Chapter 1017: Are You Ready For This? (Part 2)
For beings like the Beauty God, love is something taken for granted.
In their view, the physical intimacy is a part of love, something that can be bestowed upon those who wish to receive affection.
Frey is no different, although not as promiscuous as Ishtar, she enjoys her indulgences.
Not to mention, the male deities in Orario have nearly all been toyed with by this Beauty God, even some goddesses and mortal women haven’t been spared.
Especially those with a radiant soul, they are Frey’s most cherished possessions.
It’s for this reason that Reiger was repeatedly tested by Frey, and Bell Crowney was completely seen as her possession. She not only sent the [White Demon Staff] and [Black Demon Sword] to train him, allowing his talents to blossom, but also had Ota pick out monsters in the underground city to test Bell Crowney when he was Lv.1, letting him gain the awareness of an adventurer and truly begin to shine with his soul’s brilliance.
In this situation, Reiger had reason to suspect that this goddess’s invitation to him was not made with good intentions.
She might not be interested in his body, but she certainly desired his soul.
Otherwise, why would Loki constantly call her a lovesick fool?
It must be because this goddess’s personal life is too chaotic.
Thus...
"I must decline with thanks." Reiger smiled subtly and said, "Instead of me, you should quickly go find the child you favor."
"Goddess Ishtar is no benevolent figure. If you delay any longer, that little white rabbit might be devoured to the point where there’s not even a bone left."
Upon hearing these words, Frey’s smile slowly faded from her face.
After giving Reiger a deep look, Frey said no more and, with Ota and others, prepared to head toward the goddess’s palace.
Yet, as the group quietly set off, one person did not follow and remained in place.
"... Allen."
Ota frowned as he called out to him.
The one who stayed behind was indeed Allen.
The feline youth continued to glare at Reiger, not moving his gaze even when Ota called him.
Seeing this, not only Frey, but Reiger also looked towards Allen.
Meeting Allen’s intense gaze, Reiger glanced at him and smiled lightly without any emotion.
He likely knew what Allen intended.
As expected...
"To rescue that foolish rabbit, you people should go." Allen said coldly to Ota and the others, "I’ll keep watch here."
The crowd immediately fell into silence.
"This is Goddess Frey’s order."
Ota spoke in a deep voice for the time being.
"That’s why having you go is enough, isn’t it?" Allen sneered, "Or are you so incompetent that you can’t even retrieve a rabbit? Then you are utterly useless!"
This remark instantly enraged everyone.
"Are you provoking us, you vile cat?"
Hedine glared at Allen.
"Your venomous words will be cleansed by my blade, and your end will be lying in a forgotten pool of blood."
Hegni coldly laughed.
"You’re just an abandoned cat picked up from the trash by the goddess herself..."
"What makes you so arrogant?"
"You sure know how to boast, don’t you?"
"Don’t think that just because you’ve leveled up, we’d be afraid of you, stinky cat."
The Gulliver brothers spoke up one after the other, launching verbal attacks cloaked as curses.
Apart from the still silent Ota, everyone else exuded a chilling aura, ready to draw weapons and strike at Allen at any moment.
This situation, which seemed filled with genuine hostility, might cause chaos in any other familia, terrifying the ranks below the leadership if not the head deity themselves. Yet, within the Freyja Clan, it was just normal.
They never saw their fellow clan members as comrades, but rather as competitors and rivals for attention.
Internal strife, feared as a flood in other familias, was a daily occurrence in the Freyja Clan.
Even these leaders constantly thought about overcoming those around them, trampling their competitors beneath their feet.
Among them, mutual love between clan members was impossible; only endless internal conflict existed.
This situation would lead to severe factional chaos in any other familia, but in the Freyja Clan, it was peacefully resolved.
Because, regardless of their struggles, they always recalled one thing.
That is, they have already dedicated everything to their beloved goddess.
But this goddess is not someone who stays quiet.
"Since Allen wants to stay, then let him stay."
Freyja not only didn’t stop all this, but instead smiled with interest, as if she had encountered an unexpected sideshow.
"I’ll leave this to you, Allen."
Freyja laughed as she gave her permission.
"Yes."
Allen put away his nasty attitude and bowed respectfully towards Freyja.
Everyone stared at this Allen, but no one voiced any opposition.
Since Freyja had already granted permission, they naturally had no reason to make any objections.
Moreover, Allen wasn’t wrong; it’s just one Istar Clan. Even without him, they wouldn’t have been unable to handle it.
As a result, even Ota acquiesced to this matter, suppressing the slight regret in his heart.
If possible, he actually hoped he could stay as well.
Unfortunately, Allen beat him to it this time.
"Let’s go." Freyja said with a laugh, "If we solve this quickly, we might make it in time for a good show."
With that, Freyja led the way towards the goddess palace and entered it.
The others immediately followed, including Ota, no longer paying attention to the situation here.
Reiger also didn’t look at Ota and the others, but instead locked eyes with the catman youth opposite him, as if sparks were flying between them.
As Freyja and the others left, the hostile atmosphere instantly enveloped Reiger and Allen.
This was a confrontation after a long time.
The last time they faced off like this, Reiger was Lv.4, and Allen was Lv.6. The disparity in strength was significant, yet the latter suffered a not insignificant loss at the hands of the former.
This time, Reiger was ostensibly Lv.6, while Allen had already reached Lv.7.
Although there was still a difference of one level, both Reiger and Allen were well aware that this gap could be essentially ignored.
After all, it wasn’t the first time Reiger faced a Lv.7 opponent.
His ability to challenge across levels allowed him not to be at a disadvantage even with a difference of one level.
"Lv.6... You’ve really crossed into this realm, [Limit Breaker]."
Allen’s gaze towards Reiger turned sharp.
It was a gaze ready to attack at any moment.
In response, Reiger flashed a faint smile.
"If you appeared a bit later, I might not just be Lv.6."
In reality, he had long surpassed Lv.6.
But Allen would never know such things.
"...I told you back then, didn’t I? I remembered you, Reiger Brillhaut."
Allen raised his spear, adopting a thrusting stance, lowering his body, one hand touching the ground, while the other held the spear, pulling it back.
"That sword slash of yours, I think of it constantly."
"Today, I finally have a chance to wash away that shame."
"You, you won’t run away, will you?"
Allen sneered coldly.
Facing these harsh words, Reiger merely placed a hand on the sword at his waist, his gaze towards Allen gradually turning calm.
"Back then, when I was Lv.4, I never thought of running."
"Now, I’m long past that time, running is even less of an option."
"But, you should have already prepared yourself mentally, right?"
"I remember that grudge too."
As these words were spoken, the tense atmosphere between Reiger and Allen was fully ignited.
Both exuded hostility, fighting intent, and murderous intent, making an astounding aura clash between them.
The next second, both of them disappeared simultaneously.
"Clang!!!"
The sudden collision of the crystal longsword and the sharp silver spear, both drawn at an unknown time, sent a clashing sound echoing to the skies.