Familia Myth: Journey to Hero Chapter 37 (Patreon)

Hey friends and fans, Kairomaru is bringing you another chapter of Familia Myth: Journey to Hero! Now that Apollo has challenged Hestia to a War Game, which Hestia refused, what will the passionate God do to try and force the issue? Hestia Familia is a rising Familia in Orario, has supporting Familias, plus Ais, Tione, and Tiona definitely aren’t going to sit back and NOT help Bell in whatever way they can. On top of all of that, Bell himself is already stronger than he was in Canon when he defeated Hyakinthos. What will be the outcome of the inevitable clash?

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So, without further delay, please enjoy.

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Chapter 37 – Provocation, Acceptance, Training

It was a normal morning for the Hestia Familia as Bell, Lili, and Hestia ate breakfast together and talked about their plans for the day.

“We’re meeting up with Welf and heading to the Fifteenth Floor today.” Bell told Hestia with a soft smile. “We’ll come straight home afterwards.”

Lili gave a nod of agreement. “The less chances we have of running into the Apollo Familia, the better.”

Hestia sighed at the problems that her nephew was causing them. “That’s for the best. Apollo can whine like the brat that he is, but I’m not his mother or his father, I won’t give him what he wants.” She let out an adorable huff. “What he needs is some real discipline…I’ll smack him one good time if he makes a nuisance of himself.”

After breakfast, Hestia hugged Bell and Lili, giving each of them a kiss in the process, while seeing them off. She watched them walk down the street until they were out of sight before letting out a little sigh. Knowing Apollo, he’d try something or another to get his way eventually. Hestia wasn’t sure what it would be, but she knew her nephew wasn’t the patient type, so it wouldn’t be too long before he made his move.

-Bell and Lili-

The two Adventurers stopped dead in their tracks shortly after leaving the Hearth District. All around them, from the street, to the rooftops of the buildings, stood members of the Apollo Familia, dressed in their black uniforms with the orange Familia emblem on the left breast and both shoulders.

On top of the roof directly across from Bell and Lili stood a blonde Elf man wearing a green long-sleeved jacket and beige pants with a red short cloak over his shoulders, part of it used as a mask to obscure everything below his eyes. The Elf raised his right arm into the air, his cold blue eyes focused on Lili and Bell, before he dropped it, pointing his palm towards the two members of Hestia Familia.

“Shit!” Lili cursed as a multiple fireballs were launched at her and Bell from a number of Magic Weapons, mostly knives. She rushed to the right while Bell went left, only for both of them to realize they weren’t the target of the barrage.

BAM

The large sign of the Hearth District that Hestia had bought and had set up to welcome people into the new District exploded into flaming pieces before collapsing to the street and blocking the way back towards their Familia Home.

Bell’s eyes widened at seeing the sign fall and burn. He remembered how happy Hestia had been when the sign was put up, not even all that long ago, and the pride that he’d felt to see the physical culmination of all the Familia’s efforts to grow. But now it was destroyed right in front of his eyes. “You…” Bell’s rubellite eyes burned with righteous fury. “Bastards!”

“Hm?!” Lissos, the blonde Elf man, leapt backwards in surprise when Bell’s black spear nearly stabbed him through the shoulder. He drew his sword, wondering at Bell’s Agility and Strength to be able to leap from the street to the top of a two-story building, and blocked the follow up thrust that was aimed at his chest.

Ching

The black rapier-like blade of Bell’s spear grinded against the blade of Lissos’s sword and the Level 2 Elf grunted as he found his boots sliding back across the roof tiles. ‘I’m losing in strength?!’ Bell Cranel had only Leveled Up a short time ago…Lissos and everyone in Orario knew that. So how was it that the much more experienced Level 2 was being overpowered?

“This is why I hate selfish Adventurers!” Lili nearly snarled as she took aim with her bowgun. The Adventurers coming at her were all clearly Level 1 based on their speed. Lili managed to get two shots off before she had to move, one striking a Cat Man in the right shoulder, making him drop his weapon as he cried out in pain, the second shot piercing straight into the thigh of a large human man with a club.

“Gah!” The man staggered, his leg suddenly unable to support him, and fell to one knee. He briefly saw Lili’s foot before her kick slammed into his face and knocked him unconscious.

“Get her!”

“Stay outta the way, you Prum bitch!”

More Apollo Familia members charged at Lili, wielding swords, axes, spears, and knives.

Lili weaved around the spear thrust at her, she was in the Hume Bunny woman’s guard with a deft step forward and slammed her elbow into the taller woman’s gut with all the force her Level 2 body could muster.

Which against a Level 1 was substantial.

“Gakh!” The Hume Bunny woman hacked out as her feet left the ground and she was knocked back, slamming onto her back two meters from where she’d been standing.

“Damn you!” Another Apollo Familia member came at Lili from the side with a knife.

Lili pulled her own knife and deflected the attempted stab. In a flash of metal, Lili cut the attacker’s arm, caught the knife as the man dropped it, and then turned and threw the stolen knife straight at the next closest Apollo Familia member.

“Fuck!” The woman cursed as she blocked the thrown knife with her sword. Her charge towards Lili had lost its momentum as she saw the Level 2 Prum slam the pommel of her knife onto the head of her injured Familia member, knocking the man unconscious. “Hyah!” The woman swung her blade at Lili, but Lili had used her stature as a Prum, being short and light, to easily duck under the slash and stab the woman in the leg. “AAAUUUGGGHH!!!” The swordswoman screamed only to get slugged in the stomach by Lili’s fist, silencing her as the air left her lungs. The world went dark as Lili’s foot slammed into the fallen woman’s head.

