"Argana, stop!"
"Phryne, stand down!"
The two voices overlapped like thunder, halting the moment before violence erupted.
At their commands, the volatile pressure dissipated as quickly as it had flared. Both Amazonian sides fell back, though wariness still danced in their eyes like sparks waiting to reignite.
Ishtar adjusted her posture gracefully and crossed her legs with poise. Her seductive gaze turned towards Kali, whose composure remained undisturbed, like a serpent coiled and watching.
"Good. Now that the heat has cooled, shall we return to business?" Kali said with a cold smile.
Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly as she continued, "Although your Ishtar Familia holds considerable sway in Orario… your combat strength isn't very impressive, is it? From what I know, you only have one Level 5 child."
Her gaze flicked dismissively toward Phryne, who let out a soft snort. The toad-like Amazoness exuded pride, but Kali made no effort to veil her disdain.
"Frankly, I don't see how you're qualified to cooperate with me."
Kali was not wrong. On paper, the Ishtar Familia lacked the raw force to stand beside the war-hardened warriors of Telskyura. But her instincts whispered that Ishtar wouldn't be so bold without a hidden card. The goddess must have prepared something.
Ishtar did not reply immediately. Instead, she turned her head and gestured subtly toward a figure concealed behind her—cloaked and silent.
Kali followed her gaze. That person had caught her attention the moment she entered. Unlike the other scantily clad Amazonesses, this one was completely shrouded, hidden beneath a heavy cloak. Even Kali couldn't discern their presence clearly, which was rare.
So this is her trump card.
Ishtar's lips curved into a confident smile. "Worry not. I have my own methods to boost the power of my Familia. All I need… is time."
She spoke with an air of certainty that made even Kali pause.
Haruhime. The girl with the rare ability—Uchide no Kozuchi—a magic capable of raising another's level temporarily.
As long as Hermes returns with the Killing Stone, the ritual to mass-produce the magic will begin. Then, even her weakest followers will be able to wield the strength of elites.
That would be her ace.
"...I see. As long as you're aware of your own situation." Kali replied, her tone vague.
"Now then, since we're discussing a deal, let's talk about the reward."
Ishtar leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming. "Gold? Jewels? Name your price. I'll see to it you're paid generously."
But Kali shook her head and said, "No. I want something else."
"...?"
"And I want it first."
Ishtar narrowed her eyes slightly, intrigued now. "Go on."
"You already know Loki's Familia is in Melen." Kali began. "I don't intend to start a war with them—not yet—but I have unfinished business."
Her words were measured, but the hunger behind them was unmistakable.
"I want to fight Tione and Tiona. The twin Amazonessss who abandoned Telskyura. They left me. I want to see with my own eyes… whether the two who betrayed me have grown stronger than the two who remained by my side—Argana and Bache."
Her eyes gleamed with a fanatic light. "I want to watch them bleed. I want to see who has the strength to survive. Which of my daughters have surpassed their limits and ascended beyond."
Ishtar blinked, thrown off for a moment by the brutal honesty.
"I see… so this is personal."
"You could say that. I want you to hold back the rest of Loki's Familia during the duel. I want a fair fight between the sisters—nothing more. Just that."
Even as she spoke, the bloodthirst in Kali's voice couldn't be ignored. It wasn't just curiosity—this was the will of a goddess of war, of carnage, of the battlefield.
Ishtar hesitated.
Getting involved with the Loki Familia… wasn't part of her plan. It was reckless, unnecessary.
Just then, Phryne stepped forward with an exaggerated yawn, her heavy muscles flexing beneath her skin.
She said, her voice deep and brash, "Ishtar-sama, let them fight. Think of it as… a warm-up before we take on Freya."
She grinned, revealing sharp white teeth. "Besides, we're not exactly being subtle. The longer we linger in Melen, the more attention we'll draw. If we pick a fight with Loki's girls, everyone will assume they're our target—not Freya. It's perfect."
Ishtar's eyes sharpened slightly.
A diversion...?
Phryne continued, "And don't worry about the Sword Princess. I'll handle her."
Neither she nor the others knew that Alicia and Anakitty were now Level 5s nor did they know that Ais had become even more terrifying after her training with Akira.
Still, Phryne's arrogance knew no bounds. Even if she had known, she probably would've still been confident of victory.
"And Leon… by then, we'll have him in our hands." Phryne concluded with a confident smirk.
Ishtar's brows furrowed deeply. After several long seconds of silence, she finally sighed. "Fine. You make a fair point. And truth be told, I don't like Loki or her spawn either."
Her voice turned sharp like broken glass. "But if things go south, we retreat immediately. I won't throw my pieces away over a petty grudge."
Kali chuckled, nodding. "Of course. I'll take full responsibility for what comes after."
Far from the underground chamber, the sun had already begun to dip over the city.
Leon, oblivious to the swirling tides of conflict, strolled along the cobbled streets with Tione and Tiona.
The Amazoness sisters laughed beside him, their previous tension softened by his calming presence. They returned to the inn, unaware of the eyes watching from the shadows.
Not long after, Aisha and her squad began their silent sweep through the city, moving from hotel to hotel, tracking every rumor and lead about the Loki Familia.
Within hours, they found what they were looking for.
Aisha returned to Ishtar's chamber, where the goddess lounged with a cup of wine and a calculating smile.
"You did well, Aisha."
She set the goblet aside and leaned forward, her voice dropping into a silky whisper. "If things go well… I'll reward you personally. Perhaps even let you enjoy a night with Leon."
Aisha's face lit up like a festival torch. She dropped to one knee, flushed with fervor. "Thank you, Ishtar-sama! I… I would be honored!"
The other Amazonesses around her echoed the sentiment, their hearts racing with anticipation.
Leon was more than a man now—he was a prize, a temptation, a symbol of power and desire. For the members of the pleasure-centered Ishtar Familia, there was no greater gift.
"Good." Ishtar said. "Now go. Prepare everything."
"Yes, Ishtar-sama!" They replied in unison.
Once they had left, Ishtar stood in the now-empty hall, her expression serious. She reached for a black cloak and pulled it over her shoulders and quietly left.