At the Denatus hall, every single god and goddess looked on in utter shock. The sudden transformation of the Hestian captain had put them all on edge, unsettled by the sheer majesty of his appearance.
A quiet wave of murmurs spread throughout the hall. The deities whispered among themselves, unable to hide their astonishment as they took in the sight before them. Many described the Hestian captain as an unleashed beast, his current form somehow exuding a presence that felt overwhelming and almost uncontrollable by just witnessing it.
Plutus, in particular, was visibly shaken.
The titan-like man's transformation into a golden, giant-like beast had him staring at the holographic screen in horror. His jaw trembled slightly, yet no words came out at first, as if his thoughts had been completely disrupted by what he was witnessing.
"W-What is this…?" Plutus muttered, his voice unsteady. "W-What is h-he?"
Apollo, whose Familia had already been eliminated by Bell and Lili alone, looked even more stunned. His expression had gone blank, his thoughts seemingly empty as he stared at the Hestian captain with his own eyes, struggling to comprehend what Aurelius had become.
"W-We…" Apollo stammered, unable to speak properly. "W-We never stood a chance."
Hestia, who had been watching the entire ordeal unfold, now sat in complete relaxation. Her posture had eased, her expression calm and composed as she continued to observe the scene.
More than anyone else in the city, she understood one thing clearly.
Once her captain, her Familia child, entered this transformed state, only a handful of adventurers could hope to bring him down.
That was her conclusion.
Below, in the city beneath the Denatus hall, the reactions were much the same.
Everyone, citizens and adventurers alike, stood in similar awe and shock. The transformation of the Hestian captain had shaken them entirely, leaving many rooted in place as they watched the holographic screen.
The adventurers, especially, were deeply affected.
After witnessing Aurelius stand toe-to-toe with the enhanced Plutus captain, they had already been extremely surprised. Not only had the Hestian captain matched Marcus on equal footing, but he had also managed to overwhelm him for a brief moment.
Now, seeing this golden form,
A single thought formed in the minds of many who were watching.
Domination.
"W-What is this?!" Ibri shouted, her voice filled with awe and surprise at the unfolding events. "Is this some kind of transformation?! It looks absurdly shiny! Like a powerful golem that's been summoned!"
Many onlookers shared the same outlook as the commentator. Their disbelief slowly began to shift, turning into excitement.
One by one,
They began to cheer.
The tide of battle, which had been speculated to become a one-sided massacre, had indeed turned into one. However, it was not in the way many had expected. None of them had thought it would favour the Hestia Familia.
The performance of the Hestians had already etched itself into the minds of many. Three members of the Hestia Familia, who had been expected to face their downfall, had instead brought forth a complete reversal.
A twist of fate.
One that would be remembered many times in the future.
<->
The battlefield stood in silence.
Aurelius and the four members of the Plutus Familia faced one another, the air between them heavy with tension. All of them remained still, yet fully aware of what was about to unfold. The sense of reverence was undeniable, especially from the Plutus captain, Marcus, who gazed at Aurelius's golden form with extreme caution.
His eyes did not waver.
Every instinct within him screamed of danger.
Bell and Lili, upon seeing their captain in this state, exchanged a brief glance before nodding to one another. Without hesitation, they moved away from their position, putting distance between themselves and the centre of the battlefield. It was a silent agreement, ensuring their own safety from the clash that was about to erupt.
Aurelius bent his legs slightly, gathering strength.
Then,
He moved.
With a sudden burst, he launched himself toward Marcus. His speed was absurd, far beyond what should have been possible for a level 3. The distance between them vanished instantly, his movement eclipsing even the vision of the Plutus captain.
"?!"
Marcus's eyes widened as Aurelius appeared before him, as if he had teleported.
There was almost no time to react.
Aurelius pulled back his right fist, drawing it in with controlled force. As he did so, he activated his sub-magic.
"[POWER FIST]"
His voice was steady as he unleashed the attack.
His fist glowed with an even brighter golden aura than before, the energy around it intensifying as it surged forward.
The punch travelled at immense speed, aimed directly at Marcus's face.
Marcus saw it coming,
But only barely.
At the last possible moment, he managed to avoid a direct hit.
BOOM!