On the rooftop, Bell was set upon by multiple members of the Apollo Familia when they saw Lissos struggling. “Yah!” Bel jerked his spear upward, knocking Lissos’s sword high, nearly disarming the Elf man. Bell spun, both hands on his spear, and slammed the butt into the side of one man, while the long blade slashed across the chest of the man on the opposite side. With the two men throw to the sides, Bell took his left hand off his spear and pointed his palm at two more Apollo Familia’s members rushing him. “Firebolt!”

Flames leapt from Bell’s palm and exploded a second later as the spell hit its targets.

BOOM

“You!” Lissos was clearly angry as he lunged at Bell with a thrust of his sword.

Bell deflected the sword with his greater reach, the biggest advantage of a spear when compared to a sword, and forced Lissos backwards with a series of consecutive thrusts that had the Elf man on the backfoot. “Firebolt!” Bell cast his spell into his spear and the blade exploded with flames.

“Gah!” Lissos hissed out as the flames splashed him slightly, singeing his clothes and forcing him to skip backwards to make distance and escape the flames. The Elf swordsman’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw Bell spin his burning spear and cut down two more of Lissos’s subordinates in a circle of flames. In the same motion the butt of the spear knocked two more men to the edge of the roof, blood splattering on the roof tiles from busted noses and lips before the two men fell off the edge of the roof a second later.

-Hostess of Fertility-

The fighting hadn’t gone unnoticed by the people of Orario this morning. The sound of explosions going off and the people rushing away from the area while yelling about what was happening ensured that the news was spreading quickly.

The fact that the fighting was taking place so close to West Main Street only made it more visible to a larger number of people.

“Nya… What’s all the noise so early in the morning?” Anya asked as she walked outside of the tavern and looked down the street, seeing a narrow cloud of smoke billowing above the rooftops.

Syr held her hands over her mouth in worry and concern as her gray eyes looked in the direction the smoke was coming from. “That’s the Hearth District…”

Chloe narrowed her eyes as she stopped next to Anya. “That’s a fight between Familia. I can sense it.” Her sharp eyes and ears could tell this wasn’t just some scuffle between two hotheaded Adventurers, even if she couldn’t see the ongoing fight directly.

Ryu remained silent, but her blue eyes were as sharp as a blade. She was tempted to go inside and retrieve her weapons, but the risk of exposing herself on the surface was great, and Mama Mia and her friends at the Hostess would lose a lot if it was discovered that they’d been harboring her. ‘Bell…’ She clenched her fists, a rare showing of emotion from the normally calm Elf woman.

-Babel Tower Park-

“Hey! Did you hear?! Apollo Familia is attacking the Hestia Familia!” An Adventurer that had just run into the large plaza that surrounded the massive Babel Tower yelled out, getting the attention of the gathered Adventurers that were making their way towards the Dungeon.

“What?”

“Really?”

“In broad daylight?”

“Apollo Familia can afford the fines from the Guild, so they must think they can do whatever they want.”

Welf, having been waiting for Bell and Lili, shot to his feet and started running in the direction of the Hearth District. “What the hell is going on?!” He ran as fast as he could, hoping he’d get there in time to help his friends out.

At the edge of the plaza, as the news was quickly spreading, the Takemikazuchi Familia heard of the attack and stopped heading towards the Dungeon. They all shared a look between them before nodding once and rushing towards the Hearth District to help out however they could.

-Blue Pharmacy-

“What’s going on?” Miach stuck his head outside the front door of his shop at the sound of explosions. Seeing the smoke rising from so close by, it didn’t take Miach more than a second to understand the situation. “Apollo…”

“Lord Miach.” Naaza spoke up from behind.

“Naaza…” Miach turned and his voice trailed off as he saw Naaza with her bow and quiver of arrows, looking similar to how she had when she’d been an Adventurer.

Naaza bowed once to Miach. “I’m going to offer my assistance to the Hestia Familia.”

Miach smiled warmly at Naaza. “I’ll follow behind and bring potions for any injuries.”

A second later and Naaza was out the door, easily scaling up the nearest building and onto the rooftop. She was heading for the tallest building close by for the best vantage point. She wasn’t anywhere close to dealing with her trauma of Monsters yet, but dealing with a bunch of jackass Adventurers was doable.

-Hearth District-

“That little bastard!” Hestia cursed Apollo as she ran down the street towards the explosions and fighting that was growing louder the closer she got. “How dare he attack my Familia and my domain!” The Deities of the Olympian Pantheon had quarreled and outright fought each other for such things since their beginning. Apollo was WAY out of line and no Olympic Deity in Orario would back him in the coming confrontation now that he’d openly struck first.

Hestia came to a stop as she saw the fallen and burning sign on the street leading into the Hearth District. Memories of the day that they’d had it put up filled her mind and she recalled the smiles on Bell and Lili’s faces. They’d worked so hard for the Familia, making it grow and finally reach such a respectable standing in Orario…now the symbol of their success was broken and burning on the ground.

Wsh

Wsh

Wsh

Arrows flew overhead from one rooftop to the next, catching Hestia’s attention. A flare of fire blasted from the other roof, incinerating the arrows midflight and Hestia instantly recognized Bell’s Firebolt spell.

“Fucking bitch!” A loud male voice yelled and Hestia’s attention was diverted to street level as she moved to look around the burning sign on the ground. “Lili?!”

