CRASH—!
"Everyone, cease your fighting at once."
Soma hurled a wine barrel into the courtyard, his voice ringing out to the assembled crowd.
"Lili, you did well."
"It was only possible because of everyone..."
"Nonsense. This was your triumph."
Akumo approached Lili and offered a thin smile, gently patting her head. He then moved to accompany Soma toward Hestia, who waited outside to finalize the conversion.
"How could that God...!"
'If it's come to this, I have to kill that brat—'
Blinded by avarice, Zanis lunged toward Lili with a blade drawn. However, before he could take a second step, reality caught up to him.
CRACK—!
"...!! AAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!"
'My arms...!! My legs...!!!'
His limbs had been shattered in a singular, invisible instant of absolute violence.
"....."
"Shall I treat him?"
"No, I'm alright."
'Goodbye, Zanis.'
Observing his wretched state until the end, Lili finally steeled her heart.
'Lili... will live for her hero and her family.'
"For the sake of Lili...!"
**
Following that day, Lili successfully converted to the Hestia Familia.
However, their combat strength remained woefully insufficient for the upcoming War Game. To bridge the gap, difficult choices had to be made.
"....Welf, are you serious?"
"Yes!"
"You think I would permit such a reckless decision?"
"Wouldn't the Goddess I admire scold me even more if I didn't step forward now?"
"Didn't you say you would create a weapon that transcends Magic Swords?"
"As long as the passion remains, a weapon can be forged anywhere, can't it?"
"....."
Hephaestus glared at Akumo, who stood silently behind Welf, as if finding Welf's words resentful.
"Since you stand there as a precedent, I can't even refute those words....."
"Ahaha..."
Akumo could only offer an awkward laugh, unable to find a proper response to her piercing gaze.
Simultaneously, he recalled the conversation he had with Welf before they applied for the conversion.
"Welf, do you truly mean this?"
"I do, Akumo-san."
"...If it's just military power you need, I can arrange something."
"I'm not going simply for the sake of power."
"....Then why?"
"I am going for the sake of my friend. That is all."
'To repay the debt to Bell, to be his strength!'
Welf had already made up his mind—this choice was for his close friend, to adventure alongside him. Faced with such iron resolve, even Akumo had to yield. He saw in Welf's eyes a will that would never falter.
"Please send me to the Familia where Bell-dono belongs!"
"Mikoto...."
Likewise, Mikoto requested a conversion from Takemikazuchi, choosing to help repay the kindness shown by Hestia and Bell.
"With this, Welf, Lili, and Mikoto have joined our ranks, but...."
Akumo sighed, returning home after seeing Welf's transfer.
"In the end, I'll have to step in."
"Haah...."
"Do not worry. I am confident in my restraint."
Akumo finally permitted Alfia's participation. Alfia herself was incensed by the Apollo Familia's conduct and had been tempted to simply erase them, but after witnessing Bell enter a state of rigorous training to overcome the trial himself, she decided to participate as a mercenary instead.
"A War Game after all this time...."
"You really must control your strength, understood?"
"Do not fret. Living with you has taught me a certain... softness."
**
And so, the day of the decisive battle arrived.
"Ah... the castle is falling....!"
"Are you talking about your dreams again, Cassandra?"
"But... please believe me, Daphne!"
"As long as Hyakinthos doesn't fall within three days, it's our victory. How could we possibly lose under these conditions?"
'Ah... Troy is being relocated....!'
Cassandra voiced the prophecies from her dreams, but no one—including Daphne—believed her.
"Finally, the day of the War Game is upon us!!!"
"I am Ivry Archer, your live commentator! My epithet is [Fire Inferno Flame]!"
"Providing the expert analysis is our very own Patron Deity, Ganesha-sama!"
"I AM GANESHA!!!!!"
On one side, the War Game was treated as a major festival in Orario, with crowds gathered to witness the spectacle. Akumo was also watching the broadcast from the Twilight Manor, alongside executives like Riveria, Ais, and Tione.
"It seems Ais and Tione have been sparring with your child quite often lately."
"He didn't come to borrow strength; he came to cultivate it."
"Fufu, he's a child who knows how to utilize his connections to the fullest while still desiring to become strong through his own efforts."
"Quite so....."
'Sometimes it makes me worry.....'
Watching Akumo fret over Bell, Riveria wanted to remark that Akumo used to be the same way. However, seeing him care for someone else was a pleasant sight, so she simply smiled and watched the screen beside him.
"Now! High noon has just struck!!"
"The War Game begins!!!!!!!!!!!"
As the War Game commenced, the announcement reached the ears of Bell, Welf, Mikoto, and Alfia as they stood ready.
"Crozzo's Magic Swords... this will be quite the experience."
'These are different from his magic swords.'
