"Too late."
The Breaking Army Rising Dragon Strike surged forward in a blur, giving the adventurer no time to surrender.
The blade's fierce light cut through the air—
Even steel-forged armor couldn't withstand it.
The sword qi pierced his defense with ease.
The aftershock cleaved him cleanly in half.
Hot blood sprayed across the ground, and the scent of iron began to fill the coliseum.
Liang Yue had once slaughtered the Soma Familia.
And now, facing those who stood as sworn enemies—
any hesitation, any mercy, could only plant seeds of disaster for the future.
So he cut them out at the root.
Liang Yue shook his short blade lightly, droplets of blood slipping from the edge and pattering onto the arena floor.
His expression was calm as his gaze swept across Apollo Familia's waiting bench.
Truth be told, the intensity of these fights didn't even compare to the monster banquet he had endured in the Dungeon's heavy gravity zones.
The challengers were still lining up.
But with another instant-kill complete, the atmosphere inside the coliseum grew increasingly chaotic.
Liang Yue, unconcerned, picked up the microphone he hadn't yet returned.
The boy's easy smile clashed with the suffocating killing intent radiating from him.
He was like an Asura walking straight out of hell—
every word he spoke was a death sentence for Apollo Familia.
"Next."
The sharp call for a challenger rang out.
But on Apollo Familia's bench—
no one dared move.
They stared at each other.
Once so confident in their sure victory—
now, after watching Liang Yue's two crushing battles, their determined gazes were swallowed by fear.
Why?
Because this was no ordinary Lv.2.
The strength Liang Yue displayed was beyond comprehension.
His techniques, his speed—
it was like being struck by a being from another dimension.
To continue stepping into the ring was nothing less than suicide.
Even surrender might come too late.
No one wanted to become the next corpse.
Even among Orario's Lv.2s, retreat was shameful…
but when weighed against death?
Survival mattered far more.
"Captain…"
"That guy—can he really be Lv.2? If we keep fighting like this, isn't it just sending us to die?!"
The protest came first from a female adventurer about to be called up.
She was a mage.
Her magic required time to chant.
But against someone like Liang Yue?
She knew she'd never get the chance.
"That's right. If this continues, I choose to withdraw from Apollo Familia!"
"I appreciate everything Lord Apollo has given me, but I refuse to throw my life away. If it's my turn—"
"I'll surrender immediately!"
One after another, adventurers who lacked deep loyalty to Apollo spoke up, their voices hard despite the captain's stormy face.
No one wanted to die for a hopeless war.
And so, all the pressure landed on Hyacinthus.
His clenched jaw, his pale face—
all revealed his mood.
Even he had to admit it:
"Do I… truly have a chance against Liang Yue?"
Forcing his Familia members into the ring now was nothing but throwing them to the slaughter.
And though surrender was permitted—
victory seemed utterly out of reach.
If only he had known of Liang Yue's strength earlier…
he would have begged Lord Apollo to abandon this reckless War Game.
But now, it was far too late.
Still—Hyacinthus's loyalty to Apollo was absolute.
Even if it cost his life.
He stepped forward, voice steady:
"Lord Apollo."
"Allow me to take the field next."
Liang Yue's power couldn't even be measured by Lv.3 standards anymore.
Apollo, as a god, understood this clearly.
But the current situation left him cornered.
What choice remained?
Continue sending out his beloved children, just to die before Liang Yue?
Or… stake everything on Hyacinthus?
Time dragged.
Finally, Ganesha raised the microphone, his booming voice filling the silence:
"As the challenger, Apollo Familia must send fighters to the arena! If there are no more willing to step forward, it will be considered a forfeit!"
The crowd erupted with whispers.
Liang Yue tilted his head, still smiling, and lifted his mic again.
"If you feel you can't beat me one-on-one…"
"Then—"
"I'll allow you all to come at me together."
"!!!"
The coliseum exploded.
Not only had Liang Yue crushed his opponents, but now he invited the entire Apollo Familia to attack him at once.
The uproar drowned the arena.
All eyes turned to Ganesha, waiting for his decision.
He grinned broadly.
"Rules are made to be broken!"
