It was a bigger turnout than expected.
Meekly, a bespectacled Goddess retreated from the back of the make-shift stage and safely out of sight as the murmurs of the growing crowd increased in volume. There were less than five minutes before the official start of the recruitment campaign and all the time left to dwell over what could go wrong.
Iris bit down on her lips and tried to keep her nerves from fraying. As the level-headed one between her and Thetis, she was usually the woman who handled complicated affairs. Alternatively, she was also the one who endured the criticism at the prospect of failure. Like filthy water, Thetis had a natural tendency to sink into dirt when public sentiment towards her plummeted, leaving Iris to bear and conceal the brunt. In contrast, Thetis blossomed like a watered flower in the case of success.
Based on a history of long-term trauma, Iris was already preparing for the worst, but it was a good sign that Thetis was around. It meant that she had confidence in the endeavor, that or because her baby boy was participating. It was hard to say, so Iris simply omitted it.
Iris bit the nail of her thumb while internally counting down the time.
Behind her, the main stars of today's recruitment were lightly talking with each other as if the entire ordeal was not a substantial worry.
Iris simply couldn't understand how Shirou and the others could be so composed when the entire operation banked on this presentation and appeal. Sure, she could reason that strength begets confidence, but charisma and leadership were different. You had to know how to work a crowd for goodness sake.
Ultimately, the means of Gods were severely limited in the Lower World, making the members that comprised their Familia the primary fighting force. Without a God using their Arcanum, they were no different from ordinary citizens with limited magic tied to their Godly Authorities.
The bestowal of their Falna onto a Familia member was what enabled a God to exert his divinity to his or her followers in full. The level determined the ability of a Familia member to endure more of their God's divinity, enhancing their parameters.
Ordinary men and women empowered by a God's divinity, become vessels of a God's power. That was the true basis of a Familia, and why Demi-Gods broke the balance.
With a body born of the body and divinity of a God, it was a perfect blend of mortal and divine that could fully assimilate the divine nature of their parent God without consequence. After all, Demi-Gods were born with a portion of their parent's divinity already in their person. Further additions of divine energy would only resonate with the preexisting Godly nature in the Demi-God.
Therefore, measuring a Demi-Gods power based on level would be a malpractice, and Achilles and Thetis would be one of the primary offenders. Thetis had no reservations at all about sharing her divine energy with her own son to the point it was practically overflowing.
Then there was the departed Apollo…
Caster practically glowed these days to the point his white hair appeared blond and his eyes shone like stars. It was as if he was burning with the aura of a sun constantly surrounding him- or more likely it was reflection of his annoyance when he discovered the orphaned members of the Apollo Familia deferring to him as their God.
Iris was distracting herself and only calmed down somewhat when Shirou placed a hand over her shoulder.
"It will be fine," he reassured her.
"..." Iris kept her mouth shut and glanced at Shirou deeply.
Iris's divine perception could feel a hefty fire within Shirou that smelt of iron and steel incorporated with numerous divinities. The thing was, Iris could intuitively sense that the divinites didn't stem from Shirou himself, but from other things in the sea of his own inner world.
If Shirou's person reminded Iris of Hephaestus and her forge, then the anomaly she could sense from him was like the hidden deformity in Hepaestus's eye.
It was like a container that shouldn't be opened, a mystery similar to Pandora's box…
Given that Iris's mist was generally used to conceal the mystery of the divine, Iris was tempted to ask to sate her own curiosity. All signs pointed to Hephaestus and Shirou having the answer. Hell, Iris had even spotted Hephaestus in the crowd, but now wasn't the time.
A chuckle escaped Iris's lips. She didn't know why she was so nervous.
Perhaps it was because she'd been in the exact same situation before with the Zeus and Hera Familias, but things were different this time.
-A being that could wield the full force of a God while retaining the mortal aspects of a human.
That was the difference between then and now.
"Thanks," Iris replied, nodding at Shirou before clearing her throat. "From here on, the stage will be for you and the others."