Lili was taking on four other Adventurers at the same time, and judging by the seven other bodies lying on the street, she’d been doing well so far. But now a large man, Boaz judging by his ears, was swinging a huge metal club at Lili, forcing the Prum to jump backwards to escape the wide swings. Every time that Lili was forced back, she was flanked by two of the other Adventurers and had to dodge or parry their attacks without being able to counter.

“Got you!” The werewolf on the left lashed out with his sword.

“Ngh!” Lili parried the blade with her knife and spun to distribute the force. The sword went wide and Lili buried her knife into the werewolf man’s thigh before pulling it out.

“Augh, fuck!” The werewolf cursed in pain, only for the front of his black uniform to be grabbed by Lili as she jerked him into the path of the Boaz man’s club. “GUAH!!!” He hacked out as Lili jumped back at the last second, leaving the man to be knocked aside by the metal club.

The third and fourth Apollo Familia members attacked Lili in a pincer maneuver, but Lili saw them coming and reached into her cloak before tossing down a Purple Moth Poison grenade. With her Abnormal Resistance, she could withstand a brief exposure to her refined poison and not be effected; but the two Level 1’s had no such protection and both began hacking and coughing as they staggered out of the purple cloud.

Wsh

Wsh

A bolt into each of their backs put them down for the count before Lili was forced to back away from the furious Boaz man who was swinging his heavy club nonstop as he tried to hit her.

Three arrows struck the Boaz man, one in each shoulder and one in his thigh. “Augh!” He dropped his club mid-swing, sending it flying off to the side of the street to clatter on the paved stones. “Where…?” He was confused which archer had shot him. The Apollo Familia had multiple stationed around the rooftops, but he didn’t see any of them.

“Hup!” Lili had taken the opening and slammed a kick straight into the Boaz man’s crotch. The huge man let out a muted squeak before falling to his knees and then onto his side in agony. Lili kicked him in the head one good time to knock the large Boaz man unconscious. “Thank you!” Lili turned and waved to the tallest rooftop in sight.

Hestia followed Lili’s wave and saw who she thought was Naaza giving a wave back from the rather far rooftop.

Had anyone been able to see the rooftops around the area from a bird’s eye view, they’d see all of the Apollo Familia archers laid out with an arrow stuck in each one. Naaza had coated the tips of her arrows with a sedative of her own design, so the Boaz man got three arrows to put him down…but Lili had sped the unconsciousness part up with the kick to the head.

“That one might be trouble…” Naaza said to herself as she focused on the man watching the fight from a safe distance. She was fairly certain it was Hyakinthos Clio, the Captain of the Apollo Familia…but the person was a bit too far away to tell for sure.

-Rooftops-

“Grk!” Lissos grunted as he staggered back a step from the force of Bell’s spear thrust. ‘I can barely parry the strike! How is he this strong?!’ It reminded Lissos of sparring with Hyakinthos rather than another Level 2.

Bell swung the butt of his spear around and knocked Lissos’s sword to the side before bringing the rapier-like blade down on the Elf, looking to slice him with the sharp edge and put him out of the fight. “Hyah!”

Lissos managed to evade, if only barely, his red cloak sliced to half its length by the sharp blade as the Elf man threw himself to the side in the same direction that Bell had knocked his sword, turning the loss of balance into an escape. “Hah…hah…” He was breathing heavy now, not understanding how he was so outclassed.

Daphne and Cassandra climbed to the rooftop of the building behind where Lissos and Bell were fighting. Their original position had been on the street as part of the encirclement to prevent Bell from fleeing. Now they had to move to the rooftops to provide assistance to their fellow Level 2.

“Daphne, I don’t think we should mess with him…” Cassandra said as they got to the rooftop and saw Bell pushing Lissos back.

Daphne sighed. “It’s a waste of time to fight. He should just give up.” Once Apollo took a liking to a ‘child’ there was no escape…no matter how far they ran, city to city, country to country, Apollo would follow them until they gave in. That was what had happened to her and Cassandra. “Was it another ‘prophetic’ dream?” Daphne looked at Cassandra with doubt.

Cassandra nodded once. “Yes. A rabbit leaps from the raised hands of two warriors, rides the wind, and devours the sun.” She looked up at the sky, dark clouds rolling in with the promise of rain. “I’m sure that if we keep going, something terrible will happen.”

“Right, right. Stop being silly. We have to join the battle.” Daphne sighed at hearing about another ‘prophetic’ dream of Cassandra’s.

“Uhhh… Why won’t you believe me?” Cassandra asked, knowing that all of her dreams came true unless she managed to do something to change them.

-Twilight Manor-

Ais turned to look at Tiona who had just barged into the normal meeting room with news. “Bell’s being attacked?”

“Yeah! The entire Apollo Familia is attacking Argonaut and Hestia Familia!” Tiona repeated what she’d heard as the news rapidly spread throughout Orario. “The whole city’s in an uproar!”

Ais narrowed her golden eyes and headed for the door. She’d grab Desperate from her room and then get to Bell as soon as possible.

“Don’t get any ideas, you two.” Finn said from the couch, his posture leaning forward as he rested his elbows on his knees. “This isn’t like when we helped them on the Eighteenth Floor.” Seeing Tiona about to argue, he continued speaking to cut her off. “Don’t do anything that could be seen as helping the Hestia Familia. There are factions within Orario that would support the Apollo Familia as long as it meant opposing us in the Loki Familia too.” The last thing they needed was a full-on faction war while they were trying to deal with everything that they already had their hands full with.

“Okay…” Ais clenched her fists in agitation, even though she knew Finn was right.