Even so, the force of the attack created a powerful shockwave as it grazed across Marcus's face. The sheer pressure alone was enough to send him flying sideways, his body thrown by the impact of the shockwave generated from that single punch.
However,
The aftermath of the attack did not end there.
As Aurelius fully extended his arm and missed his intended target, the energy from the strike continued forward. The direction of his attack formed a concentrated, one-directional shockwave that surged straight toward the remaining three members, being Orihime, Cael, and Leona.
The speed of the shockwave was overwhelming.
They had no time to evade.
As it reached them, the force struck Leona first before dispersing outward. The impact generated another powerful gust of wind, sending Orihime and Cael flying backward.
Their bodies were flung violently toward a nearby structure, crashing straight into its wall with force.
____
All three of them, after crashing into the structure walls, were rendered unconscious.
Marcus, after being sent flying, landed on the ground and rolled for quite a distance. Compared to his comrades, his landing was far less damaging, though the force behind it was still evident.
After he finally came to a stop, he quickly regained control of his situation. Without wasting a moment, he pushed himself up and stood once more. His eyes immediately scanned the aftermath of the attack.
Only to see that his comrades were now unconscious.
Marcus understood the task at hand.
Without hesitation, he averted his attention away from them and focused entirely on Aurelius. It might seem irresponsible for a captain to ignore his strongest comrades, but at the very least, they would no longer get in the way.
Now, seeing Aurelius standing still, Marcus waited for his next move. Despite being such a large and obvious target, the Hestian captain remained unpredictable. It was difficult to determine what he would do next.
Aurelius then shifted his gaze toward Marcus, preparing himself once more. His body tensed slightly as he readied another charge. He crouched down just a bit,
And then,
He lunged forward.
His speed was once again unbelievable.
In the blink of an eye, the distance between them vanished. Aurelius, who had been standing a short distance away just moments before, was suddenly right in front of Marcus, delivering a powerful punch without hesitation.
However,
Marcus was ready this time.
With nearly more than a decade of fighting experience, he demonstrated exactly why he was a respected captain.
He dodged the incoming attack perfectly.
The punch, moving at a speed that broke the sound barrier, was aimed directly at his head. Marcus shifted his head to the right, his body slightly moving along with it, allowing the attack to pass by with precise timing.
At the same time,
In one fluid motion,
Marcus counterattacked.
He threw a right-hand punch of his own, aiming straight at the left side of Aurelius' face.
The punch connected.
BOOM!
A sharp, sonic boom echoed across the battlefield the moment the attack landed.
Aurelius stumbled slightly to the side, the impact affecting his balance. However, he did not fall. The distance he was pushed back was minimal, only a couple of meters at most.
He quickly regained his footing.
Then, he looked toward Marcus once more.
But,
What he saw was a face right in front of him.
Marcus's face.
Aurelius reacted immediately.
He repositioned himself in an instant, pulling back his right fist once again as he prepared another strike. Without hesitation, he swung forward, fully intending to strike the Plutus captain's head.
Once again,
Marcus was ready.
He ducked down from the incoming attack, narrowly avoiding it as it passed just above him.
Aurelius' punch, now fully extended, unleashed its force.
A powerful shockwave of wind surged forward in the direction of the strike. The sheer strength behind it carved blade-like craters into the ground, stretching for tens of meters along its path.
Marcus, seizing the small window of opportunity, swiftly moved to Aurelius' back. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around the Hestian captain's waist and lifted him up with force.
Then, he executed a suplex.
With overwhelming strength, Marcus slammed the titan-like man straight into the ground.
The moment Aurelius hit the surface, a sizable crater formed beneath him, the impact sending cracks spreading outward across the battlefield.
Marcus did not waste any time.
He immediately mounted Aurelius and began unleashing a relentless barrage of punches. Blow after blow came down with force, striking the Hestian captain as he lay beneath him.
Each punch landed with weight.
Each strike carried intent.
As Marcus continued pummelling Aurelius, taking advantage of what seemed to be an opening, a thought began to creep into his mind,
A bad feeling to be more precise.
'Why isn't he fighting back? Is this really all his strength has to offer?' The unease lingered, growing stronger with every passing second.
Still, Marcus did not stop.
He continued his barrage, refusing to give his opponent even the slightest chance to recover.
