The entire Guild headquarters fell into a dead silence for three full seconds following that shout from the half-elf staff member.
Then, a commotion erupted like a volcanic explosion.
"What? A War Game?"
"The wager is the deportation of a god? Are you kidding me!?"
"Quick! Notify the Guild Master! Where is Lord Royman?"
Countless clerks, advisors, and even adventurers in the middle of handing in quests scrambled like a flock of chickens into which a stone had been tossed. The sound of frantic footsteps, exclamations of shock, and the rustling of scattered documents merged into a chaotic din.
A burly, serious-looking middle-aged man sat with his head down, reviewing a report concerning abnormal movements in the deep floors of the Dungeon.
He was Royman Mardeel, one of the actual managers of Orario and the Guild Master.
Bang!
The office door was rudely slammed open. Eina Tulle rushed in, stumbling and gasping for breath.
"Lord Royman! Something... something huge has happened!"
Royman's brow furrowed as he looked up, a trace of displeasure in his eyes. As the Guild Master, he detested this kind of undignified panic more than anything.
However, when he saw the copy of the document Eina handed him—imprinted with divine power—that displeasure was instantly replaced by a needle-sharp shock.
His gaze swept over the heart-stopping wager of "Deportation to the Heavens," finally fixing deathly still on the signature at the end of the document.
"...God Miyazaki Hidetaka?"
Royman rapidly searched through the names of every registered deity in Orario within his mind, from the most powerful primary gods to the weakest fringe deities, without missing a single one.
There was nothing. Absolutely nothing on that name.
"And Lynn? That newcomer from the War Game?"
"Investigate," his voice was low and powerful, carrying an unquestionable command. "Immediately pull the registration files of all adventurers. Bring me Lynn's profile."
The order was executed swiftly.
In less than five minutes, a thin file was placed on Royman's desk.
Name: Lynn
Familia: Miyazaki Familia
Level: Lv. 2 (Pending Update)
Deity: Miyazaki Hidetaka (Not Registered)
The file was laughably simple, but the signature written in ichor—the blood of a god—could not be faked. This meant that the adventurer named Lynn had clearly defined his affiliation at the time of registration.
"Not registered?"
Royman's fingers lightly tapped the desk. "In other words, a new god, or a hidden god who has never established a faction in Orario."
"My Lord, regarding the Soma Familia..."
"Follow the protocol," Royman interrupted his subordinate, his gaze sharpening. "Since the Divine Oracle Document has been officially delivered through the divine terminal, its sanctity is beyond question. Notify the Soma Familia to send a representative to the Guild headquarters immediately for mandatory arbitration."
"Yes, sir!"
He knew very well that a War Game with the deportation of a god as the stake was not something he could mediate.
The atmosphere was as oppressive as solidifying cement.
Lynn pulled out a chair and sat with a commanding presence. Lili, looking like a frightened little rabbit, stood closely behind him, her small hands clutching the hem of his cloak.
Opposite them stood a man with his arm wrapped in bandages, revealing a pair of eyes filled with venomous resentment. It was Zanis. One of his arms and one of his legs were fixed in splints and suspended by slings; he looked both ridiculous and pathetic as he struggled to maintain his balance while standing.
The moment he had received the Guild's notice, he almost thought he had misheard.
A War Game?
Against that kid? On what grounds?
But when he was carried to the Guild by the remaining members of his Familia and saw that divine document, he was completely stunned. That brat Lynn was actually serious? He wanted to deport Lord Soma!
This was equivalent to stripping Zanis of everything he owned!
Royman sat in the high seat, looking at the two opposing parties expressionlessly.
"God Soma himself still refuses to leave his workshop. Likewise, God Miyazaki Hidetaka cannot appear in person. Therefore, according to Guild Law, we are initiating the 'Mandatory Arbitration Procedure.' Since the primary gods of both parties cannot negotiate in person, the mode of the War Game will be decided by a lot drawn by the captains of both sides."
As soon as he finished speaking, a staff member stepped forward carrying an ancient stone box.
"Inside the box are eighteen obsidian tablets inscribed with Hieroglyphs, corresponding to the eighteen Guild-certified War Game modes. Each representative will draw one."
Royman's gaze swept over the two:
"The two tablets drawn will be placed back into the box, and I, as the notary, will draw the final decisive mode. Any objections?"
Zanis gritted his teeth and squeezed out a word from his throat: "No..."
Lynn simply shook his head.
"Then, let us begin."
Zanis reached his one movable hand tremblingly into the stone box. After fumbling for a long time, he finally made a decision and violently pulled out a stone tablet.
Then it was Lynn's turn.
Without even looking, he reached in casually. When his fingertips touched a cold tablet, he simply pulled it out. The two tablets were taken by the staff and put back into the box, which was then shaken several times in front of everyone.
"I shall now announce the final result."