Tione nearly shoved Tiona out of the way as she entered the room. “Bell’s being attacked by the Apollo Familia?!”

Finn sighed heavily, knowing he might have to physically stop Tione from leaving if her anger got the better of her.

-Hearth District-

“It looks like you all are enjoying ganging up on only two people.” Ouka’s strong voice called out from behind the group of Apollo Familia members that were left on the street to block Bell’s potential path of escape. The members of Apollo Familia turned to see the Takemikazuchi Familia standing behind them. “Let us join the fun.” Ouka pointed his large war axe at the Apollo Familia while Mikoto, Chigusa, Asuka, Shin, and Koda drew their weapons, ready to fight.

“You dare stand against the Apollo Familia!” A Chienthrope man growled at the Takemikazuchi Familia, brandishing his spear.

Mikoto glared at the man. “We will not abandon our allies in their time of need!”

“Let’s go!” Ouka led the charge with a roaring battle cry. The first swing of his war axe snapping the Chienthrope man’s spear before he slammed a front kick straight into the other man’s stomach, taking him out of the fight.

Unseen by the members of the Apollo Familia, Welf made his way up to the rooftops while the Takemikazuchi Familia fought. It was all part of the plan they’d come up with when Welf and Ouka realized they were running in the same direction to get to the Hearth District. The blacksmith managed to get onto the rooftop before Daphne and Cassandra could join Lissos in fighting Bell.

“Why don’t you two stop right there?” Welf said as he pulled his greatsword off his back and held it at the ready. “I’ll take you on if you try to gang up on Bell!”

Cassandra, being more timid than Daphne, took a step back at Welf’s fierce tone, clutching her staff tightly.

Daphne narrowed her eyes at Welf. “Don’t get in the way. It’ll save everyone a lot of trouble if Cranel just comes along quietly.” She drew her sword and the two redheads clashed a second later, Daphne putting her higher Level 2 stats to use against Welf’s heavier weapon and the strength he put behind his swings.

-Bell and Lissos-

Bell unleashed a series of thrusts forward, forcing Lissos to guard and backstep to avoid the lethally sharp point of the spearhead. When he’d managed to back the Elf close to the edge, Bell knew that the Elf wouldn’t just fall off the roof and readied his next move.

“Nnh!” Lissos leapt over Bell, twisting his body to land on his feet behind Bell and take his back.

But that was about what Bell had expected.

The black spear came around in a sideways swing, straight towards Lissos. The instant before it made contact with the Elf swordsman’s hastily raised block, Bell cast his spell. “Firebolt!” The blade nearly exploded into flames as it hit the blade of Lissos’s sword and knocked the Elf backwards across the rooftop.

“GAAUUHH!!!” Lissos cried out from the flames and the force of the blow. His clothes burned and smoldered as he flew through the air, only to have the wind painfully knocked from his lungs as his back int the roof tiles, shattering more than a few of them. His sword clattered to the tiles a few meters away, but Lissos couldn’t see it through the smoke rising off of him as the flames he’d been engulfed in died down.

Bell took a second to breath, but narrowed his eyes when he saw Hyakinthos land on the other side of the rooftop. “Hyakinthos…” He readied his spear.

“I’m surprise you’ve managed to last this long, Bell Cranel.” Hyakinthos said as he drew his sword, a reddish flamberge that shone like prominence, and knocked Bell’s spear wide as he blurred across the rooftop.

“Grnnk!” Bell’s eyes widened at the force behind the blow. Another flash of reddish metal and Bell staggered backwards with a clean scratch across his white metal breastplate, the Black Goliath Tooth it had been forged from allowing it to take the blow for Bell without much damage at all. “Hah!” He thrust his spear forward, but Hyakinthos pivoted around it and grabbed the shaft of the spear with his left hand while bringing his flamberge down on Bell, the wavy blade clearly aimed to try and take off Bell’s arm where there wasn’t any armor in the way.

Hyakinthos didn’t look surprised when Bell leapt away, leaving his black spear behind. “I honestly hate you for being the object of Lord Apollo’s affections.” He tossed Kokutogenishiki aside without a care. “But this is Apollo’s wish. I will allow you to join our glorious Familia!” He pointed the tip of his flamberge at Bell. “If you resist, however, then I’m sure Lord Apollo won’t mind if I cut off a leg or an arm.”

Bell drew the Hestia Knife and Zan Kyojin, feeling his Strength and Dexterity rise from his Dual Wield Skill. “This isn’t going to be like the last time at the bar.” Bell said with determination and surety in his voice. “Rise.” He cast and felt the rush of his stats being increased by Vesta Enhance. He blurred across the rooftop and saw Hyakinthos’s eyes widen as the Captain of the Apollo Familia raised his sword in time to block the two slashes from Bell’s knife and shortsword combo.

“How?!” Hyakinthos broke the deadlock with a grimace. “Nevermind, it must be that spell you just cast.” He lunged forward and clashed blades with Bell in a flurry of attacks, sparks dancing in the air from the speed and force of metal hitting metal.

The attacks from Bell increased in speed and strength as Heroic Will activated in the face of adversity that Hyakinthos represented. Bell struck down with Zan Kyojin in a chopping motion, forcing Hyakinthos’s flamberge down, opening him up to the thrust from the Hestia Knife that the Level 3 dodged with a half-step back and a pivot to break the deadlock and free his sword. Hyakinthos went for a powerful slash, but Bell pivoted on the ball of his foot and let the swing glance off of Zan Kyojin. A slash at Hyakinthos’s forearm scored a slight cut through his sleeve, but his foot kicked out Bell’s leg and made him stumble.

