Luan Espel stood before them with that same infuriatingly smug expression plastered across his boyish face, the kind of smirk that practically oozed mockery without needing a single word. His tone dripped with ridicule as he regarded Bell, Lili, and Welf, clearly having overheard their conversation. To him, as well as no doubt to the rest of his Apollo Familia companions lurking somewhere nearby, the very idea of the two speaking so boldly about reaching Level 3 was nothing short of laughable. His brown eyes gleamed with derision, as if he were savoring the chance to trample on their hopes with nothing more than his words.
"Well, well," Luan began, his voice carrying the arrogant cadence of someone who had already convinced himself of his superiority. "Level 3, you say? Hah… how amusing. Do you really believe such an achievement is in your hands? Or is this just another one of Hestia Familia's little daydreams to make yourselves feel good?"
Bell stiffened at the at those words, seemingly feeling it like a jab. H is youthful features tightening into a grimace as though he'd been struck. Lili's sharp eyes narrowed instantly, her protective instincts already bristling at the insult hurled towards her Familia. Welf, on the other hand, clenched his jaw but tried to keep his composure, though it was clear the red-headed smith was resisting the urge to slam his fist into Apollo's prum smug little face.
The pub, which had been filled with the lively chatter of adventurers enjoying their meals and drinks, began to quiet down. Their attention now onto the ruckus as their heads subtly turned in their direction, curiosity sparking in the eyes of onlookers who sensed the tension building. The shadow of hostility was undeniable, and it was only a matter of moments before this verbal jab could turn into something far more volatile.
"A pathetic white haired scrub who only knows how to run, tripping over his own feet while praying someone stronger comes to save him. A pitiful coward who somehow stumbled into a level-up he didn't even deserve." Luan sneered, his voice slicing through the air like a blade. His eyes flicked toward Lili, and the words that followed were dipped in poison. "And you" Luan then turn his attention towards Lili "a gutter rat who clung to drunks and leeches, only to crawl your way into another Familia and pretend you're worth something. Level 2? Don't make me laugh. You're still nothing more than a parasite dressing itself up in hand-me-down pride."
He turned, his mocking gaze landing on Welf. "And then there's you. A failure of a smith who couldn't hammer a nail straight if your life depended on it. Everything you make is trash, scrap iron unfit for even a beggar to carry. You think a level-up changes that? Hah! Dress garbage in gold, and it's still garbage."
The words weren't just insults—they were crafted to humiliate, meant to strip away dignity and leave nothing but shame in their wake.
"I guess," Luan spat, his tone dripping with derision, "I suppose it makes sense. The so-called 'Rising Star of Orario' is nothing but a fraud, a pathetic excuse of a Familia propped up by pity and luck. Rising stars?" He let out a cruel chuckle. "More like dimly lit candles, am I right?"
"HAHAHAHAHA!" The mocking chorus of Luan's comrades exploded through the tavern, each laugh harsher than the last, pounding against Bell, Lili, and Welf like hammers. The sound of mugs slamming on tables, the jeers and hoots, only magnified the humiliation. It was no longer just insults, but it was public execution through words.
Bell's hands trembled under the table, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists tight. His crimson eyes, usually filled with warmth and determination, now burned with the sting of rage barely restrained. Beside him, Lili bit her lip so hard it nearly drew blood, her small frame shaking as humiliation warred with fury. Though, they were able to hold it in.... albeit only a little.
Luan strutted around their table like a crow circling carrion, his smirk widening with every poisonous word that spilled from his lips. "I suppose you can't help it, though. I understand—truly, I do. After all, the cowardly rabbit Familia has always been the weakest of the weak, the lowest of the low. And as if that weren't pitiful enough, you're led by a goddess so pathetic she has no authority, no followers, no respect—nothing to her name except for her oversized chest to flaunt before the world like some cheap distraction."
Lili's hands balled into trembling fists under the table, her nails digging into her palms as her rage bubbled dangerously close to spilling over. But she forced herself to remain composed, swallowing her fury with the discipline of someone who had endured mockery all her life. Bell, however, was not nearly as forgiving.
"YOU SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!" Bell roared, his voice shaking the air with a raw intensity that made several patrons flinch in their seats. His crimson eyes burned like twin embers, his youthful features twisted with an anger rarely seen from him.
Luan, caught off guard by the sudden outburst, let out a shrill, mocking squeal. "Eeek! Oh no, the rabbit's angry~" he said in an exaggerated tone of fear, clutching at his chest as if Bell's fury had physically struck him. The act earned another round of laughter from his comrades.
And yet, despite his mock fear, Luan pressed on, his grin now tinged with sadistic delight. "Heh, you're angry because I'm right, aren't you? Come on—tell us the truth. Deep down, you're embarrassed, ashamed even, to be part of such a pathetic Familia led by that tiny excuse for a goddess, aren't you?"
Bell's fists shook violently as he gritted his teeth, his whole body screaming to lash out, yet he held himself back, refusing to cause a scene in the middle of the pub. His silence, however, only fueled Luan's arrogance.