Alfia stood tall upon a hill, a magic sword gripped in each hand, scanning the castle walls she was about to dismantle.
"Bell, it's starting."
"....."
Hearing Welf's words, Bell remained deep in thought regarding Alfia.
—'If you ask, I can end this alone.'
—'Please, don't do that...!'
—'Your reasoning?'
—'....I have an opponent I want to defeat with my own hands!'
Bell's eyes smoldered with a competitive spirit and a firm resolve to defeat the Apollo Familia, who had insulted his Goddess, by his own strength. He needed to prove he could grow.
Alfia patted his head.
—'Both you and he are truly incorrigible.'
—'....I'm sorry.'
—'I shall believe in your adventure. So, prove it yourself, Bell.'
—'Right!'
Alfia had smiled and supported Bell's adventure. Following his wish, she took on the role of attacking the walls to draw the enemy's attention. To ensure she didn't exceed the required output, she used Welf's Magic Swords for the assault while Bell focused solely on the enemy he had to defeat.
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!
"Let's go, Welf!"
"You got it!"
"Let us proceed, Bell-dono, Welf-dono!"
As the explosive roar echoed, Bell, Welf, and Mikoto began their charge toward the Apollo Familia's castle.
**
"It's only one person! Don't be sc—"
ROAR—!!!!!!!!
"A magic sword!?"
KABOOM—!!!!!!!!!!
Alfia's use of the Magic Sword shattered the castle walls with overwhelming momentum. It was more than enough to fix the Apollo Familia's gaze entirely upon her.
Crrrack!
"As expected, they break after a few uses."
'If the swords break, regulating my output becomes difficult....'
—The Magic Swords broke!!!! Charge, all of you!!!
—That woman is alone!!!!
After about ten swings, the Magic Swords Welf had provided were spent. Seeing this, a force of roughly fifty enemies charged toward Alfia, intent on overwhelming her through sheer numbers.
'Fifty.... Ardee's sister succeeded, then.'
"Well, you did bring this War Game upon yourselves."
Snap!
"You are prepared for the consequences, I hope?"
—M-my arm!!!!!!!
Alfia gazed at them with detached indifference, effortlessly parrying their attacks while methodically snapping their arms and legs. She did not advance; she merely held her ground, stalling for time. To the enemies, her passive stance was more terrifying than a direct assault.
"D-damn it!! Where did this woman come from!!"
Whish—!!
"A wretched woman relying on a wicked magic sw—"
Slice—!
"How can those who do not reflect on their own deeds speak so carelessly of others?"
While Alfia drew their fire, Mikoto successfully infiltrated through the breach in the walls created by the Magic Swords.
"Enemy inside!!!!"
Swish—!!!
"[I am honored to speak thy name—my God of War who crusheth all things]"
Clang! Clang—!!
"[O dignified guidance of the heavens. Bestow thy majestic divine power upon this small frame.]"
Mikoto began her chant immediately upon entry to attract the remaining garrison. Arrows were loosed at her, but her swordsmanship was precise enough to cleave the shafts mid-air.
"[Descend from the heavens and traverse the earth——]"
—Aim all at once!!!!!!!!!!!
"[Shinmu Touzei]!"
RUMBLE—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"[Futsu-no-Mitama]!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Craaaack—!!!!!!!
Immense gravity pinned down over a dozen Apollo Familia members. Mikoto maintained the magic as long as possible to stall for Bell.
"The flow is exceptionally fast, isn't it?"
"Are you suggesting they are being led by the nose?"
"Information is a weapon in combat. Merely obtaining it gives you an edge, but...."
"If that information is false, it becomes a poison that targets you instead."
"And if even the communication goes wrong, an irreversible catastrophe occurs."
As Hermes noted, the Apollo Familia had overcommitted their forces. Over fifty had already fallen to Alfia, and most of those remaining inside the castle were pinned by Mikoto.
Click!
"L-Luan!? What on earth are you doing..!!"
This was all the result of a single girl everyone had rescued.
"Your transformation was perfect."
"You worked so hard, Lili!"
"Now, please go! Lili will cause even more chaos!"
Having entered smoothly, Bell and Welf charged directly toward Hyakinthos.
"Enemies!? How did they get in!!"
"Apologies!"
"Forget it! To get to Hyakinthos, they have to cross this skybridge! Ready your magic and arrows!"
Upon reaching the bridge, they encountered Daphne, who immediately ordered an attack.
Whoosh—
"[Burn away, karma of the outlaw.]!"
"What!?"
"[Will-o'-Wisp]!!!!"
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!
"Ugh...!!!!"
However, Welf's [Will-o'-Wisp] triggered massive magic failures among the attackers, causing their own spells to consume them. In an instant, every soldier except Daphne was incapacitated.