“A rabbit shouldn’t try to howl!” Hyakinthos swung his sword down on the staggered Bell, only for it to stop dead as Bell blocked with the Hestia Knife.

“Not a rabbit.” Bell slashed at Hyakinthos’s leg with Zan Kyojin the greater reach of the shortsword forcing Hyakinthos back, but not fast enough as his black pant leg was cut through and blood stained the blade from the cut across the shin.

Hyakinthos glared at Bell for the injury and swung at him with his greater reach, but Bell skipped backwards and readied the Hestia Knife and Zan Kyojin again.

-Guild-

“Why’re we not doing anything?!” Eina demanded of Royman Mardeel, the Head of the Guild, slamming her palms down on top of his desk. “Send a message to the Apollo Familia right away! Tell them that fighting in the streets will be punished!”

“It wouldn’t matter.” Royman said with a heavy sigh. “Any fine we’d levy; they’re prepared to pay it.”

Eina leaned forward, not willing to let this go. “The Hestia Familia is being attacked right now!” As the Familia Advisor, it was her job to look after the Hestia Familia exclusively. “The Guild can’t just sit back and let it happen!”

Royman looked at Eina, a brief hit of his annoyance with the Half-Elf showing in his eyes. “There are still limits to how much the Guild can intervene. If we’re too heavy-handed we’ll be accused of favoritism and that will lead to even more of the less reputable Familia’s acting out under the excuse that they’re being treated unfairly.” The older Elf glared at Eina for not seeing the balance that the Guild had to maintain in Orario.

Eina didn’t break eye contact at all. She knew Royman was a traditionalist that didn’t approve of Half-Elves much, but she didn’t give a damn right now. Bell was being attacked and she’d MAKE something happen if she had to!

“Fine.” Eina turned away from Royman and quickly walked away. She was out of his office, down the hallway, and then down the stairs in short order. In the back of the Guild, among the offices and desks, Eina didn’t wait for approval as she grabbed a pen and paper wrote a quick note, then stamped it with her new Guild Seal that she’d received upon her promotion to Familia Advisor. Only a moment later and a pigeon flew from the Guild straight towards the destination that Eina knew could and would intervene.

-Bell versus Hyakinthos-

“Hah!” Bell clashed with Hyakinthos again, knocking the flamberge aside and scoring another slight cut across the other man’s skin.

“I’ve given my body and soul to Lord Apollo!” Hyakinthos knocked Bell back with a strong swing of his sword and pressured him further with a powerful step forward and a follow up swing from below, forcing Bell back lest the tip of the blade split his face. “To think that he’d have interest in someone like you who lacks any look or grace!”

Bell grimaced as the fight had basically stalemated. He’d scored more blows on Hyakinthos, but they were all superficial to a Level 3. Likewise, Bell had taken a few hits himself, mostly the same superficial injuries, but it was still adding up. As he prepared to clash with Hyakinthos again, not even knowing how many times they’d already done so or how long their fight had been going on, something stopped both of them.

“That’s enough.” Hestia said, her tone soft, but beyond rebuke or argument. She hadn’t released her Divinity just yet, but a faint shimmering of the prismatic aura was seen across her skin.

Bell and Hyakinthos stopped fighting. Welf, Daphne, and Cassandra stopped moving as well on the adjacent rooftop.

Lili, standing beside Hestia (and clearly how the Goddess had gotten onto the rooftop to begin with) glared at Hyakinthos and the injuries he’d put on Bell.

“If Apollo wants a War Game, then we’ll give him one.” Hestia stated to Hyakinthos, the Captain of Apollo Familia finding it hard to look at the barely restrained Goddess as her displeasure with him was blatant through her aura. “Return to Apollo and tell him that I’ll be there shortly.”

Hyakinthos sheathed his sword and gave Hestia a short bow. “Yes, Goddess.” In his mind he knew that he’d achieved Apollo’s goals and felt that everything else was irrelevant.

Hestia took a deep breath to calm herself down and everyone felt like they could move normally again.

“Stop what you’re doing right now!” A powerful female voice called out across the area.

The sound of marching feet filled the air and looking over the edge of the roof everyone saw the forces of Ganesha Familia surrounding the area. At the front was a beautiful blue-haired woman in an orange dress with gauntlets on her hands. The woman exuded authority as she saw the Apollo Familia members that were still fighting with the Takemikazuchi members drop their weapons.

“Shakti Varma…” Bell said as he saw the Captain of the Ganesha Familia up close (sort of) for the first time.

“Fighting in the streets is against the law of Orario!” Shakti stated clearly to everyone in the area. “All of you will be questioned in relation to this incident. Do not resist.” She held up a paper with the seal of the Guild on it, showing the validity of Ganesha Familia’s actions in upholding the law.

The fully armored Ganesha Familia members all stomped one foot in unison, creating a sound almost like distant thunder. An intimidation tactic to show their vastly greater numbers and strength against the law breakers.

-Later ~ Apollo Familia Home-

Hestia and Bell strode through the open gate of black iron bars. On either side of the pathway leading up to the double front doors were members of Apollo Familia, some that had fought earlier, given their slightly rough appearance, but many that had clearly stayed at the Familia Home as well.

The double doors opened and Apollo strode out with a smirk on his face. “Hello, Hestia. What brings you all the way out here?” He asked as if he hadn’t just caused an incident large enough to get Ganesha Familia and the Guild involved this morning.