And then, suddenly, his attacks were halted. Both of his fists had been caught.
Aurelius, who had been on the receiving end of the assault just moments ago, had completely turned the situation around. His large hands firmly gripped Marcus's fists, stopping the Plutus captain's relentless attacks instantly.
"?!"
Marcus reacted in shock, immediately trying to pull his fists free.
But it was useless.
No matter how much he struggled, his hands would not budge. The grip holding him in place was absolute.
"You're really a tough one, old man," Aurelius said calmly. "To move like you did just now with your capabilities… it was incredible."
Then, Aurelius' eyes began to glow.
"But—"
With a sudden surge of strength, he pushed Marcus upward.
"With all that veteran experience you have… it's still not going to be enough against me."
Aurelius forced Marcus off of him and rose to his feet. Still holding onto Marcus's fists, he now stood in complete control of the situation.
From that position, he could do anything he wanted.
And he did.
Aurelius delivered a powerful jackhammer kick straight into Marcus's stomach.
The impact was brutal.
Marcus spat out saliva as he took the full force of the blow, unable to defend himself while both of his fists were tightly restrained.
His body shook from the hit.
His breathing became erratic.
Marcus drew in ragged breaths, struggling to regain control of his lungs. His vision blurred as the pain spread through his body from the impact.
Aurelius then released his grip.
Marcus's arms dropped immediately, his strength faltering as he struggled just to remain standing.
Aurelius did not hesitate. He pulled back his right fist once more.
"[POWER FIST]!"
With a sharp shout, he drove his fist forward, aiming straight at Marcus's face.
Marcus, unable to react in his current state, braced himself for the inevitable.
The fist drew closer—
Closer—
And then—
It stopped.
Right in front of his face.
The attack never landed.
However, the force behind it did not disappear.
Behind Marcus, the ground split open, forming a long and wide crater caused by the lingering power of the halted strike.
Aurelius slowly retracted his hand back to his side. His fully golden, menacing eyes stared directly at Marcus.
Marcus, struggling to stay upright, looked back at the Hestian captain.
"Is this… mercy, young man?" Marcus asked, his words coming out in heavy, uneven breaths.
Aurelius did not respond immediately. For a brief moment, silence lingered between them.
Then, he spoke.
"What do you mean?" Aurelius said calmly. "You lost, old man."
Marcus, upon hearing those words, formed a small, faint smile.
"Heh…" he let out softly, his eyelids growing heavier by the second. "H-How… cruel of you…"
His strength finally gave out.
Marcus slowly collapsed to the ground, Losing consciousness shortly after.
<->
Back in Orario, everyone stood in silence. Seeing the Plutus captain collapse to the ground, unconscious, left all of the viewers utterly baffled.
However, that silence lasted only for a moment before it was shattered. Everyone who had witnessed it suddenly erupted into loud cheers, their excitement and awe directed toward the Hestia Familia, who had achieved victory in a battle that most viewers had deemed impossible to win.
"The War Game is over!" Ibri shouted through his microphone, his voice echoing across the crowd and drawing an even louder cheer from the them. "Incredible! Nobody saw it coming when the War Game started! The Hestia Familia has made the impossible, possible!"
At the bar, many regretted their decisions to place their bets on the alliance of the Plutus and Apollo Familia, especially those gathered at a particular table where a large sum of money had been wagered.
"Damn it! I've lost so much!"
"My money!"
"There goes my life savings, down the drain..."
Sulking and utterly dejected, they complained bitterly about the choices they had made. Their voices overlapped in frustration and despair as they mourned their losses. As they continued to lament, someone approached their table, a smug smile clearly visible on his face.
"Well," Mord said, as all attention turned toward him, albeit with clear annoyance, "learned your lesson, losers?"
They all looked at him with scoffs and irritated expressions. One in particular, a blonde-haired demi-human, spoke up in frustration.
"Aggh, damn it! Take it all."
Mord happily collected his winnings, his mood bright as he gathered the money from the table.
"Here, you too," the blonde demi-human said once more.
Mord turned his gaze toward the person in question, only to see Naaza, who had also won her bet, quietly claiming her share of the prize money with a small, satisfied smile.
