Hunted by Characters I Drew!!

"You don't, but I do," Ishtar said nonchalantly, then turned to glance at the figure standing behind her. 

"Phryne, I'll lend her to you temporarily. I'll also provide a girl with strengthening abilities. Once strengthened, Phryne can become a formidable Level 6." 

As Ishtar spoke, Apollo's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? Are you serious? You're willing to help me like this?" 

Apollo was skeptical. He knew he and Ishtar didn't have such a close relationship. 'If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.' Apollo wasn't a fool—Ishtar's generosity must come with strings attached. With suspicion brewing in his mind, Apollo asked, "Alright, tell me. What do you want? I don't believe you're doing this out of kindness." 

Ishtar chuckled softly. Of course, she wasn't doing this for free. She had her own agenda, and her goal was clear: 

"I want Alexander. Once this is over, you must hand him over to me." 

"What? Impossible!" Apollo snapped. "I've worked so hard to get him, and now you're asking me to just give him up? Absolutely not!" 

Apollo was furious. After going through so much trouble to secure Alexander, how could he agree to give him away so easily? That would make all his efforts meaningless—a complete loss for him. 

Ishtar, however, didn't seem phased by Apollo's rejection. She remained calm, knowing full well that she held the upper hand in this negotiation. After all, Apollo was the one running out of options. 

"Apollo," she said with a sly smile, "I'm not here to waste words. Don't want to agree? Fine. But if you don't, you'll lose everything and be forced to face the consequences. When the dust settles, your Apollo Familia will be nothing more than a relic of the past. What happens next won't be my concern." 

With that, Ishtar turned to leave. Her nonchalant demeanor made Apollo panic. She was right. He didn't have any other options. His poor intelligence gathering had landed him in this predicament. 

Sighing deeply, Apollo finally relented. "Alright… you win." 

It was clear from his tone that the decision had drained him. But as Apollo admitted defeat, Ishtar's lips curled into a triumphant smile. 

In this war game, the biggest winner might just be her. 

"Good. Then let us seal the Oath of the Gods." 

The "Oath of the Gods" was a sacred contract enforced by divine power. Since gods were forbidden from using their powers in the mortal realm, these contracts were devised to bind them to their promises. 

"Fine," Apollo replied grudgingly. What choice did he have? The current situation was akin to being a fish on a chopping block—completely at the mercy of Ishtar. 

Under the binding power of the divine contract, two figures stepped forward from Ishtar's side. 

One was Phryne, a toad-like woman with an imposing presence. 

The other was a fox-eared girl with a tail—Haruhime, a notable character introduced in the second season of the anime. 

Seeing the two of them, Apollo's face finally showed a glimmer of hope. 'This time… surely I won't lose, right?' 

---

 The Next Morning 

As dawn broke over Orario, the city buzzed with excitement. Crowds gathered everywhere, eagerly awaiting the start of the war game. 

In various taverns, gamblers placed their bets. However, the odds heavily favored Apollo's victory, and only a small number of people dared to bet on Alexander. 

Among those backing Alexander were the Hestia Familia, the Loki Familia, the Miach Familia, and the Takemikazuchi Familia. 

"Alexander, you'd better not lose. We've mortgaged everything we have. If you fail, we'll be out on the streets," someone muttered nervously, reflecting the collective anxiety of those rooting for him. 

As prayers for Alexander echoed across the city, the gods gathered in their grand hall. The room was abuzz with anticipation. 

Hestia, standing opposite Apollo, couldn't understand why he looked so calm. His composure unsettled her, and finally, she blurted out: 

"Apollo… let me tell you a little secret… Alexander is the one who defeated a Level 5 adventurer."