Offering a small smile, Shirou stepped forward along with Rider and Archer.
"Leave it to us."
The murmurs of the crowd quieted down as the echo of footsteps walking up to the recruitment stage became keenly distinctive. A set of three, one was heavy, the other languid, and the last unperturbed.
Simultaneous, a sense of anticipation and doubt was ushered into the crowd at a lightning pace.
As numerous pairs of eyes focused on the stage, many others who had just arrived were no doubt drawn in as well.
From afar, Ais settled in place somewhere out of sight of the Loki Familia while Ryuu and her Goddess, and a cloaked older man, paused to watch.
Freya opened a fan and elegantly brought it up to conceal the smile forming over her mouth.
Loki grew serious, Riveria and Finn mirroring her expression.
As expected, Rider, Archer, and Shirou's figures made an appearance exactly as they had been in the prior banquet of the Gods.
Rider had his hands resting behind his head, his elbows pointed forward, and he looked largely disinterested in talking. In contrast, Archer was too imposing with his demeanor and solemn air that surrounded.
Naturally, that left only Shirou to speak up over the stage Iris had helped make.
"Thank you for coming today on such short notice," Shirou opened diplomatically, having learned a thing or two about addressing a crowd from his various trips to other worlds at Zelretch's machinations.
Becoming a war hero in several of said worlds helped significantly as he'd had to make motivational speeches to spur morale in dark times. Now however, was not a dark time, but rather a moment to garner inspiration and morale against an undefeated foe.
Something in Shirou's eyes twinkled with annoyance and reniscience as he could picture Rin making fun of him for being so formal. As Zleretch's direct student, Rin was both Shirou's friend, and someone he interacted with often enough that she lectured him on how to speak to crowds.
"But I will assure you, your time has not been wasted." Shirou continued, recalling the steps of public speaking.
Broad back, even posture, and slow enunciation to prevent any slips of the tongue.
More importantly, don't fill your words with flowery language as politicians do, but convey what matters as concisely as possible.
"The subjugation of the One-Eyed Black Dragon will be starting soon, and this stage was created to recruit allies who will join in the cause," Shirou explained bluntly, noting the hushed discussion in the crowd.
For the Gods that had already heard of the plan before, the news wasn't so exciting as it was affirmation, but for those hearing it for the first time, doubt was clearly evident in their faces.
The Dungeon city of Orario had already gone through many ups and downs ever since its founding, earning an associated name where dreams both begin and die.
"I will be the blacksmith supplying the weapons, armours, and repairs of the Grand Quest." Shirou ignored the scorn, confusion, and even fervor of the crowd to meticulously say what he needed to say. "The location of the Dragon has already been determined. Together, we will surely take it down."
Of course, his words were met with silence because the overwhelming majority of Orario were not composed of Gods who could feel Rider and Archer's divinity, but with ordinary citizens and adventurers of the Dungeon disillusioned with the tragic failure of the first subjugation.
More than any words could prove, what they needed was something to have confidence in.
And in that case, there were two methods.
A grand showing, or personal experience.
Maybe even both?
"Unconvinced?" Shirou drawled before nodding at Rider and Archer who spaced themselves evenly with Shirou on the make-shift stand. "Out of the three of us, you're welcome to try your luck and see for yourself? Iris will make a doorway to a training field, and Thetis will make a water mirror to watch."
Shirou's demeanor sharpened while Rider snorted and Archer uncrossed his arms.
"That is, if you think yourselves capable?"
What would this prove?
Even if one managed to overcome this challenge, the most one could get out of it was to lay claim to the title of 'strongest in Orario.'
The title was rather feeble in comparison to the One-Eyed Black Dragon because it could easily claim that title with a release of a single breath attack to ravage the city.
Of course, in regard to military discipline and hierarchical organization, there was no better solution when it came to putting overconfident subordinates in line. Who would have known? People were more willing to listen when they were proven inferior in capability and judgment?
