Chapter 65

"The wind is burning, why is it burning, fuck, it's burning!"

Bell winced as Solaris was hissing a storm up, the wet bandages on her body making her look like a mummy. Back in the shades of their side in the arena, he leaned over her with a concerned look.

"Are you sure-"

"Yes, we need the other potions for you guys later, now shut it, I gotta focus the pain away!" Solaris yelled back, gritting her teeth as she attempted to power through it now that she was outside of combat.

"Are you sure?"

"Repeat that question one more time and I will burn you too!"

Kojiro chuckled in amusement. Bell on the other hand still felt squeasy at how red and blistered her skin was. If it weren't for her own skill, her Veritas Burn, she might have actually died. Thank the gods that her fire resistance gain was higher than the increased output. The thought of Solaris actually killing herself with her own magic was saddening in more way than one. Still, if she was in such a state, he could only imagine how bad it was for Lulope. He turned around, looking at the Eris Familia side. Two things surprised him. The lack of utter care by most of them, standing around or paying attention to something else. The other however was more surprising.

The large were tiger and the captain were actively administering first aid. He couldn't see the captain's face, but the tiger man seemed worried, as he sweated while working as fast as he could to heal up and help the charred elf.

"They seem to care for each other... " Haruhime whispered at the sight before she glanced at Solaris. She felt their stares, causing her to take off the towel from her eyes. She rolled them in exasperation before giving the two a flat look.

"Oh no, not the bitch," she said dryly before letting out a scoff, waving her hand dismissively as she lied back. "What do you want me to say, I don't care."

Bell flinched. He didn't know what to expect. He knew that Solaris was hot headed but to think she was so... bloodthirsty. It worried him. He could understand her rage at the Eris Familia, but he believed she took it too far, what with trying to stop Lulope from surrendering. He looked up at Artoria and the others. Why didn't they step in? It was obvious the elf had no chance and wanted to give up. Did they want to survey the Eris Familia reaction? Or did they just not care? He found it hard to believe for someone like Ryoma if the latter was the case. He shook his head. Thoughts for later. He looked at Stefan, looking a bit more roughed up than before. Bell raised his eyebrow at that, causing the one called the "Madlad" to mouth "Lulu", causing the White Fool to shudder. Apparently Lusserian wanted to see Bell more than expected. Still, he realized they should choose by now. This time they hopefully weren't going to provoke each other and make the matchup obvious from the start. But before he could raise his arm, Haruhime stepped forward, a nervous yet determined expression on her face.

"I-I want to go next!"

She tried to act natural, to not give it away as she bit her lip while holding her hand to her chest. Stefan hummed, before glancing at Solaris, a motion that Kojiro and Bell mimicked. The girl raised her upper body, taking the towel off her eyes once more. The captain hummed thoughtfully before shrugging nonchalantly.

"Sure thing." She raised her hand with a tired smirk. "Baton pass."

The Renard blinked before grimacing and lightly hitting her palm against Solaris'. The captain frowned immediately and wiggled her hand once more.

"Harder."

"But the burns-"

"Harder!"

Haruhime let out an 'eep' and hit the hand once more. Yet Solaris wasn't satisfied, flexing her fingers with a snarl.

"Do it like you mean it, girl!"

This time, the martial artist reared her arm back and the area actually echoed from the force of it. Solaris laughed in excitement, nodding in approval.

"That's better!" Her mouth twitched and she looked at her shivering hand, curling its fingers to form a fist before she rolled around in the ground. "Aaaaaand there's the pain again, fuuuuuuuck!"

"...Ooooookay, so it's Sakamoto Haruhime, right?" The others nodded awkwardly. Stefan nodded back, raising his thumb as he pressed his lips together. "Cool, I'm going to pass that on."

"Are you certain you are ready?"

Haruhime took a deep breath, before smiling weakly at Kojiro.

"No, but I doubt I'll feel more ready later."

/

"So we're still going to beat the crap out of Solaris, right?"

"Of course."

"Totally."

"Oh yeah, she deserves it."

Hestia gaped at the Astraea girls, openly admitting to what they planned with her captain. She raised her finger, trying to object... before lowering her hand. After all, she felt the same. This was too dangerous! It was only through sheer dumb luck that she managed to beat someone who was essentially her hard counter! So in the end, she merely raised her thumb in approval. That girl needed a hard spanking!

"Man, I'm so jealous!"

"What, that you aren't fried like that one?" Bete asked dryly, causing Tiona to pout and wiggle her stumps with a whine.

"We never had such cool War Games! It's always 'oh, hold back, don't scare off the civilians and outsiders'!"

Hestia glanced at Loki, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. The trickster actually blushed, as if embarrassed by being called out. Which wasn't far off the truth, as Loki was famous for picking fights everywhere she went. The fact she didn't throw War Game challenges around like candy was suspicious at best.

"Can't believe we're agreeing here... " The werewolf commented. Naturally most others in the room agreed with a somber nod, as if upset they didn't get such a challenge like the Hestia and Eris Familia was getting. Riveria sighed, rubbing her temples before looking at the others.

"You're all savages."

"A pure mage wouldn't understand," Finn commented with a chuckle, trying to swat away the sneaking hands of Tione and Lyra, who tried to molest him during the break of the War Game. Clearing his throat, he turned to Astraea Familia with crossed arms. "So, who do you think is going up next?"

"It looks like it'll be Haruhime." Lyra retreated for now, humming in thought as she tapped her chin. Then she glanced at Kaguya, as much as she could glance with the lack of eye balls. "You trained her. What are her odds?"