"That is...!!"
"Yes, forced ignition failure."
"To think such magic existed...."
"How could a blacksmith possess such magic...!!"
"Ahaha... you likely won't ever have to fight him, so don't worry, Lefiya...."
Riveria was startled by a magic that was nearly invincible against other casters, while Lefiya turned pale imagining herself on the receiving end.
"But if they had magic or swords like that, they could have used them on Hyakinthos from the start?"
"Hmph. That brat's a male, too. He has to win with his own strength."
"For once, Bete is right."
Bete sensed that Bell was aiming for a duel, intuitively knowing that Bell intended to defeat Hyakinthos personally. Akumo agreed with Bete's assessment, answering the questions posed by Tione and Tiona.
**
Bell quickly reached his destination.
It was...
"When he arrives, everyone swarm him! But do not kill him; I will deliver the final blow!"
To blow away everything on the floor above him, Bell allowed his bell to chime.
Gong—
Gong—
Gong—
'I was able to get here because of everyone's strength....'
Shhhhhh—!!!
'Right here.... I will!!!'
In his hand, the strike of a powerful hero was prepared. Recalling everyone who had aided him, for the sake of victory and his Patron Deity, he raised his hand high and unleashed his magic with everything he had.
"[Fire Bolt]!!!!!!!!!!"
KABOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"What!?"
Zip—!!!
"Hah!!!!!!"
Clang—!!!
Through the flames that had swept away the floor, Bell charged at the now-isolated Hyakinthos, raining down attacks.
Clang—!!!
Ching—!!!
"He's too fast!?"
'How could this be...!!'
CRACK—!!!!!!!!
"Guh!!!"
Refining the training he had undergone for the War Game, Bell parried every single strike from Hyakinthos and succeeded in planting a counter-kick into his solar plexus.
'Compared to those people... he's incredibly slow!'
"You bastard...!!!"
Slash—!!!!
Smash—!!!
"ORA—!!!!!!!!"
THWACK—!!!!
As if dealing retribution for all the harm he had caused, Bell's dagger sheared through Hyakinthos's sword in a single stroke, while his fists began hammering into his opponent's body. Driven back by the momentum, Hyakinthos was finally sent flying by a kick.
"Guh...!!"
'Impossible.... This is impossible...!!!'
Stomp—!
"[My name is Love, the darling of Light; I devote this body to my Sun!]"
'I will kill you here and now!!'
Bell did not flinch at the hate-filled chant. Rather, he watched the chant proceed with calm observation, as if it were of no consequence.
Grit—!!!!
"[One strike of the liberated fire wheel. Come, wind of the West]!!!!!!!!!!"
'Do you mock me until the very end!!!!!'
"[Arrow Zephyros]!!!!!!!!!!!"
WHOOSH—!!!!!!
A halo of light formed by Hyakinthos's magic flew fiercely toward Bell. Yet, Bell remained composed, tracking the trajectory of the halo as he raised his dagger.
CLANG—!!!!!
"He deflected it!?"
"I'm not so soft as to fall for an attack like that!!!"
Swish—!!!
'D-damn it! The magic...!!'
"[Rubere]!!!"
The moment Hyakinthos showed an opening, Bell closed the distance. Hyakinthos frantically added to his chant to detonate the halo, but...
KABOOM—!!!!!!!!
"AAAAAGH!!!!!!!"
Being at point-blank range, Hyakinthos was caught in the explosion. Already injured, the blast dealt devastating damage.
THUD—!!!!!!!!
"!?"
'This guy should have been caught in the blast too...!!'
BAM—!!!!!!!!
"Guh!!"
WHACK—!!!!!!!!!
In contrast, Bell had endured the blast and drove his fist into the defenseless Hyakinthos's face. While Hyakinthos was Level 3, Bell had grown through overwhelming Excelia buffs to the point where, at Level 2, he could hold his own against a Level 3. Hyakinthos, having dismissed the skill Bell acquired from Akumo and his other masters, had left his vitals wide open.
"Pant... pant...."
'I won.... I...!!'
"""""OOOH!!!!!!!!!!!"""""
"VICTORY FOR THE HESTIA FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
In the end, it was Bell who claimed triumph. Those who had cheered for him were electrified by the reversal, and the adventurers watching were equally enthralled by the upset.
"You really did it."
'I believed you could do it.'
"You've grown again."
'To take down the commander alone.'
"Congratulations, Bell."
'I'm so glad you won.'
Watching Bell's victory, Akumo and Ais shared smiles. Alfia, looking down from the castle walls, smiled with deep satisfaction at his growth. Bell was unaware that the heroes he admired were smiling at him, but he too broke into a bright, victorious grin, sharing the joy of triumph with the comrades who had fought alongside him.