Hestia didn’t answer with words. She kicked her right leg upward a bit, her flip flop leaving her foot and rising into the air for a second. Hestia snatched her flip flop out of the air and hurled it straight at Apollo, smacking the Sun God right in the face so hard that he staggered back a step. “I accept your challenge to a War Game!” She pointed at Apollo as her nephew held his nose in pain.

Apollo grinned widely despite the pain and spread his arms wide. “Both Deities have agreed! The War Game shall take place, everyone!”

There was a second where nothing happened.

“YEAH!!!”

Then pandemonium as various Deities seemingly popped out of the woodwork in excitement.

“All right!” Two Gods popped out from behind a bush, one even holding two leafy branches that he’d used to hide himself.

The second floor windows of Apollo’s three-story mansion began to open one after another as more Deities hung out of them with cheers.

“Tell the Guild!”

“Call an emergency Denatus!”

With a splash a god wearing only a red speedo and a yellow swimming cap emerged from the large fountain in front of the Apollo Familia Home. “I’m so excited!”

A second God, wearing only a fundoshi, rose from the water with a shout. “It’s been too long!”

“These lazy idiots with nothing better to do.” Hestia really wanted to smack a few of them upside the head with her flip flop.

“The rules will be decided fairly, in the presence of the Gods!” Apollo declared with a confident smirk. “I’ll send you the details for the Denatus later.” He turned to enter his home, confident that everything had gone to his will.

Hestia wasn’t about to let her stupid nephew remain so smug after all the trouble that he’d caused. And as his aunt, she knew exactly what to say to kill his mood. “This is why Zeus liked Artemis more than you.”

Apollo stopped dead in his tracks and stood stock still for a moment. When he turned to look at Hestia over his shoulder, his face was a mix of red from anger and looking like he was trying not to let any emotion show at all. “Hurtful… That was unnecessarily hurtful, Aunt Hestia.”

“If you ever stopped being a selfish and self-absorbed little brat, maybe others would like you more, Apollo.” Hestia had no warmth for him.

Apollo closed the double doors of his home behind him without another word.

Hestia looked at Luan, who happened to be the last person in line on the lefthand side of the path. “Prum, since you seem to have recovered from your oh so horrible injuries, would you be so kind as to fetch my shoe?”

“Y-Yes, Goddess…” Luan ducked his head and jogged over to pick up Hestia’s flip flop. He quickly walked back over and presented it to her.

“Thank you.” Hestia put her flip flop back on and left with Bell, completely ignoring the chattering of all the excited Deities that Apollo had clearly invited over to see the success of his little plot.

When they were far enough away from the gate that closed behind them, Bell asked Hestia the all important question. “What now, Hestia?”

“Now, we make our own plans.” Hestia said as she smiled confidently at Bell. “First though, I have to make sure the Denatus goes our way. Knowing Apollo like I do, I know of one surefire way to help things along.” She took Bell’s hand in her own. “All you have to focus on is getting stronger, Bell! Stronger than anyone that attacked us today! Stronger than all of them!”

Bell squeezed her hand back. “I will, Hestia! I’ll get stronger!” The blazing star of desire within Bell flared ever brighter at his declaration. ‘I know just who to ask too!’ He had several wonderful women in his life that could help him become stronger, after all.

-Next Day ~ Babel Tower ~ Thirtieth Floor ~ Great Round Table Room-

The air was charged with excitement as roughly sixty Deities sat in the stands facing the large round table in the center of the room. The chatter was constant as they all waited for the last Deity to show up so that they could begin.

Bam

Apollo slammed his fist on the top of the table. “She’s not here yet? Don’t tell me she’s skipping the War Game Denatus?!”

“After having to put out the fire that YOUR Familia caused in her District and reassure all of her residents that everything was safe, I can only imagine how exhausted she must’ve been.” Takemikazuchi said with a shake of his head.

Miach agreed with a single nod. “Yes. You can’t complain about a problem that YOU caused.”

That got a smattering of chuckles and laughter from several of the Deities present while Apollo just stewed in his annoyance with Hestia’s tardiness.

“You know she’s faking it!” Loki laughed, a big smile on the Trickster Goddess’s face. “I wonder if itty-bitty is planning to run away?”

More Deities laughed at the idea, finding it amusing that Hestia might runaway from this entire mess.

“She doesn’t now when to give up.” Apollo said with a grimace. “If she doesn’t show up, then I’ll have to tell the Guild that she’s forfeited.”

“Eh?”

“That’s so boring though!”

“Boo!”

The comments from the various Deities made Apollo’s eye twitch slightly.

The doors of the room opening quickly had all the attention in the room.

“Hey. Sorry to keep everyone waiting.” Hestia greeted the room as a whole before making her way to her chair across from Apollo’s.

Apollo smirked confidently, now that they could begin the War Game Denatus. He threaded his fingers together, placed his elbows on the table, and then rested his chin atop his hands. “If we win the War Game, I’m taking Bell Cranel. I want to make that clear at the start.”

“And if we win?” Hestia asked pointedly.

“We’ll agree to any conditions you have.” Apollo said with such utter confidence in his victory that all of the Deities in the room were silent. “Recorder, make sure you’ve got that down.” He told the scribe, a Guild official that had special permission to sit in on this specific Denatus as it was solely for a War Game. As the man wrote the terms down in the official record, Apollo basked in the quiet murmurs of surprise from the other Deities at his complete belief in his Familia’s victory.

“So, how will you fight?” Loki asked with a grin, leaning forward in her seat. “Don’t screw it up and do something boring.”

Hestia raised her right hand and extended her index and middle finger. “We only have Bell and Lili; so how about a two-on-two with chosen representatives?”

