Three days later, at high noon.
Central Plaza of Orario was a sea of black hair and bobbing heads. The crowd pressed against the massive bulletin board of the Adventurer's Guild, their clamor nearly loud enough to split the sky. A notice, reinforced by divine power and emitting a faint golden glow, was ceremoniously posted in the center.
[War Game Official Proclamation]
Declaring Party: Miyazaki Hidetaka Familia (Sole Representative: Lynn)
Challenged Party: Soma Familia
Game Mode: Arena Battle
Wager: Should the Declaring Party emerge victorious, the God Soma shall be forcibly deported to the Heavens. All members and assets of the Soma Familia shall belong to the Declaring Party.
Every word was like a branding iron, searing itself into the retinas of the onlookers. Orario completely erupted.
"Miyazaki Hidetaka? Which backwater god is that? Never heard of him!"
"The focus is the representative! Lynn! It's that Lynn again! He beat Apollo last time, and now he's taking on the entire Soma Familia solo?"
"The wager is the deportation of a god! Heavens, is this kid a lunatic?"
"Is he trying to be a hero again?"
Speculation, gasps of awe, and mocking laughter swirled together, forming a heatwave of gossip that swept across the city.
Inside the war room, the atmosphere was peculiar.
"Pfft—cough, cough, cough!" Tiona sprayed a mouthful of juice across the table, excitedly slamming her hand down. "For real? Lynn is taking on a whole Familia by himself? That's so cool! I want to go watch!"
"Shut up, you idiot Amazon." Bete crossed his arms against the wall, a disdainful snort escaping his wolfish snout. "A brat who doesn't know the heights of the heavens. He thinks winning one War Game makes him invincible? He's only Lv. 2. No matter how trashy Soma's lot is, they'll grind him down in a gauntlet."
Despite his words, a flicker of uncharacteristic gravity flashed in his golden wolf eyes.
Finn, sitting at the head of the table with his signature thumb pressed against his chin, furrowed his brow. "It's not that simple. That boy, Lynn, never does anything without a plan." He turned toward the corner where the silent blonde swordswoman sat. "Aiz, what do you think?"
Aiz Wallenstein was unconsciously stroking the hilt of her rapier. Hearing Finn, she looked up, her jade eyes reflecting a hint of confusion and a worry she hadn't quite realized was there.
"He... is very strong," she said simply.
"Well, it seems you have a lot of faith in him." Finn smiled.
In a room of ultimate luxury, the Goddess of Beauty, Freya, reclined on a soft fur-lined couch, her silver hair spilling out like moonlight. She held a glass of crimson wine as she listened to her captain, Ottar's, report. A captivating smile slowly curved her lips.
A bell-like laugh echoed through the room, tinged with fascination and obsession. "Deporting a god? What a daring child. I wonder how brilliantly his soul will burn when he is consumed by rage..."
She licked her red lips, her amethyst eyes sparkling. "Ottar."
"Yes, Lady Freya."
"Prepare the carriage," Freya sat up, her eyes flashing with command. "I wish to watch this in person."
"What do we do, what do we do!" Hestia was pacing like an ant on a hot pan. "Lynn-kun is being too reckless! How can one person beat a whole Familia? What if something happens to him?"
"Hestia-sama, please calm down." Bell tried his best to soothe his goddess, though his own face was tight with worry. "Mr. Lynn... he must have a reason."
A knock sounded at the door. Take-mikazuchi entered with his members, Mikoto and Ouka.
"We heard about Lord Lynn's situation," Mikoto said with a deep bow. "We owe him a great debt for Haruhime's matter. We want to act as outside help!"
"Exactly!" The muscular Ouka slammed his axe into the floor. "We went to the Guild to apply, but..." He looked frustrated. "The Guild said the roster Lynn submitted only has his name on it. It's already sealed and cannot be changed!"
Hestia stomped her foot in frustration, but there was nothing they could do.
The sun was brutal, but the spectator stands were already a sea of people. In Orario, where entertainment was sparse, such high-stakes drama was the ultimate pastime.
In the VIP section, Freya rested her chin on her hand, her eyes full of undisguised expectation. Behind her, Ottar stood like a silent mountain. Nearby, the Loki Familia was present in full force.
In the common stands, Hestia was gripping Bell's arm so hard she was nearly bruising him. Eina was pale, hands clasped in prayer. Haruhime, hidden in the crowd, had her fox tail fluffed out in anxiety. Lili stood by the railing closest to the participant tunnel, her small fists clenched white.
"Silence!"
Guild Master Royman Mardeel's voice, amplified by a magic item, instantly suppressed the noise. "The War Game shall now commence! Parties, enter the arena!"
