While the people of Orario bustled with excitement, the gods began to gather within Babel Tower.
On the 30th floor, the gods most eager for the War Game assembled. Hestia and Apollo were among them.
"Hestia, I can't wait to see the look on your face when your child is obliterated by magic bombardments. It truly excites me," Apollo sneered, watching Hestia approach.
"My Blake won't die in this game. Rather, you should worry about your own children. Although, considering your attitude, abandoning them probably isn't beneath you," Hestia replied calmly, though her body briefly tensed.
"While anger and cruelty may be experiences for us gods, you've gone too far," she said, her voice taking on a tinge of fury.
Apollo chuckled, seemingly relishing her reaction. "True, it is a first for me as well. Though I felt quite vexed by that disrespectful silver-haired boy, I also experienced a rather novel thrill. Should I thank him? With his life, perhaps?"
"I have nothing more to say to you. The outcome is already decided." Hestia's tone turned cold as she shot him one last glance before walking past him into the gathering.
The War Game was set to begin at noon, and it was almost time.
From their seats of honor, Loki and Freya scanned the assembled gods before making an announcement.
"Now that the time has come, let's get started!" Loki declared, grinning.
"Let it begin!" Freya echoed.
The gathered gods snapped their fingers in unison.
The Projection of the War Game
Across Orario, in every tavern, street corner, and even outside the Guild headquarters, countless floating projections appeared in the air.
These screens displayed a fortress—the stronghold where the Apollo Familia was entrenched.
The appearance of the magical projections caused an uproar among the citizens. Such feats were possible only through divine power.
The gods had established strict rules forbidding the use of their divine powers in the mortal realm. Any deity caught breaking this rule would be banished back to the heavens.
However, there was one exception: the Divine Mirror, a power akin to clairvoyance that allowed gods to view distant events in real time.
This ability was permitted solely for entertainment purposes, such as during War Games. Unauthorized use outside such events was still strictly forbidden.
Thanks to this power, even those far from the battlefield could witness the War Game unfold.
As the screens illuminated the city, the Guild's commentator began their announcement.
"This War Game is between the Hestia Familia and the Apollo Familia. The chosen format is a siege battle! As you can see, the Apollo Familia is fully prepared within their fortress. But what's truly astonishing is that the Hestia Familia has only sent a single member into battle!"
"Now, where is this Blake, the man surrounded by so much recent hype? The start of the War Game is just moments away!"
The commentator's passionate narration whipped the crowd into a frenzy.
Finally, the bell tolled—a deep, resonant chime.
With that, the commentator declared:
"I hereby announce the beginning of the War Game between the Hestia Familia and the Apollo Familia!"
"Woooooaaaaahhhhhh—!"
The deafening cheers erupted like thunder, filling the city with fervent energy.
Far away, in the stronghold serving as the battleground, Apollo Familia's captain, the handsome human Hyacinthus Clio, sat on a throne in the fortress's heart. Through a window, he surveyed the packed defenses and bustling preparations below.
The War Game format was a siege battle, lasting three days.
Victory conditions were simple: If Apollo Familia's captain, Hyacinthus, survived for three days or defeated Blake, the victory would be theirs. Conversely, if Blake breached the fortress, defeated Hyacinthus, or seized the Familia's flag, the Hestia Familia would win.
Defeat for Apollo Familia would mean the lives of their members and the banishment of their god, Apollo, from Orario.
Staring out of the window, Hyacinthus's gaze darkened with loathing.
"There's no way that guy could openly breach the fortress. He'll definitely try to infiltrate, find the flag, and secure victory, right?"
With that reasoning, Hyacinthus kept the flag on his person, surrounding himself with nearly half of the Apollo Familia's members, while the remaining forces patrolled the fortress. The defenses were airtight. To Hyacinthus, this was Blake's only possible strategy for victory.
The fortress itself was fairly large—designed to require at least two hundred defenders, which was still insufficient. By concentrating half of the Familia's forces around himself, Hyacinthus left the rest of the fortress understaffed.
"No matter. He'll come here eventually." Hyacinthus clenched the armrest of his throne, his handsome face twisting with hatred.
"When he does, I'll settle the humiliation of those past days!"
Hyacinthus worshipped Apollo fervently. Because of this admiration, he deeply despised Blake, who had openly humiliated Apollo and turned him into a laughingstock in Orario. His hatred ran so deep that he wished to tear Blake apart.
To Hyacinthus, this War Game was a golden opportunity to openly torture and kill Blake. How could he not be thrilled?
But was this really his opportunity?
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