a bitter, helpless smile.
The moment Roy pulled out the honey and the beetle, Loki knew the answer. Her face fell. The Amazon twins were officially out of her reach. Her luck this year was atrocious: Roy and the Amazon twins had all slipped through her fingers. She began to question her "Divine Life."
Finn could only offer a helpless smile. He had been misled by Tione's maneuver, and his own actions had further led everyone else astray. It was like a race where one person suddenly sprints off-track, making everyone else follow blindly. Only Roy remained unaffected, seeing through to the essence of the matter. He truly had a head for tricks.
"I AM GANESHA!" Ganesha roared. "I declare the winning score is the bottom tier! The winner of the Marble Game is the Astraea Familia, 'Sprout of Justice' Roy!"
The win condition in everyone's mind was reaching the deepest tier with the fewest marbles. Roy used exactly one marble to clear the whole thing. Who else could be the winner?
Clap clap clap clap clap!
A tsunami of applause erupted. While Finn's operation was more "scenic," and Roy's method seemed mundane to a layman, the gods and adventurers weren't fools. If the method was so simple, why hadn't Tione, Finn, or anyone else in the stands thought of it? It was a display of wisdom—reaching the simplest solution without being influenced by others.
Ryu looked at the youth with wonder in her sky-blue eyes. In this moment, he was the center of the world, showered in praise.
Roy didn't care for the accolades; his eyes were on the "prize." He looked at Tione. "Well?"
Tione's expression was complex. She was impressed, but not entirely convinced. She grit her teeth. "I want a duel with you!"
"Tione is so sneaky! I want to play with Roy too!" Tiona pouted. Tione shoved her aside. "Get lost."
Ryu shielded Roy, her eyes wary. Tione still wasn't satisfied. Roy wasn't surprised; Amazons only truly submit to raw power. To tame this "wild filly," he needed to show strength that could crush her.
"Fine."
Roy stood up from his wheelchair and patted Ryu's shoulder. He did some stretches; it was time to move his own bones. The Loki Familia backed off to the edge of the arena—they were good sports; the rest was none of their business, though they now owed another favor.
"I heard you're still recovering from heavy injuries. It's fine if the elf behind you fights instead," Tione said, her tone softening slightly out of respect for his wit.
Roy chuckled. You really know how to pick 'em—did you really want to pick a Level 5 adventurer just to get bullied? Though the result would be the same with him...
"No, she has her own task." Roy shook his head, then turned to Ryu. "Miss Ryu, you handle the other one."
Ryu hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. She knew Roy's strength best. If he weren't injured, ten Tiones couldn't touch him. Now that his injuries were nearly healed, dealing with one Level 3 girl would be easy.
Roy's gaze returned to Tione. He crooked two fingers and smiled calmly. "Come."
The provocation made Tione see red. "Don't get cocky!"
She roared and lunged like a lioness, charging Roy and swinging a fist toward his smiling face. But in reality, this was a feint. She had heard the title "Strongest Level 3" so many times her ears were ringing. She had heard he even killed a Level 6 Floor Boss! Despite her skepticism, Tione was cautious. She believed Roy would block the punch, and she planned to use that momentum to climb onto him, wrap her legs around him, and put him in a chokehold to win!
She smiled confidently. I've got this!
Instinct!
Facing her fierce fist, Roy's expression remained calm. The skill he obtained from Artoria activated, allowing him to make the most optimal judgment instantly. At full power, it could even briefly predict the future.
Roy extended his right hand, catching Tione's fist in his palm. The impact created a dull thud, as if the air itself had cracked.
Got him! Tione's face lit up with joy. Using Roy's force, her flexible body scrambled upward. Her long, powerful legs crossed, coiling around Roy like a beautiful serpent. It was a sensual-looking position, but anyone could see the danger. She wasn't a "beauty snake"; she was a boa constrictor whose coils could crush a lion.
Boom!
In that same instant, Roy's body leaned backward. He slammed his back into the ground with immense force, using Tione as a cushion. The terrifying impact cracked the arena floor, the fissures spreading outward.
Tione hadn't expected Roy to do this. It was as if he had seen through her feint from the start. Caught off guard, she didn't even have time to let go. Hard as she was slammed, she felt like her body was falling apart. Dizzied and gasping, she looked up to find a blade held to her throat.
"You lose."
Roy activated his magic. Golden lightning surged in his palm, condensing into a blade of energy. The cold edge rested against Tione's wheat-colored skin. The sharp aura caused tiny nicks to appear on her neck, oozing beads of blood.
"How... how could you react to that?" Tione asked. Her face showed no fear, only frustration. She had been fighting since she was a child; her skills were honed between life and death. She was confident she wouldn't lose to anyone. Yet she was defeated in a single move! If it were some high-level old man, fine, but this boy was only slightly older than her, and he had possessed a Blessing for a much shorter time.
Roy smiled. "Because I am Level 4!"
Roy's voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for those nearby to hear. As the word spread, the gods in the stands froze in shock.
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Danmachi : Starting with an Elf (405 Chapter – Ongoing)
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