Trails breed hardship, and hardship breeds excellence in the path of a hero.
Freya found herself nodding regardless of the wisdom of the act as she had her own curiosities she wished to settle.
"Ottar," Freya called, folding her fan over her left palm.
A tall and heavily muscled Boaz with rust-coloured hair and a bandana stepped forward at his Goddess's call.
"By your order," Ottar nodded his head and moved towards the stage.
Freya wasn't the only one who wished to test the waters as various other Familia were being sent up to choose an opponent by their Gods out of curiosity.
Of the three, several distinct factors were becoming alarmingly apparent as the choices of various Familia came pooling in.
Rider whistled, grimacing. "What? No takers?"
It was self evident. There was no one who had not seen Rider in his rage rip apart an unbeatable monster with his bare hands across Orario's ruined dungeon district. The other two were tame in comparison, but appearances were deceiving.
Rider spit on the ground and tapped the stage with his toes. His fleet-footed nature made him unable to conceal his disappointment at inactivity. In contrast, he raised a brow as there were people glancing at Archer.
Fools.
Rider rested his hands behind his head, summoned his chariot, and directly sat down, leaning his back on a large wheel.
It was their funeral, but perhaps there was also a bit of pettiness involved. He tried to steal from Archer.
"I wouldn't recommend that. Our teacher made it clear that duel's were honor bound. To hold back is to look down on an opponent. Archer won't hold his punch."
Admittedly, even if Rider was faster than Archer, the big guy was tougher than he was. He said 'punch' because Rider estimated that no one would survive or stick around to receive a second. At least Rider wouldn't hit as hard. With him, the question was how many blows he could land at the same time Archer could throw one.
Regardless, the man who stood before Archer's imposing form was undeterred as his faith in his Goddess was strong.
The man who stood in front of Archer was none other than the Freya Familia's strongest, Ottar. The rest gave Ottar a berth of space.
Rider clicked his tongue at the missed opportunity, but no sooner found the edges of his lips curling upward.
"Oh, challengers?" Rider perked up instantly.
Two people stood in front of Rider.
Riveria cleared her throat with a bit of trepidation while Finn still looked somewhat underwhelmed from his overall ignorance after his death. No amount of Loki filling him in on the details could fully dispel Finn of his disbelief other than to see it for himself.
"May we request a spar?" Riveria asked, elbowing Finn who was still frowning.
"Two on one?" Rider clarified, getting up from his chariot.
"It was made after much consideration." Riveria adjusted her long locks of hair, tucking her bangs behind her ears as she grew serious.
Riveria looked at Finn.
"Don't think that what I said was a joke, or we'll be defeated in an instant," she warned gravely.
Finn grudgingly nodded, knowing Riveria was no liar.
Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of others chose Shirou who appeared the weakest out of the three.
Shirou neither had Rider's prior showing or Archer's natural disposition as a hardened warrior to deter the competitiveness of others.
The lower leveled Familia members were spurred to give it a try, and even Ryuu shamelessly joined the crowd to give it a shot.
Those who thought themselves truly strong however, sought out either Rider or Archer, unwilling to lower themselves to bully a blacksmith. Those that did were shot with dirty glares from the Hephaestus Familia led primarily by Tsubaki, while a confused Hephaestus pursed her lips.
Seeing the number of competitors rapidly inflate past a dozen and growing in front of him while Rider and Archer's crowds remained with scant few, Shirou realized the inevitable.
"There's no time," Shirou frowned.
He scrapped his plans to spar one-on-one before making up his mind.
Yet to others, it was a blatant excuse that many within and outside of earshot picked up on.
Though it may have looked like a sign of backing down, on the contrary, it set the basis for something more outrageous.
Iris opened a mist gate to a prepared sparring ground with Shirou taking the initiative.
"Come at me all at once." He said before walking through, leaving his challengers stunned.
None of the three on stage could be considered normal by Orario's standard.
Rider laughed uproariously in the background.
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