[email protected]/jelopy_jelopy for 100+ more chapters
The day of the War Game finally came.
The entire city of Orario was loud and full of energy.
Early in the morning, people ran through the streets to find the best spots.
Giant magical mirrors floated high in the sky.
These mirrors were set up by the Guild.
They would show every single part of the fight to the whole city.
People talked in bars, in markets, and on every street corner.
Everyone was excited.
"Did you put your money down?"
A man asked his friend.
"Of course I did,"
The friend said.
"I put all my valis on the Apollo Familia. The odds are crazy. There is no way Hestia's family can win this."
"Yeah, Hestia only has five people,"
Another man added.
"It is sad, really. Apollo has over a hundred fighters. This is not a war. It is a beatdown."
"Apollo is going to crush them in five minutes,"
A woman said, shaking her head.
"They should have just given up the boy."
High up in the main viewing room of the Guild, the Gods gathered.
The room was big and comfortable. It had soft couches, large windows, and plenty of expensive wine.
Loki walked into the room with a big smirk on her face.
She wore her usual long coat.
Behind her walked the top members of her family.
Finn, Gareth, Tiona, Tione, and Ais walked in a quiet line.
Loki laughed and plonked herself down on a large red couch.
"This is going to be a very quick show,"
Loki said to the room.
She looked around for Hestia, but Hestia was not there yet.
"Apollo is going to have a lot of fun today. I almost feel bad for the shorty."
Finn sat down next to her. He crossed his legs and looked very calm.
"Do not be so sure, Loki-sama,"
Finn said quietly.
Loki blinked her small eyes.
"What do you mean, Finn?"
Loki asked, turning to him.
"It is five people against a hundred. Even a kid can do that math. Hestia's kids are going to get eaten alive."
"I saw the white-haired boy, Bell, a few days ago,"
Finn explained.
"His eyes changed. He looks stronger. And the other one, Elias. He is a total mystery. The Guild records say he is only Level 2, but the rumors from the dungeon are not normal."
Tiona leaned forward. She looked very happy and excited.
"I want to see them fight!"
Tiona shouted, bouncing on her feet.
"The little rabbit is fun, but the Reaper is the one who ended the giant floor boss in one hit, right? I want to see how he does it! I want to see his sword!"
"Don't be stupid, Tiona,"
Tione said, rolling her eyes.
"One lucky hit on a monster doesn't mean you can beat a whole army. A war requires a plan. Five people cannot hold a line."
Ais stood near the large glass window.
She did not look at the other Gods.
She did not care about the wine or the food.
She looked straight at the floating mirrors in the sky.
Her face was completely blank, but her eyes were very sharp.
"Ais, why are you standing there like a statue?"
Tione asked, walking over to her.
"You usually don't care about these kinds of games. Why did you insist on coming today?"
"I wanted to see,"
Ais said softly.
"See what? The little rabbit get kicked around?"
Tione joked.
"No,"
Ais said. She shook her head.
"I want to see the War Game. No matter what happens, I need to watch this fight."
"Why?"
Tione asked, looking confused.
"Elias is different,"
Ais explained. Her voice was very low, almost a whisper.
"He moves in a way I do not understand. When he fought before, it felt like the air stopped. I want to see it again. I need to know what he is."
Loki groaned loudly from the couch.
"Ah, come on, Ais!"
Loki complained, waving her hands.
"Don't get interested in those weirdos. They are just a tiny family that got lucky."
Ais did not change her mind. She kept her eyes on the screen.
"They will not lose,"
Ais whispered to herself.
Down in the crowded streets, far away from the rich Gods, a tall elf stood on a high roof.
She wore a long green cloak.
A large hood covered her face, and a small mask hid her features. It was Ryu.
She usually spent her days at the pub, working hard to wash dishes and serve beer.
But today, she left the pub early.
She told her boss, Mia, that she had a personal errand to run.
Mia had just laughed at her.
"Go watch your boy,"
Mia had told her with a loud laugh.
Ryu remembered those words right now.
