Chương 133: Cassandra's Prophecy

"He said too much earlier, and now it has turned around on him," Miach said as he looked at Apollo's miserable state.

"Yes," Takemikazuchi replied calmly.

"He may be regretting it now."

"Perhaps he will never be able to descend from Heaven again."

"That seems certain."

"Still, Hestia's children are incredible." Loki watched Hestia Familia dominate Apollo Familia on the broadcast, and the corner of her mouth twitched. Fighting above one's Level was a sign of rare potential. Across all of Orario, fewer than fifty adventurers could reliably do it, and most of them were executives of major Familias. Even Loki's own children usually needed to be elite members to fight above their Level. And even then, it was usually by one Level.

Ais could fight two Levels above herself only against dragon-type monsters. But that child named Cael was truly fighting two Levels above his own. In terms of potential, that placed him beyond Ais in this one area.

"What kind of luck did that shrimp stumble into?" Loki muttered inwardly.

"Every member can fight above their Level, and she even has a strategist. Is this what people mean when they say a foolish god has foolish luck?" The gap in Loki's heart grew painful. Hestia was inferior to her in almost every way except chest size, yet now she was catching up in everything that mattered. The worst part was that she still had the chest advantage. Annoyance gathered around Loki like a dark cloud.

"This is becoming troublesome, Zeus." Hermes held his forehead with one hand.

"Facing these beloved children of the current age, can the grandson who inherited Argo's will really surpass them? I am starting to feel the pressure." The children of Freya Familia and Loki Familia had already been enormous trials for Bell. Now Hestia's children had appeared too. Especially Cael. That boy possessed the quality of a hero who might appear only a few times in an era. When a hero chosen by the age appeared, other outstanding people of that age naturally gathered around him.

That was different from Bell, a hero shaped by the gods through the inheritance of Argo's will. Perhaps after Cael appeared, another person with this quality would not be born for a thousand years. The opportunities of an era were limited. They could only produce so many heroes. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. The previous era's opportunities had mostly been consumed by Zeus Familia and Hera Familia. What remained had been gathered into Bell.

"So it is the legacy of the previous age colliding with the hero of this age. Hehe. Looking at it that way, this becomes more and more interesting." Was Orario about to welcome the brightest moment of this era? Hermes, god of entertainment, watched the broadcast with shining eyes.

"The final battle is starting!"

"Excellent! I thought we would have to wait two or three days, but surprise after surprise keeps coming."

"Go, Hestia's children!" The gods cheered.

"I-I will not let you pass!" The one blocking Cael's path was a long-haired girl who looked timid but acted with firm resolve. Behind her, more than ten adventurers charged forward with swords in hand.

"Projection, start." Cael raised his hand expressionlessly. Three long swords formed before him. He flicked their hilts lightly with his fingers. The swords shot forward. Clang, clang, clang. They stabbed into the floor in front of the charging adventurers. Cael snapped his fingers. Explosions roared, and blinding fire expanded outward. Hot wind swept in every direction.

The adventurers screamed as they were blown away, crashing into walls, rolling across the floor, and in some cases falling from the aerial corridor.

"Aaaah!" The girl screamed and rushed forward. Cael did not sense danger from her, so he allowed her to close in. A moment later, she hugged his waist tightly.

"I will not let you pass!" Her stubborn voice rang out. Cael looked down at the girl clinging to his waist and raised an eyebrow. With no threat at all, she somehow looked sincere enough to make him smile.

"I remember you. Your name is Cassandra, correct? I have heard about you." Cassandra lifted her head in surprise.

"You have the ability to see prophetic dreams, right?"

"You... know about that?"

"Of course. Apollo likes stealing children from other Familias. That is not exactly a secret. If someone eats in taverns often enough, they will hear how you were chased around by him." Cael shrugged.

"After I win and Apollo Familia dissolves, join Hestia Familia. We will believe your dreams." Apollo, watching the broadcast, nearly smoked with fury.

"Believe?" Cassandra felt as if the world had suddenly opened before her.

"You believe my prophetic dreams?"

"Of course, Prophet." Cael smiled. Her Skill, Five Dimension Troia, could not even be properly interpreted by the gods. Even the Skill name could not be written clearly in divine script, and the gods could only describe it vaguely. Her prophetic dreams likely came from that ability. She could see the future through dreams, usually in the form of poems with vague images, but the content was accurate.

The dreams also contained hints for avoiding tragic futures, though those hints were often abstract and difficult to interpret. Because of the Magic's influence, however, almost no one believed her prophecies, not even gods. That ability was beyond valuable. Any Familia with Cassandra could foresee future crises and possibly find ways to avoid them.

"But I still cannot let you pass!" Cassandra stubbornly hugged Cael's waist and refused to let go.

"I appreciate the hug, but I am in a hurry. Once you are one of my companions, I will apologize properly." Cael helplessly took a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, poured out a little white powder, and blew gently. Cassandra's eyes turned into spirals.

"Poison... I am finished... I have been poisoned..." Cael quickly moved her to the wall, where she fainted safely. Shinobu's medicine had become frighteningly effective. It worked almost immediately. In the general's hall, Apollo Familia members were panicking.

"Please escape, Captain! Luan betrayed us and opened the gate for Hestia Familia. Keton may have betrayed us too. We do not know if there are others."

"Damn it. How did it come to this?" Hyakinthos burned with anger.

"Escape? How disgraceful. How could I face Lord Apollo after that?"

"But they are absurdly strong!"

"No buts. They are only Hestia Familia. They are no match for me." Hyakinthos kicked away the companion trying to stop him and strode toward the exit. After two steps, he stopped. The enemy had already reached him. The familiar boy walked through the main doors with a sword in hand, wearing a mocking expression like a victorious general.

"What is that look?" Hyakinthos's hand trembled around his sword.

"A defeated dog dares look so arrogant?"