Danmachi: The Multiverse Portal

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Hyakinthos Clio sat in his room inside the Apollo Familia's stronghold, sipping tea with a bored expression.

"Report!!"

A wounded beastman rushed into the camp and fell to one knee, breathing hard.

"Lissos's assassination squad is pinned down on the front lines. Requesting immediate reinforcements."

"Hm?" Hyakinthos paused and put down his teacup.

What was going on? Why was the vanguard already having trouble in the first fight?

"What happened? Didn't they follow the deployment plan? Lissos isn't the type to mess around." Daphne Lauros, standing nearby, looked at the beastman.

The enemy didn't have enough people. The plan was to quickly take out the non-combatants to isolate August, then corner and defeat him. How did that go wrong?

"We followed the plan. Lissos led us into the East District, but the rest of Hestia Familia was nowhere in sight," the beastman reported, keeping his head lowered.

"August was waiting instead, mounted on a Unicorn from the Deep Floors. We were about to head south when he charged through the East Gate, tearing our formation apart. Five men died in the first charge. We cannot hold him without reinforcements."

"A Unicorn? The Xenos?" Daphne blinked.

Everyone in Orario knew about the intelligent monsters in the Dungeon.

"Hyakinthos..." Daphne respectfully requested permission to lead a subjugation squad.

Hyakinthos put down his teacup and held up a hand to stop her. "Stand down. Sending more men is a waste. That Unicorn likely didn't attack our members directly, so protesting its presence won't work."

Hyakinthos was proud, but not stupid. With so many people watching the War Game, the lack of protest meant the Guild had quietly allowed the mount. August made sure to use the monster only as a ride, so it stayed within the rules.

"Yes, the Unicorn didn't attack us. Captain August did all the fighting," the beastman confirmed.

"That settles it."

Their first plan had failed. August used Apollo's strict rules against them, and repeating the same mistake would only lead to defeat.

"Daphne, assemble a mixed squad of fifty mages and swordsmen. Set up a kill box at the intersection of the East and North Districts."

If August's cavalry tactics could beat Lissos, they needed a counter made just for that. And if the Unicorn got close, August's sword skills would cut through their infantry easily.

"But what about Lissos?" The beastman stared at Hyakinthos in horror. He was ordering them to abandon the vanguard.

"They aren't coming back. The man has a terrible temper. After enduring our God's targeted harassment for days, he won't be satisfied until he chops us into meat paste."

Hyakinthos knew August well. He always paid back both favors and grudges. Since Apollo had forced him into a corner, August would take it out on their Familia.

The best choice was to cut their losses and leave the assassins behind.

"Have Luan take the scout unit to the South District. If he spots the rest of the Hestia Familia, probe their defenses."

Hyakinthos thought like a true commander. He could easily beat a weak, friendly Familia. But underestimating someone as dangerous as August would be a fatal mistake.

He knew better than to look down on the monster rookie.

"Yes, sir." Daphne bowed, then left to organize the defense line. The beastman had no choice but to follow her.

Hyakinthos didn't blame Apollo for causing this mess. He accepted his God's wishes without question. Even if it brought big problems, he would give it his all.

—•——•——•——•——•——•—

Just as they guessed, in the East District, August's blade sliced cleanly across Lissos's neck.

"I lost..." The male elf collapsed, eyes wide with disbelief.

He was an elf... Elves were known for their magic and sword skills, but he had been defeated by a rookie.

August sheathed his sword.

It was a total defeat. All the Apollo assassination squad members were knocked out on the cobblestones in the alley.

"They didn't send reinforcements?"

He noticed how quiet the streets were. The fight was short, but it should have been enough time for the Apollo Familia to react. No one was coming. They had left their vanguard behind.

"Cutting their losses? Fine. I won't bother chasing them."

The Unicorn trotted over and snorted softly, staying alert and watching the area.

"Thanks for the ride," August said, patting its neck.

The Unicorn was the fastest Xenos in the group, and it was the only reason August had reached them so quickly.

"Neigh." The Unicorn snorted, communicating in its own way.

The Unicorn was happy. With August protecting it, it had run freely across the open fields outside the city—feeling a joy it never experienced in the Dungeon.

It seemed to ask, 'Do you want me to carry you further?'

With its speed, they could easily take out the rest of the enemy camp.

"No need. They didn't send backup, so they've probably set up a trap further in. Rushing in now would be foolish."

August had already guessed what Apollo would do next. He wasn't about to risk the Unicorn's life. Unlike Lili and the others, who were protected by the War Game's divine ward, if the Unicorn died here, it would be gone for good.

The Unicorn turned around. Its saddle made it clear to anyone watching that it was a tamed creature, not just some wild Dungeon monster.