Apollo closed his eyes and shook his head. “You only have two members because you’re lazy.” That got some ‘ooohs’ from the crowd of Deities for the call out. “You can’t use that as a reason to take away my ability to use my Familia’s full strength.” Seeing Hestia glare at him, Apollo smirked before turning to the other Deities. “What does the audience think? How about we take proposals and choose one of them lottery style?”

“Oh!”

“That’s Apollo for you!”

“How long’s it been since we got to offer suggestions?!”

The idea was quickly agreed to and slips of paper and pens were passed out to every Deity. After a minute or so, the slips were all folded into small squares and collected before being placed in a box with a hole on top. Multiple Deities among the crowd got to shake the box to mix up all the proposals before it was placed on the table between Hestia and Apollo.

“This drawing is so important, and you want me to do it?” Hermes, his feathered hat absent for once, looked almost uncomfortable to be between his aunt and half-brother during this War Game.

Apollo nodded to Hermes. “You’re neutral. And trustworthy enough.”

“We’re counting on you, Hermes.” Hestia looked at her other nephew. The look hidden in her blue eyes practically screamed at Hermes: ‘don’t screw this up’.

“Oh dear…” Hermes sighed as he reached into the box. ‘Our Pantheon is the same as ever; squabbling and fighting over practically everything.’ Regardless of how this played out, he’d have to contact the one that had asked him to keep an eye on Bell. Hermes pulled out one of the folded papers and opened it, only to flinch at what was written on it. “Eh?” He looked mildly uncomfortable as he turned it around so that everyone could see what was written. “Sorry, it’s a siege.”

“Huh?!” Hestia slapped both of her hands on the table, the sudden violent movement making her breasts bounce a bit, though only a few of the Deities in the audience focused on the movement.

“Ahahaha!” Apollo laughed brightly. “This is great!” He looked at Hestia smugly. “It was a fair drawing. I won’t hear any complaints, Hestia.”

Miach and Takemikazuchi both looked stunned.

“Out of all the options, he ended up picking that one?” Miach nearly gaped at the bad luck for Hestia.

Takemikazuchi agreed with a heavy sigh. “A siege is a battle were numbers matter the most.”

Apollo stood from his chair with a grin, his hands resting on his waist. “You can’t defend a castle with just two people. So, I guess you’ll have to be the attackers, Hestia.”

“Nnn…” Hestia nearly growled at how smug her brat nephew was being.

Hermes surprised everyone when he raised his hand. “Excuse me, can I say something?” When no one stopped him, the Messenger God continued. “I’m not saying this just because I drew the lot. But this just isn’t fair. There’s no entertainment to be had in a one-sided battle.” Seeing several of the Deities in the audience nodding in agreement, Hermes continued on. “How about we let Hestia’s side have some help?”

“No.” Apollo denied instantly. “A War Game is a battle between two Familia. If you let her have help then what’s the point of the divine rules-”

“Are you scared, Apollo?” Freya spoke up, cutting off the Sun God. Every head turned to look at Freya, who had been silent up until now, seeming to find the back and forth amusing. “The idea of helpers really shook your confidence, huh?”

Apollo turned to glare at Freya.

Freya only smiled slightly, clearly amused by Apollo’s glare. “At least your father, even weakened as his Familia was, gave my Familia time for preparation before our War Game and still managed to put up a good fight. Yet here you are, scared of any factor that would be beneficial to Hestia.” Freya’s meaning wasn’t a subtle barb so much as it was a jagged harpoon into Apollo’s ego.

“Oh damn…”

“Hehehe.”

“She said it~”

More than a few Deities got a laugh out of Freya’s unsubtle call out.

Apollo barely held back a snarl at Freya’s insinuation. “You Nordic wench… How dare you speak down to me like that.” He raised his fist in front of his chest. “My father gave your Familia five days of preparation, correct? But he lost. I can give Hestia seven days, a full week! I’ll still win!” That got a loud response from the audience and stoked Apollo’s pride and ego. “I’ll even allow a single helper! Under the condition that it’s from a Familia outside of Orario!” He raised both hands into the air upon his declaration. “What do you all think of that?!”

“OOOOAAAHHH!!!” The Deities cheered at the War Game becoming more exciting.

“Candy from an immortal baby…” Freya smirked, her voice just loud enough to be heard as the cheer died down.

“What did you just call me?!” Apollo’s Divinity slipped out partially, the sunlight glow was like prominence for the second it was unleashed before Apollo regained control of himself.

Freya only grinned in amusement at getting under Apollo’s skin.

“Are we agreed on one week of preparation and a single outside helper?” Hestia asked Apollo to wrap up the War Game Denatus.

“Yes, they’re fine.” Apollo was still shooting a side glare at Freya.

With that, they War Game Denatus was complete and all terms had been finalized.

As the Deities began to leave, excitedly talking about the upcoming War Game, no one noticed the quick look Hestia and Freya shared, nor the little smile Freya gave her friend for helping her out.

-Bell, Lili, Welf-

“Uh, Bell…why’re we on top of the wall?” Welf asked, wondering why Bell had brought them here when he said that they were going to be training. He was all for helping his friend out with getting ready before the War Game, of course, but the location seemed odd to him.

Lili peeked over the edge between two of the merlons. “Are we even allowed to be up here?”

Bell smiled at both of them. “I spent a good portion of yesterday…after the questioning…asking for some favors.”