Royman stood up and solemnly reached his hand into the box. In the room, only the sound of Zanis's heavy breathing and the frantic beating of Lili's heart remained.
Lynn remained calm, even taking the time to reassuringly pat the back of Lili's hand.
Finally, Royman's hand emerged. He held a black stone tablet. He flipped it over and, in a low voice, read out the Hieroglyphs one by one:
"War Game Mode—"
"Arena Battle."
Upon hearing that name, a surge of even more sinister malice erupted in Zanis's eyes.
An Arena Battle!
This was the purest, most direct contest of strength! No schemes, no complex terrain—just a collision of raw power!
That kid Lynn is a monster! Based on the trash left in my Familia, they'd be wiped out even if they attacked all at once. How could they possibly win in a 1v1!
Meanwhile, Lynn remained as breezy as ever, seemingly indifferent to the mode.
Ignoring the shifting expressions of the two, Royman continued to announce the rules in a business-like tone:
Venue: The Guild's Central Arena. A standard circular stone ring, fifty meters in diameter, with no cover.
Victory Condition: Falling off the ring or losing the ability to fight results in a loss.
Participation: Before the game begins, both sides will submit a sealed roster to the Guild. The number of participants must be at least one and at most five. Hiring outside help is permitted.
This rule caused a glimmer of joy to appear in Zanis's eyes. Outside help! That meant with his connections, he could even hire a powerful Level 4 mercenary! Although it would be expensive, as long as he could kill Lynn, it would all be worth it!
And Lynn? He was a complete lone wolf!
Duel Process:
Following the order on the roster, both sides will send their first contestant onto the stage for a one-on-one duel.
The loser leaves the stage; the winner remains. The winner cannot voluntarily leave the stage.
The winner receives a thirty-second recovery period to adjust their status, but their feet must not leave the ring.
After the recovery period, the winner can choose to "Continue" against the next opponent or "Request a Break." If a break is requested, they skip one round, and the next person on their roster fights the opponent's next person. However, the winner who requested a break must return to the stage in subsequent rounds.
The match continues until all contestants on one side's roster are defeated.
Royman's voice echoed in the oppressive room, each word like a heavy stone crashing into Zanis's already battered heart.
"Finally, both sides have three days to prepare. At noon three days from now, the War Game will officially begin. During this period, any form of private brawling or harassment is strictly forbidden. Violators will be immediately declared the loser and face the Guild's harshest punishment."
As Royman finished, his gaze swept over Lynn and Zanis before declaring the arbitration over.
"Let's go, Lili."
Lynn stood up, not even glancing at the pale-faced, vengeful man opposite him, as if he were nothing more than insignificant air. He took Lili's hand; the girl's palm was cold and trembling slightly.
"Lord Lynn... an Arena Battle... this..."
Lili's voice carried a hint of a sob. She couldn't understand why the mode most disadvantageous to them had been drawn. How could Lynn handle a gauntlet match against an entire Familia alone? No matter how strong he was, his stamina and mental energy were finite!
"It's fine."
Lynn's voice was steady. He squeezed her small hand, transferring his warmth. "Don't forget, they weren't my match even when they came at me all at once."
Hearing this, Lili's eyes brightened. That's right! In terms of actual strength, Lynn is the one with the advantage!
Zanis was carried out of the Guild headquarters.
The moment he left the range of the Guild's surveillance, he struggled to be put down. His face, distorted by pain and rage, was now filled with a morbid excitement.
"Damn it! DAMN IT!"
He roared in a low voice, tugging at his wounds and hissing in pain, but the madness in his eyes only grew more intense.
"Go! Take out all of our liquid assets! All of it! Don't leave a single cent!" He ordered a Familia member who was still relatively intact. "Go to the black market, the taverns, anywhere you can find strong people! Tell them that I, Zanis, want to buy a life! The life of a Level 2 brat!"
He stared fixedly in the direction where Lynn and Lili had disappeared, his teeth grinding audibly.
"I want to find a Level 4! No! I want the strongest Level 4! I want that kid to be crushed inch by inch in front of all of Orario! I want him to regret ever crossing me! Regret ever coming into this world!"
He had many connections, but most were for shady dealings. To hire a renowned Level 4 powerhouse within three days—especially for a War Game that staked a god's future—required more than just money.
He utilized every relationship he had, throwing money around the underworld of Orario like a madman, only to hit wall after wall. Powerful adventurers either belonged to major Familias and disdained involvement in squabbles between minor factions, or they were soloists who refused to be dragged into such a whirlpool for mere coin. Some originally agreed but backed out the moment they heard the opponent was Lynn, the "Hero of the War Game."
For an entire day, Zanis gained nothing. Instead, he became a laughingstock, mocked to his face by many.
Just as he was on the verge of despair, an unexpected person appeared in the moldy underground tavern where he was hiding.