"And then there's your so-called captain…" Luan continued, dragging out the word with mocking emphasis, his voice carrying loud enough for everyone in the tavern to hear. At once, Bell and Lili's heads snapped up, their attention fully locked on him.
"They say your captain defeated two Goliaths alone," Luan sneered, his tone dripping with derision. "What a laughable tale! Do you fools actually think anyone believes that garbage? Everyone knows the truth. We heard that the Crusher from Loki Familia was there too, and yet your little fraud of a captain decided to steal the credit. How cowardly! How utterly pathetic!"
He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing to slits as his grin turned venomous. "Honestly, I bet your captain's so stupid he keeps his brains in his ass. And what's worse is that you're delusional enough to think anyone would buy into your fabricated glory."
The Apollo Familia members exploded into louder laughter, pounding the tables with their mugs as if they were applauding Luan's insults. The air grew heavy with ridicule, and soon, even a few unrelated patrons joined in the laughter, finding amusement in the spectacle unfolding before them.
Bell, upon hearing the insult to their captain, felt the last of his restraint snap. His body tensed, every muscle coiled like a spring as he prepared to leap over the table and drive his fist into Luan's smug little face. But before he could even make the move, someone else acted first.
A sharp, echoing crack rang out across the pub. In an instant, Luan was no longer standing tall and smirking. Instead, his body went tumbling backward, his short figure crashing against the wooden floor with a pitiful thud. Shocked gasps escaped from nearby patrons as silence briefly blanketed the rowdy atmosphere.
The source of the punch stood proudly in plain sight.
"Heh, that felt good~."
It was non-other than Liliruca Arde herself.
Her small fist still trembled faintly from the impact, possibly from the pent up anger that she had. Though, her expression told a different story entirely. Her lips curved into a smug, satisfied smirk, and her sharp eyes glared down at the fallen, Apollon prum with the pride of someone who had endured enough.
"What's the matter, small fry?" Lili said coolly, her voice cutting through the stunned hush like a blade. "Weren't you tough just a moment ago, spewing all that crap from your filthy mouth?"
Luan groaned, clutching at his cheek as he staggered onto one knee, eyes wide with disbelief at the audacity of the prum who dared to strike him.
"Seems like you're nothing more than bark with no bite after all," Lili continued, her words dripping with venomous satisfaction. She crossed her arms, her tone mocking yet calm, as if she had been waiting for this opportunity all along. "I think "gutter rat" suits you more than me. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
The tavern erupted into murmurs and whispers, the once-jeering crowd now captivated by the reversal. Some laughed nervously at her words, while others looked on with wide-eyed anticipation of what might come next.
As the majority of the people within the tavern had expected, a fight quickly broke out. Two members of Apollo's Familia lunged toward Lili, clearly intending to give her the same treatment she had just dealt to Luan. Their movements were fast and aggressive, filled with anger rather than restraint.
However, things did not turn out as they had planned. Before either of them could reach her, they were intercepted. One by Bell, the other by Welf. Each of them stepped in without hesitation, positioning themselves between Lili and her attackers. Bell caught his opponent head-on, forcing him to halt, while Welf moved just as decisively, taking the second Apollo member for himself. In an instant, the focus of the conflict shifted, and the fight was fully underway.
One of the Apollo Familia members rushed in and threw a punch straight toward Welf's face. However, his target easily evaded the attack by ducking beneath the swing, the blow cutting harmlessly through the air above him. In the same motion, Welf retaliated, driving a solid punch into his opponent's liver.
The Apollo member immediately lost his balance as he tried to clutch his side, pain flashing across his face while his body instinctively attempted to protect the injured area. Seeing his opponent stagger and focus entirely on the blow he had landed, Welf seized the opportunity without hesitation. He stepped in close, lifted the man up onto his shoulders, and raised him high above his head.
With a powerful motion, Welf hurled him forward, slamming him into the tavern's wall. The Apollo member collapsed to the ground moments later, writhing in pain, his attempted assault on the smith ending in complete failure.
Welf only gave a smug look towards his now fallen opponent as he mentally lavishes in his little victory.
Onto Bell's duel, the battle was quite one-sided. Bell faced his opponent without pressing forward, doing nothing more than calmly dodging the attacks coming his way, moving as if he were dancing amidst the chaos that had ensued around them. Each strike aimed at him was effortlessly avoided, his steps light and precise, as though the clash meant little to him.
He continued to evade every blow with a bored expression on his face, showing neither strain nor urgency, while his opponent desperately tried his best to land even a single hit on the white rabbit. The Apollo Familia member's movements grew more frantic with each failed attempt, yet Bell remained unchanged, slipping past fists and swings with little to no effort required.
'…And here I thought that I'd need to at least try,' Bell thought, still sidestepping another attack with ease. 'But this is a bit slow. Even Lili's punches felt more intimidating than this.'
The thought lingered as he continued dodging, his body moving on instinct alone, never once breaking rhythm, never once giving his opponent the satisfaction of making contact.
He then decided to break the cycle of evading attacks and instead caught a punch from his opponent head-on. The impact was solid, yet he did not budge. In the same instant, he gripped tightly onto the man's arms, making sure not to let go. His hold was firm and unyielding, leaving no room for escape.
