Chapter 103: Let the So-Called War Begin
The location for this War Game was set at the ruins.
It took an entire day for the 200 members of the Apollo Familia to arrive there. These 200 individuals represented nearly all of the Apollo Familia's combat-capable members. The ones who didn't come were either mere supporters, novice adventurers, administrative staff, or those who had wisely left the Apollo Familia following Blake's earlier declaration.
Upon arrival, the members immediately got to work repairing the walls and organizing supplies, including weapons, tools, and provisions. Their preparations were meticulous.
Clearly, even though the situation heavily favored Apollo, the god was unwilling to risk losing due to negligence. Despite Apollo's unpleasant personality and anger over Blake's actions, his strategic planning skills were undeniable—a testament to his years as a deity, full of wisdom and confidence.
However, none of this concerned Blake. His objectives were straightforward: utterly crush the Apollo Familia and, if given the chance, eliminate Apollo himself.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Traveling from Orario to the battlefield location required an entire day. The Guild took two days to set up the venue, allotting one day for the defending Apollo Familia to prepare. As the attacking side, the Hestia Familia could only depart after those two days, and including the travel time, the War Game would officially begin on the third day.
That morning, Blake left Orario. A carriage was already prepared outside the city walls. Carrying no luggage and dressed in casual attire, he stopped in front of the carriage at the city gates.
Hestia and Lili were there as well.
Seeing him stop by the carriage, Hestia looked up at Blake. There was no worry in her eyes—only trust.
"I'll wait here for you to come back safely," she said.
"Master Blake, make sure to crush them in style!" Lili added, pumping her fist in excitement. She knew her participation as a mere Level 1 adventurer would be more of a hindrance, so she opted to cheer him on instead.
"Hmm," Blake responded with a smile, gently patting their heads. His calm demeanor made them smile as well, as if he were heading off on a leisurely trip instead of a life-threatening War Game.
Under the farewells of familiar faces like Syr and Ryuu, Blake boarded the carriage, which slowly disappeared from view.
"Lili, let's go back," Hestia said after a long exhale.
"Got it, Lady Hestia," Lili replied. Hestia's lightheartedness left the crowd amazed as they returned to their home.
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Meanwhile, in the carriage, Blake quietly assessed his current state.
Thanks to two days of relentless combat on the 30th floor against groups of Level 3 monsters, his stats had surged again, reaching S-rank across the board. However, this period of training had also been a test of endurance.
Facing hundreds of Level 3 monsters simultaneously was challenging, even for him. Despite being a Level 2 adventurer with stats rivaling Level 4s and possessing both Perceptual Distortion and enhancement magic, the risk was significant. Several times, he nearly got injured or exhausted.
Slaughtering hundreds of Level 3 monsters required far more energy to sustain One Sword to Rule All than before. On top of that, the Dungeon itself seemed to have a will, taking advantage of his weakened state to spawn hordes of monsters. By the time he returned to the safe zone on the 18th floor each time, he was utterly drained.
This reality highlighted why adventurers formed parties. Soloing in the deeper floors of the Dungeon was perilous, even for Level 5 adventurers.
"Killing over a thousand monsters netted me 100 Luck Points. My current total is 540. I can use the beginner Luck Plunder skill three times now since it's stacked. Plus, I've exchanged the monster crystals for money and stocked up on powerful potions for mana recovery and healing."
Exhaling softly, his blue eyes gleamed. His Luck Points were assets, and his current strength—equivalent to an elite mid-class devil in terms of magic power—was another testament to his growth. Even without using his trump cards like Sword Spirit, Ittou Shura, Ittou Rasetsu, or Excalibur, he could already take on an ordinary high-class devil.
"This Dungeon world truly is fantastic. Such rapid progress in such a short time."
Watching the scenery outside the window, Blake's lips curled into a faint smile. He then closed his eyes, preparing himself. He would soon need to unleash the full power of Excalibur, a feat that would drain most of his mana even now.
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Back in Orario, the city was abuzz with activity.
Today, the streets were livelier than ever, resembling a festival. Every tavern opened early in the morning, stalls filled the roadside, and posters promoting the Hestia Familia versus Apollo Familia War Game adorned every wall.
This over-the-top publicity turned Orario into a city-wide carnival, making the War Game a source of public entertainment.
Naturally, the gods were behind this. Their penchant for chaos and excitement ensured that the War Game became a grand spectacle.
It was like a major sports event. After two to three days of relentless hype, today, almost every adventurer took the day off. Many joined in on gambling, taking the entertainment aspect to its peak.
The Guild, despite prohibiting direct conflicts between Familias, often capitalized on War Games by collaborating with merchants, turning them into massive commercial opportunities.
In front of the Guild headquarters, a stage was set up. A Guild employee, holding a magical device that worked like a microphone, addressed the massive crowd with a booming voice.
"Greetings, everyone! I'll be your commentator for today's War Game. Please look forward to the event!"
And thus, with Orario in high spirits and the stage set, the grand War Game began.
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The Purpose of This Event
The reasons for turning the War Game into such a grand spectacle were multifaceted.
First, it helped invigorate the city's atmosphere, reframing the War Game as a form of entertainment rather than a brutal conflict between Familias. This approach avoided unsettling the common citizens and likening it to underground brawling.
Second, it served as a major opportunity to generate profit, with festivities akin to a large-scale festival.
The gods' efforts in promotion had clearly been amplified by the Guild's behind-the-scenes operations.
Additionally, the event demonstrated Orario's strength to the rest of the world—almost as a show of force—attracting talented and promising adventurers to the city.
Most importantly, War Games were a pinnacle of entertainment for the gods, who had descended to the mortal realm out of boredom. It was unthinkable for them not to find immense enjoyment in a rare event like this one.
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