South Main Street.
Behind it lay the passage connecting to the central plaza. The distance to where the god Apollo was located was less than 1,000 meters. It could be said to be…
The final line of defense!
Of course, there were also quite a few adventurers inside the Familia's base waiting for Ron. Compared to these ordinary members, those people were the true elites.
The key point was, Stanley did not believe that Ron could break through alone.
Just the Lv2 members who had arrived here numbered five in total. The rest, though Lv1, frequently fought in the Dungeon and excelled in coordination.
"Miller will be here to support us shortly."
"Besides, with so many of us, there's no reason we can't take Ron down, right?"
Unless Ron possessed strength at the Lv3 level.
But that was obviously impossible. Even Lv2 adventurers were quite rare in Orario, let alone in this recent period in Orario—
There had not been the slightest rumor about Ron.
"He's here…"
When Ron's figure appeared not far ahead, Stanley braced himself. He tightened his grip on the rapier in his hand, putting away the initial contempt he had harbored.
To be able to quickly deal with James's squad—
That meant that, under these circumstances, this guy's strength was absolutely among the best within the same level!
...
'Why does it feel like… there are fewer adventurers here than the monsters the Dungeon spawns?'
They were clearly blocking the road.
But based on the battle just now, the feeling it gave Ron was—roughly speaking—not even as oppressive as those sinister monsters in the Dungeon?
Logically, that shouldn't be the case.
As adventurers, their combat thinking was certainly different from monsters that did not use their brains and only fought with all their might. It was also possible that the ones he had encountered were just fodder.
He remained vigilant at all times.
After all, in this War Game, he was more like the challenger!
After figuring this out, Ron took a deep breath, calming his previously surging emotions once more. As for the "decapitation" operation he had planned before the War Game—
At the very least, it was absolutely not suitable for the current situation.
With the mobility of the Shinobi Prosthetic, the adventurers before him absolutely could not stop him. But if he chose to withdraw, the pressure from these adventurers… would ultimately fall upon Mikoto.
'Decapitation…'
'Cut off the limbs first, then the head—shouldn't that work just as well?'
With the powerful recovery effect of the Healing Gourd, Ron could accept non-lethal injuries. He did not continue using the previous combat method.
After drawing the two short swords tied to his legs, he gripped them in reverse hold.
Losing its support, the greatsword "Great Fortune" crashed toward the ground. With a loud clang, it drew the attention of the Apollo adventurers.
Immediately after—
They saw a figure erupting with astonishing speed, launching into a charge.
He was not fleeing. On the contrary, like a firefly flying toward a bright flame, he advanced toward the light, his heavy steps striking the ground and bursting into sharp, rapid cracking sounds like a marching stomp.
"This guy is definitely insane!"
Stanley's eyelids twitched violently. The other adventurers standing not far away had already raised their bows and crossbows, releasing bowstrings and pulling triggers toward Ron's swiftly advancing figure.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Arrows tore through the air.
Facing the assault of the Apollo Familia's adventurers, Ron made no attempt to dodge. Thanks to the true essence possessed by the Ashina Mushin-ryū, what appeared to ordinary people as speed too fast for the naked eye to catch—
In his eyes, he could clearly capture the precise flight trajectories. After halting his steps, relying on the instinct honed through long-term physical training, he repeatedly raised his arms, swinging his short swords to deflect the arrows.
Clang~
'Could they be more insidious than the imps in the Dungeon that hide in dark corners and fire cold arrows?'
However, the counterattacks Ron carried out by instinct looked, in the eyes of the Apollo Familia's adventurers, leisurely and composed, as though he were strolling through a courtyard.
Deflecting arrows with bare hands…
Is that something someone at this level is supposed to be able to do?
Stanley's pupils suddenly contracted. If one prepared in advance, dodging was not difficult—but who would dare to directly parry them with a weapon?
With the slightest mistake, the arrows could directly pierce through the completely unprotected Ron.
Either he was a madman…
But Stanley felt that it was more a case of Ron being utterly confident in his own strength. Only now did he finally understand why Hestia had accepted the War Game.
And in the instant he lost focus—
Ron's figure had already charged in front of him.
Facing that extremely fast blade-light, Stanley raised his short sword to block, but what followed immediately was an irresistible, overwhelming force.
Buzz!
At the moment the weapons collided, the metal short sword itself let out a wail, unable to withstand it.
He only felt his arm go numb, and then Ron lifted his leg and kicked fiercely toward his chest, making him feel as though his internal organs were about to shatter.
Blood uncontrollably surged out from his throat.
Stanley's consciousness gradually faded. If he had the chance—he truly wanted to grab Hyakinthos by the collar, drag him before Apollo, and demand an explanation.
"Fuck—"
"This is the Lv2 adventurer you were talking about?!"
...
At the same time...
Having received another order from Daphne, the Apollo Familia's adventurers had already circled around another street and arrived at the abandoned church where Hestia was located.
It could be said to be utterly unscrupulous.
But the final victory condition of the "War Game" siege battle was to seize the token in the opposing god's hand—the hourglass that recorded the countdown.
As long as they could win, who would care about the specific process?
"Over there."
"The bell tower at the top of the abandoned church—that's definitely the goddess Hestia. I've seen her at the weapon shop. As long as we take the hourglass token from her hands—"
"The victor can only be us!"
With two battlefields opened simultaneously, the situation was not optimistic for the Apollo Familia. Miller, who had the largest number of members under his command and strength close to Lv3, was being blocked by a strange elf.
The vanguard had been effortlessly swept aside by Ron.
And their task was to launch a surprise attack from the rear, where the Hestia Familia had made no defenses at all, and ultimately secure victory in this battle.
However, as the adventurers in Apollo uniforms approached the abandoned church, they were noticed by Mikoto at the top of the bell tower. She did not rashly launch an attack.
The reason was simple.
She was worried that she would be unable to resolve them quickly enough, allowing any fish that slipped through the net to threaten the goddess.
Only after confirming that there were fewer than ten Apollo Familia adventurers did the girl look toward Hestia, who was standing by the window, her tone relaxed.
"Lady Hestia."
"I'll go deal with some Apollo Familia adventurers."
Hyakinthos was not present.
For her, that counted as good news. After all, having just advanced to Lv3—and after being thoroughly drilled by Miss Ryuu yesterday—her hands were itching for a fight.
Mikoto's figure was exceptionally nimble. Using footholds along the rooftop, she quickly arrived at the entrance of the abandoned church, which was also the only access point to the bell tower at the top.
She looked toward the Apollo Familia adventurers who were eyeing her like tigers stalking their prey.
If she could not obtain that sense of shock from Ron, then she would obtain it from other adventurers. At the very least, let her feel a bit of accomplishment after breaking through to a new level.
Immediately after, the girl drew the katana at her waist with both hands, her tone filled with composure.
"The spirit of Bushidō from our Far East."
"Before battle, one must exchange greetings. You should know me—Hestia Familia's Yamato Mikoto, now a Lv3 adventurer."
"Please take care of me."
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
---