The gods of Orario were gathered in a grand hall, their seats arranged in a semicircle around a massive projection screen. Excitement buzzed through the air as divine energy flickered from god to god, the upcoming War Game between Hestia Familia and Apollo Familia drawing more interest than any previous event.
The gods were placing bets, most of them against Hestia. Despite Bell Cranel's rapid rise in fame, they believed Apollo's superior numbers and infrastructure would guarantee his victory. But amidst the din, one goddess remained unusually calm: Hestia, seated confidently, her hands resting on her lap.
Beside her, Hephaestus, the goddess of the forge and one of Hestia's closest friends, leaned over and whispered, "You seem far too relaxed for someone who's about to watch their Familia get crushed." She raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
Hestia smiled knowingly, her gaze fixed on the screen. "Let's just say... I have a little more faith in my children than the others do."
Further down the hall, Loki sat in her office, surrounded by her top adventurers—Ais, Riveria, Finn, and the rest of her elite members. They too were watching, albeit with less interest in Apollo and more curiosity toward Bell. Loki smirked. "Let's see if the little rabbit can hop his way out of this one."
As the atmosphere in the room settled, Ganesha himself, accompanied by a member of his Familia, took the stage at the center of the hall. His booming voice carried through the room. "Welcome, one and all, to this highly anticipated War Game!" His voice was full of bravado, the god famous for his loud and extravagant speeches. "Today, the Hestia Familia faces the Apollo Familia in a battle for survival and pride!"
Beside him, Hermes grinned, stepping forward to ask the crucial question. "May we, the gods, use our power to project the battle for all to see?" His tone was playful, though the question was steeped in divine protocol.
Hestia glanced around the room, her gaze meeting the eyes of several gods who scoffed, some smirking at the audacity of her Familia even competing. But none opposed the use of their collective power. The gods collectively cracked their knuckles, and divine energy surged. Light flickered around Orario, the divine spectacle reaching even to the coastal city of Melen.
With a wave of Hermes' hand, the war game projection flared to life, showing the massive stronghold of Apollo Familia. Trumpets blared, signaling the start of the War Game.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A ripple tore through the space near the Apollo Familia's fortress, the fabric of reality itself bending and distorting. Gasps rang out among the gathered gods as they leaned forward, eyes widening in shock.
From the shimmering rift in space, Bell Cranel and his Familia emerged. They were dressed in pristine, all-white uniforms, reminiscent of the Espada, the infamous hollows from an ancient legend. Their stark appearance contrasted sharply against the dark stone of Apollo's fortress, and the aura they exuded was overwhelming—cold, menacing, and powerful.
Bell stood at the forefront, his white coat fluttering in the wind, a cold, almost indifferent look on his face. He raised one hand in a slow, deliberate motion, signaling the rest of his team.
Understanding the silent command, Lili, Ryuu, Anya, Haruhime, Mikoto, and Welf vanished in an instant, disappearing in bursts of speed with a sound like the crack of thunder—reminiscent of the sonido used by the hollows. Their sheer speed sent shockwaves through the battlefield.
The gods watching were stunned into silence.
"Did they just—?" Loki blinked, her lips curling into a sharp grin. "Interesting…"
As his Familia darted into action, Bell remained seated on a hill just outside Apollo's stronghold. He lowered himself gracefully, one leg bent at the knee to prop up his arm while the other hung lazily over the edge. His posture was relaxed, almost as if he was watching the event with mild amusement.
The gods exchanged confused glances. Was Bell... disinterested?
But their confusion quickly turned to excitement as Apollo Familia's Captain, Hyacinthus, and his Vice-Captain emerged from the stronghold, charging straight at Bell. Their movements were swift, their weapons gleaming as they closed the distance, aiming for an ambush.
For a moment, the clash between Bell and the two leaders was fierce, the sound of metal clashing against metal filling the air. But Bell's face remained calm, his movements fluid and effortless. Despite their combined assault, the two opponents found themselves on the defensive, backtracking under Bell's unrelenting pressure.
"Why are you holding back?!" Hyacinthus growled in frustration, his eyes wild with disbelief.
Bell straightened and let out a low, mocking laugh that echoed across the battlefield. It wasn't a villain's laugh—it was the laugh of someone who was so far beyond his opponents that it was almost pitiful.
Even in the divine hall, Hestia giggled, causing a few nearby gods to throw her strange looks. But she didn't care. She knew what was coming next.
Bell's voice carried across the entire field as he delivered a line that would have made any classic villain proud. "What adult would go full force when fighting mere children?"
His words hung in the air, cutting through the battlefield like a blade. The gathered gods sat in stunned silence, many of them unable to believe the audacity.
Bell turned to face his Familia, his crimson eyes glowing with a dangerous light. He spoke in a slow, deliberate tone, his voice dripping with authority.
"Playtime is over. Team Hestia… finish them. Get the flags to our stronghold and win in both possible ways."
As soon as Bell gave the order, the Hestia Familia moved like a well-oiled machine, their training and newfound power on full display. Lili had already infiltrated the stronghold with her skills as a strategist, Ryuu and Anya tore through the front lines with ease, their speed and strength overwhelming the Apollo Familia members. Mikoto and Welf worked in perfect harmony, cutting through enemy ranks with practiced precision.
And then there was Haruhime—her golden tails glowing with magical energy. She stood at the center of the chaos, empowering her allies with her enchantments, their strength surging two and a half levels higher.
As the battle raged, Hestia, still seated among the gods, reached into her chest. From the hidden space between her breasts, she pulled out a folded piece of paper—a sealed document. Hephaestus, sitting beside her, raised an eyebrow.
"What's that?" Hephaestus asked, curious.
Hestia's lips curled into a sly smirk, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Retribution," she said, her voice full of confidence.
Back on the battlefield, the gods and spectators watching couldn't believe their eyes. The once-mighty Apollo Familia was being systematically dismantled. It was as if Bell and his Familia were toying with them, playing at a level far beyond what anyone had anticipated.
And at the center of it all was Bell Cranel, still standing, his eyes cold and calculating. He had seen every move, predicted every strategy.
As Hyacinthus fell to his knees in front of him, defeated and broken, Bell loomed over him with a chilling smile. "You were never a match for me," Bell whispered, his voice laced with finality.
In that moment, Apollo himself, watching from the divine hall, could feel the weight of his inevitable defeat.
And so a War Game meant to be fought for a whole week was completely dominated by Bell's Team and both win conditions were fulfilled in a mere hour and a half, not a war game but a one sided beatdown.