“Bell, good morning.” Ryu smiled at Bell as she walked up the steps and stood atop the wall. She was dressed in her Adventurer gear and had her green mask resting around her neck, ready to be pulled up at a moments notice in case she needed to hide her identity further than just her dyed hair.

“Good morning, Ryu. Thank you for agreeing to help us out.” Bell thanked her with a warm smile full of gratitude and love.

Ryu blushed slightly and had to look away for a second. “O-Of course, Bell.” She practically melted into the hug that Bell gave her, wrapping her arms around him in return.

“Argonaut!” Tiona announced her arrival a minute later by nearly taking Bell off his feet with a flying tackle.

“Good morning, Tiona.” Bell managed to pivot and twirl Tiona around once, much to her bubbly laughter. “Thank you for agreeing to help.”

Tiona kissed his cheek with her normal sunshine-like smile. “No problem!”

Tione was about to say good morning when Bell pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek. “B-Bell…” She had the cutest little smile on her lips at Bell’s greeting.

“Good morning, Tione.” Bell rested his forehead against Tione’s, the two looking into each other’s eyes affectionately.

“Good morning, Bell.” Tione pecked his lips.

“Thank you for agreeing to help us.” Bell thanked her with warmth and affection filling his voice.

Tione squeezed him closer, intentionally pressing her tits into his chest. “Like I’d say no.”

Ais was the last one up the stairs, carrying Tiona’s Urga in both hands as her friend and unofficial ‘sister’ in all but blood had asked her to before bolting up the stairs. Tiona happily took her Urga back as Tione released, playfully pushing him towards Ais.

“Bell.” Ais smiled softly at her boyfriend. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Ais.” Bell pulled her into a warm embrace that Ais happily sank into. “Thank you for agreeing to this, I know it could put your Familia in an awkward situation.”

“Mm.” Ais hummed, currently not caring in the slightest about that as she just enjoyed being back in Bell’s arms. The smoldering black flame within her heart quickly shrank and was snuffed out again, putting her at ease. “I want to help.” She said as they pulled apart to look at each other.

A soft kiss from Bell made Ais’s face turn an adorable shade of pink.

Welf, politely waiting until Bell was done, even though he had A LOT of questions about what he’d just witnessed, spoke up once Bell and Ais separated. “So… Why are Miss Wallenstein, the Hyrute Sisters, and Miss Ryu here?”

Tiona hefted her Urga with a wide grin. “We’re here to help train you all up for the War Game!”

“Mainly Bell and Lili, but once they win, you’ll be glad you took this training too, Mister Blacksmith.” Tione smirked at Welf.

Welf felt a shiver of fear run down his spine. ‘I’m gonna die.’

“Wait…Lili too?” Lili asked, looking between the three Level 6 Adventurers and Ryu, who she knew to be Level 4. ‘Lili is going to die…’

Ryu nodded once. “You’ll be part of the War Game, so you definitely need this training for the next week.”

Bell pulled Lili into a warm hug before looking into her chestnut brown eyes. “I know you can do this, Lili!” He said with absolute faith and confidence in Lili’s abilities and skill. “You’re so amazing already. This training together will only make you even more incredible.”

Lili fidgeted a little at being showered with Bell’s belief, confidence, praise, and faith in her. “Lili will do her best!” She declared, both of her fists in front of her chest as she steeled her resolve.

Bell kissed her lips for a moment and Lili giggled a little from the ‘encouragement’.

“Are you ready?” Ais asked the three Level 2’s while drawing Desperate and placing it against the wall, wielding her scabbard like a training sword.

Ryu drew her wooden sword as well and held it at the ready. “With such a short amount of time, I’m afraid that we won’t be able to go easy on you.”

Tiona beamed at Welf. “Since we both use heavy weapons, I’ll spar with you first!”

“Gr-Great…” Welf said, gulping at the look on Tiona’s face and knowing that she could kill him by accident with her strength.

“Don’t worry, Lord Miach s supplying potions for this whole week so that we can keep training without worrying about injuries.” Bell assured Lili and Welf with a smile.

Both Lili and Welf deadpanned at him.

Tione stretched a bit before pulling out her Kukri knives. “I hope you three didn’t make any other plans for this week, because outside of sleeping at night, you’ll be living on this wall.” Her grin promised a very thorough and practical training.

‘I would’ve written a Will if I knew this was what Bell meant by training.’ Welf thought to himself, even as he readied his greatsword to spar with Tiona.

‘Lili will do her best… Lili won’t die… Lili will do her best…’ Lili repeated over and over in her head like a mantra.

“We’re in your hands.” Bell readied his spear to take on Ais and Ryu first.

-End Chapter-

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Well…that’s one way to make a War Game happen.

Unfortunately for Apollo Familia, Bell’s stronger than in Canon and is already even with Hyakinthos in a straight up one-on-one fight despite the Level difference!

Eina wasn’t taking ANY shit from Royman! Her family was in danger (especially the father of her likely child) and so she said: “Fuck the protocols!” and contacted Ganesha Familia directly to end the Apollo Familia’s attack on the Hestia Familia! She loves her family so much!

The Denatus wasn’t postponed by Hestia faking being sick for days this time around! With new relationships comes new avenues of making certain things go in favor of Hestia Familia.

Freya certainly wouldn’t have known how to push all of Apollo’s buttons so easily without help from his aunt Hestia.

Bell asks Ryu, Tione, Tiona, and Ais for training for the week of prep time…and he pulls Lili and Welf along for it too!

Just how much stronger will the two ‘normal’ Level 2’s be by the end of this ‘baptism of fire’?

Keep reading to find out!

Let me know what you thought!

Until next time, later!