Chapter 408: Arrival(2)

Slowly, the remaining apostles began to arrive. Some came on their own, while others were escorted by Kyle, allowing Arthur to bring them to the villa through teleportation.

Each deity had sent no more than two apostles, which was understandable. Having too many individuals blessed by the gods gathered in one place could place considerable strain on the Veil. Moreover, such a gathering would make an easy target for an ambush from the other side.

Freya’s apostles were two women. The first, Araya, appeared to be in her early thirties, while the second, Yumiko, was around Amanda’s age.

Unlike the deity who had blessed them, both women were rather calm and reserved. They greeted the others with polite smiles before finding a quiet corner where they could wait for the main event to begin.

Soon after, two apostles of Athena arrived, and that was when things began to heat up.

"Hoh~"

Among the newcomers was a broad-built, red-haired man with scars running down his forehead in an X-shaped pattern. Aggression practically radiated from his entire being, and his next words did little to dispel the impression.

"So many warriors gathered in one place, and all we’re doing is sitting around, waiting and sipping on this lame-ass wine?"

His voice carried throughout the hall, immediately drawing everyone’s attention toward him.

The person accompanying the redhead presented a striking contrast to his boisterous nature.

The brunette woman calmly surveyed her surroundings, her gaze eventually settling on someone familiar.

Maya noticed her and nodded in greeting. The woman returned the gesture before making her way over to Maya’s side.

Meanwhile, Ethan approached the red-haired man, doing his best to maintain a polite demeanor.

"Please, calm down. We aren’t here to brawl."

These guests had been invited by his Lord, and it was Ethan’s responsibility to ensure everything remained under control until his master arrived.

"What do you mean, brawl?! I’m simply asking for a little display of strength!"

The man grew increasingly agitated, as though he had come here with the sole intention of causing trouble.

Veronica frowned and stepped forward, a movement that immediately put both Amanda and Ethan on edge.

"Did you not hear what he said? You’re a guest here, so shut the hell up and wait until the host arrives."

Her voice wasn’t particularly loud, yet her words carried enough weight to silence the murmurs that had spread throughout the hall following the redhead’s outburst.

The man stared at her for a moment before breaking into a grin.

"You’ve got quite the spirit in those eyes."

In the next instant, Genesis erupted from his body, its overwhelming pressure spreading through the hall as cracks began to form across the floor beneath his feet.

Elena glanced nervously at Amanda, but the latter looked far too irritated to bother pacifying the situation. If anything, she seemed thoroughly displeased with the man’s behavior.

Ethan, meanwhile, merely stepped back. He understood all too well that the Commander had pushed the situation into an inevitable confrontation.

"Let’s see if you’ve got the strength to back up that temperament of yours!"

The redhead suddenly raised both hands and brought them crashing down toward Veronica.

DOOOOM!

The impact sent a violent tremor through the hall, rattling the cutlery and shaking the chandelier overhead. The sheer force of the collision reverberated throughout the surrounding area, nearly throwing Elena off her feet.

Yet, when the dust finally settled, the woman at the center of the destruction remained completely unfazed, one arm raised as she effortlessly held back the devastating blow.

Veronica wasn’t smirking in triumph after successfully blocking the attack. On the contrary, her expression remained perfectly calm, almost bored, as she looked up at the man.

"I’ll tell you one more time. Cease your actions and maintain some decorum. This place isn’t your personal mud pit where you can pick a fight with anyone you please."

The man narrowed his eyes at her before slowly withdrawing his arms.

However, rather than launching another attack, he extended one hand toward her.

"Dominic. I’d love to have a proper spar with a strong woman like you sometime."

Veronica sighed before accepting his handshake. For some reason, she felt a little embarrassed. Looking at the man, she couldn’t help seeing a reflection of her younger self in his reckless enthusiasm.

"That turned out rather well," Maya remarked quietly.

"That woman is quite strong. And yet, her connection with Lady Freya appears remarkably weak."

The woman standing beside Maya, Lamia, spoke in a soft voice, her eyes fixed on the silver-haired woman. Despite being an apostle herself, Veronica seemed strangely detached from her divine patron, as though the connection between them barely existed.

"Hmm, I was surprised when I first saw her, too," Maya replied. "In fact, her fellow apostles didn’t even realize she existed until they met her."

She recalled the expressions on Araya and Yumiko’s faces when they had first come face-to-face with Veronica. Their reactions had been quite something to witness.

"Perhaps she hasn’t even realized her own origins?" Lamia suggested.

Maya, however, seemed more interested in something else. "What do you make of her strength, then? She withstood Dominic’s attack head-on. I’ve seen people fall from blows with far less force."

Lamia shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "A mysterious woman, indeed. Though I suppose she ought to be, considering how close she is to him."

Maya blinked, only then realizing that Lamia was no longer looking at her but at someone standing behind them.

She hurriedly turned around, and there he was.

"I apologize for keeping you all waiting."

His voice resonated throughout the hall, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

The commotion from the confrontation and the murmurs of gossip came to an abrupt halt as everyone turned toward the very person they had gathered to meet.

Ethan, Arthur, Veronica, Amanda, and Elena immediately made their way toward the man, taking their positions at his sides.

Meanwhile, the apostles gathered with their respective companions and assembled before him.

Their expressions varied, ranging from curiosity to apprehension, but Kyle paid little attention to their individual reactions. Instead, he offered them a composed smile before speaking.

"Since most of us have arrived, shall we raise a toast?"