From one tunnel, the Soma Familia emerged. Leading them were three "pawns"—two Lv. 1 shield-bearers and a Lv. 2 archer, all looking like they were walking to the gallows. Behind them was Zanis, supported by others, his eyes filled with venom.
Bringing up the rear was a figure swathed in a voluminous hooded cloak. The figure moved with a strange, heavy gait that seemed to thrum against the audience's heartbeats. Everyone had the same thought: This person is dangerous.
Then, from the other tunnel, Lynn stepped out.
He was alone, walking calmly into the sunlight. He wore light armor, but he carried no visible weapons.
"Just him?" "Where are his weapons?" "Is he crazy?"
Lynn ignored the skepticism and walked to the center of the ring.
"War Game, begin!" Royman announced. "First match, Soma Familia, contestant—"
"Go! Kill him!" Zanis shrieked, pointing a bandaged finger.
The first Lv. 1 adventurer was practically pushed onto the stage. His hands shook like autumn leaves as he faced Lynn.
Lynn stood still, raising only his right hand in a simple stance.
"Die—!" The pawn charged with a desperate, cracking yell, swinging his blade wildly.
Lynn simply slid a half-step to the left—the movement so minimal it looked like a glitch. The blade missed his nose by a hair. Simultaneously, Lynn's right foot shot out like a lightning bolt, snapping into the back of the pawn's knee.
Crack!
The pawn screamed, falling forward. Without even looking at him, Lynn's left hand chopped down on the back of his neck.
Thud. The man collapsed, unconscious. Time elapsed: less than five seconds.
"First match, winner: Miyazaki Familia," Royman's voice cut through the silence. "Soma Familia, send your second contestant."
The second Lv. 1 was even more terrified. He hesitated until Lynn sighed. "Are you fighting? If not, jump off. Don't waste my time."
Desperate, the pawn charged like a bull. Lynn didn't even dodge. He stepped forward, caught the top rim of the man's shield with his left hand, and yanked. The pawn lost his balance instantly, and Lynn delivered a casual kick to his backside, sending him flying out of the ring.
Time elapsed: three seconds.
The crowd began to cheer. Even Bell's eyes were sparkling with hero-worship.
The third contestant, the Lv. 2 archer, tried to play it smart by retreating to the very edge of the fifty-meter ring to kite Lynn.
Whiz! Whiz! Whiz!
Arrows rained down. Lynn moved like a ghost. He didn't even move his feet at first, simply swaying his upper body with microscopic precision to let the arrows whistle past him. When the archer ran out of arrows and stood frozen in shock, Lynn disappeared.
A shadow flickered. Lynn was in his face. He slapped the bow away and tossed the archer off the stage by his collar like a sack of grain.
The arena erupted in a mountain-shaking roar!
"Warm-up's over," Lynn said, dusting his hands and looking toward the last two members.
Zanis was trembling, his face the color of ash. He turned to the hooded figure. "Lady Phryne... please!"
The silent, cloaked figure finally moved. She ascended the steps slowly and, under the gaze of thousands, threw back her hood.
A distorted, toad-like face was revealed.
"That's... Phryne Jamil of the Ishtar Familia?!" "Wasn't she missing? Why is she here?"
The crowd went into a frenzy. Phryne ignored them, her eyes locked on Lynn. A massive, suffocating pressure exploded from her bloated body, sweeping through the arena like a tsunami.
Level 6!
"Level 6..." Ottar whispered to Freya. "But her aura is muddled. It's an unstable foundation, likely forced through abnormal means."
Freya's expression turned grave. "Ottar, watch closely. If Lynn's life is in danger, I authorize you to intervene."
On the stage, Phryne's voice was like nails on glass. "Finally, I see you again, you little brat! Where is that sinful flaming sword? Bring it out! Today, I'll shove it down your throat inch by inch and pull it out the other end!"
Lynn's face finally showed a hint of gravity. He could feel she was much stronger than before. But then, he tilted his head and smirked.
"Oh? Isn't this the fat auntie who ran away crying after getting one-shotted? What, you joined a new Familia and suddenly think you're hot stuff?"
"You... DIE!"
Phryne's face turned a deep shade of purple. She let out a subhuman shriek.
BOOM!
The stone slabs beneath her feet shattered as she launched herself like a cannonball, swinging a massive, door-sized axe toward Lynn.
In that instant, a flash of light appeared in Lynn's hand—the Moonveil katana materialized.
"Transient Moonlight!"
----Support me here: https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
If you'd like to read ahead, you can subscribe for early access. I also have several other novels in my collection that you might enjoy!
Also, if there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patreon, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on updating it.
Join the journey and become part of the story!