Bell's Firebolt struck the top floor of the tower with immense force, creating an explosion that destroyed much of the structure. A loud rumble echoed as debris started to fall, scattering Apollo Familia members, some of whom were buried under the crumbling walls and rubble, unable to rise.
Among the scattered debris, the captain of Apollo Familia, Hyakinthos Clio, slowly stood up. His face was covered in dust, but his eyes still gleamed with hatred and determination. He quickly grabbed his sword—a thin red blade with magical engravings along its length. Without hesitation, he charged at Bell, initiating a fierce duel. His attacks were swift and deadly, the red sword slashing in sharp arcs, trying to corner Bell.
Despite being injured from his previous large attack, Bell was undaunted. He skillfully raised his twin daggers to block Hyakinthos' strikes. The sound of clashing metal filled the air as their weapons collided, sending sparks flying with each impact. Bell moved quickly, his eyes focused on every move his opponent made. Though Hyakinthos was more experienced and at Level 3, Bell showed no signs of giving up.
Hyakinthos grew increasingly shocked as the battle continued. "How is this possible…?" he thought to himself. In their previous encounter at the bar, Bell hadn't been able to match him at all. But this time, Bell not only held his own but also pressed Hyakinthos with overwhelming strength. Hyakinthos could feel the weight of Bell's attacks, despite Bell only being at Level 2.
As Bell continued to push his opponent, he grew more confident. With fast and powerful strikes, Bell forced Hyakinthos back a few steps. Though Bell's level was lower, his strength, fueled by his determination and Argonaut power, made a significant difference. Every slash from Bell had purpose, and each movement posed a real threat to Apollo Familia's captain.
In the Loki Familia meeting room, the tension grew palpable. Everyone watched the intense duel between Bell and Hyakinthos with bated breath. Lefiya, sitting next to Shirou, couldn't contain herself. Her hand quickly gripped Shirou's thigh, tightening as the battle on screen grew more intense. Her eyes were locked on the screen, nervous and concerned. Though Lefiya often acted indifferent toward Bell—sometimes even jealous because of Aiz's attention toward him—deep down, she still cared for his safety. She didn't want to see Bell lose.
Shirou felt Lefiya's grip on his thigh, and while it made him a bit uncomfortable, he allowed her to continue. He could sense Lefiya's tension, and he understood the mixed feelings she was experiencing. Even though Lefiya didn't always show her concern openly, Shirou knew that behind her occasionally cold demeanor, she deeply cared for her friends—including Bell.
The duel on screen grew even more heated, and everyone in the room, including Shirou, felt the tension rising. Bell continued to fight, while Hyakinthos, despite his higher level, began to lose control of the battle. Bell, with his extraordinary determination and courage, seemed to be pushing the limits of his own power. Now, it was all a matter of who could last longer in this fierce battle.
In the Loki Familia meeting room, the tension reached its peak as everyone stared at the large screen showing the duel between Bell and Hyakinthos. All eyes were glued to the action, as no one wanted to miss a second of the dramatic events unfolding. However, amidst the seriousness, Riveria's attention shifted for a moment.
She noticed Lefiya's hand still gripping Shirou's thigh tightly, her serious expression fixed on the screen. Riveria, usually composed and graceful, felt a small pang of jealousy in her heart. Without thinking too much, she decided she didn't want to be left behind. With a more subtle and discreet gesture, Riveria placed her hand on Shirou's other thigh. Unlike Lefiya's tense grip, Riveria's touch was soft and teasing, her hand gently caressing his thigh in a way that almost went unnoticed.
Shirou, who had initially only felt Lefiya's grip, suddenly became acutely aware of Riveria's delicate touch. His face flushed as he felt the gentle stroking, making him feel even more awkward. He turned slightly toward Riveria, trying not to look too flustered, and whispered softly, "Riveria... could you stop?"
But Riveria, known for her calm demeanor, seemed to have decided to pretend she didn't hear him. Her face remained elegant and focused, as if she were simply watching the screen intently. Not a single change in her expression hinted that she was doing anything unusual. Yet her hand continued its subtle caress, making it increasingly difficult for Shirou to concentrate.
In the end, Shirou gave up, feeling helpless against the two women beside him. With Lefiya gripping tightly on one side and Riveria teasing him on the other, Shirou could only sigh softly, trying to calm himself and refocus on the battle on the screen.