"I heard you are looking for someone who can kill Lynn?"
A raspy, slightly piercing female voice drifted from the shadows. Zanis looked up sharply to see a massive figure in a hooded cloak slowly walking toward him. The person's figure was... curvaceous yet bloated, her gait carrying a bizarre rhythm reminiscent of a crawling viper.
When she pulled back her hood, revealing a beautiful but distorted face, Zanis froze.
"It's you... Phryne?"
He recognized that face. Recently, following the collapse of the Ishtar Familia, rumors said this Level 5 Amazon elite—one of the remnants—had gone mad and fled Orario. He hadn't expected her to still be here.
The corners of Phryne's mouth curled into a morbid smile, her beautiful eyes burning with unshielded flames of hatred.
"Lady Ishtar was killed by that man, and my sisters are all gone... everything I had was destroyed by him!"
Her voice suddenly became shrill. "Every night I dream, I see that greatsword burning with sinful flames! I cannot forget that humiliation!"
She stared intently at Zanis. "I want to kill him in the most cruel way possible! As long as you let me join the Soma Familia and receive a new Falna, I will kill him for you in the War Game! I don't want your money—I only want his life!"
Zanis's heart hammered against his ribs. A Level 5 avenger! This was a windfall straight from the heavens!
"Good! Of course!" He agreed impatiently, but then hesitated. "But... Lord Soma's side..."
"That is your problem," Phryne interrupted coldly. "If you can't even handle a small thing like that, then just wait to go down in flames with your Familia."
Zanis immediately brought Phryne back to the Familia base.
In the workshop, the thin deity was still immersed in his world of brewing, indifferent to everything outside.
"...No... bothersome..."
When Zanis explained his intent, Soma didn't even look up; his voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
"Lord Soma!"
Zanis grew desperate. Ignoring etiquette, he lunged in front of Soma and roared in a low, hissed voice, "Listen carefully! If we lose, you will be deported back to the heavens! Forever! You'll never be able to brew your divine wine again! All your materials, your recipes, your life's work—it will all belong to that bastard named Miyazaki Hidetaka!"
Clink.
The glass stirring rod in Soma's hand fell to the floor, making a crisp sound. He finally raised his head slowly, his hollow eyes focusing on Zanis's face for the first time.
"...Fine... but... don't bother me..."
When Zanis saw the Falna of Soma being carved onto Phryne's back, manifesting her status once again as [Level 5], he was ecstatic. He immediately took her to the Guild to process the conversion paperwork.
While updating Phryne's Familia information and adding her name to the potential roster for the War Game, Zanis witnessed a scene that shocked and delighted him. After the Guild staff received Phryne's handprint on the crystal plate, the panel displaying her ability values flickered.
The characters for [Level 5] blurred, and a new number, shining with golden light, emerged.
[Level 6]
"What?!" Zanis screamed, unable to believe his eyes.
Even the Guild clerk in charge of registration stood up in shock, repeatedly checking if the machine had malfunctioned.
Level 6!
In all of Orario, the known Level 6 powerhouses could be counted on one hand! Every single one was a core combatant of a top-tier Familia!
What had Phryne gone through? In the time since the Ishtar Familia's collapse, not only had she not gone mad, but she had actually broken her limits to reach this terrifying level?
Looking at the number on the panel, Phryne wore a look of infatuation. "Do you see? This is the power of hatred!"
She licked her lips, her eyes full of bloodthirsty pleasure. "Level 6... now, let's see how he blocks this! That ridiculous burning sword won't touch a single hair of mine again!"
Zanis trembled with excitement.
It's a lock! This is a guaranteed win!
A Level 6 powerhouse going up against a kid who was Level 3 at most? It wasn't a fight; it was a slaughter! He could already see Lynn being tortured and killed by Phryne on the ring, and see himself lording over others after seizing all of the Miyazaki Familia's assets. That was half of the Apollo Familia's cash!
"Haha... Hahahahahaha!"
An uncontrollable, manic laughter erupted in a corner of the Guild hall, drawing the stares of countless people.
On the other side, Lynn was far more relaxed.
He spent a day taking Lili to the commercial district of Orario, buying her some new clothes and accessories, and even stopping by "The Benevolent Mistress" for a meal.
As for the War Game roster, he had submitted it to the Guild on the afternoon the arbitration ended. It was a neatly folded slip of paper with only one name written on it:
—Lynn.
"Lord Lynn, did you really... only write your own name?"
Back at Eina's house, Lili couldn't help but ask out of concern.
"Who else?" Lynn sat on the sofa, wiping his Bloodhound's Fang. "Should I have written your name and let you go up there to act cute until they die?"
"That's not what I meant..." Lili's face flushed. "But... they have five people, and... they can hire outside help..."
"What's the use of having more people?" Lynn said without looking up.
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