Alise and Ryuu frowned at the Senbonzakura. One could visibly see how her mood went down as she clicked her tongue in annoyance, her expression darkening. She took a deep breath and put on a fake smile even someone like Raul got spot.

"Depends." She shrugged, trying to act nonchalantly to hide the boiling emotions in her heart. "It's either good... or nil."

A cough interrupted any further questions, causing everyone to turn back to the Divine Mirrors. Alise put a hand on Ryuu's hand when she was about to speak to Kaguya with a glare. The elf tried to relax after her captain subtly shook her head.

"Once more, the Eris Familia sends in their warrior from the East!" Hlokk announced and pointed at the entrance.

"It is just common sense to wield equipment in the dungeon! Weapons, shields, armor, they all grow in quality the deeper one goes!"

It might have just been the mirrors, but it seemed like the ground was shaking by heavy steps.

"However! This man spits in the face of that logic!"

Emerging from the dark, some gaped at the sight. A massive, massive being, covered in a cloak to hide his features. What stood out even more were the chains wrapped around his body as with each step they rattled just like the earth and air.

"Day after day, this were tiger works on one weapon and one weapon alone! This muscular mountain, taller than even the King, rejects tools! He rejects using anything the accursed dungeon grants him!"

The wind blew off his hood, revealing a snarling tiger with short orange hair. His canines seemed to grow with each step, but it might have just been a trick with the lights. His veins bulged as he seemed to grow in size, the chains straining and screaming at the pressure exerted on them.

"The only strength he relies on, his strength itself! A goliath is a child to him! A minotaur just an insect! With his bare fist and might, he tears them apart, punches them down, breaks them into pieces!"

He roared, screamed at the heavens as his muscles flexed, as his power refused to be contained.

"The man with unlimited potential in raw power and body! The Titan…! Danos!"

At the sound of his name, the weretiger finally destroyed the chains and cloak, his muscles flexing one last time to create a small explosion. His fists pointed downwards, his arms spread out as his body twitched. He exhaled, seemingly letting out steam as the crowd cheered. Naturally the sight was unnatural, as his biceps, shining like metal itself for example, were bigger than Hestia's head. The goddess pointed nervously at the screen, face full with disbelief.

"Uhm, he didn't take any drugs, right?"

"Yup."

Hestia gulped at Alise' comment.

"So why does he look like that?"

"It's natural. And rage."

"Oh." Ryuu nodded slowly, causing Hestia to pale. "Oh, nooooo…"

"Aaaaand now! The West that is the Hestia Familia sends in their representative!"

One part of the audience once more seemed to explode. Hachiman rose to his feet, as did his students. In complete sync, they punched the air with a straight fist, causing the wind to actually move. At the same time, the contingent of Tsukoyomi began to play their drums and dance, with their deity dancing gracefully with her fan.

"Soiya! Seiya! Soiya! Seiya!"

The two gods then summoned their own divine mirrors. All deities of Orario turned their attention to those by reflex. It showed the Far East, with the Susanoo Familia dancing as well, celebrating in utter chaos. Then there was Amaterasu, playfully dancing as she twisted her body every few seconds as she waved her arms while pointing her index finger at the sky. Then, after a while she stomped on the ground before pointing at the Divine Mirrors pointed at her with a giggle.

"This former princess with her small statue seems more fit at a court than on the battlefield! But do not let this small appearance fool you!"

Haruhime emerged from her side, bouncing on the feet as her eyes seemed narrow in focus. She ignored her surroundings, the cheers that sounded for her. All she did was focus on herself as she performed her footwork, her feet barely leaving the ground as she kept moving.

"After her life was saved, she had decided no more! No more being a caged bird! No more being helpless!"

She kicked through the air as if she cut with a blade. She punched the air as if she was a group of archers. She performed the kata beaten into her repeatedly, in perfect succession. On the throne, Oryou cheered with her baby while Ryoma smiled with pride.

"A year of harsh training under the strongest martial god! A year of tears, sweat and blood! Her legs became wings! Her arms became blades! Her existence grew into a higher level! All just to join her savior and stand by his side as a warrior herself!"

"Her body seems weak, but her skill has been recognized by heaven itself! The Karateka, greatest student of the Divine Arms Style! Sakamoto….! Ha! Ru! Hi! Me!"

She stomped the ground, yelling out before exhaling and bowing. With her introduction done, she was face to face with her opponent. To the audience that cheered at her performance, especially a certain Familia in Orario that waved their own makeshift flags, ignoring any shame they might've felt, they quickly saw the difference between the two.

Half a meter of a height difference. To see such different sizes right in front of each other was jarring. Not only that, seasoned warriors could estimate the weight of each person. The conclusion they reached was worrying. The higher one's level was, the less important weight became, but it was a factor nevertheless. Finn narrowed his eyes as he ran the numbers he came up with in his head before shaking his head slowly.

Danos, with his massive build and muscles, must have weighed at least twice as much as Haruhime. Add his natural reach advantage and the fact that neither used any weapons... this was yet again a terrible match up, all things considered. And this time neither side revealed who'd they pick. His ears twitched, hearing Hestia mumble something about Bell and 'his luck' but he ignored it as the Renard sweated nervously in front of the weretiger, who glared down at her as if she was an affront to existence itself

"Fight!"

Haruhime raised her arms at the signal of Penthesilea, taking up her stance. Her determined expression changed to utter horror however when she saw the arm swinging down on her like a warhammer.