At the Loki Familia residence, everyone looked on with happy and satisfied expressions. The atmosphere in the room was filled with a sense of muse and quiet celebration after witnessing the outcome. Tiona, in particular, had a look of pure ecstasy on her face, seeing her favourite person win.
Bete, who had been standing against the wall of the room they were in, suddenly began to leave. His movement caught the attention of those nearby. Tione, confused by the sudden action of the demi-human werewolf, turned her gaze toward him.
She then asked where he was heading off to. "Where are you heading off to?"
But, being the old-fashioned Bete that he was, he merely scoffed and replied, "None of your business," before continuing on his way and leaving the room without another word.
Tiona and Tione looked at each other for a moment, sharing the same thought almost instantly.
"The Dungeon?" Tione said, directing the question toward her little sister.
"The Dungeon," Tiona replied, repeating the same words her older sister had just said.
All the executives in the room then laughed. The obvious motivation shown by Bete was clear to all of them, and it amused them greatly as they watched him leave.
Back at the Denatus Hall, every deity present was screaming in awe and cheering loudly at the outcome of the War Game. To them, witnessing the underdogs win so flawlessly was nothing short of entertaining.
However, not every deity present was happy.
Apollo and Plutus.
Once confident as they entered the War Game, they now found their morale utterly crushed. The reality they had to face had finally settled in, and there was no escaping it.
Both of them slowly turned their gaze toward Hestia. From the beginning to the end of the War Game, her posture had remained calm and composed. Seeing that unwavering demeanor now only made their unease grow. The two Greek gods swallowed nervously as they awaited their inevitable fate.
Then, Hestia slowly rose from her seat.
Every single god and goddess in the hall quieted down. The mere sight of the Goddess of Hearth standing up so deliberately sent a chilling tension through the room. The way she carried herself made her seem almost menacing, and it was enough to instill fear in those watching.
"Apollo~. Plutus~." Hestia chimed, her teasing voice laced with subtle mockery. She adjusted her position slightly, clearly wanting a better view of the two defeated gods before her.
"You two," she continued, her words slow and deliberate. A devious smile began to form on her face. "You're ready for what comes next, right?"
Apollo, panicking, quickly tried to speak, his words rushed and desperate in an attempt to change the Hearth Goddess's mind. "W-Wait! I didn't really mean it! Your two children was just so cute, I just couldn't help it!"
Plutus, also attempting to persuade Hestia, added his own desperate plea. "T-That's right! I only wanted your child s-so that he could have a better home! But it seems like h-he's just fine under your care!"
Hestia immediately snapped at Plutus's words. "A better home? A better home?!"
Both Apollo and Plutus were taken aback by the sudden outburst from the Hearth Goddess.
Hestia gritted her teeth. After hearing such words, she could not let it slide, not even for a moment.
Then, her expression shifted. The anger on her face slowly twisted into something far more dangerous. A devious, almost sinister smile.
"You know what?" Hestia said. "Since I won this fair and square, I can technically change the conditions however I want, right?"
Apollo and Plutus both went pale at her words.
Hestia then lifted her head slightly, an innocent smile appearing on her adorable face. "I take back what I said about you two having to return to heaven."
Both Apollo and Plutus looked at her in confusion after hearing that.
However, Hestia's innocent smile quickly transformed into a devilish, almost evil grin.
"Instead," Hestia continued, "alongside all the wealth you two have, which is now MINE, I want both of your familias to be disbanded. AND I want both of you to never set foot in Orario ever AGAIN! And don't even THINK about going back to heaven unless you die to some monsters first. I'll make sure both of you are monitored every MOMENT."
"Hahahaha!" Hestia laughed maniacally. "HAAAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!"
Apollo and Plutus turned even paler than before. Their bodies trembled as the weight of her words sank in. Soon after, both of them dropped to their knees, collapsing onto the floor as all hope for their worldly pleasures vanished, now that everything they had was being taken away.
Hestia, having finished her evil laughter, cleared her throat.
"Ahem, well, if you'll excuse me," Hestia said, regaining her composure, "I must go ahead and collect the loot I have obtained."
With that, Hestia immediately turned and left, exiting the Denatus Hall entirely. She moved eagerly, clearly wanting to see both her familia children and the grand prize she had just claimed.