The practical combat training with Anya.
Ron's goal was very simple—truly master the correct method of using the "Shinobi Prosthetic," so that it could play a decisive role in the War Game.
The results were, of course, excellent.
Even when relying solely on bodily instinct to react, he was able to use the grappling hook to evade the attacks of a Level 4 adventurer, not to mention that many Shinobi tools had yet to be used.
Standing within the shade of the trees, this could be considered early adaptation to the style of the War Game.
He carefully observed the surrounding environment. Benefiting from the quiet atmosphere deep within the forest at dawn, when the sound of leaves being stepped on gradually reached his ears, he raised his hand once more.
[Shinobi Tool: Shuriken]
As the arm guard continuously shifted, several shuriken were launched in an instant, sweeping forward with sharp, air-piercing whistles as they shot relentlessly toward Anya's direction.
Bang!
The effect of the shuriken was not particularly good.
Only to see Anya's cat ears twitch lightly, allowing her to analyze the direction of the sneak attack from the hidden weapons. With a nimble figure like a mountain cat, she vanished from where she stood.
When she appeared again, the silly catgirl had already dashed in front of Ron.
"Looks like Anya wins!"
She lightly licked her thin lips, yet in her eyes lingered the faint dissatisfaction that comes when a game ends. Considering that the strongest member of the Apollo Familia was only Level 3 in strength, Anya did not attack.
She did not even point the sharp spear tip at Ron. Instead, she swept the shaft of the spear toward the boy's abdomen. But the scene of Ron being sent flying did not appear as expected.
Clang~
At the moment of metal collision, a crisp and pleasant sound rang out.
When truly prepared for battle, Ron gripped a short sword in his right hand. Facing the horizontal sweep of the spear shaft aimed at his abdomen, he blocked it from below upward.
Thanks to the "Ashina Mushin-ryū Swordsmanship," the girl's originally extremely swift movements seemed, in his eyes, as though someone had pressed a slow-motion button. He stepped forward, and as he deflected Anya's attack with his short sword—
Clang~
Clang~
Clang~
After all, a long spear restricts flexibility.
Even when Anya readied herself once more and launched another attack against Ron, what she faced was the boy's plain yet highly technical deflection strikes.
It carried a strong sense of rhythm.
But the silly catgirl had no feeling of appreciation whatsoever. She only felt… an inexplicable irritation. Even though every strike she launched was aimed at the blind spots of Ron's defense.
Yet for some unknown reason, this guy could always see through her moves in advance...
'Is this really the strength a Level 2 rookie adventurer can possess?!'
Thinking that Ryuu was still outside, Anya absolutely could not afford to be laughed at. Steadying her footing, she once again swung the spear body, its speed so fast that only blurred afterimages remained.
Bang!
"With this spear at Level 4 strength, Anya doesn't believe you can block it, meow~"
And in the face of true stat suppression...
...
Compared to Ron and Mikoto, who were constantly preparing for the War Game, the Apollo Familia—holding an overwhelming advantage in numbers—carried a somewhat more relaxed atmosphere.
As the commander, Daphne was naturally the focus of the Familia meeting. Yet even now, she still could not understand—why Hestia had agreed at the ball.
In her view, the solution was very simple.
Abandon Ron, and at least the Familia could continue developing normally in Orario. But by participating in the War Game, if they lost, they would be completely expelled from Orario.
It was highly abnormal.
Yet the intelligence that had been gathered caused Daphne to fall into deep thought. In front of Apollo and Hyakinthos, she slightly furrowed her brows: "This is all the information regarding Ron..."
"He has been in Orario for a total of only one month. He is currently a Level 2 adventurer. Among his connections in Orario, the closest is Hephaestus."
"Ten days ago, the Level 2 adventurer Yamato Mikoto from the Takemikazuchi Familia converted and entered the Hestia Familia."
"And after the War Game was initiated, during this period Ron has been in the Dungeon every day. Aside from necessities of food, clothing, and lodging, he has not come into contact with any adventurers."
"..."
"At least in Orario, the chances of finding a powerful adventurer who does not belong to any faction are extremely slim."
"..."
Noticing the gradually relaxing brows of the god Apollo, Daphne felt an indescribable complexity in her heart. From her own perspective, she hoped Ron's resistance could truly have an effect.
After all, it was something she herself had failed to accomplish at the time.
Only, there was basically no hope to be seen now.
"As for tomorrow's War Game, since the Hestia Familia will be the attacking side, I believe we only need to focus on defense and dispatch adventurer squads to counterattack."
"Relying on the advantage in Familia size, this War Game should basically present no problems."
No other Familia members raised any objections.
"Hyakinthos Clio."
"Carry it out according to Daphne's arrangement. No matter what... there must not be any mistakes in this War Game. Ron is very important to me."
In the end, Apollo made the final decision.
After all, the "War Game" had been successfully initiated, and based on the intelligence gathered so far, there was no possibility of defeat for his Familia.
He stood up: "The preparations for the War Game will also be carried out by you, Daphne."
"Go to the Sanatorium and purchase some panacea. When we win this War Game—do not let my Ron show even the slightest sign of injury."
Hephaestus' sudden interference had indeed placed tremendous pressure on Apollo. But after truly learning that the other side had only two Level 2s, even assuming the worst—that they found a Level 4 adventurer—that still would absolutely not be enough to turn the tide of the battle!
Thinking of Ron's exceedingly pleasing, delicate face, as well as the "talent" capable of astonishing the entire world—even though he had not yet truly obtained him...
Apollo could already imagine just how delightful that feeling would be!
After receiving the god's orders, Daphne could only execute them strictly. Yet just as she left the manor, she saw her close friend timidly following behind.
Cassandra.
Looking at the deep worry in the girl's eyes, her own gaze was filled with helplessness. "Cassandra... tomorrow is the War Game. As the healer of the Familia, you need to keep yourself in good condition."
"..."
Upon hearing Daphne's reproach, the blue hair that had originally only covered the side of Cassandra's face now fell forward as she lowered her head, completely shrouding her features.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Recalling her judgment when she encountered Ron in the Dungeon, she cautiously asked, "Does what we said earlier in the Dungeon still count?"
"Which matter?"
"Not... participating in this War Game..."
"The reason."
"I don't know how to explain it to you. It's just... the emblem that symbolizes the Familia, the golden bow... the sun—even the very existence of the Apollo Familia."
"It was completely... destroyed."
The girl's pupils trembled with fear. Even when she had followed the Familia on Dungeon expeditions, she had never dreamed of such a terrifying scene.
Noticing Daphne's tightly furrowed brows, a light called "hope" seemed to flicker in her eyes. Yet when she heard her close friend's slightly exasperated voice, shoulders shrugging helplessly—
"What are you thinking?"
"In this War Game, our Familia has absolutely no possibility of losing."
Immediately after, the hope that had ignited in Cassandra's eyes shattered once more…
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
---