Meanwhile, on the screen, the intense duel between Bell and Hyakinthos reached its climax. Bell, with his extraordinary strength fueled by determination and bravery, managed to corner Hyakinthos. In a final strike, Bell swiftly used his dagger to break Hyakinthos' red sword, shattering his opponent's weapon.
However, just as Bell was about to end the fight, something unexpected happened. Cassandra, a member of Apollo Familia known for her strange prophecies, suddenly rushed toward Bell in desperation. With tears streaming down her face, she threw herself at Bell and hugged him tightly from behind, preventing him from delivering the finishing blow. "Don't… don't hurt our captain!" she cried in despair. Bell, unaccustomed to being harsh with women, was taken aback. He couldn't move, trapped in Cassandra's embrace.
Bell, who was always careful to act respectfully and kindly toward women, now appeared hesitant. His hands, which had been ready to strike, now hung limply, unsure of what to do. His face, once filled with determination, was now clouded with confusion. In his heart, Bell knew he had to defeat Hyakinthos to win the War Game, but this situation left him caught in a moral dilemma.
In the meeting room, everyone watching the screen fell silent for a moment, waiting to see what Bell would do next. Shirou, sandwiched between Riveria and Lefiya, also watched with curiosity, though his mind was slightly distracted by the two women beside him.
Bell remained trapped in Cassandra's embrace, as she tried to protect her captain. The situation became even more difficult for him. Known for his reluctance to harm women, Bell found himself at a loss, unsure how to break free from the hold without hurting Cassandra. But help soon arrived.
Lily, seeing Bell in trouble, charged toward Cassandra without hesitation. "I won't let you get in Bell's way!" she shouted determinedly. With incredible speed and resolve, Lily managed to grab Cassandra and push her away from Bell, freeing him from the embrace that had hindered his fight. Bell, now free, quickly thanked Lily, but there was no time to celebrate.
Hyakinthos, realizing that Cassandra had bought him enough time, seized the opportunity to begin chanting his spell. Swiftly, he uttered the magical incantations for his ultimate attack. "Aro Zephyros!" he shouted. From Hyakinthos's hands, a large disc of fire formed, hovering in the air, glowing intensely before rapidly shooting towards Bell.
Bell quickly recognized the danger. With sharp reflexes, he leaped to evade the fiery disc that relentlessly pursued him. Several times, Bell narrowly avoided it, but the disc seemed to have a magnetic pull, always tracking him. In his effort to survive, Bell gathered his strength and hurled a Firebolt at the fiery disc, attempting to counter the fire spell with his lightning attack.
In the Loki Familia meeting room, Lefiya, watching the events unfold, grew increasingly tense. Her eyes were wide, and she was worried about Bell's fate. Unconsciously, she gripped Shirou's thigh even tighter. However, Shirou, who had an endurance level of 4, didn't feel any pain, despite Lefiya's firm grasp. He remained silent, letting her vent her anxiety through her grip.
Bell continued to fend off Hyakinthos's attacks, but Hyakinthos wasn't giving Bell any time to breathe. "Rubele!" Hyakinthos commanded, triggering the explosion effect of the fiery disc. The spell detonated in front of Bell, creating a massive wave of heat and flames. Fire consumed the surroundings, and Bell, unable to dodge in time, was hit directly by the blast.
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Bell fell to the ground, his body lying motionless after the attack. On the screen, his form was engulfed in the remnants of flames, leaving everyone in the meeting room in silence. However, Shirou, watching calmly, knew something the others didn't. Though Bell appeared to be burned, thanks to the necklace Syr had given him earlier—a powerful protective talisman—Bell was likely shielded from serious harm. Shirou smirked slightly, confident that Bell would soon rise.
Everyone waited with bated breath, wondering if Bell could get back up and continue his battle against Hyakinthos, who still stood tall on the battlefield. Shirou, full of certainty, knew this was not the end for Bell.
Bell, lying on the ground after taking Hyakinthos's hit, slowly opened his eyes. Despite his body being covered in burns and injuries from the explosion, he fought to stand again. Staggering, Bell finally managed to get to his feet, though clearly struggling. His breath was heavy, his body trembled, but the determination in his eyes remained unwavering.