"See you later, Rose." August smiled and waved.

He watched Rose gallop out through the East Gate, then turned away from the unconscious Apollo members and started walking toward the southern residential district, where the rest of the Hestia Familia had set up camp.

August followed the tracking beacon Lili left for him and soon reached a group of houses in the South District.

"Lord August!"

"Captain!"

Lili, Yui, Ui, and Nodoka smiled as he came in and hurried to greet him. They already knew the first wave of enemies was gone, and seeing him return safely helped them relax.

They walked further into the house. The girls had already unpacked and made a cozy command center. Thanks to Ui's great housekeeping, everything was clean and welcoming.

"Good job, everyone," August said, giving a thumbs-up. Just making the area safe was already a win.

"Of course!" Yui cheered.

This was her first War Game. She knew there was a chance she could get hurt, but with Nodoka, Ui, and Lili handling the tactics, she quickly got used to her role. She didn't have much stamina, so staying alive was her top goal.

Nodoka had seen August take down the assassins on the live broadcast. The violence made her a bit nervous. Still, with Yui and Ui's futures at stake, she refused to just sit by. Scared or not, she was all in now.

"Captain, considering the Apollo Familia's situation, they will likely come looking for us again," Nodoka said. "But sitting here and defending for three days won't solve the problem. If they heavily fortify their position, we can't touch them."

The match would last three days, and the first had only just begun. After losing so many fighters, Apollo would definitely play it safe to keep their remaining strength.

"You're right," Lili smiled. "The Apollo Familia will definitely fortify their defenses. But they're still going to lose more men."

"Eh? Are they really that stupid? Why would they send more people?" Yui asked.

It didn't add up for her. They had just lost a squad, so why risk more people? Hestia Familia didn't have many members, and a well-defended enemy was tough to beat. Why waste more lives?

"Bingo, Yui," Lili chuckled. "Don't forget, they couldn't find us in the East District. Naturally, they'll send scouts down south. Locating the enemy's base camp is crucial intel. They have to send people to find us."

Lili had carefully learned how the Apollo Familia usually operated well before the match started.

"And when they get here, we ambush them!" Yui declared seriously.

She got the gamer logic: they send scouts to check the area, and we catch them at the chokepoints.

"Hehehe." Nodoka and Ui both smiled, realizing that wearing down the enemy gave their small Familia a big advantage. The girls were quick thinkers.

With Lili—an experienced tactician, leading the group—everyone joined in on the planning.

"Let's sit down and have some tea to recover," Ui said, bringing over a tray of freshly made tea and snacks.

August had just finished a fight and traveled a long way. He needed a break.

"I'll massage your shoulders, Captain!" Yui trotted over dutifully.

She guided August into a chair and started massaging his shoulders. She knew she was the weakest on the team, so besides helping with chores, making sure her Captain could relax was her main way to help.

"Thanks." August didn't decline.

He leaned back to rest. Traveling from Orario and jumping right into a fight had worn him out, so he needed a moment to recover.

The warm, relaxed mood in the Hestia Familia was completely different from the tense, strict feeling in the Apollo camp.

—•——•——•——•——•——•—

On the Divine Mirror broadcast:

"To think the Apollo strategy was predicted this early! It seems the Hestia Familia recruits are not to be underestimated! The former Soma Familia member, now the tactical core of the Hestia Familia—Little Light!—she is demonstrating strategic brilliance! Anyone who survived descending into the Dungeon with Captain August is no ordinary Supporter!"

Ibri Achaa hyped the crowd.

Lili had seen the assassination plot coming and moved the non-combatants before the match began. She was clearly the brains of the team and was already planning how to deal with the incoming scouts.

Keeping a group of rookies alive in a War Game showed just how strong her survival instincts were.

"Indeed. The power gap is massive. Aside from August, the rest are rookies with zero combat experience—yet through sheer intellect, they've secured their safety and maximized their utility."

Ganesha praised from the viewing room.

"Excellent domestic management. Meticulous reconnaissance. The ability to keep morale high and tension low. Every member brings a distinct, vital skill to the table. It is a wonderfully balanced Familia."

Ganesha recognized what they were really worth. Everyone did their part well. Hestia Familia didn't have many people, but everyone mattered.

"Crucially, look at that atmosphere! There's no trace of panic or fear. That is the hallmark of absolute trust in a Captain!" Ibri Achaa added.

The Apollo Familia acted like a strict, tense army.

August had not only stopped their first attack but also created a warm, relaxed space for his team. They might have looked like a group of laid-back misfits—but with August leading them, their morale stayed strong.

Lili's confident, smug grin on the broadcast naturally drew the admiration of Pallums all across Orario.

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