The day of the war game between the Hestia Familia and the Apollo Familia had finally arrived. Blessed with clear skies and just a few scattered clouds, the labyrinthine city, surrounded on all sides by imposing castle walls, was already sweltering with a summer-like heat, despite it still being spring. The people's excitement filled the air.
From early morning, every tavern opened its doors, and countless posters plastered every corner of the city. The Apollo Familia's emblem, a radiant sun, stood proudly on their posters. The Hestia Familia, lacking an official emblem, was represented instead by a single rabbit with devilish wings sprouting from its back.
This peculiar image was the result of one god's prank during the Divine Council Denatus, a joke that had surprisingly been accepted as the official symbol. Seeing it, Hestia herself scowled, while Hermes, to everyone's amusement, seemed perfectly pleased.
Most adventurers had closed their shops to watch the war game, and the general populace gathered along the main streets and central square, eagerly awaiting the start.
"Ahem, ahem! Good morning, everyone! I'm Ibri Achaa from the Ganesha Familia, your fiery commentator for today's war game! My nickname? Fire Inferno Flame! Please remember me well!"
A young man with deep brown skin stood on an unnecessarily flashy stage set up without permission in front of the guild headquarters. Clutching a magic stone-powered megaphone, his voice carried across the square.
"Our commentator is none other than our chief god, Ganesha! Ganesha, a few words please!"
"I am Ganesha!"
"Thank you very much!"
Next to the young man stood the elephant-masked god himself, Ganesha, who boomed his voice as usual. Known also as "God of the Masses." His declaration was met with cheers from those gathered.
"Oh, this is really heating up." Loki muttered, watching the scene from a window on the 30th floor of the towering Babel building.
Most gods eagerly anticipating the day had gathered here in Babel, including the leaders of the two competing Familias: Hestia and Apollo.
Elsewhere, some gods mingled with adventurers in taverns, gambling; others prepared to watch the battle alongside their followers. Among them, Hermes, a supporting deity for the Hestia Familia, wore an unusually sulky expression.
"What's wrong, Hermes? Why the long face?" a curious god nearby asked.
"Listen to this! When I tried to gamble to recover the Familia's losses from the guild penalties, Asfi stopped me!"
Hermes looked up to the sky in frustration, while Asfi, the only follower present, glared half-heartedly.
"I stopped you because it's reckless to bet that much."
"Are you saying Toki and the others can't win?"
"Not at all... But trying to bet a third of the Familia's assets? Anyone would stop you!"
The other gods gasped at Asfi's words.
"It's fine! Even if I bet that much, Toki's odds are better!"
"That's not the point!"
The bickering between Hermes and Asfi was interrupted by a nearby god.
"Hey, Hermes, it's about time…"
"Hm? Oh."
Hermes pulled out a pocket watch and checked the time. Closing it, he looked up and spoke as if addressing someone unseen.
"Well then, Ouranos, permission to exercise our power."
His words dissolved into the air. A few seconds later,
"Granted."
A heavy, ancient voice echoed from the direction of the guild headquarters. Upon hearing it, gods all over Orario snapped their fingers in unison.
Suddenly, countless "mirrors" appeared throughout the city. These magical mirrors showed the battlefield, the ruins of the Shreme Old Castle.
Known as the "God's Arcana" or "God's Mirror." These divine powers allowed them to see events from afar with clairvoyant precision.
"Now that the mirrors have been set, let me explain once again! Today's war game is an attack on siege between the Hestia Familia and the Apollo Familia! The warriors from both sides have already taken their places, waiting eagerly for the noon bell to sound!"
The crowd erupted with excitement at the sight of the mirrors, as the commentator began explaining the rules.
"Is everyone ready!? Betting is now closed!"
Meanwhile, inside a tavern, bets were being placed on the outcome of the war game.
"Apollo's side at 15 to 1…"
"Hestia's odds are just over 10 times? That's way too low, isn't it?"
Adventurers organizing the bets shuffled the numbers, bewildered, the odds were nothing like what they expected.
"Even if the gods are aiming for a big upset, 10 times is too low…"
"I heard it's because the Shadow Devil is fighting on Hestia's side. Some people are betting on that."
"But that guy doesn't affect the victory conditions, right? What are they expecting from him?"
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's almost noon!"
All eyes turned to the mirrors at the commentator's call.
"The war game begins now!"
The battle was underway.
𓂀═════════════𓂀
The sound of the starting gong echoed from a distant hill. In stark contrast to the cheering city, morale on the battlefield at the old castle ruins was subdued.
Because this was a siege, the war game was set to last three days. The Apollo Familia predicted a full-scale attack on the last day when their opponent's numbers and focus would wane.
But their predictions were shattered almost immediately.
"Enemy attack!?"
A lookout atop the northern castle wall shouted. Two guards kept watch there, one shouting the alarm while the other readied a longbow with specially crafted giant arrows.
Their eyes fixed on a figure clad in pitch-black battle armor, a boy named Toki. His matching dark cape fluttered in the wind as he charged straight toward the castle.
Toki's left arm stretched out, and from thin air, a translucent white staff appeared. The archer fired an arrow, but perhaps thrown off by the wind, it missed.
"Fool!"
The second guard notched an arrow and shot, but that too missed.
Still, the two watchers remained calm. The distance between them and Toki was closing steadily. They believed once he came within range, a storm of arrows would tear him apart.
When the distance was close enough, they unleashed a volley. Arrows rained down like a storm.
But none hit their target.
"Impossible!?"
The archers fired again, bewildered, but every arrow missed. Despite the closing gap, Toki showed no sign of slowing. Instead, he softly hummed a tune.
"He's chanting!?"
"Parallel Chanting…? No way, he's only level 2!"
The watchers, nearly panicked, saw the distance between Toki and the wall shrink.
Then, Toki thrust his staff forward.
With a thunderous roar, the castle wall shattered.
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