Chapter 48. He is Human
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This man... he is even more terrifying than I expected.
Ottar stared emotionlessly at Cyd before him.
Seeing is believing, and Ottar had always been skeptical about the hero Apollo praised. Could such a person truly exist in this world?
Stories about heroes tend to be exaggerated, but now that he was standing face to face with him...
Indeed, characters in stories are often colored by the storyteller's own bias.
The hero described by the Apollo Familia seemed like the embodiment of nobility. He possessed qualities completely different from his time. In the tales, no matter how hopeless the people he encountered were, he never took their lives like others would. No matter how poorly others treated him, he would calmly continue doing what he believed in.
He had a vast heart, seemingly untouched by anger. He cherished the little he had and did not desire what others sought. He wasn't greedy or envious. He controlled his words and actions, avoiding sloth or gluttony despite his capacity to possess everything. He loved but would never harm. Unlike the heroes who seemed like incarnations of virtue, he had the power to rule the world yet walked humbly among the people, as though arrogance was his opposite.
Could such a hero truly be human?
But now Ottar was certain—Cyd was human.
Because right now, he was angry. Blood-red flame-like markings spread from his left wrist to his left cheek.
"Fight! Fight!" the gods began to cheer.
This was what they had been waiting for—a spectacle of conflict.
Who was stronger? Ottar, the ultimate weapon and Level 7 powerhouse, or the Pure White Hero?
They would know after a fight!
"Move the tables! Hurry!" Hermes laughed as he leaped from the second floor, leading the charge to move the tables out of the way.
Here he goes again...
Apollo sighed, holding his forehead in exasperation.
With Hermes setting the example, the other gods followed suit, enthusiastically moving the tables while the bewildered servants looked on, unsure what to do.
Isn't this situation bad?
"Huh? What's going on?"
As the tables were moved by two burly gods, even the relaxed Bell sensed something was wrong.
"Has the banquet ended already?"
"No, the real event is about to start," Hestia hurried to Bell's side, dragging him away.
"Ais, it's about to get dangerous. Come over here quickly," said Loki, unable to force Ais to leave, but waving frantically at her.
Ais glanced at Loki before looking back at Cyd, causing Loki to feel as though arrows had pierced her heart.
"Go on," Cyd patted Ais's head.
"Mm," Ais nodded and, stumbling slightly, made her way toward Loki.
"So... what's your business?" Cyd tugged at his collar as he eyed Ottar.
At this grand banquet, where everyone was dressed in their finest attire, there were two exceptions—Cyd and Ottar, both still wearing their usual clothes.
If dressing lavishly was meant to make one the center of attention, Cyd and Ottar didn't need such attire. Just standing there, their mere presence was enough to command attention, making everyone step back with just a glance.
This was why the gods eagerly awaited the clash between these two.
"Join our familia," Ottar pulled out one of the two large swords on his back and tossed it toward Cyd.
"Is this how you invite people?" Cyd raised an eyebrow, catching the sword and driving it into the ground.
"It's faster this way," Ottar pulled out his other sword and also drove it into the ground.
Freya's lips curled into a smile. "That's Ottar for you."
Women, wealth, power—none of these could stop the Pure White Hero. The only option left was pure violence!
"This is the worst choice, Freya. You're too impatient," Apollo sighed.
"You think... that defeating me will make me join your familia?" Cyd placed the [Reforged Pandora] on the ground.
"No, but it will prove you can't stop me," Ottar stepped forward. "I won't kill you, but what about the others? Your student... he's your weakness. He's holding you back."
Bell lowered his head in silence, his fingers tightening. Even as his nails dug into his flesh, he seemed to feel nothing. Blood dripped from between his fingers onto the floor.
I am... my teacher's only weakness...
It's me... who's holding him back...
"You've got one thing wrong," Cyd clenched his fists. "I've already reached the end. Now, I'm just walking back to the beginning. As for Bell... he's my proud student. He will become a new legend."
"Bell, did you hear that?" Hestia patted Bell's back.
"Yes, Goddess, please update my status when we return," Bell clenched his fist and rubbed his eyes hard. "I... will stand by my teacher's side!"
Ais's eyes widened slightly, watching as the small boy before her grew once again.
"But in reality, he is still your weakness," Ottar said slowly after a pause.
Though it felt shameful, if it could make his goddess happy, he would have no hesitation in making threats after defeating Cyd.
If Cyd won, it would be even better for Freya, as it would make him shine even brighter, standing on top after defeating Orario's strongest.
Whether he won or lost, Freya would be happy, and that was all that mattered.
Ottar calmly watched Cyd, his muscles rhythmically shifting under his skin.
"You're a man to be reckoned with, but you've crossed a line," Cyd exhaled deeply. "Now... I'm angry."
"Boom—"
The moment Cyd spoke, Ottar threw a punch, and the ensuing gust of wind swept through the entire room. The white tablecloths flapped wildly, and cracks like spiderwebs spread from Ottar's feet in all directions.
"Is this really something a human can do?!" Hestia raised her arms to shield herself from the wind.
"Technically, he's a boar-man!" Loki quipped while blocking the wind, though her attention was drawn to Hestia's chest, which was bouncing wildly in the wind. Loki shed two lines of bloody tears.
Bell gritted his teeth, stepping forward into the wind. "Teacher!"
Cyd's eyes narrowed as he clenched his right fist. He didn't dodge or block Ottar's punch, instead throwing his own from below.
"Boom—"
Ottar's fist struck Cyd squarely on the head, but at the same time, Cyd's fist sank deep into Ottar's stomach.
In the next instant, both were sent flying.
"Teacher!" Bell, without hesitation, spread his arms wide, intending to catch Cyd.
"You little brat—"
Cyd's lips curled into a slight smile as he planted his foot on the ground, flipping gracefully out of Bell's reach before wrapping his arms around him from behind, resting his chin on Bell's head. He raised a hand and patted Bell's face.
"At least you have a heart."
Compared to Cyd's smooth landing, Ottar was in much worse shape. Cyd's punch had sent him crashing through the second-floor railing, embedding him into the wall. He didn't seem likely to get up anytime soon.
Freya was stunned.
Ottar had lost...
But why...
Freya bit her finger, her lustful gaze unabashedly fixed on Cyd as her long legs trembled.
Magnificent!
"Ah!" Cyd shuddered and quickly held Bell up as a shield in front of his face.