Danmachi: Strongest Familia

[Note: Kyle]

——

"However, since we've already started, why did this guy think he could approach us so easily?" 

Morgana's tone carried a hint of coldness, but the meaning behind her words was clear to everyone around. 

Apollo understood her implication, but before he could respond, Sylas had already acted. 

A burst of blue light radiated from Sylas's palms. Before anyone from the Apollo Familia could react, Sylas had closed the distance in an instant. 

With a powerful grip, he seized the boy by the neck, effortlessly lifting him off the ground. 

From Sylas's other hand, golden chains formed from condensed magical energy appeared. With a sharp whistle through the air, they struck the boy's calf. 

The sharp crack of bone breaking rang out, followed by a scream that sounded far more genuine than before. 

The boy's leg twisted at an unnatural angle. Judging by the severity of the injury, walking again seemed out of the question. 

For someone like him, unless Apollo paid for one of the city's top healers, recovery would remain a distant dream. 

Morgana observed Sylas's handiwork with satisfaction. 

This guy has my kind of attitude, she thought. Definitely worthy of being part of my Familia. 

"Hard enough!" she said under her breath. 

"Alright, back to our earlier discussion. Do you have anything else to say, Apollo?" Morgana turned her attention back to him, as though nothing had happened. 

Apollo's expression, however, had completely changed. 

The festive atmosphere around them turned heavy. The gods, who had been eagerly watching the commotion, fell silent one by one. 

Apollo's face flushed a deep red, clearly from a mix of anger and humiliation. 

He had expected to gain the upper hand, but Morgana's ruthless response had flipped the situation on its head. She had decisively dealt with the pawn he'd brought, crushing his plans. 

Now, he found himself cornered. 

As the head of his Familia, Apollo had to seek justice for his subordinate. What made matters worse was that Morgana had publicly humiliated him by crippling his child in front of the other gods. 

It was a direct slap to Apollo's face—unforgivable. 

"On behalf of the Apollo Familia, I formally declare war on you!" Apollo shouted, his voice trembling with rage. "I'll wager everything between our two Familias—I'll drive you out of Orario!" 

Morgana snorted derisively. "Oh? So you're officially challenging me to a war game? Just say so if you need an excuse to show off your Familia's strength. I'll be sure to give you a proper lesson." 

Apollo sneered. "Laugh all you want now! Let's see how tough you are when I've kicked you out of Orario!" 

"Enough of this farce. It's embarrassing to watch." Morgana's voice cut through Apollo's bluster like a blade. "Fine. I'll accept the war game." 

The moment she spoke, her aura grew oppressive, completely overwhelming Apollo. The other gods, who had been holding their breath, erupted into cheers. 

Apollo froze, realizing he had been outplayed. Morgana's decisive acceptance had caught him off guard, and now the situation had spiraled out of his control. 

Even though he suspected a trap, it was too late to back out. He had been the one to declare the war game, and now there was no turning back. 

"Do you have anything else to say?" Morgana asked, her tone calm but her gaze piercing as she looked down at him. 

Behind her, the members of her Familia slowly began to gather, their presence making it clear that they wouldn't hesitate to escalate matters further if provoked. 

The sight of them left Apollo momentarily speechless. 

It was clear Morgana had never taken him seriously from the beginning. 

Wait... this isn't right, Apollo thought, panic creeping into his mind. She's supposed to look afraid, to panic when I declared the war game... 

Wasn't this all planned out? 

For the first time, Apollo considered whether he had underestimated Morgana entirely. 

Do I... withdraw? But how would that look? 

"Just you wait—!" 

At a loss for words, Apollo could only sputter this final threat before storming out of Morgana's residence with his Familia in tow. 

What was supposed to be a triumphant display of dominance at Morgana's banquet had instead turned him into a laughingstock. 

What had unfolded tonight would undoubtedly spread like wildfire among the bored gods eager for gossip. Word of mouth would ensure that Apollo's actions—and humiliation—became common knowledge. 

Under such relentless scrutiny, Apollo wouldn't be able to avoid the war game even if he wanted to. 

Not that Morgana intended to back down; if needed, she had every reason to escalate the situation further and challenge Apollo directly. 

However, Apollo seemed just as eager to proceed, perhaps even more so. It was as if he feared she might retract her acceptance and escape the confrontation entirely. 

After all, war games were no trifling matter. 

The meeting to formalize the arrangement was held in the grand meeting room atop the Tower of Babel, a location befitting such significant events. 

This venue, akin to a divine council chamber, was perched so high that clouds drifted lazily past. To the unknowing observer, it might even appear as though they had stepped into heaven itself. 

Morgana and Kyle entered the venue unhurriedly, noting that the audience seats on both sides were already filled with gods eager to witness the unfolding drama. 

In the center of the room, a large stone table served as the focal point. On one side, Apollo sat stiffly, attempting to project an aura of divine authority now that he'd had time to compose himself. 

"I thought you'd run away with your tail between your legs," Morgana said with a smirk. 

"As if!" Apollo snapped, though a flicker of unease flashed in his eyes. "I can't wait to annex your Familia!" 

Despite his bluster, his true intentions were clear. The real reason he'd hastily convened this meeting was to prevent Morgana and Kyle from potentially combining their Familias. 

Their strong alliance posed a significant threat. If Kyle's Familia temporarily merged with Morgana's for the war game, Apollo would be in serious trouble. 

Unlike Morgana, Apollo had no allies among the gods to provide him with such reinforcements. 

"Before we proceed, I need to make one thing clear!" Apollo declared, his voice ringing out. "This battle is strictly between you and me. No outside interference will be allowed—" 

As he spoke, his eyes darted around slyly, betraying his anxiety. 

"Hah! So that's what you're worried about!" Morgana scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "Relax. I don't need foreign aid to deal with trash like you." 

Her sneer deepened. He's already trembling before the fight has even begun, and he thinks he stands a chance against me with that timid mindset? Absurd. 

"Enough wasting time," Morgana said sharply. "How do you want to play this? One-on-one? Group battle? Siege? Pick your poison." 

Her casual, almost dismissive confidence made Apollo's unease grow. 

How can she be so sure of herself? Apollo thought nervously. What is she hiding?