The Apollo member struggled desperately, trying to wrench himself free with all the strength he could muster. He pulled, twisted, and strained against the grip, doing everything he could to unhand himself. Alas, it was to no avail.
The Apollo member then turned his gaze toward Bell and froze. Bell's expression was relaxed, bored even, as he continued to hold onto his arms without the slightest sign of effort. That single look was enough. Fear began to creep into his being as realization set in. The strength he was facing was far beyond anything he could handle, something utterly impossible for his current level to overcome.
"Seems like you love to dance, mister," Bell said, a playful smirk forming on his face as he teased the Apollo member standing before him. "Well, that's unfortunate for you—because I don't fancy your dance at all."
With that, Bell moved. He swept his leg low and fast, catching the Apollo member off guard. The man lost his balance instantly and slammed hard into the ground. He groaned as he tried to push himself back up, struggling to regain his footing.
Before he could fully rise, Welf stepped in. Without hesitation, he delivered a solid kick straight to the man's face, sending him flying away and ending any attempt at retaliation.
"Wow, Welf," Bell chimed, turning toward his friend after witnessing the rowdy and aggressive display. "Looks like you're all fired up, huh?"
"Mhmm," Lili added, chiming in as she watched the spectacle created by the smith. "I can almost feel the adrenaline oozing from you."
"Heh, you BET I am all riled up now after all that trash talking," Welf said, glaring toward the two in front of him with a proud an arrogant like smile. He then turned his attention to the surrounding onlookers, his voice rising as he loudly announced his next words. "WHO ELSE WANTS SOME NEXT?!"
The tavern fell completely silent in response to the provocation. No one spoke. No one moved. The beating those three had just delivered had been burned into everyone's minds, leaving no room for doubt about what would happen to anyone foolish enough to step forward. Those watching now understood exactly what they were capable of, and none of them were eager to receive those same hands to their faces.
All of them understood that.
All but one.
"I do."
A voice suddenly rang out from within the crowd. At once, everyone in the tavern, including the three who had just been fighting, turned their attention toward the source of the sound. When their eyes finally settled in that direction, they spotted an attractive-looking man seated with brunette hair casually sitting at the his seat where where Luan and the two beaten members of Apollo was seated before. His legs were crossed, his posture relaxed, as if the chaos around him was nothing more than entertainment.
His gaze slowly shifted toward the three who had caused the conflict. A smirk crept onto his face, faint but unmistakable. Then, without a word, he rose from his seat, the casual ease in his movements making it clear that he was ready to engage in combat.
Without taking any precautions or giving the others time to react, he suddenly blitzed forward.
"Wha-?!"
In the blink of an eye, he appeared directly in front of Welf. The red-haired smith had no time to respond before a punch was already thrown. The impact was immediate and brutal, sending Welf flying backward and slamming into the wall behind him as fall straight towards the floor of the tavern.
"Welf!" Bell shouted the moment he saw his friend get taken down in a single blow by the tall Apollo member. The sight made his heart jolt, his attention snapping entirely in that direction.
Suddenly, his vision shifted. The Apollo member was no longer where he had been a moment ago. In the blink of an eye, the man was right in front of him.
"?!"
Bell barely had time to register the danger before instinct took over. He reacted just fast enough, raising both of his hands to block the incoming punch aimed straight at him. The impact was heavy and overwhelming, sending a shock through his arms. Despite managing to stop the blow from landing cleanly, the force behind it drove him backward, causing him to stumble several steps away as he struggled to regain his balance.
The tall Apollo member turned his gaze toward Bell, clear surprise flashing across his face when he realized that Bell hadn't gone down in a single blow, unlike Welf. His confidence wavered for just a moment. Then, a subtle shift in his instincts made him tense as he sensed someone slowly creeping up behind him.
He turned around, and his eyes landed on Lili. She stood on the opposite side of him, positioned almost perfectly perpendicular, maintaining nearly the same distance from him as Bell did from the front. The formation left him caught squarely between the two, with no clear opening to exploit.
The Apollo member glanced back and forth between Bell and Lili, measuring them both. Instead of concern, a crooked smile spread across his face—one filled with arrogance and barely restrained excitement. His posture relaxed as if the situation amused him rather than threatened him.
"Seems like you two aren't as weak as that friend of yours," he said mockingly. "It looks like you don't understand the consequences of your actions, especially when you lay a hand on my fellow members."
Both Lili and Bell focused their attention toward the tall Apollo Familia member now standing before them. The moment their eyes met him, they both understood that he was different from the opponents they had faced earlier. There was a clear, unmistakable pressure about him that set him apart, something that immediately marked him as dangerous.
Still, despite sensing the difference, Bell felt confused. His instincts warned him that this man was strong, far stronger than the others, but he couldn't understand who this Apollo member was to possess such overwhelming presence.
Fortunately, he received his answer from his fellow familia member present.
"Phoebus Apollo, Hyakinthos," Lili's voice said firmly. "Captain of the Apollo Familia, and a Level 3."