Hyakinthos, who had been confident Bell wouldn't rise again, stared in shock. His face contorted in rage, unable to believe Bell was still standing after such a powerful attack. "Don't you know when to give up?" Hyakinthos shouted in fury. His anger drove him to act immediately. He drew a backup sword from his waist, preparing to launch a final strike to finish Bell once and for all.
With sword in hand, Hyakinthos sprinted at full speed, aiming a deadly thrust directly at Bell. His movements were fast, filled with the confidence that this time, Bell wouldn't be able to dodge.
But Bell, who appeared weak and helpless, took advantage of Hyakinthos's overconfidence. Just as Hyakinthos thrust his sword, Bell swiftly ducked, avoiding what should have been a fatal blow. In a quick and calculated move, Bell flipped backward, and with a powerful kick, knocked the sword out of Hyakinthos's hand, sending it flying to the ground.
In the Loki Familia meeting room, Aiz, watching intently, smiled. She recognized the move as something she had once advised Bell on—how to exploit an opponent's overconfidence when they believe they've already won. Seeing Bell successfully apply that lesson, Aiz felt proud, even if she only expressed it with a small smile.
Bell, just finishing his backward flip, didn't give Hyakinthos time to recover from the shock. He immediately launched his next attack—a hard punch to Hyakinthos's face. Bell's fist landed squarely, and Hyakinthos, unbalanced and stunned by the speed of the blow, fell to the ground and passed out.
Seeing Hyakinthos lying defeated on the ground, Bell stood tall, his breath still heavy, but the victory clear in his eyes. He had successfully defeated the captain of the Apollo Familia.
In the meeting room, Lefiya, who had been tense throughout the battle, finally released her grip from Shirou's thigh. Her face lit up with joy as she clenched her fists in excitement over Bell's victory. Despite the jealousy she sometimes felt over Aiz's attention to Bell, Lefiya couldn't help but feel proud of Bell for defeating such a strong opponent like Hyakinthos.
Riveria, sitting on Shirou's other side, realized that the battle was over. Sensing that the time for teasing had passed, she discreetly withdrew her hand from Shirou's thigh. Not wanting anyone to know she had been playfully touching Shirou during the fight, Riveria returned to her calm and graceful demeanor as if nothing had happened.
Everyone in the room watched Bell's victory with satisfaction, while Shirou, sitting between Lefiya and Riveria, felt a slight sense of relief, though he couldn't help but chuckle internally at the awkward situation that had just unfolded.
With the battle on-screen concluded and Bell's victory now certain, one by one, the members of the Loki Familia began to leave the room. The tension that had filled the air slowly dissipated, and small bouts of laughter started to spread among them.
Bete, with his usual grumpy expression, grabbed a handful of popcorn from the large bowl still sitting on the table. Without a word, he walked out of the room, his steps quick and full of determination.
Noticing Bete's apparent hurry, the ever-curious Tiona asked in a cheerful tone, "Hey, Bete! Where are you off to?"
Tione, standing not far from them, smiled knowingly. She had known Bete long enough to understand what was on his mind. "I'm sure he's fired up after watching that fight," Tione said with a smile. "He's probably eager to head to the Dungeon and release all that energy." Her comment made the others chuckle, as they were all well aware of Bete's constant enthusiasm for battle.
The atmosphere lightened, and the rest of the Loki Familia members followed Bete's lead, leaving the room one by one with small laughs. Light conversations about the War Game they had just watched carried on among them.
Eventually, only Lefiya and Shirou were left in the room. The two of them remained seated, enjoying a quiet moment after the earlier excitement. Lefiya, smiling brightly, began gathering the leftover popcorn from the various bowls scattered on the table, combining them into one large bowl.
Shirou, noticing Lefiya's actions, felt curious. "What are you doing, Lefiya?" he asked, eyeing the now full bowl of mixed popcorn.
Lefiya grinned widely, her face lighting up with enthusiasm. "I want to take this to my room to share with my roommate, Elfy. Maybe the others who visit can enjoy it too," she replied excitedly. She looked happy at the thought of sharing the snack with her friends.
Shirou chuckled softly at her response. "But if you mix all that popcorn together, the flavors will blend. You could end up with sweet, salty, and spicy in one bite."