"If the contestant agrees, then the match can shift from a simple arena duel to an all-out battle! Apollo Familia—do you accept?"
Hyacinthus froze.
Liang Yue's casual provocation burned like salt in his veins.
He was proud.
He was a captain, a Lv.3 adventurer.
And yet, here he was—
being openly mocked by a newcomer.
A team battle was disgraceful.
But Apollo's eyes gleamed with interest.
And Hyacinthus could only swallow his pride.
He raised his voice coldly:
"Those unwilling to fight may withdraw."
"For the rest of us—though a group assault may lack honor, for Lord Apollo's dream, we must carry this burden!"
His words, coupled with Liang Yue's provocation, stoked the flames in many loyal hearts.
They couldn't let their captain fight alone.
Thirteen adventurers stepped forward with Hyacinthus.
Their numbers—and his Lv.3 strength—gave them confidence.
Why shouldn't they win?
Daphne, watching from the sidelines, felt her heart tighten.
She had witnessed two overwhelming slaughters.
And deep down, she suspected Liang Yue hadn't even shown his full strength yet.
She turned to Cassandra, her closest friend, and whispered:
"Hey. That nightmare you had last night… can you tell me more?"
Cassandra's shoulders trembled as she raised her head, her pale face strained.
"I dreamt of Apollo Familia's collapse…"
"…It's already too late."
Her voice was low, heavy with dread.
"The War Game has begun. Not even the gods can stop it now. And I—I don't want to die here."
Daphne's chest tightened.
She had dismissed Cassandra's prophecy before.
But the way events were unfolding—
the nightmare felt real.
Was Liang Yue truly a monster no one could stop?
She clenched her fists, then exhaled slowly.
Turning to Apollo, she masked her emotions, then looked back to Cassandra.
When the time came, they could surrender.
Escape this madness.
And perhaps… that was the perfect way out.
Meanwhile, in Hestia Familia's section—
Hephaestus frowned.
She hadn't expected Liang Yue to suggest something so reckless.
With his crushing victories so far, a steady advance would guarantee victory.
Yet now, he wanted to fight all of Apollo Familia at once.
Did he think one-on-one was too boring?
Too slow?
Even Hestia was stunned, her lips twitching.
But when she looked at Liang Yue—
his fiery presence in the center of the arena—
she couldn't bring herself to scold him.
This was who he was.
Not the cautious, calculating boy who seemed far older than his years.
But the reckless, defiant youth who burned against the impossible.
This was better.
This was the Liang Yue she wanted Orario to remember.
Not as "the rookie who leveled up quickly, but whose true strength was uncertain."
But as—
"The boy who wrote miracles against the impossible."
"Do you need my help?"
Mikoto raised her head, nervous but resolute.
Though her strength alone couldn't decide the outcome, she could at least use Futsunomitama to buy him time.
But Hestia shook her head gently.
"No. He hasn't asked for help."
Her hands gripped the railing.
Her eyes shone with pride and conviction.
"I believe in him."
The arena floor trembled as Hyacinthus led thirteen adventurers onto the stage.
In his hand burned the weapon bestowed by Apollo himself—
the Flame Sword of the Sun.
He directed his comrades with precision, spreading them out, forming a formation worthy of challenging a floor boss.
All they needed was time.
If they could stall, let their spells and coordination build—
Liang Yue could be brought down.
Hyacinthus narrowed his eyes, his handsome face shadowed by cold resolve.
"Truth be told, continuing the one-on-one battles would've eventually brought me to you anyway."
"And yes… against you, ordinary Lv.2s are no match."
His grip tightened on the short sword in his other hand.
His heart burned with anger.
Liang Yue's calm smile, his effortless composure—
it gnawed at him.
His lips twisted into a sneer.
"You're too arrogant."
"The arena battle was your advantage. But to seek glory, you've chosen to face us all at once."
"You'll pay for it."
Liang Yue's expression didn't waver.
He flexed his fingers around the hilt of his second short blade.
No longer hiding behind his gray cloak.
Facing countless eyes, he raised both weapons.
A light smile touched his lips.
"Well then."
"Have you ever seen me at full power?"