She frowned deeply under her mask.
"He is not my boy,"
Ryu muttered to the empty air.
"I am only here because... because this is an important event for Orario. It is my duty to know what happens to the city's adventurers."
She tried hard to convince herself.
She told herself she was just worried about Bell, since she had helped Bell in the past.
But deep inside, she knew that was a lie.
Her eyes did not look for Bell in the big magic mirror.
She was looking for Elias.
Ever since she met him in the street, she couldn't get him out of her head.
He didn't care about the rules of the world.
But when he looked at her, she felt a strange, heavy pull in her heart.
She did not like this feeling at all.
The Elves were proud.
They didn't like to be touched, and they didn't get attached to strangers quickly. It went against everything she knew.
"I am just curious,"
Ryu said softly to the wind.
"He is only Level 2, yet he looks down on everyone. He even looked down on a God. I want to see if his power matches his arrogant words. That is all."
She crossed her arms tight against her chest and waited.
She was in total denial, but her heart beat faster as the magic mirror started to glow brighter.
Back in the Gods' room, Hermes walked in.
He had a big brown hat and a strange smile.
He walked right over to Loki.
"Hey there, everyone,"
Hermes said cheerfully.
"Are we ready for the big show?"
"Hermes, you old fox,"
Loki said, squinting her eyes at him.
"Did you bet on Hestia? You always love a losing side."
Hermes laughed and shook his head.
"I didn't bet any money, Loki. I just want to see history happen."
"History?"
Tione laughed.
"A tiny family getting wiped out is not history. It happens every year."
"We will see,"
Hermes said, looking across the room.
Apollo was standing on the other side of the hall.
He was talking to some minor Gods.
He looked proud, and he wore a bright smile.
But if someone looked closely, they could see he was still a bit stiff.
His hands were tucked deep into his pockets.
He was trying very hard to forget the terrifying cold from the banquet night.
"They insulted my name,"
Apollo told the Gods next to him.
"They stood in my home and threatened my life. Today, my children will teach those brats a lesson they will never forget. I will take Bell, and I will make Elias my slave."
The other Gods nodded along. They wanted to stay on Apollo's good side.
"The game is starting!"
Tiona called out, pointing her finger at the window.
The giant floating mirrors in the sky flashed with a brilliant light.
The images became completely clear.
The battlefield was a massive, abandoned castle area outside the city walls.
It had old stone walls, tall towers, and a thick forest surrounding it.
On one side of the map, the hundred members of the Apollo Familia appeared.
They wore bright, matching armor.
They held long spears and heavy shields.
They looked like a real army, perfectly organized and ready to kill.
Hyakinthos stood at the very front of the line.
His face was grim and serious. He held his sword tightly in his hand.
On the other side of the map, the five members of the Hestia Familia appeared.
They didn't look like an army at all.
They didn't even look like they were ready for a war.
Welf had his hands behind his head, looking bored.
Lili was checking the straps on her small backpack.
Bell looked a little nervous, but he kept his hand steady on his knife.
And then there was Elias and Dee.
They walked side by side, holding hands tightly.
They looked like they were taking a casual walk in a nice park on a sunny day.
"Look at them,"
A minor God laughed in the viewing room.
"They are holding hands! Is this a romantic date or a War Game?"
"They are completely crazy,"
Another God added, shaking his head.
"They have no idea what is coming for them."
Ais didn't laugh. She stepped closer to the glass window.
Her breath fogged the glass slightly, but she did not blink.
"They are not afraid,"
Ais said. Her voice was flat.
Finn nodded from his chair.
"This is going to be so good!"
Tiona cheered, jumping up and down.
Ryu, watching from her high roof in the city, clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white.
Her eyes fixed onto Elias's calm face through the magic mirror.
"Don't die,"
Ryu whispered softly, her voice disappearing into the cold wind.
"Show me what you can do, Twilight Reaper."
A loud, magical horn sounded across the entire city of Orario.
The sound was deep and heavy, signaling the official start of the match.
The War Game was finally on.