Chương 134: The General Falls

"Ohhh! The final battle has arrived!" the commentator roared.

"King against king, general against general! The two commanders have met. What will the ending be?"

"If Hestia Familia's general falls, Apollo Familia wins. If Apollo Familia's general falls, Hestia Familia wins. Spectators, who will claim victory? Shout it out!"

"Hestia Familia!"

"Apollo Familia!"

"Ohhhhh!" The gamblers with bets on the line shouted with bloodshot eyes.

"Please win, Lord Cael." Haruhime clasped her hands before her chest and prayed. How could Apollo Familia defeat monsters like them?

"He really is stealing the spotlight," Aisha said, licking her lips as she watched the broadcast with burning eyes.

"The strongest rookie in history. A monster who can fight two Levels above himself. Show the whole city what you can do, boy." The greater his fame, the stronger his ability, and the more captivating his character became, the more Aisha wanted to know one thing. When Haruhime's crisis arrived, would he be decisive enough to rescue her?

"Damn brat. Everything ends here!" Hyakinthos could not tolerate Cael's calm disregard. His pride ignited, and he charged. Clang! Their blades collided with a clear metallic sound. They crossed blades again and again. Sparks flew with each impact.

"Impossible! How can you block me? How are you blocking me?" Hyakinthos swung his sword with both hands, but Cael remained expressionless. With only one hand, Cael casually deflected every attack. Each rebound left Hyakinthos's wrists burning. The backlash was being thrown entirely back at him. In other words, he was completely at a disadvantage. He was no match for Cael. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"Who are you?" Hyakinthos stared at the man who had been helpless before him only days earlier. Back then, Cael had not even been able to resist him. Why had he changed so much in such a short time? It was like watching a young beast turn into the king of all beasts. That sudden gap cracked Hyakinthos's confidence.

"You still do not understand? How pitiful." Cael's expression turned playful as he watched Hyakinthos continue swinging. The man's face gradually twisted with madness, fear, and anger born from broken confidence.

"Hah!" Cael flicked his wrist with more force. Hyakinthos's already chipped sword flew from his hand.

"No!" Hyakinthos's face filled with fear as Cael kicked him in the chest.

"Guh... Aaaah!" His vision blurred. The world spun. When it settled, Hyakinthos realized the body sprawled across the floor was his own.

"I lost? I lost? How could I lose? Lord Apollo, how could I lose to someone like him?" Seeing Cael's boots approaching, Hyakinthos forced himself up on one knee, breathing hard. Cael stood above him like a victorious general looking down at a defeated enemy.

"Do you remember what happened that day?" Cael asked lightly.

"I remember it very clearly." He looked at Hyakinthos, whose composure had collapsed.

"Provocations and insults toward me are nothing. Even if someone pours ale over my head, I can laugh it off. But if anyone insults my friends or family, I will not let it go. I told you to be prepared."

"Do not look at me like that." Hyakinthos drew the backup sword at his waist and lunged recklessly.

"Do not look down on me!"

"Tch." Cael's mouth curved with disdain. His foot slammed into Hyakinthos's twisted face. The man's features crumpled, and he rolled across the floor like a broken doll before crashing into the wall.

"Gah... gh..." Hyakinthos made a few incoherent sounds, then his head tilted to the side and he fainted.

"Ohhhhh! One decisive strike! The battle is over!" Ganesha Familia's commentator shouted until his eyes nearly popped out.

"This is incredible! Lv. 1 against Lv. 3! Is this really a rookie? He is unbelievably strong!"

"The winner is Hestia Familia!" All of Orario erupted at once.

"Are you kidding me? That guy is Lv. 1?"

"A monster. A real monster. Hestia Familia is full of monsters. No wonder they defeated the Monster Rex. The rumor was true."

"Hahaha! I won my bet! Pay up, hurry up!"

"Damn it! I lost everything. Useless Apollo Familia!"

"Lord Cael won." Haruhime finally breathed out. Her heart had nearly leaped from her chest.

"No surprise there," Aisha said, though she looked a little dissatisfied.

"That boy won cleanly. Looks like he was only playing with me during our fight." She had gone all out, yet he had not. Just how much of a monster was he? At the top of Babel, the gods were in an uproar.

"Ohhh, that child! I want him!"

"Provocations against himself mean nothing, but insults against friends and family are unforgivable. How wonderful! I love him!"

"Hestia, introduce that child to me!"

"A Lv. 1 defeating a Lv. 3 like that? I love him, Hestia!"

"Such a loving child. He laughs off insults to himself but cherishes his companions. Hestia, introduce him to me. I want him as my husband!" Hestia panicked and jumped up.

"Absolutely not! Cael is mine! None of you can have him!"

"What? Even if he is your child, Hestia, you cannot restrict his life choices!"

"Stop talking. Cael is mine anyway. He likes me the most, so give up!" Hestia planted her hands on her hips and puffed her cheeks at the group of smitten goddesses.

"Boo!" The gods jeered at once. Then Hestia noticed a certain god trying to slip away.

"A-pol-lo." Her smile widened. Her eyes shone like Magic Stone lamps, and her teeth seemed to flash.

"Where do you think you are going?"