In the streets of the Pleasure District…
"Hey, look up! What's that?"
"A shooting star?"
People couldn't help but look toward the sky as a streak of light shot across the night.
Both the patrons and the prostitutes stopped what they were doing to watch the strange phenomenon.
"What an overwhelming amount of magic power… What the hell is that?"
Several mages gasped, their pupils shrinking as they felt the immense magical energy radiating from the sky.
However, the moment they realized where the streak of light was heading, their eyes widened.
"It's heading towards Belit Babili, the Ishtar Familia's home!"
"Is something going to happen?"
The people below exclaimed amongst themselves, suddenly feeling that something was about to take place.
As for the streak of light itself, it was naturally Judas, soaring straight toward the Pleasure Quarter after leaving Airmid's clinic.
Judas looked down at the district below, illuminated by countless colorful lights.
Compared to the other parts of the city, this place was noticeably more extravagant and chaotic.
The streets were packed with people, music echoed from the various establishments, and the air was filled with the mixed scents of perfume, alcohol, and food.
Yet despite all the activity, Judas only spared it a quick glance.
His gaze was locked onto the three towers rising from the heart of the district.
'Belit Babili.'
Judas narrowed his eyes, zeroing in on the tallest spire in the center.
A sudden swoosh broke the air. Judas casually tilted his head as an arrow whistled past his ear.
"Halt! This is the territory of the Ishtar Familia. Intruders will be shot on sight! This is your only warning."
A shout from below drew his attention.
Nearly a dozen Amazon guards had their bows drawn and aimed directly at him, while an Amazon mage had already begun chanting a spell.
Flying head-on without bothering to conceal his presence, Judas would have been impossible for them to miss.
He didn't slow down for a fraction of a second.
Instead, he accelerated, shattering the sound barrier with a sharp sonic boom.
Seeing him charge toward them like a falling meteor, the guard commander flinched.
She gritted her teeth and roared.
"Fire!"
A volley of arrows whistled through the air.
But Judas didn't even react as the arrows suddenly disintegrated the moment they got close to him, destroyed without leaving a single particle behind.
"Damn it!"
Seeing this, the leading Amazon turned toward the mage.
"Carla! Fire!"
The moment the order was given, the mage lifted her staff.
"Lightning Burst!"
A jagged bolt of lightning erupted from, tearing toward the sky.
In response, Judas simply extended an open palm.
The sound of lightning crackled as the attack collided with his palm, but the Amazons below widened their eyes when Judas caught the attack and crushed it as he clenched his fist.
"What...? He crushed a Level 3 magic attack with his bare hand?!"
Someone muttered as the Amazons' pupils dilated in both fear and shock.
But they quickly snapped out of it when they realized that Judas was still charging toward them.
"Move!"
They quickly jumped out of the way just as Judas smashed through the entrance with a loud crash, the sound of mortar and concrete breaking resounding through the air as he left behind a massive hole.
"An intruder has broken into Belit Babili!"
"Intruder at the front gates!"
"All available Berberas, prepare for battle!"
Just as Judas landed on his feet and stepped out of the crater he had created, the sound of someone pounding a drum resounded in his ears.
When the smoke eventually cleared, he looked around and saw that dozens of Amazons had already surrounded him in a tight perimeter, their weapons raised and their stances alert.
'So she's here as well.'
Judas thought, his eyes landing on a familiar figure among the crowd... a tall, well-endowed woman with tan skin, purple eyes, and long black hair covering the right side of her face.
'Aisha Belka was it?'
Seeing her brought back memories of the events from the anime.
Aisha Belka, a major supporting character and one of the prominent figures in the second season.
Haruhime's friend and protector.
'They were also involved in the entire fiasco with the Kali Familia as well.'
'Judging from the timeline, the events of the Ishtar Arc should be happening right around the corner.'
But to be honest, Judas didn't give a rat's ass about maintaining the canon timeline.
He had come here tonight to settle a score.
Looking at the Ishtar Familia's home base, which imitated some of the design of the Tower of Babel, Judas scoffed.
Ishtar, someone who loves being flashy and the center of attention, creating the grandest and tallest building in the entire district… it fit her character quite well.
The moment he turned his head, the sound of metal slicing through the air reached his ears.
Dozens of sharp weapons were pointed toward him, their blades stopping just a few inches from his neck.
Each one was held by an Amazon staring at him with a hostile gaze.
"Veneratus Est… even if it's you, to barge into the Ishtar Familia's home so arrogantly, do you have a death wish?"
An Amazon shouted with a fierce expression.
Looking at her, Judas could sense that she was around Level 3.
Judging from her demeanor, she also seemed to be one of the executives.
"Wait, Samira… everyone… calm down. Let's talk this out first."
Aisha spoke up as she motioned for everyone to stand down.
"Aisha?"
Samira frowned, looking at Aisha in confusion.
Like her, Aisha was also an executive of the Familia.
She kept her gaze locked on Judas, a bead of sweat rolling down the side of her face.
From the conflict back in Melen, Judas had left quite an impression on Aisha.
She knew the man standing before them was absurdly strong.
If he was determined to charge inside their base and cause havoc, she was aware that even if the Ishtar Familia combined their forces, there was very little chance of stopping him.
Although Aisha liked to fight strong men because it made her feel excited, there were two males in the city that even she would avoid confronting unless necessary.
One was Ottar from the Freya Familia.
The other was Judas Spade from the Loki Familia.
"Veneratus Est, what is your purpose in coming here?"
Aisha asked carefully, taking another step forward as the surrounding Amazons hesitantly lowered their weapons.
Judas met her gaze directly.
"Phryne Jamil. Tell her to get out here so I can give her a beating."
His voice was flat, carrying no theatrical anger, only absolute intent.
He had only come here to deal with Phryne and planned to break at least half the bones in her body.
When the surrounding Amazons heard his words, they suddenly felt a chill run down their spines.
Judas wasn't trying to intimidate them, but their instincts were screaming at them that this man was very dangerous.
But they forcibly suppressed those instincts, putting on a brave front.
After all, Amazons were a proud warrior race.
They simply wouldn't back down easily.
In addition, they were in their own home territory.
If they couldn't even defend themselves here, it would trample upon their dignity as proud members of the Ishtar Familia.
'He is looking for Phryne? That toad?'
Aisha thought of the meeting they had just had earlier, where they talked about Phryne heavily injuring a Guild worker.
'Is it about that?'
A bead of sweat trickled down her face.
Before Aisha could offer an answer, a new voice echoed from behind.
"Veneratus Est… my goddess is waiting for you inside. You may come in."
Tammuz, the vice-captain of the Ishtar Familia, appeared with his hands behind his back.
Judas turned his head toward him, then back to Aisha.
Seeing this, Aisha gestured for him to head inside.
"I actually don't know where our captain is… our Goddess is probably the only one who knows."
She said with a forced smile.
Hearing this, Judas didn't hesitate to walk inside.
Tammuz made a few subtle gestures with his hands toward the Amazons, secret commands that only the members of their Familia understood.
Judas could tell that they were scheming something, but he didn't care and ignored it.
Passing through the ornately decorated entryway, with Tammuz leading the way, Judas was eventually greeted by a grand staircase.
He lifted his head…
And finally saw Ishtar standing at the very top, leaning seductively against the rail, holding a pipe in her hand.
The Goddess of Beauty…
And the ruler of the Pleasure District was looking at him with a pleased, sultry smile, as if she were welcoming a very special guest instead of an intruder.
"Welcome... Veneratus Est... to my humble home."
She said as her smile grew wider, her eyes perfectly reflecting Judas' figure.
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