Chapter 349: Ishtar familia
Chapter 349 - Ishtar familia
Mahiro’s words set the surrounding atmosphere ablaze.
"What did I hear?"
"A War Game! Hestia’s kid said War Game!"
"It’s been years...finally another War Game!"
"It’s heating up!"
Apollo’s dramatic arrival had drawn a crowd, including numerous gods among the onlookers.
Mahiro’s declaration of a War Game sparked a roar of excitement from the spectators.
"You’re starting a War Game against my Apollo Familia?" Apollo said, eyes wide with disbelief, nearly choking on his words.
From Hyakinthos and others, Apollo had pieced together the incident at the Hostess of Fertility.
He knew Mahiro’s strength, capable of flattening a Level 3 like Hyakinthos likely rivaling Level 4 or even Level 5. This fueled his desire for Mahiro, tinged with envy.
His Familia, with hundreds of adventurers, didn’t relish clashing head-on with such power.
Even a victory in a War Game would be pyrrhic, gutting their strength.
For other Familia, a win could boost fame, attracting new members to offset losses, but Apollo’s tarnished reputation already marred by bullying and poaching would only worsen, branding them as oppressors of a fledgling Familia.
Gods’ natures were fixed at birth. Time honed their knowledge, not their cunning.
Yet Apollo had built a second rate Familia in Orario, skillfully exploiting weaker targets while avoiding stronger ones.
He coveted Mahiro but preferred coercion over combat.
He hadn’t anticipated Mahiro’s bold move to initiate a War Game through the Guild, catching him off guard.
"Hestia, our Familia’s dispute hasn’t reached that point, has it?" Apollo said, forcing a strained smile.
"I’m leaving this to Mahiro. Don’t ask me," Hestia said, sneering.
"You know what a War Game means, right? It’s a battle staking everything," Apollo said, his smile faltering.
"Think your lone-member Familia can threaten mine? I’m reasonable. If you offer fair compensation, we can settle this."
"Stop," Hestia cut in, holding up a hand. "I said, Mahiro’s call."
Apollo’s face darkened, struggling to maintain his divine composure. "Hestia’s child, we can resolve this peacefully—"
"Shut up," Mahiro snapped, unyielding.
Apollo flushed, humiliated. A god, scorned by Hestia and cowed by Mahiro’s earlier magic bullet, he’d lost all dignity.
"This War Game is the price for provoking our Hestia Familia," Mahiro said, his gaze icy.
"You can’t refuse. The Guild application’s a formality. Even if you dodge it, I’ll force the War Game," he added, his smile deceptively kind.
"Instead of wasting time, go prepare. Pick the format...duel or group battle. The outcome won’t change."
His chilling words made Apollo, the sun god, tremble.
Against another adventurer, Apollo would scoff, but Mahiro’s proven strength made his threat credible.
"Haha, Apollo, accept already!" a god jeered.
"Hestia’s kid’s calling you out! Say yes!"
"What, you scared, Apollo?"
"He’s got you cornered!"
The spectating gods egged him on, laughing.
"Who’s that?" Apollo snapped, sweating under their taunts.
"You’ll regret this, Hestia!" he spat, glaring.
"My Familia’s many fine adventurers will crush your child, and you’ll beg for your arrogance."
"Wait, I have business with the Hestia Familia too," a voice interrupted, shifting attention.
A group of scantily clad Amazon adventurers approached, led by a figure from the Ishtar Familia.
"Look, more players!"
"That’s Ishtar’s crew!"
"Why’s Ishtar here?"
"Another show’s brewing!"
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[A/N: Resuming updates, 12 am UTC 8 everyday. I working on advance Chapters too. I’ll let yall know when it’s finished. Thanks for the support!]