Lefiya laughed as well, unfazed by the possibility. "That's what makes it fun! It'll be a surprise for them!" she said, her tone full of cheer. "I'm sure they'll enjoy it, no matter what flavor they get."
Shirou could only smile, pleased to see Lefiya so enthusiastic and not too bothered by the little details. Together, they finished tidying up the room before eventually following the others out.
As they were about to leave the meeting room, Shirou smiled and looked at Lefiya. "Just take your popcorn to your room. I'll handle cleaning up the dirty bowls."
Lefiya smiled warmly at Shirou's offer and thanked him sincerely. "Thank you, Shirou. You're always so considerate, even with the smallest things." She felt happy knowing that Shirou was always willing to help without hesitation, no matter how trivial the task. With that, Lefiya walked off, carrying the large bowl of popcorn to her room to share with her friends.
Meanwhile, Shirou headed straight to the kitchen. He walked leisurely, carrying the dirty bowls left on the table. Once he reached the kitchen, he headed to the sink and began washing the bowls. As he started working, he noticed Anakitty sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying some bread.
Shirou greeted her politely, "Hey, Aki." Anakitty turned to him, smiling as she returned the greeting. "Hey, Shirou," she replied lightly before going back to her bread.
Shirou continued washing the bowls, the atmosphere in the kitchen calm and peaceful. After a while, Anakitty, watching Shirou work diligently, grinned playfully before teasing him. "You know, Shirou... You're practically an executive of the Loki Familia, yet here you are washing bowls like a servant," she joked, laughing softly.
Shirou frowned in confusion at the teasing. "Executive?" he asked, puzzled. Shirou hadn't been with the Loki Familia for long, so the term was still unfamiliar to him.
Aki giggled and then tapped her forehead as if just realizing something. "Oh, right! You're still new here, huh? 'Executive' is what we call members of the Loki Familia who've reached high levels," she explained. "For example, Aiz, Tiona, Tione, and Bete—they're executives because their levels are high. Then there's Finn, Riveria, and Gareth—they're the top executives." Anakitty explained casually, but there was a tone of respect when she mentioned those names.
Shirou nodded as he listened, now understanding the meaning behind the term. While drying one of the freshly washed bowls, he asked curiously, "So, what about you, Aki?"
Anakitty gave a small smile at the question. "Me? I'm level 4, so I'm counted as second string," she answered while playing with the remaining bit of her bread. "But even though we're the same level, Shirou... I know you're much stronger," she added more seriously.
Shirou smiled politely at the compliment, though he never felt entirely comfortable being praised like that. To him, a level was just a number, and true strength came from experience and battle skill.
After finishing the last bowl, Shirou dried his hands, satisfied with his work. As he turned to leave, Anakitty suddenly gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder.
Aki looked at him with a small smile and said, "Shirou, you really don't need to go out of your way to clean up the bowls. Usually, the lower-level members who haven't reached second string yet handle tasks like these." Her tone was thoughtful, as if trying to relieve some of Shirou's burden.
But Shirou only smiled calmly, as he always did. "I actually enjoy doing this kind of work, Aki. Cleaning and cooking are things I find fun, so it doesn't feel like a burden to me." His words were sincere, reflecting his natural inclination to help and contribute, even in small tasks.
Anakitty chuckled softly at his response. "Well then, I won't stop you," she joked. "Besides, I don't want you to stop cooking. Your breakfasts are always the best, and I don't want to lose that!" she added with playful but genuine appreciation.
Shirou smiled wider. "Glad to hear you enjoy it," he replied in a soft, warm tone. For him, hearing others appreciate his cooking always brought a special sense of joy.
Aki waved her hand as she got ready to leave. "You're really something else, Shirou. But I guess that's a good thing," she said with a small smile before walking out of the kitchen.
Shirou only chuckled quietly, shaking his head. He knew many people found him a bit different for always volunteering to do the chores others tended to avoid. But for him, it just felt natural.
As he reflected on the conversation, his thoughts drifted to a promise he had made—to visit the Hostess of Fertility and celebrate Bell's victory with the others. He recalled how much Syr was looking forward to his presence there, and he didn't want to disappoint anyone.
"Looks like I'll be cooking and cleaning some more after this," he muttered to himself with a smile, ready to continue his long but fulfilling day.